Costa Rica's South Pacific - January 2010

		January 2010 Costa Rica's South Pacific In this Issue Southern Costa Rica - A Wild Adventure Riding the Waves in Pavones - Surfing in Southern Costa Rica Golfito – A Hidden Gem in Southern Costa Rica Costa Rica's South Pacific is said to be one of the most beautiful and remote parts of Costa Rica. Discover why many people visit Costa Rica's South Pacific time and time again. Click here to view a complete list of our hotels in Southern Costa Rica. Or visit our Southern Costa Rica page to find out more information about Costa Rica's lush south Pacific Coast. Visit our Eco Escape: A Sustainable Vacation and stay in the South Pacific of Costa Rica at Lapa Rios Ecolodge Piedras Blancas National Park - Southern Costa Rica Costa Rica's South Pacific is the Destination of the Month Southern Costa Rica - A Wild Adventure Visit the famed Piedras Blancas National Park, the Parque Internacional La Amistad & the Parque Nacional Chirripó One of the most pristine and lush regions in the country, Southern Costa Rica is home to some amazingly gorgeous landscapes. The wildlife here is truly stunning and exploring this entire region is a real adventure as you maneuver your way through verdant agricultural plantations, virgin rainforests, and remote secluded beaches. The towns here are small and friendly, with most settlements having a rustic charm of their own. Kayaking in Piedras Blancas National Park Often called Costa Rica's Amazon as this area is more lush, wet and hot than any other part of the country; Southern Costa Rica is the perfect escape for those who want to explore a more primitive region. If you are a nature lover then there are a number of reserves here for you to discover. The Parque Nacional Piedras Blancas, the Parque Internacional La Amistad and the Parque Nacional Chirripó are all great places to see nature at its very best. The Piedras Blancas National Park was part of the Corcovado National Park's Esquinas Zone until 1993 when it was given its own national park status to protect the last remaining tracts of lowland tropical rainforests in the Golfo Dolce. A birdwatchers paradise, this 14,000 hectare national park is also the habitat of Costa Rica's endangered jaguars. Basically an evergreen primary forest, the Parque Nacional Piedras Blancas is said to contain relics from Costa Rican tribes of the pre-Hispanic era. The Parque Internacional La Amistad is a huge park of 1950 square kilometers. The single largest protected area in Costa Rica, this park is so vast that it stretches across the border into Panama. Declared a Biosphere Reserve and a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the La Amistad Park is home to all six species of Neotropical cats as well as Costa Rica's largest population of Baird's tapirs. Hiking here is fantastic, but be sure to get a guide as the forest here is steep, dense and largely unchartered. To catch a glimpse of Costa Rica's highest peak Cerro Chirripó, you should visit the Chirripó National Park. Located east of San Gerardo De Rivas, this park makes for a great place to explore and hike. The highland forests here are the habitat of numerous birds, mammals and insects and also offer some amazing bird and butterfly watching opportunities. If you want you can also hike up Cerro Chirripó, though keep in mind that this mountain is a very hard climb. Featured Tour Eco Escape: A Sustainable Vacation Eco Escape a Sustainable Vacation, offers you to stay at four of the top five top Eco Hotels on this 11 Day luxury package. All land transportation, accommodations, tours and most meals are included starting at $2,854 per person for 11 Days and 10 Nights. Santa Barbara, Heredia (Coffee Plantation)/ San Ramon, Central Valley (Cloud Forest)/ Manuel Antonio, Puntarenas (Beach) / Matapalo, South Puntarenas (Beach / Forest) Duration: 11 Days / 10 Nights Prices Starting at $2,854 per person Riding the Waves in Pavones Surfing in Southern Costa Rica Said to have some of the best surfing along the Pacific Coast of Central America, Pavones is a true surfing mecca for the avid surfer. If you are in Costa Rica to catch some good waves, then a trip to Pavones between the months of April and October is definitely worth your while, as this beach reportedly has one of the longest left hand break waves on the planet. Surfing Pavones Situated some 15 km south of Playa Zancudo in the province of Puntarenas, the sleepy town of Pavones sits in southern Costa Rica, just a few miles north of the border with Panama. Surrounded by rich natural beauty, on a good day the waves here are said to be more than three quarters of a mile long, which means that when you catch a good swell, you are in for a long ride. The surf here is at its best during the rainy season when the waves come in fast from the south, forming a very hollow wave and letting you ride it for up to 3 minutes at a time! Meant for the experienced surfer, coming to Pavones can be a real treat for all to enjoy. The accommodations and hotels in Pavones are quite inexpensive, with several restaurants and local eateries in the area as well. Although not well developed as say the beach towns of Tamarindo or Samara, Pavones has a charm and uniqueness that is all its own. Easily accessible by car or bus from San Jose, you can also get to Pavones via the former banana port of Golfito. If you don't mind roughing it out a bit, drive down to Pavones in a four-wheel drive through some of the most wonderful landscapes in the county. Untouched by development, the drive to Pavones is gorgeous as you cut across a number of small rivers, teak plantations and lowland rainforests along the way. However, do be careful when driving here during the rainy season as the roads often get washed away. If you ever get tired of surfing, you can also try your hand at some offshore sports fishing or hiking the many forest trails in the area. Horseback riding is also available on the beach too. Hotel of the Month Castillo de Pavones Castillo de Pavones is a new hotel, elegantly perched on a mountainside with a direct view of the famous Pavones point break, and the surfers riding the longest left wave in the world. From the windows and balconies, you can look down on the canopy which slopes to form the Rio Claro River and valley, and witness the birds soaring below over the canopy treetop. Golfito – A Hidden Gem in Southern Costa Rica Nicknamed the country's final frontier, Southern Costa Rica is home to some of the most beautiful stretches of lush agricultural plantations and virgin landscapes. Here in the midst of all this rich natural beauty is the tiny town of Golfito, a former bustling banana port. Dubbed a true 'banana republic,' Golfito was from 1938 to 1985 the headquarters of the United Fruit Company, which owned a lot of plantations in the area. Golfito, Southern Costa Rica Located in the Golfo Dolce in Southern Puntarenas and northwest of Costa Rica's border with Panama, Golfito sits in a gorgeous bay surrounded by lots of forestation, wildlife and mangroves. And though there are no beaches in Golfito itself, what makes this town so special are the wonderful sports fishing opportunities it offers off the coast. A busy lively port and trade center in its heyday, Golfito used to be a key exit and entry point for imports and exports in the country. However, with the closure of United Fruit's operations Golfito slowly became a backwater town. Today, if you visit Golfito you can still see the old plantation workers houses which are scattered in the southern part of town and which have an industrial uniformity to them. In the north where United Fruit had its headquarters, many homes of former white collar employees can be found which have more often then not been converted into inexpensive hotels and lodgings. In an effort to revitalize Golfito and its economy, the government of Costa Rica built a large duty free center or Deposito Libre out here in the 1990's, which offers some of the lowest rates in the country. TV's, microwaves and other appliances and items can be found here at relatively cheaper prices. This means that on weekends and holidays, many Ticos come here from all across the country to buy and stock up on their household needs. From Golfito you can also head on the towns of Zancudo and Pavones, or if you prefer a more adventurous vacation check out the Piedras Blancas National Park and the Golfito Wildlife Reserve near by. Activity of the Month Desafío Adventure Company Desafío Adventure Company is Costa Rica's premier one-stop-shop for adventure travel. We'll put together your most memorable vacation and take you to the land of raging, tropical rivers, active volcanoes, enchanting jungle canyons & isolated beaches.