This time my family and I decided to visit the biggest peninsula of Costa Rica, the Nicoya Peninsula for the first time ever since we moved there. This is an area famous for its huge waves that attract a huge amount of surfers and tourists. As our accommodations we chose Florblanca. It is a beautiful beachfront hotel located in the colorful town of Santa Teresa.

I fell in love with this hotel. What’s great about it is that it’s very private, there are only 10 villas and a villa exclusive for honeymoons spread over 7 acres of land. This assures that if you take your family there they won’t bother anyone and if you are on your honeymoon you won’t be bothered.

When we visited this fabulous place we stayed there for a couple of nights but I wish I had more time. This place was wonderful and I didn’t want to leave. Since I love the beach and listening to the sound of the sea we asked for the closes room to the beach and luckily for me it was available. The room over all was beautiful with air conditioner and a wonderful tropical decoration. But the bathroom was something else. It was an open-air bathroom.

Before I decided to visit this hotel some Friends had told me some wonderful things about the food here so I couldn’t wait to try it. The food at FB was pricey, but top-notch. Lots of fresh seafood and the best sushi we’ve ever had. The bartenders are friendly and make some delicious drinks.

This place also offers a beautiful swimming pool, a spa and yoga classes.

But the hotel wasn’t the only great thing about our trip to the Nicoya Peninsula. We also went on a couple of fantastic tours. The first day we went on a super exciting canopy tour where we got the opportunity to see so much wildlife, it was great. The next day we went on a super relaxing and fun horseback ride. The horses were beautiful and the scenery was even better.

I had a great time here and would highly recommend the Nicoya Peninsula to any traveler that wants to visit Costa Rica.

Marina K. Villatoro, the Travel Experta, lives in Central America – Costa Rica and Guatemala for the past decade. She’s traveled these parts extensively and now loves to organize vacations to these amazing parts of the world. Having first hand experience of all the places with her family, she can recommend the best options for you. Contact her for advice and to plan your perfect trip!

This time I’m going to talk about my experience at Hacienda La Isla Lodge. To me it is a beautiful colonial-style hotel located in the middle of the rain forest of Sarapiqui, Costa Rica.

For me this hotel is perfect for everything as long as you love adventure, family vacations, traveling with friends and even honeymoons. The reason why I got to that conclusion is that I loved the gardens of the property and it is on a great location.

But what’s so great about its location? Well to start it is, as I said before, in the middle of the rain forest, a 10 minute drive will take you to the Braulio Carrillo National Park. It is also just 1.5 hours away prom Poas and Arenal Volcanoes. And last but not least it is also minutes away from the Sarapiqui River, a very popular destination for those looking for some white water rafting. It is literally a great place to make it a headquarters to depart to all your tours, I know I did.

La Isla Lodge is simply beautiful. It has a Spanish colonial-architecture and only fifteen rooms. I got the chance to see the rooms and they are all beautifully decorated. Each room in this hotel is unique. They are not standardized like in other hotels; each one has a unique decoration. Plus the names of them all have historic meanings.

The rest of the hacienda is a beautifully landscaped garden. I decided to go out for a walk to my surprise I was able enjoy the company of birds and some other animals of the area such as monkeys. Some other things the hotel offers are an open air restaurant area. It has a thatched palm roof and is surrounded by the garden. In it I enjoyed a menu filled with very high quality food. The dishes here were delicious, definitely above average. Oh, and there’s also a swimming pool.

Over all in really enjoyed my stay in this wonderful hacienda and would highly recommend it to anyone traveling in Costa Rica.

Marina K. Villatoro, the Travel Experta, has been living in Central America – Costa Rica and Guatemala for over 10 years. She has traveled here extensively. Now loves organizing vacations to this amazing part of the world, having first hand experience of all the places with her family. Contact her for advice and to plan your perfect trip!

a. Season Matters When Traveling to Costa Rica: Living in Costa Rica I figured a way to enjoy traveling without spending too much but most importantly without having to spend my vacations among the crowds. And this is my conclusion: Late April, May, and October offer good weather with lower rates. Also between June and September and someties even November you will get good rates but not a very nice weather. December to early April are the driest months and the peak of the tourist season, so you can expect higher prices, less rooms available and crowds.

b. Costa Rican Water: Most people traveling around Central America are very concerned about how clean the water really is. And I have to admit was one of them until I found out that unlike most Latin American countries Costa Rica has a fairly safe water supply.

Want some Proof? Here is the fact that it is the only country of the region where Heineken allows its beer to be brewed.

c. Money To Change or Not to Change! One of the most common questions I get from travelers is if they should change money before coming or not?

If you are going to change the money here are some recommendations:

1. Every country is different, but in Costa Rica don’t change money anywhere except BANKS. Not only will you get the best rates, but you’re chances of getting counterfeit money are zilch. Always bring a passport.

2. ATMs are plentiful, you’ll get the best rates however, you’ll pay the small ATM fee.

3. Very few places exchange travelers checks these days, and even fewer give good rates, plus they charge 1-2% on top of it.

Cash or Credit?

I won’t lie to you, cash is king in Costa Rica. Plus, whenever you go out, ask if for the cash (Efectivo) discount and chances are you ‘ll get 5-10% off. This can be done anywhere from tour operators, to hotels, to restaurants to pharmacies.

Some places will even charge you 8% for credit card usages. Plus if you go to a local market, local currency goes much further than the dollar. You stand out less and feel more comfortable.

d. Waiting Is the Hardest Part That’s right, if you’re coming to Costa Rica be prepared to wait! In this country this is a norm. Nothing is on time in Costa Rica. Just doesn’t happen. Sorry to break it to you, but it’s so true. So come with lots of patience and besides, what’s the rush?

e. Bring plenty of Ziploc bags: Nothing stays dry there. I recommend the “Big Bags” for clothes and shoes (bring at least two or three) and several quart-size bags. I tried to do laundry in the sink and air dry, but found it very difficult to dry most articles. Since most people do rafting, swimming, waterfalls, or just crossing over streams, you’ll need bags to separate your wet stuff from your semi-dry. I would also recommend bringing plenty of changes of clothes, especially if you’re an adventurous spirit.

f. Emergency Numbers: Luckily in Costa Rica the emergency number is 911 too. It is great because they speak English and are quite helpful. The problem though, is the fact that Costa Rica has one of the trickiest address and direction systems in Central America. So learn your address well!

Marina K. Villatoro, lives in Central America – Costa Rica and Guatemala for the past decade. She has traveled all over these areas with her family and now she loves to organize vacations to Costa Rica and Guatemala. Contact her for advice and to plan your perfect trip!

My husband and I decided that we wanted to go somewhere nice, and private where we could enjoy a family weekend away from work and the city. I had heard from some friends about a place with all those qualities in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica called Finca Chica. So we decided to give it a try.

I some friends had told me about a place with all those qualities in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica. It is called Finca Chica. Since they recommended it so much we decided to give it a try.

The casitas are scattered around the property with enough separation to allow total privacy. Casa Pizote and La Casita Chica are cute one bedroom bungalows, perfect for couples. On the other hand there is Casa Lagarto with a maximum capacity of 5 people and La Casita del Ro with capacity for up to 6 people. Plus these casitas can also be rented by the week,

We booked one of their casitas and when we finally got there we found a beautiful wooden casita and the garden around that surrounded it was beautiful.

All we saw was how the jungle becomes a white-sanded beach. I guess this is the definition of nature lover’s paradise.

I was in Puerto Viejo here only for one night and that was enough to make love it, especially because my son had enough space to run around I a safety environment.

I trusted my friend’s advice and had one of the best weekend trips I have ever had. I would also recommend it for anyone looking for some relaxation in the middle of the Costa Rican Jungle.

So give it a try!

Marina K. Villatoro, lives in Central America – Costa Rica and Guatemala for the past decade. She has traveled all over these areas with her family and now she loves to organize vacations to Costa Rica and Guatemala. Contact her for advice and to plan your perfect trip!

I was once told by a Tica friend that there was a place in Costa Rica that could only be accessed is by boat and if you are lucky some days by car through a rocky dirt road. She said that there is a wonderful hotel right where the beach becomes a rain forest in that place.

The place I’m talking about is called Drake Bay in the Costa Rican Osa Peninsula. And the hotel is called Jinetes de osa.

Just as my friend said it is a place away from the civilization. I arrived by boat after a very long journey but it was worth the trouble. At first all I could see was a small cabin that melted with the vegetation but as I got closer I saw that it was the hotel and was bigger that looked from the distance. This hotel has only 9 rooms. This assures that the place will never be crowded. When I got there the hotel was hosting only 2 other families.

The place is very inviting wherever you look you will get amazing ocean views, beautiful forest views, you might even see some monkeys. At least I did! But what I was truly thrilled with was the fact that the next morning the howls oh howler monkeys woke me up.

Drake Bay is one of Costa Rican’s most isolated and tranquil places where any nature lover would feel at home.

Drake Bay is one of Costa Rican’s most isolated and tranquil places where any nature lover would feel at home. It is also close enough to the rest of the world and Corcovado National Park which is said to be the most biologically intense place on earth. Plus you can stay in this wonderful hotel. What else could a traveler want?

Marina K. Villatoro, the Travel Experta, has been living in Central America – Costa Rica and Guatemala for the past decade. Traveling with her family to all parts of Costa Rica and Guatemala, she now loves organizing vacations for people and offers first hand experience. Contact her for advice and to plan your perfect trip!

The Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, area has so many great places to visit and so many things to see such as: amazing wildlife, flora and gorgeous beaches. In this area you will also find lovely places to stay in. So the first time I went there I had a bit of trouble deciding where to stay.

It made such a big impression on me that I had to write about it. It is a beautiful property that is part of the exclusive Tulemar Gardens in Manuel Antonio Costa Rica. It is Called Casa Panorama. This is a three level luxury villa with some of the best views in Tulemar.

This beautiful villa is surrounded by untouched rain forest form where you get the best of Manuel Antonio: amazing wildlife from monkeys to birds. It is situated on a white-sanded private beach and just minutes away from Manuel Antonio National Park.

It is situated on a white-sanded private beach and just minutes away from Manuel Antonio National Park. The villa is absolutely beautiful and the surroundings are amazing. Can you imagine a better option for family vacations? Or a better place for a private and romantic honeymoon?

Let me give you a small description of Casa Panorama:

I stayed in the first level which is a one bedroom suite with a private entrance, a gorgeous deck, a fully equipped kitchen, living room and deck.

But it doesn’t end here. The place is run y a wonderful manager, Diego! This guy is also on charge of another great villa in Tulemar Gardens called Villa Mot Mot. He will show you around and treat you the way he does all his clients, like royalty!

I guess that now you have an idea of why I loved this place so much.

Marina K. Villatoro, the Travel Experta, lives in Central America – Costa Rica and Guatemala for the past decade. She’s traveled these parts extensively and now loves to organize vacations to these amazing parts of the world. Having first hand experience of all the places with her family, she can recommend the best options for you. Contact her for advice and to plan your perfect trip!

Costa Rica boasts of the most scenic beaches, hidden coves, and beautiful coasts. It also gives you awesome sunsets. Can you think of a better way to see these wonders than to go sailing? You have two options: get a charter boat, or book a sailing tour. So why don’t you gather your friends, and enjoy the views, the scenery, and the experience!

You can also choose between day sailing tours, dinner sailing tours, sunset tours and there are even wedding sailing packages for those planning to tie the knot in a very unique way. Day tours usually start early in the morning, dinner tours have a romantic bent to it with champagne and lobster included, while sunset tours take place late in the afternoon in order to catch the breathtaking view of the sun going down.

These tours start as soon as the boat departs. In them you will pass through beaches, coasts, and islands, the sailing tours will also get you close to the marine life that Costa Rica offers. These sailing tours also include some other activities such as kayaking, rafting, diving, fishing or snorkeling. You might be able to catch some views of dolphins frolicking, or some whales and giant sea turtles swimming lazily by. Drinks and food are also prepared and served on board by the staff.

Marlin Del Rey offers sailing tours on board of its 66-foot sailing catamaran from Tamarindo. Sunset Sail Tours has a 49 feet trimaran that cruises off Quepos and Manuel Antonio National Park. The sailing tours often take you to beautiful beaches such as Playa Grande, Playa Flamingo, Bahia Amore, Playa Conchal, Bahia de Las Pirates, and Tamarindo Beach.

Try sailing the famous and beautiful waters of Costa Rica, and enjoy an amazing & relaxing experience now!

Marina K. Villatoro, lives in Central America – Costa Rica and Guatemala for the past decade. She has traveled all over these areas with her family and now she loves to organize vacations to Costa Rica and Guatemala. Contact her for advice and to plan your perfect trip!