Category Archive: ‘Costa Rica Vacations’

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

15 Jun

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!

Day 3: Cabo Matapalo

Hire a cab or a tour guide to take you 40 minutes south to the beautiful Cabo Matapalo, home of thousands of tiny green-and-black poison dart frogs and three incredible (albeit little-known) surfing beaches in the country. The pristine white sands may be the softest and most immaculate in all of Costa Rica. Animal life here is almost as abundant as in Corcovado National Park, Cabo Matapalo’s northern neighbor, so wildlife watching is a must.

Day 4: Fly to Drake Bay

Catch a morning flight to Drake Bay. Enjoy the early morning sipping pipas out of a fresh coconut on a pristine and remote beach nearby, venturing into the water for snorkeling if you are feeling so inspired.

Day 5: Corcovado National Park

Take a morning hiking tour of Corcovado National Park via the La Sirena entrance – trust me, it’s slightly more expensive and a bit longer of a trek, but it’s so worth it. You’ll see many more animals than at the closer, more heavily-trekked San Pedrillo entrance.

Day 6: Snorkeling or Diving Isla del Cano

Snorkeling and diving is good almost year round at Isla del Cano, a small island roughly 40 minutes offshore that offers some of the best visibility in Costa Rica. If you can, try to time your trip during whale season (December to April or July to November) and you can combine a snorkeling trip with a whale watching excursion.

Day 7: Return to San Jose

Return to San Jose’s international airport in the morning and catch an afternoon flight back home.


 
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My Costa Rica Vacation at Lapa Rios

15 Jun

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.


I highly recommend not leaving the hotel without a dip in the nearby waterfall, with its cold, crystalline waters that make you feel like a completely new person.  Another important point to mention is the food: all plates offered are nothing short of delicious, with my personal favorites being the lime soup with pepper and cilantro, the coconut fish and – for the ultimate dessert – the mango crisp.


Lapa Rios is recommended for couples, families and people that like to get a lot of exercise. I feel very proud to be able to tell visitors that hotels like this exist in Costa Rica, and I invite you to come see for yourself. With one of our incredible Nature Vacations packages, you can fly to Lapa Rios and enjoy a truly unforgettable experience.

 
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Medical Tourism in Costa Rica

11 Feb


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


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 Five Things to do in Tortuguero

07 Jan


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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