"Fiestas Bravas" in Costa Rica

Guanacaste’s celebrations are coming up, exciting dates for this side of the country; full of traditional activities, typical music and folklore dancing.
Up coming for the week of January 15th we have lots of festivities in Santa Cruz, typical Costa Rican rural town, where people gather to celebrate with typical music, folkloric dancing and bullfighting to honor the Black Christ of Esquipulas.

Since 1926 it’s celebrated in commemoration of their catholic religion when Christ suffered before being crucified.

In the corners of the main streets of Santa Cruz marimbas are located to brighten the atmosphere; while the bullfights are held where many people come to a roundabout on the main square to challenge the bulls.

During the week they also celebrate the famous horsemen activity “tope” where hundreds of people from all over the country come with their horses and typical costumes to the main streets of the city and parade. During this activity many tourists rent horses and participate in the festival.

Dancing in the park to the sound of marimba music is another traditional activity, among local meals prepared as part of the celebration including the “rosquillas”, sweet “tamal” and coyol wine.

Santa Cruz is a beautiful town filled with friendly and openhearted people who are always open to help tourists when needed. The town is also close to some of the most popular beaches in Costa Rica, which they have buses travelling back and forth almost each hour.

Between the last week of February and early March the “Fiestas Cívicas” of Liberia are held where folklore and traditions are celebrated with music, rides and concerts throughout Liberia.

The city of Liberia is located on the plains of the province of Guanacaste. It has a warm but dry climate characteristic of the area. Its name comes from the Latin "liber" meaning free and independent.

At just 13 miles away from Liberia and 72 from Santa Cruz, in the surroundings of the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano, Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin is one of the best places to stay in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Now for these celebration dates, you can also enjoy great Costa Rica travel deals at Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin and enjoy Guanacaste’s festivities.

Costa Rica's love for “fiesta” is contagious; taste the food, make friends, enjoy traditions and party with the ticos are musts you can’t miss during these dates in Guanacaste, activities you can enjoy at Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin.

By Maria Laura Charles

Join the Rincon de la Vieja Bird Count in Costa Rica, June 14-16

The massive Rincon de la Vieja in northern Costa Rica is known for its imposing outline on the horizon, its steaming fumaroles and bubbling mud pits, and impressive tropical dry forest. The highly-popular adventure tourism location also is becoming known for spectacular bird-watching.

This weekend, birders from all over Costa Rica will gather at the Rincon de la Vieja hotel Hacienda Guachipelin for the fifth annual Bird Count Rincon de la Vieja.

Bird Count Rincon de la Vieja 2014 will be held June 14 to 16 at Hacienda Guachipelin and the neighboring Rincon de la Vieja National Park in Guanacaste.

The annual bird count is being co-hosted by the Costa Rica National Parks Association (SINAC), Ornithological Association of Costa Rica, Ornithological Union of Costa Rica and Neo Travel.

Space is still available; contact Hacienda Guachipelin for reservations.

Professional birders and avid bird-watching fans will meet at the top Guanacaste hotel on June 13. The count will begin the morning of June 14 on the trails in the Rincon de la Vieja National Park and on the Hacienda’s enormous property that encompasses protected dry tropical forest and a working cattle and horse ranch, in addition to the hotel facilities and Costa Rica adventure tour center.

Rincon de la Vieja National Park is part of the Guanacaste Conservation Area, a World Heritage Site. Diverse micro-climates produce a wide variety of ecosystems. Rincón de la Vieja is home to approximately 300 bird species, including: the Blue-crowned Motmot, Whitefronted Parrot, Spectacled Owl, Laughing Falcon, Lesser Ground Cuckoo, Slaty-tailed Trogon, Black-faced Solitaire, Curassow, Royal Flycatcher, Emerald Toucanet and the Montezuma Oropendola.

See a list of more than 60 birds spotted near Hacienda Guachipelin in the Rincon de la Vieja National park. Get a full list of Costa Rica’s birds here.

One of the best times to visit Rincon de la Vieja is now in the green season (May to November) when the active volcano’s fumaroles and boiling mud pots are most active. The hiking is fantastic while birding at Rincon de la Vieja. Afterward, one of the benefits of Hacienda Guachipelin is to enjoy a warm volcanic mud bath and soak in natural hot springs to relieve sore muscles.

In green season, you also can enjoy great Costa Rica travel deals at Hacienda Guachipelin. The Rincon de la Vieja hotel was recently awarded the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2014.

Article by Shannon Farley

Costa Rica low season special deals for Rincon de la Vieja

May and June – the beginning of Costa Rica’s low season – are one of the best times for travel deals. The crowds have gone home. Refreshing afternoon rains (though not every day) have transformed the landscape into a vivid tapestry of green and brightly-colored tropical flowers. And many hotels and tours are offering great Costa Rica travel deals.

Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin, at the base of the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, is no exception. Winner of the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2014 award, the Costa Rica eco-hotel is currently offering three excellent low season specials for 2014.

Low Season Special #1: Reserve 3 nights and only pay for 2!

Low Season Special #2: For reservations of one night only, get a 20% discount.

Low Season Special #3: Sundays are special – receive a 50% discount for hotel accommodations and adventure tours on Sundays (available for Costa Rica residents only).

Offers are valid for the months of May, June, September and October, 2014.

Low Season 2014 discounts at Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin include:

• Welcome cocktail
• Buffet breakfast
• Unlimited admission to the Río Negro Hot Springs and waterfalls
• Free shuttle to the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano National Park and Hot Springs
• Special rates in transportation

Additionally, you can receive special discounts at Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin when you pay with American Express or a BAC Credomatic network credit card.

Hacienda Guachipelin offers the best things to do in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, with their unique Costa Rica adventure tours.

Article by Shannon Farley

Hacienda Guachipelin has best Guanacaste, Costa Rica Adventure Tours

Some of the best things to do in Guanacaste, Costa Rica are found at Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin. The dilemma actually is trying to decide what to do, since there is so much from which to choose.

That’s why the One Day Adventure Pass and One Day Nature Pass really are your best bet. If you stay at this Rincon de la Vieja hotel for several days, you can go for both! You don’t necessarily have to be a hotel guest to enjoy the One Day Pass either – you can be a day tour visitor. An extravagant buffet lunch in Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin’s restaurant is included in both passes.

One Day Adventure Pass You can do all of these top Costa Rica adventure tours or just a few. It is completely feasible to do everything if you start by 8:00 a.m.

• Canyon Canopy Tour
• Rio Negro Tubing Adventure
• Horseback Rides – choose one of many tours, or simply ride horses to get to Rio Negro.
• Volcanic mud bath and thermal hot springs at Rio Negro

The Waterfalls Canyoning Tour may be included in the One Day Adventure Pass for an extra charge of $20 per person.

One Day Nature Pass

The Nature Pass is a softer day that focuses on wildlife and the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano’s natural beauty. This tour package is easily realized in a little over a half-day.

• Butterfly Garden, Serpentarium and Frog Habitats
• Walk to Look-out Point
• Visit the waterfalls and mineral hot springs at Rio Negro (transport by vehicle)

Hacienda Guachipelin’s Adventure Center organizes all activities. They are open every day from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You should note that tours in the Rincon de la Vieja National Park do not include the park admission fee ($10/person), and that the park is closed on Mondays.

Resting in the rolling plains at the base of the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano in the northwestern province of Guanacaste, Costa Rica, Hacienda Guachipelin is a working horse and cattle ranch in addition to being an eco-tourism hotel. Three rivers crisscross the 3,400-acre ranch, with waterfalls and natural thermal springs, creating an idyllic setting in the distinctive dry tropical forest.

Hotel Hacienda Guachipelín is located 15.5 miles (25 km) northeast of Guanacaste’s main city of Liberia, by the Pailas section of the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano.

Article by Shannon Farley