Guanacaste – Beachcomber Pete Costa Rica

Playa Hermosa Guanacaste

With its sparkling blue waters and pristine sand, Playa Hermosa has earned its reputation as one of Costa Rica’s most beautiful beaches. Located on Costa Rica’s stunning Guanacaste Pacific coast, Playa Hermosa is a rapidly growing resort beach that combines careful development with environmental preservation and natural wonders.

Playa Hermosa and its neighbor beaches are currently the focus of a government project to develop better tourist infrastructure while still maintaining the natural beauty that Costa Rica is famous for.

Daniel Oduber International Airport is only half an hour away from Playa Hermosa by paved highway, making it easily accessible year-round. Several hotels and restaurants cater to tourists at all price points, although you will find less nightlife and a more relaxed atmosphere than in the neighboring resort towns of Playa Ocotal and Playa del Coco.

Despite the ongoing tourist development Playa Hermosa has maintained its natural beauty and pristine environment. Playa Hermosa recently received the Costa Rican government’s Blue Ecological Flag award in honor of its clean waters and pollution free environments.

Playa Hermosa’s attraction lies in the beauty of the coast and its proximity to several other Costa Rican national wonders, such as the Rincon de la Vieja and Santa Rosa National Parks. Santa Rosa National Park is home to world-class surfing and hiking as well as several historical sites and hundreds of rare animals. A small museum commemorates the Battle of Santa Rosa Hacienda, where Costa Rican militia defeated a mercenary band led by the infamous freebooter William Walker.

At Rincon de la Vieja visitors can hike to the crater of a 6200 ft volcano and view geothermal wonders such as mud pots and fumaroles. Visitors can bathe in several natural hot springs throughout the park. On a clear day hikers at the summit of Ricon de la Vieja can see nearly all of Costa Rica. Both national parks offer camping for thrifty visitors looking for a rustic experience.

Playa Hermosa’s mix of natural beauty and tourist amenities make it an exciting destination for any traveler. Careful development and land management has made the area one of the most accessible and exciting tourist areas in Costa Rica while conserving the environment.

Filed Under: Costa Rica, Featured, Guanacaste, Playa Hermosa

Playa Brasilito

Playa Brasilito in Costa Rica is the perfect holiday destination for travelers looking for a peaceful, secluded beach holiday. It does not have the large hotels and resorts that other beaches have, but it is a charming town with welcoming locals and mid-range accommodations.

Playa Brasilito is on the north western shore of Guanacaste province and is very near Playa Flamingo and Playa Conchal which are two more developed beaches for tourists. Visitors fly to the Liberia International Airport and take a taxi or bus to Brasilito.

Brasilito is a small beach town that is one of the few genuine villages in the area. It has a local lifestyle that is very relaxed and welcomes visitors who want to share in the peace and tranquillity. It has the atmosphere of a traditional village, unchanged by tourism or development. This may not last because there are large resorts looking to take advantage of the beach and water activities.

The town is built around a square that serves as a football field and has several general stores, bars and restaurants. It also has an internet café for those who want to stay connected. Most people enjoy the seclusion. There are several rental shops for motorbikes, horse riding, diving equipment and more.

While staying in Brasilito, visitors can walk south for ten minutes to Playa Conchal a pink and white sand beach of crushed shells. Considered to have some of the clearest water on the Pacific coast, Playa Conchal is a great place for snorkelling. Equipment can be rented on the spot. This beach gets crowded because it is a holiday destination for locals too, but it is fun for some hours then a short walk will take you back to the serenity of your cabin in Brasilito.

Another interesting sight near Brasilito is Rincon de la Vieja which is an active volcano. There is hot springs nearby as well as lodges and hotels that offer forest canopy tours, hiking, river-rafting, horseback riding and wall climbing. Visits to the rim of the crater have been discontinued since the eruption of volcanic mud and ash on September 16, 2011.

If a break from all the relaxing quietness is required, Tamarindo is close by with a vibrant night life including excellent restaurants, nightclubs, live music and bars.

Even though travellers are discovering Brasilito, they come to enjoy the natural beauty and local lifestyle which is why it still has the undiscovered atmosphere.

Filed Under: Costa Rica, Featured, Guanacaste, Playa Brasilito

Playa Conchal

People have been enjoying the Playa Conchal beach in Costa Rica’s province of Guanacaste for hundreds of years. Indians lived in the area before Spanish settlers came to the region in the 15th century. Playa Conchal is now regarded as one of the most enticing beaches in Costa Rica. The beautiful weather and warm water make this a great vacation destination. Families with children appreciate the calmness of the water, and snorkelers enjoy the clarity of the water. The province of Guanacaste is known for its pristine beaches, surfing, fishing and golf. Accommodations vary from inexpensive motels to luxury resorts.

There are many things for visitors to do at the beach and in the water. Swimmers, scuba divers and snorkelers will have a chance to view the area’s marine life while they are in the crystal clear water. The beach is four kilometers long, and there is plenty of room for walking, jogging and sunbathing. Surfers of all skill levels will be able to surf here. Surfing lesson are available at the Point Break Surf School. Boats will take travelers out on the ocean for deep sea fishing adventures or leisurely sunset cruises.

Playa Conchal visitors who are having a hard time choosing between the beach and the golf course will not have a problem. The Garra de Leon Golf Course is close to the beach. Golfers can see the ocean while they are on the course. The course is between the ocean and a forest.

Adventurous travelers who want to get a close look at the scenery in the Playa Conchal region can take ATVs on a guided tour through the forests and mountains of the area. Another exciting way to see the scenery is to take a whitewater rafting trip down the Colorado River.

Travelers who only want to sleep in their choice of accommodation will find inexpensive motels in the town of Brasilito less than a mile from Playa Conchal. Those who want all the amenities offered at luxury resorts on the beach can stay at the Westin Resort & Spa or the Reserva Conchal.

Playa Conchal is a 10-minute drive from the Tamarindo Airport in the city of Tamarindo and a 45-minute drive from the Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport in the city of Liberia. The airport in Tamarindo is only served by domestic flights. Taxis will take passengers to Playa Conchal from both airports.

Filed Under: Costa Rica, Featured, Guanacaste, Playa Conchal

Papagayo

Costa Rica has long been famous for its excellent coffee and bananas, but equally splendid is its ecotourism. Travelers are drawn to the distinctive beauty of its tropical coastline. No more beautiful spot exists in the country than the region called Papagayo which runs along the Golfo de Papagayo on the northwest Pacific Coast of the Guanacaste Region.

Formed by volcanic activity and shaped by the sea weather, Papagayo features some of the world’s most pristine white sand beaches that eventually give way to lush tropical forests. Lauded as one of the first countries to develop and maintain ecotourism, the Costa Rican government has mandated that 70% of Penisula Papagayo must be kept natural. This means that lucky tourists can spy howler monkeys, squirrel monkeys, and an amazing array of tropical birds such as the Great Macaw, to name just a few of the marvelous flora and fauna in the area.

Costa Rica boasts a tourism industry that garners the country over $2 billion per year. Undoubtedly, many of the tourists flock to the natural hideway feel that areas like Papagoya feature. There are about 15 miles of coastline sporting 31 separate beaches in the Papagoya area. Though somewhat underdeveloped due to the country’s pro-ecology laws, the magnificent Arnold Palmer golf course has been constructed and is a mecca for golfers around the world. The Four Seasons Resort has pioneered plans for more resorts and golf courses in the area. For example, a private 18-hole course designed by Jack Nicklaus is scheduled to open in 2014.

A large marina called Marina Papagayo opened to boaters in January of 2009. Though still in the early stages of its development, Marina Papagayo will eventually hold up to 450 boats at one time for sport fishing and businesses as well as pleasure yachting.

Since so much of Papagayo has been kept natural, it is a haven for outdoor pursuits. A list of these pursuits would be very long, but deep sea fishing, snorkeling, scuba diving, surfing, windsurfing, sea kayaking, white-water rafting, forest canopy tours, and horseback riding are world famous and common to the area. Tourists come to the area to hike the dense national forests. The historic communities and local cuisine are also one-of-a-kind and worth a trip to experience.

In all, it is very difficult to match the kind of natural beauty one can experience in the Papagayo region of Costa Rica.

Filed Under: Costa Rica, Featured, Guanacaste, Papagayo

Playa Flamingo

While Tamarindo may possibly be the greatest technologically advanced seaside resort beside the Guanacaste shoreline, Playa Flamingo is no doubt one of the most gorgeous sands in Costa Rica. It is to be found on the Country’s Gold Coast and is set in Punta Salinas, northwest of Bahia Brasilito which is seventy-five kilometers southwest of Liberia. Playa Flamingo, also identified as Flamingo Beach, is sited in the middle of the seashores of Playa Potrero and Playa Brasilito. It is the one and only full-service quay amongst Acapulco and Panama on the Pacific shore of Central America.

With its spectacular bleached sand, untouched coastlines, and immaculate vibrant sapphire waters, Playa Flamingo is the superlative retreat for those who delight in deep sea angling. Home to marlin fish, tuna fish, swordfish, and snapper fish, Playa Flamingo presents visitors the top deep sea fishing experience all year. Every single July, this attractive seashore correspondingly is a presenter to a whimsical intercontinental sailfish competition funded by the Costa Rican Amateur Fishermen’s Club.

In addition to deep sea fishing, Playa Flamingo likewise arranges for a large quantity of aquatic sports events. It is too within the vicinity of the remarkable Santa Rosa National Park, in addition to the Palo Verde natural protected area. For those who take satisfaction in golfing, an eighteen-hole title fight golf course created by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. is sited close at hand.

Scuba diving is presented at Playa Flamingo all year around which permits sightseers to live through the pleasure of swimming with white fin sharks, in addition to an extensive assortment of additional magnificent tropical fish and oceanic life. Nautical and diving voyages and excursions can similarly be set up in the vicinity of the island of Plata.

The Playa Flamingo is an excellent holiday site; it is the native land to a number of the most striking lodging houses, condos, and private dwellings on the coastline. The finest period to stop over at Playa Flamingo is amongst the months of December and April. At this time, the beautiful seashores are immersed in sunlight and the typical yearly temperature drifts around 82 degrees Fahrenheit. If you choose taking advantage of the topnotch fishing, or if you choose a guileless day’s end voyage, Playa Flamingo is certain to make your retreat charming and unforgettable.

Filed Under: Costa Rica, Featured, Guanacaste, Playa Flamingo

Playa Ocotal

Playa Ocotal is a slight township that is positioned three kilometers south of Playas del Coco on the northerly Pacific Coast of Guanacaste region in stunning Costa Rica. The seashore on Playa Ocotal is one of the superlative places to snorkel in the expanse.
About a third of a mile long, Playa Ocotal is a tranquil, sandy beach. It is perfect for swimming, snorkeling, and any other out-of-doors goings-on to be enjoyed on a sunny day with a striking backdrop. It is also an ideal abode to loosen up and relish in the tranquility.

Playas del Coco, a tiny casting and sightseer town, is only a five minute drive away. This minute receptacle bay brings forward a little seashore that is encircled by elevated headlands and is rather lovely. When it is unruffled on the beach there are remarkable locations to snorkel around some rock strewn islets that are close at hand to the ocean front.

The sea air is mingled with an ashen fog. In fact, a lot of homeopaths have confidence that this vapor is abundant with negative ions which are tiny elements charged with electrical energy that contains advantageous influences on plant life, wild life, and humans.
Hours upon hours of vivid sunlight, a warm average temperature, and the tepid, alluring streams of the sparkling cerulean sea cause Playa Ocotal to be a serene coast. In the months between December and April there are nine hours of dazzling sun a day and there can possibly be four to five hours of sun for the duration of the drizzly, but lush time of year.

Scuba diving is accessible at the attractive Playa Ocotal. Catalina Island is situated nearby and is a suggested diving site. It is the paramount habitation to catch sight of large schools of rays, including the giant manta ray. If you enjoy snorkeling, the south end of the beach is suggested.

Lodgings are pleasant, but not low-cost. If you delight in camping outside, it is likely but not generally noticed on Playa Ocotal. Something to keep in mind when visiting this handsome seaside is that the more distinct you are, the lovelier time you will have.

The shoreline is shielded by hummocks and crags of eighty-million-year-old deposited metamorphic rocks. The vibrant shore of Playa Ocotal blends with uncommon rock creations and the arid forestry of the knolls. Playa Ocotal is renowned for its unblemished seawaters, rendering scuba diving and snorkeling a remarkable event.

Filed Under: Costa Rica, Featured, Guanacaste, Playa Ocotal

Tamarindo

The Pacific coastal town of Tamarindo is a microcosm of all that Costa Rica has to offer. As a result, tourism is the main industry of the area and Tamarindo has become a haven for surfers, eco-tourists and holiday seekers from around the world. The population of this sleepy village can swell from 500 to over 5,000 people during the height of the tourist season. With lush rainforests, spectacular beaches, wonderful surf breaks and the nearby Las Baulas National Park, Tamarindo is a miniature tropical paradise.

The Playa Tamarindo is a long stretch of white sandy beach that offers two excellent wave breaks for advanced surfers. One is the rocky Pico Pequeño point and the other is the El Estero near the mouth of the river estuary. The strong currents can produce waves as high as twelve feet. The remainder of the beach offers wonderful opportunities for beginning surfers.

Eco-tourists will be thrilled by the Playa Grande beach. The leatherback turtle takes over the beach from November to April as they dig one meter deep nests, lay their eggs and return to the sea. Approximately sixty to ninety days later, visitors will be enraptured as they watch the eggs hatch and the young turtles make their way to the ocean. Other eco-friendly activities include snorkeling off shore reefs, zip-lining across the rain forest canopy and getting up close to the local flora, fauna and culture during a horseback tour of the tropical forest and surrounding area.

Tamarindo offers an acclaimed, cosmopolitan mix of dining and nightlife venues that have gained in popularity over the years as the best way to top off a special day in paradise. Guests will find a wide variety of shops, souvenir stands and art galleries where visitors can view and purchase the sculptures, pottery, art and other handcrafts of local artists. Tamarindo offers a wide selection of accommodations for every taste and budget.

Tamarindo, with its tropical climate, is easily accessible by land or air. There is daily scheduled bus service from San Jose. The trip takes approximately six hours. The most convenient way to reach Tamarindo is by airplane. There is a local airstrip that is serviced by regular flights from San Jose. Another access point is to fly directly from several major gateway cities to nearby Liberia and then rent a vehicle for the drive to the vacation hot spot of Tamarindo.

Filed Under: Costa Rica, Featured, Guanacaste

Marino Las Baulas National Park

The Marino Las Baulas National Park is a national park and nature reserve on the western coast of Costa Rica in the Guanacaste Region. Marino Las Baulas National Park was established as a national park of Costa Rica in 1991 and is just over 54000 acres large. Most of the park consists of protected water but swimming and scuba diving are still allowed in certain locations.

The closest Costa Rican town to the Marino Las Baulas National Park is the city of Tamarindo. Tamarindo is a small city with a population of just over 3500 people. Most of the land portions of the Marino Las Baulas National Park are located in Tamarindo, including Playa Grande. Since Tamarindo is located so close to Marino Las Baulas National Park, you can get to the park by car or walking. Tamarindo is a remote location in Costa Rica, so it usually requires a bus trip from San Jose to reach the city. The long bus trip is well worth being able to enjoy the beautiful beaches of Tamarindo and the Marino Las Baulas National Park.

While there are several attractions to see at Marino Las Baulas National Park, the main attraction are the leatherback turtles. Leatherback turtles are an extremely endangered species, and Marino Las Baulas National Park is one of the few places in the world where you can find the turtles. The leatherback turtles come on the beach each year to store all of their eggs in the sand. They then return when the eggs are ready to be hatched. Marino Las Baulas National Park is also a nature reserve to help protect the leatherback turtles from extinction. Many people in the area try to steal the turtle eggs and eat them as a delicacy.

There is also a small museum located near the entrance of Marino Las Baulas National Park. The museum is dedicated to the preservation of the local leatherback turtles. The museums displays the history of the leatherback turtle, and has audio tours for a more in depth look at the history of the turtles.

Just outside of the Marino Las Baulas National Park are swamps and estuaries that should be seen by everyone visiting the park. In this area, you can take a kayak on the water or hike on one of the trails. This is a great way to see some of the local ocelots, monkeys, anteaters, pelicans and other birds.

Filed Under: Costa Rica, Featured, Guanacaste, Marino Las Baulas National Park, Playa Grande, Tamarindo

Palo Verde National Park

Costa Rica is a small Central American country known for being home to diverse wildlife and beautiful natural scenery. If you’re in the mood for an adventurous vacation or trip, consider visiting some of the large and well preserved National Parks in Costa Rica. Touring these nature parks allows you to experience endangered wildlife, finding the most impressive waterfalls in the world and exploring swamps and jungles teaming with greenery and flowers.

One of the best parks in the country is the Palo Verde National Park. It is easily accessible all year round from the nearby town of Liberia, or guests can arrive there by boat from the port located in Humo. Visitors can arrange to stay overnight in the research station dormitory or can make a day trip. Playa Avellana offers multiple hotel options and is only 65 km away. The park is mostly wetlands mixed with dry forests. This habitat provides the perfect home for hundreds of migratory tropical bird species. The birds that arrive in great clusters are the main attraction for visitors. Rare species of storks, ibis, ducks and parrots can be watched here in their natural environment without disturbing them.

The Rodriguez Caballero Wildlife Refuge and Lomas Barbudal Biological Refuge are located around the edges of the park and can be accessed easily as well for further exploration. Tours usually involve driving through the dry plains that are not accessible during the rainy season, or boating down the Tempisque River to see iguanas and water animals like caimans and crocodiles. A few tours also allow visitors to access the small villages of native Costa Ricans who live along the river and make art and pottery to support themselves.

Unlike some other national parks in Central America, guests are allowed to bring rented vehicles into the parks for self-guided exploration. It is recommended that guests remain inside their vehicles if they are not on a guided tour to avoid doing damage to the ecosystem or being bitten by a caiman or one of the many snake species. Cycling is another option for touring the park, and guests can camp along the bike paths for a multiple day excursion without the noise or cost of renting a vehicle. Exploring Palo Verde National Park is a great trip for both younger and older children as well, as long as appropriate accommodations have been chosen to keep them comfortable.

Filed Under: Costa Rica, Featured, Guanacaste, National Parks, Palo Verde National Park

Miravalles National Park

Miravalles National Park has the highest volcano in the Cordillera de Guanacaste in northwestern Costa Rica. The area is known for its spectacular scenery, wildlife and hot springs.

Although the area is often referred to as “Miravalles National Park,” it is not actually a national park, but is instead a nature reserve known as the Miravalles Protected Zone. The protected zone covers nearly 29,000 acres of savannah, forest and cloud forest, including much of the Miravalles Volcano itself. The protected zone is operated by the national parks agency, but no ranger station or other park facilities occur within the zone.

The Miravalles Volcano itself is over 2,200 meters high. It comprises a caldera that contains several younger cones and volcanic features. The caldera was created bout 500,000 years ago, when the upper portion of a previous volcano was destroyed in a series of massive eruptions. The volcano is currently listed as active, but it has not produced a significant historical eruption. The most recent major eruption was about 7,000 years ago, but a minor steam eruption occurred in 1946. Geothermal activity in the area is common, however, and there are many hot springs, and even a geothermal power plant.

The west flank of the mountain is covered with savannah scrub, while the east flank bears cloud forests. The cloud forest is well preserved. It contains both cloud forest and moist forest, comprising several different life zones. Rainfall varies with distance from the summit, but may exceed 140 inches annually in some areas. Temperature also varies, occasionally touching the freezing point at the summit, but typically above 75 degrees Fahrenheit in the surrounding lowlands.

The forests contain a wide variety of plant and animal life. Coconut palms and ferns abound, often gripped by epiphytes. Wild cats haunt the forest, as do coyotes, capuchin monkeys, deer and peccaries (wild pigs). With nearly 500 species in habiting it, the forest supports abundant birdlife. Many spectacular rivers and waterfalls also occur there, as does the oldest pre-Hispanic archeological site in Costa Rica.

Common tourist activities in the area include wildlife watching, hiking and bathing in the area’s renowned hot muds. Although there are no maintained park facilities, there are two different paths to the mountain’s summit. Hot springs occur at Las Hornillas, about 700m up the mountain’s south flank. Tractor tours are available to waterfalls and many different fumaroles.

The area is accessible by car along Highway 1 to Bagaces, the nearest town. Allow about three hours or so for the trip. Also nearby are the Rincon de la Vieja and Tenorio Volcano National parks, which cover the volcanic peaks to the north and south, respectively, of Miravalles Volcano.

Filed Under: Costa Rica, Featured, Guanacaste, Miravalles National Park, National Parks

Guanacaste National Park

Guanacaste National Park is located in Costa Rica. It’s the perfect day trip for locals and tourists. This is not a relatively small park considering it’s only 80,336 acres. If you’re staying in San Jose and you’d like to visit Guanacaste National Park, it’s recommended that you find a hotel in the area. This is a 173-mile drive. From Liberia the park is a 29 miles drive.There are many hotels to choose from. Camping in this park is not allowed. If you’d like to camp, consider doing so at Santa Rosa National Park, which is directly across from Guanacaste National Park.

Guanacaste National Park opened in 1989. It was opened for two reasons. One was for forest protection services. The other was to secure a migration route for animals during the dry season. In the park, you can find many different animals, amphibians and insects. Don’t worry. If you stay on the trail, then you likely won’t have to get too close. Creatures you might find include howler monkeys, long-nosed armadillos, pumas, white-tailed deer, black hawks, white-faced capuchins and ocelots. As far as insects go, there are over 10,000 types in the park.

Other interesting features include volcanoes, research stations, rivers, waterfalls, an education center, observation decks over the river, a swimming hole, sheltered picnic areas and a gift shop. Also keep in mind that this entire area is a tropical forest. Many people like to take advantage of the swimming hole. A standard trip to Guanacaste National Park begins with a short hike, follows with a picnic lunch and finishes off with an hour-long dip in the swimming hole. Others prefer to hike to one of the waterfalls and read a book or even take a nap. One of the research stations is opened to tourists. If you have never been to it before, it’s recommended. Another fun note is that some people have found ancient pottery pieces and artifacts on the trials. In addition to that, there is believed to be a Mayan underground chamber in the north end of the park, but archeologists have yet to explore the suspected site.

If you visit Guanacaste National Park, you need to register at the visitor’s center first. The cost for the park is small. If you’re from another country, it will be $5. If you’re a national, it will be $1. Always wear hiking shoes, long-sleeve shirts, bug spray and sunscreen. Also remember to bring a lot of water.

Filed Under: Costa Rica, Featured, Guanacaste, Guanacaste National Park, National Parks, Santa Rosa National Park