Any true nature-lover and adventurer who travels to Costa Rica will most definitely have the Corcovado National Park , Drake Bay and Isla Caño on their ‘to do’ list.  Costa Rica’s South Pacific region protects one of the country’s richest biodiversity and last portion of the Tropical Humid Forest of the Mesoamerican Pacific.

Up until 1978, the Peninsula de Osa wasn’t accessible by land and the few farmers that lived in the region were relocated and compensated for their lands in order to create the Corcovado National Park and protect the vast flora and fauna.

Over the last few years, the area’s popularity has grown and several small eco-friendly lodges and hotels were built north of the park and several tour operators began offering exciting nature-tours that involved whale and dolphin watching as well as diving and snorkeling.

One of the companies that offer an attractive variety of tours in the South Pacific region is Expediciones Sur.  The Corcovado National Park has been dubbed the most biologically intense place on earth and visitors will have the chance to see for themselves with a one day tour that includes a 3 ½ hour hike in the park.  Just reaching the park is an adventure in itself as visitors are driven through dense vegetation and sailed along the Sierpe River before reaching the park.

Other tours include snorkeling and diving around the Caño Island where visitors can visit the pre-Columbian archeological cemeteries, relax on the island’s beaches and of course dive or snorkel in these protected waters.

If you prefer to stay on board and observe wildlife from a comfortable and dry place, Expediciones Sur also offers Whale and Dolphin Watching Tours where the most popular species are the humpback whales.  The best season for this tour is from July through October and January through March.

Other exciting tours include sea-kayaking and a Crocodile Night Safari tour.

Costa Rica’s Fastest Man is the Personality of the Year

The local Costa Rican newspaper, Al Dia , has announced its list of Costa Ricans who made the top positions as Personality of the Year.  The title of Personality of the Year goes to sprint runner Nery Brenes who represented Costa Rica in the recent Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Brenes won the hearts of the Costa Rican people with his hard work and determination as even against all odds was able to rank number 10 in the world in the Olympic Games.  Brenes was born in Puerto Limon, a difficult place to survive much less exceed in such a demanding discipline as athletics.

The entire country of Costa Rica stopped in order to follow Nery’s participation in the 2008 Olympics.  Costa Ricans from around the world held their breath as Brenes took his position at the 400m race.  Brenes was able to rank number 10 and win the respect and admiration of his fellow Costa Ricans.

Runner up as the Costa Rican Personality of the Year went to Maria Jose Castillo who also had the entire country supporting her every move in the recent Latin American Idol Reality Show.  Maria Jose Castillo was able to reach the finals and go head to head with Margarita Henriquez from Panama.

Maria Jose went into the finals as a real champ even though she was going through a severe throat infection that clearly affected her last performances.  Although Maria Jose wasn’t at the top of her game, she showed courage, determination and a true spirit of competitiveness as she obtained second place in the Latin American Idol show.

If you are the experienced rider looking for the real thing, Hacienda Guachipelin is the place to go. Hacienda Guachipelin ha been breeding horses for many years to keep up with the ranch work. Horses are training by the Sabaneros, as the local cowboy is referred to.

Presently the Hacienda has over 100 horses and 15 mules, ready to go for days of great riding. The horses are a cross between Criollo and Andalusian. Horses are well taken care for, ticks and worming plus regular vet visits are part of the general practices. Though you might not associate it with a tropical country, Costa Rica has quite a cowboy culture Guanacaste.

Hacienda takes great care in choosing the horse as well as the equipment for each adult. As for children, based on age and experience, horses are selected to assure a memorable ride. Your safety is always a priority with us.

We believe in equestrian travel as a way to practice a fascinating sport and at the same time to interact with a different culture. You will find that a common love for the horse is effective to create bonds of friendship that will last for a lifetime.

Costa Rica is easy to reach with many short flights from the US and no jet lag. Ticos, as the local people call themselves, are friendly and welcoming. You will find these vacations give good value for your money, as the dollar is very strong.

Hacienda Guachipelin is conveniently located in the entrance of Rincon de la Vieja Volcano National Park in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. It is a short hour drive from most beach resorts like Paradisus Conchal, Papagayo Hilton, Ocotal Beach Resort, Four Seasons at Papagayo, and Capitan Suizo.
Reservations Tel: US - Canada Call Toll Free 1-877-998-7873
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email info@guachipelin.com
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The old route 1 that leads to the capital of Guanacaste, Liberia, will soon be improved as government officials are planning to expand it to 4 lanes.  The first stage of the road’s improvement is planned to begin in 2009’s second semester if all goes as planed.

The entire project has been divided into 4 stages that will begin with the 60 kilometers from Cañas to Liberia.  The stretch between Cañas and Liberia has been chosen to be worked on first due to the fact that the land on either side are government property and no elaborate legal work needs to be done.

Government officials will be publishing the proposal requests next month and hope to receive company bids by January 2009 and start the first stage by the second semester.  The construction time for these first 60 kilometers will be around 10 to 12 months according to the Transportation Department’s Vice-Minister, Pedro Castro.

At the time the first stage of the project takes off, officials will begin working on the expansion of the rest of the route.  The remaining three stages of the project have been divided into the stretch between Barranca to Arizona, Arizona to Cañas and Liberia to Peñas Blancas.

Officials have stated that the new route is expected to have a lifespan of 20 years and the material used will be the one that authorities deem convenient for the country.  The first stage of the project will cost US$150 million and will also include a bicycle lane and sidewalks for 30 kilometers of the total 60 kilometers.

Costa Rica ’s ongoing commitment in protecting areas of important biodiversity and natural richness has lead to the addition of yet another National Park. The government of Costa Rica has named Los Quetzales as its 28^th National Park.

Los Quetzales is located at 122 kilometers from San Jose between Providencia and San Gerardo de Dota along the Talamanca Mountain Range and Savegre River. Los Quetzales extends over 12,000 acres of land that are made up of government terrain as well as areas of Los Santos and Cerro Vueltas Forest Reserve.

The park was created in order to preserve the natural environments of the region’s highlands. The park is home to over 25 indigenous species as well as over 116 mammals and seasonal lakes from the glacial era.

Los Quetzales National Park has an altitude of over 9,000 feet and is located in one of Costa Rica’s most rainy places. Since the park has been recently created, tourist attractions are still a bit limited. However, due to the area’s height and pristine terrain, activities such as bird watching and the exploration of flora and fauna are very enriching.

Costa Rica is known for its commitment with the environment and has dedicated over 3 million acres, around 28%, of its territory to the conservation and preservation of its most precious treasure: its flora and fauna.

Costa Rica occupies a mere 0.03% of the earth’s terrain yet it its home to 4% of the entire world’s flora and fauna and 3.5% of the world’s marine life. Some of Costa Rica’s highlights include its mountains, tropical jungles, active volcanoes, cloud forests and its internationally famous Coco Island.