TROPICAL BEACH WEDDING DESTINATION

There’s nothing more romantic than a sunset glistening over the ocean viewed from a glorious beach. It stands to reason then, that a location that inspires people to fall in love is the perfect place to say their vows.

Manuel Antonio is growing in popularity as a wedding destination for couples around the world attracted by the natural beauty and easy going style of Costa Rica. The majestic Pacific Ocean, waterfalls, wide sandy beaches and the cool canopy of the rainforest provide breathtaking scenic possibilities to create spectacular photographs to treasure for a lifetime. Read More…

Filed under: Costa Rica on August 29th, 2015 Comments Off on How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count The Waves

A Tingo is a gringo who moved to Costa Rica and embraced the Tico “Pura Vida” lifestyle. It didn’t happen suddenly but subtle changes began to add up and before they knew it they were laughing at things that used to piss them off.

You Know You’re a Tingo When…

“You realize mañana doesn’t mean tomorrow – it just means not today.” – Bill Briggs

“You realize you’ve begun to point with your lips.” – Letty Anderson

“You call everyone ‘mi amor’ or ‘cielito.’” – Yahoo Costa Rica Living Group

“Your standard greeting is a courteous, ‘Buenos dias! Como esta?’ instead of a hurried statement of what you came to buy from the clerk in the store.” – Rob Rowntree

“You know how to say it in Spanish but forget how to say it in English.” – Yahoo Costa Rica Living Group

“You see the only parking spot for miles, so you cross the double yellow lines, dodge the oncoming traffic and go for it.” – Letty Anderson

“You stop in the middle of the road to chat with a friend and no one honks their horn because you’re blocking traffic.” – Mike Preston

“You calmly accept if someone passes you on a blind curve or cuts ahead in a queue.” – Yahoo Costa Rica Living Group

“You see a car with its back-up lights on slowly backing out of a parking space, and you walk behind it anyway.” –  Rob Rowntree

“You learn to drive around dogs laying in the middle of the road instead of honking your horn and screaming at them.” – Susie Krasberg

This post is an excerpt from Chapter 5 of Evelyn’s book, COSTA RICA TRAVEL GUIDE: Best of Margaritaville 2015, Quepos & Manuel Antonio available for purchase on Amazon here.

Filed under: Costa Rica on August 27th, 2015 Comments Off on The Tingo Trail

If you’re heading for a vacation rental home near Manuel Antonio National Park in Costa Rica, you’re in for an incredible nature adventure. In addition to iguanas, toucans, coatimundis and more, there are 3 species of monkeys indigenous to the park

Manuel Antonio National Park

When the park boundaries were established in 1972 no one bothered to tell the Howler, Red-backed squirrel and Capuchin monkeys, so they continued to follow their established foraging routes beyond the park limits. Not all but many of Manuel Antonio’s vacation rental homes are located within these natural foraging routes known locally as the “Monkey Corridor.” However, staying in one of these vacation rental homes carries with it a big responsibility. It may seem cute, funny or thrilling to hand feed the monkeys, yet it’s extremely damaging to them in many ways.

1. Because humans and monkeys are related primates, monkeys are highly susceptible to human bacteria and diseases, especially when transferred by hand feeding. You don’t even have to be sick to communicate a disease for which monkeys have no immunity.
2. Feeding monkeys makes them more aggressive toward humans as they grow to view humans as a source of food. In one instance two tourist women were trying to enter the gate of their vacation rental home with a bag of souvenirs. A capuchin monkey mistook the contents of the bag for food. He stood on the gate repeatedly snatching at the bag denying them entrance to the property for several minutes. This is not a common occurrence – yet.
3. Feeding the monkeys makes them dependent upon humans and reduces their chance of survival in the wild. As more monkeys view humans as a source of food their behavior will evolve, their routes will change, and they will seek out humans for “fast food meals.”

So, not only weren’t the monkeys told about the change in the park boundaries, they weren’t informed being fed by humans is bad for them. The monkeys don’t know any better but now you do. Be a responsible primate and please don’t feed the monkeys. Stay tuned for Part 2.

Filed under: Costa Rica on August 22nd, 2015 Comments Off on 3 Catastrophic Consequences When Tourists in Costa Rica Feed the Monkeys

The Woman Who Redefined Man

“It gives me hope to come to places like this,” Dr. Jane Goodall said to the standing room only crowd at the recent grand opening of the Osa Field Institute. OFI is a field school where students, faculty, tourists and life long learners can team up to experience Costa Rica and conduct research together in the heart of a primary rain forest.

Read More…

Filed under: Costa Rica on May 27th, 2015 Comments Off on Jane Goodall at the Osa Field Institute