Getting to the Costa Rica Caribbean Coast the easy way

While the drive from Costa Rica’s capital city of San Jose to the Caribbean Coast beach towns of Limon, Cahuita and Puerto Viejo is very pretty driving through Braulio Carrillo National Park, and over the Sucio, Reventazon and Pacuare rivers, there is a much easier way to get to Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast. Fly! It takes about four hours to drive the 217 kilometers – that’s 135 miles for folks from the States – to Puerto Viejo, where most people go for Caribbean beach holidays in Costa Rica. The stretch on Route 32 through the Braulio Carrillo National Park is certainly very beautiful, but can also be treacherous when raining, foggy, or after dark – a good portion of the time.

Save yourself the headache and stress of driving. Getting to the southern Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica is easy on 30-minute domestic flights between San Jose and Limon operated by Nature Air and Sansa Airlines. After the 30 minute flight, it is only a quick 30-minute drive from the Limon Airport to Puerto Viejo. In an hour from San Jose, you can be lounging under a palm tree on a stunning Caribbean beach with a cold fruit drink in your hand. Besides that, the views of Braulio Carrillo National Park and the Sucio, Reventazon and Pacuare rivers are even better from the air! Costa Rican airline Nature Air operates flights four times per week to the Caribbean port city of Limon from San Jose. Flights depart from the Juan Santamaria International Airport by San Jose on Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, leaving at 5:50 a.m. and arriving to the Limon airport at 6:20 a.m. Return flights depart Limon at 6:30 a.m. and arrive to San Jose at 7:25 a.m., with a quick stop on the way to Tortuguero in the northern Caribbean.

 

Sansa Airlines operates flights between San Jose and Limon regularly, departing from Juan Santamaria International Airport:

• San Jose to Limon: depart 6:50 a.m. / arrive 7:35 a.m. Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun
• San Jose to Limon: depart 7:45 a.m. / arrive 8:05 a.m. Daily
• San Jose to Limon: depart 2:30 p.m. / arrive 3:30 p.m. Daily
• Limon to San Jose: depart 7:01 a.m. / arrive 7:56 a.m. Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun
• Limon to San Jose: depart 7:45 a.m. / arrive 8:47 a.m. Daily
• Limon to San Jose: depart 3:40 p.m. / arrive 4:20 p.m. Daily

Costa Rica Caribbean Coast

Sunshine, warm turquoise Caribbean Sea, palm trees, lush jungle, sloths in the trees, parrots and toucans flying overhead, cool restaurants, great hotels and a laid-back Caribbean vibe … what more could you want on holiday? The southern Costa Rica Caribbean Coast has everything for an idyllic Caribbean vacation.

Try out new adventures: snorkeling or scuba diving around coral reefs, go sea kayaking, hike in the jungle, visit a sloth sanctuary or a jaguar rescue center, learn how to make chocolate, surf some of the best waves in Costa Rica.

Whether you come to Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast for a romantic getaway, family vacation, friends’ trip, or honeymoon, the place to stay in Puerto Viejo is Hotel Le Caméléon. The Costa Rica boutique hotel offers upscale beach accommodations in the tropical rainforest, facing one of the area’s most beautiful beaches – Playa Cocles.

Hip, modern and chic, Le Cameleon Boutique Hotel has 23 rooms stylized in all-white minimalism with touches of bright colors that change every day like a chameleon, and all of the comforts you expect at a four-star resort. The hotel’s La Sula Sea Lounge Beach Club across the street is the place to hang out by the shore and meet friends for a cool drink or a light meal. Hotel Le Caméléon provides spa services, private yoga classes, first-class restaurant, reading/lounging areas, and a lap pool and cool water Jacuzzi.

 

Article by Shannon Farley

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Kayaking Golfo Dulce in Costa Rica

There is a magic in peacefully gliding along in a kayak, especially when it is on calm, smooth water along picturesque coastline. Kayaking in Costa Rica in the “sweet gulf” of Golfo Dulce by the Osa Peninsula – one of only four tropical fjords in the world – it is like paddling across a giant mirror to the sky. Close to shore, the clear water’s blues and grays turn to liquid jade, reflecting endless shades of green palm trees and jungle that crowd the water’s edge. Look down and you’ll probably see colorful fish swimming below your kayak. Dense green rainforest and mountains fill the horizon. There are very few buildings to be seen, and rarely another boat.

At Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge, there are plenty of opportunities for kayaking in Golfo Dulce. Guests have unlimited use of kayaks on their own, and there are four fun ocean adventure tours that involve kayaking: coastal exploration, snorkeling trips, fishing from a kayak, and a river mangrove estuary safari. Most of Nicuesa Lodge’s vacation packages also include kayaking tours. Kayaks are open sit-on-top style, and both single and double kayaks are available. All paddlers will wear lifejackets.

The coastal exploration kayaking tour can either be a relaxing hour of paddling for beginners around the bay by Nicuesa Lodge, or a challenging day exploring the coastline and nearby mangroves for adventurous paddlers with experience. You also can kayak over to the next beach south, Playa San Josecito, to Casa Orquideas Botanical Garden for a tour. Keep a look out for dolphins, rays and turtles. In August and September, you might see migrating Humpback Whales that come annually to Golfo Dulce to give birth; or also beautiful whale sharks.

Great snorkeling by a rocky point is a short kayak paddle away from Nicuesa Lodge’s pebble and sand beach. You’ll anchor the kayaks and then dive into inviting blue-green water to discover the world of colorful tropical fish, eels, corals, anemones and starfish. There are other snorkeling spots further away for longer kayaking trips.

If you want to try your hand at fishing in Golfo Dulce like a local, Nicuesa Lodge staff can set you up with the equipment to fish from your kayak. Maybe you’ll bring back that night’s dinner!

A favorite tour for everyone who visits Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge is the river kayaking safari in the Esquinas River mangrove estuary. This is an exceptional trip for viewing wildlife, such as crocodiles, caimans, rainbow boas, crabs, Scarlet Macaws and multitudes of other birds, and white-faced, spider or squirrel monkeys. Paddling through the dense mangrove forest is an extraordinary experience!

Eco-hotel Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge at Golfo Dulce The Costa Rica eco-hotel Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge sits on a pristine beach and tranquil little bay of Golfo Dulce, backed by its 165-acre private rainforest preserve that borders the wild Piedras Blancas National Park. It is one of the first sustainable tourism eco-hotels in Costa Rica and holds the highest level of the Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST) program.

Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge is located in southern Costa Rica by the Osa Peninsula. To get there, drive or fly (NatureAir or Sansa Airlines) to either Puerto Jimenez or Golfito. Nicuesa Lodge staff will pick you up and transfer you by boat to the lodge (about 30 minutes one-way). Included in lodge rates are all meals, boat transfers, all taxes, all meals and snacks, unlimited self-guided hikes in the private reserve, use of kayaks, snorkeling and fishing equipment.

Article by Shannon Farley

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Costa Rica family vacations are easy with vacation rentals

According to a top travel site, there are still travel deals to be found on flights for Thanksgiving and Christmas vacations. And with now 70 connections from destinations in North and South America and Europe, Costa Rica should be an easy choice for your family vacation. Three airlines just inaugurated new routes to Costa Rica last week: Alaska Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Thomson Airways from England. Seventeen airlines fly to Juan Santamaría International Airport in San Jose, providing direct connections with flights to 46 destinations. Ten airlines operate flights to and from Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia, allowing connections to 24 destinations. Costa Rica is a top family vacation destination for warm tropical sunshine and seas, beautiful beaches, rainforest adventures, affordable easy travel and plenty of kid-friendly activities. It is one of the safest countries in Central America and English is widely spoken.

What makesCosta Rica so great for kids is that each day can bring a different adventure, such as: zip lining, hiking in the rainforest, exploring a live volcano, horseback riding, snorkeling, and seeing wildlife like sloths, toucans, giant iguanas, dolphins and baby sea turtles. And adults get to rediscover the kid in themselves.

For family-friendly accommodations, look no further than Costa Rica vacation rentals. Staying in vacation condos, villas or homes give you more space and amenities for less money than the equivalent at a hotel. In Guanacaste, Costa Rica – on the North Pacific Coast, known for beautiful beaches and lots of activities – you have available Costa Rica vacation condo rentals and Costa Rica beach rentals.

The Pacifico Condos in popular beach town Playa del Coco (“Coco Beach”) offer 13 one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom condos in a gated community with 24-hour security. There are two swimming pools, a Jacuzzi, large green areas, bike paths, plenty of parking, a shopping center with restaurants, a grocery store and a bank, and a private beach club with shuttle service. A concierge service can arrange tours for you.

Costa Rica vacation villas on the small, uncrowded beach of Playa Prieta. Fully-equipped beachfront villas either have two or three bedrooms, and two or three bathrooms, in one or two-story villas. There are children’s and adult swimming pools and a children’s playground.

 
Contact All Costa Rica Rentals today to see what Costa Rica condo rentals, villa rentals and Costa Rica beach rentals are available.  

 

Article by Shannon Farley

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Guide to Restaurants in Atenas Costa Rica

Here is a sampling of some of the favorite restaurants in Atenas, Costa Rica – frequented both by native Costa Ricans and foreign residents. Although it is a small town, Atenas has a great number of restaurants to enjoy. So this is definitely not a comprehensive list, and there are many more restaurants, fast food places, little cafes, bars and ice cream shops to discover around town and the outlying neighborhoods. For more information about Atenas – named a top place for international retirement – check out the Guide to Living in Atenas, Costa Rica by real estate agency Pure Life Development of Atenas. If you are thinking about buying a home, investment property, or other Atenas Costa Rica real estate, contact Atenas Costa Rica realtors Dennis Easters and Gerardo Porras Gonzalez.

Restaurants in Atenas, Costa Rica

• Antanos Restaurant: Traditional Costa Rican cuisine served in a charming, yellow and white, restored antique house – one of the oldest houses in downtown Atenas. Located 50 meters northeast of the Central Park. Open for breakfast, lunch & dinner, 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily. (506) 2446-7542.

• Balcon del Café: Freshly made German and international cuisine; daily lunch specials. Also have an on-site bakery with fresh breads, quiches, pastries & desserts, and a mini-delicatessen selling German sausages & other foods. Located on Hwy. 3, 100 meters west of the flashing yellow light. Open for breakfast and lunch, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday to Saturday. (506) 2446-8592.
  

• Donde Bocha Café: Mexican-style cuisine & fast food. Located across from the ICE electric company office, next to Miranda hardware store in downtown Atenas. Open for lunch and dinner, 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday & Sunday; 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Friday & Saturday; closed Mondays. (506) 2446-2028.

• Don Yayo’s Chicharronera: Traditional Costa Rican cuisine; specializes in “chicharrones” – chunks of fried pork served with fried yucca, pickled bananas and jalapeno peppers. Located on Hwy. 3 by the Oxcart Monument. Open for lunch and dinner daily, 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (506) 2446-5901.

• El Chiringuito Italian Restaurant (formerly Alida's): Italian cuisine and thin-crust pizza. Located on the corner 125 meters east of the Catholic Church in downtown Atenas, on the road to Hwy. 27. Open for lunch and dinner, 12:00 to 9:00 p.m. daily except Tuesdays. (506) 4702 9298.

• El Mejor Clima: Small “cantina” style restaurant with varied Costa Rican menu; known for its ceviche. Located on the corner of Hwy. 3 in Atenas by the flashing yellow light. Open for lunch and dinner, 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. daily. (506) 2446-3212.

• Gelly’s Jardin: Gelato, ice cream, desserts, fast food & coffee in an open-air garden atmosphere. Located on the west side of the Central Park. Open for lunch and dinner, 11:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily except Mondays. (506) 2446-1229.

• Guanacaste: Traditional Costa Rican cuisine in an open-air restaurant; specialties are ribs, grilled fish, shrimp and ceviche. Located in Barrio Mercedes, 5 minutes from downtown Atenas. Open for lunch and dinner, 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily except Wednesdays. (506) 2446-4995.

• Hotel Colinas del Sol: International and Costa Rican cuisine. Located 100 meters east of the Roca Verde residential development in Atenas. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily except Mondays. (506) 2446-4244.

• Kay's Gringo Postres: Known as the “meeting place” for the international community in Atenas, this little café serves home-style American food; special Sunday brunch served weekly. Located next to the central Health Clinic and Red Cross in Atenas. Open for breakfast and lunch, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday; 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. brunch on Sunday. (506) 2446-0664.

• La Carreta: Traditional Costa Rican cuisine in a fun atmosphere; also houses the tremendous Atenas Friends Lending Library. Get a book and have a great meal! Located 50 meters east of the Catholic Church in downtown Atenas, by the tourism information office of CATUCA. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner, 10:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday to Wednesday; 10:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Thursday to Saturday. (506) 2446-3156.

• La Fiesta de las Pupusas Restaurant: Serve traditional El Salvadoran pupusas. Located in Barrio Los Angeles, next to Don Yayo’s Chicharronera, by the Oxcart Monument on Hwy. 3. Open 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday to Friday; 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Saturdays & Sundays. (506) 2446-6987.

• La Trilla: Traditional Costa Rican cuisine, served in an open-air garden atmosphere. Located 50 meters east of the Coopeatenas gas station on Hwy. 3. Open for lunch and dinner, 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily except Tuesdays. (506) 2446-8593.

• Pizzeria La Finca: Specialty thin-crust pizzas, pastas & salads. Located in front of the Civil Registry in downtown Atenas (125 meters west of the Central Park). Open for lunch and dinner, 11:45 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily except Mondays. (506) 2446-6666.

Article by Shannon Farley

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Costa Rica beach rentals Villas Estival are ideal vacation getaway

The North Pacific Coast of Guanacaste, Costa Rica is known for beautiful beaches. You can pretty much find it all here – white sand, gold sand, gray and black sand, and even pink sand. Some beaches are rocky; others wide and sandy. Some are bustling beach towns, and others are so untouched it may seem as if you are the first person ever to visit. Playa Prieta (Prieta Beach) is one of those beautiful beaches. With a little village and leafy, shaded beach, Playa Prieta stays isolated from the hustle and bustle of other beaches, creating a tranquil holiday paradise. The beach is very pretty with white and black sand curved around a small, clear blue bay less than one-third of a mile long (500 meters). From the beach, you have marvelous views of nearby Flamingo Bay and its surrounding beaches and islands. Prieta’s protected beach is ideal for swimming, body surfing and lounging in the sun.

This is the location of Costa Rica vacation home rentals Villas Estival. These Costa Rica beach rentals are a fantastic place to vacation on a small, uncrowded beach with all the amenities of a modern home. Twelve villas, or individual vacation homes, are exceptionally placed right in front of beautiful Prieta Beach. Managed by All Costa Rica Rentals, fully-equipped villas either have two or three bedrooms, and two or three bathrooms, in one or two-story villas. Villas have capacity for between six and eight persons, and there is wireless internet in each villa. Villa Romantica, or Villa 09, features direct ocean views and is the closest to the ocean. This one-story villa offers three bedrooms and capacity for seven persons.

The villas are spaciously distributed in a lush garden, all with direct access to the beach. Besides the refreshing and fun waves of Prieta Beach, there is a large swimming pool for adults and a smaller one for children. A children’s playground is near the pools, on grass, and under the shade of palm trees.

Nearby Villas Estival there are many other beaches worth exploring, including Pan de Azúcar Beach, La Penca Beach, Playa Potrero and its small village Puerto Potrero, Playa Flamingo, Playa Brasilito, and the spectacular Playa Conchal, whose white sand is formed by millions of fragments of shells.

Vacation rentals in Costa Rica are very popular, and often the most economical travel option for families and groups of friends. Staying in vacation rentals that are rented by the day, week or month give you more space and amenities at a lower price than a hotel room. Things to do in Guanacaste include scuba diving, snorkeling, world-class sportfishing, boating, surfing, horseback riding, hiking, and zip lines. Only 20 minutes from Playa Prieta is the Las Baulas National Marine Park at Playa Grande, where you can see nesting sea turtles.

Contact All Costa Rica Rentals to reserve your Costa Rica villa rental today. Great discounts can be found from now to December in Costa Rica low season.


Article by Shannon Farley

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Enjoy two best restaurants in Monteverde Costa Rica at Hotel El Establo

One of the great aspects about visiting the famous cloud forest in Monteverde, Costa Rica, is all of the fantastic restaurants in the area. Whether it is because so many international residents from all over the world live here, or that Monteverde is a popular tourism destination in Costa Rica, the result is the same – excellent gourmet cuisine at dozens of restaurants in the high mountain jungle. Two of the best restaurants in Monteverde are located at the luxury Hotel El Establo. Located very near the world-famous Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, El Establo Mountain Hotel features the casual dining restaurant Las Riendas and the elegant gourmet restaurant Laggus.


Las Riendas Restaurant at Hotel El Establo in Monteverde

With a nod to the hotel’s history as a stable, Las Riendas Restaurant – the name means “the reins” in Spanish – is easy to find right by the hotel’s entrance on the main road leading to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. The expansive two-room dining space seats 140 persons, and can be used for events and wedding receptions. A small, cozy “sports bar” is off to one side. Las Riendas offers a varied gourmet a la carte menu in addition to breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets. The breakfast buffet – included in guests’ rates – is ample, made to fill you up for hiking in the cloud forest all day! The delicious, all-you-can-eat spread includes a variety of tropical fruits, granola, cereals, yogurt, gallo pinto (Costa Rican rice and beans), eggs, sausages, breads, jams, muffins, juices, tea and coffee. Restaurant hours: Monday to Sunday from 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Laggus Restaurant at Hotel El Establo in Monteverde

An elegant and inviting restaurant, Laggus is an excellent option for fine dining in Monteverde. The formal restaurant features an international gourmet menu, and is open only for lunch and dinner. Laggus is located in the center of Hotel El Establo’s property in a modern, two-story building with balconies on both floors. The spacious restaurant offers seating for 80 persons and a top-notch wine selection. From inside the dining room or out on the open decks, you can appreciate spectacular views of the hotel grounds, a small lake just below, the Nicoya Gulf in the distance, and on clear evenings, you are treated to stunning sunsets.

On the second floor there is a lounge bar area where you can relax before or after dinner, with flat-screen televisions playing music videos, or you can enjoy a game of billiards. In the high season they offer live music. There is a Happy Hour every day from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., when you can enjoy two-for-one selections of drinks before you dine.

Meals by the very talented and creative Costa Rican chef Oscar Vargas and his team are fabulous, and well worth the trip to Monteverde alone. A recent dinner selection included an Oriental salad with shrimp and vegetables as a starter, beef with caramelized strawberries and pesto potatoes for the main course, and passion fruit cheesecake for dessert. Restaurant hours: Monday to Sunday from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Reservations are required.



Monteverde, Costa Rica Monteverde is located in Costa Rica’s Central Highlands, approximately three hours from San Jose, the Arenal Volcano, and Pacific Coast beaches of Guanacaste. Monteverde’s cloud forest is renowned as one of the most extensive cloud forests in Central America. Monteverde’s climate is called “eternal spring” due to its elevation range from 4,662 feet (1,440m) to 5,900 feet (1,800m) that keeps it cool and misty, with pockets of warm sunshine, rainbows and forever green.

 
Where to stay in Monteverde, Costa Rica Located very near the world-famous Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, El Establo Mountain Hotel is one of the most luxurious hotels in the region. More than 150 comfortable and well-appointed rooms feature either a private balcony or patio with magnificent views over the Monteverde forest and across to the Nicoya Gulf. On the property you can take advantage of hiking and mountain biking trails, the Tree Top canopy zip line tour, the Night Walk tour, a Spa, and two heated indoor pools in addition to other activities. El Establo Hotel is part of the Enchanting Hotels collection in Costa Rica.



Article by Shannon Farley

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