Archive for Costa Rica
Wildlife Costa Rica – 9 Truths About Squirrel Monkeys
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Their full name is black crowned Central American squirrel Monkeys and can be found in the tropics.
Here are some truths about them:
1. Unlike the other New World monkeys, their tail is not used for climbing, but as a kind of “balancing pole” and as a tool.
2. Squirrel monkey’s fur is short and close. Its color is olive at the shoulders and yellowish orange on its back and extremities. Their throat and the ears are white and their mouths are black. Their head is orange or reddish-orange in color, with a black cap.
3. Squirrel monkeys love eating fruits and insects. Occasionally they also eat nuts, buds, eggs and small vertebrates.
4. Squirrel monkeys are very small. They only grow up to 25 to 35 cm, plus a 35 to 42 cm tail.
5. They live about 15 years old in the wild and about 20 years in captivity.
6. Their movements in the branches are extremely speedy.
7. They live together in multi-male/multi-female groups with up to 500 members. These large groups can, however, occasionally break into smaller troops.
8. By 1983, the Central American squirrel monkey had already declined drastically by deforestation. Currently, deforestation and habitat fragmentation due to agriculture and tourism development are still the major causes of decline. Insecticide spraying, the pet trade and electrocution from electric power lines have also negatively affected these monkeys.
9. Squirrel monkeys spread urine on the bottoms of the hands and feet. So other monkeys can smell this as it marks the territory.
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Spotlight Costa Rica – Hotel El Silencio del Campo
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Last week I wrote about a great hotel in Arenal but as I said there are many great hotels in the area and here is another one. Hotel el Silenio del Campo is a beautiful hotel that consists of a series of cabins spread out along beautiful gardens.
My experience in this place was great. The staff is very helpful and friendly. The restaurant has a good ambiance and the food is very tasty. The room’s decoration is inviting and warm, but most importantly they are clean.
This gets even better because within the property you will find hot springs. This is a perfect place to hang out and relax as you watch the beautiful Arenal volcano.
Contact me for great discounts for a spectacular stay in Hotel Silencio del Campo!
Here’s what people have to say about them and if you don’t believe them, I dare you to try it!
We booked this hotel after reading the reviews in Trip advisor. We stayed here for 3 nights and loved this place. Front desk personnel are very helpful in suggesting things to do, places to go and with the bookings. We had to leave the hotel pretty early to drive to San Jose airport and the front desk had arranged for our breakfast and delivered it to our room.
The food at the restaurant is great. Dinner menu is limited but they have a fast-food menu that had good options. We loved the hot spring within the property its very convenient. The rooms are nice and big.
And
This is an excellent choice for nearly any travel style. Somehow, El Silencio del Campo has figured out how to merge the natural Costa Ricanoutdoors with the clean, quiet, and spacious but cozy feel of a modern resort. The on-site hot springs are a wonderful place to relax after a long day of adventure and there are several other hot springs nearby. The staff was incredibly pleasant and personable. They answered all my wife and my questions (we had a lot) and helped us select the best activities for our vacation.
They also pass the “true test” of a great hotel… my wife continues to talk about it even weeks later!
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Wildlife Costa Rica – 10 Sloth’s Best Kept Secrets
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I believe most of us have heard about sloths, but do we really know their best kept secrets?
1. Sloths are extremely slow-moving mammals. Actually they are the world’s slowest mammal, so sedentary that algae grow on its furry coat.
2. Their hair is grayish brown but, at times they look grey-green in color because of the tiny camouflaging algae that grows all over their coats.
3. Sloths are omnivores. They may eat insects, small reptiles, and birds, but their most common food consists mostly of buds, tender shoots, and leaves.
4. Altogether, sloths’ bodies usually are anywhere between 50 and 60 cm long. They also have stubby tails, usually 6–7 cm long. These guys’ weight can be 8.75 pounds.
5. The average amount of years a sloth lives is 20 years. Although there have been 40 year old sloths.
6. Most people used to think that sloths slept 18 hours a day. But a recent study indicated that sloths sleep just under 10 hours a day.
7. They go to the ground to urinate and defecate about once a week, digging a hole and covering it afterwards. They go to the same spot each time and are vulnerable to predation while doing so.
8. Mothers also give birth to their babies upside down. Infant sloths normally cling to their mother’s fur.
9. Females normally bear one baby every year. But sometimes sloths’ low level of movement actually keeps females from finding males for longer than one year. They also mate while hanging.
10. They have an extra neck vertebra that allows them to turn their heads 270 degrees.
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Spotlight Costa Rica – Arenal Nayara Hotel & Gardens
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In Costa Rica there is this beautiful volcano called Arenal. It is permanently active and gives great shows almost every night. So why not spend some time in the area at a safe distance.
Many hotels have been established in the area because of its natural attraction but for my taste Arenal Nayara Hotel & Gardens is one of the best. The rooms have great views and most of them have a porch with an amazingly beautiful view of the volcano. In the porch you will find a private jacuzzi. The rooms are also very comfortable but above all clean.
About the staff what I can say is that they are always willing to help and checking that everything is okay without intruding. The food is also delicious and the size of the dishes is nice.
I highly recommend this place it is great. So give it a try.
Contact mefor great discounts for a spectacular stay in Arenal Nayara!
Here’s what people have to say about them and if you don’t believe them, I dare you to try it!
This hotel was outstanding. Each “room” is a free-standing casita with incredible landscaping. The rooms have an Asian-type layout and did not feel crowded or cramped. There are soaking jet tubs on the porches with landscaping that allows you to see out, but not others to see in. The staff was wonderful and welcoming. One of the best hotels I have ever stayed in.
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Arenal Nayara is the by far the best resort I’ve ever visited. We stayed here for the first half of our week-long honeymoon and in hindsight, would’ve stayed longer. The food was delicious, staff top-notch and the accommodations spectacular, not to mention the fabulous view of the Arenal Volcano. We also opted for hot stone massages which took place in a private, open air villa. The outdoor shower and hot tub on the private deck made our stay romantic and relaxing. I would definitely stay at this resort again!
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Wildlife Costa Rica – 10 Things To Learn About Silky Anteaters
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Not many of us know about the silky anteater. This is your chance to get to know them:
1. Silky anteaters are the smallest anteater species in the world. They have a total length ranging from 3.6 to 4.5 cm and usually weighing less than 0.88 pounds.
2. They have a dense and soft golden brown fur, short snout, partially prehensile tail and two enlarged claws in each fore paw.
3. The Silky Anteater is a slow moving animal and feeds mainly on ants, between 100 and 8000 a day. Sometimes it can also feed on other insects, such as termites and small beetles.
4. Silky anteaters do not have very long lives. The average is of 2 years.
5. It is a nocturnal, arboreal and solitary animal. During the day they typically sleep curled up in a ball in some tree branch.
6. Although they are rarely seen in the forest, it is said that they can be found more easily when they are foraging on lianas at night.
7. A female silky anteater gives birth to a single young that is usually placed inside a nest of dead leaves built in tree holes.
8. Silky anteater numbers are relatively stable, but they are being negatively affected by how fast their habitat is being destructed.
9. Because they rarely descend from trees, they obtain their water from licking moisture, such as dew or rainwater, from leaves.
10. Silky anteaters can be found in lowland rain forests with continuous canopy where they can move to different places without the need to descend from trees.
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Spotlight Costa Rica – Sky Trek, Monteverde
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I found a great option for nature lovers. It is a company called Sky Trek. These guys offer three different tours in Monteverde, the sky tram, the sky-trek and the sky walk. These are all very exiting adventures in witch you will be able to see Monteverde from the canopy.
What I love about them is that there will always be a guide with you and the groups are very small so you get enough attention. They also made me feel very safe, the equipment looks like they take good care of it. The staff is also very friendly.
These guys have something for everyone, the sky tram is a relaxed trip though the forest sitting in a gondola. The sky trek is a super exciting canopy experience and the sky walk is a hike though gigantic and very high bridges from where you will be able to see wildlife hiding in the canopy.
Contact me for great discounts for a day full of fun with Sky Trek!
Here’s what people have to say about them and if you don’t believe them, I dare you to try it!
Great guides – funny, friendly, informative, safety-conscious. The group we went out with wasn’t too big (about 18). Good tour if you have others in your party who aren’t zip-lining, or have other things you want to do that day as the tour is about 2 hours beginning to end. Other Costa Rica zip-lining tours I’ve done are 4+ hours and not as fun as this one. These are really long, fast, high and have beautiful views. Although there are no hand brakes, you’re given instructions regarding how to ride each zip line, and you slow yourself down at the end depending on how fast you’re going and the hand motions of the guide stopping you. Felt safe and had a blast.
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Certainly worth the money, and the horrible rutted road to get there! The staff are very professional, friendly, and knowledgeable, and certainly have fun along with the patrons. We had a group of 8, including one grandmother, and we spent the entire time thoroughly enjoying ourselves, laughing, and saying “i cannot believe how much fun this is…”. Do yourself a favor and try it out!
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Spotlight Costa Rica – Fourtrax Tours
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Do you want to get to know the Costa Rican country side but you are not a fan of hiking? Or you just want to do something different and have fun?
If so I have the perfect thing for you. There is a great tour company in Costa Rica called Fourtrax Adventure and I can tell you based on my experience that they are great at what they do. They offer tours in the Manuel Antonio, Arenal, Jaco & Tamarindo areas. Depending on the tour it may include Refreshments, a snack or even lunch.
What makes these tours so great is that you will not only be riding along the country side but you will also be able to spot some wildlife and there will be a bilingual tour guide with you all the time. For those who aren’t familiar with ATVs there will be some time before you start when they will show you how to use them. Another great thing about thess guys is that they will provide safety helmets.
So try it, I assure you will have the best time of your life!
Contact me for great discounts for a day full of adventure with Fourtrax Tours!
Here’s what people have to say about them and if you don’t believe them, I dare you to try it!
I never write reviews – but we had such a good time on this trip with fantastic scenery a great guide and a fun meal afterwards. There was even a stop at a waterfall. This trip would be great for anyone and I don’t think any other company could do it better. Great for anyone with a reasonable (10 min) hike involved.
AndMy wife and I recently spent two weeks in Costa Rica on our honeymoon and took the ATV tour offered by Four Trax in Quepos. This was one of the most fun three hours we’ve spent on an adventure tour and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in this sort of things. The lunch afterwards was unbelievable and we had a great nap after our adventure. HIGHLY recommended tour.
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Wildlife Costa Rica – 9 Truths About Raccoons
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Raccoons are medium-sized mammals that learned to live close to humans. And have a reputation of nocturne thieves. In real life they are just animals trying to adjust to the changes men are producing. They are found throughout different landscapes of Costa Rica such as rainforests, cloud forests and beaches.
Here are some things that will make you understand them a little bit better:
1. The dense under-fur is almost 90% of the raccoon’s grayish coat. Two of its most distinctive features are its black paws and its facial mask.
2. Females often share a common area, while unrelated males live together in groups of up to four animals to maintain their positions against foreign males during the mating season and other potential invaders.
3. Although captive raccoons have been known to live over 20 years, their average life expectancy in the wild is only 1.8 to 3.1 years.
4. After a gestation period of about 65 days, two to five young are born in spring. The kits are raised by their mother until its time to leave in late fall.
5. Raccoons usually mate in a period between late January and mid-March. During the mating season, males roam their home ranges in search of females in an attempt to court them during the three-to four-day-long period when conception is possible. These encounters will often occur at central meeting places.
6. Hunting and traffic accidents are the two most common causes of death in many areas. They are not endangered.
7. Raccoons are also noted for their intelligence. Studies have shown that they are able to remember the solution to tasks up to three years later.
8. Tree hollows in old oaks or other trees and big rocks are preferred by raccoons. If they are unavailable or accessing them is inconvenient, raccoons utilize burrows dug by other mammals.
9. These guys are 41 to 72 cm long and can weigh between 7.9–19.8 pounds.
Spotlight Costa Rica – Espadilla Cabins
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Last week I introduced to you Espadilla Hotel but I forgot to talk about Espadilla Cabins. You will find it a few steps away from the hotel. The Cabins have their own private entrance to the beach which is 50m down the road. Some of the things you will find here are: a private parking lot and a private biological reserve but of course they share the tennis court and the pool with the hotel.
Espadilla cabins is a complex of 16 cabins. They have ceiling fans, a kitchenette a refrigerator and hot water. The Cabins are nicely decorated and very clean. The surrounding gardens are beautiful and there are lounge chairs available. The staff is very helpful and accommodating. There is no restaurant but there are a lot of great restaurants in the area.
Contact me for great discounts for a spectacular stay at Espadilla Cabins!
Here’s what people have to say about them and if you don’t believe them, I dare you to try it!
This place is located a very short walk from Manuel Antonio park and very close to the restaurants and shops on the beach. The price was quite reasonable and the rooms were clean. Staff was easily reachable by e-mail, which was nice to book the room and save the long distance phone call. Staff was extremely helpful and followed up to make sure everything was ok. The air conditioning unit worked extremely well, best of any place we stayed in Costa Rica. If I ever go back I would definitely stay of Cabinas Espadilla!
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Me and my fiance stayed at this hotel for 3 nights. The location was a 1 minute walk to Manual Antonio beach and a 2 minute walk to the national park. The markets and restaurants were very close by and had great food and stuff to purchase. The hotel pool was always very clean, outdoors and lounge chairs were always available. The hotel was very clean, we got towels each day, had AC, coffee, and we got a key for a safe. The bathroom was very clean and came with hand soap and shampoo. I loved this place and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good place to stay for a reasonable price in a good location. We didn’t spend much time in the hotel because we spend most of our time on adventure tours, but the time we did spend here in the evenings was totally worth the money!
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Spotlight Costa Rica – Hotel Espadilla, Manuel Antonio
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This week’s Spotlight recommendation is for those interested in visiting the Manuel Antonio area. I found a great family friendly hotel just 3 minutes away from Manuel Antonio National Park on foot and 2 minutes away from the beach.
Hotel Espadilla is a two story building surrounded by a beautiful tropical garden. Some of the things this hotel offers are: a pool, a restaurant, a private parking lot and a tennis court. But most importantly they have a family friendly policy, making it perfect for family vacations. The staff is very nice and helpful making the ambiance even nicer.
But what about the rooms? They are nicely decorated in tropical colors but above all they are clean. Let’s not forget the restaurant, where you will find good tropical and international dishes.
Contact mefor great discounts for a spectacular stay at Hotel Espadilla!
Here’s what people have to say about them and if you don’t believe them, I dare you to try it!
I just spent my birthday here, what a lovely hotel! A lot of the hotels in Manual Antonio will say they are within walking distance to the National Park entrance – don’t believe them. Most are situated on the long and steep road leading down to the beach, and require a bus or taxi. This hotel is quite literally 3-5 min stroll to the entrance, also 3 min to Manuel Antonio’s beach and bustling main drag. Despite this, it is quiet and serene with a lovely, tropical atmosphere.
The standard room was very large and had a super comfortable king sized bed. The restaurant and pool-side bar were very good and reasonably priced. The breakfast buffet (included) was fantastic with a choice of Costa Rican, American or Continental style breakfasts.
The staff were all very helpful and friendly. I can’t fault it. Go here, you won’t regret it.
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I would HIGHLY recommend this hotel to anyone going to the Manuel Antonio area. The hotel and hotel grounds are absolutely beautiful — we saw many iguanas on the property and heard the howler monkeys every morning and evening. The staff were very professional and accommodating, the free breakfast is made to order and delicious, and the restaurant served some of the best food (lunches and dinner) that we had anywhere in the country. The rooms were very spacious and clean, air conditioner worked great, and there is internet at the hotel for a small fee. The pool area is great and very relaxing. The location is amazing – just a short walk from the beach, restaurants, and national park, but just far enough to not be over-crowded or noisy. Again, wonderful hotel and highly recommended.
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