Now - HRG Costa Rica Vacations

Welcome!
Bienvenidos!
Costa Rica is a veritable oasis, offering a laidback lifestyle,
peaceful politics, friendly and diverse locals, and a
staggering natural beauty. The country has a little
something for everyone and draws a steady current of
tourists throughout the year. The country saw about 2.4
million tourists in 2013, and that number is sure to rise. With
such a rush of tourists every year, certain common
destinations—Tamarindo and Jaco, for instance—fill up
quickly.
Instead of dealing with a throng of other tourists, take a
look at some of Costa Rica’s hidden gems.
Rio Celeste
Nestled within the Tenorio Volcano National Park, Rio Celeste winds
through a lush rainforest. The river offers one of the country’s greatest
natural wonders as the water almost glows with an enchanting sky-blue
hue. The source of this color is a mix of calcium carbonate and sulfur
from the Tenorio Volcano.
Visiting the river involves a one-hour hike that takes you through
primary and secondary rainforests in Tenorio Volcano National Park.
The trail winds upstream along the river’s banks, offering an excellent
view of the flora and potentially some of the fauna in the rainforest,
including monkeys, sloths, and tropical birds. The farther upstream you
hike, the deeper the water’s color, until you finally reach the source
where the Buena Vista and Roble Rivers meet at Borbollones. The
confluence is marked by a beautiful waterfall.
Visitors can also take a dip in the pool at the base of the waterfall or
soak in one of the many hot springs found along the river. Just be
careful of the boiling mud pots.
Africa Mia
Zebras and giraffes wander through tall grass while white-faced
monkeys swing by overhead. No, you haven’t teleported to the African
savannah. Welcome to Africa Mia, Costa Rica’s only African safari
adventure.
Africa Mia is situated just five miles from Liberia in the Guanacaste
Province. Established in 2006, the wildlife park covers about 250 acres
and houses over 150 animals and 11 native African species. The park is
split into three sections:
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The outer savannah, which serves as an adaptation area
for new animals
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The inner savannah, where most of the long-term animals
reside
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El Salto Waterfall
The park features a petting zoo where you can meet and feed
dromedaries, ostriches, and white-tailed deer. From there, ride into the
open plains where guides will offer interesting facts about the freeroaming animals. Grab a meal or snack at the restaurant or café, and
take home something nice at the souvenir store.
Pura Vida Gardens
and Waterfalls
Located just 3 miles away from Carara National Park, the Pura Vida
Gardens and Waterfalls are a visual feast, combining four waterfalls,
spectacular views of the Pacific, and the country’s indigenous flora and
fauna with thousands of flower and orchid varieties from all over the
world. The walkways of this 60-acre botanical garden are lined with
almost 400 species of plants.
The garden offers amazing, panoramic views of the Pacific coastline.
One particular viewpoint looks over the Bijagual waterfall and
surrounding rainforests. The abundance of flowers also brings a wide
variety of butterflies and birds to the gardens. Scarlet macaws and
toucans are a daily spectacle, and the University of Costa Rica identified
397 different species. End your visit by grabbing a bite at Adventure
Dining, the on-site restaurant, and watching the sun set while you sip
your favorite cocktail.
Barra Honda
National Park
This national park is named for the Barra Honda hill, which looms about
300 meters above the valley of the Tempisque River. At its highest peak,
the Barra Honda reaches 450 meters and comprises mainly coral reef
that has been dated at over 60 million years old.
The main attraction at Barra Honda National Park is the vast network of
42 limestone caverns. The deepest of these caves is Santa Ana, which
sinks to a depth of 249 meters, while La Trampa offers the steepest
precipice, featuring a vertical entrance of about 30 meters in length.
Cavern tours offer a completely unique experience into a world that
very few have seen. Climbing into one of these caves requires a guide,
appropriate climbing gear, and advance permission from the National
Park service.
For those who would rather stay above the surface, Barra Honda also
offers an expansive network of trails that lead you through the area’s
dry tropical forest, home to a diverse collection of wildlife that includes
anteaters, agutis, monkeys, and coatis.
Nosara Wildlife Rescue
Costa Rica is home to an incredibly diverse range of wildlife, but the
growing human population can often mean trouble for some of the
indigenous species. That’s where the Nosara Wildlife Rescue comes in.
Comprising two sister organizations—the Refuge for Wildlife and the
SIBU Sanctuary—the Nosara Wildlife Rescue is dedicated to rescuing
injured, orphaned, or otherwise displaced wild animals and providing
necessary medical care and rehabilitation for eventual release back into
the wild. The rescue’s main population comprises howler monkeys and
other arboreal animals.
A private tour of either facility not only gives you a closer look at the
howler monkeys, but also offers an educational experience as you learn
about the monkeys, their habitat, and things you can do as a visitor to
prevent the complete extinction of these animals.
Nauyaca Waterfalls
Horseback Riding Tour
Just a few minutes from Costa Ballena, the Nauyaca Waterfalls are
located in a deep canyon measuring about eight meters wide. The
horseback riding tour, created and led by don Lulo and doña Ruth,
takes you through the Costa Rican wilderness, eventually ending at the
falls. One of the waterfalls offers a 45-meter high freefall, while the
other is 20 meters high with a tiered fall. Both drop off into a pool
measuring about 1,000 meters wide and 6 meters deep.
While a dip in the fall’s cool waters is certainly something to look
forward to, the horseback ride as a whole is a full experience filled with
adventure. The tour is 12 kilometers long with three resting periods and
an authentic Costa Rican breakfast and lunch.
Playa Bejuco
About 30 kilometers south of Jaco and 35 kilometers north of Manuel
Antonio lies Playa Bejuco, a perfect example of an off-the-beaten-path
beach. Offering a much quieter, serene atmosphere compared to the
hustle and bustle of Jaco, the Bejuco community is small with only a few
eateries available.
But that peaceful atmosphere is also the draw. Playa Bejuco is a clean
beach, and its surrounding area remains undeveloped, which means it’s
easy to spend a day at Bejuco without so much as seeing another
person. Whether you want to relax on the sand, surf, or see the many
birds that nest around the beach, Playa Bejuco is the perfect place to
truly get away from the hubbub of tourism.
Cerro Chirripo
Designated as the highest peak in Costa Rica, Cerro Chirripo stands at
an elevation of 3,820 meters. It is the centerpiece of Cerro Chirripo
National Park. Fifteen years ago, the peak saw very few visitors, but
thrill-seekers and adventurers from all over the world have since
traveled to the mountain to make the 15-kilometer hike to its summit.
It’s a strenuous climb that can’t be completed in a single day, but
refugios—mountain huts—are located throughout the trail. However,
the refugios’ 60-person limit often reaches capacity fairly quickly during
peak seasons.
If you would like to make the trek up the mountain, take the Herradura
trail. It’s almost twice as long, but it offers an impressive journey
through a variety of ecological zones in relative solitude.
Cahuita
Sitting along the Caribbean coast, Cahuita is only 27 miles from Puerto
Limon. The village is laidback but colorful and offers a unique taste of
Costa Rica’s Creole culture. Cahuita is home to only about 4,000
residents, many of whom are of Jamaican descent, and the town serves
as a gateway to Cahuita National Park.
The true standout here is the cuisine, blending Afro-Caribbean and
European dishes for a zesty, delicious experience, from jerk meats to
curried goat to seafood.
Brasilito Beach
Found about 44 miles away from Liberia along the Guanacaste coast,
Brasilito Beach offers much quieter accommodations than the
neighboring Conchal Beach and Flamingo Beach. You won’t find allinclusive resorts and hotels here, but Brasilito makes up for it with a
laidback atmosphere, mid-range accommodations, and plenty of
natural beauty to ease away your troubles.
Enjoy a variety of offshore activities (sailing, scuba diving, fishing), take a
tour of the wildlife and nearby volcanoes, or doze away your day in the
sunshine.
Enjoy Costa Rica’s
Pura Vida!
… that’s “pure life,” a term you will become very familiar with on your
visit to Costa Rica. The best way to truly find a hidden gem is to explore
for yourself. Costa Rica offers a wealth of diversity, from people to
landmarks to cuisine. Finding the perfect spot off the beaten path is as
easy as putting on a comfortable pair of shoes and following your nose.
This e-book is brought to you by HRG Vacation Rentals. To find premier
condos, vacation rentals, and real estate in Costa Rica, visit
www.hrgvacations.com or call 1-888-490-4581.
Image Credits
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“Rio Celeste Falls” by Bruce Thomson is licensed under CC BY 2.0
“wild animals” by Marina Kuperman Villatoro is licensed under CC BY 2.0
“Orange-collared Manakin” by Don Faulkner is licensed under CC BY 2.0
“Barra Honda National Park 01” by Shamhain is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
“Costa Rica” by Wim de Jong is licensed under CC BY 2.0
“Nauyaca Falls” by Juan Martinez is licensed under CC BY 2.0 / Cropped from
original
“Playa Bejuco, Puntarenas, Costa Rica” by Jorge Antonio Leoni de Leon is
licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 2.5, CC BY-SA 2.0, and CC BY-SA 1.0
“View of Chirripo” by Richard May is licensed under CC BY 2.0
“Vlinder – Cahuita / Costa Rica” by Roel van Deursen is licensed under CC B 2.0
“On the beach near Brasilito” by John Trainor is licensed under CC BY 2.0
“Costa Rica… No artificial ingredients!” by Arturo Sotillo is licensed under CC BY
2.0
Resources
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http://www.anywherecostarica.com/attractions/river/rio-celeste
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http://www.arenal.net/tour/rio-celeste-volcano-hike/
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http://costarica.com/attractions/africa-mia/
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http://www.puravidagarden.com/
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http://costarica.com/attractions/pura-vida-gardens-waterfalls/
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http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g309271-d1953662-ReviewsPura_Vida_Gardens_and_Waterfalls-Jaco_Province_of_Puntarenas.html
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http://www.nicoyapeninsula.com/barrahonda/
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http://costa-rica-guide.com/Natural/BarraHonda.html
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http://nosarawildlife.com/home/
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http://nosarasibusanctuary.com/home/
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http://cataratasnauyaca.com/
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http://www.costaricatraveler.com/english/article.php?id=166
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http://www.anywherecostarica.com/destinations/playa-bejuco
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http://costa-ricaguide.com/travel/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=344&Itemid=
565&limit=1&limitstart=10
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http://costa-ricaguide.com/travel/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=263&Itemid=
464
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http://www.anywherecostarica.com/destinations/cahuita
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http://www.anywherecostarica.com/destinations/playa-brasilito
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http://wikitravel.org/en/Brasilito