The United Fruit Company discovered a number of unusual stone spheres while excavating fields in the Osa Peninsula during the 1930s. Now almost 500 spheres have been documented, ranging from the size of a baseball to some ranging over sixteen tons.  Nearly all of the spheres are made of the igneous rock- granodiorite  The quarry for the granodiorite was over fifty miles from where the spheres were actually discovered. The balls were most likely made by the ancestors of the indigenous people of the area between

the period of 200 BC and AD 800.  Made entirely by hand, the spheres are remarkably accurate in their dimensions. There were never any unfinished spheres found.  Now the mystical spheres grace the grounds of many Costa Rican official buildings, as well as acting as lawn ornaments all over the country. There is a considerable effort to preserve these national treasures.

Nearly all have been moved from their original locations and many were destroyed when the rumor of secret treasure was circulated during the 1940s.  There are many unanswered questions regarding the spherical stones- why and how they were made, what they symbolize, and how they were transported so far from the quarry area- no one may ever know the answer to any of these questions, but they add to the rich anthropological history of Costa Rica.

The Hampton Inn is perfect and reliable. The people are nice and the place is clean. A+ all the way around for that place.  The next day we were picked up by Frank Chicas. That guy is good!! He also drove us from Puerto Viejo to San Jose and from the Hampton Inn to the airport the last day.  He gets you wherever you’re going in the least amount of time without ever scaring the hell out of you. I’m sure it’s hard to do both! He pays attention to his driving but he is also attentive and friendly to the passengers. That guy could drive us anywhere!! I’m not sure how or how much he gets paid but we tipped him well. He really seemed to appreciate it.

The Nature Air flight was perfect. I would fly them again. It was a no hassle check in, the Twin Otter is an awesome bird and the flight was quite enjoyable. We could have done without the long and obligatory stop in Sierpe on the way to Drake Bay. It might just have been because the Drake boat was broken down and they had to get someone else.

The Drake Bay resort is nice. We were about the only ones there. Herbert is a cool old dude and his wife and the rest of the staff is very nice too. The rooms were clean, the food was good and the tours offered were very reasonable, if not included. It’s a bit treacherous getting up their “dock”, but I guess there is nothing they can do about that. Victor, the boat driver, is a top notch boatman and very good fisherman as well. If you have anyone who wants to fish there, send them to Victor. (he is on staff at the resort) We fished in some seas that I never dreamt possible. Since we were wet all the time, the FREE laundry and boot drying service was very nice. We look forward to staying there again.

The rafting trip was fun and the crew from Exploradores is fantastic. They wear so many hats and do it quite well. They have fun joking with each other and the customers and really make it an enjoyable experience. The beach lunch they made for us atop one of the rafts was excellent. I would do that again with that group for sure. They were also very safety conscious and we never felt in danger. Their transportation/drivers were very good too.

Also while in Puerto Viejo, we went fishing on the Geronimo with a French guy who owns the boat. He isn’t much of a fisherman but we did see some Dolphins and his boat is nice. I’m not sure that I’d go back to PV other than to visit “my” sloth but Mike and Rich seemed to have a good time on rented bicycles, stopping at the chocolate places, then swimming off the calories (yeah, right). They said the National Park in Cahuita was somewhat underwhelming and that the trails were closed.

Sue Kempf(Oct 6-18,2008)

Yesterday afternoon I drove north from Playa Hermosa to the Hilton Papagayo and from the first moment I was greeted with excellent service and have been amazed by this spectacular hotel.  I had visited this hotel several years ago, when it was known as the Fiesta Primier, but the recent remodelations have made this place world class.  I came here for the Guanacaste Marketplace, an event that takes place once a year to promote one of Costa Rica’s most popular tourist destination - the northern Pacific beaches of Guanacaste.  I checked into room 204, a bungalow with fantastic ocean views.  Everything has changed since my last visit, the amenities, the furniture and the Hilton’s emphasis on service is clearly evident.

The hotel is undergoing more changes, as of December 1st it converts from an all-inclusive resort to a “pay as you go” meal plan.  So believe me, I’m taking advantage of the food and drinks - as I will be one of the last to visit the Hilton Papagayo as an all-inclusive resort.   There’s live music here every night and yesterday the group of travel agents who are here taking part in the Guanacaste Marketplace all spent a few hours listen to the show, talking and sharing experiences under the stars.

I just took a tour of the resort with the Director of Marketing for the Hotel and I loved seeing the entire property.  Most of the resorts 100+ rooms are bungalow style, which I think provides guests with a high level of comfort and privacy.  The bungalows are surrounded by beautiful gardens, many have ocean views and as you drive through the property on a golf cart you get the feeling that you are in a small village - with all your cares and troubles miles away!  We then visit the hotel’s “Ocean View” room, which are located at the highest point on the hotel property.  Although personally I like the feel of the bungalows better, there is no denying that the view from the Ocean View rooms is one of the best of the Papagayo Gulf that I have seen.  Finally we visited the Hotel’s Junior Suites, and as soon as we walked into the room my jaw quickly dropped - incredible!  These rooms are larger, have a separate seating area, offer some of the best views on the property and have a private plunge pool on the terrace.  Truly luxurious and perfect for a honeymoon or romantic getaway.

The Spa Vida is incredible, located on a separate section of the hotel in front of another pool which is adults only - so it’s much quieter and private area.  The open air, ocean view massage rooms are fantastic and the prices are quiet reasonable.  One of their most popular treatments is called the “Ancestral Massage”, where warm volcanic stones are placed on your body - I’ve heard it’s very relaxing and am contemplating setting up one for myself this afternoon.  The modern gym, restaurants, pools, beach areas make this place a truly relaxing getaway.  So no more blogging for me, I’m off to enjoy!

Yesterday was so beautiful out that we decided to drive up to the Volcano at Irazu.  Located only 45 km from San Jose, it was just the right distance to travel.  The ride up to the volcano was amazing!  The views were spectacular and it was such a treat to see the real Costa Rica- the small villages, the dense, tropical landscape and the friendly people with their roadside stands.

It was such an amazing drive up to Irazu!  So very beautiful- the clouds floated above the forest and the temperature dropped about 15 degrees from the city.  There was almost no traffic and it was an easy drive- the roads were good all of the way up.  Every turn provided a new vista with an even more breathtaking view of the lush forest and fields or the beautiful city of Cartago.  The side of the road had dense foliage of large “elephant ear” type plants and tall pine trees.

Local farmers had set up on the roadside selling potatoes, onions, calla lilies, goat cheese and a variety of locally produced products.  We finally arrived at the entrance to Irazu and paid the entry fee- $10 for non residents and drove up to the parking lot and were instantly greeted by a group of friendly Pizote, also called the Coati which is a raccoon like animal.  They amused all of the visitors with their antics and were very friendly.  The Coati looks just like a raccoon except has a

longer snout and is longer and thinner than the animals that I am familiar with. They were enjoying the crowds and rummaging through the trash cans. The volcano was awesome!  It was hard to imagine the force that was required to create such an enormous hole.  Though chilly at the summit, it was invigorating to walk up to the edge of the volcano and peer down to the small lake at the bottom- yellow/green with sulfur.  This active volcano is the tallest in Costa Rica at nearly 3500 meters and provides amazing views.
The name Irazu comes from the local Indian village Istaru, which meant hill of trembling and thunder, which we were grateful wasn’t the case while we were there!  The whole area had an only moonscape feel to it- large “beaches” of a fine, black dusty sand and scarred rock walls where the blast ripped out the center of the mountain.

This was definitely a great day trip if you have part of the day to kill while you are in San Jose.  Close to the city and a beautiful drive- well worth the time!

Here you will be able to see the Irazu PHOTO GALLERY

Did you know that the national flower of Costa Rica is the “Guaria Morada” (Cattleya skinneri ), an orchid, and was designated the National Flower of Costa Rica on June 15, 1939?

The Guaria Morada grows on trees, roofs, and buildings. It gets nutrients from the air, rain, dust, and residues stored on the trunk of trees. These plants use trees as a means of support, but they are not parasites.

The orchid’ flowers are large with fantastic shapes, amazing colors, and enchanting fragrances.

The Guaria Morada has always been in Costa Rican homes for centuries. The “campesinos” cherish the flower for its beauty and they associate it with the beauty of Costa Rican women. It has given Costa Rican people an aesthetic sense for appreciating nature and pursuing its beauty for generations.

According to Costa Rican tradition, the Guaria Morada brings its owners fortune and good luck. It brings union and family harmony.  It is also believed to evoke peace and love as well as hope for the future. Its flower does not have a special fragrance.

The most beautiful and numerous orchids are grown in tropical countries. They are an essential part of tradition and folklore. There are nearly 15,000 species around the world, one of the plants with the largest variety in the world.

Jason adds:For orchid lovers,  The 28th Annual Orchid Show is taking place in Alajuela Costa Rica, October  1st-November 2nd, 2008.   The Orchid Show in Costa Rica is a much anticipated event for flower lovers. Costa Rica has over fifteen hundred varieties of orchids. The show raises awareness about this beautiful
plant and some of it’s endangered species such as Cattleya dowiana (Guaria Turrialba), Peristeria elata (Espíritu Santo) Psychopsis krameriana (Mariposa), Trichopilia suavis and Guarianthe skinneri (Guaria Morada - the Costa Rican national flower).  The event is held by the Alajuela Orchid Association.

Nature Air issued an article recently about how they were becoming the first airline to become carbon neutral.  Immediately you wonder how an airline- one that uses fuel- could do such a thing, but through their concerted effort at increasing fuel efficiency in their fleet, as well as their participation in a number of carbon offsetting initiatives, Nature Air has done what I thought was impossible!  Our hats are off to Nature Air- what an amazing achievement! if you want to learn how they calculate this number you can check it out here

Also we have more information on Flights and Nature air in out Costa Rica Flights section, with more about the carbon neutral initiative.

So, I arrived in Costa Rica last night and was instantly confused about money- should I convert some to colones or will my dollars be just fine?  It turns out that my dollars work just great, but there is a catch.  Your dollars need to be in near perfect condition to be accepted everywhere- the larger the bill, the more perfect it needs to be- I tried to pay for groceries this morning and only had a $100 bill- it had a minuscule rip in it- on the corner, but was otherwise in excellent condition and it was rejected.

My second bill – also a $100- looked perfect, but still went through significant scrutiny- several mangers were called in to consult on its validity and it added about 15 minutes to my shopping.  Eventually it passed muster, but it was time consuming. Still I would advise you to change at least some money, less than $50, to be able to pay for the small things. If you want to find out the current exchange rate, you can see it at the Banco Central de Costa Rica.(the page is in spanish)

The money system in Costa Rica is not that confusing, so you shouldn’t be too worried about trying to figure it out.  A quick reference point is that everything is in a multiple of five.  500 colones are approximately one dollar- a 5000 colones note=approximately $10.  The exchange rate may go up or down, but it won’t make that much difference in everyday purchases.

The different bills are brightly colored and have lots of interesting pictures pertaining to Costa Rican culture and history.  Besides you will feel much wealthier when you realize your $100 is worth an astounding ₡55,000 colones!

It is confirmed, the Billabong 2009 World Surfing Games are going to be in Costa Rica. That is what the ISA (International Surf Association) confirm.

The dates will be July 31st to August 9th 2009. Those dates have a reason to be, and it is because it’s the best time of the year for surfing ,and the tides will give the opportunity to have more then one surf session by day.The location will be in Playa Hermosa from Jaco Beach, In front of Terrazas del Pacifico Hotel, which have the best spot for surfing in Hermosa Beach.

With these championship Costa Rica shows that have a world surfing class because it was chosen against Countries like Brazil and other from South America with a huge surfing level.

We  will have  an incredible amount of world class surfers coming from 40 different countries just to ride our beautiful waves.

The Opening for the championship will start with a parade with all the  nations participating, It will be in the principal avenue of Jaco Beach. After that we will start the “Sands of the world”, act which every country bring sand from all over the world. And then just enjoy the beautiful surfing!!!

At the end we will close the streets off jaco and have a huge party with live music and DJ’s from all over the world.

So If you are a surfer, don’t miss this incredible oportunity and come down to Costa Rica for the 2009 World Surf Games!

It’s a beautiful place surrounded by nature in front of the beach. The hotel staff was really nice with us, they had great service and the food in the restaurant was awesome. It is the perfect place to visit if you are looking for nature and enjoy the beach without many people around you.

I stayed in a very nice standard room close to the pool and the restaurant. The rooms are very comfortable equipped with TV, air conditioning, minibar, amenities and each deluxe room has a small private Jacuzzi. There are also suites fully equipped with kitchen and 2 rooms.

Bahia del Sol hotel is located in a small peaceful beach named Potrero. Our visit took place around Independence Day so there were costarican typical parties in town due to the holiday. It was a lot of fun.The hotel also is very near to other beaches such as Flamingo, a beautiful white sand beach, which is one of my favorites beaches because the sea is crystal clear. A few minutes away is Playa Grande and Tamarindo two beaches famous for surfing.

Personally, I would recommend this hotel is the perfect place to visit if you are looking for a comfy place to stay, relax and enjoy the beach
PHOTO GALLERY

Just outside of Cartago, you’ll find the beautiful Orosi Valley.  This is truly one of Costa Rica’s hidden gems and for me it is one of my favorite day trips from San José.  Spend the day driving around the lake and take inthe incredible scenery of lush hillsides covered with coffee plantations andthe Costa Rican countryside.

Make a stop at the “Casa del Sonador” or “House of the Dreamer” where you’ll be able to pick up some unique and original Costa Rican artwork and have a chance to see local artisans at work.  This simple two story wooden building is a piece of artwork by itself and is filled by the sounds of a river rushing by, the wind through the pines and the sculptors carving away at their handicrafts.  This is where Macedonio Quesada, a famous sculptor and artist lived and worked until he passed away in 1995.  Now his sons carry on the tradition, bringing life to pieces of coffee roots and wood from the area.  If you’re looking for something truly unique, hand made by Costa Rican artisans - then this is literally the house of dreams for you!

Make a weekend out of exploring the Orosi valley, spending a night at the
Rancho Rio Perlas , a peaceful and welcoming mountain resort and spa.

Here is the PHOTO GALLERY of this experience.