Barbara’s Costa Rican co-host, Janine – the founder of the ‘Kids Saving the Rainforest’ (KSTR) foundation, needs help with a reforestation project and issues Barbara a challenge: to plant a target number of trees in one hour. Barb accepts but wants to learn more about the rainforest first. Janine is just the one to teach her: KSTR raises money to help protect the forest and its endangered animals. She takes Barb canopying through the trees for a ‘heightened’ knowledge of the forest.
Some of the most popular beaches in Costa Rica are close to the small yet bustling town of Jaco. Two hours away from San Jose, and easily reached by car or comfortable, cheap, ubiquitous buses, Jaco is located on Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast in the northern part of Puntarenas province. This is a party town.
Jaco has long been popular because of its fun, casual and relaxed atmosphere, and many friendly people. More and more tourists from around the world have already learned of this fantastic place and travel to Jaco for its nearby tranquil, beautiful clean beaches and many things to do. And, it is easy to reach by car or comfortable, cheap, ubiquitous buses.
Only about half a dozen years ago, Jaco was still pretty laid back and quaint. Not so much anymore. With tourists came more bars, restaurants, and shopping centers. They were followed by developers: more hotels, more resorts, and now towering high rises. But, the beaches remain—and they are still spectacular.
Fortunately, Jaco isn’t just a great location for people who have lots of money. Indeed, it caters to any budget. There are hotels and accommodations ranging from luxurious to, well, basic (think hostels with dorms and cold water—but cheap). Restaurants of every kind have sprung up here as well, not to mention tropical bars and taverns.
Jaco Beach sits directly in front of Jaco and is very, very popular but , in my opinion, nearby beaches just a couple of miles or kilometers away, are much better. There are fewer people and the waters are some of the purest on earth. The best beaches are awarded Blue Flag ecological certifications for cleanliness. When you vacation in Jaco, I strongly recommend going to spectacular Hermosa Beach, a couple of miles south of Jaco. Though it is not good for safe swimming due to its currents, it is pristine and pure with some of the best surfing on the planet. How good is the surfing? Think world class. Indeed, this July professional surfers from more than 35 countries are descending upon Hermosa to participate in a week of world surfing championships. Watch them during the days or party with them at night in Jaco.
There are dozens of different things to do and innumerable places to visit close at hand. Costa Rica is tiny but filled with interesting places and activities. Go whitewater rafting or learn to sea kayak. Take a horseback ride along the beach or through the mountains (if you’re into extreme riding, you can literally ride across Costa Rica from the Pacific to the Caribbean). Visit volcanoes, sit in volcanic hot springs, try rappelling in tropical mountains, go ballooning. Or just sit back and enjoy the great ocean views and beautiful, romantic sunsets. But, take care when swimming. Some of the beaches, wonderful for surfing, can be dangerous for swimming because of riptides. There are no lifeguards—and no warning signs—so ask if it is safe to swim before jumping in.
And, if you exhaust all the other activities (probably pretty difficult), don’t forget that you can also experience great off shore fishing. The warm, tropical waters are alive with marlin, tuna, sailfish, porpoises, dozens of other varieties, and often whales. But, whatever your tastes, Jaco is definitely a wonderful place to take your vacation.
Though it is easy to reach by air, Costa Rica remains to be discovered. Columbus was the first to find it and, indeed, gave it its name “Rich Coast.” It remains a spectacular haven with one-fifth of every species of plant and animal on the planet residing together in a tiny little country. So, don’t limit yourself to the beaches of Jaco. There’s lots more waiting.
I am a professional photographer in Costa Rica. The experiences on my tours are many since I never know what my group and I will happen upon. Let me tell you about one of these surprising events.
One of the pleasures of living in Costa Rica is that I can conduct Costa Rica Photo Tours for folks who want to visit and photograph exotic locations. Indeed, one of the destinations on the tour is the beautiful Osa Peninsula, the “most biologically intense place” on earth according to the National Geographic Society. We drive to this location through the little village of Ojochal, which is very close to my home.
Some Costa Ricans in rural communities have an unusual method of moving. As one of my groups was passing through the village some folks started pointing to something ahead of us. It was a fellow moving. But, before telling you this story, let me give you a little background on this gentleman.
Our only neighbours when we moved to Costa Rica were Ticos (that is what the Costa Ricans call themselves) and one of them by the very Spanish name of Wilson came calling with a house warming gift of some flowering plants. It was very comical to see him standing at our driveway waiting to be invited in onto the property so that he could give us this gift. He was too polite to come to our door without an invitation.
We were not sure what he wanted and after a “conversation” with him speaking Spanish and us speaking mostly English, I realized that he wanted to give us the flowering plants. I guess it was a sort of a house-warming gift from “the neighbours.” You need to appreciate that the fellow did not own a car. He lived at least a hour away up the mountain and had carried the plants the whole way.
Over the years, Senor Wilson has given me flowering plants many times, always expecting me to plant them somewhere. Well, it does not always happen that the planting occurs quickly enough so sometimes the plants may not be in very good shape by the time they are planted. In any event, I certainly never expected to be tested on my planting abilities when I moved to Costa Rica from Canada.
A couple of days after Senor Wilson gave me plants one time, he came to the house with still another plant and visited while his two boys swam in the river by the house. Of course, he asked me where I planted the others that he had brought the last time he came.
Unfortunately, the flowering plants were still on my terrace in aluminium kettles with drainage holes stabbed in the bottom of the pot with a machete. When good neighbor Wilson saw that his previous gift had not been planted, he politely asked in his quiet way if I would mind if he planted all of them for me. Quite a fellow, my neighbor and friend, Wilson.
Now that you have some idea about the kind of fellow my friend and neighbor Wilson is like, I want to return to my photography tour group driving along the dusty road near my house. Suddenly, we came upon a man walking alongside his horse. The animal was carrying two white bags, two huge white bags, filled with clothes and household items. Between the bags, Wilson or his wife had wedged a blue broom that extended over the animal’s head, giving us the impression that the horse was wearing a bristle blue tiara. I wonder if the horse was enjoying his royal status or quietly suffering the indignity of wearing a broom crown.
Wilson, standing by the horse, was holding a bridle in one hand and a birdcage in the other. A man, his birdcage, a horse, his crown. Quite a sight! It was moving day in Costa Rica.
Wilson and I start to chat as the group hurriedly grabbed their cameras. I greeted him with “Hola, que tal?” (how are you?) and jokingly asked he was moving. Well, to my surprise, that was exactly correct. The horse was his moving van or, as my group called it, Wilson’s 4 X 4.
He explained that he, his wife (a tiny lady who looks 14), and the 3 kids would be taking care of a B&B while the owner returned to Germany during Costa Rica’s rainy season. They were very pleased about this arrangement because living in the pueblo brought the kids closer to the school, saving them from walking two miles down and back from their mountain home.
I thought that it was rather interesting that he was carrying the birdcage. I would have thought that on one of the previous trips down to their new digs one of the children would have wanted to carry the cage.
I guess carrying flowering plants and birdcages come under the same heading. Wilson explained that the bird was young (parrot or parakeet, can’t really tell) and that it was very talkative. As if to show off, the feathered pet suddenly started chattering. Unfortunately, I had not yet mastered Spanish well enough to understand bird Spanish so I could not figure out what he was saying. But, it did not matter to the bird.
Everybody’s cameras were clicking away because this was certainly something not seen every day. A moving van of a horse wearing a blue tiara, a chattering bird showing off for company, and a family of five walking down a mountain, worldly possessions in hand, on moving day in Costa Rica. My photo tours are filled with surprises even for me.
Frank Scott writes from sunny Costa Rica where he is a professional Costa Rica Photographer offering unique photography tours. Some of his work can be seen in Costa Rica Vacations, a very popular travel guide to this unique country.
What is living in Costa Rica like? Outstanding and amazing in many ways and as a photographer I have seen the beautiful and incredible things right on my doorstep and this is an example of what I experienced.
You may know we have leaf cutter ants in the jungle. They are very hard workers with a very important job to do and I have a story about the strength and persistence of one of them.
An ant we will call Bill, was travelling along with all of his buddies as they were devastating my favourite flowering tree near my driveway. Bill dropped his leaf to pick up something he thought might be more beneficial to the group, a matchstick, the strong wooden type. He began carrying it upright as if it were a leaf. I think he was a little confused but, of course, maybe I was the only one confused.
With care I picked up the matchstick thinking that I would lessen the load. And incredible as it might seem, Bill did not let go and was picked up along with the match, his little feet still trying to march away.
I took the match, with ant, to the terrace of my house and put it down thinking that he would let go. Obviously Bill was looking for his marching band, because he began to march around with the matchstick held high weaving around chairs and tables but remaining on the terrace.
Without hesitation he marched around and around like a soldier carrying his flag. As a photographer I watched and photographed in amazement for over an hour and could not help but wonder when he would drop the match and go on his merry way as he must have been panting by now, not that you can see an ant pant, believe me!
Without hesitation he marched around and around in military precision carrying his flag. As a photographer I watched and photographed in amazement for over an hour and couldnt help but wonder when he would drop the match and go on his merry way as he must have been panting by now, not that you can see an ant pant, believe me!
I now have a great respect for their stamina and persistence when they are carrying their leaves back to help their community in building a nest. Eventually Bill became very tired and I took this opportunity to take away the matchstick
Oh, if we could only be like Bill, willing to drop our light load and take on a heavier burden without complaint. There is a lesson here for all.
Frank Scott lives at sunny Costa Rica where he is a professional Costa Rica Photographer offering one-of-a-kind photography tours. Some of his work can be seen at Costa Rica Vacations, a very popular travel guide to this one-of-a-kind paradise.
Newly opened Anamaya Boutique Hotel and Health Resort welcomes Spring through the practice of yoga. At the Anamaya Resort in Costa Rica “Health” is a part of their philosophy. They focus on the health of the Mind, Body & Spirit of their customers as well as on the health of the planet. The resort offers gourmet organic food, spa services, retreat packages and workshops all in accordance with a healthy lifestyle. Practicing yoga is a part of Anamaya’s health regime and has a Spring Yoga Retreat from April 10 – 17, 2010 that celebrates spring and shri in all its glory.
Shri is a popular Hindi symbol that has a variety of meanings including: attractiveness, luster, light and loveliness. When you are attracted to beautiful things in life you are experiencing shri. Beautiful things attract other beautiful things which supports the idea that we are all connected to each other through the beauty of nature. Spring is a time of renewal and awakening, and it’s a time when beauty is in abundance. The perfect way to welcome spring is through Anamaya’s Spring Yoga Retreat.
Daniella Cotreau CMT, RYT, BA will teach this yoga retreat and will lead the practice teaching Anusara Inspired yoga. This type of yoga practice was created by John Friend and is a type of hatha yoga. In Anusara yoga the opening of the heart is very important as is alignment. Cotreau works with her students by giving them hands-on adjustments, by using detailed descriptions, and by giving helpful verbal cues.
Costa Rica is a beautiful Country and a perfect backdrop for a springtime yoga retreat and vacation. Cotreau says, “We will glorify our yoga practice with Shri. Just like the blossoming of spring – we get to blossom too.” At this retreat live musicians will accompany the two daily classes of Anusara Inspired yoga on Anamaya’s incredible yoga deck. Incredible in the sense that it overlooks the most stunning ocean view in the Montezuma area. It’s a view that you truly must see to believe.
Your yoga classes, accommodations, and meals (3 organic meals a day) are included in the cost of the retreat. However, this retreat also includes a few unexpected extras. As a participant you will be given a tour of the Rainsong Wildlife Sanctuary and local Butterfly Gardens, a Canopy tour admission, and 50% off your first massage. For the week long retreat the prices range from $1495 – $2495 and if you sign-up before March 10th you will receive 20% off.
Montezuma, Costa Rica has many excursions that you’ll want to check out while staying at the Anamaya resort. Boating, horseback riding, surfing, shopping, or just hanging on the beach are some of the most popular activities. Anamaya also has it’s own private trail to spectacular waterfalls and is surrounded by beautiful rain forests which you can explore. It’s the ideal location to get away from the humdrums of life and rejuvenate.
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