Vacation Travelers Group Blog

Limon is the primary tourist centre in Costa Rica featuring a unique combination of beaches, natural resources and afro-American culture in Cahuíta, Puerto Viejo and Gandoca Manzanillo.

Limon is the primary tourist centre in Costa Rica featuring a unique combination of beaches, natural resources and afro-American culture in Cahuíta, Puerto Viejo and Gandoca Manzanillo.

Clear water, coconut palms, great surf and a laid-back Caribbean atmosphere make Puerto Viejo a favourite among travelers.

Located on the Caribbean coast, about an hour south of Limon, Puerto Viejo is the centre of activity between the smaller villages of Cahuita and Manzanillo. The relaxed, seaside town is framed by jungle, turquoise seas, banana plantations and scenic rivers.

Puerto Viejo has grown from a small fishing village to a major tourist destination and also is known for being a party town.

Avid surfers, drawn to the famous Salsa Brava waves, have made it a hotspot on the surfing circuit.

Tropical forest surrounds the village and palm trees line the beach, adding to Puerto Viejo’s natural beauty. Travellers can glimpse at spectacular wildlife in Cahuita National Park or the Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge, which border the town to its north and south, respectively.

Cahuita National Park was created to protect Costa Rica’s biggest coral reef. The main attraction of the park is its underwater world, making for fantastic snorkeling and underwater diving opportunities. The park’s white sand, palm-tree lined beaches and crystal clear blue waters are ideal for swimming. Expect to see blue parrot fish, green turtles, barracudas, manta rays, sea urchins and three species of sharks.

Some of the most beautiful beaches are found near Puerto Viejo, such as Play Chiquita, Play Negra and Play Uva. Along with that comes a variety of water activities including kayaking, parasailing, surfing, boogie boarding, snorkeling and more.

Those looking for a little adventure can try the zip-line canopy tour that offer a monkey’s-eye view of the rain forest canopy.

Beginner rafters can find ideal runs on the picturesque Sarapiqui and Saavegre Rivers, located near Puerto Viejo towards the Caribbean coast and along the Pacific coast. Regardless of skill level, these rivers promise a memorable ride with eye-opening views of jungles, forests and the thousands of species that inhabit them.

Like many other things in Costa Rica, when it comes to fishing, there is tremendous variety. The country offers one of the broadest selections of fish in the world, in addition to a multitude of locations on the Pacific and Caribbean coasts for anglers to practice the sport.

Among the biggest draws to Costa Rica are billfish, marlin and sailfish. Charters and private trips offer an appropriate excursion for all.

Puerto Viejo’s climate is unpredictable. Typically, the best times to visit are during February, March, April or August, September and October.

Costa Rica forecasts strong tourism numbers for the upcoming high season, kicking off in November.

This year, the country has already broken records with nearly 1.2 million tourists visiting Costa Rica during the first six months of 2011.

Limon is the primary tourist centre in Costa Rica featuring a unique combination of beaches, natural resources and afro-American culture in Cahuíta, Puerto Viejo and Gandoca Manzanillo.

Clear water, coconut palms, great surf and a laid-back Caribbean atmosphere make Puerto Viejo a favourite among travellers.

Located on the Caribbean coast, about an hour south of Limon, Puerto Viejo is the centre of activity between the smaller villages of Cahuita and Manzanillo. The relaxed, seaside town is framed by jungle, turquoise seas, banana plantations and scenic rivers.

Puerto Viejo has grown from a small fishing village to a major tourist destination and also is known for being a party town.

Avid surfers, drawn to the famous Salsa Brava waves, have made it a hotspot on the surfing circuit.

Tropical forest surrounds the village and palm trees line the beach, adding to Puerto Viejo’s natural beauty. Travellers can glimpse at spectacular wildlife in Cahuita National Park or the Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge, which border the town to its north and south, respectively.

Cahuita National Park was created to protect Costa Rica’s biggest coral reef. The main attraction of the park is its underwater world, making for fantastic snorkeling and underwater diving opportunities. The park’s white sand, palm-tree lined beaches and crystal clear blue waters are ideal for swimming. Expect to see blue parrot fish, green turtles, barracudas, manta rays, sea urchins and three species of sharks.

Some of the most beautiful beaches are found near Puerto Viejo, such as Play Chiquita, Play Negra and Play Uva. Along with that comes a variety of water activities including kayaking, parasailing, surfing, boogie boarding, snorkeling and more.

Those looking for a little adventure can try the zip-line canopy tour that offer a monkey’s-eye view of the rain forest canopy.

Beginner rafters can find ideal runs on the picturesque Sarapiqui and Saavegre Rivers, located near Puerto Viejo towards the Caribbean coast and along the Pacific coast. Regardless of skill level, these rivers promise a memorable ride with eye-opening views of jungles, forests and the thousands of species that inhabit them.

Like many other things in Costa Rica, when it comes to fishing, there is tremendous variety. The country offers one of the broadest selections of fish in the world, in addition to a multitude of locations on the Pacific and Caribbean coasts for anglers to practice the sport.

Among the biggest draws to Costa Rica are billfish, marlin and sailfish. Charters and private trips offer an appropriate excursion for all.

Puerto Viejo’s climate is unpredictable. Typically, the best times to visit are during February, March, April or August, September and October.

Costa Rica forecasts strong tourism numbers for the upcoming high season, kicking off in November.

This year, the country has already broken records with nearly 1.2 million tourists visiting Costa Rica during the first six months of 2011.

and a laid-back Caribbean atmosphere make Puerto Viejo a favourite among travelers.

Located on the Caribbean coast, about an hour south of Limon, Puerto Viejo is the centre of activity between the smaller villages of Cahuita and Manzanillo. The relaxed, seaside town is framed by jungle, turquoise seas, banana plantations and scenic rivers.

Puerto Viejo has grown from a small fishing village to a major tourist destination and also is known for being a party town.

Avid surfers, drawn to the famous Salsa Brava waves, have made it a hotspot on the surfing circuit.

Tropical forest surrounds the village and palm trees line the beach, adding to Puerto Viejo’s natural beauty. Travellers can glimpse at spectacular wildlife in Cahuita National Park or the Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge, which border the town to its north and south, respectively.

Cahuita National Park was created to protect Costa Rica’s biggest coral reef. The main attraction of the park is its underwater world, making for fantastic snorkeling and underwater diving opportunities. The park’s white sand, palm-tree lined beaches and crystal clear blue waters are ideal for swimming. Expect to see blue parrot fish, green turtles, barracudas, manta rays, sea urchins and three species of sharks.

Some of the most beautiful beaches are found near Puerto Viejo, such as Play Chiquita, Play Negra and Play Uva. Along with that comes a variety of water activities including kayaking, parasailing, surfing, boogie boarding, snorkeling and more.

Those looking for a little adventure can try the zip-line canopy tour that offer a monkey’s-eye view of the rain forest canopy.

Beginner rafters can find ideal runs on the picturesque Sarapiqui and Saavegre Rivers, located near Puerto Viejo towards the Caribbean coast and along the Pacific coast. Regardless of skill level, these rivers promise a memorable ride with eye-opening views of jungles, forests and the thousands of species that inhabit them.

Like many other things in Costa Rica, when it comes to fishing, there is tremendous variety. The country offers one of the broadest selections of fish in the world, in addition to a multitude of locations on the Pacific and Caribbean coasts for anglers to practice the sport.

Among the biggest draws to Costa Rica are billfish, marlin and sailfish. Charters and private trips offer an appropriate excursion for all.

Puerto Viejo’s climate is unpredictable. Typically, the best times to visit are during February, March, April or August, September and October.

Costa Rica forecasts strong tourism numbers for the upcoming high season, kicking off in November.

This year, the country has already broken records with nearly 1.2 million tourists visiting Costa Rica during the first six months of 2011.

Resource

Costa Rica lies on the east side of the Ring of Fire where four of Earth’s plates converge, creating the conditions for the formation of Andesitic type volcanoes. A flight over Costa Rica reveals a surreal, prehistoric landscape. Volcanoes stretch out like a spine over the green mountainous terrain. There are 600 active volcanoes in the world, 42 of these are in Central America. Costa Rica has 7 active and 60 dormant or extinct volcanoes.

The most famous, active volcano in Costa Rica is Arenal. A visit to the Arenal Volcano is the quintessential volcano experience. Its black conical shape rises imposingly from pristine primary rainforest. Imagine yourself rocking gently in a hammock on the porch of your private cabin, sipping a tropical drink while listening to Howler monkeys calling for the afternoon rain. As the sun sets, the smoking boulders that roll down the steep slopes of Arenal become fiery red, creating a magnificent fireworks display, compliments of Mother Nature.

In the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica you will find three active volcanoes. Rincon de La Viejo (The Corner of the Old Lady) is connected with an old legend. The Guatuso Indians of this region believed there was an old witch who lived at the top of the mountain and sent smoke out of the top when she was angry. The 34,800 acre Rincon de La Vieja National Park could be called the Yellowstone of Costa Rica with its bubbling mud pots, fumaroles, and hot springs.

Miravelles is another volcano. The geothermal activity from this volcano has been harnessed by ICE, the national power company. Tenorio volcano has 4 peaks and 2 twin craters. The Tenorio Volcano National Park is home of the Rio Celeste. Two crystal clear rivers travel down the slopes of Tenorio, when they merge into one larger river, the Rio Celeste, a chemical reaction takes place and the river turns an astonishing blue. Spots along the river have blue sulfur bubbles rising to the surface like floating globes. The Rio Celeste waterfall is the highlight of this magical place.

Around the Central Valley are the Poaz, Irazu and Turrialba Volcanoes. You can drive up to the craters of Poas and Irazu. Poaz has the second widest crater in the world, one mile in diameter. Within the smoking, bubbling cauldron a 300 foot, smoking mini-volcano has formed. Irazu is Costa Rica’s highest volcano reaching 3432 meters above sea level. On clear days, the vista reveals the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Its crater is filled with jade green sulfurous water. The Turrialba Volcano has been active since 6300 BC. Costa Rica’s most important archeological site, Guayabo National Monument, is located in the rainforest at the base of this ancient mountain. This village housed an estimated 1000 people between 1000-1400 AD. A self guided hike, winds through bird filled forests and petroglyph carved ruins.

On August 29th 2011, Forbes.com placed Costa Rica’s award winning Manuel Antonio National Park in its top twelve of the most beautiful national parks in the world. Located on the stunning Central Pacific Costa Rica’s smallest national park is the most visited by international tourists, drawn to the delights of this beautiful area. A combination of white sandy beaches, rainforest, vibrant flora and fauna, an abundance of eco adventure tours, as well as exclusive Escape Villas Costa Rica vacation home rentals has ensured that Manuel Antonio tops many lists as a dream beach and sun vacation destination.

Out of a total of 7000 national parks around the world, Manuel Antonio has been awarded this prestigious accolade shared with Mount Fiji and the Serengeti National Park. Jane Levere, contributor for Forbes.com, praised Manuel Antonio National Park, “Thanks to its dazzling variety of sights: tropical rainforest, beaches and rocky headlands. Wildlife–including sloths, iguanas and squirrel monkeys–is abundant in the rainforest. Sports enthusiasts can indulge in everything from snorkeling and sea kayaking to horseback riding.”

In the next three years, the Conservation Area for the Central Pacific (ACOPAC) will make improvements to Manuel Antonio National Park’s accessibility and its facilities. Due to Costa Rica’s sustainable tourism policy, visitation to Manuel Antonio National Park is controlled to 1000 visitors a day. Government officials are quick to point out that these improvements will only serve to enhance visitors’ experience, since restricted visitation prevents them from attracting more tourists in a single day.

Costa Rica National Park Most Visited By International Tourists

In the first 6 months of 2011, Manuel Antonio National Park received 155,820 visitors. Of that, 72.3%, a total of 112,679 were international tourists. It is evident that the park, with it’s continued efforts in improving the experience of it’s guests, consistently draws and pleases the international tourist crowd visiting Costa Rica. It is interesting to note that Manuel Antonio was also awarded the top beach and sun vacation destination via a tourism survey on TripAdvisor.com in 2010—this is clear indication that this particular region of Costa Rica is a true destination within Costa Rica.

Improvements to Enhance Manuel Antonio National Park Visitor Experience

“We are not interested in increasing visitation to Manuel Antonio National Park, we want to enhance visitor experience,” explained Carlos Vinicio Cordero Valverde, Regional Director, ACOPAC, SINAC-MINAET, as he discussed the future improvements to the award-winning National Park. Finances received from a Climate Change and Rainforest Conservation fund will support future improvements, which will include a suspended footpath, a visitors’ center, disability access, new trails, additional training for park rangers, and a museum, among other facility updates. Some of these improvements will be implemented in time for Manuel Antonio National Park’s 40th anniversary, which will take place in November 2012.

Manuel Antonio National Park continues to hit the headlines for its success as one of Costa Rica’s most popular beach and sun vacation destinations.

Costa Rica Vacation Rentals in Manuel Antonio

We just learned about the top places in Costa Rica that make the most sense for expats to live, to rent, buy real estate, become part of a community and have access to all the amenities that make life comfortable and enjoyable (at International Living’s Live and Invest in Costa Rica Seminar 2011, taking place in San Jose).

This has been such an eventful day with so much information shared…that despite an incredible desire to go out in the Costa Rican sunshine…no one could tear themselves away from this conference.

Here’s something you may be interested in—an area along the country’s Caribbean coast that’s just been designated for an $11 billion investment. Looking for opportunity? You’ll find it here, says international real estate expert Margaret Summerfield. In this new destination—that Margaret told us all about—Disney is now running wildlife tours…and new boutique hotels and eco-lodges are being built.

Want to live in a lush Pacific Coast region where you can buy a lot overlooking the Pacific or in the jungle a stone’s throw from the beach? We learned where to find the best deals.

We also discovered:

• Where to find a $19,000 lot on a lush hillside with a view of a gorgeous big blue lake…

• 35 acres with waterfalls and lush bromeliads for $130,000…

• Where to rent an upscale, fully furnished apartment within walking distance of modern luxury malls and hospitals—for just $475/month…

Of course, you can, too.

Everything You Need to Know About Renting in Costa Rica

Rent before you buy. That’s our mantra here at IL, and we had an entire session today on rental properties. Local expert Hannah Rico Fletcher explained what you need to know if you’re going to rent a home or apartment in Costa Rica and what you need to know if you’re going to be an absentee owner and rent your property when you’re not here. The laws are a little different so you need to be sure to understand your rights and obligations.

A good portion of today’s discussions were about real estate. And nope, no one was trying to sell anything. This morning’s speakers were explaining how to go about properly and safely buying property in Costa Rica—where, what, how much, and how.

(By the way, despite what you might think based on current economic conditions, investment advisor Barry Potekin recommends that in today’s murky financial environment, “the best thing is to own stuff…not paper or currencies, but real estate, cars, gold…stuff.”)

And thankfully, with all the ways we discovered to make (and save) money today, international tax expert Nick Hodges explained what to do to keep ourselves out of trouble with the tax man.

“I teach avoidance rather than evasion,” he said. “Evasion gets you free room and board. I can help you avoid paying taxes. ” And explain how, he did.

Also on the financial train, Jeff Schneider shared how to use your IRA to buy international property—and importantly, how to use it to make money tax-free!

As I mentioned, we talked a lot about real estate today. Margaret Summerfield took the stage three times—first to offer up an insider’s overview of the Costa Rica real estate market (including the many places to get bargain-priced opportunities right now) and then to share her hard-earned tips and strategies for protecting your real estate investment.

Margaret has been living and working in Latin America for years now…and she’s been keeping her eagle… see and read more

resource- We Love Costa Rica, by Cassidy Scheer

At the northern tip of the Osa Peninsula lies the Sierpe-Terraba Humedal. At over 68,000 acres in size, this mangrove and wetlands preserve has great ecological and recreational value.

Along it’s southern limit flows the mighty Sierpe River. The Sierpe is unique in Costa Rica as it is the only river that is fully navigable from it’s source all the way through it’s mouth into the Pacific Ocean in all tides, 365 days a year, by boats of all sizes.

Like large rivers across the world, it undergoes a serious transformation in look and character as it flows from its headwaters in the Sierpe Lagoon towards the Pacific Ocean. Fortunately for visitors and residents, all areas of the Sierpe River offer a variety of adventure oriented aquatic activities.

The quaint, friendly, little town of Sierpe is the unofficial border between the upper and lower river and offers easy access to both.

The majority of the lower river is characterized by wide channels, sandbars, and shallow banks covered with 5 types of large, mature mangrove trees. The tidal influences are greatest here with changes in water level up to 12 feet occurring at certain times of the year.

The river here “snakes” quite severely – hence it’s name “Sierpe” which means “to move in a serpentine fashion” in Spanish. The water – because it is closer to the ocean – is high in salinity, nutrient load, and life. Numerous bird species specially adapted to life in the mangroves can be spotted here.

It is the lower river that is most often shown in photographs and used for tourist activities. It is the gateway to the ocean and has lots of recreational value. On either side of the mouth are fine examples of Osa Peninsula beaches at their most pristine and private.

Uncommon is the day that you’ll be sharing them with any other human beings. Scarlet Macaws, toucans, and green parrots are frequent visitors however.

Enjoying these beaches is as easy as beaching your boat in the small inlets on either side of the river and adjusting your anchor every hour or so to compensate for tidal movement. This is also a great spot for surfing. Both right and left breaking waves occur in several areas. Just like the beaches here, these waves will usually belong to you and you alone.

Another favored activity in the lower river is fishing. A variety of species inhabit the lower river with red snapper, snook, corvina, and goliath grouper being the most popular with anglers because of their sporting and culinary qualities. Rare is the occasion that a knowledgeable fisherman doesn’t return home with some fresh fish fillets for dinner.

Finally, the lower river is a great place to go wake-boarding, paddle-boarding, or kayaking. The wide, deep coves of the lower river offer calm, glass-like conditions in which… read more

New research may just take the sting out of mosquito bites. Scientists say the insects can help determine if river water is clean enough for humans to drink. After months of research, scientists in Costa Rica found that mosquitoes from the Dixa Midge family are purists when it comes to their water supply. They can only survive in unpolluted waters that contain high oxygen levels – a sign that bacteria levels in water are low. Luis Guillermo Chaverri is a researcher from the National Biodiversity Institute of Costa Rica (INBio).

“It’s a species that can help us to determine the quality of the water, without chemical analysis. It’s a first approach to knowing the quality of the water.” Chaverri says that if pollution from chemical residues or waste is present in the water, oxygen levels are low – and mosquitoes and their larvae can not survive.

“If the river is polluted, two things happen, firstly the mosquito will become infected with chemical substances. The mosquito will get poisoned and secondly, with contaminated water, oxygen levels are very low so the mosquito will find it tough to breathe.”

Researchers plan to teach locals living around the River Torres how to use the bugs to identify clean drinking water.

The dixa midge is commonly found near rivers and could help communities all over the world.

Mead Brown Costa Rica is now offering a hands-on experience at the turtle refuge known as Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre on Playa Hermosa, 10 minutes south of Jaco Beach and Los Suenos Ocean and Golf Resort. Guests will retrieve just-buried turtle eggs from the beach, count and then re-bury them within the refuge where they’ll be protected until they hatch. One-hundred percent of the proceeds will be donated to the refuge to build bathrooms, shower and changing facilities for volunteers and staff. This is one of many Costa Rica vacation adventures offered by Mead Brown.

July-December are the months when turtle eggs are laid, incubated and hatched on Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast. During that time, 138,000 eggs from 1,400 nests are buried on Playa Hermosa and reburied at the refuge. Of those, about 128,000 hatch and make their way to the Pacific Ocean. The Pacific Black, Olive Ridley and Hawksbill species of sea turtles all nest on the Central Pacific Coast.

Read more

Beginning November 2011, Germany will have a direct air link to Costa Rica’s most popular tourism area bringing with it revenues from European tourists. The initial program will be modest, as Air Berlin launches a twice-monthly flight between Dusseldorf and Liberia. On the other hand, this is the first direct connection between Liberia and a European city making travel much more easy and convenient.

Condor currently connects Frankfurt and San José. Meanwhile, Liberia has the advantage of being in Guanacaste and less than an hour by road from many of Costa Rica’s most popular tourism destinations on the Pacific coast, ranging from tropical beaches to national parks in nearby mountains.

The strong euro means more Europeans are able to travel to destinations, such as Costa Rica. Although most of Europe continues to struggle with the financial crisis it is expected that by end of the year, tourism for Costa Rica will pick up significantly compared to previous years.

Many tourists from Europe as well as the Americas will be searching for Top Deals on All Inclusive Holidays. Packages are available at very affordable rates right now due to the current lull in tourism. Costa Rica expects to see a spike in tourists coming in for vacation starting in this year’s high season, which should boost the economy and also the prices on these vacation packages. It’s advisable to go ahead and book your vacation now to lock in the lower rates.

Central Arkansas Christian group that toured Costa Rica

Athletic director Doug Killgore said soccer coach and Spanish teacher Fabian Mina organizes a trip to a Hispanic country every year. Last year’s destination was Spain; 2011 marked another trip to Central America’s Costa Rica.

While it wasn’t a mission trip per se, the CAC students as well as their travel mates from an Alaskan middle school on the EF Educational Tour of Costa Rica’s Coast to Coast tour ‘participated in life-changing cultural exchanges.

“It definitely makes us more appreciative of what we have,” said April Terry, the Lady Mustangs’ recently graduated all-state shot putter. “We always try to be very outreaching, helping the community. It really makes you humble, so thankful for what you have. Definitely, going down and seeing how simplistic they live, it makes you a more well-rounded person. You can learn to live without a lot of the things you have.”

She said her room at home was about as big as some of the schools they saw. That kind of eye-opening experience, as well as exposure to other people and cultures, are happy byproducts of such a trip, Killgore said.

“The biggest thing is to find out America is not the only place in the world, and we certainly don’t have a lock on solving all the problems,” he said. “Their people were very friendly, warm, accessible and cooperative as we tried to communicate.

“It’s good for our students to expand their horizons. Some of them had traveled quite a bit before, and some were on their first plane trip. We had all levels of travelers.”

This was Killgore’s first time on one of Mina’s trips. The group also included Killgore’s wife, Sheila, who teaches earth science and biology at CAC, as well as students David Bedinghaus, Chris Bolton, Jared Bryan, Justin Burns, Ali Caspary, Michaela Faith, Hayley Henley, Freddie Hicks, Weston Parks, Colby Richburg, Shelby Richburg, Brant Roberts, Brittany Scheuerman, Maddy Shirley, Dylan Sherrill, Laverta Straham, Peyton Templeton and Terry.

“It was a natural kind of trip. It didn’t involve a whole lot of buildings and cathedrals and museums,” Killgore said.

The group flew into Costa Rica’s capital, San Jose, then traveled from the Caribbean coast and across to the Pacific coast villages of Playa Hermosa and Playa del Coco and then to Liberia, the country’s second-largest city, for the flight home.

Highlights of the trip included visiting rain forests, volcanic mountains, wetlands, banana, pineapple and coconut plantations and packing plants.

“I was impressed with how ecologically sensitive Costa Rica is,” Killgore said. “One-third of the land is in national parks or preserves; alternate energy production abounds using hydroelectric and wind farm means. Recycling bins for aluminum, glass and plastic were quite literally everywhere.”

The group, led by a local science teacher, Heidy Villalobos, went on hikes in the rain forest; took boat trips into the swamps where they saw birds, reptiles, monkeys and crocodiles; zip lined through the rain forest and went kayaking on a large reservoir.

“One of the most amazing things to me was we were kayaking on this reservoir and stopped to look and could see absolutely nothing developed — no roads, no telephone poles, no civilization at all, and when you looked in the other direction, we were right at the foot of an active volcano,” Killgore said. “We’d just sit there and be amazed.”

On the Pacific Coast, they went snorkeling on a reef discovery excursion, where they saw a wide variety of reef fish, urchin colonies, moray eels and rays. They also did some work with local elementary schools, taking pencils, crayons and tablets to share with the children.

“But the big hit was Fabian brought a couple of soccer balls,” Killgore said. “We interacted with some of their kids, and before we knew it, they were all mixing and playing.”

On the school’s website, Killgore wrote that, “The food was varied, tasty and nutritious even if regularly presented with rice and black beans.”

Terry, at least, loved the rice and beans.

“When I got home right after we left the airport, my mom took me out to eat and the first thing I wanted was fruit juice, but it’s different here,” she said. “All of theirs was fresh-squeezed juice where you could see the pulp. That’s one thing I miss about it so much. Everyone else got sick of it, but I loved the rice and beans.”

She and a couple of fellow recent grads, Bedinghaus and Straham, along with a chaperone, took a sea turtle walk on the beach.

“They have really big sea turtles, and there’s a huge movement to save them because years ago they’d hunt them and kill them for different things, like turtle soup and tourist things, and they’re going to become extinct if those kinds of activities keep going,” Terry said. “They’re really big on taking care of the sea turtles.

“It was pitch black, dark as night on the beach, kind of scary, but we knew we had a chance to see a sea turtle hatching eggs. It’s really rare to see one of the turtles hatch their eggs, and we walked for 2 1-2 miles down the beach, but we did get to see one. It was awesome, just amazing. I was so excited.

“I love Costa Rica. It’s definitely on my bucket list to go back.”