Costa Rica and Guatemala are both beautiful countries with lots of fun things to do. Here is a great tour from each country:
Pacaya National Park Tour
Can you imagine a delicious dinner with wine, cheese and delicious gourmet foods on top of an active volcano? Well believe it or not it is possible in Guatemala’s Pacaya Volcano!
This volcano is just a short drive away from Antigua Guatemala. In this tour you can go up almost to the crater and stand a meter away from the constant lava flows. These constant flows are what keep this volcano from have a big eruption, making it a safe and exciting day trip. You can go up with a guide only! He will lead you along the safest and best paths.
You can go up with a guide only! He will lead you along the safest and best paths. You will be able to walk on solid lava, and get very close to little cracks from where you can see underground lava rivers and the best part the actual lava flows will be just a feet away from you.
This is a great adventure loved by travelers and locals and by me too, so I highly recommend it.
Manuel Antonio National Park Tour
Manuel Antonio National Park is the number one most visited park in Costa Rica! It is the perfect combination of rain forest, beaches, flora, wildlife and coral reefs that will surprise you at every turn. This sure sounds like a great family trip or a fun activity for adventurous honeymooners.
You can definitely go to the park on your own, however, I guarantee you won’t get the same experience. So who to choose as the perfect guide? I went with Aguila Tours, Juan Brenes, and can asure you that it is a guaranteed hit! My family and some friends took the private tour with him and loved it.
My family and some friends took the private tour with him and loved it. I’m sure you’ll come out knowing more about wildlife than some biologists:) The guide will help you see as many wildlife as possible, at the same time he will tell you everything there is to know about it. If you ever visit Costa Rica go for it I’m sure it will be great.
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!
Posted on 19 May '10, under Tours. No Comments.
My husband and I decided that we wanted to do something exiting and new (at least for us). I had also heard great thing about a company called Desafio Adventure Company so we decided to give it a try.
They offer horseback rides, rafting, hiking boat rides, canopy, waterfall reappelling and canyoneering tours, just to name some. As you can see they offer so many things that it gets hard to decide what is it that you are going to do.
As you can see they offer so many things that it gets hard to decide what is it that you are going to do. Since my husband is an adrenaline junkie we decided that we would try the canyoneering and waterfall rappelling and I have to say I don’t repent it. This tour will rock your socks off.
This tour takes place in Arenal, between mountains, volcanoes and waterfalls. Just as its name implies this is a multi-sport adventure that combines rappelling, down-climbing and river tracing in a deep, tropical canyon. At first I was pretty scared to go down a 150-ft waterfall but it’s actually a lot of fun and very refreshing.
This was a great adventure! Bottom line is that the adventure is suitable for the whole family and what could be better than this amazing trip to spice up your honeymoon?
I would highly recommend this tour company to anyone and this tour to any adventurous traveler visiting Costa Rica.
So prepare to get wet!
Now take a deep breath, look down into the depths of a massive waterfall and GO!
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!
Posted on 19 May '10, under Tours. No Comments.
If you are wanting for some rest and relaxation and are also hoping to be spoiled a little then the Gold Coast’s Ruffles Lodge at Willow Vale could be the suitable spot for your future break. This one of a kind location provides you with the chance to truly go in nature, as they say, with incredibly remote tree top lodging. Each and every tree house is incredible and will give you isolation that won’t be discovered at any other resort.
They have, very recently, added in three new tree houses on the property in addition to an incredible day spa that will add to the atmosphere of this remarkable resort. Situated about 40 minutes from the heart of Brisbane it’s the ideal holiday location affording you the privacy that you’re looking for and still permitting you to stay central to a number of incredible attractions and sensational dining experiences.
All of the tree houses come complete with a wood stove, over sized bath and wonderfully hand made furnishings. There is on site dining and the tree homes all have their own golf cart that visitors can utilize to get around without trouble. Your stay experience is only increased by your ability to choose to spend time with others around the resort, or stay in for a relaxing and quiet evening with dine in room and massage services.
There are three accommodation options when staying at the resort. You can reserve a room in the lodge, one of the three villas or a tree house. Although the tree houses are the most expensive choice, they do give you a lot that the resort an villas do not. When you opt to stay in a tree house you get an astonishing view, along with seclusion and privacy.
The Ruffles Lodge provides visitors with one of the most unique accommodation experiences on the Gold Coast. The perfect place to stay if you want to feel like you are in the center of it all without being surrounded by other tourists 24/7, the Ruffles Lodge is a world class resort with service that is beyond your wildest imagination; a beautiful place to stay any time of the year.
There are various broadbeach accommodation packages that you can look into on the internet. Whether you are looking to purchase your broadbeach hotels and airfare as a package or individually click onto www.goldcoastinformation.com.au.
Posted on 11 May '10, under Tours. No Comments.
I had heard about the incredible beauty of Cano Negro and I was getting very curious about it.
Some time later I went to La Fortuna in Arenal, Costa Rica, with my family and saw the advertisement from a tour company called Canoa Aventura. It is a great tour operator that offers exciting water activities in Costa Rica. In the add they mentioned a tour in Cano Negro so I ran to the office.
The main difference between them is that on the boat tour, you sit on a boat and relax as you float down the river and the guide makes sure you see everything. The canoe tour gives you the opportunity to paddle your way down the river at your own rhythm with a guide that will show you everything there is to see. They both sounded great to me, that’s why I had hard time trying to decide which one to take.
They both sounded great to me, that’s why I had hard time trying to decide which one to take. After some thinking I decided to take the boat tour and I have to say that it couldn’t have been better.
One of the things I loved the most was that not only you get the opportunity to see many different species of animals, but will also learn from the guides, who are very well trained, and from the looks on their faces, you can tell how much they enjoy sharing their knowledge with you.
You wouldn’t believe the amount of birds and monkeys I saw during the boat ride. As you can see this tour is perfect for nature lovers.
So if you visit the Arenal area in your Costa Rican vacation I dare all of you to try this unforgettable trip, especially if you are a wildlife lover or an enthusiast photographer.
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!
Posted on 11 May '10, under Tours. No Comments.
Costa Rica has many different tours to offer and is particularly famous for its canopy tours. I’ve been living in Costa Rica for almost 6 years and have tried many canopy tours but only one has truly impressed me. It is by a company called Sky Trek and I would highly recommend it.
It is by a company called Sky Trek and I would highly recommend it. But what is it that makes Sky Trek so good? For starters, they have: 2 Theme Parks. One is located in Monteverde, where they offer sky tram, sky trek (canopy), sky walk (hanging bridges) and a serpentarium. The other one can be found in Arenal, where you will find a sky tram, sky trek, a butterfly garden, and a new exciting adventure, the sky trek night tour.
My experience with these guys was great. I had a combination of excitement and safety that allowed me to enjoy the trip to its fullest.
All of their tours are great but for me the sky trek/canopy tour is the best! The thing is that it is complementary to the sky tram and can’t be bought on its own. That is fine by me because you get to sit back and relax as you see everything a little bit more slowly.
Let me describe the trip for you so you get an idea of why I loved it so much: First you will ride the sky tram. This is an interesting and relaxing ride in a gondola through the forest canopy that will take you to the first platform. When you get there your guide will help gear you out and that’s where the adventure begins. The sky trek is an exciting tour where you will slide down ziplines over the forest canopy. These guys are helpful and friendly and also very professional and well trained.
These guys are helpful and friendly and also very professional and well trained. I went there with my 5 year old son and even he had a great time. Plus the attractions are very well taken care of. I had a great time with them and I’m sure you will too, so enjoy and let me know how it goes.
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!
Posted on 4 May '10, under Tours. No Comments.
For some travelers, the best way to cover a lot of area in the least possible time is hiking or biking, but there is another great way: have you ever tried an ATV ride? This is way you will get to see many of interesting sights in just a few hours. The ATV (all terrain vehicle) is an easy vehicle to ride, and can give you an unforgettable adventure! Costa Rica offers numerous ATV tours for you to enjoy and discover the different terrains, touristic spots, and sights.
In these tours normally a bilingual guide will take you through a short briefing on how to operate the ATV. Shortly after that, you will have the opportunity to try to test drive the vehicle and to get used to it.
The guides take you on a rollercoaster route, through unpaved paths, old plantations or farms and through bucolic Costa Rican towns. You can also splash through streams, and mud. You will be able to see flora and fauna in their natural habitat, ride along narrow trails, or drive along the beach, or zip through forests, jungles, volcanoes or rivers.
All necessary equipment will be provided by the company you choose. It is advised that you wear something comfortable for the ride, as well as trekking or hiking gear (footwear). Make sure to bring your swimsuit and towel too, in case you want to try out one of the many water formations and waterfalls you will pass through. And the most important thing of all that you have to bring along is your camera to document this exhilarating experience.
Here is a list of tour companies that offer good ATV tours:
You can go on a half-day and full-day tour in Cerros de Cedral, located approximately 45 minutes from San Jose are being offered by ATV Tours Costa Rica.
Fourtrax Adventure gives ATV tours in 4 locations: Manuel Antonio/Quepos, Arenal Volcano/La Fortuna, Jac Beach/Los Sueos, Tamarindo/Guanacaste.
Fourtrax Adventure brings you the ATV adventure in 4 locations: Manuel Antonio/Quepos, Arenal Volcano/La Fortuna, Jac Beach/Los Sueos, Tamarindo/Guanacaste.
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!
Posted on 1 May '10, under Tours. No Comments.
Before I let you know what this article is about answer this: Do you like nature, adventure, pristine beaches, howler monkeys, tropical forests, fine dining under the stars, undiscovered locations, bonfires and beautiful sunsets? And how about vintage Land Cruisers? If your answer to all those questions was yes I know the perfect thing for you in Costa Rica.
It is a wild adventure called Off Roading that can only be had in Guanacaste with Off Road Costa Rica. All I can say is that I absolutely loved it. Maybe with a small description you will get a better idea of why I loved this tour so much: It is basically the combination of 4 x 4 driving with light hiking that involve river crossings, steeps, mud and huge puddles while learning about the gorgeous flora and fauna found in the Costa Rican back-country.
Some of the tours they offer are: half-day Safari trip, or a coast to coast Off-Road Expedition, or a 3 day trip around the Nicoya Peninsula. There is even the possibility to get married in the middle of virgin tropical forest. The choice is up to you! My family and I chose the half-day safari trip and loved every minute of it.
There is even the possibility to get married in the middle of virgin tropical forest. The choice is up to you! My family and I chose the half-day safari trip and loved every minute of it.
Here are some other things that this great tour includes:
1. Toyota BJ40 or FJ40 Land Cruiser
2. All Safari equipment which is an Indiana Jones bag filled with binoculars, two-way radios, maps, magnifying glasses and bandanas.
3. A lead jeep with sea kayak, snorkeling equipment, footballs, frisbees, boogie boards, canvas chairs, tables, ice chests, spare parts, spare fuel, maps, tools.
4. Mechanic and guide.
5. Pre-mapped route.
It made it into my top favorite things to do in Costa Rica and will be hard to beat. As you can see it was such a great experience for me and my family that I thought it was worth writing about. I would highly recommend it for anyone who’s traveling to 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!
Posted on 30 April '10, under Tours. No Comments.
Costa Rica is a great country to visit with your family, it has tons of fun things to do. That is why this week I decided to write about 7 tours that for me are the best for families. They take place in Costa rica’s most important touristic spots and will be great to spice up your family vacations.
1. Canyoneering
This is a perfect tour for adventure seekers. The tour I’m talking about will take you rappelling down amazing waterfalls and then you get to climb up a rain forest canyon. The company that offers this great tour is called Desafio.
2. Liquid Lava Hike, The Springs Resort hot springs & dinner
In this trip the guys from Desafio take you for a hike through the rain-forest to the base of the Arenal Volcano. But it’s not just another hike along the forest you will also visit the observation point where you will wait for sunset and on clear nights you can see an amazing lava show from Arenal volcano. After that you will be taken to the natural hot springs of The Springs Resort and Spa for a relaxing dip and a delicious dinner.
3. Manuel Antonio National Park
In this trip you will be taken to Manuel Antonio National park. This is a beautiful area known for its amazing combination of rain-forest, beaches and coral reefs. The tour consists of a guided hike in the Manuel Antonio National Park through 3 miles of easy trails. This will give you the opportunity to see Costa Rica’s flora and fauna such as sloths, three species of monkeys, iguanas, and millions of land crabs.
4. Horseback Ride to San Luis Waterfall
This is yet another tour from Desafio and is considered to be the best way to visit San Luis waterfalls in Monteverde. The adventure starts when they take you to the Valley of San Luis where you will start your horseback ride which lasts about 3.5. The rest of the tour will be a hike along the river to reach the waterfall. The tour lasts a total of 5.5 hours.
5. Sky trek & Sky tram
This tour takes place in Arenal. In it you will fly through 2.5 miles of cable over the cloud forest passing by 5 observation towers where you can stop and enjoy the view. But before getting to the canopy part of the tour a Sky Tram will lead you up to the first platform in comfortable gondolas with great views. This is an exciting canopy trip that is offered by another great company called Skytrek that offers tours in Arenal and Monteverde.
6. Sunset Sail
This sailing tour takes place in Manuel Antonio and starts when you get picked up at your hotel, and head to the Quepos dock where you will board a ship and meet your guide. The tour ends when the sun sets over the horizon while you are enjoying your delicious dinner. During the tour you’ll see turtles and dolphins, but the best part is that you will get your equipment for snorkeling.
7. Rafting
This is a perfect tour for families because in it you will experience the adrenaline of level II – III river rapids. You will also have the chance to play around in tranquil river pools. There is also the possibility of choosing to go on III – IV rapids for those looking for more excitement. This tour is also offered by Desafio.
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!
Posted on 30 April '10, under Tours. No Comments.
There is so much more to do in the Arenal Volcano & La Fortuna area that a few days is just not enough! Because after you’ve done the majority of the adventure activities, a place that you can’t miss is the Cano Negro National Wildlife Refuge.
After you’ve done the majority of the adventure activities, a place not to be missed is the Cano Negro National Wildlife Refuge. From December to February you can see hundreds of migratory birds who stop here to feed. They take a stopover in this area in search of lagoons where they can eat the plants and the small fish.
Sunset Tours, Desafio and Canoa Aventura are great tour operators that offer an amazing tour by boat in this region. Whichever you choose make sure to book your tickets early. It is also a good idea to stay in a hotel with a centric location this will make it easier for the tour operator to pick you up. Normally you will be picked up early in the morning and driven through papaya farms, bananas and pineapple plantations and taken for a float.
Most of the tours offer guides that will show you everything there is to see.
Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge: The beautiful place is the 3rd biggest wetland on earth, it is abundant with plants, small fish and other wildlife. It is formed from the overflow of two rivers, the Rio Frio River and the smaller Monica River. There is plenty of water to go around until the dry season when the wet marshes dry up, staying dry until the rainy season begins again in May.
There is plenty of water to go around until the dry season when the wet marshes dry up, staying dry until the rainy season. Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge is the heart of a new UNESCO biosphere reserve named “Water And Peace.” A biosphere reserve is an area of great natural wealth. The beautiful place is the 3rd biggest wetland on earth.
Why would you want to visit it? The main reason to visit Cano Negro is because it hosts hundreds of migratory birds that gather to feast on the natural riches of this place.
Undoubtedly, this place is a bird-watchers paradise!
NOTE: Always wear comfortable clothes because it’s really hot. There are no public facilities here like hotels so it would be better not to come on your own. Don’t forget your mosquito repellent, camera and bottled water.
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!
Posted on 24 April '10, under Tours. No Comments.
Costa Rica truly is one of the top destinations to visit because of its amazing biodiversity and incredible sceneries ranging from beaches like Coyote and San Miguel to tropical forests. It offers countless options that will make you feel like one with nature
Puerto Viejo is the perfect blend of beaches and amazing surfing options. Manzanillo located 12kms away from Puerto Viejo is the ideal spot to go snorkeling. Finca La Isla Botanical Garden or the Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Gandoca are a mixture of a tropical and magnificent animal and plant species.
Finca La Isla Botanical Garden or the Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Gandoca are a mixture of a tropical and magnificent animal and plant species while San Jose has an impressive amount of museums and colonial buildings.
San Jose has an impressive amount of museums and colonial buildings. Here you can explore the eastern styled gardens, water ponds, fountains and streams of the Japanese Friendship Garden or go for a visit to the edge of the Poas Volcano’s crater located in the Poas Volcano National Park.
Adrenaline seekers can raft through 16 miles of Class III-IV rapids in the Pacuare River in San Jose, passing through waterfalls and tranquil pools. Rafting through Ro Toro, close to La Fortuna, provides wildlife, birds and monkey views. You can also see and feel the beauty of the Arenal Volcano as you hike along the tropical rain forest in front of it or you can visit the therapeutic Hot Springs.
The Palo Verde National Park is located between the Bebedero and Tempisque rivers and is the largest marshlands in Costa Rica. You can also hike through Monteverde and the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve as you see their beautiful flora and fauna.
The Tamarindo, Manuel Antonio and Quepos are a great for fishing too.
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!
Posted on 23 April '10, under Tours. No Comments.