Located in the central pacific region of Costa Rica, this unique property is nestled against the rain forest & minutes from internationally renowned beaches, nearby resorts offering world class fishing, fine dining, golf and luxurious spa & shopping.

Your home is in a gated community with full-time security/maintenance. Includes all appliances, a/c, 2 bedrooms & 2 bathrooms. Extra storage space gives you the ability to leave your hobby equipment, such as fishing, surf and golf, in a secure location making travel more efficient without the pricey additional baggage fees that airlines now charge.

Both beaches are located in a 750 acre private biological preserve containing an array of plant and wildlife species. They are drawn together at a rocky point better known as Punta Leona which fully compliments the scenic beauty of this coastal area.  Playa Blanca or “White Beach” is Costa Rica’s top-ranked beach and is located at Hotel Punta Leona on the Central Pacific coast.  Playa Blanca is a spectacular 3/4 mile white sand beach, it is no wonder this beach received four blue flags as well as four consecutive “A” ratings for outstanding water quality and safe waters.

It is what you envision when you think of a tropical beach; blue water, gentle waves lapping on the white sand, palm trees jutting out over the sand, and a gentle ocean breeze.

These beaches are ideal for safe swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing, fishing and scenic walks.  That’s why the Costa Rican Government recognizes Playa Blanca as the finest beach in Costa Rica.  The beaches received their hollywood debut during the filming of the Christopher Columbus movie  ”1492 Conquest of Paradise”  which was released in 1992 on the 500th anniversary of Columbus’s arrival.

Carara National Park is a crucial sanctuary for wildlife in the increasingly developed Pacific Zone. The park is distinctive in that it encompasses both the wet rainforest of the southern Pacific and the dry tropical forest of the northwest. Located in this unique transition zone, Carara National Park hosts flora and fauna that you might see in both the Osa Peninsula and Guanacaste Province.

Toucans, anteaters, agoutis, sloths, wild pigs and white-faced monkeys inhabit its varying ecosystems. Carara is also home to nearly 450 scarlet macaws, and is one of the country’s best areas to view these flamboyant birds. Every year between December and April, visitors can observe scarlet macaws nesting in empty tree cavities throughout the park.

The reserve’s landscape includes primary and secondary rainforests, a lagoon, and marshlands formed by the seasonal flooding of the Tarcoles River. Celebrated for its population of more than 2000 American crocodiles, the Tarcoles River flows from the Nicoya Peninsula into the Pacific Ocean and forms the northern border of Carara National Park. Also known as the Rio Grande de Tarcoles, it is one of Costa Rica’s largest rivers, and is an important watershed for much of the Central Valley.

The Tarcoles boasts one of the planet’s biggest populations of American crocodiles, with an average of 25 crocs per square kilometer. The term Carara is actually an indigenous word meaning “river of crocodiles”. These prehistoric reptiles can measure more than 12 feet from snout to tail and are a common sight on boat tours. If traveling from San Jose or Puntarenas, be sure to stop at the Tarcoles River Bridge where you can often see more than a dozen massive crocodiles sunning themselves on the river’s edge.

Carara also hosts gallery forests (secondary forest growing on land formerly used for agriculture) along the banks of the river. The primary forests, occupying most of the park, are thick with creeping vines and epiphytes. Over 400 species of birds inhabit the park, including six species of heron, egrets, roseate spoonbills and ospreys.

Archeological sites uncovered in this area indicate that, between 300 and 1500 AD, a village was located here, complete with a cemetery situated on the hill overlooking the Tarcoles River. Digging has unearthed a rectangular foundation for a structure made from rocks taken from the river.

The nearby village is named Lomas Carara, and archeologists speculate that it flourished in the centuries before Columbus, probably wielding political and economic control over the land near the Tarcoles River.

Weather:

March and April are the driest months in the park. Annual Rainfall: 2800 mm; Average temperature: 84 °F

Activities:

Bird & wildlife watching, rainforest hikes and crocodile tours along the Tarcoles River are available. Naturalist guides can be hired for the two-hour hike through the park. Visitors should note that camping is not permitted within Carara National Park.

Facilities:

The Quebrada Bonita ranger station has picnic tables, restrooms and maps available for hikers. A couple of the trails have picnic areas as well. The station is located on the left side of the road as you are driving towards Jaco, about 10 minutes after crossing the Tarcoles River Bridge.

Trails:

There are three hiking trails in the park. The .75 mile Araceas trail parallels the river and passes marshy areas. This loop trail can be combined with the Quebrada Bonita trail (.85 mile). The 2.5 mile Laguna Meandrica trail is located two kilometers north of the main park entrance and winds deeper into the park. This easy trail traverses dry transitional forest and ends at the marshlands of the Laguna Meandrica.

Flora & Fauna:

In addition to crocodiles, the rivers, marshes and forests of the park are home to a diverse population of animals. Wildlife enthusiasts will enjoy spotting sloths, agouti, white-faced monkeys, vine snakes, ocelots, kinkajous, margay cats, collared peccaries and white-tailed deer. Toucans, roseate spoonbills, jacanas, herons, manakins and trogons are commonly seen, especially in the early morning.

This is one of only two areas in Costa Rica where scarlet macaws are endemic. These large parrots are easiest to spot in the early morning or late afternoon. The best time for observing migratory birds is during the dry season (December through April).

Guanacaste trees, strangler figs, cecropia, deciduous kapok trees and cacti are some of the park’s native flora.

Fees and Schedule:

Ranger Station: Open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Admission: $10

Getting There:

Carara National Park is roughly an hour and a half drive from San Jose, or the international airport. From San Jose, follow Highway 27 for 35 miles to the town of Orotina. Three miles past Orotina, turn left on Highway 34, the coastal highway towards Jaco. Continue for 11 miles until you reach the bridge over the Tarcoles River. The Quebrada Bonita ranger station and park headquarters is 2 miles farther south, on your left.

Where to Stay

Most visitors stay in the nearby towns of Jacoor Quepos and take day trips to the park. Both tourist towns are brimming with tour operators that offer morning or afternoon excursions to the park including transportation and drinks. Jaco is a 15-minute drive from the park and Quepos is less than an hour away. A variety of hostels and hotels can be found in both beach towns.

Contact info:

Quebrada Bonita Ranger Station: 8383-9953

Places to Eat

Although there are a few restaurants in the area, most choose to head into nearby Jaco for food, nightlife, shops, and more.

— In Jaco —

Tsunami Sushi

Excellent sushi with a lot of variety located in the center of Jaco in the second floor of the Galeone Mall. This is the best sushi in Jaco, and most likely better than you will ever find in the US!

Nacho Daddy’s

Located in the first floor of the Galeone Mall in the heart of Jaco. They offer excellent Mexican food including great nachos and incredible margaritas. At night it doubles as bar/club with reggae, hip pop and a little bit of house music late at night and good surf videos on a big screen.

Wishbone

Our personal favorite…Located right in the heart of Jaco, this restaurant offers a variety of food from fresh tuna, sashimi, pizzas, burritos, pitas and more. Excellent atmosphere, good prices and we assure you will return here!

Tangeri BBQ

Pollo Express

Sunrise Place

Hotel Poseidon

Monica’s

Soda la amistad

— In Hermosa —

Jungle surf

Jammin

Backyard

Brown sugar café

Rancho Tipico de Bet

o
Located 5 minutes south from Hermosa, offering a variety of local food at very accessible prices. They have great casados, fresh fish and ceviche!

The journey begins righ at “Grande de Tárcoles” river, one of then most populated crocodile rivers in the world,25 crocodile per square meter, something simply amazing. In this journey you would see then Manglar de Guacalillo(Guacalillo mangrave swamp); which is a shelter of more than 50 species of birds and a great variety of animals like for example coloring-red limpets, tiger herons, tiger -faced crabs, monkeys , pink spoonbills and many more among others.

The journey takes about 2 hours which guarantees the client to end up simply astonished of an adventure impossible to forget.

Characteristics and boat capacity

Each boat are completely made of glassfibre , they all have individual seats in order to make each passenger feel the most comfortably possible.

Authorized by Puntarenas port captainship goverment entity, the one in charge of approving and letting boats sail. All boats have their corresponding name and resgistration number.

They are covered by their corresponding insurance by Instituto Nacional de Seguros goverment entity, the one in charge of insurances in Costa Rica.

We have 3 boats :

I. 30 person capacity with ist corresponding seats for each persona a guide,the captain and lifejackets for each one.

II. 32 person capacity with its corresponding seats for each person, a guide , the captain and lifejackets for each one.

III. 36 person capacity with its corresponding seats for each person, a guide , the captain and a lifejackets for each one.

The tour includes

A bilingual guide, bottled water and a bird illustration of the area.

Everday Tours at:

8:00 a.m,10:00 a.m and 12 m.d, 2: 00 p.m,4:00 p.m

Please arrive 15 minutes before sailing time

Jaco is a small, yet extremely active town geared towards surfers, parties & nightlife. As you walk down the “strip,” you will find countless surf shops, restaurants, bars, discos and a variety of accommodations (including La Hacienda and Backyard Bar). This is the ideal destination for surfers or young travelers looking to be in the middle of the action. Carara Biological Reserve is located about 25 minutes north, you will find the unique opportunity to see the scarlet macaw, hundreds of species of flora and plenty of other wildlife including the occasional toucan.

Local activities include surfing, fishing, canopy tours, horseback riding, kayaking, and more.

Other Adventures

• Surf Lessons in Hermosa - Duration is 2–3 hours, and includes transportation, surf instructor, surf board.
• Tortuga Island Tour - The Original “Calypso Catamaran Cruise”. Particularly enchanting for it’s beauty, Tortuga Island is known for its immaculate white sand beach and turquoise waters, a perfect stop for swimming, snorkeling and Calypso’s Famous Lunch. GREAT food.
• Hermosa Canopy Tour - This is an exciting look at one of the few remaining transitional forest in Costa Rica . The Tour consists of 11 suspended platforms and a hanging bridge from tree to tree in order to reach the other platform, connected with steel cables, the total length around seven hundred meters (+2000 feet). The height of the platforms vary from 60 to 120 feet above the ground.
• Kayak & Snorkeling in Jaco - Includes transportation, guide, kayak, water, fresh fruit buffet, snorkeling equipment. Duration: 3 hours approximately
• Horseback Riding in Herradura - Includes transportation, guide, horses.
• Sportfishing in Herradura - All full day charters include lunch, beverages, bait and tackle.
• Manuel Antonio National Park - A half day trek that includes transportation, entrance fee & snacks.
• Aerial Tram - What a ride! Includes transportation to and from the Park, meal, guide, optional hike, all transportation at the Preserve. The Pacific Rain Forest Tram is about two hours from San José (108 km) and is located 2 miles from the main entrance to Jacó Beach.
• Carara National Park - Carara National Park covers a low mountainous area of 15,000 acres of an interesting ‘transition’ forest between the Dry Tropical Forest and the Rainy one. Home of many mammals, as well as the rare Scarlet Macaw and vast number of species of plants and trees. Appreciate the wonders of this intricate eco-system. And there’s monkeys!
• ATV Tour - Includes drinks & snacks. Explore Costa Rica with an ATV! Modern equipment with all the fixings.

  

 

 

 

Things to Avoid

Playa Jaco, located just 2 short hours from the international airport, has become one of Costa Rica’s most visited beach towns, especially amongst the traveling surf community. Jaco is a small, yet extremely active town geared towards surfers, parties & nightlife. As you walk down the “strip,” you will find countless surf shops, restaurants, bars, discos and a variety of accommodations.

Hermosa is geared more towards the hard-core surfer while Jaco is designed for the active type looking for plenty of hotels, surf shops, bars, discos and an overwhelming nightlife.

Best Time for surfing:
May ~ November

Powerfull and consistent beachbreak that sticks out into the Pacific, assuring constant swell. You will rarely be surfing under head high here.

It can be perfect sometimes, delivering a nice barrel, but at other times you might see the barelling waves all over the place, but have trouble finding that perfect wave for yourself!

Hermosa is actually a several mile long stretch of beach, and you can go surfing anywhere along beach. There are a few distinct areas people surf:

 
• Cabinas: right behind the cabinas that line the beach, Cabinas Las Olas being an example.           

• The Gate: if you are coming from Jaco, right after you pass Cabinas Las Olas, turn right onto the dirt road.           

• The Tree: Drive down a little more past the gate, and you will see a huge tree on your right, probaly with few surfer’s cars parked underneath.           

• Tulin Rivermouth: Continue driving past The Tree for a while, and your surfing at Tulin. VERY powerfull rivermouth beachbreak, usually a little bigger than the rest of Hermosa.