Tag Archives: costa rica accommodations

Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica: Birding

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Magnificent Frigate Bird

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: Dining

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El Avión Restaurant in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica.

Manuel Antonio is a popular tourist location in Costa Rica and there are a wide variety of places to dine here, from simple coffee shops to gourmet restaurants.

Some of my favorites include:

El Avión  – This restaurant offers a history lesson within the restaurant.  It features inside the restaurant a Fairchild C-123, airplane, the sister plane to the one in U.S. that was shot down over Nicaragua during the Iran Contra affair. Learn more about this incident, while dining on delicious seafood and enjoying a great view of the ocean.

While in Manuel Antonio you can stay at the Villa Mot Mot which features 2 bedrooms, or the Carpe Diem (‘Seize The Day’) which offers 4 bedrooms. Both can accommodate up to 8 people.

Another very popular place to eat is Kapi Kapi which translates to “Welcome” in the language of the Maleku Indians of Costa Rica, This restaurant features elegant food with an Asian influence.  Desserts here are spectacular.

Other places to stay if you have a slightly larger group are Villa El Salto and Casa Feliz both of which sleep up to 12 people. 

El Patio de Cafe Milagro-Bistro Latino is a great place for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  It offers a wide range of coffee drinks, fresh-baked sweets, salads, sandwiches and wraps.  It received the 5 out of 5 spoons! Tico rating.

Another great vacation home is The Beach House which sleeps up to 8 people in 3 bedrooms.  If you have a large group, an amazing facility is Casa Fantastica which can accommodate up to 22 people in 8 bedrooms.  This is an amazing 10,000 square foot home featuring a 30 seat cinema, a 20 person jacuzzi, a huge gym and a game room.

 

Nosara, Costa Rica: Surfing

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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

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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

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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.

Nosara, Costa Rica – Yoga

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Las Palmas Rojas – Nosara Playa Pelada http://costaricabedfinder.com/vacation-rental/96/tastefully-designed-beach-villa-on-playa-pelada-nosara

When I think about Nosara, the first thing that comes to mind is the Nosara Yoga Institute.  The Yoga Institute is an internationally recognized retreat and training center for Yoga.  They offer 100 hour, 500 hour and 1,000 hour professional certifications.  If you are planning to come for professional certifications, staying at one of Costa Rica Bedfinder’s vacation locations that are within walking distance makes a great deal of sense.  One of my favorite vacation rentals in this area is the Peace Retreat which is only 100 yards from the Nosara Yoga Institute.  Another one that is very close is Namaste.  Las Colinas boasts a 40-foot infinity-edge pool with a view over a seven-mile beach.  If additional room is desired the Casita de las Colinas can be combined with this rental.

However, the Nosara Yoga Institute is not just for professionals.  They have classes available for a wide variety of levels including beginners.  Classes are 90 minutes long and are taught in English and some instructors are bilingual.

Some of my favorite cost conscious options include Ocean Heights Apartment – Nosara.  In Playa Pelada two very cost effective locations offer great rates.  Michelle’s Hideaway and Villa Domingo.  The Villa Domingo location is a great option for a large family.

 

Nosara, Costa Rica – an overview

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Casa Pauline, located between the beaches of Guiones and Pelada. Photo provided by Costa Rica Bedfinder. Find more about this beautiful vacation home at http://costaricabedfinder.com/vacation-rental/152/pelada-beach-rental-home-in-quiet-shared-compound

One of my favorite locations in Costa Rica is Nosara.  In fact, this is one of the places we strongly considered living, when we purchased a vacation home in Costa Rica.  When I think of Nosara, I immediately think of yoga, surfing, and turtles.  In a country that prizes the environment, Nosara combines tourism with respect for the environment admirably.

Located in the Guanacaste province on the Pacific Coast, Nosara offers a remote beach destination; however, there is a small airport that can easily access the area.  If you want to stay away from the crowds and enjoy some privacy, this is the place for you.  Mel Gibson has a home in this area.

It is important to realize that Nosara is generally an umbrella term which refers to several towns located in this area.

These towns include Playa Guiones, a beach town which is known for surfing. The highlight is the seven kilometer stretch of white sand.  This is the most southern of the beaches that comprise what is loosely called Nosara.  Some of my favorite places to stay here include: Descano which sleeps 6 and Tortuga Feliz,  which can accommodate up to 8 people. 

Playa Pelada is the next beach.  It is separated from Playa Guiones by Punta Pelada, a peninsula that divides the two beaches.  This is a gorgeous but small curving white sand beach.  It is still an operating fishing village and you will see several small fishing pangas lining the beach. At the southern end of the beach a blowhole is visible when the tide is right.  Come to this beach for walks, shell hunting, drinking at Olga’s Bar or dining at La Luna Restaurant.  This beach is frequented by locals and their families.  A few of my favorite places to stay at Playa Pelada include: Villa Mango which accommodates up to 18 people in 7 bedrooms.  I also love Casa de Piedra which sleeps up to 10.

Playa Nosara is the northern most beach in the area, stretching to the mouth of the Nosara River.  Before the river empties into the ocean, it forms lush mangrove estuary filled with birds and other wildlife. Explore this area by kayak or standup paddle board.  This beach is often deserted.  You will occasionally see a fisherman, a surfer or an Olive Ridley turtle here.  This is the place to come if you crave some peace and quiet.  My favorite places to stay here include: Nosara Retreat Villa, which sleeps 4 and Libelula which accommodates 14.

Flamingo and Potrero Costa Rica: The National Parks

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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.

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 Flamingo beach area:

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: Yoga and Spas

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Enjoy a hot stone massage.

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 the wide variety of water activities.  Part 4 addressed land activities.

This article will discuss Yogas, Spas and ways that you can pamper yourself after all of the activities.

Yoga –  Bamboo Yoga Play offers classes in yoga and movement art classes.  Classes are available for beginners to advanced yoga students.  They offer private as well as group classes.  Experiment with some interesting combinations such as Danyasa, a fusion of dance and yoga.  Hoop Dance utilizes a hula hoop to explore use of space, rhythm for stretching and exercising.  Consider the yoga play swing, which is great way to experience the benefits of inversions and backbends without compression of the spine.  Another interesting option is the Artful Warrior Coaching.

Spas- Costa Rica boasts over 500 spas.   One of my favorites in Dominical is Cuna del Angel. This is a great way to relax after your activities. They offer a wide variety of spa services.  Some of my favorites are a Turkish bath, which can be a couples bath, perfect for a first or second honeymoon.  They have facials, massages, reflexology, waxing and some special packages. Two of my favorite packages include “Angel’s Dream” which is for the chocolate lover, featuring a chocolate scrub, chocolate body wrap, relaxing massage and foamy milk bath.  Another interesting combination is the “Delicious Marine,”  a mineral salts scrub, seaweed body wrap, clay massage and sea crystals bath.

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.

This week is Cuna Del Angel, which in addition to being an amazing spa, it is also arguably the best hotel in Dominical. Cuna del Angel is a member of ‘Small Distinctive Hotels of Costa Rica’ and also a vacation rental hideaway.

Dominical, Costa Rica: Water Activities

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View from Cano Island .

In part 1 of this series, I talked about two of my favorite National Parks and in part 2, I shared with you the incredible beaches in Dominical.

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

Surfing – As I mentioned in the beach article Dominical is known for surfing.  If you didn’t bring your own board, don’t worry, there are several places where you can rent a board and several surf schools that provide lessons. There are waves right for every experience level in this area.

Shoot the Rapids – Two nearby rivers The Savegre River and the Naranjo River provides opportunities to go rafting.  There are rafting trips for everyone as the trips range from Class 2 relatively mild rapids to the Class IV rapids for adrenaline junkies.

Kayaking – Explore the south coast of Dominical with the popular activity of ocean kayaking.  Depending on the tide, you may be able to travel through shoreline caves and view pre-Columbian inscriptions on the wall.

Fishing – There are many bilingual outfitters that can provide a wide variety of fishing experiences for novices and more experienced fishermen.  Options include offshore fishing for marlin, sailfish, tuna and dorado.  Fishermen boast that Dominical offers some of the best fly fishing in the world.

Snorkeling and Diving – The coral reefs and abundance of sea life entice many to snorkel or dive in the area.  Approximately an hour from Dominical, Cano Island National Park offers a magnificent location to go snorkeling and scuba diving.  Here you can see porpoises, schools of manta ray, white tip reef sharks, sea turtles and whales.  The presence of stone spheres on the island suggest pre-Columbian human activity here.

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.

Approximately 10 km out of Dominical is the famous ‘Escaleras’ community that has developed along a ‘horseshoe’ shaped road that rises up to above 1000 feet, allowing most of the vacation rental properties to take advantage of the phenomenal Pacific Ocean view.

Some of my favorites include the Newly Completed Luxury World Class Estate property named ‘Casa Big Sur’.

An old favorite is the spectacular Dominical Ultra Luxury Vacation Rental, ‘Toucan Alley.’