These categories are listed on the right hand side of the home page of costaricalearn.com.

Go the the top of the home page  (across the top)  and click on the block “Buy our video”  That will take you to the 2 minute trailer of the video and also if you scroll on down you will see “buy now” where you can purchase the video by credit card or pay pal.

Regards, costaricalearn.com

Blue River in Northern Costa rica

Giant Fern Tree Costa Rica Rainforest

Are you planning to travel to Costa Rica on vacation or some other reason such as business or seeking a place to retire?  We have the perfect travel video of Costa Rica.  Filmed by Ken Creed, a veteran travel adventure videographer whose film credits include “Alaska”  “Ireland”   and  Along the Blue Ridge Mountains”  Ken was  chosen by the National Geographic Society to present his films at their  travel adventure film series at Constitutional Hall in Washington  DC.

You can view a short trailer of “Costa Rica a Travel Adventure Spectacular”  on the home page of costaricalearn.com   Go  to top of the home page and click on “buy our video.”  There you can view the short trailer of this Costa Rica travel video and also it can be purchased here

by using a credit card or pay pal.

Best time of the year to witness this is August through December when the rainy season is heaviest in that region.   The Arribada occurs at the start of the last quarter moon during the months of August through December.  One could notice hundreds of turtles gathering close to shore several days before they begin to rush upon the sandy shores to lay their eggs.  They come out of the water all at once,  onto the sandy beach,  sometimes running over one another.  They begin in the very late afternoon and  continue coming  all night, until day light.  “Quite a sight to see”!  There they dig into the sand and lay their eggs.

road map for Ostional wildlife refuge located on Pacific side Costa Rica

Where is Ostional Wildlife Refuge located and how do I get there?   It is located on the Pacific side of Costa Rica. See map.  It can be reached by 4×4 vehicle from Nosara or from San Juanillo.   This is the province of Guanacaste, in the northwestern pacific coast of Costa Rica.   Drive from Liberia International airport in northern Costa Rica  around 1 hour and a half.  Drive from San Jose around four hours.

However in a very very heavy rainfall, the beach area may not be accessible.

If you are planning a vacation to Costa Rica and want to see first hand many of the most beautiful beaches,  rain forests, and wildlife refuges to help better plan your vacation then go to the home page of costaricalearn.com   At top of page click on buy our  costa rica travel video. You can view  the 2 min trailer of the full length  58 minute video  “Costa Rica A Travel Adventure Spectacular” filmed by my husband Ken Creed whose travel adventure film credits include “Alaska” which was chosen by the National Geographic Society to be shown at  its travel adventure film series at Constitutional Hall in Washington DC.

To order this video just go to the home page of costaricalearn.com. Look to the top of the page and click on buy our video.

To read about Ken and Ann Creed who produced and filmed the video go to the home page of costaricalearn.com you will find “About Us, Ken and Ann”

Waterfall along Blue River in Costa Rica

One half of the earth’s forests have been lost in the last 300 years.  Tree’s have been cut to built houses.  Whole forest have been cut to clear for pasture lands.  And Costa Rica is no exception.

Although Costa Rica has placed 20% of its land surface under the protection of National Parks and Wildlife Reserves, still trees are being cut to clear the way for large tourism developments.  Big hotels with hundreds of room.  Especially in the NW Pacific  Guanacaste province.   This area has a lot of sunshine all year, more than any other area of Costa Rica.  Therefore, sun worshipers  flock here by the thousands especially December through March when the cold weather in North America is quiet unpleasant.

Tourists come to Costa Rica mostly to be with nature.  The mountains, oceans, rivers,  and abundant  rain forest  draw people here where they experience this tropical paradise.

What is it exactly that makes Costa Rica for appealing?  First is the climate.  Sunshine, sunshine, and more sunshine.  If you want to be in a cool place go to the mountains and if you want a warm place then go to the beach.  Everything is only a few hours by car and even faster by air.  Costa Rica has two domestic air carriers which fly to all the popular tourist destinations.

Costa Rica has an abundance of water due to the heavy rainfall from May to December.  Everywhere you see waterfalls.  And so many shades of green.

Not all the world has an abundance of water and with 6 billion people on the earth with so many not conserving water, not using it wisely  could lead to a water shortage in some parts of the world.

Do you believe that the human race’s place is in nature?   We would like to hear you comments here at costaricalearn.com

It would be a shame not only for us Ticos, but for all humanity to loose such a precious and majestic creature as the  endangered Leatherback turtle, the largest sea turtle on earth.

Largest Sea Turtle in the World, the endangered Leatherback

We as humans must respect our environment and protect it.  If not we will loose part of our history and in the process loose part of ourselves.

We humans have the capability to protect all species and to make sure they are not killed off by ridiculous  and old fashioned customs.

Let’s unite our efforts and make sure we do all we can to preserve this beautiful planet and all the treasurers on it.

Thank you Christian for these wise words.

Penalties for  driving and drinking are very stiff in Costa Rica now.  Hugh fines!!  And sometimes depending on the severity of the situation even a jail sentence.

If you happen to get a ticket do not pay the patrolman at the scene.  Even if he tells you to do it.  Take the traffic ticket back with you to the rental car company and they will assist you in settling it.

Semana Santa is Costa Rican’s favorite time to go to the beach and this year all the government employees have been given the entire week off work.  So the beaches will be flooded with people.  As well as the highways.  Expect long lines of cars to get from San Jose to the northern Guanacaste beaches.

Giant Fern Tree Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

Monteverde Costa Rica is filled with tourist from all over the world from January through March which is the time it rains less.  It is located high in the cloudy rain forest, atop the continental divide and about 110 miles from San Jose, the capital city.  The only access is by road and the road (from the Interamerican highway (highway 1) is about 26  miles (43 km) of dirt, rocks and gravel taking  over one hour to navigate.   How to get to Monteverde?  Take the Interamerican Highway north.  22 miles past the Puntarenas turnoff–on the Interamerican Highway are signs which are not easy to see so go slow and look carefully.  If you get to the Lagarto River you have gone too far.   It will be a right turn onto a dirt and gravel road  going for 26 miles winding up into the Cordillera de Tiliran mountain range until you arrive to the small town of Santa Elena (Monteverde)  Allow 4 hours drive from San Jose and do not do the drive at night.

A group of Quakers from Alabama came to settle here in the 1950s as a place free from militarism.  They supported themselves by making cheese from the milk cows they raised.  Today this cheese is famous all over Costa Rica and can be purchased in most of the local grocery stores.

The infrastructure in and around Monteverde is basic.  Many of the roads remain unpaved.  You feel very peaceful here because it does have feel over developed by large hotel chains.  The accommodations are small and many of them are locally run.  The more upscale is the Hotel Sapo Dorado, Pension Heliconia,  and Hotel Belmar.  Also you will find many smaller pension type accommodations run by the locals.

What are the big attractions here?  1.  The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve- This reserve is home to the Resplendent Quetzal, the most spectacular bird in the tropics.  It is a large bird with  long iridescent  green tail feathers.  The Mayan people of Guatemala believed the Quetzal to be the “Bird of Life” and symbolized supreme freedom.   These birds are not easy to spot and one should hire a local guide if you want to see one.

2. And of course you will find tourist attractions  such as zip line tours (Canopy Tours)  and walks over swinging bridges, butterfly farms, hummingbird gallery, snake exhibits, orchid gardens, horseback riding,  and the Quaker cheese factory tour.   You should stay a minimum of three nights to experience this place.

The weather is very cool and humid since it is in a cloud forest so you need a rain jacket and warm clothes plus very comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots.

Many restaurants are scattered around town.  And most hotels include a full breakfast in their room price.  Unique is the homemade granola made fresh daily from 100%  locally grown  ingredients. If you are there on the weekend be sure to go to the Santa Elena local farmers market where  you will find all the home grown vegetables and fruits.  Many of them are organically grown, plus you can interact with the locals.

Monteverde has some very nice art galleries, feathering beautiful work  by local artisans.    Just ask at your hotel.  This is a small community and the galleries are easy to locate.

Monteverde is also famous for the “Golden Toads” which are now believed to be extinct.  Scientist do not know why but speculate that a fungus killed them.

If you are traveling to Costa Rica and are looking for a laid back destination to experience the rain forest and unspoiled natural beauty then put Monteverde on your itinerary.  Tips: 1. Rains a lot here especially August, Sept, Oct.  Best to visit January through April when it rains less.  Also more tourist come in these months and there is more activity-restaurants etc.   2. You need a 4×4 if you are renting a vehicle to drive there.    3.  public bus goes daily to Monteverde from San Jose  and back to San Jose.

I would spend the money and hire a local guide who knows where all the birds and wildlife can be located.