Costa Rica Spotlight: Best View of Arenal Volcano, Which Hotel?

The best view of Arenal Volcano is from the Arenal Observatory Lodge. And here you also can see the beautiful Arenal Lake. A large number of the rooms at the Arenal Observatory Lodge have a large picture window looking directly at the volcano, which is located 1.7 miles from the lodge.  The lodge is perched high on a ridge making the views in all directions spectacular.

This is indeed a unique place in Costa Rica!   Setting is  jungle,  one can wake up to the sound of monkeys and song birds.  Trails all around the lodge lead in and out of the  jungle setting. The swimming pool is spring fed with a hot tub at one end.   Nice small restaurant with a great view to the volcano.

Scientist from all over the world come here, including from the Smithsonian institute to do research and study the volcano with it's unique ecosystem.

Arenal Volcano had it's last Great Eruption in 1968 when it destroyed a near by village on the north face of the volcano  killing 86 people.  Today it rumbles and spits fire and rock from it's summit  but these eruptions are small.

Natural hot springs come out of the base of the Arenal, but you have to go back down  the road to La Fortuna to get to these hot springs.  Most famous is the Tabacon Hot Springs with its lush tropical gardens and very upscale Spa.

The side of the volcano where Arenal Observatory Lodge is located seems to have been lucky and has not experienced  any negative impact from the  small eruptions going on these days from the volcano

[caption id="attachment_2252" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Arenal Volcano in a quiet moment"][/caption]

Learn more about the Arenal Observatory Lodge at www.arenalobservatorylodge.com

Here at costaricalearn.com we would like to hear from you.  If you have visited Arena Observatory Lodge please share the  highlights of your trip.  At the end of this post simply click on comments or reply.

How are the NW Guanacaste Pacific Beaches of Costa Rica Different from the Southern Caribbean Beaches?

[caption id="attachment_2233" align="alignleft" width="500" caption="Cahuita Beach, Southern Caribbean Costa Rica"][/caption]

The Pacific and Caribbean beaches of Costa  Rica are Very different, one from the other.   The Caribbean Beaches are very  rainy and lush.  The jungle ecosystem  is wild and sparsely populated.  We see  sloths, monkeys, and colorful toucan seemingly everywhere. .  Beaches are lined with palm trees swaying in the tropical breeze.  The beaches are beige white and one has to ask the locals the best places to swim and surf.  The coral reefs just off shore offer spectacular snorkeling and scuba diving.  I will start  first by talking more about the Pacific beaches of NW Guanacaste.  There is less rainfall here so the ecosystem is more arid.  The trees are smaller  due to the destruction of the original  lowland dry forest to create large Cattle ranches.   We see large areas with no trees and fenced pastures with hundreds of head of cattle.

The NW Pacific Guanacaste beaches are probably the most visited tourist beaches in Costa Rica.  The Liberia international airport is located about one hour by automobile or bus to the beaches so that makes it easier to simply fly into Liberia, rent a car or take a shuttle bus to your beach hotel.  The big draw at the Guanacaste beaches  is the weather with sunshine almost year round.  Rains much less here .  It's usually sun all day during the dry season of May through November and then in the rainy season its sunny mornings with  late afternoon thunder showers. It's picture perfect for sun worshipers.

This long strip of  Guanacaste beach reaches  from as far south as Samara Beach  and  Carrillo Beach  all the way north to the border of Nicarauga.  These beaches are gorgeous.  Some places you find smooth stretches of beige sand that filters through your fingers with  deep blue Pacific waters  where you can swim and surf.  Other places the beach is rocky and you cannot enter the water.   Development took hold here starting in the late nineties.  The idea was to draw tourist who would ordinarily visit a place like Cancun, Mexico   but  instead come to Costa Rica's beaches.  Hotels large and small have been built here.  In recent years large hotels chains (with the money coming from abroad) have built 200-300 room Resort hotels marketing these properities as all inclusive- pay one price and you get the room and all the food, plus the transfer to and from the Liberia airport .  Yes, come and enjoy the sun and blue waters of the Pacific and leave stress and worries at home.

What are the Southern Caribbean beaches like? Here the ecosystem is much more lush and tropical because it rains all year round.  So you see thick tropical vegetation,  flowers,  coconut palms, and banana trees.  There is simply more big trees here because development has not hit here as hard as on the Pacific beaches.  Since there is more sunshine year round on the Pacific beaches, these beaches became more sought after for big developers.  The infrastructure, the roads, are not as good on the Caribbean beaches.  Many are dirt and gravel.  The main highway south of Limon (highway 36) all the way to Puerto Viejo is pretty good.  From Puerto Viejo to Manzanillo the road is dirt and gravel.

The beaches of the Caribbean are beige white sand and lined with coconut  palms, very beautiful and tropical.  However one needs to inquire with the locals a safe place to swim or surf  in the waters because apparently the undertows are strong.   Snorkeling and scuba diving are great here, not far off the shoreline.   Coral reefs and colorful fish are easy to see.  Again, you need to hire a local tour operator to take you in a boat to the best places.

Hotels on the Caribbean beaches are smaller.  You don't see the hugh 200-300 room hotels like you see on the Pacific Beaches.  Also this area of Costa Rica does not have a large international airport like Liberia international airport or the San Jose International  airport.   You have to obtain transportation from San Jose by road or you can fly  one of the domestic carriers into a near by small airport  such as Limon.

The Southern Caribbean has a an Afro-Caribbean flavor of it's own.  You see this in the food and in the music.   Houses are painted bright colors of blue and yellow.

You see more wildlife here on the Caribbean.  Sloths, monkeys, iguanas, hundreds of colorful birds such as four different species of toucans.  And in certain seasons of the year the green sea turtle nests and lays it's eggs here.  I was there in July and was able to see this  spectacular sight!

The northern Caribbean beaches like the ones around Tortuguero and north of there are not usually safe to swim.   So you don't see many people on these beaches, other than just walking along the beach.   The currents are very strong and the undertow  makes it unsafe.

I can't say which of these beaches, the Pacific or the Caribbean is the most beautiful.  They are very very different.  Each with it's own distinct ecosystem.  The waters of the  two oceans are very different.  The Pacific seems more blue while the Caribbean is blue, but a different hue of blue.  The jungle setting of the Caribbean is what makes it REALLY different from the Pacific.

[caption id="attachment_2229" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Beach at Hacienda Pinilla, NW Pacific Guanacaste, Costa Rica"][/caption]

Although, I must add:  the south Pacific beaches of Costa Rica are  still jungle like because the big destructive developers have not made it that far south-Yet!  Infrastructure is hard to get into there.  There are very few roads directly into the beach areas.   For Example Drake Bay and the Corcovado National park  (Osa Peninsula) have to be accessed by domestic air and boat.

The beautiful Cahuita Beach scene  was  shot by Stephanie Maussett.  An excellent photographer!

If you have specific questions about these beaches, please ask me by clicking on comment or click on reply at the end of the post.

Here at costaricalearn.com we would love to hear from you and share these questions and comments with our readers.

The People of Costa Rica

Travel to Costa Rica, you cannot help but take notice that The Costa Rica people are different from their neighbors in the other Central and South American countries.  Here we do not see the obvious poverty as we do in Mexico and many of the Central American countries.  Costa Rica is a small country of flourishing villages half hidden with coffee and sugarcane plantations, where there is a sense of ease and simplicity and the family unit is the most important.

Tradition holds that almost all Costa Rica's  heritage descended from rural Spanish yeoman farmers of hard working stock.   Yet from the Iberian Peninsula there were  Spanish Jews as well as Arabs.  There were Catalans and Basque  as well as Germans and English. The construction of the Railway to the Atlantic brought workers from Ireland and the USA, and also the West Indian Blacks.  

[caption id="attachment_2219" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Young 15 year old at Saturday morning maket"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2220" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Young mother selling jewelry"][/caption]

Chinese laborers from southern China joined the blacks in building the railroad.

Costa Ricans are essentially democratic and extremely patriotic.  They love peace and do not have a standing army.  It is often said that "Costa Rica  is a land of teachers, not soldiers."  The country spends a large portion of it's budget on education and the law requires that a child stay in school until the age of sixteen.  So most of  these youth can read and write, speak some English, and attend at least a technical school after graduation from high school.

Costa Rica is largely an agrarian society but  in recent years tourism has caught on here, especially ecotourism, due it it's immense natural beauty of active volcanoes, verdant rain forest  and unspoiled beaches.   Today tourism is number one in earning power surpassing coffee exports.

Costaricalearn.com strives to bring you interesting articles about Costa Rica's traditions and heritage.

A Vacation to Costa Rica? Come on Down the Costa Rican Coffee is Great!

ONE OF THE BEST THINGS ABOUT Vacationing in  COSTA RICA IS A GOOD CUP OF COSTA RICAN COFFEE!

[caption id="attachment_2203" align="alignleft" width="640" caption="costa rica coffee, green beans turn to red in November"][/caption]

Are you planning to travel  to Costa Rica, a vacation in Costa Rica? Don't miss the coffee!

The Ticos call the coffee white snow when in the month of May the white coffee blossoms blanket the fields of the Central Valley and it'd  sweet  jasmine fragrance  fills the air. Coffee grows best at around 4,000 feet above sea level at the cooler temperatures so the central valley slopes of the Poas and Irazu Volcanoes provide a perfect environment.

The Spanish immigrants brought coffee beans to Costa Rica from Ethiopia and Arabia.  When these seeds were first planted the plants were for ornamental use, grown to decorate patios and courtyards with their glossy green leaves, white flowers, and bright red berries.

Then the Costa Rican government seeing how well the coffee plants grew,  awarded free coffee plants and land grants to anyone willing to grow coffee.  Since the climate was perfect and the soil conditions excellent, coffee flourished and by 1840 coffee had become big business, creating an oligarchy of coffee barons who rose to positions of power and wealth.

Now coffee is Costa Rica's number one export.  And in just about every cup of Starbuck's coffee , you will find it contains a percentage of Costa Rica coffee beans.  If you are vacationing in Costa Rica and taste the coffee, you will taste the freshness of it.  The bean is harvested from the coffee plant, processed, and sold right here in Costa Rica..so it does not have a long shelf life.

I was lucky to be able to stay in Costa Rica for the month of July and of course drank the coffee daily.  When I returned to the US I was so disappointed at the taste of the coffee,  even the more expensive brands.  Guess it has to do with the shelf life and how old the coffee bean is when we actually buy it in US.  Best bet is to purchase the coffee beans and grind them just before putting them in the coffee maker.  And keep the bean in your freezer tightly sealed in a bag.

I have been asked, well what brand of coffee should I buy in to take home with me?   Quite honestly the bags of coffee you see on the shelves of Costa Rica grocery stores are all good.  Because they are fresh.

Recommendation:  Ask for a  plain cup of coffee with frothed milk or cream....just delicious!   Of course the capuchino is special in Costa Rica.

If time permits on your vacation to Costa Rica take one of the coffee tours located in the central valley near Alajuela and Heredia.

Learn about the Doka Estate Coffee tour located 6 miles north of Alajuela on the road to the Poas Volcano   www.dokaestate.com

Learn more about the Britt coffee tour located near the town of Heredia in the central valley     www.cafebritt.com

Here at costaricalearn.com we would love to hear you comments or questions so please at the end of this article click on comments or reply and let us hear from you about that  great cup of Costa Rican coffee!

I'm Planning a Vacation to Costa Rica, What's the Health Care Delivery System Like There?

This is from an article written by Jo Stuart for the daily  English  language online newspaper "AM Costa Rica".  Jo, as she is called by her friends,  is a long time resident of Costa Rica and here she talks about her experience with the government sponsored universal health care insurance offered to everyone.

She writes "While the health care and medical insurance debate rages in the United States, most of the rest of the civilized world has long ago found it's own solution.  Costa Rica is among them. It has a government sponsored universal health care insurance available to all for a fee each month.  This fee is determined by the income a person makes.  In other words a person pays according to his means. "

In addition, private health care insurance is available  from  many different companies.  One of the biggest sellers of this private health insurance is the Instituto National de Seguros, a government sponsored program known at the INS.

Jo explains that when she joined the government universal health care system she was assigned a clinic and a hospital in the area where she lives.  If a doctor of a particular speciality is not at this hospital and she needs to be seen by him, then she will be given permission to go to a different clinic or hospital.   This insurance does not disallow anyone for a preexisting condition.

Jo applied for a gold card (65 or older)  With this card you get certain privileges such as riding public buses free.   Also, with this gold card you can go to the front of the line in the public banks.

Also at the health clinics this card will allow you to go to a special window where you do not have to wait for a long period of time.

The universal health insurance also covers  dentist but you have to go to a dentist who works with this insurance.  And eye care is covered, again you have to go were the insurance is accepted.

On the other hand, private health care is reasonable.  Much cheaper than the US and on the whole very good.  Two private hospitals Cima and Clinica Biblica are very popular with the English speaking people.  One can purchase a health insurance policy which will send them to one of these two hospitals.

The Costa Ricans differ in their opinion about the government  run universal health care.    Some talk about long waits and standing in long lines.  But, Jo says that over the years she has received as good a care as she did while living in the US at a fraction of the cost.  She states that she had her pacemaker replaced (this pacemaker was originally put in when she lived in the United States).  Jo said that  she was very pleased with the doctors  and the hospital in Costa Rica  where her pacemaker was replaced.

People who move to Costa Rica and take residency will now have to enroll in this government universal health care system, whether you choose to use it or not.   It is my understanding  that you  will not have a choice.  Although I have been told that  the  monthly premium is not a great deal of money.

You  can read more of Jo Stuart's interesting articles by googling  AM Costa Rica.  Her column  is called "Living in Costa Rica".....where the living is good.

Here at costaricalearn.com we would love to share your experience with health care in Costa Rica, just click on comments or reply at the end of this article.

A Good Car Rental Company in Costa Rica, Solid Car Rental

[caption id="attachment_2183" align="alignleft" width="320" caption="Suzuki Jimmy 4x4 I rented while visiting Costa Rica"][/caption]

I would like to tell you about a car rental company in Costa Rica that I have twice rented from and have been very pleased with their services.  The name is Solid Car Rental company. I rented from their main office near the San Jose International Airport.  A young man named Jonathan, who speaks very good English,  was assigned to help me.  He was courteous and prompt.

I rented a small vehicle, a Suzuki Jimmy 4x4, for my husband and me.  There was room for 2 more passengers in the back seat, plus a couple pieces of small luggage in the area behind the back seat.  But is was just my husband and me so we had ample room.  I choose the 4x4 because we planned to drive outside the central valley and some of the roads have potholes.  The vehicle was a 2008 with all new tires.

They delivered the car to me at my hotel located about 12 minutes outside Alajuela,  the town located right near by the San Jose International Airport.  Rates for car rentals are very similiar among all the many car rental agencies in Costa Rica.  But do look on the car rental web sites for any specials that might be offered, and do ask for specials if you call and speak to a sales person.

Please read my article "Guide to Renting a Car in Costa Rica, Saving Time and Money"  It's under that same name in the categories.  There I talk about, among many other things, the importance of obtaining collision insurance through you major credit card company  BEFORE  you depart from you home country.

Solid Rental Car company has satellite offices in Liberia at the Liberia International Airport and in most of the other heavily trafficked tourism destinations.  All these are listed on their web site.

Learn more about Solid Rental Car Agency at www.solidcarrental.com Rates you see there DO NOT  include the insurance.   Call their 800 toll free number listed on the web site to ask all your questions and get  personal service.

Here at  costaricalearn.com we would love to hear about your experience with renting a car in Costa Rica so we can share it with our readers.  Just click comment or reply and let us share your stories.

Costa Rica Road Maps, Find them at www.costa-rica-guide.com

Many of my readers have asked me about where to find road maps of Costa Rica on line.  I found good maps at www.costa-rica-guide.com When the page comes up look to the left and click on Costa Rica Maps.  These maps are by regions so just click on the region you are interested in.  These maps show the MAIN roads, not the secondary roads.  If you are renting a car be sure to ask the car rental agency  for a Costa Rica road map.  They give them for free and these  are good maps which show both the main roads and the secondary roads.   Remember it takes longer to drive around Costa Rica than it looks on the map because the country is mountainous and mountain roads are winding and sometimes narrow.  Also weather conditions determine what speed you can drive.

Costa Rica's Exotic Flower, The Orchid Plus Other Exotic Plants

[caption id="attachment_2170" align="aligncenter" width="320" caption="Yellow Iris,  Lake Arenal"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2171" align="aligncenter" width="320" caption="Very Rare Cattleya, Scent of chocolate, La Paz Waterfall Gardens"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2172" align="aligncenter" width="320" caption="Passion flower ,  Arenal Volcano"][/caption]

Exotic Fan Plant,  Tortuguero on the Caribbean

Miniature purple orchid on a bromeliad, Lobby Ramada Hotel

[caption id="attachment_2173" align="aligncenter" width="320" caption="Flame Azalea, High Altitudes around Poasito"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2162" align="aligncenter" width="320" caption="Phalaenopsis, among the easiest to grow"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2163" align="aligncenter" width="320" caption="Phalaenopsis pale purple"][/caption]

Costa Rica Spotlight: At The Botanical Orchid Garden in Costa Rica, Learn about the Life Cycle of Orchids

[caption id="attachment_2157" align="alignleft" width="640" caption="National flower of Costa Rica "La Guardia Morada""][/caption]

If you are vacationing in Costa Rica and have a free morning or afternoon and you are an orchid lover, come on over to The Botanical Orchid Garden, located off the Jaco exist in La Garita de Alajuela.   Departing The San Jose  international airport,  head north on the inter American highway  (highway 1) and take the Jaco exit and turn left.  Complete directions listed below.

If you are curious about these exotic plants and want to learn more about how they are grown and their complete life cycle,  then The Botanical Orchid Garden is the place to visit.  It was established precisely for that purpose:  to educate people about the beautiful orchids and to remind people to slow down and enjoy what nature has to offer  and the importance of conserving it.

The owner Claudio Salas  said that he and his family have spent more than thirty six years developing the garden which opened to the public two and one half years ago. Mr. Salas explains that of the 25,000 species of orchids in the world,  1500 are found in Costa Rica, which has all the right conditions for orchids to thrive.  There is the combination of heavy rainfall, high humidity, and warm tropical temperatures and tropical breezes.

A thousand things must occur, all at the same time  for an orchid to thrive, Mr Salas explains.  Typically a tropical orchid seed in the wild will take growth on the trunk of a tree, and if all these conditions are right, the orchid seed will sprout and grow into a beautiful adult orchid.

We enter the first greenhouse filled with potted orchids which is a kind of laboratory where we can actually see the cultivation process of the orchids, from seed to full maturation of the flower.  This taught me more than I could ever learn from reading a book about growing orchids.

The second greenhouse  is home to dozens of orchid varieties in full bloom and what a beautiful sight!   Mr. Salas explained  the different varieties and what makes one different from the other and how to care for each variety.  I left feeling like I could actually grows orchids myself with a little  help from mother nature .

Getting There: From San jose international airport continue on highway 1  until you see the Jaco Exit (12 km) 7.5 miles. At the top of the exit ramp take a left turn.  Go 3 km or 1.8 miles to La Fiesta De Maiz Restaurant.  Take a left turn here and go 800 meters.  You will see the entrance on the left to the Botancial Orchid Garden.

Hours open:  8:30 am to 4:30 pm Tuesday thru Sunday.  Closed on Mondays.  Entrance fee $12  Kids are $6  ages 5-12.

The Vanilla Cafe, located on site offers food and drinks.

Read more  about the Botanical Orchid Gardens  www.orchidgardencr.com

Highly recommended!  If you love orchids and would like to tell us about your Costa Rica orchid experiences, we would love to share it with our readers.    Thanks,  costaricalearn.com

Costa Rica's Sloths Hang Upside Down in the Rain Forest and Sleep 10 Hours a Day

Sloths live in the tropical rain forest of Costa Rica.  If you really want  to see sloths go to the Caribbean low land rain forest  where hundreds of sloths make their home.  They hang  mysteriously, upside down, clinging to the tree limbs with their toes or claws.  Enchanting creatures!  But with strange habits.  They sleep around ten hours per day, and the other time is spent eating mostly tender shoots and leaves of the Cecropia trees. These leaves provide very little energy and do not digest easily, therefore, the Sloth has a large, specialized slow acting stomach with multiple compartments in which symbiotic bacteria break down the tough leaves, and the digestive process can take a month or longer.  The sloth has a very slow metabolic rate and maintains low body temperatures, around 86-93 degrees F.

They go down to the ground about once a week to urinate and defecate, and go to the same spot all the time, where the sloths seem to find each other for breeding purposes.   And females usually bear one baby sloth per year.

The strangest thing is that although sloths are slow creatures on land, they are very good and fast swimmers under the water.  When do they go into the water?  Well, we don't have the answer to that questions.  Maybe it's when they want to take a bath?

[caption id="attachment_2142" align="alignleft" width="320" caption="Romance among the Sloths"][/caption]

If you are visiting the Southern Caribbean coast of Costa Rica be sure to stop in for a sloth tour at Aviarios del Caribe, a sloth sanctuary created to rehabilitate injured sloths.  Here you learn all about sloths and their life cycles.  And you get to visit with Buttercup, the first sloth to be brought into the sanctuary some sixteen years ago.  Also see baby sloths being fed with eyedroppers by young volunteers who come here from different universities around the world to study this strange creature and it's environment.

Would you like to join a Sloth Club?  Apparently there is one based in Japan with about seven hundred members.   Sorry I don't have the link to get you in touch with the club.  Just google sloth club Japan.  The club's philosophy is based on this quiet, peaceful, efficient, and non violent creature.

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Tamarindo Wildlife refuge and Las Baulas National Park, Costa Rica

[caption id="attachment_2128" align="aligncenter" width="320" caption="baby leatherback turtles Grande Beach Costa Rica"][/caption]

leatherback turtle Grande Beach Costa Rica

Tamarindo Wildlife Refuge covers about 400 hectaries (a very large area)  was created to protect the vast Mangrove swamps in the area, at the request of the locals who saw the large high rise developments going up near Tamarindo and were afraid that this would continue on up to the Grande Beach and other beautiful and serene beaches to the north of Tamarindo.

There are several species of mangrove that flourish on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.  The black mangrove, the white mangrove,  the tea mangrove, and the buttonwood mangrove.  Many birds made their home in these mangroves.  The most commonly seen are the great egret, white ibis, great blue heron, and the Muscovy duck.

Las Baulas National Park comprises three beaches, Grande Beach, Ventana Beach, and Langosta Beach.  Grande Beach which is part of the Tamarindo wildlife refuge, is one of the most important nesting sites for the leather back turtle, and the park was created in part to protect these turtles.   The turtles come here  to nest from November through April.

The leather back turtle is the largest of all sea turtles growing up to two meters long and weighing up to 700 kg. It’s the only turtle that has a very thick skin cover, very much like leather.  As many as 200 of these turtles may lay their eggs in one night.

Playa Grande (Beach)  is popular with tourists because of it’s long span of unspoiled beach with light brown sand.  The waters are calm enough for swimming and sometimes the waves are large enough for surfing.  You can see animals that live in the beach sand such as hermit crabs, ghost crabs, and mouth less crabs.

Where is Tamarindo Wildlife Refuge and Las Baulas National Park  located?  In the NW Pacific coast of Costa Rica in the Nicoya Peninsula.  It is just north of the  beach town of Tamarindo.

Many people come here for bird watching.  There are so many birds such as sandpipers, brown pelicans, frigate birds,  and the roseate spoonbill, plus several different kinds of seagulls.  Early morning is the best time to see the most birds.

Howler monkeys also make their home in the park.

Best time of year to visit.  Well if you want to see the turtles nesting then November through April.

Year round the weather is nice here, but on the hot side.  Around 80 degrees F.   This area of Costa Rica gets less rainfall than the other parts of the country so you generally see sunny mornings.  May through November you will get late afternoon thunderstorms.

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Greencoast.com A great web site for information on the Southern Caribbean Regions of Costa Rica

[caption id="attachment_2117" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Private gardens-Punta Uva"][/caption]

I'd like to tell you about a great web site greencoast.com   This is known as the greencoast.com network and is dedicated to Eco tourism in the canton of Talamanca on the southern Caribbean coast of Costa Rica.  This area is very much off the beaten path and tourist do not know a lot about it.  The coastline communities of the Talamanca are Puerto Viejo, Cocles, Punta Uva, Playa Chiquita, and Manzanillo.  It is a wonderful areas filled with diverse cultures and natural beauty. There are  rain forest , wildlife refuges, and beautiful beaches  Then there is the  mixture of  peoples,  the indigenous tribes,  the Afro-Caribbean people,  and all the others..North Americans, Europeans, and  Latins. This diverse culture is reflected in the food and in the music.

This greencoast network is unique in that it it makes every effort to include only responsible , green, and community based businesses. and included are some of the true pioneers of  eco tourism tourism in this area.  And the greencoast network hopes  that your visit will  be more complete by giving you the opportunity to involve yourself more directly with the community on a personal basis.

Here you can find tour operators, accomodations,  and natural attractions of the southern Caribbean regions of Costa Rica    www.greencoast.com

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Refuge National de Vida Silvestre Gandoca Manzanillo , on Costa Rica's Southern Caribbean Coast

The  Refuge National de Vida Silvestre Gandoca Manzanillo is a remote and exotic destination in Costa Rica, very much off the beaten path.  If you want a unique experience in a very diverse ecosystem, then this is the place for you!  Located on Costa Rica’s southern most Caribbean coastline, it covers 12,000 acres  consisting of  low land rain forest,  endangered swamps,  unique ecosystems and  farmland,  protecting 70% of the southern Caribbean coast.   Also protecting  10,950 marine acres,  home to one of Costa Rica’s two live coral reefs.

Created in 1985 the refuge  has a unique feather in that it allows local communities to continue to live within the park.

South of Puerto Viejo we come to the Cocles River.  Here is where Refuge National de Vida Silvestre Gandoca Manzanillo  begins and continues south to the Sixola River, at the Panamanian border.

What is the main attraction?  Well, there are many but the most famous is the park’s coastline lined with fine, beige-white sand beaches and aquamarine waters, where you will see swimmers as well as surfers.  However, beware of the riptides  (undertows)   Ask the locals before entering the water or ask where the calm waters for swimming are located.

What if I want to go snorkeling or scuba diving?  Yes, there is spectacular beauty under the water, located only about 200 meters off shore!   Especially February through April when there is less river silt run off.  There are so many different species of coral and sponges, algae, and mollusk.  Plus sea cucumbers and  Venus sea fans.  Most popular area for snorkeling is Punta Mona but you need to hire a boat ,  the distance is too far to walk.  If you decide to snorkel on you own be very careful of the riptides! To get a diving excursion check with the Coral Reef information center  (Aquamor Talamanca Adventures)   2 759 0612  www.greencoast.com/aquamor.htm

The Gandoca Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge  was formed to protect many living things. 1. lowland  rain forest, home to the many species of birds and animals  found here.  In the months of November and December you can see millions of migratory birds flying over head.  2. quiet swamps and  988 acres of marshlands  are home to  Costa Rica’s  sajo tree and the holio palm. (no other place in Costa Rica do you find these trees).  3.  the red mangroves,  found only in this spot in Costa Rica. They provide protection to a natural oyster bed, and is the only intact mangrove swamp on the Atlantic.  4. on the south side of the refuge, the Gandoca River Estuary is home to spawning Atlantic  tarpon and West Indian manatees, as well as crocodiles.

The green sea turtle and the leatherback sea turtle nest here during the months of March to July with a peak in April and May.

Inland , rolling farmland blends into dense lowland rain forest. We can see white face monkeys. howler monkeys, two and three toed sloths,  and iguanas.

Highly recommended to see the most variety of plants and animals as well as marine life in Costa Rica!  Hire a naturalist guide to get the best experience.

How to Get There? Go east from San Jose to the city of Limon.  Before entering the city you will turn south to Cahuita, then Puerto Vieja, then Manzanillo.  The park is located 7 miles (12 km) south of Puerto Viejo.  And it is not very accessible.  Many of the roads that lead to the park are dirt and gravel.  The sign are not very good so just stop and ask if you feel lost.

The  refuge encompasses three small villages Punt Uva,  Punta Mona, Home Creek, and Manzanillo.

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Weather in southern Caribbean coast Hot and humid.  Rains a lot here.  Driest months are September, October, and March.  But it is hard to predict the rain.

If you rent a car to get to Gandoca Manzanillo National Wildlife Reserve,  it should be a 4x4.

You can take a public bus direct, from the San Jose public bus station Caribe or  Caribbean.   Taxi drivers in San Jose will know how to drive you there. Takes around 4 hours.

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Choosing a Rental Car Agency in Costa Rica

Costa Rica car rental agencies are numerous,  So you ask,  how do I choose the right one for me?

First, go on the Internet and find the names of  some of the agencies.  After thoroughly reading their Internet sight, call the 800 toll free number and talk to a sales representative.  Look for courtesy and knowledge of their products. Check out at least three different agencies.

Reserve your vehicle before departing from your home country.

1. First, ask do you have any specials?

2. Is the vehicle straight shift or automatic, does it have radio, and air conditioning.

3. How old is the vehicle.  Should ask for the newest one they have..should not rent  a vehicle that is more than  2-3 years.

4. If you plan to pick up in one area and drop off in another, ask for the cost of the drop off fee.

5. Ask if they will deliver the car to your hotel and pick it up at your  hotel.  Most of the agencies offer this service.

6. Ask where they are located.  Most agencies are located across the street from the San Jose International Airport.   Many of the agencies also have offices at the Liberia International Airport.   Additionally, some agencies have offices in the major tourism destinations around Costa Rica.   Including the Osa Penninsula.

7. If you want to rent a mini van.  I found that Toyota Rental Car Agency rents Toyota mini vans in two different sizes,  one is a ten passenger and the other one is larger.  They will even provide a driver at extra cost.  However,  the sales person told me that the insurance purchased through a major credit card in your home country does not cover mini vans.  I suggest that you double check this with  your credit card company.

8. Do I need to rent a 4x4?  If you are going outside the valley of San Jose ,  Alajuela,  Grecia,  and Atenas.  Then yes you need a 4x4 because of the condition of the roads.

9. Most of the car rental agencies offer to rent  1. cell phones   2. baby seats  (required by law in Costa Rica)  GPS .  You can obtain a good road map from the agency so you may not  need a GPS.

10.  Insurance-is the most confusing part of renting the car.  Please refer to my previous article on renting a car in Costa Rica.  Look at my categories and you will see " Renting a Car In Costa Rica Saving Time and Money"   Here you will find valuable information on how to save money on insurance when you rent the car

Observe all traffic laws.  Breaking any traffic law carries a very large monetary fine.  Yes, it's  hundreds of dollars and driving while under influence of alcohol  can carry a jail sentence.

Speed  limits are in kilometers.  Major highways  is 60 km to 80 km     Within  City limits are  40 km    school districts 15-20 km and the children are usually all out in the street when school is opening and closing so observe this and go slow!

Costa Ricans generally are aggressive drivers and some drive recklessly.

Here at costaricalearn.com we would love to hear if you have had a good experience with a car rental agency in Costa Rica so we can share it with our readers.  At the end of this article simply click on comment or reply.

For the Tourist: What to see and do in and around Cartago, Costa Rica

If you are a tourist and want to get "off the beaten path in Costa Rica, visit the very interesting city of Cartago,  the last remaining original Spanish settlement.   You can drive a rental car from San Jose,  it's only 15 miles (around 25 km) east of San Jose and the road is good. Easy to find on a Costa Rica map provided by the rental car company.

Not to be missed is the most holy shrine in Costa Rica, the Basilica de Nuestra Senora de los Angeles. Take a look at my previous article titled  Cartago, the Oldest Existing Spanish Settlement in Costa Rica.   I talk a lot about the Basilica and have included  a photo of this magnificent structure.  It is a Catholic Basilica.

[caption id="attachment_2076" align="alignleft" width="137" caption=""Ruins" Iglesia del Convento, downtown Cartago"][/caption]

Walking  to downtown Cartago, a short distance from the Basilica,  you will see the "ruins" or remaining walls of the Iglesia del Convento.  This was built by the Spaniards in 1575 as a shrine to St James the Apostle, and was partially destroyed in the 1910 earthquake.

There are two local  small museums worth visiting which give an insight into Costa Rica's pre Colombian cultures.  First is the Elias Leiva Museum of Ethnography which houses very interesting historical artifacts.  Located at Calle 3 between Avenues 3 and 5  and is open 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. Monday thorough Friday. May be closed on holidays, So please check   Phone  2 551 0895.

The second museum is the Kirieti Indian History Museum located 6 km southwest of Cartago in Tobosi. 2 573 7113.  Open 10 am until 4 pm Monday through Friday.  Call first to make sure they are open since it is a small museum.

There are several small hotels  in Cartago.  Such as the Hotel Dinastia  at Calle 3  US $13- $16.  phone 2 551 7057.   This is an older hotel and the rooms show age but it does have hot water in the private baths.  Another is Los Angeles Lodge Calle 4 between Calle  14 and 16. and includes breakfast. The price around $35.  phone 2 551 0957.   It's balconies overlook the Plaza de la Basilica and the room are comfortable with private bath and hot water.

Eating: La Puerta Del Sol is a soda located opposite the Basilica . This is a typical  small eating place which serves Costa Rica dishes at very reasonable prices.

Cartago is not a large town so if you need directions just ask one of the locals.

Weather: Cartago is around 4,000 feet above sea level, so the temperatures are cool and often cloudy and rainy.

The surroundings of Cartago offer magnificent views and very nice day tours.  So if you have a rental car this is spectacularly scenic.  Or you could purchase a day tour or hire a driver.  1. Irazu Volcano   2. White water Rafting   3. Orosi Valley and coffee plantations   4. Lancaster Botanical Gardens.

Best time of year to visit:  Rains less in the dry season of mid December thorough mid April.  However the months of May through November also bring  a lot of visitors,  just bring along a rain jacket and umbrella, and comfortable walking shoes.

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Cartago, the Oldest Existing Spanish Settlement in Costa Rica

Cartago sits in the shadows of the mighty Irazu Volcano whose eruption destroyed the city in 1723,   and has become the wrath of several major earthquakes  in 1822, 1841, and again in 1910.  And , in 1963  during the visit of the late President John F. Kennedy, the Irazu again erupted covering San Jose with ash and badly damaging the agricultural areas around Cartago.

The  city government of Cartago is trying to attract tourism to it's city which is rich in history and abundant in natural beauty with the surrounding mountains and the Orosi Valley with it's coffee plantations.   Agriculture related to  growing  vegetables such as potatoes, onions, and broccoli thrives here due to the rich black volcanic soil.   Flowers such as  orchids and roses grown in the cool moist climate on the slopes of the Irazu are exported all around the world.

Cartago's rich history began  in 1563 when the Spanish conquistador Juan Vasquez de Coronado handpicked the valley. He said, "I have never seen a more beautiful place."  So the Spanish settled here and today it remains the oldest existing Spanish settlement in Costa Rica.  It served as the first capital of Costa Rica until 1823 when the capital was moved to San Jose.

Tourist say, well Cartago doesn't look like a Spanish Colonial City like for example Granada, Nicaragua with it's spectacular Spanish colonial architecture.  Well, Cartago was practically destroyed 1723 eruption of the Irazu Volcano. And when it was rebuilt, it never retained the same Spanish influence in it's  architectural designs.

Today, Cartago is home to the famous Costa Rica Institute of Technology, one of the country's most prestigious institutions of higher learning and one of central America's most important engineering schools, especially computer technology.

However, the most important and most beautiful  structure in the city is the Basilica  de Nuestra Senora de los Angeles, which was destroyed in the 1910 earthquake and then rebuilt to it's present splendor.  The Basilica is packed each year on August 2nd when pilgrims come on foot from the most remote areas of Costa Rica to ask the holy "Black Virgin" known as La Negrita to pray for cures to their illnesses and to purify their souls.

Cartago is located east of the capital city of San Jose-  25 km  (approximately 15 miles).

What to wear when visiting Cartago?  Elevation is 4,000 feet so the weather is cool. And often rainy so you will need a warm jacket  and one that is water proof is best, and good walking shoes.  Also umbrella.

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[caption id="attachment_2066" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="Basilica de Nuestra Senora de Los Angeles in Cartago"][/caption]

Third Most Important Catholic Religious Holiday in Costa Rica, The Feast Day of the La Virgin de los Angeles

[caption id="attachment_2059" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Pilgrim in prayer on Feast Day of Virgin of Los Angeles"][/caption]

August 2nd each year Costa Rica celebrates it's third  most important religious holiday, The Feast Day of the Virgin de los Angeles (Christmas and Easter being the two other most important religious holidays)

The banks  and other government buildings are closed, as well as many businesses.

This holiday is celebrated August 2nd with a pilgrimage to Cartago to  the country's principal cathedral, the enormous Basilica de Nuestra Senora de Los Angeles, on the Feast Day of the Virgin of the Angeles.  (the black virgin or La Negrita).   Hundreds of thousands of people-old, young,  well and sick,  walk  to this holy place from even the most remote areas  of Costa Rica.   Many walk for more than a week. When they get to the Basilica they crawl on their knees into the church where they pray for miracles.  To heal their bodies and cleanse their souls.

According to legend, a statue of the black virgin, the Black Madonna, known as La Negrita, was found by an indigenous girl around the year 1635.  She took it home but it mysteriously reappeared on the same rock where she found it.

The rock is revered as a sacred relic and object of inspiration.  This rock was placed  in the Basilica de Nuestra Senora de Los Angeles in Cartago.  It is common for pilgrims to touch the rock in reverence. And the famed holy Black Virgin Statue sits on a golden alter beset with precious stones.

This year on August 2nd the Health Ministry of Costa Rica prohibited the pilgrimage because the Swine flu epidemic.

So the  pilgrims, instead of walking to Cartago, walked from the countryside to the Catholic churches in their home towns.  Here they erected  flower adorned alters with a statue of the virgin.  And  pilgrims crawled on their knees to the alter to pray for miracles.

It is common for Costa Rican mothers to name their children after the Virgin de Los Angeles.  For example a friend of mine named her little girl Xinia de los Angeles.

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Tenorio Volcano National Park and the Rio Celeste "Blue River" Costa Rica

[caption id="attachment_2047" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Rio Celeste "Blue River" Tenorio Volcano National Park"]

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Tenorio Volcano National Park is located in the northern region of Costa Rica.   On our recent vacation to Costa Rica, we set out to visit this beautiful national park.  We rented  a  4x4  Suzuki Jimmy.  Following the road map that the car rental agency had given us, we headed north on the Interamerican highway (highway one).  We traveled from  the  San Jose International airport  north to Canas, which took us about 2 hours.  When you see the Canas exit drive six more miles and then  take a right turn to Bijaqua--About 20 miles past Bijagua is the entrance to the park.  You may need to stop along the way and ask for directions since  there are no signs to actually get you to the park.

We traveled  to Tenorio Volcano National Park to see  the famous Rio Celeste or "blue river."  One of Costa Rica's true natural wonders. The light blue waters are caused by the emanation of sulfur gases  from the bottom of the river and the precipitation  of carbonated calcium delivered by a stream that dumps into the main river at this point.  It is truly an amazing sight!

Thermal springs and small geysers dot the area as do rivers, waterfalls, lagoons, and spectacular panoramic views.  Wild life is reclusive here.  We were hoping to see a puma but he retreats deep into the rain forest  when humans appear.

This place is amazing but the hike is challenging.  Took us several hours and some of the terrain was rugged.  Luckily it was the dry season of January when  there is much less rainfall.   We heard a  group of howler monkeys near by and could see them swinging in the trees.  The temperature was around 75 degrees F. but felt warmer and I'm glad I wore a cotton T shirt and cotton shorts, and of course my very comfortable tennis shoes.

The actual trail that leads to the waterfall is steep.  We could hear the  sounds  of the powerful water.   Finally  we reached  the bottom  and  before our eyes was the sky-blue pool of water.  Words cannot describe the beauty!  The park ranger pointed out where we could swim if we had brought our bathing  suits, which I didn't.  Apparently swimming is not allowed just anywhere.  The ranger said that the side effects of these minerals on the body are not known.

If you happen to visit Rio Celeste in the rainy season which is May through November, plan on getting your feet and shoes muddy.  Bring a rain jacket or poncho, and dress cool.

You can visit the Rio Celeste by purchasing a day tour from La Fortuna-Arenal area.  Contact www.sunsettourscr.com

Best time to visit:  Dry season of mid December through March.  But many people visit during the rainy season.  If you start out very early in the morning,  it is likely that there will be several hours of sunshine.

What to wear:  Very good tennis shoes or  comfortable hiking boots.  Cool clothing such as cotton T shirt and cotton slacks or short.  Sun screen,  rain jacket or poncho, bottle water..camera and small backpack.   I didn't encounter mosquitoes however I always take along mosquito repellent.  I like Avon skin so soft- repellent cream.

If you have visited the Rio Celeste I would love to share your experience with our readers.  Just click on comments at the end of this article.