Monkey Population Increases in Santa Rosa National Park

The creation of the Santa Rosa National Park in the province of Guanacaste has helped the monkey population of this region flourish. The park was created in 1971 and has since protected the area’s wildlife and vegetation.

Canadian scientist, Linda Fedigan, has studied the primate population for over 25 years and has revealed encouraging figures. Before the park was created, Illegal hunting, wild fires and deforestation were quickly destroying the region’s wildlife and vegetation. In 1971, there were a total of 85 howler monkeys and 300 capuchin monkeys were inventoried.

Thanks to the government’s initiative to protect one of the most varied micro-climate parks in the world, the monkey population has significantly increased. Today, Fedigan has been able to report 620 howler monkeys and 740 capuchin monkeys. Although the spider monkey is also a commonly found in the park, it moves too quickly through the forest making it difficult to control. Fedigan’s research was focused solely on the howler and capuchin monkey in the Santa Rosa National Park.

Fedigan went on to explain how the forest’s age plays an important role in the monkeys habitat. For example, the capuchin monkey can start using a regenerated forest only after it has been around for 25 to 30 years. Fedigan remembers that back in 1983, the park had certain pasture regions that today has tall enough trees to attract the capuchin monkey.

Howler monkeys on the other hand will only go into forests with at least 60 years of age. This is because the howler monkey is much larger in size and weight than the capuchin and needs taller and stronger trees to hold their weight.

According to Fedigan, the best way to help the monkey population grow is by visiting the park, paying the entrance fee and observing the primates in their natural habitat.

Located near the base of the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano in, the Hacienda Guachipelin Hotel offers its guests immediate access to the most visited National Park in the Guanacaste region.

Hacienda Guachipelin is a mountain hotel that was established in 1987 and borders the famous Rincon de la Vieja National Park where visitors can experience a variety of volcanic related activities and sightseeing.  The Rincon de la Vieja National Park is one of the few attractions that allow visitors to enjoy fumaroles, boiling mud pots, vapor vents, small craters and sulfur vents while surrounded by a thriving tropical forest complete with refreshing waterfalls and indigenous wildlife.

The history behind the creation of the Rincon de la Vieja National Park was to protect the high water recharge areas in Guanacaste.  In 1974, the park was created to especially protect these high water recharge areas which feed the Tempisque River; the most important river in the Guanacaste province.

Wildlife at the Rincon de la Vieja National Park is quite a treat as well.  Visitors will have the opportunity to observe 3 different monkey species as well as over 250 bird species that include toucans and tinamous.  Mammals vary in size and species ranging from the shy-less coatis or hog-nosed coon and agouti to the larger tapir.  A variety of indigenous reptiles and insects will also make its way across your path while visiting the park.

The park has been carefully developed in order to allow visitors to enjoy as much as possible while taking an easy 2 hour stroll through its paths.  The park’s entrance fee is a symbolic $10 per person and if you would like a guide to enhance your adventure, a number of qualified guides are available upon request.  A convenience store is located at the park’s entrance that sells sun block, bug repellent and bottled water.

Please note that the Rincon de la Vieja National Park remains closed on Mondays.

The Hacienda Guachipelin Hotel is located at the entrance of the park and is just a 60 minute drive from the spectacular Papagayo Gulf and 45 minutes from the Daniel Oduber International Airport in Guanacaste.  Hacienda Guachipelin is your gateway to the Rincon de la Vieja National Park.  The road to the park is easily accessible all year round.

The Hacienda Guachipelin Hotel will like to remember its guests to pack comfortable hiking shoes, rain poncho (June-October), hat, insect repellent and at least a 30 SPF sun block.

After a long day of adventure in the park, make sure you stop by the road side bar or the restaurant at Hacienda Guachipelin for refreshments.

For more information about Hacienda Guachipelin and the Rincon de la Vieja National Park, visit http://www.guachipelin.com or call +506.2256.5221.

Live Chat is available through our website as well.

The once ambitious project of Africa Mia (Spanish translation for the movie Out of Africa) created in the northern planes of Guanacaste in 2006, is today a MUST SEE for anyone who visits the region.

Located in Liberia at just a few minutes away from the Daniel Oduber International Airport , Africa Mia has brought a small piece of Africa to Costa Rica.  The project was a lifetime dream of entrepreneur Mario Sotela who finally saw it come to life in 2006.

The plains in Guanacaste have a certain similarity to the African Serengeti that encouraged Sotela to create one of the most unique tourist attractions in the region: a small replica of the African wildlife.

Today, Africa Mia is ready to host its first Open House and the 2008 Africa Mia Festival.  The two-day event will take place at the attraction’s grounds on November 29th and 30th.  The event seeks to attract all family members as well as business owners and tourists.  The main purpose of holding this Open House is to widely promote the attraction throughout the nation.

During the two-day fair, visitors will have the opportunity to sample traditional Costa Rican food, observe several information and commercial stands as well as enjoy one of the several tours offered at Africa Mia.

Visitors will be presented with several options to tour the grounds and observe exotic creatures such as giraffes, zebras, ostriches, bongos, dromedaries, gemsboks, antelopes and much more.  The animals that can be found at Africa Mia are able to roam freely within the premises and without the threat of predators.

All family members will be able to enjoy the tour at their own pace and desire.  You can choose to hike along the premises with a guide that will tell you everything you need to know, or you can take the African Safari Wildlife Tour that will take you to hard to reach areas in a 4WD vehicle.

If you can’t make it to this first time Open House and Festival, you can always visit the park anytime from 8am to 6pm or check back for the second Africa Mia Festival and Open House.

After several reports and civil complaints regarding the uncontrolled and unsupervised real estate boom in Costa Rica’s South Pacific, government officials visited the area for a thorough inspection.

At least 9 projects were suspended by the Environmental Tribunal Administration for their abuse of construction permits and for not respecting environmental protection measures. Government officials criticized the Osa Municipality for lacking proper regulations and measures against these violations.

The Minister of Environment, Energy and Telecommunications, Roberto Dobles, participated in the recent inspection and stated that the Municipality of Osa should be responsible for protecting its territory. Dobles mentioned that unfortunately, complaints are received when it’s already too late to take action in preventing the environmental damage.

Among the violations found by Dobles during his recent inspection was a 32,000 square feet house that was being built with a permit for a 5,000 square feet area. In addition, the house was located smack in the middle of the forest in the Bahia Ballena area while disrespecting protected areas.

In defense of the Osa Municipality, civil engineer Mario Alvarez complained that it is extremely difficult for only three inspectors to overlook such a vast area where at least 600 projects are being developed.

Government officials and environmentalists are determined to toughen measures and educate local and foreign investment firms in the importance of environmental care and protection. These controlled measures will guarantee a sustainable development as well as a longer future for tourism and investment in Costa Rica.

“When in Rome …do as the Romans do ” can pretty much sum up the Pejibaye Fair that takes place in the quaint town of Tucurrique in the province of Cartago. In case you’re wondering, a pejibaye is a very popular fruit in Costa Rica that comes from a species of palm that is native to the tropical forests of Central and South America.

I remember the first time I ever tried this fruit; I was a kid on a train from San Jose to Orotina in the early 80’s. I remember the vendor swaying down the aisle of the moving train with a white, cleaned out 5-gallon paint bucket filled to the top with bright red and orange pejibayes. Its mouth-watering aroma was so inviting that I just had to have one.

Back in the days it was very common to see street vendors in downtown San Jose pushing a gas-cylinder heated cart packed with pejibayes. People would just gather around and buy them by the pound or unit. Today, mostly due to hygienic reasons, these street vendors are extremely rare. But thankfully, large supermarket chains put out these same heated carts near the fruit section with freshly cooked pejibayes ready to eat.

In Costa Rica, the pejibaye is simply stewed in salt water until it is fully cooked. You peel it and eat, simple as that. Some prefer to add a dab of mayonnaise for that extra taste. However, the fruit is so popular and just down right delicious, that many Costa Ricans have experimented with the fruit and given it other uses as well.

The Pejibaye Fair in Tucurrique is just that, a varied display of several dishes made up of pejibaye. Soups, bread, salads, rice with pejibaye and dozens of other dishes will be offered at the fair. The fair begins Friday October 24th and continues until Monday November 3rd.

So, if in the area, take a detour to Tucurrique (the pejibaye is the primary fruit here) and have a taste of traditional Costa Rican cuisine and I will guarantee you that you will crave the fruit for the rest of your life.