Saturday, June 6, 2009

Sea Glass and Sand Dollars




The beaches in Costa Rica are as diverse as the flora and fauna. The popular beaches like Playa Tamarindo, Jaco, and Manuel Antonio Beach can provide you with a hopping and exciting beach vacation.

At these an many other popular beaches in Costa Rica, you can enjoy the beautiful Pacific Caribbean Ocean while sitting in a chair beneath an umbrella, ordering a cold and fruity drink from the beach, and people watching. The popular beaches have nearby shops and restaurants, they are accessible by bus or by taxi. Sometimes, being at one of the popular tourist beach is just the right way to pass the day.

But for me, one of the beautiful things about Costa Rica is the large number of undeveloped beaches. There are countless little explored and less developed beaches along the Pacific coast from Playa Junquillal to Esterillos to Uvita, to the small beaches of the Osa Peninsula.

Today we visited Playa Palo Seco and were literally the only people enjoying the sound of the roaring surf. This beach is one of our favorite beaches, mostly because it is almost always deserted. Even in the midst of high season you can walk for miles collecting sand dollars and sea glass (a new hobby of mine since reading the novel by Anita Shreve) without encountering another person. With the tide out there are countless rocks, shells, sand dollars and pieces of sea glass to find. If a brisk walk or run is more your style you have 9 miles of open beach to cover while enjoying sound of roaring surf and a vista of Manuel Antonio in the distance.

Although there is not much development along Isla Palo Seco, if you haven’t brought your own refreshment, you can find a cold drink and a nice lunch at the Timarai Bamboo Resort. I like to travel to Palo Seco early, enjoy the beach, then get a freshwater rinse off and cold drink at the resort. With lunch or a drinks at the restaurant you can enjoy the pool or lounge catch a little shade in a poolside lounge chair.

With over 800 miles of Coastline and two oceans from which to chose there is a beach for every traveler to Costa Rica. Whether you prefer black sand, white sand, pink sand, trendy, deserted, developed, primitive, pounding surf, or gentle lapping waves, your perfect beach awaits. Better yet, don't choose plan to visit several beaches during your visit.

When planning a trip to the beach it is always a good idea to check out the tide tables. Some beaches virtually disappear during high tide, but are expansive when the tide is out. If possible plan your visit near low tide and you will have hours to enjoy the beach.

Friday, June 5, 2009

Bugs


You can not visit (or live in) Costa Rica without being amazed by the huge numbers of plants and animals that inhabit this incredible green wonderland. As a former biology teacher, I find the biodiversity fascinating. I love spotting new birds, reptiles and mammals. I love that as each month passes there are different plants and trees blooming. I love that with a short drive you can be in a completely new ecosystem. I love Costa Rica, however, I don’t think it is fair to talk to tourists about Costa Rica without mentioning the bugs. When people talk about biodiversity everyone needs to understand that birds and mammals are not the only creatures that make Costa Rica one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. The insects make a big contribution too.

It is uncertain the exact number of species of insects in Costa Rica, but some estimates are as high as a fifty thousand different species. There are at least 1250 species of butterflies, 8000 species of moth, 80 species of fireflies, 60 species of stingless bees (another 23 of stinging bees), and 5000 species of grasshoppers.


And then there are the ants. According to INBio, one hectare of rainforest contains an average of nine million ants. I haven’t been able to discover how many species of ants there are, but they are over 500 species in La Selva including 150 species of army ants alone. Most of the ants are harmless and fascinating to see. But a word of warning, watch out for those living on the Acacia tree, they have a powerful sting. We frequently take time to watch the leaf cutter ants at work, and have been amazed at how the army ants can turn a snake carcass into a snake skeleton in under an hour.

Also be aware, you might not see ‘um, but there are an estimated 332 species of No See ‘um in Costa Rica. Ceratopogonidae, also knwon as biting midges, no-see-ums or punkies, purrujas, jejenes, polvorines or manta blanca are common through out Costa Rica. According to Art Borkent, there is some good news, despite the large number of species found in Costa Rica, only 12 have been recorded as feeding on humans. Generally you need to fear the Costa Rican no see ‘um if you are at the beach or in the mangroves.

Although some people might find all this talk about bugs off-putting it is important to point out that most of the bugs of Costa Rica are both harmless and fascinating (and even some of the harmful ones are fascinating from a distance). Some of my favorite Costa Rican bugs are of course butterflies. I also love the giagantic grasshoppers, and the walking sticks that look like foot long pieces of rose bush. The rhinoceros beatle is a big hit with the kids as are the huge cicadas.

When you visit Costa Rica, be open to experiencing nature. Come prepared to see flora and fauna of immense beauty and diversity. Keep your eyes and ears open and you will see and hear wondrous creatures. Also, be prepared for a few bug bites. I highly recommend traveling with Afterbite. If you are planning on canopy tours or mangrove tours pack an insect repellent wipes that contains DEET.

Remember that the Costa Rican sunsets are beautiful, but dusk is prime time for mosquitos, no see’ums and biting flies. If you are planning on watching sunset in a beachside restaurant, don’t forget to wipe a little repellent on your ankles before heading out.


Yes, there are a lot of bugs in Costa Rica, but that is a good thing. The bugs are part of the biodiversity that you are traveling to see. The bugs also are an important part of each of the ecosystems found in Costa Rica. Enjoy the beauty and diversity of the bugs.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

What Rainy Season Means- Rainbows




Many people hear the words Rainy Season and are afraid to Vacation in Costa Rica during the North American Summer. Have no fear. The Green Season (a much more tourist friendly term for rainy season) offers many advantages for North American travelers.

Generally speaking there are fewer crowds, lower prices for tours and accommodations, and great airfare specials during the green season. Along the Pacific Coast the green season is truly green. The hillside regain the bright greens that tourists expect during a tropical vacation.

Although when it comes to weather there are no guarantees, generally speaking, even in the green season much of every day is sunny on the Pacific Coast until early afternoon. In the mountains a rainy morning gives way to a sunny afternoon and evening. Frequently the rain showers are short and light providing a nice break from the heat. Some of my best beach days have included short periods of light rain.

I almost forgot about the rainbows. The light showers bring the most beautiful rainbows. Rainbows in the mountains, rainbows at the beach, rainbows over the marina. The rainbows of Costa Rica are definitely a sight to see.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

What Rainy Season Means- White Water Rafting!




It is June and Costa Rica's rainy season, or green season has officially been in effect for 1 month. What this means weatherwise is that each day there is a pretty good chance you will experience a rain shower wherever you are visiting in Costa Rica. Occasionally these rain showers will be heavy, and sometimes there may be lightening involved. Don't let this scare you away from all the activities Costa Rica has to offer. Most tours will run despite a little rain shower. These showers can definitely be a positive. Nothing breaks up the tropical heat like a little cloud cover or getting caught in a brief downpour.

I could continue to extol the positives of the green season, but will save that for another post. This article is about what the rains do for whitewater rafting. With evening showers throughout the country the rivers become much more exciting from June through November. The Rio Narnajo is an excellent choice for whitewater rafting in Costa Rica. The river is slow and lazy during the dry season, but picks up speed and excitement as the rains arrive. The rapids in the Rio Narnajo range from Class II to Class IV. Sections of the trip have continous raging water that require skill to navigate.

If you are traveling to Costa Rica during the green season, whitewater rafting is an activity you do not want to miss.

My family and I (and our visitors) have rafted with three different companies in the Manuel Antonio Area. All provided a great experience for the kids. I can only so great things about each experience. The rafting is exciting for every level of rafter. My husband, who has much more whitewater experience than I do agrees that they trip was a great adrenaline rush. I think the best all round experience was offered by Quepoa Expeditions. This group was very knowledgeable and providing lots of great information and incredible rafting action. This tour package included transportation and delicious fruits and snacks.

If you have a Costa Rica Whitewater rafting suggestion or comment, feel free to post. Having expereinced the Naranjo and the Savengre, our next Whitewater Rafting Adventure will be in another region of Costa Rica.


Lonely Planet Costa Rica: "River running companies are not regulated in Costa Rica so, for your own safety, go with an outfitter with experienced guides