Rafting tours also available for travelers. Check out our Tamarindo vacation rentals

Costa Rica, well known for its rainforest ecosystem as well as its diverse array of beaches, is now being recognized for its world class adventure environment. The 2013 Adventure Racing World Series, a premier event for extreme adventure sports including rafting, kayaking, mountain biking, trekking, inner tubing, coasteering and canyoning will be held in Costa Rica in November 2013. The Adventure Racing World Series will include approximately 90 teams from more than 10 different countries competing non-stop for eight days across a 700 km course.

The Costa Rica Adventure Race, a qualifying event for the World Series concluded here on Saturday, April 28th with the top spot going to the Tecnu team from the US. Last week’s event ran for five days and included competition in Trek/Run, Mountain Bike, Kayak, Caves, Rafting and Ropes in a course that stretched from La Fortuna across Nicoya and Golfito and concluded on Saturday in Puntarenas. The Costa Rican team, the North Face, had taken over third place in the competition on Wednesday but was forced to withdraw from the race later Wednesday evening due to medical issues with one of the team members.

Plenty of Tamarindo Adventure & Eco Tours Available for all

According to The Travel Channel, Costa Rica should be primed on the radars of every eco-savvy traveler calling it “veritable adventure traveler’s Mecca.” Whether its surfing, exploring volcanoes, zipping through the rainforest canopy, running the rapids by raft or kayak, Costa Rica, boasting ample coastlines on both the Caribbean and Pacific shores, plus a widely diverse terrain in a region close to the equator, offers some of the world’s best and most diverse and exciting experiences for the adventure traveler. Here at Escape Villas, and our Costa Rica affiliate, VillasCostaRica.com, we are seeing the trend for more and more young, and young at heart, families to book vacations with at least some adventure experience tour as a part of their vacation.

For more details on the Costa Rica Adventure Race and the upcoming Costa Rica Adventure Race World Series visit http://www.arcostarica.com/. For more on luxury villa rentals in Costa Rica, Mexico, Cuba and other adventure rich exotic locations visit www.EscapeVillas.com and our affiliate www.villascostarica.com

There are 2 private balconies in the upstairs bedrooms area that is great for relaxing and reading a book. The Home Theater Room has a 63” HDTV wide screen with surround sound, stocked movies for every age group, or for watching TV. The kitchen is fully equipped with a large eat-in island, gas range stove top with oven, and dishwasher. A formal dining room allows for holiday dinners. The wood paneled library comes stocked with books and there is broadband internet conection. A roof top “Widows Walk” provides amazing views of your surroundings and star gazing at night.

For more information contact Escape Villas on info@villascostarica.com

A blend of cultures has permitted the diffusion of wide range of musical talents, with different backgrounds, styles and ages. If you are looking for some evening entertainment after the sun sets there are several inviting venues in Santa Teresa.

Look out for up and coming bands including Kika Band, The Common People and Gypsy Crew. From 80’d to 90’s covers, rock, Latin and Jazz there’s something for everyone in Santa Teresa.

The most highly recommended bars include Iguana Bar, Bar Las Olas, Kik, Artemis, Café Liberal, Carpe Diem and Pasta Basta.

From the multi-level roof top terraces you will entertain your guests with magnificent Pacific Ocean views, and unforgettable sunsets. The waterfall swimming pool is set in the most beautiful private tropical garden in all Manuel Antonio vacation rentals. A 10-person Jacuzzi spills water over a diving platform into the tile pool, 2 meters below.

Every inch of this Colonial-Moorish style home has been custom designed. From the stone bathroom sinks and countertops to the marble dining room table, each detail has been attended to by the owner who designed one of the premier hotels in the area. For more information please contact Escape Villas on info@villascostarica.com

New discovery of 3 stone spheres in Batambal, Costa Rica

The discovery of numerous archeological artifacts dating back to the periods of Aguas Buenas (300 A.C.-800 a.C.) and Chiriqui (800-1500 A.C) along with previously discovered spheres has helped Batambal receive a nomination as a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Francisco Corrales, a leading anthropologist at Costa Rica’s National Museum has stated that the three new spheres were located together, with two of the objects measuring 25cm in diameter and the third slighter smaller at 16cm wide. Corrales adds that the spheres had not been disturbed since they were first buried.

This incredible find has been linked to the previous discovery of four spheres located only 6 meters away. According to Corrales, the added discovery of anthropomorphic and zoomorphic artifacts including a 50cm tall sculpture with feline features has helped contextualize the significance of the nearby spheres. Corrales believes that Batambal was used for funeral rites and other symbolic activities in the Chiriqui era and considers the spheres to be important objects used in ceremonial acts.

Not everyone agrees with these assertions and there have been a number of alternative theories regarding the creation and significance of the spheres since they were first discovered during the 1930′s by United Fruit Company workers.

From alien visitors to mapping the location of Atlantis, a lack of information from both the pre-Colombian and colonial era has helped fuel a long list of theories to the spheres existence. One of the most recent claims comes from Ivan Zapp and George Erickson who argue that the spheres were in fact used to teach sea routes and constellation maps to navigators of the ancient world.

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Casa Fantastica is a tropical-modern style resort home that was especially designed and built to cater for the premier rental home market. Divided into two wings, Casa Fantastica has an impressive 8 air-conditioned bedrooms along with 8 Full and 3 Half bathrooms that include designer fixtures. Covering over 10,000 foot, this majestic residence Casa Fantastica offers guests 2 spacious Master Suites and 6 comfortable guest bedrooms each with their own bathroom.

A Costa Rica Vacation Rental that dreams are made of!

Along with game room, gym, cinema, 2 outdoor living rooms and a huge jacuzzi, this amazing estate also features a hotel-sized poolwith beach entry and infinity edge. Weddings and family parties are perfect for this spectacular outdoor social area, with incredible ocean and mountain vistas to be enjoyed from all angles.

A welcoming warm color palette and range of fine materials have been used to create a dream vacation experience. Combining exotic woods, glass, travertine marble, limestone, terrazzo, custom ceramic tiles, stucco, stainless steel, and copper, Casa Fantastica incorporates the highest quality of craftsmanship into its 3 levels.

For gourmet food enthusiasts, Casa Fantastica not only offers an impressive designer kitchen and entertainment bar, it also offers the services of a private chef. The kitchen is perfect for catering to large parties and is fully equipped with flatware, glasses, and dishes.

Escape Villas Concierge Service

Casa Fantastica offers much more space and private amenities, than most comparative luxury hotels. With exquisite detailing, Casa Fantastica features deluxe furnishings along with a private concierge service and on-site staff that will ensure that your vacation in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica is a dream come true experience. From the lush tropical settings, expansive ocean views, high quality appliances, linens to elegant furnishings, Casa Fantastica offers unbeatable luxury from start to finish. Ideal for families, groups of friends to business associates traveling together, this ample residence provides more than enough room to fit every guest’s needs, something that is not always possible when staying at conventional hotels.

Click here to find out more about this Costa Rica villa

Whatever style of vacation you decide on in Costa Rica, whether it be a relaxed or an adventure packed holiday, Casa Fantastica delivers elegance and style in the extraordinary setting of Manuel Antonio. Combining elegance, luxury and incredible natural surroundings, Casa Fantastica will ensure that your vacation is a truly unforgettable experience in paradise.

 To find out more information about booking a Casa Fantastica vacation please contact Escape Villas at 1-800-340-2407 or info@villascostarica.com

Matt Iovanni and friends in Tamarindo

Matt and his five friends stayed in an Escape Villas vacation rental positioned just outside the top beach and sun vacation destination of Tamarindo in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.
“I had the privilege of spending a week outside of Tamarindo in a waterfront villa. It was an amazing place,” explains Matt.

Costa Rica Vacation Rentals – a hassle free getaway

If you are still deciding on where you want to go for your next vacation, why not try a Costa Rica vacation rental?

There are common misconceptions about staying in a vacation rental abroad as Matt explains, “I had all the normal reservations about booking a villa out of the country… Would it be clean? Was it safe? Would the concierge be helpful? I have to say that the entire trip went off without a hitch. The villa was beautiful and extremely well kept. We booked a chef to prepare meals for us and everything was absolutely delicious. Our concierge helped us set up surfing trips and fishing excursions which were all professionally managed. All in all it was my best trip thus far.”

Playa Tamarindo – a World Famous Beach and Sun Destination

With the sun expected to shine almost every day of the year at Playa Tamarindo, it’s no wonder it’s famous for its incredible sunsets. Spectacular coastal views, superb surfing conditions and tropical landscapes just add to Tamarindo’s character. Forming part of the cape known as Cabo Velas, Tamarindo has an expansive white sand beach of three and a half kilometers lined by verdant flora, towering palm trees and sparkling blue waters with consistent breaks. Views to the north and the south of Playa Tamarindo in Guanacaste display a blend of arid landscape rich with jungle flora. Tamarindo and the surrounding beach destinations are home to an abundance of Costa Rica wildlife including howler monkeys, toucans, parakeets and giant iguanas.

Nearby beaches include Playa Grande to the north of Tamarindo Beach inside the same bay and divided by a natural salt water estuary. Playa Grande forms part of Costa Rica’s Las Baulas Marino National Park which is where the world’s largest colony of leatherback turtles comes to nest from October to March.
Playa Langosta is located to the south of Playa Tamarindo and is also a protected sea turtle nesting area forming part of Costa Rica’s national park system. The adjacent Tamarindo Wildlife Refuge, a beautiful mangrove estuary filled with exotic flora and fauna, is also great for bird watching in Costa Rica.

If you are not that keen on surfing or are simply looking for some time on land, this beautiful region of Costa Rica will not disappoint. Tamarindo beach offers a range of exciting adventure travel, eco tours and top class restaurants suitable family vacations in Costa Rica. Tamarindo offers a wide range of accommodations to suit everyone’s needs. From no frills surf camps to top-rated vacation rentals which have pride of place along the Pacific coastline, Tamarindo has something to offer everyone. If planning a group vacation, consider the variety of ocean view and beachfront vacation rentals available at Playa Tamarindo and the surrounding beaches of Playa Langosta, Playa Avellenas and Playa Grande. With some of the best luxury villas in the world and customizable concierge services offering an assortment of adventure travel and eco tours – Tamarindo is an excellent choice for large groups, destination weddings and family vacations in Costa Rica.

Are you looking for an unforgettable vacation in Tamarindo Costa Rica? Contact Escape Villas at 1-800-340-2407 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-800-340-2407 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or info@villascostarica.com for more information on Tamarindo vacation rentals and villas.

Find out more about Costa Rica Nature

Contrasting with the image of little amphibians jumping from one lily pad to the next, the poison dart frogs are far more bold and dangerous than their green cousins. At only 2.5 cm long, these incredible amphibians secrete a poison from glands located on their back. This poison was traditionally used by indigenous tribes for use on the tips of darts or arrows for hunting.

Costa Rica Nature – The Blue Jean Frog

The posion dart frogs are so rare they are in danger of extinction. For U.S biologist Jennifer Stynoski, the Strawberry Poison Dart frog or the ‘Blue Jean Frog’ as its commonly known, due to its bright red body and blue legs, is actually an extremely fragile creature that has an extraordinary reproduction strategy. The findings of a recent study carried out by Stynoski at the Organization of Tropical Studies in Costa Rica (OTS), reveals that the female Blue Jean Frog feeds its tadpoles with her unfertilized eggs. She feeds her young, which develop in pools in bromeliad leaves, by memorizing their location.

For a period of six weeks, mothers return every two days to feed their unfertilized eggs to their offspring. Stynoski notes that “the production of eggs is considerable, considering that each mother has various tadpoles to look after”. In addition, mothers whose tadpoles were replaced by strangers still feed them at the original site, as if they were their own biological “children”. Enamored by the

Catch a glimpse at the Arenal Volcano

For those arriving to Costa Rica and want to catch a glimpse of such wonderful amphibians, keep a look out in the lowland wet forests such as the Tortuguero, Arenal Volcano and Parque Nacional La Selva. Active during the day, the Blue Jean Frog reproduces all year long in areas without a long dry season. You will know if you are getting close to these amazing frogs through hearing the sound of buzzing and chirping males that are attracting potential mates.

Amanda Street and Dave Moore with Isis and Nico

“We both always wanted to travel to Costa Rica because it looked like a beautiful place to visit. We knew we wanted a destination wedding and when it came time to choose, we couldn’t agree on any other place. So we started researching different resorts and then came across Escape Villas and fell in love with Casa de las Brisas and the concept of an all-inclusive villa,” explained Amanda.

Casa de las Brisas is a one of a kind 10 bedroom, 10 bathroom villa with three swimming pools. Escape Villas offers a personalized concierge service that includes a private chef and tour booking assistance.

Destination Wedding in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

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Twenty family and friends will also be jetting in to Costa Rica to see the happy couple say “I do,” on November the 18th.  Amanda and Dave are one of many couples who have decided to get married abroad.

Having successfully planned their intimate wedding by themselves, Amanda said the legal aspect of the marriage was quite straight forward, “Once we came across Marcelo Galli, all we had to do was send him our information, scans of our passports as well as our witnesses and he did the rest. We justified the cost by the fact that we do not have to waste time out of our trip to go to any government buildings or handle any legal work. Marcelo is even filing everything with our own government in Canada so it’s really not difficult to get married in Costa Rica.”

Costa Rica Honeymoon filled with adventure.

And once the sun sets on their special day, an action packed itinerary awaits, “We plan on doing a lot. One of the most appealing things about Costa Rica was the activities and the wildlife. We are both nature lovers and actually got engaged on a hiking trail at our favorite provincial park in Ontario — Algonquin Park. We plan to explore the national park, go zip lining, ATV tours, deep sea fishing to name a few. We love the diversity of things you can do and are excited to get there and actually experience it.”

Congratulations Amanda and Dave – We hope you enjoy your very special day!

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For more information contact Escape Villas at info@villascostarica.com -  or call toll free 1-800-408-4990

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Costa Rica Wildlife Reserve combats climate change

This highly esteemed recognition was awarded to this Costa Rica Wildlife Reserve recognizing the efforts of the community to reduce carbon emissions. The representative of UNESCO John Baker said that the Costa Rica wildlife reserve has implemented a sustainable development model to combat climate change and sought to involve the local community in achieving its mission. 

A community effort to protect Costa Rica Nature 

La Reserva de la Biosfera Agua y Paz  was created by UNESCO in September 2007. Located in the north of Costa Rica it consists of a total of 916,000 hectares distributed within the provinces of Alajuela, Guanacaste and Heredia. The reserve incorporates eight protected areas including Parque Nacional Juan Castro Blanco, Refugio Nacional Cano Negro, four biological corridors and an indigenous community.

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There are a total of 580 biosphere reserves in the world located in 114 countries created with the purpose of implementing sustainable development within the community.  In Costa Rica there are three biosphere reserves, Agua y Paz, Cordillera Volcanica Central and La Amistad.

There are several exciting guided tours available to Costa Rica National Parks, to find out more contact Escape Villas on info@villascostarica.com or call toll free at 1-888-771-2976.

The Costa Rica surf bus is a great way to visit the best surfing hotspots and make some likeminded buddies along the way. If you’re looking for an action packed Costa Rica adventure, jump aboard the country’s very first surf bus.

Click here for more information about Costa Rica Surf

Costa Rica surf bus visits the best surfing hotspots

The world-class Costa Rica surf conditions attract avid wave riders from all over the globe and if you want to focus on tackling the waves rather than the roads the Surf Bus is the perfect mode of transportation.

If you are planning a Costa Rica surf vacation, find out more about how the surf bus can get you to the best hotspots in the country.

•         The Costa Rica surf bus offers transportation for surfers and tourists to all the main beaches on the Pacific and Caribbean Coast, with plenty of space for your trusted surfboard, free of charge!

•         The surf bus visits the Pacific beaches of Playa Jaco, Playa Hermosa, Quepos, Manuel Antonio, Matapalo, Dominical, Uvita, Montezuma, Mal Pais, Santa Teresa, Samara, Nosara, Tamarindo and Playa Grande.

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•         The Costa Rica surf bus travels to the Caribbean beaches of Puerto Viejo and Cahuita as well as many other Costa Rica beaches. 

•         The Costa Rica surf bus team also provides information about the best surf schools, so if you have always wanted to learn how to surf this is your opportunity! 

•         Costa Rica surfing reports are available from the surf bus team.

•         Group bookings are available if you want a van, minibus of deluxe bus for your surf loving group.

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A Costa Rica vacation turns from weeks into years

La Nacion journalist, Alonso Mata Blanco opens his report with the story of Marc Hauser a 53 year old American who visited Costa Rica for a two week vacation 19 years ago, and never left.  “It was love at first site, seduced by the mountains, the absence of an army, the warmth of the people and of the sea, more than anything the sea.”  Blanco lives in Playa Hermosa, Puntarenas and he’d only been in Costa Rica for three days when he knew he wanted to stay.

He called his wife and told her to come. She asked him, “What happens if I don’t like it?” Blanco told her not to worry, that she would love it and she did. Marc Hauser is the owner of the successful restaurant I Love Sushi in Playa Jaco. Hauser has no plans to return to Florida and explains, “There are always great waves here and the water is always warm. If theres a paradise, this is it.”

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A family from Europe take an extended Costa Rica vacation

For the Tivalaho family the idea of relocating to Costa Rica allowed them to escape the four month long and dark winters of Finland and enjoy the plentiful sun of Playa Hermosa and Conchal in Guanacaste. Laura and Timo and their three children, Risto aged 9, Tumoas aged 7 and Jaakko aged 5 arrived in Costa Rica in December and have no plans to return to their homeland. Although they recognize that their savings will run out soon.

Costa Rica was the perfect destination for them, despite the distance. Thanks to its political stability, wildlife and excellent educational facilities for their children. “Here I have learnt to walk slow and to enjoy the sunsets,” explained Laura.

Find out more about Costa Rica Nature

If you are planning a Costa Rica vacation, don’t worry, these creatures are rarely found in inhabited areas preferring the depths of the Costa Rica rainforest. 

Costa Rica Nature – Tent making Honduran White Fruit Bat

These little cotton ball shaped bats roost under heliconia leaves which they cut with their razor sharp teeth to form a tent. This species can be found in eastern Costa Rica, including the rainforest of Sarrapiqui.

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With a yellow face, ears and nose, the white fruit bat huddles in a small colony under the leaf to keep dry. Growing to only 3.7 -4.7 c.m. long these are tiny bats that are active during the late afternoon and night feeding mostly on fruit. White fruit bats help keep the rainforest populated with a variety of plants. For this species to survive, rainforests in the Central American lowlands that have heliconia must remain standing.

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Costa Rica Hercules Beetle  

The Hercules Beetles is the largest of Rhinoceros beetles and comes from Costa Rica and other countries in Central and South America. Their title is well deserved, with some males reaching 6.75 inches (170 mm) in length. The Hercules beetle is said to be the strongest creature in the world for its size, able to carry 850 times its own body weight.

Costa Rica Wildlife – The Whip Scorpion Spider  

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It sure looks scary, but the scorpion spider is harmless, honest. Whipscorpions are nocturnal hunters who go after insects and spiders. They use their first pair of legs as antenna to sense their prey. The first true pair of legs is modified to serve as “feelers,” are long, delicate, and whip-like, with many fine hairs.

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The Costa Rica Opossum

Certainly not the best looking of Costa Rica wildlife, there are nine species of Opossum located in the country. The most common is the Opossum, pictured, a hairless nocturnal mammal that much resembles an overgrown rat.

If you do encounter any Costa Rica wildlife, its best not to handle them, no matter how cute they appear, observe from a safe distance and be mindful of your flash if you are taking photos. There are several venomous snake, frogs and caterpillars in Costa Rica and whilst tourist accidents of this kind are rare its best to take the necessary precautions.

And if you’ve made it this far! Here’s a baby sloth hanging out in Manuel Antonio, to calm your nerves!

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Costa Rica Wildlife – White tip shark study in Isla de Coco

This particular species of shark lives in the reef that surrounds the Isla de Coco. In Costa Rica the white reef shark spends most of their time lying on sandy flats and is one of the most fascinating Costa Rica wildlife species.

The investigative team established a tagging system that helped them identify each shark and ascertain whether they stayed in one particular area or moved to another. Taking into account that the reef is very sensitive to changing temperatures, the shark study is also looking into the impact of climate change. The results of this Costa Rica nature study will help to determine the affects of global warming in the Pacific Ocean. According to Andres Lopez, one of the investigators, the Isla de Coco is one of the most pristine and healthy habitats for sharks in the world and its preservation are paramount.

Costa Rica Sharks – White tip – curious but rarely aggressive

The white tip reef shark is a small species can reach a maximum of 2.1m (6.9 ft). The species is defined by a slim body and short broad head with a flattened and blunt snout. This shark is known for being curious and is rarely aggressive which means they can often be seen by scuba divers in the Isla de Coco.

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Underwater Costa Rica Nature – Isla de Coco is excellent for scuba diving

Recognized for its abundance of marine life including hammer head sharks, stingrays, dolphins, yellow fin tuna and sailfish, Isla de Coco is known for being one of the best locations for scuba diving in the world. Costa Rica scuba diving in the Isla de Coco comes highly recommended!

In 2010 the highly esteemed Spanish newspaper El Pais positioned Isla de Coco in its top ten scuba diving locations. In the report, the marine photographer Manú San Felix listed Isla de Coco as one of his favorite diving spots. The famous explorer Jacque Cousteau stated it was the most beautiful island in the world.

Not for the faint hearted, scuba diving with sharks is certainly not for everyone but it is an activity that is growing in popularity. If you are looking for your next adrenalin rush, love nature and have no fear then shark spotting around Isla de Coco in Puntarenas might be for you.

Isla de Coco is one of Costa Rica’s protected National Parks and was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1997. Thanks to its truly unique characteristics the Isla de Coco offers the ultimate in shark diving adventures and the Professional Association of Diving Instructors already list it amongst their top ten diving hotspots thanks to the abundance of Costa Rica nature.

For more information about snorkelling tours in the Isla de Coco contact Escape Villas on info@villascostarica.com or call toll free at 1-888-771-2976.

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Nothing quite prepared for you for all the strange sounding Tico Idioms.  What’s Chepe? And why is someone asking you if your patas hurt? You’d lend someone a toucan if you had one, but surely this is considered illegal bird trafficking?

Costa Rica Spanish Idioms iphone Application

If you feel like your detras del palo then get this innovative iphone application for your next Costa Rica vacation.  The perfect companion for the Costa Rica tourist was designed by a talented team of Costa Ricans, software engineer Alejandro Azuola and content creator  Monserrat Trigueros.

The $0.99 Costa Rica Idioms iphone application includes over 300 translated idioms.  The application is available for iphone, ipod Touch and ipad.  You must have the operating system 4.1 or above to be able to use this application.

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!Pura Vida Mae!

Costa Rica Spanish Idioms

made easy

The application is perfect for tourists that want to make sense of the word on the street. This application is much more just Costa Rica Spanish words in English. Understanding native expressions will give you an opportunity to get to know the real Costa Rica.

•    Chepe – Tico Idiom for San Jose, Costa Rica’s Capital.
•    Patas – Tico Idiom for feet
•    Toucan – 5000 colones , this Costa Rican bill has a colorful toucan on it.
•    Detras del palo – Behind the tree – means that you don’t know what’s going on. A similar idiom  in English would be “ In the dark”

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With the Costa Rica tourism high season fast approaching, United and Continental Airlines have announced they will triple their flights to this popular beach and sun vacation destination.

This means that if you are planning a Costa Rica vacation in the coming months and live in the U.S you’ll have more of a chance to find a flight best suited to your specifications.

More Costa Rica flights from the U.S
United Airlines and Continental Airlines flights are available to Juan Santamaria Airport (SJO) in San Jose and the Liberia International Airport (LIR) which services the popular tourist province of Guanacaste.

The airlines will increase weekly flights from 22 to a total of 77, beginning in the month of November. In a press release, Carlos Granados, Manager of United Costa Rica explained that this increase is due to the start of Costa Rica’s high tourist season.

Daily flights from the U.S to Costa Rica with Continental Airlines
As of the 6th of October Continental Airlines will fly daily between Liberia International Airport and Newark airport in

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New York. At present Continental Airlines flies once a week to this Costa Rica airport.  In December the same flight will offer four daily flights to San Jose from Houston and three daily flights from Newark to Juan Santamaria.

United Airlines offers flights to Liberia Airport in December
On December 17th United Airlines will begin flying once a week to Liberia from Chicago. According to an article published in La Nacion on Friday 30th September the Costa Rican Aviation Authority are set to approve increased flight requests from other U.S airlines.

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In a bid to attract even more tourists from North America, the Costa Rican Tourism Board (I.C.T) has launched an innovative million dollar prize giveaway. The advertising campaign titled, “Costa Rica’s Million Dollar Gift of Happiness,” is aimed at getting more North American travelers to visit the paradise country.

Exciting & Innovative Costa Rica tourism prizes

The Costa Rica tourism campaign will run from October 6^th 2011 to February the 5^th 2012 and will gift a total of $1 million week long Costa Rica vacation packages to lucky travelers in the U.S and Canada.  Those who are bag the highly coveted travel and tourism prize will be able to choose from a selection of Costa Rica vacation packages including Romantic, Adventure, Wildlife, Adrenaline and Culture.

Costa Rica an award winning vacation destination

The campaign was inspired by Costa Rica’s top positioning as one of the happiest places in the world by the New Economic Foundation’s Happy Planet Index. In August 2011 Forbes Online awarded Manuel Antonio National Park in the Central Pacific as one of the top 15 most beautiful national parks in the world.  The highly esteemed, Apple Vacations also awarded Costa Rica a Crystal Apple award for being the top destination for 2011.

Open to North American residents

The campaign is a first for the Costa Rica Tourism Board explained Allan Flores, the Costa Rica Tourism Minister. “Costa Rica has long

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embraced American and Canadian visitors with open arms,” Flores explained. “Sharing our country with others is one of the things that make Costa Ricans most happy, and this campaign will demonstrate that we really mean it when we say it.”

The Costa Rica Tourism Board hopes that this campaign will contribute to its goal of increasing visitor numbers by five percent annually. The campaign is based on promoting Costa Rica tourism as innovative and sustainable further justifying its positioning as one of the happiest places in the world.

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Costa Rica sport fishing represents approximately 27% of the country’s income generated through tourism.  Recognizing the importance of the Costa Rica’s sustainable tourism initiative, several hotels have agreed to support the elimination of the consumption of particular species of endangered fish.

Hotel chain signs sustainable tourism agreement

The hotel chain Hilton Worldwide (Puntarenas Double Tree Resort, Garden Inn, Liberia Airport, Papagayo Resort and Spa and San Jose Double Tree Cariari) have signed an agreement with the Costa Rican Federation of Tourism Fishing (Federación Costarricense de Pesca Turística)

 The hotel chain has agreed to remove Marlin and Sailfish from their restaurant menus to ensure their conservation. “We are proud to be part of a small change that will have a great impact on the tourism and health of our guests as some studies indicates that both species have high mercury content. This initiative is a socially responsible commitment that we have agreed to voluntarily,” said Laura Castagini of the Double Tree Resort, Cariari.

The general manager, Ricardo Rodriguez for the Double Tree Resort in Puntarenas, added “As we are a beach resort located in the fishing area of Puntarenas we should participate in this proposal that aims to protect sport fishing.”

Supporting sustainable Costa Rica sport fishing practices

The Hilton hotel already has a clearly defined policy on ensuring endangered species of fish are not on their restaurant menu, including

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the Vietnamese catfish and shark.

For Enrique Guier, executive director of the Costa Rican Federation of Tourism the protection of these species strengthens the sustainable tourism practices of the country. “Costa Rica sport fishing is a sustainable tourist activity because it does not exhaust the resource, it respects the environment and the species involved as it is operated under a catch and release policy. This sector creates 63,000 jobs, a 599 million dollar income every year, which contributes to 2.13% to Costa Rica’s GDP.”

Always wanted to stay in a luxury Costa Rica vacation rental? How about Casa Fantastica or Vista Azul in Manuel Antonio?

Help raise funds for an incredibly important cause this October 22nd and participate in the online auction for a 7 day stay at an amazing Costa Rica vacation rental.

We will receive online bids whilst the auction takes place at the 7th Annual Halloween Bash hosted by VarsityPainting.com. All proceeds raised will be donated to Raise awareness and funds for children’s tumor research and Neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2) www.advocurenf2.org

The Varsity Painting Halloween Bash kicks off on the 22nd of Oct at 7.30 p.m Pacific Standard Time at the Redux lounge, 1141 Locust Street, Walnut Creek, California. Tickets cost $50 and can be bought on the Varsity Painting website.

What is NF2?

Varsity Painting proprietor, Roland Thoms, who organized the event has a special reason why Advocure NF2 will receive these important funds.  His 14 year old daughter Camille was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2), a genetic condition in which tumors grow on the nerves of her brain, spine and ears.

What is Advocure NF2?

Advocure is dedicated to advocacy and to strengthening efforts that expedite research contributing to systemic therapies to treat and eventually cure NF2.

How to participate in the online auction

1. Escape Villas will receive separate online bids for Casa Fantastica and Vista Azul from 7.30 p.m. to 10pm Pacific Standard time to be submitted to email: bidvacation@escapevillas.com
2. Bidders must “Like” the Facebook page Experience Costa Rica before they submit their bid.
3. All bids will be sent to Roland Thoms of Varsity Painting in real time so that the winner of the auction may be announced at the end of the event.
4. The one week stay can be applied to the following dates: Sat-Sat Apr 14-May 12, 2012 and Sep 8-Nov 10, 2012.

Can’t attend the Halloween Bash but still want to donate?

It’s important to note that all funds raised will go to research being performed by doctors and scientists working on a cure/ therapy to control tumor growth. While we are not close to eliminating NF2, we are extremely close to containing it and preserving the quality of life for Camille and thousands of others affected. The event hopes to raise a total of $100,000 and all donations made will be matched by the Thomas family.

Every donation counts. Visit the Varsity Painting website with details on how to make your tax deductable donation.

Terms and Conditions

The following vacation rentals Casa Fantastica and Vista Azul :

1. Will be put up for auction under the following terms: 50% off 7 night stay.
2. Payable within a week of the auction ending.
3. If the winner of the auction does not pay within a week of the auction the vacation rental will be passed to the second highest bidder who will also have one week to make payment.
4. A minimum bid of $4950 is required for the Casa Fantastica auction to be valid. (Maid and laundry services are included and as well as the chef at Casa Fantastica)
5. A minimum bid of $3295 is required for the Vista Azul auction to be valid (Maid and laundry services are included. Chef services are available for an additional fee)
6. The one week stay can be applied to the following dates: Sat-Sat Apr 14-May 12, 2012 and Sep 8-Nov 10, 2012.
7. Online bids will be submitted as the auction is taking place during the Varsity Painting Halloween Bash.
8. Bidders must “Like” the Facebook page Experience Costa Rica before they submit their bid.
9. Name, address and telephone number should be included in each email bid, submitted to: bidvacation@escapevillas.com
10. All bids will be sent to Roland Thoms of Varsity Painting in real time so that the winner of the auction may be announced at the event on October 22nd at 10.30 p.m.

Click for Vacation Rentals in Tamarindo

With all the announcements of the many airlines that will either begin or increase their flights to Costa Rica, it’s great to hear that one airline has gone green. In an effort to offer more sustainable flights, Aeromexico’s green flights have begun arriving in Costa Rica as of Tuesday 27^th September.   

Costa Rica flights from Mexico go green

Using bio-fuel, the Aeromexico aircraft will save more than two tons of carbon dioxide emissions in comparison to a traditional flight using environmentally damaging fossil fuel. According to calculations a return trip from Mexico to Costa Rica has a saving of 1,437 kilos of fuel and 4.5 tons of carbon dioxide emissions if bio-fuel is used.

The Biofuel is composed of a mixture of jet fuel and from the oilseed plant Jatropha Curcas.  Boeing Commercial Airplanes who is providing the biofuel used for this flight, has repeatedly stated that the development of sustainable biofuel is strategic plan and has long worked closely with other industry players, such as academic institutions, governments and environmental organizations, to accelerate the availability of sustainable fuel sources and low carbon emissions. Mexico’s aviation industry expects bio-fuels to account for 1 percent of the fuel used in 2015 and 15 percent by 2020.

According to Enrique Sandoval, Commercial Manager for Aeromexico, Costa Rica will be the first Latin American country where these “green” flights will land. “Costa Rica has a great commitment to the environment and this is why it was chosen,” He added.

Costa Rica does not offer bio-fuel for aircraft

The first 737 Boeing “green flight” with 130 passengers arrived on Tuesday the 27^th September at the Juan Santamaria airport. Sandoval highlighted the fact that the return flight from Costa Rica would be with ordinary fuel as the country does not yet offer bio-fuel for aircraft.