Month: April 2014

Category Archives: Wildlife

Beaches, National Park, Wildlife

Ostional – The Turtle Beach

December 6, 2012
Ostional is one of the most remarkable places in Costa Rica because every few weeks during turtle season, thousands of Olive Ridleys invade the beaches, laying their eggs by the gazillions. Meanwhile, the babies are hatching in even greater numbers, and dozens of tourists and nature guides are running around trying to keep the hatchlings from being run over and squashed by the egg-laden mommies. Not far from the beautiful surf and yoga town of Nosara, Ostional is one of those places you probably saw on TV at some point in your life. Millions of kids around the world are traumatized by nature videos of these baby turtles breaking free from their eggs, struggling without air to the surface through the sand, then running a gauntlet of ravenous predators such as vultures, hawks, foxes, raccoons, and beach crabs. If they survive these terrors, they try to enter the sea, where huge waves push them back and even more hungry fish and such await with hungry jaws. We are told that only 1 in 100 baby turtles survives to adulthood. So to actually SEE this and BE HERE at Ostional is an emotionally powerful event that everyone should experience once. Of course if everyone DOES try to experience this at Ostional, there will be millions of people on the beach crushing every living thing, but my point is that seeing the running of the sea turtles at Ostional is a great experience that I recommend to those who love nature.
Birdwatching

Birdwatching in Costa Rica

April 24, 2014

Costa Rica offers some of the best birding in the world. More than 812 species of birds have been recorded in the country and most places offer a fair sample of the avian diversity.  This was in a list published in 2007 by the scientific committee of the Ornithological Association of Costa Rica. Ornithological Association of Costa Rica (AOCR) has published an official checklist of the Birds of Costa Rica. The number in the list has been increased since then with nearly 840 species. The diversification of avian species has been greatly influenced by Costa Rica’s geological formation. Costa Rica has an amazing, large variety of birds. This makes birding an exciting and extraordinary experience. Some of the birds are permanent residents while others come for breeding. Costa Rica has a perfect climate and an environment that is full of flowers and fruits which are food to the many species of birds. Therefore this environment has continued to attract many species of birds into Costa Rica.

Bird species in Costa Rica

  1. Blue-crowned motmot and oropendola. They are commonly found in a San Jose park called the Parque Del Este.
  2. Marsh and stream birds. They are commonly found around the Bebedero River and around the Palo Verde Biological station. A common habitant for kingfishers and herons. It is also a breeding ground for jacans, limpkins and gallinules.
  3. Aquatic bird species. They are seen in places like the Cano Negro Lake and the Jabiru stork is seen in the Cano Negro National Wildlife Refuge.
  4. Scarlet Macaw. They are viewed in flight on the Carara National Park which is home to many scarlet macaws. They are very colorful and noisy birds.
  5. Quetzal bird species. They are viewed in the Cerro de la Muerte. This place is commonly known as the mountain of death. This spectacular birds are green in color with a 2-foot-long tail and red breasts.
  6. Hummingbirds and tanagers. They are plentiful at the Wilson Botanical Gardens. This place is also home to over 360 species of birds.
  7. Herons. They are found in all types in the Aviarious Sanctuary of Costa Rica. There are the white, boat-billed and the cattle herons are all nested here. It is also home to 330 species.
  8. The Ferrugineus Pygmy Owl.

Places to view the birds

In Costa Rica there are a variety of places where bird species are mostly viewed. They include;

  1. Lankester Botanical Garden. The main species found here are bronzed cowbird, yellow-billed cuckoo, Ringed kingfisher, belted kingfisher, hoofmann woodpecker and many others.
  2. National parks around CostaRica. These include Irazu volcano national park, Chirripo, Cabo blaco absolute natural reserve, Tortuguero, Tenorio, Santa Rosa, San Jose, Palo Verde, Osa Peninsula rainforest, Los Quetzales, Corcovado, Carara, Arenal,Cano Negro wildlife refuge and Braulio Carrillo national park.
  3. Other small gardens. For example, the selvatura park, which is a hummingbird garden.

Birdwatching in Costa Rica is the best spectacular experience many would want to go through.it gives those who like watching birds an opportunity to see them in places that are close to one another. These places are diverse in habitats with many different species living there. Therefore for an amazing birding experience either in watching or studying them, Costa Rica is the place.

For more information please read: www.costaricajourneys.com/birdwatching-in-costa-rica

Category Archives: Birdwatching

Birdwatching

Birdwatching in Costa Rica

April 24, 2014

Costa Rica offers some of the best birding in the world. More than 812 species of birds have been recorded in the country and most places offer a fair sample of the avian diversity.  This was in a list published in 2007 by the scientific committee of the Ornithological Association of Costa Rica. Ornithological Association of Costa Rica (AOCR) has published an official checklist of the Birds of Costa Rica. The number in the list has been increased since then with nearly 840 species. The diversification of avian species has been greatly influenced by Costa Rica’s geological formation. Costa Rica has an amazing, large variety of birds. This makes birding an exciting and extraordinary experience. Some of the birds are permanent residents while others come for breeding. Costa Rica has a perfect climate and an environment that is full of flowers and fruits which are food to the many species of birds. Therefore this environment has continued to attract many species of birds into Costa Rica. Continue reading Birdwatching in Costa Rica →

Cabo Blanco National Park

April 20, 2014

It is one of the most scenically amazing and beautiful areas in the southern tip of Nicoya peninsula in Costa Rica. This park was established in 1963 and it was the first protected site in the area. This is one of the best places for hiking, swimming and bird watching. It is famous for its sea bird sanctuary that is inhabited by large frigate birds which are around 150 species, laughing gulls, brown pelicans, common terns, ospreys and is dwelling places for plethora species. There are some perfect locations in the area to watch hundreds of pelicans as they soar while searching for fish.

1,270 hectares of mixed forest is what you find here. The forest is a habitant of large variety of animals and is 60 years old. It is a tropical moist forest and more than 150 types of trees have been identified. There is also dry forest species found here but the evergreen species predominate here. The most common trees you find here are bastard cedar, lance wood, dogwood, trumpet tree, gumbo-limbo, wild plum, and frangipani that are famous because they produce material used to make chewing gum. There are various impressive trees and the most abundant tree is the spiny cedar (pochote) with 40 meters high specimens. There is silk cotton tree (caoba) which is 60 meters. Continue reading Cabo Blanco National Park →

Yoga Retreats

Samasati Nature Retreat

April 15, 2014

Located on the Southern Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica, Smasati Nature Retreat is 4 miles away from Puerto Viejo and Cahuita National Park. This is the perfect place for them who love to do yoga, to be connected with nature. It’s not just like a hotel, it’s something more. It’s a way of life. This place is a perfect blend of an exotic rainforest location with onsite yoga and a remote beach town for local atmosphere. This is really the perfect place to experience the rainforest close-up, but with the luxury of comfortable rooms, delicious food and the possibility to do yoga, meditations or have a great massage treatment. If you’re looking to experience Caribbean Costa Rica in an eco-friendly, healthy, peaceful and natural setting, this is the place to go.

Continue reading Samasati Nature Retreat →

Beaches, National Park, Wildlife

Ostional – The Turtle Beach

December 6, 2012
Ostional is one of the most remarkable places in Costa Rica because every few weeks during turtle season, thousands of Olive Ridleys invade the beaches, laying their eggs by the gazillions. Meanwhile, the babies are hatching in even greater numbers, and dozens of tourists and nature guides are running around trying to keep the hatchlings from being run over and squashed by the egg-laden mommies. Not far from the beautiful surf and yoga town of Nosara, Ostional is one of those places you probably saw on TV at some point in your life. Millions of kids around the world are traumatized by nature videos of these baby turtles breaking free from their eggs, struggling without air to the surface through the sand, then running a gauntlet of ravenous predators such as vultures, hawks, foxes, raccoons, and beach crabs. If they survive these terrors, they try to enter the sea, where huge waves push them back and even more hungry fish and such await with hungry jaws. We are told that only 1 in 100 baby turtles survives to adulthood. So to actually SEE this and BE HERE at Ostional is an emotionally powerful event that everyone should experience once. Of course if everyone DOES try to experience this at Ostional, there will be millions of people on the beach crushing every living thing, but my point is that seeing the running of the sea turtles at Ostional is a great experience that I recommend to those who love nature.
Beaches, National Park

Curu Beach and National Wildlife Refuge

December 6, 2012

Located in the Southern Nicoya Peninsula, near to Santa Teresa, Montezuma, Tambor, and Paquera, Curu is one of the best parks to visit in Costa Rica. This small park is one of the best places to see animals, and it has reintroduction programs for both the Scarlet Macaw (a giant red and rainbow colored parrot) and the Spider Monkey, which is otherwise extinct in this part of Costa Rica.

In addition to have a very beautiful beach that looks out towards Tortuga Island, Curu also has an adventure tourism group that offers scuba diving, horseback riding, snorkeling, and guided nature tours.

Although it’s a national wildlife reserve, it’s also still a working sustainable ranch.

More Information about Curu:

Curu Wildlife Refuge – Info from CostaRicaJourneys.com Curu Park on Montezumabeach.com – Info from Montezumabeach.com

Beaches

Santa Teresa Beach

December 6, 2012

Santa Teresa is a relative newcomer in Costa Rica’s travel scene, but it has really taken off, with tons of great restaurants, accommodations of all price levels, and the most varied and beautiful beaches in Costa Rica.

There are three main beach areas here: Santa Teresa, Malpais, and Playa Hermosa, and each has its charms, as well as amazing surf spots.

The climate here is probably the best of anywhere in Costa Rica as far as beaches go. It’s in a transition zone between the drier north and the wetter south, giving it the best of both world: not too much rain, lush forests and a plenty of wildlife.

More Info on Santa Teresa: Click Here

Beaches

Playa Montezuma

December 6, 2012

Possibly the artiest, funkiest, hippiest town in Costa Rica, Montezuma> is also one of the country’s centers of yoga, organic/raw food, and healthy living.

This beautiful coastal town frequently wins awards as one of the most beautiful beaches in Central America, and is a favorite “secret spot” of adventure travelers for over thirty years.

More info on Montezuma: Click Here.

National Park

Cabo Blanco National Park

April 20, 2014

It is one of the most scenically amazing and beautiful areas in the southern tip of Nicoya peninsula in Costa Rica. This park was established in 1963 and it was the first protected site in the area. This is one of the best places for hiking, swimming and bird watching. It is famous for its sea bird sanctuary that is inhabited by large frigate birds which are around 150 species, laughing gulls, brown pelicans, common terns, ospreys and is dwelling places for plethora species. There are some perfect locations in the area to watch hundreds of pelicans as they soar while searching for fish.

1,270 hectares of mixed forest is what you find here. The forest is a habitant of large variety of animals and is 60 years old. It is a tropical moist forest and more than 150 types of trees have been identified. There is also dry forest species found here but the evergreen species predominate here. The most common trees you find here are bastard cedar, lance wood, dogwood, trumpet tree, gumbo-limbo, wild plum, and frangipani that are famous because they produce material used to make chewing gum. There are various impressive trees and the most abundant tree is the spiny cedar (pochote) with 40 meters high specimens. There is silk cotton tree (caoba) which is 60 meters.

There are different types of animals here, white tailed deer, coatis, raccoons, coyotes, capuchin monkeys, howler, white faced monkeys, hog nosed skunks and armadillos are some of the animals you will only find here. There are also wild cats that are less than unlikely to be seen in the wild like the ocelots, jaguarundis and the margay cats. It is a habitant for over 210 mammals, 218 of reptiles, over 35,000 species of insects and 878 of birds.

This is an area that you don’t have to mind about the weather because you can expect brilliant sunshine day after day from mid-December until April. Its summertime and the season for the tourist.  This is the most appropriate time for those people who enjoy seeing the wildlife because at this time most of the trees and shrubs sheds their leaves making it easier to spot animals an also the best time to swim and relax. In the rainy season it is also a best time to visit because you will be able to view the most colorful sunsets at this time, it is also the least busy touristic time so for someone who needs a quiet place for chat it’s the best time for him.

The park is a living example that ecosystems can be restored through determination and forests can be regenerate if efforts towards conservation are pursued.

The cost is reasonable because the admission is 10 dollars and open from 8-4 Wednesday –Sunday and closed Monday and Tuesday. Always be sure to take one of the guided hiking tours to view all the wildlife Cabo Blanco has to offer and for sure you will enjoy.

For more information please visit: http://www.costaricajourneys.com/cabo-blanco-nature-reserve/

Category Archives: National Park

National Park

Cabo Blanco National Park

April 20, 2014

It is one of the most scenically amazing and beautiful areas in the southern tip of Nicoya peninsula in Costa Rica. This park was established in 1963 and it was the first protected site in the area. This is one of the best places for hiking, swimming and bird watching. It is famous for its sea bird sanctuary that is inhabited by large frigate birds which are around 150 species, laughing gulls, brown pelicans, common terns, ospreys and is dwelling places for plethora species. There are some perfect locations in the area to watch hundreds of pelicans as they soar while searching for fish.

1,270 hectares of mixed forest is what you find here. The forest is a habitant of large variety of animals and is 60 years old. It is a tropical moist forest and more than 150 types of trees have been identified. There is also dry forest species found here but the evergreen species predominate here. The most common trees you find here are bastard cedar, lance wood, dogwood, trumpet tree, gumbo-limbo, wild plum, and frangipani that are famous because they produce material used to make chewing gum. There are various impressive trees and the most abundant tree is the spiny cedar (pochote) with 40 meters high specimens. There is silk cotton tree (caoba) which is 60 meters. Continue reading Cabo Blanco National Park →

Beaches, National Park, Wildlife

Ostional – The Turtle Beach

December 6, 2012
Ostional is one of the most remarkable places in Costa Rica because every few weeks during turtle season, thousands of Olive Ridleys invade the beaches, laying their eggs by the gazillions. Meanwhile, the babies are hatching in even greater numbers, and dozens of tourists and nature guides are running around trying to keep the hatchlings from being run over and squashed by the egg-laden mommies. Not far from the beautiful surf and yoga town of Nosara, Ostional is one of those places you probably saw on TV at some point in your life. Millions of kids around the world are traumatized by nature videos of these baby turtles breaking free from their eggs, struggling without air to the surface through the sand, then running a gauntlet of ravenous predators such as vultures, hawks, foxes, raccoons, and beach crabs. If they survive these terrors, they try to enter the sea, where huge waves push them back and even more hungry fish and such await with hungry jaws. We are told that only 1 in 100 baby turtles survives to adulthood. So to actually SEE this and BE HERE at Ostional is an emotionally powerful event that everyone should experience once. Of course if everyone DOES try to experience this at Ostional, there will be millions of people on the beach crushing every living thing, but my point is that seeing the running of the sea turtles at Ostional is a great experience that I recommend to those who love nature.
Beaches, National Park

Curu Beach and National Wildlife Refuge

December 6, 2012

Located in the Southern Nicoya Peninsula, near to Santa Teresa, Montezuma, Tambor, and Paquera, Curu is one of the best parks to visit in Costa Rica. This small park is one of the best places to see animals, and it has reintroduction programs for both the Scarlet Macaw (a giant red and rainbow colored parrot) and the Spider Monkey, which is otherwise extinct in this part of Costa Rica.

In addition to have a very beautiful beach that looks out towards Tortuga Island, Curu also has an adventure tourism group that offers scuba diving, horseback riding, snorkeling, and guided nature tours.

Although it’s a national wildlife reserve, it’s also still a working sustainable ranch.

More Information about Curu:

Curu Wildlife Refuge – Info from CostaRicaJourneys.com Curu Park on Montezumabeach.com – Info from Montezumabeach.com

Yoga Retreats

Samasati Nature Retreat

April 15, 2014

Located on the Southern Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica, Smasati Nature Retreat is 4 miles away from Puerto Viejo and Cahuita National Park. This is the perfect place for them who love to do yoga, to be connected with nature. It’s not just like a hotel, it’s something more. It’s a way of life. This place is a perfect blend of an exotic rainforest location with onsite yoga and a remote beach town for local atmosphere. This is really the perfect place to experience the rainforest close-up, but with the luxury of comfortable rooms, delicious food and the possibility to do yoga, meditations or have a great massage treatment. If you’re looking to experience Caribbean Costa Rica in an eco-friendly, healthy, peaceful and natural setting, this is the place to go.

What the Retreat Center offers:

Spa:

Views of the ocean down the mountain are visible from the comfortable bungalows onsite and the spa that is in an open area under the trees and surrounding jungle life is wonderfully relaxing. In this beautiful set one can enjoy a deep tissue massage or Ayurveda massage, Therapeutic Massage, Reiki or Reflexology. People who do yoga or any other movement technique, they can be benefited from these types of massage therapies.

Yoga:

Samasati offers many types of Yoga retreat such as ‘Partner Yoga Retreat’ and ‘Yoga Retreat for Women’, ‘Yoga week for Single Travelers’ and ‘Yoga Teacher Training’. It’s no matter the participant is advanced in Yoga practice or not. Samasati resident Yoga Teacher Stephanie McKenzie has experience of different traditions of yoga and she adapts her teaching to the needs of the individuals, provides modifications and assists and gently advances each of the participants according to their practice’s level.

Samasati also offers many types of adventurous and fun tours like Rain Forest Canopy Tours, Surfing, Waterfall Trekking, Horseback Riding, Sea or Rivar Kayaking, Whitewater Rafting etc.

Sustainability:

People who love sustainable living, they will obviously like to stay at Samasati Retreat center has been built without the use of heavy machinery or any major land movement. All the preservation of the fauna and flora of the entire property has been one of its main goals. Samasati ground is home to more than 200 species of different birds. This retreat center uses only biological products for cleaning and personal hygiene and buys only chemical free vegetables and fruits.

Accommodation:

Samasati Nature Retreat is not only presently protects the environment around it, but it also promotes a way of construction that is comfortable, safe, close to the nature. This center has ten hand-crafted bungalows with spacious verandas and lofts, private bathrooms and ample living room space. There are also four large fully equipped houses.

Food:

People who like vegetarian dishes, they will get delicious vegetarian food and fresh juices offered by Samasati Nature Retreat in the open air restaurant, an exquisite hardwood structure with high ceilings. While enjoying the food, the guests will also enjoy the impressive sea view.

Contacts

Samasati Nature Retreat

Phone Number:
Costa Rica: (011-506)2224 1870
Toll Free: 1 800 563 9643
Email:Samasati@Samasati.com
Website: http://www.samasati.com/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/pages/Samasati/111718732178595