Guanacaste Sunshine, Beaches, Cowboys, and Marimba

2.                  The Guanacaste Tree

National Tree of Costa Rica

1.          Catholic Church Nicoya-Costa Rica

Built by Spainards in early 1600's

3.         School children Nicoya Costa Rica

4.         Beach Guanacaste Costa Rica

Let's travel  Costa Rica to the province of Guanacaste.  (Northern part of the country). Known as Cowboy Country and also famous for its sandy white beaches on it's northwest Pacific coastlines.  Nowhere else in Costa Rica will one see so much color; music of the marimba, the national costumes worn on the major holiday festivals,  cowboys and cattle drives, rodeos and , bullfights.  Tourism has blossomed here because the second international airport opened here  near the town of Liberia.  Guanacaste was originally a part of Nicarauga, it's northern neighbor.  Evidence is in the broad-bronze skinned  faces of the Guanacastecans, whose ancesters were the Chorotegas, the indigenous  people occupying this region when the Spaniards came to Costa Rica and colonized (in the 1500's)  Christopher Columbus landed on the Carribean coast of C Rica on his 3rd voyage to the new world, opening the door for his fellow countrymen to follow.

Here  in Guanacaste the land was cleared of it's dry forest during the Spanish colonial era and developed into large cattle ranches .  The Spaniards used the Chorotega  to work the land and herd the cattle.   Now, very few of the Chorotegas remain, living in a small villages named Guaitil.    They sell their pottery which is  mostly museum reproductions.  And they are very good at it.  Tourist flock to see the pottery making process and  take home some of Gunacaste's local flavor.

How to get to Guaitil:  go to Santa Cruz ..easily seen on a Costa Rican map.  If you are renting a car the roads are good.  Then follow the map to Guaitil  (approx 7-8 miles)  It's a nice day trip if you are staying at one of the northwest beach hotels or resorts.

Where the major tourist attractions in Guanacaste  are located is flat,  so you are not driving up-down and around mountains all day.  The tourism attractions are  concentrated along the beautiful beaches and one can find accomodations  for every  budget.  Cars can be rented at the Liberia Internationl airport.

Interesting nature preserves are located in Guanacasate as well as  Two National Parks.  You can purchase day trips to these sights  right from your hotel front desk.

I have visited the following and highly recommend them:  Palso Verde National Park..a sanctuary for migratory birds..best time to visit  is around 1st December thru February.  Less birds migrate thru here the rest of the year.

Also Rincon de la Viejo National Park  (in northern region) is unique for its small gurgling hot pools all around base of volcano.  Nice to spend one night there.  You can drove your rental car or purchase a tour from your hotel.  Several small hotels are in and around the park...Check out your favorite guide books for references on hotels.

One could spend a couple of weeks or longer in this regions and still not be able to visit all the interesting places.

Climate: Warm   between  80-90 degrees F.  Most hotels have air conditioning.. take clothing that is casual and cool..cottons are best.

Activities:  Great surfing along most of the beaches,  deep sea fishing for sail fish and tuna,  hikings, horseback riding, photography,  birdwatching, experience a volcano,  watch a bullfight and an old fashion rodeo. Listen to the music of the marimba,  Breathe fresh air and just let the green of nature soak in!

Best time to visit: doesn't rain as much here as in the other parts of Costa Rica, so any month of the year is good.  However, mid December thru end of April (the drier season) you will see the beautiful flowering trees in full bloom in shades of  yellow and pink.  Beach lovers like these months because there is more sunshine.

How to get there: 1. Liberia international airport located in the heart of the province- or 2. drive from the central valley - San Jose area in a few hours..(roads are good) 3.  local buses are reliable and inexpensive.  4. Greyline (private bus line) and Interbus ...check their schedules and fares on the internet.

Hotels: Many different hotels along the beaches for all budgets and tastes.  Some are all inclusive-( the best all around deals) Check your favorite guide book for listings.    Plus there are many  small towns along the way with  reasonably priced-tico restaurants.

In summary: Have a wonderful vacation in Guanacaste.   Experience the Pacific beaches,  visit a working cattle ranch,  visit  the two national parks of Rincon de la Vieja  and Palo Verde.  And leave with the feeling that Costa Rica is preserving nature for us and for our children.

Remember to take with you: camera with your battery charger,  mosquito repellent, sunscreen and sunhat, small backpack to carry bottled water and other small things.

So travel Costa Rica and have fun!  And as they say "Pura Vida"

Poas Volcano National Park Costa Rica's most Visited

Travel Costa Rica to the most visited national park-Poas Volcano National Park.  My husband Ken and I left very early in the morning traveling thru Alajuela on our way up to the Poas .  We decided to stop at a Coffee Plantation tour called Doka Coffee Tour-Three Generations.  Here we sampled several blends of coffee, toured the plantation and processing plant, learning how coffee is grown and all the many steps before it  actually becomes a cup of coffee.  Highly recommended tour:  the $12 entrance fee was well worth it.  Time for tour-1.5 hours

Fifty minutes later, after passing fern farms, strawberry fields, and diary farms-all of which look like a Norman Rockwell painting- we reached the entrance to the Poas Volcano park.  After paying the $7  each entrance fee, we walked the 20 minutes to the actual crater.  Which was bubbling and belching from it's deep turquoise blue hot water pool  (geyser)  Quiet a spectacle!  We were glad we had worn our old comfortable tennis shoes and all weather jacket.  The weather was misty and windy-very cool, because we are 8,000 feet above sea level.

Then we hiked the  Botos trail to the secondary inactive crater (now a small jade colored lake).  Boy were we tired when we got there...quite an incline., but worth it.  This took us around forty five minutes up and down.

On the way down we stopped at Fredda Fresas restaurant, Costa Rica for a delicious typical Costa Rican lunch called casada.  Rice, black beans, cabbage slaw,  locally grown fresh vegetables yucca and chayote, and chicken or shredded beef.  Yummy.  Plus a strawberry shake made from the locally grown strawberries and desert-of course- was thres leches (three milk cake) recipe originated in Nicarauga.  Topped off with a cup of capuchino. Wow!  All for $8 a person.

Afterwards, Fredda insisted we visit his home across the street where we met Camilla,  his golden retriever  and Bambi, the baby deer.  Bambi was affectionately licking Camila's face.  Needless to say, they are great friends and companions.  Then he took us on a personalized tour of the kitchen run by his wife and children...the highlight being  the wood burning stove where we got a lesson on how to make homemade tortillas.   Fredda's warm hospitality is very typical of Costa Ricans.  They are gentle,  friendly and helpful, and find time for  their friends.  Not in a rush--like us north Americans.

Well..this kind of laid back life style is definitely rubbing off on us.  And as they say here in Costa  "Pura Vida" .... pure life

Ken and I drove our rental car, but this tour can be purchased from several different tour agencys (check at your hotel)  And is considered an all day tour.  Last I checked cost was around $80 per person.  Or hire a taxi (from your hotel) for the day..around $125.00

Clothing- very comfortable walking shoes and all weather light rain jacket.  Of course the camera--great photo opportunities.

Try to get there around 10 am or earlier because often clouds cover the crater (the later in the day, the worse it is)  However, hang around the crater awhile and the clouds may be blown over by the winds.

Dry season December thru April is best time to visit.  Otherwise you may get afternoon rains.

Unfortunate to say, but the other popular tourist attraction located 20 minutes from the Poas Volcano National ...The La Paz waterfall Gardens were heavily damaged by the Jan. 10, 2009 earthquake of 6.2 magnitude.  And for now is closed, the roads over to the waterfall gardens were very heavily damaged by the quake.

The road which leads to the Poas Volcano is open and in good repair.

Park hours 8:30 to 3:30  all year.  Entrance fee $7 per person.

There is a small coffee shop and bathrooms on the grounds of the park.  The coffee served there is Costa Rican-of course- and delicious!

Also a small museum displaying  the history of the Volcano and also a gift shop.

Remember:  Dress warmly- walking shoes and all weather rain jacket.  Take camera and  bird binoculars.  Get there as early in the morning as possible -clouds seem to cover the crater as the day goes by.

What time of year to visit?  Dry season is best- December thru April  However,  since this is 8,000 feet above sea level a misty cloud cover seems to often cover the crater (by late morning) but winds blow hard and with luck the  clouds are blown off the crater.

People visit during rainy season also, just try to get there as early as possible.  Park opens at 8:30 am and closes early at 3:30  p.m.  Entrance fee is $7 per person.

From San Jose the drive 1.5 hours, road is good and easily accessed  by  car.

Major tour agencies offer day tours  (around $80 per person which often includes lunch.)

Manuel Antonio National Park Monkeys, Mangos, and Macaws

A vacation in Costa Rica is complete when you have visited the lowland rainforest national park named MANUEL ANTONIO National Park  Tucked in a rugged cranny midway down the Pacific coast,  this small park  offers natural diversity :  sand white beaches, a coral reef for snorklers,  and rainforest teeming with friendly white face monkeys greeting visitors with playful curiosity.  Colorful iguanas crossing your every path, and lazy sloths hanging from the limbs high above the rainforest canopy.  Flocks of marine bird  soar overhead in the early morning, and occasionally Scarlet macaws can be spotted.

Hiking trails throughout the park are well marked, upon entering you will receive maps with all the trails well laid out.  If you hike all the trails, its a great work out...around 2 hours-part flat and part up and down steep inclines.....the steepiest being Cathedral Point, which is a tough walk up.

Park is open all year, however it is closed on Mondays   hours are 7:30 am until 4:30 p.m.

Temperatures     warm around 80 degrees   most hotels have air conditioning

Rainy season May thru November   sunny mornings with rainy afternoons

Dry season December thru April..much less rain...much more sunshine

How to get there?  car from San Jose is around 5 hours   Public bus from San Jose is around 6-7 hours    Small planes are Sansa Air and Nature Air out of the San Jose international airport and the smaller airport near Pavas- Escazu     Greyline small buses run this route...check their web site for schedules and fares.  Also a small bus called Inter-bus.

Iguana Tours is a very good tour company which has been in Quepos-Manuel Antonio for many many years. The main office is located in Quepos, on the corner- as you turn right to go up and over the mountain to the National Park entrance.  They offer adventure outdoor day trips  such as horseback riding treks, ocean kayaking, white water river rafting,  jungle canopy tours, mangrove tours, rain forest treks, and many others.  You can find them on Google search engine.

So travel Costa Rica to wonderful Manuel Antonio National Park and have a great Costa Rica Vacation!

Tamarindo Beach Sun, Surf, and Sandals

Let's vacation  Costa Rica and experience the great outdoors of tropical beauty.  Yes, everywhere you look is green and 1000  shades  of green.  From the rain forest of Monteverde and Corcovado to the savannas of Guanacaste.  And beaches! The northwest pacific has some of the world's most beautiful white sandy beaches.

Tamarindo beach, Costa Rica  located on the northwest pacific side of Costa Rica.  Lots of things to do here. One of most popular is surfing.  Warm water surfing is enjoyed year round  for surfers of all levels.

Blue water sports fishing.  From marlin to sailfish, to giant tuna.  The bay at Tamarindo is a perfect place to to find a sports fishing fleet of talented captains.  You can also fish from the front of your hotel for snook and jack fish.

Golfing:  there are two world class golf courses in the area.     Just check with your hotel for names and directions.

Hotels:  For every taste and budget.  And plenty of them plus cabins and B&Bs

Check out  one of the many Costa Rica Travel Guide books   Or the web  www.tamarindocosta-rica.com

www.visittamarindo.com

www.tamarindo.com

Restaurants .  A wide selection of international and typical Costa Rican restaurants  And a French bakery.  And yes there is plenty of fresh seafood.

Climate.  Dry season November thru April with lots of sunshine..rainy season May-October when it is sunny in the morning and rains in the afternoons.

Temperature is around 80-90 degrees F.  And you need an air conditioner which most of the hotels do have.

Transportation:  Car-    From San Jose international airport, the drive is approx. 4 hours.  Shortest route is  to cross the Tempisque  River bridge and on to  Nicoya and Santa Cruz , then  Tamarindo.  OR--by small plane ---    Sansa Air  www.flysansa.com or  Nature  Air from San Jose.  www.natureair.com

And the Liberia International Airport is only about 45 minutes from Tamarindo.

Retire in Costa Rica Why?

First, it's the climate. The weather is

GREAT!  Most foreigners settle in the central valley in and  around San Jose,  Grecia,  Atenas,  Heredia, and  Alajuela. .... and depending on how high above sea level you are ( 3,000 feet is average ) the weather is great. Around 72 degrees F. most of the time all year round. No air conditioning needed and no heating.  Lots of tropical breezes and warm sunshine.  Rains in afternoons May thru mid November.  The dry season comes t in late December thru mid April. Very little rain comes during these months and hundreds of tropical flowers are in full bloom including the many species of orchids.  On the other hand if you settle around the beaches, weather is much warmer, around 80-85 F. year round. Air conditioning is needed in the beach areas,  and  most all hotels have it.  But, the tropical breezes blow constantly and add relief to the heat.

Natural Beauty: Abundant beauty...especially outside the cities in the countryside.  From the rainforest to the coffee fields,  to bananas, to sugar cane, to pineapples...a thousand shades of  GREEN.  Tropical flowers are a million different colors especially the many species of orchids which are in full bloom February through April and May. Then there are the mountains, volcanoes, beaches, wild rivers,  and 350 species of colorful birds.

Lifestyle: Slow and easy..never get in a rush!  Costa Rican people are friendly and helpful. Democratic government with elections held every four years..no military coups,  or communist  takeovers.   Peaceful if  you live in the countryside.  Cities are noisy and polluted.  Biggest  problem is petty theft.

Cost of living: Depends on your lifestyle.  If you are  a high roller then of course you will spend a lot of money here.   However:  the overall cost of living is cheaper in Costa Rica than in the USA,  Canada, or Europe.   Fresh vegetables and fruit can be purchased weekly (Friday afternoons and all day Saturday) at the local farmers markets (in every town)   at great savings. ( Local supermarkets prices are much higher and the produce is not nearly as fresh) Housing comes in all shapes and prices.  So if  you take your time and do your ahead of time research you will find what fits your budget. In Escazu , San Jose, Santa Ana, and surrounding the homes and apartments cost more... Nicer ones built to American standards start at around $700.00 and up. The farther out you get from the larger metropolitan areas the less you pay for housing Places with views to mountains usually cost more.  Nice places on the beaches built to American standards are expensive ...I dont want to quote prices here because depending on rainy or dry season, the prices vary.  Cars are unusually expensive in Costa Rica so investigate this ahead and budget for it.  If you import your auto from your home country...the Costa Rican government will hit you with a BIG import tax.  So take heed...investigate this ahead of time. Contact The Association of Residents of Costa Rica  (ARCR)   www.arcr.net  for resources to help you with this.

What makes the cost of living in Costa Rica less expensive? Household help is cheaper.  The ladies love this. Usually one hires a maid by the hour.  You can ask other foreigners who live here the going rate per hour, but the last I checked it was less than $2 per hour but some benefits have to be added to this.  Some women want a full time maid and this is around $250 a month..again the benefits must be added to this. So be sure to get all the facts before hiring your household help,  gardeners, or drivers.  Check ARCR -Association of Residents of Costa Rica  www.arcr.net   Next: Private medical care and  private medical insurance is much cheaper in Costa Rican and is considered to be very very good.  Many of the doctors speak English and have trained in the US . Private Hospitals Cima (private hospital ) and Clinica Biblica.   Both serve very well the foreign community and are much  cheaper to receive care there than in the US.   Also medications are cheaper.

Real Estate taxes are much cheaper.  I pay $400 annually on my $180,000  home.

Dental is excellent and much cheaper.  I pay $350 for a crown..and I love my dentist, who is in Alajuela.

Recreation: Out door nature orientated activities are too many to list here so Ill tell you about a few of them.  Beaches, mountains, National Parks and wildllife reserves, white water rafting,  rainforest, deep sea fishing,  bird watching, golf...and more.

Social Clubs-Enough to keep you more than busy- meeting new and interesting people and learning new things.  to mention a few: Newcomers Club-headquarters Escazu   2. Womens Club of Costa Rica-headquarters Escazu , Wine Club,  Cooking classes and Gourmet Club, all headquartered in Escazu.  People come from all the surrounding areas come to attend these clubs. For the guys there is tennis, golf, computer club....and much more.

These social clubs and their meeting places, times, and dates are listed in the Tico Times English language newspaper published every Wednesday.  You can buy it in all the places expats go..grocery stores, airport, book stores. A condensed version is online www.ticotimes.com  (but social calendar is not in the condensed version.)

So who would like to live and retire in Costa Rica?  Burned out baby boomers looking for a simple life.  A more relaxed  and less expensive life style, and a little adventure when they want it.

Those wanting to "start a new life"  open a new business,  make new and interesting  friends,  explore a new part of the world,  learn Spanish, or find love and companionship.  And people who just searching for  a great adventure in a new land  of sunshine and gentle rain.