Need a day of pampering

Pure Jungle Spa is the answer.

After a month of walking of hiking, sand, & sun my feet were in need of a good pedicure. Asking around I was told this is the spot and they were right.

It is set among beautiful flowers with hummingbirds flying about, very relaxing.
It was the best pedicure I have ever had. My feet were baby soft when she was done with them.

I have also been told by a women who just came back from Thailand that the massages here are better then she had while there. I think I will have to give it a try.

The not so wild animals of Costa Rica

Costa Rica is full of wildlife and some not so wild. I enjoy watching the domestic animals as well.

Most of the houses we have stayed out there are dogs and cats that come visit regularly. But what is really interesting is the dogs on the beach They are not wild and all have owners but come to the beach everyday mostly on their own to play, swim, and take a nap under the trees.

 

 

Heard there were a few complaints from folks about the dogs but its the people leaving behind all the trash. Dogs aren't drinking beer.

 

 I am very comfortable in the rainforest. In fact I feel very much at home being surrounded by all the nature. I love hiking trails, walking around the yards of the houses and discovering new things. There is always something new. Some are beautiful

 

and just creepy.

A few I just don't want to see. The bullet Ant is top of my lists for not seeing.

Gandoca - Manzanillo nature Reserve

 At the far end of Manzanillo is the entrance to the trails through the reserve. It is free to enter but some days they are there taking donations.

 

  The hike is fairly easy with some great view from the lookout point, and 2 beach coves. 

  Once passed the second beach cove the trail just keeps going possibly right into Panama.

 

  We hiked in 2.5 miles. It was very peaceful listening to the birds. 

 One raining day we drove to the other entrance to the park, Gandoca beach. This is a black sand beach.
 

This is one of the spots the leatherback come to nest. Not to much to do on a rainy day but was nice to see. 

Cielo Mar

For the last part of the trip we moved back up to the canopy to Cielo Mar, meaning Sky Sea. It has fantastic views of both, along with the mountains of Panama. 

The house has 3 floors, master bedroom, bath, and deck on the first floor. 

The second is the living area, kitchen, full bathroom, & a bedroom.

 My favorite spot is the lookout room on the top floor. It was open with nice breezes with 360 degree views. 

The trees were filled with Capuchin monkeys.

 Everywhere you looked they were jumping for trees to tree. It was fascinating watching them and a few watching us.

There were times they made jumps from the trees they looked like they were flying through the air. Made me think of the Wizard of Oz, flying monkeys.

  One of the best features of the house is a pool which is a nice side along with the area. The pool will nice surrounded by all this nature.

 

Going to be a great spot to end our trip, in the jungle. 

Just got poke around

The road from Puerto Viejo to the Manzanillo is only 10 miles long with roads leading to either the beach or up into the rainforest.

 
It is fun to just take one and see where it leads. You never know what you will find.

We turned down a little beach road we have passed a 100 times and found a lovely trail.

Sunday Funday in Costa Rica

 Morning walk in the beach in Manzanillo.
 

Saw a sloth crossing the street in Chiquita. 

 

 

 

Casa naranja - Manzanillo, Limon

We next moved back to the beach between Punta Uva & Manzanillo for a week. We like switching houses and locations. Each place is uniquely different in style, locations, creating difference experiences. 

Casa  naranja is a beautiful house with a couple features you don't get often in the rainforest, glass windows & AC. All the doors have screens and can be opened which creates good breezes through out the house so AC wasn't needed. 

 The porch is very big with very comfortable furniture. It was lovely sitting under the roof on the porch listening to the rain.

 

The house has a TV. We only watched football since leaving the states so it was a nice to watch a little TV a few night. Only thing not many English channels.

 

 The kitchen is large but quirky. It is set up like a galley kitchen but has a huge table in the middle you have to keep walking around when trying to cook. The stove on one side the pots and pans and cooking utensils on the other. The designer clearly not someone who cooks.

We did cook so wonderful meals, eating them outside on the teak table on the back porch.  There is a big wood burning oven as well.

A 3 toed Sloth mission to find just the right tree - Villa Toucan, Punta Uva

 

 have heard and read that the only time a sloths comes down a tree is to go to the bathroom. This is not the case. 

While sitting having my coffee in the porch at Villa Toucan, I noticed a 3 toed sloth in one of the trees by the house. I watched him climb along the branch to the tip to eat some leaves then back to the trunk of the tree.  He was heading down the tree. It is known that sloths come down the tree once a week to do their business then head right back up. I watched him come down then disappear from my sight into the brushes at the base of the tree. 

  A little while later I noticed him heading up a different tree close to the one he had just come from. I watched as he climbed up, investigating each of the branches on the tree. He climbed to the end of each one then back. He must not of been happy with this tree because he was now heading back down. 

  At this point I needed to get a little closer to see what he was going to do. He went all the way down and started climbing through the low brushes just off the ground.  He came to an area that was open and crawled across the ground to the base of another tree. This is when the cat took notice and went for a closer look. Neither one seemed all that interested in one another but it was surprising to me to see them together. 

Villa Toucan, Punta Uva

We had a wonderful stay at Magic moon and really enjoyed the location. But we also love being up in the canopy. The next place we stayed was Villa Toucan. This is a magical place, tucked away in the rainforest in Punta Uva. The views are fantastic, canopy & ocean.

  This was our 3rd visit and each time we discover something new. It is so peaceful here. I love the open house and waking up in the middle of the jungle. The sounds are incredible, howler monkey's, parrots, toucans, and many I have no idea what they are.

  Having been out to eat while Nicole & George were here it was time to relax start cooking at home.

  There are plenty of food stores from Puerto Viejo to Manzanillo. I enjoy getting my fruits & veggies from the local roadside stands.

  For chicken there are 2 butcher shop in town, 2 chicken breast $4.00.

  Fresh fish you find at the fish shop. There is always plenty of fresh new snapper, tuna, and shrimp. For fresh bread there are many choices, we have tried pan pay in town.

We found super cocles to have the best prices for wine. It's a few stops but fun. 

The best Pizza!!! Marco's Puerto Viejo

Ever play that game if I was stuck on an island? Well if I were stuck on a island with only  1 food to eat for the rest of my life I think I would pick pizza. It can be eaten cold or hot and makes a great meal breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snack. Of course where do you get pizza stuck on an island? 

 

   We often go out on Friday nights in New Jersey for pizza with friends. It has become a little quest among us to find the best pizza. We have a few favorites but still always looking. 

 

   While George & Nicole were here we found the place that just might be the best pizza we have ever had. 

 Marco's Pizza in Puerto Viejo. The dough is made fresh each day.

 

 

 

 Each pizza is made to order using fresh basil from the garden. Then cooked in a wood burning oven. It comes thin, crisp, and delicious.  Plus you have an ocean view.

 

Not sure you can get better then this.  After 4 trips so far &  still plenty of time to go. 

 

 

 

  Marco's pizza gets our vote for best pizza!! 

 

 

They do deliver, guess NJ be little to far. 

 Even Mama Sloth paid a visit one day.