Costa Rica Vacation Itinerary: 7-Day Best of the Osa Peninsula

15 Jun 2011

Best of the Osa Peninsula Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival

Fly into San Jose’s International Airport Juan Santamaria in the afternoon. Spend the night at a hotel in downtown San Jose, and maybe go out to dinner at a well-known local restaurant like Grano de Oro. San Jose is known for its awesome nightlife, so ask some locals for their personal recommendations, which will vary depending upon the night of the week.

Day 2: Fly to Puerto Jimenez and Osa Wildlife Sanctuary

Arrive in Puerto Jimenez in the morning. Drop your things off at the Iguana Lodge, just minutes from the air strip. Then get up close and personal with playful spider monkeys, endangered scarlet macaws and recovering sloths at the Osa Wildlife Sanctuary, just across the bay from the Puerto Jimenez dock. The Sanctuary depends upon donations to survive, and they do a great job – so make a decent one if you can!

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Costa Rica’s “Friends of National Parks” Program a Success

15 Jun 2011

Nature Air forms alliance with Costa Rica’s National Parks.
Costa Rica’s vast biological diversity is protected by an intricate system of national parks that encompasses most of the country’s landmass. In order to provide support for the park system beyond state funding, the Amigos de los Parques program, or “Friends of the National Parks” in English, has been put into place by ProParques, SINAC, National System of Conservation Areas, and FUNDECOR, the Foundation for the Development of the Central Volcanic Range. The program’s goal is to create a community of patrons commited to protecting Costa Rica’s national parks, and to improve the services presently offerred to visiters in these wildlife regions.

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My Costa Rica Vacation at Lapa Rios

15 Jun 2011

By: Cecilia Carmona

Translated by: Genna Marie Robustelli


The magic of my visit began in Puerto Jimenez, along the winding road of dramatic, green landscapes. The smell of the land, the immense pastures and the myriad shades of green can truly be appreciated only in the mountains and over rivers that we crossed. We drove until we’d left the stress of the city completely behind us.


Lapa Rios is a unique place where the calm and exhuberence of the forest is present in each and every moment – in the impressive view of the turquoise-blue sea mixed with the verdant rainforest, in the sounds of the ubiquitous howler monkeys and in the countless species of birds like scarlet macaws, tucans, and pavones. This combined with the personal mission that each and every Lapa Rios employee has to make guests’ stays something truly special. The hotel offers a variety of activities for people from all walks of life – from nature trails around the property, bird watching tours, visits to Cano Island and, of course, excursions to Corcovado National Park.

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Medical Tourism in Costa Rica

11 Feb 2011


Dr. Daianna Morales with Canadian Brad Roach


More and more North Americans are saying adios to expensive healthcare costs in the United States and Canada and opting to take advantage of comparable medical services in countries like Costa Rica, often at  30 to 80% of the cost. Plus, throw in some recovery time at a relaxing volcanic mud spa or the lush rainforests and you’ve not only fixed your health problem – you’ve found the perfect excuse for a tropical vacation.

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Best Costa Rica Beaches

03 Feb 2011


One of many gorgeous Costa Rican beaches


Costa Rica is one of the only places in the world where you can still find immaculate, untouched stretches of shoreline – here is a list of some of the best beaches in the country.

Top Costa Rica Beaches

Best Beach in GUANACASTE: Playa Grande

Playa Grande is our top pick for beaches in the province of Guanacaste for multiple reasons. First of all, it’s downright stunning. Stretching on for miles and miles, Playa Grande, or “Big Beach,” is big in both size and beauty. It offers seriously impressive surfing waves, and encompasses one of the only national parks in the world where you can watch immense leatherback sea turtles (often the size of a compact car) digging nests and laying eggs – or babies hatching from them.  Its close proximity to two golf courses, an international airport and the bustling party town of Tamarindo ensures that there is something for everyone at Playa Grande.

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Top Costa Rica Bird Watching Hotspots

14 Jan 2011


Resplendent Quetzal


With over 800 documented avian species in Costa Rica, it comes as no surprise that bird watching in the country is unparalleled. Here is a list of our top places to see for phenomenal Costa Rican birding:

  • Palo Verde National Park – Located at the mouth of the Tempisque River, Palo Verde National Park is home to species like the toucan, currassow and scarlet macaw along with egret, spoonbill and ibis. You can also expect to find various hummingbird and other breathtaking species in the area.


    • Cano Negro National Park - Because of its rather isolated location, Cano Negro National Park is one of the most biologically diverse protected areas in the country. Its soggy mangroves are hotbeds for birds like wood stork, roseate spoonbill, neotropic cormorant, sparrow hawk and kingfisher.
    • Cerro de la Muerte – Cerro de la Muerte is renowned for its legendary bird watching, and birders flock here from around the world in search of the precious and rare resplendent quetzal. The best time to come is between December and June. You can also hope to find the resplendent quetzal in the Monteverde Biological Cloud Forest Reserve, Los Angeles Cloud Forest Reserve, Tapanti National Wildlife Refgue and Chirripo National Park.

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    Top Five Things to do in Tortuguero

    07 Jan 2011


    Nearby banana plantation


    Tortuguero is one of the most lush and biodiverse places in Costa Rica. Although it is the largest nesting site in the country for green sea turtles, it is also home to three other species of turtle, along with countless birds, insects and reptiles. The area is also surrounded by lush banana plantations, which can make for an interesting day trip.

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    Costa Rica Food: Ayote (Acorn Squash)

    30 Dec 2010

    Acorn squash, known in Costa Rica as ayote, is a delicious vegetable that seems too tasty to be healthy. Baked or boiled, sweetened or salted, the ayote is sure to become a fast favorite for any fan of pumpkin or butternut squash – the best part about it is its completely natural buttery taste, which comes right out of the oven (without the added fat of actual butter).

    Ayote only has about 80 calories per cup of cubed baked pieces, and is high in vitamin C, B6, potassium, folate, thiamine, and magnesium. It is also loaded with beta-carotene, the precursor to Vitamin A – which is credited with improving eyesight and reducing the likelihood of lung cancer (although according to www.cancer.org , some studies say that long term use of high-dose supplements may actually increase the risk of lung cancer in smokers).

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    Scuba Diving Coiba National Park, Panama

    24 Dec 2010


    Spadefish


    Three breaching humpback whales and a smaller baby humpback swam around the dive site, in what seemed like a formal invitation to jump in. I couldn’t have imagined a better omen.

    We were on a liveaboard diving trip to Panama’s Coiba National Park with Coiba Dive Expeditions, and so far we’d seen quite a lot of life.  This penal colony-turned-national wildlife refuge is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to some of the most legendary diving in the country – attracting endangered species ranging from sea turtles to hammerhead and whale sharks. Today marked day three of the 8-days island hopping around the park’s 430,825 acres.

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    Playa Tamarindo Raft Up Fundraiser

    16 Dec 2010


    Round Trip Transportation from Playa Flamingo or Tamarindo


    Nature Air is proud to announce sponsorship of this year’s “Raft Up” fundraiser party benefiting the Playa Tamarindo and Playa Flamingo communities. Local hotels, restaurants, shops, and agencies pulled together to sponsor the event, sell tickets, provide boat transportation, and ensure the success of one of the most important charities in the area.

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    Condofish Cleans Up Sunken Ship in Playa Hermosa

    02 Dec 2010


    Playa Hermosa Shipwreck


    Today Playa Hermosa’s artificial reef project, Condofish, moves what’s left of the enormous shrimp boat that sunk in the Hermosa harbor in mid-September. The jagged hull of the boat had been partially submerged in sand close to the shoreline, full of nails and sharp edges, creating a safety hazard for swimmers. Without the funds or manpower to move it, Costa Rican officials contacted Condofish to do the heavy lifting.

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    Local Artist Carlos Hiller Designs Landings Magazine Cover

    19 Nov 2010


    Close up of the humpback whale


    Nature Landings is thrilled to announce that Playa del Coco artist Carlos Hiller is in the process of designing the cover for its December/January issue. The painting is being done with oil and acrylic paint, and is scheduled to be completed just in time for the next edition. Hiller is currently about halfway done with the project, which he has designed specifically for Nature Air.

    Originally born in Argentina, Carlos Hiller has lived in Costa Rica for nearly two decades. He is currently the resident artist at one of the largest art galleries in Guanacaste: The Hidden Garden.

    He originally came to Costa Rica on a backpacking trip, but quickly fell in love with its diverse and gorgeous natural environments – which were the perfect inspiration for his artwork. In the beginning he painted exclusively rainforest scenes, but switched to seascapes as he fell in love with the ocean and the myriad of sea creatures that inhabit it.

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    Holidays in Costa Rica: Halloween

    05 Nov 2010


    Halloween at Pacifico in Playa del Coco

    Halloween in Costa Rica is similar to in the U.S.A.


    Halloween is not generally a big deal in Costa Rica. Here, Halloween is basically an adopted holiday – and one celebrated almost exclusively in places where there are lots of North American foreigners. However, that’s not to say that many Ticos have not adopted the tradition as a perfect excuse to dress up and party.

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    Costa Rica National Surf Team Homecoming

    28 Oct 2010

    Today, October 28, 2010, Costa Rica’s National Surf Team returns from the Billabong ISA World Surfing Games in Peru, where for the fifth consecutive time they managed to place within the top ten countries in the world.

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    Top Ten Costa Rica Food & Beverage Options

    25 Oct 2010

    There are so many unique and delicious foods in Costa Rica that it is truly difficult to make a list of just ten. After much deliberation, here are some of my personal favorites:


    Pipa, pipa! Bien fria la pipa!


    1. Gallo Pinto – This dish of rice, beans and cilantro is generally eaten for breakfast, alongside eggs, toast and sometimes a slice of cheese or meat. On the Caribbean side of the country, chefs add coconut and call it “rice and beans,” pronounced rice an’ beans.

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    Turtle Nesting in Costa Rica (part II)

    13 Oct 2010

    The Arribada


    New mother


    “If we don’t see some turtles this time, I’m gonna be ticked,” Kris said as we approached Playa Ostional.

    It was 5:10 a.m., and for a half hour we’d been on the Gilded Iguana’s ATVs, and crossing the same precarious bridges and rivers as yesterday – although today they somehow seemed less perilous. After leaving at 3:00pm the day before, we found out the hard way that turtles don’t like to nest in bright sunlight – the best time to come is at night or first thing in the morning. I sent a mental hug of gratitude to Dave, the owner of Villa Tortuga, for stocking our room with so much coffee, without which none of us would have been able to drag ourselves out of bed so early.

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    Turtle Nesting in Costa Rica (part I)

    03 Oct 2010

    If At First You Don’t Succeed…Try,Try Again!


    Olive ridley sea turtle in Ostional


    You really have not experienced Nosara until you experience it on a semi-automatic all-terrain vehicle. Staring, open-mouthed, at the narrow, rickety bridges and roaring rivers on the way to the Ostional Wildlife Refuge, your brain will tell you, “FORGET ABOUT IT. THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE.” Conversely, locals passing by will smile at your hesitation with reassuring messages like, “take my lead and don’t be a wimp.” My advice is: follow the locals. You’ll feel great for overcoming your fears, and get to see some turtles.

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    Dragon Fruit Cookie Pizza

    24 Sep 2010


    Dragon fruit, also known as 'pitaya' or 'pitahaya'


    One of the only sweet fruits to come from a cactus, the pitaya – or Hylocereus undatus, also known as pitahaya – blooms in Costa Rica and Nicaragua between June and November. Known as dragon fruit in English, pitaya is a bright pink globe with pointy bits that look like peeling leaves. Before picked, it vaguely resembles the magenta head of a dragon with a spiky cactus body. In Costa Rica, the pitaya is most often used for blending thick juices and smoothies. However its sweet, jello-like consistency is also perfect for eating as is, right out of the shell with a spoon.

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    Patriotism and Parades in Playa del Coco

    18 Sep 2010

    Independence Day is a big deal in Costa Rica – you can forget about the mere 24 hours of observation customary in the U.S. and other English-speaking countries. Each year, Ticos – and the rest of Central America, for that matter – dedicate nearly three days of civic ceremonies and colorful traditions to appreciate their autonomy.  September 13th marks La corrida de la antorcha, September 14th Los faroles, and September 15th student pride parades.

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    Shark Diving at Islas Murcielagos (Bat Islands)

    11 Sep 2010


    Fish at Bats Islands

    Fish at Bats Islands


    Apart from Isla del Coco (inconveniently located in the 310 miles offshore in the middle of nowhere), there is really no other place in Costa Rica where you can see giant mantas, zebra eels, squids, spotted eagle rays and massive schools of fish all in one day – except of course at Islas Murcielagos, affectionately known in English as the Bat or Bats Islands.

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