Monteverde Forest: Walking in the Clouds

Monteverde Forest: Walking in the Clouds

By Skip Davis

The Monteverde Cloud Forest is one of Costa Rica's most sought out ecotourism destinations. At 26,000 acres, Monteverde is not the largest park in Costa Rica, but with lush greenery shrouded in mesmerizing clouds makes it one of the most beautiful. National Geographic describes Monteverde as the “crown jewel of Costa Rica's cloud forests,” located at 4,600 feet above sea level and offering views of the Pacific and Caribbean on clear days. Zip lining and leisurely strolls along treetop suspension bridges are only some of the unforgettably amazing attractions of Monteverde.

Recreation

Hiking

Approximately eight miles of hiking trails are at your disposal at Monteverde. You can walk along Monteverde's trails on your own or take a guide tour through the forest. All of Monteverde's trails are well-preserved, so you do not have to wear hiking shoes or rubber boots on hiking excursions.

Canopy Tours

The best way to tour Monteverde is strolling along “skywalks,” or a collection of bridges and cables perched near the forest's treetops. Taking these canopy tours give you a once-in-a-lifetime bird's-eye view of the Forest floor and places you within close proximity of otherwise unreachable plants and animals. Guide tours are available for walking and zip-lining along Monteverde's canopies. Monteverde's tour guides provide insightful information about the forest's trees, wildlife and fauan.

Wildlife and Fauna

While hiking or taking canopy tours of Monteverde, you will more than likely run across the forest's vivid array of wildlife and plants. Beautifully scented orchids and playful howler monkeys are all a part of the Monteverde experience. The park encourages observation, but not touching the forest's plants and animals – lest you disturb Monteverde's natural order of things.

Wildlife

The majority of animals in Monteverde are reptiles and amphibians, which make up approximately 1,200 species. Among these cold-blooded animals are smoky jungle frogs, green spiny lizard and boa constrictors. Birds have over 400 representatives in Monteverde, which includes toucanets, bellbirds, hummingbirds and the famous quetzal. Sloths, jaguars and howler monkeys make up part of the 100 mammalian species in Monteverde.

Fauna

Orchids and ferns make up most of Monteverde's plant life. As of spring 2012, the Forest is home to around 450 orchids in the Monteverde Orchid Garden; among these species is Platystele jungermannioides, the world's smallest orchids. You will also see over 200 different species of ferns while touring Monteverde.

Other Attractions

Cheese Factory

Not to be confused with the franchise restaurant, Cheesecake Factory, the Cheese Factory is a look at Monteverde's cheesemaking industry. This industry was started by Quakers from the United States who settled the area in the 1950s. At the Cheese Factory, guests observe the art of cheesemaking and learn about the history of Monteverde's Quaker settlement.

Bat Jungle

With over 65 species of bats, Monteverde gives new meaning to the term “bat cave.” The Bat Jungle gives visitors a unique perspective on the everyday lives and habitats of Monteverde's bats. Tour guides are available to answer any questions you may have about the reserve's bats. And certain areas of Bat Jungle allow you to see bats while standing behind plexiglass.

How to Get There

The best way for traveling to Monteverde is taking a bus from the town where you are staying. Most of Guanacaste's oceanside towns – Tamarindo, Playas del Coco and Samara – have bus services going to Monteverde. You can take your own car to Monteverde, but it is best to rely on a driver who knows the routes exceedingly well – especially since many of the roads in and around Monteverde are unpaved. Expect a two to three-hour bus ride between Guanacaste's beachside towns to Montervede.

Reference: Skip Davis (2012) Monteverde Forest: Walking in the Clouds
Retrieved from: http://www.goodliferetreats.com/costa-rica/attractions/monteverde/; http://traveler.nationalgeographic.com/books-excerpts/top-ten-costa-rica-text#7;

Author: Skip Davis

March 30, 2012

Palo Verde: Costa Rica’s Wetlands

Palo Verde: Costa Rica’s Wetlands

By Skip Davis

Nature and wildlife lovers should visit Palo Verde National Park, one of the largest national parks in southern Guanacaste. The park's 45,000+ acres are home to wetland birds and flowers you can only see in this region of the world. During the dry season, Palo Verde is also popular for its biking and hiking trails.

Wet Season vs. Dry Season

So when should you go to Palo Verde? Before answering that question, it is important to know the layout of Palo Verde National Park. The Park can be divided up into two areas, the forests, which includes evergreen and swamp forests, and Tempisque Basin – the marshlands and lagoons with brackish water between the Bebedero and Tempisque Rivers. That said, the best time to go to Palo Verde is dry season, which runs from November to May. During this time, vegetation dries up and makes it easier to see birds from the trails. Since the climate is dry this time of year, Palo Verde's trails do not get as muddy as they do during the rainy wet season. Not to mention mosquitoes are more scarce in the dry season. The only downside to going in dry season is the Basin becomes extremely hot at times.

Wildlife Viewing

Over 300 bird species are found in the confines of Palo Verde National Park. Many of these birds are year-round residents, while some only show up in the wet season for nesting. One reason migrant birds show up in the wet season is more water is available in the marshy areas. However, spotting birds in the wet season is more difficult due to Palo Verde's lush vegetation. A great place to see birds is Isla de Parajos in the Tempisque River. This island is froth with white ibises, wood storks, roseate spoonbills and the rare jabiru storks. If you want to see some of Palo Verde's mammals, go during the dry season. Water becomes more scarce during this time, which forces mammals to flock to the Park's watering holes. Howler monkeys, collared peccaries and white-nosed coatis are some of the mammals you'll see at Palo Verde.

Biking and Hiking

All the forested areas within Palo Verde National Park have trails for bicycling and hiking. Maps of the Park's trail network is available at Organization for Tropical Studies Biological Station, located within the park. The Station also has bicycle rentals available for visitors. Palo Verde's trails pass by overlooks with scenic views of the park in its entirety. Be ready to walk your bike at certain points of Palo Verde's trails due to how muddy the trail gets; this is especially true of the wet season.

How to Get There

The best way to reach Palo Verde National Park is hiring a tour guide to escort you from the town where you are vacationing to the Park. Local tour guides know the best way in and out of the Park. If you want to go at it alone, though, the most straightforward way to Palo Verde is entering from the north from Route 1. An alternative means of accessing Palo Verde is hiring a charter boat in Puerto Humo, a small town on the Gulf of Nicoyo, and enter into the park via the Tempisque Rivermouth. Doing this will get you closer to birdwatching opportunities at the Isla de Parajos.

Reference: Skip Davis (2012) Palo Verde: Costa Rica’s Wetlands
Retrieved from: http://www.goodliferetreats.com/costa-rica/attractions/palo-verde/;

Author: Skip Davis

February 29, 2012

Witch’s Rock: Rock ‘n Surfing

Witch’s Rock: Rock ‘n Surfing

By Skip Davis

One of the most sought after surfing destinations in Costa Rica is Witch's Rock. Locally known as Roca Bruja, Witch's Rock also received pop culture attention by being in the motion picture, Endless Summer 2.

Charters

Chartering a boat is by far the best method of reaching Witch's Rock. The only other way of getting to Witch's Rock is driving through Santa Rosa National Park to Playa Naranjo. While this may sound simple enough, the roads in Santa Rosa are some of the worst in Costa Rica and, during the wet season, the park is plagued with mosquitoes. The two primary cities to obtain a charter is Playas del Coco and Tamarindo. The latter is a surfer's city, so there are more surf shops available for you in Tamarindo. Playas del Coco, on the other hand, is more a fishing village than a surfer's destination. However, the boat ride from del Coco is considerably shorter than chartering from Tamarindo and surf rentals are available. Some Tamarindo and Playas del Coco charters pick up vacationers in Playa Hermosa, Playa Grande and Playa Langosta upon request. Charter boats in both cities leave early in the morning, around 7:00 a.m. or so, for surfers to get the most out of their Witch's Rock experience. Charter boats also supply you with food and beverage; some charters include this amenity in the initial fee. Make sure you have food and drinks available as Witch's Rock is at least a half-day trip.

Surf

As for the surf itself, Witch's Rock's is a destination for beginner and advanced surfers, depending on the tide. The best time for beginner surfers to catch waves at Witch's Rock is around mid-tide. At low tide, the waves wall out to much and the high tide waves should be reserved for advanced surfers. The ocean floor around Witch's Rock is sandy, so you do not have to worry about bashing yourself against any rocks. When the peaks are high, expect Witch's Rock to get pretty crowded. The highest waves come during the summer and fall.

Fishing

While Witch's Rock is first and foremost a surfing destination, the Rock is near the Gulf of Papagayo, one of Costa Rica's best fishing destinations. The Gulf of Papagayo is home to large, pelagic fish such as yellowfin tuna, marlin and sailfish. Most Witch's Rock surfing charters provide their passengers with fishing equipment upon request. If you want to go fishing, though, it means you will only have a limited amount of time for surfing.

Reference: Skip Davis (2012) Witch’s Rock: Rock ‘n Surfing
Retrieved from: http://www.goodliferetreats.com/costa-rica/attractions/witchs-rock/;

Author: Skip Davis

February 29, 2012

Playas del Coco/Playa Hermosa: Visiting Papagayo

Playas del Coco/Playa Hermosa: Visiting Papagayo

By Josh Huddleston & Skip Davis

Staying at a vacation home or condo in Playas del Coco or Playa Hermosa gives you access to all the sea faring activities and natural beauty the Gulf of Papagayo area has to offer. Fishing or diving near Monkey's Head and grabbing a charter to Witch's Rock are only some of the adventures you can tackle while visiting Papagayo. Meanwhile on landside, Playas del Coco and Playa Hermosa may be close neighbors, but both communities have their own interpretation of what a memorable vacation should be.

Coco v. Hermosa

So what are the differences between Coco and Hermosa, in spite of their close 10-minute drive proximity? Playas del Coco tends to attract younger crowds seeking late night parties and restaurants with festive atmospheres. In contrast, Playa Hermosa bears a much more mellow vibe, attracting families and retired couples who simply want to bask in the beauty of Papagayo's serenity. In terms of beaches, the sandbars at Playa Hermosa are longer and tend to be more clean than the beaches at Playas del Coco. Also, Hermosa does not become as crowded as its more developed neighbor. However, both Coco and Hermosa have excellent fishing opportunities and charters. More charters and restaurants are available in Coco, since it is a tad more urbanized than Hermosa. What it lacks in quantity, though, Hermosa more than makes up for it in quality, upscale dining and shopping options.

Recreation

The calm waters at Playas del Coco and Playa Hermosa makes the two beaches obsolete as a surfing destination, but they are perfect for diving and sportfishing. Charters are available in Playas del Coco and Playa Hermosa for both activities. If your vacation home is in one of these two towns and you want to surf, daily charters depart from these beaches on a daily basis for famed surfing spots such as Witch's Rock and Ollie's Point.

Dining/Nightlife

Perhaps the biggest differences between Playas del Coco and Playa Hermosa are seen in the town's dining and nightlife scenes. Playas del Coco is Papagayo's party town and features a sundry of nightclubs, bars and smoke shops. Don't forget beach parties that go for hours on end at Coco's sandbar. If you want a more relaxed evening with family and friends, try dining at one Playa Hermosa's seafood or steak restaurants. Also, Hermosa is home to a movie theater near the Hermosa Heights neighborhood.

How to Get There

Of all of Guanacaste's beachside destinations, Playas del Coco and Playa Hermosa are the closest to Liberia International Airport. To get to Coco from the airport, drive west on Route 21 and turn right on Route 151, which takes you straight there. If Hermosa is your destination, follow the same directions mentioned above. Before reaching Coco, though, turn right on Route 159. Important Tip: Both Playas del Coco and Playa Hermosa are only 10 to 15 minutes apart from each other. This makes it reasonably to get a taste of both cities' nightlifes, sporting activities and beaches during your trip.

Reference: Josh Huddleston & Skip Davis (2011) Playas del Coco/Playa Hermosa: Visiting Papagayo
Retrieved from: http://www.goodliferetreats.com/costa-rica/destinations/playas-del-coco-and-playa-hermosa/;

Author: Josh Huddleston & Skip Davis

November 11, 2011