Costa Rica SUP, Masters & Longboard Surfing competition in Malpais

The Costa Rica National Circuit of Stand-up Paddleboarding (SUP), Masters and Longboard Surfing will come to Malpaís for the third competition in the 2015 season on May 23 and 24.

On Costa Rica’s southern Nicoya Peninsula, the beaches of Malpaís and Santa Teresa attract visitors from all over the world who come to surf, do yoga and enjoy one of Central America’s top tropical beaches. The Costa Rica National Surfing Circuit’s fourth 2015 competition was held recently in Santa Teresa Beach on April 18 and 19.

Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) is fast growing in popularity in Costa Rica. The competition in Malpaís at the end of this month will have 11 categories: SUP Surfing, SUP Race (18 and 9 km), Recreational SUP board (9 km), SUP Race Female (9 km), Longboard, Masters and Masters Women (35+ years), Grand Masters (40+), Kahuna (45+), and Grand Kahuna (50+). The final competition of the season will be July 20 and 21 at Boca Barranca by Puntarenas.

In other Costa Rica SUP news, the Costa Rica National Stand-up Paddle Team will compete with the best teams in the world at the fourth annual ISA World Standup Paddle and Paddleboard Championship (WSUPPC) in Sayulita, México, from May 10 to 17.



Stand-up paddleboarding in Malpaís and Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

The clear waters of Santa Teresa and Malpaís, Costa Rica are ideal for stand-up paddleboarding. The sport is a great all-body workout, is relatively easy to learn, and is lots of fun. There is no better way to explore the southern Nicoya Peninsula coastline and no wetsuit is needed in this warm water!

Stand Up Paddling in Santa Teresa Costa Rica

Current surf conditions for Santa Teresa and Malpaís are reported daily by Magic Seaweed and Malpaís Surf Cam.



Where to stay in Malpaís and Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

One of the best beachfront hotels in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica is Hotel Tropico Latino. Directly on the beach at beautiful Playa Carmen, Hotel Tropico Latino is a charming, relaxed barefoot luxury hotel that offers Costa Rica beach vacations, Costa Rica surf vacations and Costa Rica yoga retreats. Playa Carmen was awarded the Ecological Blue Flag this year by the Costa Rican Tourism Board for being one of the cleanest beaches in the country.



Hotel Tropico Latino works with Freedom Riding SUP Costa Rica in Malpaís for stand-up paddleboarding tours. Find out how to get to Santa Teresa Beach in Costa Rica from our blog article.

Article by Shannon Farley

A liquid sky of blue stars – bioluminescence in Costa Rica

One of my absolute favorite scenes in the 2012 movie “Life of Pi” is when a huge glittering whale jumps out of a sparkling night sea behind Pi’s raft, everything around them glowing from amazing bioluminescence. Another favorite is the illuminated neon forest in the movie “Avatar.”



Bioluminescence is most common in the tropics. Walking along a tropical beach at night or sea kayaking after dark, especially the closer you get to the equator, you often can see sparkling lights in the water. It seems as if the ocean is a liquid sky of blue stars.

“Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by a living organism as the result of a chemical reaction during which chemical energy is converted to light energy,” according to Science Daily.

Bioluminescence occurs in many marine animal species – bacteria, plankton, fish, jellyfish, squid and crustaceans. It also exists in some fungi, microorganisms and terrestrial invertebrates – think of fireflies and glow worms. Marine life depends on their bioluminescence for finding food, attracting mates and evading predators, according to Science Journal. Sometimes thousands of square miles of ocean shine with the light of bioluminescent bacteria or plankton. For instance, Puerto Rico is famous for its three bioluminescent bays.
In Costa Rica, bioluminescence is a frequent occurrence in the Golfo Dulce. This southern Pacific region of Costa Rica by the Osa Peninsula is full of amazing biodiversity. Golfo Dulce is a critical habitat for migrating Pacific Humpback Whales, dolphins and sea turtles.



A good place to see bioluminescence in Golfo Dulce is at Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge. On a non-rainy night when the sky is really dark with no moon, or enough clouds to hide any moon, walk down to Nicuesa Lodge’s boat dock to see if you can observe any bioluminescence in the sea. The water glows more when the microorganisms in it are agitated, so if it is a bioluminescent night, ask the guides to take you out in the kayaks for a paddle close to shore.

When you sea kayak in the illuminated water, every paddle stroke is like fireworks. Why the lights appear blue and green is because those are the light wavelengths that can transmit most easily through seawater, reports Science Daily. Sometimes you might even see dolphins eerily glowing in the bioluminescent water.

About Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge

Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge recently received the Ecological Blue Flag Award for the fifth time for having one of Costa Rica’s cleanest beaches. Bordering the Piedras Blancas National Park, the Costa Rica rainforest lodge holds the highest Sustainable Tourism Program rating, and offers nature tours in the rainforest and ocean adventure tours around Golfo Dulce.

Article by Shannon Farley

What you need to know about visiting Costa Rica in rainy season

Costa Rica welcomes rainy season (also called the “green season”) like a parched traveler reaching an oasis after a long, dry desert-crossing. Dry season dust is gone and Costa Rica’s landscape springs back to life with lush green vegetation, carpets of blooming flowers, and new animal life.

Costa Rica in general has two major seasons – “summer,” or the dry season from December to April, and rainy season from May to November. Mornings during rainy season are almost always sunny, with showers in the afternoons or evenings, which thankfully cool the temperature. And there may be many days when it does not rain at all. The exception is that the Costa Rica Caribbean Coast is rainy most of the year and has its Caribbean Summer from about mid-September to mid-November – when the rest of the country is soaked.

Those “in the know” about traveling to Costa Rica know that rainy season means good deals, lower rates in hotels, and fewer crowds. Besides, if you are going to visit a rainforest or a cloud forest, you should expect rain and clouds some of the time!

12 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT VISITING COSTA RICA IN RAINY SEASON:

• Rainy season paints the landscape lush, verdant and colorful – a real jungle!

• Mornings are almost always hot and sunny. Rain usually falls for a few hours in the afternoon or at night.

• Rain helps bring the temperature down.

• Sea turtles come to nest on both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts during this period, making it “turtle season”.

• Discover the two-week “mini-summer” that happens in July.

• Rain fills the rivers making it the best time for whitewater rafting.

• Remember to carry an umbrella when you go out for the day or in the afternoon. Invest in one of those huge golf umbrellas while you are here; you will understand why.

• Plan your day to do all activities – tours, sightseeing, errands, shopping – in the morning and leave the afternoon for indoor pastimes like museum visits, visiting with friends, reading, emails, naps, etc.

• You may not want to get up early on your vacation, but think again. You want to do all tours in the morning during rainy season, when it is dry and sunny and pleasant. The earlier in the morning, the cooler the temperature and the more wildlife you see. Hiking or ziplining through a rainforest in a torrential downpour is definitely a memorable experience, but is not very comfortable.

• Be sure to rent a 4x4 vehicle in rainy season, when unpaved roads turn to muddy bogs.

• Skip off to the Caribbean Coast in October for Costa Rica Caribbean Summer.

• You can find better values in rainy season on vacation packages, hotels, tours and transport.

See why rainy season is a great time to travel to Costa Rica on vacation. Design your Costa Rica holiday with Horizontes Nature Tours. The travel agency in Costa Rica has 31 years of experience creating Costa Rica nature holidays, Costa Rica family trips and Costa Rica beach vacations.

Article by Shannon Farley

5 Tropical beaches you want to visit in southern Costa Rica

Tucked between the Osa Peninsula and the southern Pacific region of Costa Rica, the “Sweet Gulf” of Golfo Dulce is the perfect destination for nature lovers and adventure-seekers.
Circling the warm blue waters of Golfo Dulce is a tropical rainforest with secluded beaches and an amazing biodiversity. Here you can encounter all four species of monkeys – white-faced Capuchin, spider, howler and the endangered squirrel monkey, Scarlet Macaws, toucans, coatis, wild pigs, exotic snakes, ocelots and jaguars, to name a few. Golfo Dulce is a critical habitat for migrating Pacific Humpback Whales, dolphins and sea turtles.
Beaches in southern Costa Rica are pretty and pristine. Here are 5 tropical beaches – called “playas” in Costa Rica – that you don’t want to miss when visiting the Osa Peninsula and Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica.

Playa Nicuesa

Home of the award-winning eco-hotel Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge, Playa Nicuesa recently received the Ecological Blue Flag Award for the fifth time for having one of Costa Rica’s cleanest beaches. Playa Nicuesa is located in the lower middle of Golfo Dulce on the mainland side; its 165-acre private rainforest preserve borders the Piedras Blancas National Park. Golfito is a 25-minute boat ride away, and across the Gulf, Puerto Jimenez is 30 minutes away. The Costa Rica rainforest lodge holds the highest Sustainable Tourism Program rating, and offers adventure and nature tours in the rainforest and around Golfo Dulce. The beach is mostly small pebbles with dark sand, fringed by palm and coastal almond trees -- usually full of wild Scarlet Macaws. Best features: crystal clear water that changes color from bright blue to jade green; jumping off the Nicuesa Lodge dock into cool water; and watching dolphins swim past shore.




Playa San Josecito

Just around a small rocky point from Playa Nicuesa, to the south, is Playa San Josecito – a long crescent-shaped dark sand beach that steeply drops into the water. At the west end of the beach is Casa Orquideas Botanical Garden, a beautifully landscaped private tropical garden with hundreds of species of ornamental and edible plants that have been collected and cared for by Ron and Trudy MacAllister, who have lived in this remote region since the 1970s. Best features: taking a guided tour of Casa Orquideas Botanical Garden; fishing by kayak just offshore.



Playa Cativo

This pretty little beach is within the Piedras Blancas National Park up in the inner gulf. Playa Cativo also won the Costa Rica Ecological Blue Flag Award for 2014. When the tide is low, there is dark sand beach; when the water is high, you only have the manicured green lawns of Playa Cativo Lodge. Best features: snorkeling at coral reefs nearby; spotting Humpback Whales during whale-watching season.


 
Playa Cana Blanca

Home to the Osa Wildlife Sanctuary, which rescues and rehabilitates orphaned and injured wild animals, Playa Cana Blanca is also contiguous with Piedras Blancas National Park. This is one of the few completely sandy beaches in Golfo Dulce, and it is gorgeous. Take a tour of the sanctuary and you’ll meet a wide variety of animals, from spider monkeys and white-faced monkeys to sloths, kinkajous, tayras, ocelots, anteaters and Scarlet Macaws. Best features: meeting the animals at Osa Wildlife Sanctuary and learning about their work; relaxing on the beautiful beach.



Playa Balina

This little-known dark sand beach is located in the inner Golfo Dulce, and is best known for its snorkeling.

Article by Shannon Farley

 

Costa Rica’s biggest travel trade fair Expotur 2015 opens in May

For tourism companies interested in Latin America’s hottest destination, the Costa Rica travel trade-mart – Expotur 2015 – is an opportunity to build business relationships with Costa Rica’s hotels, tour companies and travel agencies.

Costa Rica’s biggest tourism fair will be held May 7 to 10, 2015 at the Wyndham Herradura Hotel in San José, the capital city of Costa Rica.

“Expotur is the main showcase of the Costa Rica tourist industry to the world,” said Daniel Chavarria, board member of Pro-Imagen and Futuropa that market Costa Rica globally. “Costa Rica is an important travel destination. For instance, more than 45% of international destination weddings coming to Central America come to Costa Rica.”

For 10 years in a row Costa Rica has been the hottest destination in Latin America, according to Travel Weekly, and the Central American country was once again named the Happiest Country in the World this year. More than 2.5 million tourists traveled to Costa Rica in 2014, as reported by the Costa Rica Tourism Board (ICT).
For Horizontes Nature Tours in Costa Rica, Expotur has been a tradition for more than three decades. The Costa Rica travel agency got its start the same year as Expotur – 31 years ago; and over the years, both have grown with Costa Rica’s tourism demand.

“We consider that Expotur has great potential, and it gives us opportunities to create new business and maintain our presence,” commented Adolfo Vargas, e-commerce manager for Horizontes Nature Tours. “We also take advantage of the fair to find new products in hotels and tours in Costa Rica.
” Representatives of 393 tourism companies, so far, from 29 countries will attend the trade fair portion of the event on May 7 and 8, according to the ICT. On May 9 and 10, the tourism fair will be open to the public. Costa Rican hotels, tour companies and travel agencies will display their products and services hoping to attract local tourists with special prices and packages. ICT officials said this year there will be particular emphasis placed on cultural and rural tourism.

Being Costa Rica travel experts for 31 years, Horizontes is a leading travel agency in Costa Rica. Eco-tourism is at the heart of the company’s foundation, and they are certified in Sustainable Tourism. For travel plans to Costa Rica, contact Horizontes Nature Tours.

Article by Shannon Farley

 

Enjoy yoga on vacation in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

“Find moments in your day to be grateful, to hold peace for a moment, appreciate beauty in the world, and remember to smile.”

Even if you don’t come to Costa Rica for a yoga retreat, you can still practice yoga on your vacation. Yoga has become so popular in Costa Rica that you can find a yoga class or instructor in nearly every part of the country. That is especially true on Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast.

The areas of Puerto Viejo and Playa Cocles in the Southern Caribbean Costa Rica are excellent for practicing yoga. Easily some of the prettiest beaches of Caribbean Costa Rica, the really special thing about this region is that when you are on the beach, all around you there is only nature … and maybe the occasional person or pretty tropical bird or monkey. Here, there is harmony with the rainforest and ocean, and the widely-varied international population lives a relaxed, laid-back lifestyle. Perfect energy for yogis and yoginis.


Yoga in Puerto Viejo Costa Rica
Here are 3 options for yoga in the Puerto Viejo area:

Hotel Le Caméléon on Playa Cocles, just past Puerto Viejo, offers private yoga classes – whether you are just one person or have more in your group – with the hotel’s yoga instructor. Classes (scheduled upon request) can be held in the private second floor lounge above the Le Numu Restaurant, in a garden setting on the breakfast terrace, or in a shaded area on the beautiful beach of Playa Cocles. Coming in October 2015, Krama Yoga Center of Escazú, Costa Rica, will hold a yoga retreat at Hotel Le Caméléon.

Om Yoga Studio & Academy in Playa Cocles. Classes are offered seven days a week in a range of styles, languages and levels. You are sure to find a class that supports your mind, body and spirit, and may even find a new style to try or one not available at your home.
Cashew Hill Jungle Lodge in Puerto Viejo offers yoga classes and retreats.  



Where to stay in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica
Hotel Le Caméléon is an upscale Costa Rica boutique hotel featuring ultra-chic rooms, beautiful tropical architecture, a gourmet restaurant, and the fantastic beach club La Sula Sea Lounge right on Playa Cocles.

How to get to Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica
Daily 30-minute flights on Nature Air or Sansa Airlines between San Jose and Limon make it easy to get to Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica. From Limon, it is a short drive less than an hour to Puerto Viejo and Playa Cocles. The drive from San Jose to Puerto Viejo is approximately 4.5 hours.

Article by Shannon Farley

 

Santa Teresa Costa Rica hotel asks guests to pack with a purpose

Many guests at Pranamar Oceanfront Villas in Costa Rica – especially those who come on a Costa Rica yoga retreat – ask if there is anything they can do for our community they will be visiting.

The desire to give back or contribute to the place people visit as tourists is a fast-growing movement around the world. Volunteer vacations, or volunteerism, are a very popular way to take a vacation. Another way is to “pack for a purpose” and bring needed school and community supplies to your vacation destination.

“Every time there is a yoga retreat coming and they ask us if there is a way to help the community, we tell them to make a little space in their luggage and bring colored pencils, scissors, notebooks, coloring books, etc. to donate to the local schools,” commented Tania Bertolo, Concierge at Pranamar Oceanfront Villas & Yoga Retreat.



The beachfront hotel on Santa Teresa Beach in Costa Rica has been cooperating with the program Pack for a Purpose, which connects travelers wanting to make meaningful contributions to help the places they visit and local community-based projects that receive and use the supplies. In 2014, Pranamar donated supplies to local schools in the nearby communities of Manzanillo and Montezuma that had been brought by hotel guests as donations.

“We would like to offer to our guests that if they would like to do something to help our community, and they can make a little space in their luggage, to bring supplies for the children. We have this great organization to give the donations to that is working with the children in our community,” said Bertolo.

That organization is the non-profit Aprendiendo Unidos (meaning “Learning Together” in Spanish). Since March 2014, Aprendiendo Unidos has been helping the local children of Santa Teresa and neighboring communities who attend schools that don’t have ample educational resources and school supplies.

Gabriela Medina, Director of Aprendiendo Unidos, said the organization currently helps four schools in the Santa Teresa area: Bello Horizonte in Manzanillo, Mal Pais, and two tiny rural schools of San Fernando and Bajos de Ario.
“They are doing great things and we at Pranamar are planning to work with Pack for a Purpose and donate all materials to Aprendiendo Unidos,” said Pranamar Villas’ manager, Mario Matarrita.

“We feel blessed to live in such a special community. Our hotel contributes to the volunteer lifeguards, to the security men at our beaches and to community events,” noted Pranamar Villas’ owner, Susan Money.”

 We have learned that the public schools are really lacking in books, paper, pens … all the things we take for granted as part of a school’s supply to the students. However, that is not the case in the public schools in Costa Rica. We invite our guests to pack a few notebooks, or any school supplies they can fit, into their suitcases for us to distribute to various schools. It sets a tone of appreciation not only from those of us who are residents, but from people all over the world who are able to spend time in this part of the world.”

“Pranamar will make sure your gifts go directly to the schools, and your kindness will make a difference long after you leave!” Money added.
What can you bring or give:
Ongoing needs:

• School supplies like pencils, notebooks, kids’ scissors, backpacks, etc.
• Art supplies for painting and coloring
• Children’s books in English or Spanish
• Ball caps, sun hats and sunscreen for kids
• Water filters and re-usable water bottles
• Games like puzzles, Scrabble, etc.
• Musical instruments
• Funds to help pay for school uniforms, assist with nutritional support at the schools, upgrade school facilities

Requests for 2015:

• 6 First aid kits for the schools
• 50 New or gently-used yoga mats to teach kids yoga
• IPod and speakers to use for dance lessons & yoga
• 50 Mini-computers or tablets for language lessons, etc.

Pranamar Oceanfront Villas & Yoga Retreat

On award-winning Santa Teresa Beach in Costa Rica, on the southern Nicoya Peninsula, Pranamar Oceanfront Villas specializes in Costa Rica yoga retreats and Costa Rica surfing vacations, with daily yoga classes for hotel guests and the public.

Article by Shannon Farley