costaricalearn.com blog

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Costa Rica Learn

Posted: 03 Feb 2015 06:16 PM PST

Thanks Susan for allowing us to share your beautiful photos of butterflies taken on your recent vacation to Costa Rica.

Costa Rica is home to 1,200 different species of butterflies.

About Susan J. Smith
Susan’s career includes writing for newspapers, lots of community work and a wonderful family life. Now she is enjoying traveling, photography and writing for DesignDestinations and Grand Rapids Magazine.

Visit Susan at

www.designdestinations.org

Would you like to take a wonderful vacation to Costa Rica. A small country known for its natural wonders.

Contact Ann for professional vacation planning. Everything is explained on her website www.costaricalearn.com

http://www.designdestinations.org

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Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Costa Rica Learn

Las Tortugas Hotel Playa Grande Costa Rica

Posted: 20 Jan 2015 09:08 AM PST

ANN’S FAVORITE SMALL BEACH HOTELS

Las Tortugas Hotel located on Playa Grande in NW Guanacaste, Costa Rica

This is a small hotel located “right on the beach” of Playa Grande, one of the prettiest beaches in Costa Rica. Playa Grande is a very long stretch of beige sand with strong to mild surf. People come here to enjoy the waters of the Pacific Ocean t swim, boogie board, and surf. Here you can avoid the touristy crowds and enjoy the peace and quiet. There are no high rises near by and no strip malls. Just beautiful beach as far as one can see.

Playa Grande is very famous for the Leatherback Turtles which come upon these beaches to lay their eggs and hatch their young. This is seasonal,

From around November thru March.

I like Las Tortugas Hotel because it is small and friendly. It is not a chain hotel so you get personal service, and experience a true beach vacation.

The room have comfortable beds and hot water. You can hear the surf of the ocean from you room because the hotel is so close to the ocean.

Also there is a small restaurant offering fresh sea food and typical Costa Rican food. Great Costa Rican coffee! Rum drinks are delicious and reasonably priced.

Prices in the restaurant are very reasonable.

In the area one can experience many outdoor adventure activities such as a day trip to Rincon de La Vieja National Park, hire a canoe with a guide and go down the near by estuary where you can see small crocodiles and so many beautiful tropical birds. Best to do this early in the morning when all the birds are out and singing. If you are planning a vacation to Costa Rica contact Ann, The Costa Rica Expert. She offers personalized service helping design your perfect Costa Rica Vacation. And she can set everything up for you at Las Tortugas Hotel and also explain to you all the wonderful outdoor adventure activities awaiting you in the area of Playa Grande. There is no extra cost for you-no mark ups. Ann is paid by commissions from the hotels. So she does not have to charge you a fee for her services.

Go to Ann’s web site and read all about her and her work. www.costaricalearn.com

The post Las Tortugas Hotel Playa Grande Costa Rica appeared first on Costa Rica Learn.

Saturday, January 10, 2015

Costa Rica Learn

Rain Forests of Costa Rica “Nature’s Treasure”

Posted: 09 Jan 2015 07:13 PM PST

Visit the Rainforest of Costa Rica-"Nature's Treasures"

As you walk into the rainforest remember you are a guest. Hundreds of creatures live here. This is their home.

The monkeys. White face monkeys and black howler monkeys inhabit Costa Rica's rain forests. They will peer down at you from the very top of the trees. They will actually stare at you for a long period of time. You are a stranger to them. Respect and be kind to them. Don't feed them. They take their nourishment from the rain forests.

Snakes-most people run and scream when seeing a snake, but remember you are in their territory. So quietly step back and take a path around them. If you don't bother them, they won't bother you.

Spiders-these are harder to see in the rainforest. Best to take a naturalist guide with you. He will spot spiders before you do and advise you to avoid them.
The rain forest has several species of tarantulas and they are big. Most people are terrified at the sight of a tarantula! They live in big holes..so just keep your eyes open.

Big trees hundreds of years old..are found in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and Corcovado National Park. Also I have seen some in Rincon de la Vieja National Park.
These trees are nature's treasures. And are named "primary rain forest."
"Secondary Rain forest" have had it's trees cut and what you see is the secondary growths. The trees are smaller.

Birds- hundreds of species of colorful birds. Best to take a trained bird guide with you when you venture into the rainforest to look for birds, because birds can be very elusive. The sounds of these birds create a symphony of beautiful sounds, esp in the early morning-immediately after sunrise.
Follow the Rhythm of Nature "Rise with the Sun and retire with the Sun"
Everything in nature is more beautiful in the early morning and also in the late afternoons when the sun is setting.

Take from from the natural earth only what is needed. And no more.

Would you like to vacation in Costa Rica? Contact Ann, “the costa rica expert” to help you design and plan that special Costa Rica vacation.

Go to her website to get started www.costaricalearn.com

The post Rain Forests of Costa Rica “Nature’s Treasure” appeared first on Costa Rica Learn.

Thursday, December 25, 2014

Costa Rica Learn

How Do Costa Ricans Celebrate Christmas? By Eating Tamales

Posted: 24 Dec 2014 04:23 PM PST

HOW DO COSTA RICANS CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS? They gather the families together and eat tamales. The Costa Rican Tamale is made from corn masa as the base and it is filled with many different ingredients. Among these are primarily pork, and then add sweet red pepper, carrots, green beans, olives, finely chopped garlic, onions, prunes or raisins, potatoes and salt and pepper. Wrap it all up in a large banana leaf and tie together with string. Place them in a large pot of boiling water and cook for around 4 hours. Some people, especially in the countryside cook them over an open fire.

Often an afternoon cup of delicious Costa Rican coffee is served with a freshly prepared tamale. Tamales are even eaten at breakfast. So you can see Costa Ricans are serious about tamales.

Mexican Tamales are a little different. They are wrapped in corn husks and jalapena peppers are added to the other ingredients to give it a much more spicy flavor. I would like to thank Alberto Font for the use of the below photo of a Costa Rica tamale.

As a new bride I came with my Costa Rica husband to celebrate our first Christmas together. I was raised in the south (USA) where turkey and dressing, mashed sweet potatoes, steamed green beans, and pumpkin pie was the annual Christmas dinner. Well, I was surprised when my mother in law served a large plate with a lone tamale. I watched as the banana leaves were unwrapped as if the tamale was a gift. I tasted mine and thought “How am I going to be able to eat this.” “Everyone is watching me” It takes time to cultivate a taste for this famous Christmas dish. For me at first it was much too bland. With time I learned to eat tamales but to add variety I served rice and a green garden salad.

Would you like to visit Costa Rica at Christmas time . Contact Ann, the Costa Rica Expert, to help you plan the perfect vacation. www.costaricalearn.com

Tamal 1 1000x667 300x200 How Do Costa Ricans Celebrate Christmas? By Eating Tamales

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Sunday, December 14, 2014

Costa Rica Learn

Family Vacation Planner to Guanacaste Beaches

Posted: 13 Dec 2014 05:02 PM PST

Nancy and her three grown up kids set out from Santa Barbara, California for a seven day adventure vacation to Costa Rica. Nancy had rented a house for the five of them on Playa Portero in Guanacsate., and rented a car to get around. This beach is close to Playa Flamingo (about forty five minutes north of Tamarindo) and has white sand and great Pacific waves. They encountered great weather. In the Pacific Northwest beaches little rain falls in the month of November.

Nancy called Ann for help setting up the adventure tours because she was having a hard time on the internet doing it alone. “I got very confused about which tour company to use and how long each tour would take.” admitted Nancy. “Ann, the family vacation planner, quickly and efficiently arranged just what we wanted. We did horse back riding on the beach and in the forest, my girls did white water rafting, and my son and I went to Palo Verde National Park and had a fun filled day of boating and bird watching, monkey watching, photographing crocodiles and river turtles. We also did a sunset cruise which included snorkeling. We saw hundreds of small fish, although not colorful-they were fun to watch. Ann accurately told us best route to take to and from San Jose international airport and also how long the driving distance would take. We did not waste any time, thanks to Ann “The Costa Rica Expert”

We very highly recommend Costa Rica for a family vacation. So much beauty and out door adventure activities, and very friendly people. And Ann was great–so of course we recommend you contact her if you are planning a trip to Costa Rica.

contact Ann www.costaricalearn.com

The post Family Vacation Planner to Guanacaste Beaches appeared first on Costa Rica Learn.

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Costa Rica Learn

What do Costa Ricans Do for New Years?

Posted: 12 Dec 2014 07:45 PM PST

For New Years many Costa Rica will go to the beaches. They will gather their family together and head for their own personal beach houses or will rent a house on the beach. On New Years Eve they will celebrate with lots of typical Costa Rican food and alcoholic drinks. Costa Rica rum is a favorite, mixed with mango juice. They will party till the early hours of the morning.

Others will travel, sometimes long distances to stay in the home of relatives, whom often they see only once a year. The women are in the kitchen cooking up the favorite Costa Rican rice dishes such as aroz con pollo (rice with chicken). or roasted pork. The men gather outside to tell stories and drink the alcoholic drink made from sugar cane called guarro.

Costa Ricans usually do not work from December 25 through Jan 1. This is a time for rest, relaxation, and partying.

January is a great month to vacation in Cost Rica. The weather is gorgeous, sunny and warm. If you would like a Costa Rica Expert to help you plan you trip to Costa Rica, contact Ann. Read all about her and how she works by going to www.costaricalearn.com

The post What do Costa Ricans Do for New Years? appeared first on Costa Rica Learn.

Friday, December 12, 2014

Costa Rica Learn

Costa Rica’s Neighbor to the North- Something Big is Going on in Nicaragua.

Posted: 12 Dec 2014 11:09 AM PST

Nicaragua is Costa Rica’s neighbor to the North . Nicaragua has a standing army.

Today, something big is going on in Nicaragua called “The Gran Canal Project”. It is an ambitious $40 billion project of 278 kilometers- an interoceanic canal (stretching from the Pacific Ocean, all way to the Caribbean Sea (Atlantic ocean). It is three times longer than the Panama Canal. It will forever change the economic landscape of Nicaragua and make it one of Central America’s richest countries. Construction will begin early 2015.

The money, design, and construction assistance will come from the Chinese Hong Kong Nicaragua Development Company.

The Pacific Ocean point of entrance will be the mouth of the Brito River, in Rivas. Planned is a large petroleum port and a free trade zone . Plus a tourism complex is planned near by. The free zone will cover around 29 square kilometers and provide residential housing, and create 113,000 jobs.

Some people will be displaced from their homes. Their land will be taken over by the Nicaragua Government -and they will be relocated and hopefully gain new employment within the new jobs created by the canal project.

Surveying has begun. One of Asia’s top state-owned engineering firms is now in Rivas- the Changjiang Institute of Survey, Planning, Design, and Research Company. The surveyors are accompanied by soldiers from the Nicaragua Army.

Additionally large tourism projects are planned for Ometepe Island, located in the middle of Lake Nicaragua. This large lake encompasses almost all the southern land mass of Nicaragua.

On the Caribbean side plans call for the construction of a large artificial lake bout the size of Denver, Colorado. This area will be developed into an large eco tourism project.

Daniel Ortega, President of Nicaragua projects this project to create enough jobs to bring his country out of poverty.

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