Puerto Viejo Costa Rica special vacation offers 2014

The Costa Rica Caribbean Coast has everything you're looking for on your holiday, whether rest and relaxation, romance, adventure, family time, fun with friends, or new beginnings like your wedding or honeymoon.

The southern Caribbean of Costa Rica has a decidedly relaxed vibe. Afro-Caribbean, Latino and Bribri indigenous cultures uniquely blend with customs of newer residents who have come to this paradise from all over the world. South of Limon, Costa Rica, the eclectic beach town of Puerto Viejo charmingly reflects this “melting pot” of lifestyles.

Warm sand in a rainbow of colors from gold to black, gray and white welcomes you to stretch out in the sun and soak in life’s radiance. Raucous parrots and vibrant toucans fly overhead and call out from the deep green forest. The Caribbean Sea is spellbinding with its spectrum of blue and turquoise; the rhythm of waves lulling you into a satisfying relaxation. Best yet, the sea is wonderfully warm, perfect for splashing, playing, surfing, snorkeling and a dozen other adventures.

You can go for long beach walks along the shore and coastal trails, or rent a bike and explore the little villages and neighborhoods. Perhaps, try out a new adventure – surfing, zip-lining, whitewater rafting, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, or horseback riding. Or broaden your horizons by visiting a sloth sanctuary, jaguar rescue center, or indigenous reserve for a chocolate tour. This time of year, rain showers are a nice excuse for an afternoon nap or to indulge in a captivating novel from the comfort of a hammock.

The fabulous Le Caméléon Hotel on the gorgeous beach of Playa Cocles provides you with exclusive upscale lodging in Puerto Viejo Costa Rica. The Costa Rica boutique hotel sits in front of the sea surrounded by wild jungle, just 3 km from Puerto Viejo town center. 

Twenty-three ultra-chic rooms border the pool and lush tropical gardens. Decked out in impeccable white with striking touches of brightly colored accessories that change hue daily like a chameleon, rooms have all the comforts expected, such as A/C, satellite TV, Wi-Fi, rain shower, mini-bar, phone, iPod / iPhone docking station, and Yves Rocher amenities.

The Enchanting Hotel of Costa Rica offers private yoga classes, spa services, reading/lounging areas, the elegant Le Numu Restaurant & Bar, and La Sula Sea Lounge beach club with its day-beds, hammocks, lounge chairs, bar and restaurant service right on Cocles Beach.

Le Caméléon Hotel is currently offering four steal-of-a-deal special offers:

Family Vacation Package

Web Last Minute Offers with up to 50% discounts

Three night stay for the price of two

Caribbean Summer special deal

Article by Shannon Farley

An oasis of serenity at Pranamar Villas yoga studio in Santa Teresa Costa Rica

I am never the same person walking into a yoga studio as when I leave. Usually I am always rushing to get to class, arriving just in the nick of time to get my mat laid out, and frantically trying to breathe my way into calm, poised relaxation. After an hour or so of stretching, strengthening, measured breathing and soothing music, I walk out a calmer, happier, more focused person, with a lot less stress.

A yoga studio can be a magical place when designed well and filled with calm energy. The Yoga Shala (Sanskrit for “studio”) at Pranamar Oceanfront Villas & Yoga Retreat in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica has that tranquil magic. The beachfront Santa Teresa Costa Rica hotel specializes in yoga and yoga retreats, and the yoga space was carefully crafted to be a centerpiece.

The impressive Pranamar Yoga Shala rests on the white sand of Santa Teresa Beach, facing the bright blue Pacific Ocean past a fringe of palm trees. Hand-crafted from natural tropical woods from Costa Rica and certified sustainable Costa Rica bamboo, the yoga studio is open on three sides to verdant gardens, the beach and sea, and the beautiful swimming pool designed to flow like a river. Hardwood teak floors lend a smooth stability for yoga practitioners, and energy soars skyward with vaulted ceilings. No columns interrupt the flow of energy or get in the way of practicing yoga; comfortably fitting up to 40 persons at one time in a class.

“People experience a sense of peace here. There is positive good energy and a feeling of serenity,” remarked Nancy Goodfellow, resident yoga instructor and Pranamar co-owner.

Keeping with the Bali-Indonesian theme of Pranamar Villas, the Yoga Shala features 4,000-year-old antique wood Javanese doors that they imported from Indonesia. Pranamar’s oceanfront villas are decorated with imported, hand-crafted Indonesian furniture and other elegant touches.

It is easy to feel serene in Pranamar’s Yoga Shala. You gaze out at beautiful nature and the ocean while doing yoga, listening to the sound of waves and the swimming pool waterfall. Goodfellow said the studio is fully-equipped with all of the different yoga props – mats, blocks, straps, bolsters, blankets, eye pillows, and meditation cushions.

Pranamar is very busy with international yoga retreats and groups, mainly from January to May, which are all open to the public to join. They do offer daily morning yoga classes to hotel guests and the public, usually at 9:00 a.m.; depending on the season, there are also afternoon classes.

Goodfellow teaches Tantric Hatha Yoga, a dynamic form of Vinyasa yoga that uses Tantric techniques of chanting, breathing exercises and meditation. Other types of yoga, such as Vinyasa Yoga or Yin Yoga, also are sometimes offered. Private and semi-private classes may be scheduled at any time.

Article by Shannon Farley

Know where to stay in Manuel Antonio Costa Rica

Manuel Antonio Costa Rica is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the country for its abundant beauty, wildlife and adventure tours. It is also exceedingly popular for hotels.

Knowing where to stay is the key in this famous location on the Central Pacific Coast – named one of the 2014 Top 25 Beaches in the World in TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards.

Shana Hotel & Residence in Manuel Antonio sets itself apart as an exclusive lifestyle boutique hotel. Featuring contemporary design, fabulous rooms, organic local cuisine, and exceptional hotel amenities, this new Manuel Antonio Costa Rica hotel is a TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice® 2014 Winner.

“It is a perfect place to forget all the stress of life,” wrote one hotel guest on TripAdvisor. “The jungle, the monkeys, the ocean view, the silence, the nice food and the peaceful lovely white color – that's Shana Hotel.”

The Shana Hotel is located off the main road in Manuel Antonio, minutes from the Manuel Antonio National Park, and the town of Quepos with its new Pez Vela Marina. A walking trail by the hotel leads you 10 minutes to the hidden, white-sand Biesanz Beach.

The hotel’s 27 first-class rooms and suites are designed in modern minimalist white, allowing the accent colors to be the exceptional views of vivid tropical gardens, dramatic jungle, and blue and turquoise ocean. Superior and Deluxe rooms, and Junior Suites, are outfitted with luxury comforts and amenities. There is also a spacious three-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath, Presidential Suite with a fully-equipped kitchen and private infinity pool.

Shana Hotel provides spa services and the hotel’s restaurant offers cuisine with Mediterranean, Peruvian, Asian and Costa Rican influences. Their wine list is extensive.

Shana Hotel’s restaurant and swimming pool lounge area are perfect places to watch spectacular sunsets.

Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

With rainforest trees filled with three species of monkeys, sloths, iguanas, bright Scarlet Macaws and other tropical birds, along with playful dolphins and migrating whales swimming just offshore, Manuel Antonio is well-deserving of all of the praise.

Manuel Antonio National Park, one of Costa Rica’s smallest parks, also is one of the most popular. In the park, you can find 109 different kinds of mammals – including cheeky white-faced Capuchin monkeys who will try to steal your lunch – 184 species of birds, four sparkling white sand beaches, and hiking trails.

Things to do in Manuel Antonio include: whitewater rafting, waterfall rappelling, canopy zip-lining, mountain biking, horseback riding, surfing, sea kayaking, snorkeling and scuba diving, sailing, boating to see dolphins and whales, and hiking in the Manuel Antonio National Park.

Article by Shannon Farley

Let Vesatours plan your Costa Rica family vacation.

Families who travel to Costa Rica know that Costa Rica is a fun, easy and safe family vacation destination. In fact, Costa Rica is this year’s most recommended travel hotspot in the world!

Positioned between Nicaragua and Panama, Costa Rica is easily accessible from North America and Europe with numerous daily flights. It is one of the safest countries in Central America, is affordable, easy to travel, and English is widely spoken besides the native Spanish language.

Here you have sunny beaches, thrilling rainforest, beautiful lakes and rivers, and breathtaking volcanoes and mountains. Add in exciting Costa Rica adventure tours and nature, and happy, friendly people, and it is easy to understand why Costa Rica is so popular.

The best way to plan a Costa Rica family vacation – especially for the first time – is to go with a Costa Rica vacation package from an experienced Costa Rica travel agency.

Vesatours specializes in Costa Rica vacations and custom travel itineraries, for nearly 30 years. Their multilingual travel consultants take care of your hotels, transportation and tours, designing a vacation plan just right for your family. A good recommendation is to use their trained naturalist guides. 

Costa Rica is filled with wildlife, but families may miss a lot of it without a naturalist guide who knows where to look and what to listen for in the jungle to give you the best experience possible. A guide ensures that all of your family members’ needs are met, and is a wealth of information about the country.

Favorite places to visit in Costa Rica for families:

• Arenal Volcano
• Manuel Antonio National Park
• Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean Coast
• Tortuguero National Park & sea turtle nesting beaches
• Rincon de la Vieja Volcano in Guanacaste
• Pacific Coast Guanacaste beaches
• Coffee plantations and volcanoes of the Central Valley
•  

Article by Shannon Farley

Fall in love with San Jose Costa Rica

Often dismissed by Costa Rica vacationers as a place to avoid, or to endure only for a layover night, the vibrant capital city of San José, Costa Rica in actuality has a lot to offer visitors.

It is a city of contrasts blending the old world and modern times; expressing its history and culture in art, architecture, interesting museums, theaters, galleries and shops. There are always things to do in San José, Costa Rica: theater performances, concerts, art walk tours, cultural films, gallery exhibits, museum events and cultural fairs. 

There is even a “Fall in Love with Your City” year-round celebration of art, culture and urban parks in San Jose during 2014. Events take place on Saturdays in various parks in downtown San José. You can always find a calendar of current events in the Tico Times every Friday.

One of the best ways to explore the San José Costa Rica attractions is to stay in the city and walk – most museums, galleries and cultural institutions are all within walking distance of each other.

Located in the heart of downtown San José, Cocoon Hotel is a little oasis in the city. The San José Costa Rica hotel is conveniently situated in the stylish Barrio Amon neighborhood near cultural sights and major bus stations.

 Close by is the Costa Rica Center of Science and Culture and the Costa Rica Children’s Museum, which is housed in an old prison that looks now like a fairytale castle. A few blocks away is the Caribbean bus station, which will whisk you away to the beautiful palm tree-lined white sand beaches of Puerto Viejo. Just a few blocks north is the pedestrian walking street of Central Avenue, the Melico Salazar Theatre, Grand Hotel and National Theatre. The Costa Rica National Museum, Jade Museum and Gold Museum are also in close proximity.

Barrio Amon neighborhood was established in 1892 by wealthy residents who built elegant homes. Today, these beautiful old buildings are private residences, hotels, restaurants, offices and art galleries, and comprise one of the most photogenic regions of the city.

Themed like a butterfly garden, Cocoon Hotel features natural décor in green and white with bamboo walls, wooden floors and butterfly photographs. They offer 43 tastefully decorated single, double and triple occupancy rooms, with either air conditioning or ceiling fan. All rooms have private bathrooms with hot water, safety deposit box, flat screen TV with Cable, free Wi-Fi and local calls, and soundproof windows to shut out traffic noise. There is a business center, tour desk, currency exchange, hotel bar, and a deli serving lunch and snacks. Buffet breakfast is included in all room stays. An airport shuttle service is available for an extra fee.

The three-star Cocoon Hotel is one of the best accommodations in San Jose Costa Rica. It serves well as a business hotel and to let you explore the cultural attractions of Costa Rica. Low season discounts are being offered now through December 2014.

Article by Shannon Farley

Find out if the Atenas Costa Rica climate claim is true!

Saying that you have “The Best Climate in the World” is quite a claim. The little town of Atenas Costa Rica, nevertheless has stepped up and asserted that it has the best climate in the world. The motto is plastered across the backs of all buses in Atenas, on a few billboards, and even graces the name of a restaurant in town. Read anything about Atenas and you will find the “best climate” remark.

But is it true?

“For me, Atenas has a perfect climate because we have long sunny days where the temperature rarely goes above 86-87 degrees (F), allowing you to enjoy lounging pool side. The nights in the mountains are fresh with temperatures dipping into the mid 60's, a great sleeping temperature using only a light blanket,” commented Dennis Easters, of Pure Life Development of Atenas real estate.

“We have a very stable climate without extremes of heat or cold. It’s one of the healthiest climates in Costa Rica,” affirmed native Atenas resident Walter Carranza.

“This is the sun belt of the Central Valley,” added Atenas resident Judi Purdy from Colorado.

Atenas County is located on the western edge of Costa Rica’s Central Valley, where the mountains spill away to the Pacific Coast. Less than an hour away are the capital city of San Jose to the east, and some of the best Pacific Coast beaches to the west. Composed of mountains and valleys, Atenas ranges in elevation from 2,200 to 4,000 feet.

Atenas receives 2,500 hours of sun per year, according to data from the Costa Rica National Meteorological Institute. That works out to almost seven hours of sunshine on average per day, which is above the national average of six hours. San José, for example, averages only 5.2 hours of sun per day.

“Atenas town enjoys a moderate climate. So, we can conclude that the climate is very warm during the day but temperatures drop significantly at night,” writes Atenas historian Eladio Valerio on his website Atenasonline.com.

Average daily temperatures in Atenas range from 72 to 85 F during the day, and 60 to 68 F at night. Temperatures along Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast, on the other hand, sizzle in the 90s F during the day and mid to high 70s F at night.

Over all, it appears that while Atenas’ climate may or may not be top of the charts, for its 27,000 residents it certainly is ideal. The special climate helped give Atenas its ranking as a top place to retire by International Living, HelpAge International and AARP.

Looking for real estate in Costa Rica? Check out Atenas. Reliable realtors Dennis Easters and Gerardo Gonzalez-Porras of Pure Life Development of Atenas can help you with Atenas homes for sale and Atenas real estate.

Article by Shannon Farley

2 Fun and easy day trips from Santa Teresa Costa Rica

There are many attractions on the southern Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica, but few visitors explore the tiny fishing village and mysterious island of Cabuya.

Cabuya is known as the gateway to the Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve, Costa Rica’s first privately protected reserve at the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. Seven kilometers after the beach town of Montezuma, you pass through the quaint village of Cabuya two kilometers before the Cabo Blanco Reserve. When you do, it’s worth it to stop and see the sights.

Beaches of Santa Teresa, Mal Pais and Montezuma are known for waves and great surfing. At Cabuya, there is a pretty white sand beach protected by a rocky reef that is safe for swimming -- especially for children – without big surf or rip currents. Along the main road, you can’t miss the gigantic strangler fig tree – great for photographs to amaze your friends and family back home.

The unique attraction of Cabuya is the small island situated 100 meters off the coast that has been used as a cemetery from pre-Columbian times to the present. At low tide it is possible to walk over to the island on a rocky path that gets exposed. The tide stays low enough to cross for a couple of hours; time enough to explore the cemetery, snorkel, go fishing and see the tide pools.

The reef on the far side of Cabuya Island is one of the best spots in the area for snorkeling. During the day it is very hot in the full sun, so be prepared with lots of drinking water, a sun hat and sunscreen.

Fique plants (Furcraea andina) – known locally as cabuya – grow plentifully on the island and gave the area its name. Locals have used cabuya fibers for centuries to make ropes, garments, hammocks, baskets and textiles.

The island’s spooky reputation stems from the belief that it is guarded by spirits. The image is propagated by the nighttime funeral tradition of walking to the island with candles and lights, creating an eerie sight of lights floating across the water.

Where to stay on the Nicoya Peninsula

On the other side of the Peninsula from Cabuya is the gorgeous, world-renowned beach of Santa Teresa Costa Rica. One of the best beachfront hotels in Santa Teresa is Hotel Tropico Latino, a relaxed and charming oasis on Playa Carmen. Tropico Latino features garden and beachfront bungalows and suites, a beachfront spa, yoga classes and retreats, and surf instruction and surf camps.

Hotel Tropico Latino offers guided tours of the beautiful Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve; the park is open Wednesday to Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

A hidden travel tip: You can have a beach sunrise and sunset all in the same day! If you go to Cabuya really early, you can see the sunrise over the ocean at Cabuya Beach since it is located on the southeastern side of the Peninsula. Then return to Santa Teresa for a spectacular sunset!

Article by Shannon Farley