Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica: Birding

Posted on December 30, 2012 by examiner

Magnificent Frigate Bird. Photo provided courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Many people come to Costa Rica to see birds and Manuel Antonio is a great place to see a wide variety of birds. There are approximately 350 different species of birds in this area. Even people that aren’t normally birders, find themselves taking note of the interesting species.

You can go on an organized tour to see birds with guides that know where the birds that tourists want to see are commonly found. Or you can just enjoy the birds as you walk the beach, eat in open air restaurants or sail on a sunset cruise.

Some of the best romantic places to stay in the area which have only one bedroom are the appropriately named Villa for Romance and the Romantic Wood Chalet.

Some of my favorite birds to see are the water birds, which include the Magnificent Frigate bird (which is pictured above) the brown pelican, the roseate spoonbill, the white ibis, the neotropical cormorant and the anhinga.

The brown booby is a harbinger of dolphin as they eat the same food. Become familiar with this bird, so that you can easily find dolphin when you are out on the water.

Other water birds include a wide variety of herons, sandpipers, kingfishers, gulls and ducks.

If you have more people that you wish to accommodate on your vacation, consider The Ocean Penthouse which has 3 bedrooms and sleeps up to 6 or Los Elementos: Villa de Agua which has 4 bedrooms and sleeps 8.

As many water birds as there are here, there are more birds to be found in the nearby jungles. Here you will hear parrots and parakeets. I love seeing the variety of the colors of the tanagers, warblers and the cuckoo birds. The chestnut-mandibled toucan and firey-blled aracari are two of my favorite birds.

There are many varieties of hummingbirds and honey creepers which always delight visitors and many locations have hummingbird feeders to attract these popular birds.

If you have a large party to house, consider Villa Vigia which has 4 bedrooms and sleeps up to 12 or Tanager Villa which has 7 bedrooms and sleeps up to 16.

Birding isn’t limited to the day at Manuel Antonio. At night you can hear and see a wide variety of owls that call this area home. There are also night herons, nighthawks and nightjars.

There are many excellent birding books that you can purchase either before your trip or after you arrive in Costa Rica that can help you identify these birds.

Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica: Beaches

Posted on December 17, 2012 by examiner

Casa Romantica, boasts 5 bedrooms and sleeps up to 12 with 6,000 sq. feet of living space and 7 bathrooms. http://costaricabedfinder.com/vacation-rental/746/award-winning-luxury-estate-home

I have a hard time choosing my favorite beach in Costa Rica, because they are all so beautiful and different in so many ways. However, Manuel Antonio is high on my list because it is really the tale of two very different kinds of beaches.

In Manuel Antonio National Park, you have several fabulous beaches to explore, Playa Manuel Antonio, Playa Gemelas, Playa Puerto Escondido and Playa Espadillo Sur. As admission to the park is limited, these beaches are never too crowded and the areas around the beaches are packed with nature. The last time I visited, I saw deer, sloths, all four types of monkeys, raccoons, coatimundi and a wide variety of beautiful birds. The water was clear and beautiful and we took lots of photos. Some of my favorite places to stay when I visit here include: Mot Mot Villa which has 4 bedrooms and sleeps up to 8 and Discovery Beach House which has 3 bedrooms and sleeps 6.

Right outside of the National Park is Playa Espadillo Norte. It is a fun beach full of activities. There are makeshift kiosks selling clothes, jewelry, art and food. There are places for renting beach chairs and umbrellas. The beach is set up for volleyball and other activities. You can rent boogie boards, take surf lessons, or go parasailing. This is also the place to schedule a time to go snorkeling, dolphin watching, sailing or fishing. Playa Espadillo also offers great people watching. You can walk to bars and restaurants to get a bite to eat.

If you visit with a large group there is a beach for everyone and activities to keep even the most energetic group members busy. Several of the vacations homes can house large groups. Both Casa Grande and Casa Elsa have 4 bedrooms and sleep up to 12 people. Another popular vacation home in Manuel Antonio that sleeps 12 people is the 5-bedroom Casa Romantica. Closer to Quepos, Tropical Jacana House has 5 bedrooms and sleeps up to 13.

Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica: Monkeys

Posted on December 10, 2012 by examiner

Central American Squirrel Monkey near Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
Photo by Michelle Reback

Manuel Antonio is at the top of my list of places to visit in Costa Rica. In the next few weeks I will be describing many of the reasons to come here and some of my favorite places to stay, including two huge vacation homes, Casa Maravilla, which has 6 bedrooms and sleeps up to 16 and Casa de Anjali, which has 7 bedrooms and sleeps up to 15.

One of the things I love about Manuel Antonio is the monkeys, which are called monos in Spanish. Most of my friends that come to visit me want to see monkeys. You can find monkeys many places in Costa Rica, especially the howler monkeys (congo in Spanish) that live in the trees and howl as their name implies. Manuel Antonio is one of the few places that you can see all four different species of monkeys that exist in Costa Rica. A few of my other favorite places to stay here include Casa Paraiso, which has 5 bedrooms and sleeps up to 12 and Casa de Agua also boasting 5 bedrooms that accommodates 10.

Here you will also find the white-throated capuchin monkey (cara blanca in Spanish). These are what we think of as the “organ grinder” monkeys. They are smart and curious. Be careful what you pack to take to the beach as these are the monkeys that may steal bananas right out of your picnic basket.

The spider monkey (mono colorado or arana in Spanish) is the acrobat of the monkey world and moves very quickly. Unfortunately the number of spider monkeys are declining due to loss of habitat, but can still be found in Manuel Antonio.

However, the reason many people venture to Manuel Antonio is to see the Central American squirrel monkey (titi in Spanish). The status of this monkey has recently been upgraded from endangered to vulnerable. This monkey exists only in Costa Rica and Panama and Manuel Antonio is one of the best places to spot one. Like the howler monkey the Central American squirrel monkey lives only in trees.

One last place that I recommend staying while you are here is Casa Fleur de Lis, this is a fabulous vacation home with 4 bedrooms that accommodates 8 guests.

Nosara, Costa Rica: Surfing

Posted on December 3, 2012 by examiner

http://costaricabedfinder.com/vacation-rental/210/guiones-village-center-beach-house-built-for-surfers

With dependable beach breaks year round, Nosara is a premier spot to surf. Compared to some of the other locations, such as Tamarindo, which we covered previously, Nosara offers a more remote, less crowded place to learn to surf or to perfect your surfing. Two of my favorite places to stay when I am here are Casa Tranquila, which has two bedrooms and sleeps 4, and Green Fish, which offers 3 bedrooms and sleeps 6.

There are three quality programs which offer instruction and board rentals:

Safari Surf School - Teaches you how to surf or improve your skills. They focus on ocean awareness, environmental awareness, basic surf stretching exercises and safety. They try to maintain a 3 student to 1 instructor ratio and employ the latest methods to help students learn. Board rental is included in the lessons. Safari Surf School features women’s programs, and kid’s camps. If you are bringing a large family or group, I recommend staying at Casa Paulina, which has 4 bedrooms and sleeps up to 12.

Coconut Harry’s Surf Shop – Boasts the largest selections of boards and the closest school to the ocean. They offer standup paddle lessons. You have the option of having single or multiple day lessons. Coconut Harry maintains a 3 – 1 student to instructor ratio and offers camera rentals. Two good options to stay if you come here include Vista Hermosa which has 2 bedrooms and sleeps 4, or if you have a larger group, there is Las Palmas Rojas which offers 3 bedrooms and sleeps up to 8.

Corky Carroll’s Surf School – Prides itself on being the first surf school in Playa Guiones. As such they claim to have had the best location options since the beach was undiscovered at the time. They tout the fact that they get all directions of swells and various types of waves. This allows for practice in all types of conditions and is ideal for all levels of surfing. A perfect budget rental for your stay while you are here is Casa Maple Sun, it has 2 bedrooms and sleeps up to 4.

Nosara, Costa Rica: Turtles

Posted on November 25, 2012 by examiner

Condo del Sol – Nosara Playa Guiones http://costaricabedfinder.com/vacation-rental/100/modern-beach-condo-short-walk-to-playa-guiones

Just north of Playa Nosara is Playa Ostional, site of the Ostional Wildlife Refuge. This remote beach is the marine turtle nest ground of the Olive Ridley (Lora) and Leatherback (Baula). The arribada, mass nesting, at this beach is one of the largest in the world. It is estimated that as many as a million sea turtles lay their eggs in the beach each year. The largest arribada was recorded in Ostional in November 1995, when a calculated 500,000 female turtles came ashore. Some of the places that you can stay if you want to see this spectacular event include: La Sencilla – Nosara Playa Guiones, Dos Corazones – Nosara Playa Pelada, and Los Pericos – Nosara Playa Pelada, all of which sleeps 6.

The best time to see an arribada is between July and December. The arribadas tend to occur on a lunar cycle of approximately 28 days. The majority occur around the last quarter of the cycle. Because of the infrequency of the turtle visits, no one runs standard tours. However when the arribada is in full swing, several local guides and agencies run tours. If you happen to be in the area during a nesting, make it a point to visit this fascinating event. One tour group that you can contact to see if the turtles are nesting is Iguana Expeditions 2682-4089. A few other places to stay include: HeartWaves 3-Bedroom – Nosara Playa Guiones, which can accommodate six people and Casa de Piedra – Nosara Playa Pelada, which sleeps up to ten.

Nosara, Costa Rica: National Parks

Posted on November 19, 2012 by examiner

Looking for some excitement on your vacation? Consider the sport of spelunking. You don’t have to be an experienced spelunker to visit the caves at Barra Honda National Park. This park features an extensive cave system with some caves reaching a depth of 655 ft.

The main portion of the cave that is open to the public is La Cueva Terciopelo. It reaches a depth of 62 ft. You climb straight down a wooden ladder with a safety rope attached. You rent equipment and hire a local guide at the park entrance station. They will provide you with harness, helmet and a flashlight. Here you will visit several chambers of various sizes with impressive stalactites and stalagmites.

The cave is open only during the dry season from mid November to April. It is a short drive to this area from Nosara and really any of the rentals would work for a visit here. Some of my favorites include: Casa de Olas One – Nosara Playa Guiones as well as Casa de Olas Two – Nosara Playa Guiones, both of which sleep ten people. I also really like Costa House, which sleeps four and Iguana Blanca which sleeps six.

If you aren’t into spelunking, there is still plenty to do at this National Park. Hike the trails around the area. Birding is terrific here. La Cascada is a gentle waterfall that fills a series of pools, some of which you can swim in. A few other locations that I like to stay include: Las Palmas Inclinadas – Nosara Playa Guiones, which sleeps five, Marisol – Nosara Playa Guiones, which sleeps four and Olas Playitas – Nosara Playa Guiones, which also sleeps four.

As of this writing the cost for admission to the park is $10. And a guided tour ranges from $20 to $35 per person. You can call 2685-5267 or 2659-1551 for more information.

Tamarindo, Costa Rica: Surfing

Posted on September 3, 2012 by examiner

Surfer in action at Tamarindo Beach

Tamarindo is the surfing mecca of Northern Guanacaste. The best time to come for surfing is between December to April. We went to Tamarindo when my son wanted to learn to surf.

Witches Rock Surf Camp was the surf school we chose. They work with beginner, intermediate and advanced students. The instructors are bilingual and they have a low student-instructor ratio. They offer daily surf tours to the best waves along Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. They also have a great surf shop and restaurant. Robert August, from the movie “Endless Summer II” shapes surfboards on-site. You can even take home your own Robert August surfboard. My son is athletic and got up during his first lesson. He improved during the second lesson. Each class had only one other student, so he got lots of one on one time with the instructor.

Tamarindo Surf School is another popular place to learn to surf. They guarantee they will get a beginner to stand up and ride your first waves in just one lesson! They also offer several packages. These include combination surf and Spanish program as well as a surf and tennis program.

Banana Surf Club offers instruction to beginning, intermediate and advanced students. They have experience teaching all ages of surfers. Instruction is available seven days a week in both English and Spanish.

Next week I will highlight the best surfing destinations in this area.

I want to share with you some of the wide variety of accommodations that are available in the area from Costa Rica Bedfinder. Each week I will select a few of my favorite places to stay with you. Here are some of my favorites in the Tamarindo beach area:

50 meters from the beach a short walk from JW Marriott Resort
Ultra luxurious 8-bedroom villa with spectacular Tamarindo Beach view
Tamarindo beach home with an 18m lap-pool on sandy beachfront

Flamingo and Potrero Costa Rica: Activities

Posted on August 27, 2012 by examiner

Play golf on one of the many courses near Playa Flamingo or Playa Potrero.

In part 1 of this series, “Flamingo and Potrero, Costa Rica: The National Parks,” I talked about two National Parks, Las Baulas National Marine Park (Parque Marino las Baulas) and Santa Rosa National Park. Part 2 “Flamingo and Potrero, Costa Rica: The Beaches” explored five fabulous beaches in the area. Part 3 “Flamingo and Potrero, Costa Rica: Arts and Crafts.

This area is known for its incredible beaches, so almost any water activity, that you can imagine, is available. In this article, I want to share some of the activities that aren’t as well known that you can do.

Horseback Riding – There are a wide variety of vendors that offer opportunities to rent horses. You can take a ride on the beach at sunset, or trek through the savannas and dry forests inland.

ATV tours – There are a few tour operators that offer ATV tours of the area. Most stop at a few beaches, and small towns. Most provide some kind of picnic lunch. Many combine the tour with horseback riding, zip line canopy tour and even surfing.

Canopy Tour – Fly through the air on a zip line. With some you may additionally have the opportunity to include rappelling, rock climbing, Tarzan Swings and hanging bridges. Some even require you to take a horseback ride to get to the canopy.

Golf – Guanacaste offers several golf courses most with views of the Pacific Ocean and you may get to see some spectacular wildlife as a bonus.

Spas – A wide variety of spas exist in this area to pamper you. Some are large scale and offer extensive spa facilities. You can have a freshly harvested warm volcanic mud bath and natural steam showers. Prices are available for every budget.

Spectacular 5 bedroom private ocean front villa rental
Playa Potrero Villa two blocks from the beach
Playa Flamingo Luxury beach condo residence

Flamingo and Potrero Costa Rica: The National Parks

Posted on August 6, 2012 by examiner

Boats taking people to Las Baulas National Marine Park.

The beaches of the Guanacaste Province of Costa Rica have been called the Gold Coast. With less rain than the rest of the country, Guanacaste offers a great place to visit especially during the green season from May until October. Both Flamingo and Potrero offer fantastic places to base yourself when you are visiting this area.

Two of my favorite National Parks in Costa Rica are located near here:

Las Baulas National Marine Park (Parque Marino las Baulas)

The Leatherback Turtle (in Spanish baula) nests in only 13 places in the world. One of these places is at Las Baulas National Park which is located south of Flamingo and Portrero, near Tamarindo. The Leatherback turtle is the largest reptile in the world weighing an average of 1,300 pounds. This is an ancient species which dates back 150 million years. They are approximately six feet long and three and a half feet wide. They nest October through February. If you want to see them nesting, which is an incredible experience you have to be escorted by guides from the National Park Service. There are many tours to take you to the park or you can contact the National Park Service directly.

Santa Rosa National Park

Located approximately 45 miles north of Flamingo and Portrero is Santa Rosa National Park, a site of both historical and ecological significance. The Hacienda Santa Rosa marks the fall of filibuster William Walkers mercenaries that wanted to take over and enslave Costa Rica.

This 122,350 acre park offers ten different habitats which range from a mangrove swamp to a dry tropical forest. Santa Rosa National Park is a great place to see a wide variety of animal species. There are 115 species of mammals including the white face, spider and howler monkey and five species of the big cats. Over 250 species of birds and 3,200 species of butterflies call Santa Rosa home. At Playa Nancite you can experience a large nesting ground of the Olive Ridley Turtle from July to November.

The Murcielago sector is home to a large number of bats. The road to the park is well marked. You may wish to hire a guide in the park so that you can make the most of your time here.

Opulent Flamingo Beach ocean view villa with gym, sauna and media room

7-bedroom classic Spanish villa on Flamingo beachfront

Ultra luxury vacation villa on Flamingo beachfront

Dominical, Costa Rica: Land Activities

Posted on July 23, 2012 by examiner

Scarlet Macaw

This month we are looking at Dominical, Costa Rica. In part 1 of this series, I talked about two of my favorite National Parks. In part 2, I shared with you the incredible beaches in Dominical. In part 3, I discussed water activities.

This article will discuss the wide variety of land activities Dominical has to offer.

Bird Watching

Costa Rica is a bird lover’s paradise, boasting more than 850 species of birds. Approximately 600 of these bird species reside in Costa Rica year-round; the rest migrate seasonally. In Dominical you can see a wide variety of birds. You may wish to invest in a professional tour or a good bird book. My favorite book is the Birds of Costa Rica by Richard Garrigues and Robert Dean.

Some of the popular birds commonly found in the area include the Toucans and Parrots. At the Corvovado National Park, south of Dominical, visitors can see the rare Scarlet Macaw in the wild.

Horseback Riding

Several companies in Domincal offer horseback riding guided tours. Take a ride on the beach on a beautiful horse. Explore on jungle trails where you ford rivers on horseback. Take a ride to 600′ Diamante Waterfall or the lesser known 600 + foot Angel Waterfall. There are a variety of different places to explore and many include opportunities to see birds and take photos along the way. Options include full and half day trips. There are horses available for beginning to experienced riders.

Tree Climb

Did you love Tree climbing as a child? Well you can take it to the next level and then some. With the tree climb you will use specialized equipment, harnesses and ascenders to climb via a rope to the upper branches of a rainforest tree. You climb to a height of 113 feet where you can sit on the branches and be part of the canopy. An English speaking naturalist guide will be with you. You don’t have to be strong to do this, but you do need to be somewhat physically fit.

Zip Line

No vacation to Costa Rica is complete without the breath-taking experience of flying through the canopy on a zip line. It is a great way to see the rain forest. In Dominical the zip line offers 8 separate cable ridges where you fly from one ridge top to another across valleys and streams. The tour will have two guides and at least one of them speaks fluent English.

I also want to share with you some of the wide variety of accommodations that are available in the area from Costa Rica Bedfinder. Each week I will select a few of my favorite places to stay with you.

Opposite the Escaleras hills on the ocean side, the Puerto Cito is where you will find two of my favorite vacation rentals.

‘The Edge’, is an Estate villa with 180 degree vistas of ocean and jungle, as well as an architectural jewel.

Another great option is “Casa Ramon”, considered by many to be The ultimate luxury home away from home in Costa Rica.

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