The Jaguar Rescue Center

One of my favorite places to visit here in Puerto Viejo is the Jaguar Rescue. We came here on out first visit and as part of the visit we got to go on with the baby Howlers.

  This was something I have talked about many times and really wanted the kids to experience both the rescue and the baby howlers.
 

  We stopped by at the beginning of the week to find out times. Lucky we did because in order experience the howlers you need to book a private tour. They used to take 3 groups but just changed and are only taking 2 groups a day for the private tours and the week was booked. Nicole & I just stood there looking very disappointed. She repeated it was booked for the week but we didn't move. It was either our disappointed faces or the fact we weren't moving that she said " let me see what I can do."  A moment later she came back and said "Thursday at 2:00pm."  We were thrilled.

 Our guide for our tour was Dexter, a local who has been with the rescue for 7 years.  He took us around telling us about the different animals, why they are there, how they are caring for them, and how they will be released back into the rainforest. Most that come through the rescue are able to be re introduced back. Very few end up here permit which is great.
 

A week with the family at Magic Moon, Playa Negra Costa Rica

Another night at Courtyard by Marriott at the airport in San Jose then it was off to Puerto Viejo for the next 5 weeks.

We were very excited to have both our kids coming to spend the first week with us. I guess telling them we had a 3 bedroom house on the beach in Puerto Viejo helped. The house is perfect for us too, 3 bedrooms, large kitchen, and a huge porch.

 

 

Tortuguero Jungle Expedition with Costa Rica Expeditions

We have been coming to Costa Rica since 2004 and every trip I want to go to Tortuguero, but just can not fit it into our plans. This time I was determined to make it here. I used Costa Rica Expeditions the first time we came to the county and used them again for this little excursion. We were going to stay 3 nights but our kids surprised us with wanting to come to visit us here in Costa Rica so we had to cut the trip to 2 nights.

   Costa Rica Expeditions picked us up right on time 6:20am at the courtyard. We traveled 3 hours to the river to get a boat to take us to Tortuguero. The only way to get to this area is either boat or by plane.

 Once we got to the river we loaded on the boat for the 1 1/2 ride up the river to Tortuguero. One side note there are guys who help get the luggage from the vans to the boats, they work on tips. Please if you take this trip, tip these guys they work hard and out of 12 people we were they only ones who tipped.

The beautiy of the Central Valley, Costa Rica

After a wonderful stay at Rio Celeste Hideaway Hotel it was back on the road this time to San Jose.

 I have said this many times, driving in Costa Rica is all part of the adventure and this ride was no different. It was a beautiful ride through the central valley, twisting and turning up and down through the clouds.

 

Time to trade in my flip flops for hiking boots - Tenorio Volcano National Park

One of the many things I love to do here in Costa Rica is hiking. The country is full of national parks with plenty of hiking trails. It is a peaceful experience to be walking along in the middle of the rainforest and just listening to the sounds of the birds, insects, frogs, and other critters that live here.
Today we went to Tenorio volcano national park to hike to see Rio Celeste and the falls.

The park opens at 8:00am and of course we were there 7:45am. As much as I can be slow in the mornings getting out the door it is always great to in places when they first open. Entrance to the park is $12.00. We were the first people here and had the park all to ourselves. The trail starts right at the entrance and is 2 miles to the end and you come back the same way. They estimate the hike to take about 4 hours.

Rio Celeste Hideaway

We spent the whole month of January exploring the towns, little villages, and beaches of the Guancaste coast of Costa Rica. We stated at the southern point in Manzanillo and traveled up the coast to the northern end just about to the Nicaragua border.

 It's been a fun adventure. Each place uniquely different, even the climate is different. The south is hot and very dry. Having no paved roads the dust can be a lot. Hosing the street in front of your house or business is s full time job. 

 

 

The beaches are endless, just one gorgeous beach after another.
 

 Driving through the Guancaste coast the landscape is farm after farm with wide open space. It is not uncommon to see horses and cattle just wondering about.

 

A Vacation within a Vacation - Dreams Las Mareas

 

We learned friends of our are spending a week at the new Dreams Las Mareas, located at the Northern point of the Guanacaste coast in El Jobo. It is a 3 hour ride from Flamingo to El Jobo but the roads are paved. However they are doing some road construction, which is a good time to stock up on chips that are sold by the locals anytime there is construction causing cars to stop.

The ride takes you through endless valley's with volcano's in the backdrop, very beautiful. From the airport in Liberia airport the ride is 1 1/2.

Dreams Las Mareas is an all suite, all inclusive resort with everything right there. Dreams is part of AM resorts which include Zoetry, Secrets, and Now resorts all of which I have had wonderful experiences with over the years as a guest and sending clients to the resorts.
When we arrived we were greeted with a glass of champagne. Check in was quick, easy, and we were in our rooms in no time. We are only here for 2 nights so it was great to get the party rolling as soon as we arrived.

 The resort has 2 levels of pools with all sorts of mini pools, you can always find a spot to sit. People still do get up early to reserve their spot but that happens in any resort and there really isn't a reason here with so much space.

We meet our friend by the pool for some afternoon beverages before going to the Seaside Grill for lunch.

The Grill is set right off the pool and with views of the ocean. Lunch was wonderful.

There is a salad bar with fresh fish salad, tuna, salmon, soup, chips, and assorted cold salads. I could of had just that for a meal and been happy. The fresh snapper was delicious. Wonderful meal, great service, and a beautiful atmosphere.

Now for some beach time.

Dining in Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica

While is Flamingo we did eat home a few nights. The kitchen is great to cook in and there is a grill on the deck. The best food store in the area is the super Maasai. You will find most everything you need there. For chicken or meat you need to go to the mega super, about 15 minutes outside flamingo. I just love the food store names they are either a mega, mini. super, or a maxi. Funny what comes to mind and I will leave it at that.

On the road in Pottero just passed the Beach House Restaurant  is a fruit & vegetable stand. Everything is fresh and inexpensive.  

                                                        All this for $2.00

 We did try a few restaurants all within the Marina area and within walking distance from the condo. We found pricing to be a bit more expensive here and the food not very good. 

 Marie's has live music a few nights and they come on early 7:00pm - 8:00pm. Thursday night there was Latin music - Trans-Flamenco Experimental.  It was just 2 guys Tony & Roy who play Spanish Guitar & Bongos and are excellent. Thursday night this is the place to be, seriously not a empty seat in the place. 

As for the food it was not very good. I have had fresh fish all over the country and this was probably the the worst I have had. I enjoy the Casado it is a perfect meal, fish (can get beef or chicken) rice, beans, and a small salad. Tonight the fish is mahi mahi and is offered blacken, burger, or casado all for different pricing. The blacken can not be ordered with the Casado, you can only get it fried with the casado 

 Okay, that makes little sense but I am willing to paid a little more for blacken fish. It came with mashed potatoes & green beans. The fish came out with a red coating on it and had no flavor at all. The mashed were tasteless and the green beans well how hard is it to mess up beans. The whole meal was bland with 0 flavor, I didn't even finish it. Marie's is #1 and highly recommend by frommer who normally is spot on. Maybe a off night?   

The music more than made up for the food. Next time eat at home and go for drinks. 

Weathering out Blizzard 2016 in Costa Rica

My family and friends are preparing for a blizzard in the Northeast that will dump anywhere from a foot to 3 feet of snow, along with ice and I am heading for the beach. As much as I love a good snow storm and this looks like its going to be a good one, I am very happy to be on the beach.
 There are so many beaches to explore from this area that are all within 30 minutes and easy to get to, and most by paved roads.

Potrero Bay is right in front of our place and is great for long morning walks. There is a small fishing village at the far end we enjoyed watching the local fisherman.  There are also a few soda's along the beach which serve good food. The Beach house was very good. It was right on the beach, wonderful sunsets, music and Casado dinner (fresh fish)  for only $8.00.
Another good place right on the beach in Potrero Bay is Soda PlaeMar, we tried it for lunch.

Next stop Playa Flamingo

After a lovely stay in Samara it was time to move up the coast to Playa Flamingo. It is only a few miles up the coast but the drive takes 2 hours. Thankfully it is all paved roads which is something we have not had since starting this trip. It feels pretty nice to drive not being shaking around like your on an old wooden rollercoaster.

 

 We have rented a condo in the Flamingo Marina area with fabulous views of Potrero Bay.

 The condo is extremely comfortable with 2 bedrooms, the master with views of the bay, big kitchen, living area, dining room, and big deck.

Plus a pool just below the condo.

 I can see we are going to be very happy here and I may have to cook some.  But lets not get to crazy on the cooking yet.

 It's lunch time, we still need to shop, Coco Loco over looking Playa Flamingo sounds a lot better.

 La cerveza and coconut shrimp.

Dining in Samara

Our house here in Samara has a nice kitchen and it was our intention to cook a few nights but there are so many wonderful restaurants in town to try that idea went out the window.
 The town is a small beach community with lots of restaurants, shops, bars, and hotels all either on the beach or within a short walk from the beach.
Having dinner on the beach with some live music is just my speed and we found many places to do just that.
 Gusto beach restaurant  has everything from sushi to pizza. It is a great spot to enjoy a drink, listen to music, and watch what's happening on the beach.

El Ancla is another beach restaurant with some great prices and happy hour specials. I just love the fresh fish Casado - the typical meal and for $6000 colones ($12.00) how can you go wrong.

La Vela Latina is another good choice on the beach for  burgers, nacho's, and seafood. The happy hour has the best prices. They just move very slow, slower then the average tico time. Here is where we finally learned the secret to La Cuenta por favor.

El Lagarto is not right on the beach but a wonderful place to eat. They have a large selection of meat, seafood, and vegetable all grilled on cedar wood. The bake potatoes are cooked in the flame oven and are the best.

I even tried the fresh grilled squid and it was very tasty.

Olive Ridley Turtle nesting on the beach in Costa Rica

 

Costa Rica beaches is the nesting ground for 5 different types of turtles, Leatherback, hawksbill sea turtles, the pacific green sea turtle, Atlantic green sea turtle, and the Olive Ridley. We are not here during nesting season but were told that the Olive Ridley can nest though out the year. It was something I really did want to see and there are a few beaches close to Samara that we just might get lucky.  

Right in the center of Samara is Samara Information Center which gives free information on tours and other events going on in the area. That seemed to be the place to check to see what is going on with the turtles this time of year. We were told that nothing had been happening the last couple of days but with a full moon coming later in the week there could be some coming to nest. They took our email and told us they let us know.

Sure enough as the moon got close to full we got an email that a few have been coming on shore and tonight would be a good night to go.

Playa Carrillo

Just a little south of Samara we discovered another of Costa Rica's little treasures, Carrillo Beach.
It is long white sand beach, lined with coconut palm tree, which gives you lots of shading options to sit and enjoy the beauty that surrounds you. Shade is a must, the sun is very strong. The sand gets very hot as the day goes on, so hot people run from the shade of the palm tree to the water. I tried to wear flip flops down but it still gets in between, running seems to work best.