de - Blogs - Tripatini2024-03-29T10:45:30Zhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/deThe History of the Bikinihttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/the-history-of-the-bikini2017-11-20T19:36:41.000Z2017-11-20T19:36:41.000Zlauren quinnhttps://tripatini.com/members/laurenquinn<div><p></p><p><strong>HISTORY OF THE BIKINI</strong></p><p></p><p><strong><a href="http://shop.bromeliario.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/first-bikini.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://shop.bromeliario.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/first-bikini.jpg" class="align-center" alt="first-bikini.jpg" /></a></strong></p><p><br /> “a bikini is a two-piece bathing suit which reveals everything about a girl except for her mother’s maiden name.” – Reárd [one of the pioneers of the bikini]</p><p><br /> The history of the bikini is not a recent story. Although in modern times, the bikini only reached wide spread popularity in the 1960s, origins date back to the B.C. era. Not only acting as a fashion statement, the women’s swimsuit reveals much about the world’s political, cultural and social sub-context. Bromelia Swimwear takes you on a journey through the evolution of our favorite pieces of clothing: the bikini.</p><p></p><p><strong>THE CLASSIC BIKINI | Ancient Times</strong></p><p><br /> <strong>5600 BC | The Leather Thong</strong><br /> For the first time in record, a large settlement in Anatolia [modern day Greece], goddesses are depicted astride two leopards wearing a costume that somewhat looks like a bikini.</p><p><br /> <strong>The Greco-Roman Era</strong><br /> Tracing back 3500 years, we have found illustrations of women wearing two-piece garments during athletic events. Usage continued throughout the Middle Ages, with their use as undergarments.</p><p></p><p><strong>THE BIKINI DRY SPELL | 1-18th Century</strong><br /> There was a long interval between the classic and the modern bikini. Swimming and outdoor bathing was discouraged in the Christian West and bathing gowns (ankle length, full sleeve woolen outfits) were introduced in the 18th century to insure decency was not threatened.</p><p></p><p><a href="http://shop.bromeliario.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/victorian-swimwear.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://shop.bromeliario.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/victorian-swimwear.jpg" class="align-center" alt="victorian-swimwear.jpg" /></a></p><p><br /> <strong>PROGRESS BEGINS…</strong></p><p><br /> <strong>19th Century</strong><br /> At the beginning of the 19th Century, women wore wool dresses on the beach that were made of up to 9 yards (8.2 m) of fabric.</p><p><br /> <strong>19th Century (first half):</strong><br /> Top half of the bathing suit becomes knee-length while an ankle-length bottom piece was added.</p><p><strong>19th Century (second half):</strong></p><p>Sleeves begin to slowly vanish, while bottoms rise to reveal the ankles and the fitted form starts to become a bit more snug.</p><p></p><p><a href="http://shop.bromeliario.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/1920s-bikinis.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://shop.bromeliario.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/1920s-bikinis.jpg" class="align-center" alt="1920s-bikinis.jpg" /></a></p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>THE MODERN BIKINI | 20th Century to Today</strong></p><p><br /> <strong>Breakthrough in 1913</strong><br /> The first functional modern bikini design, featuring sleeves for women in athletics, emerges.</p><p><br /> <strong>1920s | Functionality</strong><br /> Thought process shifts from “taking in the water” to “taking in the sun”. At bathhouses, swimsuit designs start their movement from functional to decorative.</p><p><strong>1930s | Little by Little</strong><br /> Necklines plunge, shoulder straps lower for tanning, sides are tightened and midriff exposure increases.</p><p></p><p><a href="http://shop.bromeliario.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/marilyn-monroe-bikini.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://shop.bromeliario.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/marilyn-monroe-bikini.jpg" class="align-center" alt="marilyn-monroe-bikini.jpg" /></a><br /> <strong>1940s | Suntan Fashion</strong><br /> Coco Chanel makes suntans fashionable. But the world can trace origins of the first modern-bikini back to a French man, who borrowed the name for the design from the ‘Bikini Atoll’, where atomic bomb tests were being carried out.<br /> The United States soon issues a government order for a 10% reduction in fabric used in woman’s swimwear as wartime rationing. So in compliance, manufacturers make two-piece suits with bare midriffs.</p><p><br /> In France, inspired by women on the Riviera rolling up their bottoms for a better tan, the navel has its first revealing in a triangle bikini made with newspaper print fabric. Unfortunately, the designs were all ahead of there time by 15-20 years. Only upper echelon European women embraced them as they cast off their corsets. The bikini soon becomes banned in much of Europe, the States and Australia, and the vatican declares it sinful.</p><p></p><p><strong><a href="http://shop.bromeliario.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/retrobikinis.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://shop.bromeliario.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/retrobikinis.jpg" class="align-center" alt="retrobikinis.jpg" /></a></strong></p><p></p><p><strong>1950s | Actresses Start the Fashion</strong><br /> In 1951, the first Miss World pageant (originally the Festival Bikini Contest) features contestants in the trendy two-piece, but it iss quickly banned from further competitions. We have to thank the likes of Actress Bridget Bardot who felt no shame as she was photographed wearing a bikini at the ’53 Cannes Film Festival. Betty Grable and Marilyn Monroe also follow suit, using revealing swimwear to boost their careers.</p><p><strong>1960s | Playboy & James Bond</strong><br /> Playboy soon becomes a fervent supporter, as the bikini graces covers, giving the two-piece an additional legitimacy. In ’62, Bond girl Ursula Andress, emerges from the water in a white bikini. In ’66 Raquel Welch’s fur bikini in One Million Years B.C., becomes the most iconic bikini movie poster in cinema history. And finally, in ’67, Time magazine declares that 65% of youths wear bikinis.</p><p><br />As the decades pass, women begin to appreciate and embrace both their figure and the bikini. Many associate the emancipation of swimwear with the emancipation of women.</p><p><br /> <strong>1980s | Star Wars</strong><br /> In 1983 Star War’s Princess Leia was forced to wear a metal bikini, which becomes the fantasy men want and women would like to be. However, florescent fashion takes over and the one-piece make a comeback.</p><p><strong>1990s | Skin Cancer</strong><br /> Bikini sales decline as skin cancer awareness grows and a simpler boxy fashion is defined. But, in ’97, as Miss America allows bikinis back into the competition, the bikini re-enters the fashion world with a vengeance.</p><p></p><p><strong><a href="http://shop.bromeliario.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/1997-miss-america-pageant-1.png" target="_blank"><img src="http://shop.bromeliario.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/1997-miss-america-pageant-1.png" class="align-center" alt="1997-miss-america-pageant-1.png" /></a></strong></p><p></p><p><strong>2000s | Never Looking Back</strong><br /> The Bikini returns as the most popular beachwear in the world. Soaring to a US$810 million business annually, spin-off services also begin to boom such as bikini waxing and sun tanning.</p><p><br /> Today through global name brands, such as Victoria’s Secret and American Apparel, an increase in education and independence and the right to make your own sexual choices, the modern woman has never been more supported in the media to show off whatever she dares. <strong><a href="http://shop.bromeliario.com" target="_blank">Bromelia Swimwear</a></strong> applauds those women who know what they are doing and own what they have. Shamelessly.</p><p><br /> “The emancipation of swimwear has always been linked to the emancipation of women…the bikini represents a social leap involving body consciousness, moral concerns, and sexual attitudes.” – Olivier Saillard, fashion’s favorite curator.<br /> For a taste of modern day bikinis, visit our shop at Bromelia Swimwear.</p></div>6 Important Tips for Travelers to Brazilhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/brazil-travel-tips2017-09-21T09:00:00.000Z2017-09-21T09:00:00.000Zlauren quinnhttps://tripatini.com/members/laurenquinn<div><p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009192482,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009192482,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" alt="9009192482?profile=original" /></a></b></span></p><p class="p1"></p><p class="p3"><span class="s1">While Brazil is a major metropolitan city, its infrastructure is not necessarily user friendly - as many discovered during the recent Summer Olympics. However, this does not mean your trip needs to be stressful. With a little pre-planning, you never have to stray from that vacation feeling. </span></p><p class="p5"></p><p class="p6" style="text-align:center;"><span class="s1"><b>PREPARING YOUR DOCUMENTS FOR BRAZIL TRAVEL</b></span></p><p class="p4"></p><p class="p7"><span class="s1"><b>Obtain a Tourist Visa</b></span></p><p class="p7"><span class="s1"><br /> To enter the country, citizens of a number of countries (including the USA) must get tourist visas affixed to their passports - and they're not cheap (120USD for U.S. nationals, for example). These can be easily obtained from a Brazilian Consulate in your home country. I have made a simple <strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtQ8TWpC_EI" target="_blank">how-to-get your Brazilian Tourist Visa video</a></strong>, highlighting the process. It is best to start planning for your visa 2-3 months before departure. However, I have had many clients book last-minute trips and hire a visa expediting service who handled their process quickly and efficiently.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4"></p><p class="p7"><span class="s1"><b>Prep Your Credit Cards/ATM Cards<br /> <br /></b></span></p><p class="p7"><span class="s1">It is best to contact your credit and debit card companies prior to departure to alert them of your dates of international travel. Many banks now allow you to prepare for your trip directly online. Brazil has mainly domestic banks, with ATMs that sometimes give even the locals difficulty. If you certify that you're bringing your cards, this will help eliminate issues receiving local currency.</span></p><p class="p4"></p><p class="p4"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009192684,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009192684,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" alt="9009192684?profile=original" /></a></p><p class="p6"></p><p class="p6" style="text-align:center;"><span class="s1"><b>PACKING FOR BRAZIL</b></span></p><p class="p4"></p><p class="p7"><span class="s1"><b>Check the Weather!</b></span></p><p class="p7"><span class="s1"><br /> Brazil is the same size as the continental U.S., which means the weather varies greatly! This does not mean that winter brings snow, but it does mean that temperatures can be cool. In some states you will need a jacket, scarf and warm socks, so properly prepare for where you are traveling to. Additionally, remember that Brazil is mostly a tropical country, so it's likely to rain at least once during your trip. Last but not least, remember that Brazil is in the southern hemisphere, so the seasons are the opposite of Europe/the States (i.e., January is summertime and July is winter).</span></p><p class="p4"></p><p class="p7"><span class="s1"><b>Pack Accordingly</b></span></p><p class="p7"><span class="s1"><br /> Most people either overpack for Brazil or simply have no idea how to prepare. For example, Rio de Janeiro’s beach scene is very different from that of L.A.’s Santa Monica or Sydney’s Bondi. I have seen many guests bring heavy towels unnecessary for beach use instead of a <strong><a href="https://shop.bromeliario.com/pareos-sarongs/" target="_blank">beach sarong</a></strong>. Or they arrive with a suitcase full of jeans and electronic equipment and end up lugging around extra weight for nothing. </span></p><p class="p4"></p><p class="p4"></p><p class="p4"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009193081,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009193081,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" alt="9009193081?profile=original" /></a></p><p class="p6" style="text-align:center;"><span class="s1"><b><br /> BRAZIL HOTEL AND AIRPORT TRANSFER</b></span></p><p class="p4"></p><p class="p7"><span class="s1"><b>Find Good Accommodation<span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></b></span></p><p class="p7"><span class="s1"><br /> While I am a big proponent of embracing spontaneity while traveling, here it really is best to pre-book accommodation. In Brazil there are no “good" and "bad" neighborhoods, but rather better and worse neighborhoods. But there are “good” and “bad” streets; this means that each street has a different level of culture and safety, and within the same neighborhood, from one block to the next, the streets can vary greatly. If you need a little local expertise, you can contact the <strong><a href="https://bromeliario.com/rio-de-janeiro-travel-concierge/" target="_blank">Bromelia Travel Concierge</a></strong><b>.</b> We offer a free 30-minute phone consultation to answer any of your questions or concerns about travel to Rio de Janeiro.</span></p><p class="p4"></p><p class="p7"><span class="s1"><b>Know your Airport of Arrival/Arrange Pick-up<br /> <br /></b></span></p><p class="p7"><span class="s1">A number of cities in Brazil have multiple airports and are often large distances apart. São Paulo, for example, has four airports, Rio de Janeiro has two. Public Transport to/from the airport is often meager, and can add a couple of hours onto your already long journey. Private drivers are much more affordable in Brazil then other countries. Contact your accommodation to make arrangements with a secure transfer on your behalf. If in Rio, we can help arrange <strong><a href="https://bromeliario.com/rio-airport-transfer/" target="_blank">a private, secure, English-speaking driver</a></strong> to be waiting for you at arrivals.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4"></p><p class="p4"></p><p class="p7"><span class="s1">Brazil can be a very easy and extremely rewarding trip. When prepared for correctly, your experience will leave you feeling alive. <em>Bem-vindos ao Brasil</em>!</span></p><p class="p7"></p></div>Triangulo de oro India | Triangulo dorado India paqueteshttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/triangulo-de-oro-india-triangulo-dorado-india-paquetes2019-11-28T07:30:00.000Z2019-11-28T07:30:00.000Zwali shikharhttps://tripatini.com/members/walishikhar<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009425671,original{{/staticFileLink}}" target="_blank"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009425671,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-full" alt="9009425671?profile=original" /></a></p><p>El recorrido del triángulo dorado es una introducción por excelencia a la rica cultura, tradición e historia de la India, especialmente para los viajeros por primera vez. El paquete de vacaciones de 6 días y 5 noches consiste en un recorrido por los principales destinos de la India: Delhi, Agra y Jaipur. El recorrido del <a href="https://viajedealma.com/triangulo-de-oro-india-7-dias.html" target="_blank">triángulo dorado India</a> es sin duda uno de los circuitos turísticos más populares de la India que ofrece una maravillosa oportunidad para admirar la grandeza, la gloria y la cultura vibrante. Además, nuestros representantes expertos lo ayudarán a planificar un itinerario perfecto que lo dejará fascinado con recuerdos placenteros para toda la vida.</p></div>Viajelaindiahttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/viajelaindia2019-08-01T07:02:21.000Z2019-08-01T07:02:21.000Zwali shikharhttps://tripatini.com/members/walishikhar<div><p>Hola, me llamo Simran. Soy un guía y agente de viajes si desea hacer un viaje a India, por lo que esta es la mejor agencia de viajes donde puede obtener un mejor paquete de viajes con mejor calidad y disfrutar al máximo</p><p><a href="http://viajedealma.com/">Viaje a la India desde Meixco by viajedealma</a></p><p> Y <a href="http://viajedealma.com/">viaje a la India</a> Y también tenemos el paquete turístico de 7 días. <a href="http://viajedealma.com/triangulo-de-oro-india-7-dias.html">Triangulo de oro India 7 Dias</a></p><p><span><a href="http://viajedealma.com/triangulo-de-oro-india-7-dias.html">by viajedealma </a></span></p><p>y aparte de este paquete turístico, puede obtener el paquete turístico rajasthan <a href="http://viajedealma.com/viajes-la-rajasthan.html">Viaje la rajasthan by viajedealma</a> y este paquete es realmente demasiado bueno para el largo viaje de dos países a la India y Nepal para conocer más detalles sobre la gira de Nepal / India, puede visitar el sitio web <a href="http://viajedealma.com/viaje-a-india-y-nepal.html">Viaje a india y nepal</a></p><p><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4870193696454159036#allposts/src=sidebar">Blogger: Viajelaindia</a></p><p></p><p></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009395288,original{{/staticFileLink}}" target="_blank"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009395288,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-left" alt="9009395288?profile=original" /></a></p></div>Jamaica's Hedonism Resort - 2019 Trip Reporthttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/hedonism-resort-negril-jamaica-2019-trip-report2019-07-27T20:50:50.000Z2019-07-27T20:50:50.000ZAnn, TShttps://tripatini.com/members/AnnTS<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009384256,original{{/staticFileLink}}" target="_blank"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009384256,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" alt="9009384256?profile=original" /></a><br /> <br />My 14th visit to Negril's <strong><a href="https://www.hedonism.com/" target="_blank">Hedonism II</a></strong> clothing-optional resort began June 15, 2019 and ended June 25, and in that time I had a chance to explore most, if not all, areas of the resort property and to experience most of what Hedo had to offer---and again it does not disappoint whatsover.<br /><br /><br /><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/77D8prh-xzU?wmode=opaque" allowfullscreen="" width="750" height="315" frameborder="0"></iframe></p><div class="msg-content undoreset" id="yui_3_15_0_2_1563063026783_1345"><div id="ygrps-yiv-430643340"><p id="yui_3_15_0_2_1563063026783_1360"><br /> Hedo has 280 luxury rooms and suites, and mine was No. 2170, a nude beach/jacuzzi premium suite and one that I had occupied in the past. The room was immaculate, clean, and almost cold because the air conditioner was working so efficiently. Bathroom amenities, stocked refrigerator and all the printed info I would need for my ten days here was a nice bonus.</p><p><br /> <br /><a href="https://st2.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3280232649?profile=original" target="_blank"><img src="https://st2.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3280232649?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="860" alt="3280232649?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a><br />Service from day one to my departure was excellent in all regards. I don't recall waiting for anyone on the property more than a few minutes for assistance and, as always, smile from staff are the norm. From my room attendant to daily refrigerator re-stocker to my jacuzzi maintenance man and bell hop/luggage delivery man I was treated as a valued guest and I found I rarely needed to ask for anything out of the ordinary. Front office staff when needed were always receptive to questions or comments and not surprisingly the bar and food staff were always friendly, efficient and hard-working making people happy.</p><p id="yui_3_15_0_2_1563063026783_1370"><br /> <br /><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cmnpgKKEmp0?wmode=opaque" allowfullscreen="" width="750" height="315" frameborder="0"></iframe> <br /><br /><br />The grounds, beaches, pools/spas, venues and buildings of Hedo all seemed to be well-maintained and there was only one area of construction (H-block-garden view on the nude side) and noise, etc was never an issue.<br /><br />One tip I'll pass on that has helped me over the years is when I check into Hedo I request a guest comment card or two to keep in my room so I can make notes of good and bad things and to write down names of those who provided outstanding service followed by me leaving these with the front office upon my departure.I forgot this trip to take a photo of it to use in this trip report so I'm going off my photos and memories.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://st2.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3280233859?profile=original" target="_blank"><img src="https://st2.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3280233859?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="573" alt="3280233859?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a><br /><br />A simple 1-10 (10 being best) rating of the major aspects of Hedo:</p><p id="yui_3_15_0_2_1563063026783_1372"><br /> Check-in: 10 - fast, friendly, made to feel welcome</p><p id="yui_3_15_0_2_1563063026783_1373">Room: 10 - maintained well, very clean, quiet, dark (when desired)</p><p id="yui_3_15_0_2_1563063026783_1374">Jacuzzi/lanai 9+ - once the temperature was turned down about five degrees</p><p id="yui_3_15_0_2_1563063026783_1375">Beaches: 10 - always well-groomed, plenty of loungers, shade/sun</p><p>Marina/watersports: 10 - twice-daily snorkel/scuba trips, other non-motorized sports</p><p>Drinks: 10 - premium drinks/shots, water in coolers in beach area</p><p>Food: 10 - variety, quality, and available 24/7 at various locations </p><p>Pools/jacuzzis: 9+ - so many to choose from, often with (too loud) music</p><p>Entertainment crew: 10 - hardest-working staff anywhere & so fun/friendly</p><p>Shopping: 10 - the boutique gift shop is a favorite of mine</p><p>Kama Sutra Palace: 10 - <em>very</em> nice serene and meditative get-away</p><p>Romping Shop 5 - being remodeled so it had limited space (but still nice)</p><p>Piano bar: 9 - great fun if a bit too loud for me</p><p>Disco/nightclub: 7 - I only experienced it for the weekly foam party (cool)</p><p>Beach buffet: 9+ - great/varied food, runway, and fire show, but wear bug spray </p><p>Restaurants: 10 - from main dining buffet to Harry-San teppanyaki and Pastafari (Italian) and from the <br /> Chophouse to nude pool grill (day and night) - -awesome!</p><p id="yui_3_15_0_2_1563063026783_1388"></p><p></p><p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tBVwbBwJf0I?wmode=opaque" allowfullscreen="" width="750" height="315" frameborder="0"></iframe></p><p></p><p>Other thoughts: One of the couples in our group (krewe) had arranged a wedding/renewal of vows on the beach with reception in the piano bar and everyone was impressed with the set-up, the ceremony, the photos, and the reception complete with champagne and cake.</p><p><br /> Costumed theme nights were so much fun as the resort was sold out and there were so many participants. Theme nights included Sexy Sports Night; Hedonistic School Girl Night; Jamaica Night; Glow Night; Fetish/Lingerie/Fantasy Night; Toga/Foam Night; Rock Star Night.</p><p id="yui_3_15_0_2_1563063026783_1376"><br /> Main stage shows & music: The quality of these shows continues to amaze me with variety and quality that rivals or exceeds Las Vegas Cabaret shows. Hedo never falls short of entertainment value whether it is the EC's with pool games or beachfront runway shows and main stage shows are just pretty awesome.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://st4.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3280230457?profile=original" target="_blank"><img src="https://st4.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3280230457?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="861" alt="3280230457?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p><p id="yui_3_15_0_2_1563063026783_1378"><br /> I am already signed up for my 15th trip in June 2020 and can't wait to see what changes and improvements has in store.</p></div></div><div class="msg-inline-video" id="yui_3_15_0_2_1563063026783_1344"><div dir="ltr"><br /> For more info and more of my "Anntics" both in and out of costume,, <font face="arial, helvetica"><span>ask me at TheTravelSlut@yahoo.com and/or check out my daily photo and video updates in these links on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/TheTravelSlut/videos" target="_blank">YouTube</a>, (free to subscribe to my channel), <a href="http://twitter.com/TheTravelSlut" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/hedonismresortgrouptrip" target="_blank">Flickr</a> (with more than 4,100 photos and 7,200-plus followers), and <a href="http://mewe.com/group/5b31c1cfa40f302376fd2dcb" target="_blank">MeWe</a> (my alternative to Facebook). <br /></span></font></div><div dir="ltr"><div><font face="arial, helvetica"><span> </span></font><font face="arial, helvetica"><span> </span></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica"><span><br /> <em>Ann, The TravelSlut</em></span></font></div></div></div><div class="message-read card-action-bar" id="yui_3_15_0_2_1563063026783_1382"><div class="reply-all-btn tip"></div></div></div>Unique Costa Rica weddings at Rincon de la Vieja Volcanohttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/unique-costa-rica-weddings-at-rincon-de-la-vieja-volcano2016-05-31T18:07:39.000Z2016-05-31T18:07:39.000ZShannon Farleyhttps://tripatini.com/members/ShannonFarley<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009068500,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009068500,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9009068500?profile=original" /></a>When you think of having a destination wedding, is the usual location of a picture-perfect beach in some exotic tropical setting what comes to mind? What about scenic countryside? Or a live volcano?</p><p>What if you and your betrothed, or your family and friends, are not really beach people? Luckily, beaches are not your only option for a <a href="http://www.weddingscostarica.com/" target="_blank">destination wedding in Costa Rica</a>. An equally romantic choice for where to tie the knot is at <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/" target="_blank">Hacienda Guachipelin</a> by <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/location/national-park.html" target="_blank">Rincon de la Vieja Volcano</a> in the countryside of <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/location/map.html" target="_blank">Guanacaste</a>.</p><p>“People think of Costa Rica as having only beaches and rainforest and monkeys, but we have so much more,” said Larissa Banting of <a href="http://www.weddingscostarica.com/#mi=1&pt=0&pi=2&s=4&p=-1&a=0&at=0" target="_blank">Weddings Costa Rica</a>. “Guanacaste is known as being the cradle of Costa Rican culture – with its music, its cooking, etc. For couples who want more of an authentic Costa Rican experience, Guanacaste is the place.”</p><p><b><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009038258,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009038258,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9009038258?profile=original" /></a>Guanacaste, Costa Rica is easy to get to</b>. Direct flights from North America and Europe arrive right in Guanacaste’s <a href="http://www.liberiacostaricaairport.net/" target="_blank">Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia</a>; you don’t have to go to the capital city of San Jose. Hacienda Guachipelin at Rincon de la Vieja is less than an hour from the Liberia International Airport. Additionally, the hotel is only an hour from gorgeous Guanacaste beaches if you do want some time on the coast for your Costa Rica honeymoon.</p><p>It is <b>unique to get married by a live volcano</b> … especially one that is named after a love story (see the <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/location/national-park.html" target="_blank">legend of Rincon de la Vieja Volcano</a>). And the area is full of <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/tours/nature-tours/archeology-tour.html" target="_blank">archaeological history</a> with ancient stone petroglyphs, adding a <i>Romancing the Stone</i> feel.</p><p>“It’s really powerful to get married in a place with a live volcano, and one with an ancient civilization. It’s a really special place … a very spiritual place,” said Banting of Rincon de la Vieja.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009069487,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009069487,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="745" alt="9009069487?profile=original" /></a>Set on a magnificent traditional Costa Rican ranch, Hacienda Guachipelin is one of the best hotels at Rincon de la Vieja Volcano. Picture Mediterranean looking countryside and a Tuscan feel with stone walls, clay tile roofs, tall spreading shade trees, green grass and red earth. Add in dramatic tropical waterfalls, and pastoral ranch scenes with horses, and a traditional Costa Rican oxcart. All at the foot of a colossal live volcano.</p><p>Not only do you have a spectacular setting, you also can enjoy the hotel’s romantic natural volcanic <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/tours/relaxation-tours/rio-negro-hot-springs.html" target="_blank">hot springs</a> and take advantage of their <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/hotel/adventure-center.html" target="_blank">adventure tours</a><b>.</b> Just think: you have ready-made fun activities for bachelor and bachelorette parties, or group bonding before the wedding for you and your guests.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009069856,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009069856,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9009069856?profile=original" /></a></p><p>Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin offers these Costa Rica destination wedding services:</p><ul><li>Wedding coordination for the hotel</li><li><a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/hotel/bar-restaurant.html" target="_blank">Food and beverage</a>. You can have your reception dinner in a private area by the swimming pool that accommodates up to 80 persons; or they have space for more persons in other areas.</li><li>Audio visual equipment and set-up</li><li>Decoration</li><li>Live musicians and entertainment</li><li>Transport to the hotel from the airport</li><li><a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/rooms-and-rates.html" target="_blank">Accommodation</a> at the hotel</li><li>Activities for your wedding group</li></ul></div>13th Annual Group Trip to Hedo in June is sold out---requests for next June will open soonhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/13th-annual-group-trip-to-hedo-in-june-is-sold-out-requests-for2019-04-01T21:11:50.000Z2019-04-01T21:11:50.000ZAnn, TShttps://tripatini.com/members/AnnTS<div><div><font face="arial, helvetica"><span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68P1nM_7krM&t=47s">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68P1nM_7krM&t=47s</a></span></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica"><span>FLASH! Just a gentle reminder to those going or wanting to go to Hedonism resort next June (this June's trip was sold out)</span></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica"><span> </span></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica"><span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mw5CKghJPWE">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mw5CKghJPWE</a></span><br /></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica"><span>NOTE: The only way to get lowest group rates & Krewe perks is to contact me directly--not thru the Hedo website.</span></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica"><span><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009344274,original{{/staticFileLink}}" target="_blank">IMG_20190225_182820565.jpg</a></span></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica"><span> </span></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica"><span>The 14th Annual Krewe de Krazy Life Group Trip Adventure in Paradise is set for June 2020 and again this trip>>>>open to all singles and couples who want to enjoy the Caribbean's most wickedly-wild, tropical/beachfront, nude/clothing-optional resort both in and out of costumes for more fun in the sun and delights at night than you can imagine. And at the lowest group rates too! Limited space so hurry!</span></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica"><span> </span></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica"><span>Details available at: THETRAVELSLUT@YAHOO.COM</span></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica"><span> </span></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica"><span>All of my Hedo daily Twitter tweets and photos are here:</span></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica"><span> </span></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica"><span><a href="http://twitter.com/TheTravelSlut">http://twitter.com/TheTravelSlut</a></span></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica"><span> </span></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica"><span>All my Hedo Flickr photos are here in my Flickr Group:</span></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica"><span> </span></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica"><span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/hedonismresortgrouptrip">http://www.flickr.com/groups/hedonismresortgrouptrip</a></span></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica"><span>(over 7,200 members and 4,100+ photos)</span></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica"><span> </span></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica"><span><a href="http://mewe.com/group/5b31c1cfa40f302376fd2dcb">http://mewe.com/group/5b31c1cfa40f302376fd2dcb</a></span><br /></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica"><span>(my alternative to Facebook)</span></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica"><span> </span></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica"><span>Look for more of my “Ann-tics” here & my various online sites--in and out of costumes:.</span></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica"><span><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009344880,original{{/staticFileLink}}" target="_blank">19459857696_07a2da2662_o.jpg</a></span></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica"><span> </span></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica"><span>If you have a Hedo question, ask away or check out my daily photo and video updates in these links:</span></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica"><span> </span></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica"><span>All of my Hedo videos are here:</span></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica"><span> </span></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica"><span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/TheTravelSlut/videos">http://www.youtube.com/user/TheTravelSlut/videos</a></span></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica"><span> </span></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica"><span>Ann, The TravelSlut</span></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica"><span> </span></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica"><span>email> TheTravelSlut@yahoo.com</span></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica"><span><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009344693,original{{/staticFileLink}}" target="_blank">2018-12-24_12-37-19.jpg</a></span></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica"><span> </span></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica"><span>The Travel Slut, Travel Slut, travel, vacation, holiday, Caribbean, Jamaica, Negril, June, Group Trip, Krewe de Krazy Life, tropical, beachfront, nude, nude resort, clothing optional, all inclusive, resort, Ann The Travel Slut, naked, </span><br /></font></div></div>Do you have what it takes? North Face Endurance Challenge comes to Costa Rica in May 2016https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/do-you-have-what-it-takes-north-face-endurance-challenge-comes-to2016-03-16T22:53:48.000Z2016-03-16T22:53:48.000ZShannon Farleyhttps://tripatini.com/members/ShannonFarley<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009051494,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009051494,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="640" alt="9009051494?profile=original" /></a>For its fourth year, the intense ultra-trail running endurance race <a href="http://endurancechallenge.cr/en/" target="_blank">The North Face Endurance Challenge Costa Rica</a> returns to the <b><a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/location/map.html" target="_blank">Rincón de la Vieja Volcano</a> in Guanacaste, Costa Rica</b>.</p><p>On <b>Saturday, May 28, 2016,</b> hundreds of runners from all over the world will challenge themselves and each other in four endurance trail-running races of <b>10 km, 21 km, 50 km and 80 km</b> on the slopes of Rincón de la Vieja Volcano. All races are individual, with no teams.</p><p>Demanding trails cover difficult yet beautiful terrain around Rincón de la Vieja Volcano, <b>one of six active volcanoes in Costa Rica</b>, spanning altitudes between 850 feet and 3,280 feet (260-1,000 meters). There will be aid stations along the routes.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009052853,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="650" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009052853,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9009052853?profile=original" /></a>Rincón de la Vieja is the largest volcano in the northwest province of Guanacaste. The towering ridge-shaped colossus holds several craters, and peaks at 6,286 feet (1,916m). Surrounding the volcano is <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/location/national-park.html" target="_blank">Rincón de la Vieja National Park</a>, filled with wild dry tropical forest, rivers, waterfalls and hot springs. The Rincón de la Vieja Volcano and National Park are a <b>UNESCO World Heritage site</b>.</p><p>Organized by <b><a href="https://www.thenorthface.com/get-outdoors/endurance-challenge.html" target="_blank">The North Face</a> outdoor gear and clothing company</b> in the USA, The North Face Endurance Challenge is North America’s premier ultra-trail running series of endurance races. Launched in 2007, the races test experienced runners in beautiful scenic locations, while promoting a minimum impact philosophy. Part of the Latin America series, Costa Rica – a big destination for endurance races – held its first North Face Endurance Challenge in 2013.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008946487,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008946487,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="640" alt="9008946487?profile=original" /></a>Base camp for the race, and the start and finish lines, are at eco-hotel <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/" target="_blank">Hacienda Guachipelin</a> – a major center for <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/hotel/adventure-park.html" target="_blank">adventure tours in Guanacaste, Costa Rica</a>: zip lining, mountain biking, waterfall rappelling, river tubing, horseback riding, nature trails, and natural volcanic hot springs.</p><p>Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin is a top Costa Rica travel destination for adventure and nature lovers. The award-winning hotel next to the <b>Rincón de la Vieja National Park</b> is located 15.5 miles (25 km) northeast of Guanacaste’s main city of Liberia, with easy access from the Liberia International Airport.</p><p><b>More Adventure Races at Rincon de la Vieja</b></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009052894,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009052894,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="640" alt="9009052894?profile=original" /></a>The newest Costa Rica adventure race – <strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/160KRincondelaVieja/" target="_blank">160K Rincon de la Vieja Mountain Bike Race</a></strong> – happens Aug. 20, 2016 at Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin. Racers will compete in three distances: 160 km (100 miles), 100 km (62 miles), and 50 km (31 miles) by the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano.</p><p>The fourth annual <strong><a href="http://www.rincondelaviejachallenge.com/" target="_blank">Rincon de la Vieja Challenge</a></strong> extreme mountain bike race will test elite mountain bikers on a 100-mile (160 km) circumnavigation of the active Rincon de la Vieja Volcano on Sept. 3, 2016. The Rincon de la Vieja Challenge is the first international chapter of the National Ultra Endurance Series (NUE) of the USA.</p><p><b><i>Article by Shannon Farley</i></b></p></div>Stargazing in Guanacaste, Costa Ricahttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/stargazing-guanacaste-costa-rica2016-03-06T15:03:38.000Z2016-03-06T15:03:38.000ZShannon Farleyhttps://tripatini.com/members/ShannonFarley<div><p><b><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009038891,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="400" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009038891,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9009038891?profile=original" /></a><br /></b></p><p>Whether or not you can name the constellations or planets, it is always fascinating to look up at a clear night sky and get lost among the stars.<br /> <br /> <b>Anyone can enjoy stargazing</b>. The best places to go, of course, are where the sky is wide open and very dark, with no distracting city lights. Up in the mountains, or in the desert, or out on the open ocean; it is breathtaking to stare upwards at night at millions and millions of twinkling stars and planets in a blue black sky.</p><p><b><br /> Costa Rica is one of the <a href="http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/the-worlds-top-10-stargazing-spots" target="_blank">top places in the world for stargazing</a></b> according to <em>Travel+Leisure</em> magazine; especially now during Costa Rica summer (December through April). <b>February and March are the best months</b> for clear star-filled night skies. These dry season months offer astronomy buffs incredible opportunities to see the constellations of the <b>Southern Cross, Omega Centauri, the Magellanic Clouds, the Eta Carinae Nebula</b>, and countless other spectacles in the Milky Way.<br /> <br /> Astronomically, <b>Costa Rica’s location at 10 degrees north latitude</b>, just above the equator, allows you to <b>easily see <a href="https://www.fourmilab.ch/cgi-bin/Yoursky?z=1&lat=10&ns=North&lon=84.4&ew=West" target="_blank">northern and southern hemisphere constellations</a></b>, the moon and planets.</p><p></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009039475,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009039475,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="360" alt="9009039475?profile=original" /></a><br /> Stargazers traveling to Costa Rica also get the added bonuses of <b>watching the night sky in a warm tropical climate</b>, and during the day enjoying spectacular natural scenery, abundant wildlife, fun adventure activities and friendly local people.<br /> <br /> <b>Guanacaste, Costa Rica</b> is a superb stargazing location. <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/" target="_blank">Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin</a> at the foot of the colossal, active <b><a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/location/map.html" target="_blank">Rincon de la Vieja Volcano</a> in Guanacaste</b> is a particularly excellent place. There are no city lights near the family-owned hotel, set on a 3,460-acre ranch, to wash out the night sky. And the unique surrounding dry tropical forest trees lose their leaves like in northern autumn and winter, opening the sky even more to see stars. You can be inspired by an immense sky filled with millions of stars and listen to the symphony of tropical life at night.<br /></p><p><b><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009039855,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="400" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009039855,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9009039855?profile=original" /></a><br /> Best times for stargazing in Costa Rica:</b> from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. and again at 4:00 a.m.<br /> <br /> <b>More stargazing opportunities:</b> You can view the sky as seen from various cities around the globe at the <a href="https://www.fourmilab.ch/yoursky/#Skymap" target="_blank">Your Sky</a> website. <a href="http://www.stellarium.org/" target="_blank">Stellarium</a>is a free open source planetarium for your computer that shows a realistic sky in 3D. If you are in San Jose, Costa Rica, visit the <a href="http://www.planetario.ucr.ac.cr/" target="_blank">San Jose Planetarium</a> at the University of Costa Rica.</p><p> </p><p><b><i> </i></b></p></div>Looking for the best day of adventure in Costa Rica?https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/looking-for-the-best-day-of-adventure-in-costa-rica2015-08-24T23:15:00.000Z2015-08-24T23:15:00.000ZShannon Farleyhttps://tripatini.com/members/ShannonFarley<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008988687,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008988687,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="404" alt="9008988687?profile=original" /></a>If you are visiting the north Pacific region of <b>Guanacaste, Costa Rica</b>, the <b>best day of adventure</b> you can dream of is at <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/" target="_blank">Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin</a> by the <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/location/national-park.html" target="_blank">Rincon de la Vieja Volcano</a>.</p><p>Put simply, you can have the <b>best day of </b><a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/hotel/adventure-park.html" target="_blank">Costa Rica adventure tours</a> that you can dream of <b>all in one place</b>. Matter of fact, there are <b>so many fun</b> <b>adventures</b> that most people have a hard time choosing what to do: zip-lines, canyoning, waterfall rappelling, river tubing, horseback riding, <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/tours/iron-horse-downhill-mountain-bike-tour.html" target="_blank">mountain biking</a>, nature trails, waterfall swimming, natural volcanic hot springs, an archeology tour, and guided hikes in the <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/location/national-park.html" target="_blank">Rincon de la Vieja National Park</a>.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008839870,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="600" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008839870,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008839870?profile=original" /></a></p><p>That’s why the <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/tours/one-day-adventure-nature-pass.html" target="_blank">One Day Adventure Pass</a> is your best bet. With the One Day Adventure Pass, you can <b>fill your day at Rincón de la Vieja with adventures you choose</b> and go at your own pace. An extravagant <b>buffet lunch in <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/hotel/bar-restaurant.html" target="_blank">Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin’s restaurant</a> is included</b>. The tour prices are incredibly reasonable for all that you get: USD $85 adults (18+ years); USD $80 students (13-17 years); and USD $75 children (4-12 years).</p><p>Not only hotel guests get to enjoy <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/hotel/adventure-park.html" target="_blank">Hacienda Guachipelin’s Adventure Park</a>; many <b>day visitors</b> staying in other Guanacaste locations come to the popular eco-adventure hotel for tours.</p><p>On the <b>One Day Adventure Pass</b>, you can do as many or all of <b>these following</b> <b>adventure tours</b> as you want. It is possible to do everything if you start between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m. For $20 more per person, you can <b>add the <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/tours/adventure-tours/waterfalls-canyoning-tour.html" target="_blank">Waterfalls Canyoning Tour</a></b> to your One Day Adventure Pass.</p><p><strong><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008988899,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="600" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008988899,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008988899?profile=original" /></a><a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/tours/adventure-tours/canyon-canopy-tour.html" target="_blank">Canyon Canopy Tour</a></strong></p><p>Get an incredible adrenaline rush on this <b>one-of-a-kind canopy zip line tour in Costa Rica</b>. You will zip line, rappel, rock climb, cross hanging bridges, and ride Tarzan swings in a steep rock canyon over a turbulent river. Tour duration: 2 hours.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008840057,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="600" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008840057,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008840057?profile=original" /></a><strong><a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/tours/adventure-tours/rio.html" target="_blank">Rio Negro Tubing Adventure</a></strong></p><p>Bouncing and splashing down a rushing tropical river is incredible fun. Starting at the foot of a waterfall, you will <b>ride special individual river tube rafts down the rapids of the Rio Negro</b> (Black River). Guides go with you and ensure your safety. To get to the river tour from the Adventure Center, you can choose to go by horseback ride or by vehicle. Tour duration: 2.5 hours (with horseback ride).</p><p><strong><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008989667,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="600" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008989667,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008989667?profile=original" /></a><a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/tours/horseback-rides/horseback-riding-to-the-oropendola-waterfall-and-simbiosis-spa.html" target="_blank">Horseback Riding</a></strong></p><p>You can choose from <b>six different horseback riding tours</b>, or simply ride horses to get to Rio Negro for the tubing adventure. Average tour duration: 2 to 3 hours.</p><p><strong><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008934894,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="600" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008934894,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008934894?profile=original" /></a><a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/tours/relaxation-tours/rio-negro-hot-springs.html" target="_blank">Volcanic hot springs at Rio Negro</a></strong></p><p>One of the things <b>most talked about by visitors to Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin</b> are the <b>hot springs</b>. Beautiful and relaxing, the <b>natural hot springs at Rio Negro</b> flow from the <b>largest volcano in Guanacaste, Costa Rica</b> <b>–</b> <b>Rincón de la Vieja</b>. At Rio Negro, there are thermal pools, volcanic mud baths, trails, changing rooms, restrooms and lockers. Tour duration: from 1 to 2 hours.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008989482,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008989482,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="415" alt="9008989482?profile=original" /></a></p><p><b><a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/tours/adventure-tours/waterfalls-canyoning-tour.html" target="_blank">Waterfalls Canyoning Tour</a>*</b> (extra charge applies)</p><p>This is the ultimate adventure tour in Guanacaste. Canyoning involves thrilling rappels down waterfalls, guided rock climbing, and navigating through pools in the river canyon.</p><p>To get to the tour, you can go by horseback or by vehicle. Tour duration: 2.5 hours.</p><p> </p><p><strong><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9296603685,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="300" class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9296603685,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9296603685?profile=original" /></a>If you want a</strong> softer day of adventure, <strong>there is also a <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/tours/one-day-adventure-nature-pass.html" target="_blank">One Day Nature Pass</a></strong> that focuses on <b>nature, wildlife</b> and the <b>Rincon de la Vieja</b> <b>area’s scenic beauty</b>. This tour package is easily realized in a little over a half-day. The same sumptuous buffet lunch in Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin’s restaurant is included in the One Day Nature Pass. Tour Prices: USD $55 adults (11+ years) and USD $45 children (4-10 years).</p><ul><li>Butterfly Garden, Serpentarium and Frog Habitats</li><li>Walk to a Look-out Point where you can see the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano, Guanacaste Mountain Range, and the Pacific Coast.</li><li>Visit the waterfalls and natural volcanic hot springs at Rio Negro (transport by vehicle)</li></ul><p><b>Hacienda Guachipelin’s Adventure Center</b> is open seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You should note that tours in the Rincon de la Vieja National Park do not include the park admission fee ($10/person), and that <b>the national park is closed on Mondays</b>.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008946487,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="600" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008946487,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008946487?profile=original" /></a><a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/hotel/facilities.html" target="_blank">Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin</a></p><p>At the base of the <b>Rincon de la Vieja Volcano</b> in the northwestern province of <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/location/map.html" target="_blank">Guanacaste, Costa Rica</a>, Hacienda Guachipelin is an <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g321538-d301252-Reviews-Hacienda_Guachipelin-Rincon_de_La_Vieja_Province_of_Guanacaste.html" target="_blank">award-winning eco-tourism hotel</a> and <b>3,400-acre horse and cattle ranch</b>. Three rivers crisscross the hacienda, with <b>waterfalls and natural thermal springs</b>, creating an idyllic setting in the <b>distinctive dry tropical forest</b>. The hotel is 15.5 miles (25 km) northeast of Guanacaste’s main city of Liberia.</p><p> </p><p><b><i>Article by Shannon Farley</i></b></p></div>10 Ways Gastronomy Leads to Fine Tastes in Travelhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/10-ways-gastronomy-leads-to-fine-tastes-in-travel-22018-01-11T12:30:00.000Z2018-01-11T12:30:00.000ZMaria Lisellahttps://tripatini.com/members/MariaLisella<div><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009226901,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009226901,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-full" alt="9009226901?profile=original" /></a><br /> Gastronomy is a fashionable trend, a hobby for thousands, and according to a recent U.N. World Tourism Organization report, is now one of the main motivations for many to travel.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br /> The report ranks gastronomy as the third reason tourists decide to visit a destination, following culture and nature. Right behind this trio are health and shopping.<br /> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Linking gastronomy and tourism also provides a platform for the promotion of cultures through a region's cuisine, which assists in destination branding — and helps to promote sustainable tourism by preserving valuable cultural heritage, nurturing pride among communities, and enhancing intercultural understanding. Through a visit to a food festival, cooking class or farm-to-table dining experience, tourists garner a better sense of local values and traditions.<br /> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">When you come across a client who expresses an interest in gastronomic adventures, consider sharing any of these trips:<br /> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">1. Ride off the beach and into Rio de Janeiro in time for the iconic Carnival on TDA Global Cycling’s new month-long, 1,700-mile tour down northeast Brazil’s stunning, sun-drenched coast. Along the way, experience celebrations in other towns; eat fresh fish or feijoada, the national dish of Brazil; and sip refreshing caipirinha cocktails.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br /> 2. Rent a luxurious cabin at Montana’s exclusive Moonlight Basin community for ski-in, ski-out access to the neighboring Big Sky Resort. Enjoy private, guided skiing 4,000-vertical feet down the famed North Summit Snowfield and terrain (which is not open to the public) to a toast at The Reserve Clubhouse.<br /> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">3. At the 25,000-acre Red Reflet Ranch in Ten Sleep, Wyoming, play cowboy or cowgirl during the day, riding horses and working cattle — and then sit down to a gourmet meal made of beef from the ranch’s butcher shop and produce from the organic greenhouse and gardens.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br /> 4. On a cycling tour with Tourissimo, steep in the sights, scents and flavors of western Sicily while riding alongside award-winning celebrity chefs, Traci Des Jardins and Mary Sue Milliken. Off their bikes, Des Jardins and Milliken source local ingredients and join local chefs in preparing two dinners.<br /> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">5. Savor traditional and modern flavors of Peru, and explore the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, on a culinary tour with Adventure Life. While there, go into the kitchen for a cooking demonstration with Cusco’s finest chefs, and join a community preparing traditional Pachamanca in an earthen oven lined with hot stones.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br /> 6. Cruise the Douro River through Portugal with Riviera River Cruises and pass stunning cliffs and terraced vineyards; tour a Port wine cellar; and experience dinner at a typical Portuguese quinta. An excursion to Salamanca, Spain, includes lunch with a traditional flamenco show.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br /> 7. Poland Culinary Vacations takes a slow-vacation approach to its small group programs (of no more than 15 participants) featuring hands-on demonstrations side-by-side with local chefs in big-city kitchens in acclaimed restaurants, and on its rural routes to small Polish villages in the countryside.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br /> 8. A Ride & Seek cycling tour of Puglia highlights a region of southern Italy known for its olives, durum wheat, and sheep’s milk cheeses. Ride through ancient olive groves; taste wonderful homemade pasta dishes; and watch as mozzarella is made the traditional way – a tasting is obligatory.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br /> 9. On a tour of Moscow and St. Petersburg with MIR Corporation, experience Russian cuisine beyond borscht and blini. Explore enduring open-air markets and their new organic relatives; sample czarist and nouvelle cuisine; visit retro Soviet cafes and modern vodka bars; and meet famed chefs and dine in a country dacha.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br /> 10. La RosaWorks Sicily Tours & Travel has already scheduled its Beating Heart of Sicily Tour for May of 2018. Emphasizing culture, wine and food — dining on local specialties in farmhouses and palazzos, wineries and a Byzantine Chapel — clients will learn, experience and maybe even return to Sicily many times over.</span></p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em>This article first appeared in Travel Market Report; Photo: Shutterstock.com</em></span></p><p></p></div>10 Fantastic Foodie Tripshttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/10-trips-foodie-culinary-tourism-travel2018-02-20T01:00:00.000Z2018-02-20T01:00:00.000ZMaria Lisellahttps://tripatini.com/members/MariaLisella<div><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009226901,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009226901,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-full" alt="9009226901?profile=original" /></a><br /> Gastronomy is a fashionable trend, a hobby for thousands, and according to a recent U.N. World Tourism Organization report, is now one of the main motivations for many to travel.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br /> The report ranks gastronomy as the third reason tourists decide to visit a destination, following culture and nature. Right behind this trio are health and shopping.<br /> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Linking gastronomy and tourism also provides a platform for the promotion of cultures through a region's cuisine, which assists in destination branding — and helps to promote sustainable tourism by preserving valuable cultural heritage, nurturing pride among communities, and enhancing intercultural understanding. Through a visit to a food festival, cooking class or farm-to-table dining experience, tourists garner a better sense of local values and traditions.<br /> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">When you come across a client who expresses an interest in gastronomic adventures, consider sharing any of these trips:<br /> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">1. Ride off the beach and into Rio de Janeiro in time for the iconic Carnival on TDA Global Cycling’s new month-long, 1,700-mile tour down northeast Brazil’s stunning, sun-drenched coast. Along the way, experience celebrations in other towns; eat fresh fish or feijoada, the national dish of Brazil; and sip refreshing caipirinha cocktails.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br /> 2. Rent a luxurious cabin at Montana’s exclusive Moonlight Basin community for ski-in, ski-out access to the neighboring Big Sky Resort. Enjoy private, guided skiing 4,000-vertical feet down the famed North Summit Snowfield and terrain (which is not open to the public) to a toast at The Reserve Clubhouse.<br /> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">3. At the 25,000-acre Red Reflet Ranch in Ten Sleep, Wyoming, play cowboy or cowgirl during the day, riding horses and working cattle — and then sit down to a gourmet meal made of beef from the ranch’s butcher shop and produce from the organic greenhouse and gardens.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br /> 4. On a cycling tour with Tourissimo, steep in the sights, scents and flavors of western Sicily while riding alongside award-winning celebrity chefs, Traci Des Jardins and Mary Sue Milliken. Off their bikes, Des Jardins and Milliken source local ingredients and join local chefs in preparing two dinners.<br /> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">5. Savor traditional and modern flavors of Peru, and explore the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, on a culinary tour with Adventure Life. While there, go into the kitchen for a cooking demonstration with Cusco’s finest chefs, and join a community preparing traditional Pachamanca in an earthen oven lined with hot stones.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br /> 6. Cruise the Douro River through Portugal with Riviera River Cruises and pass stunning cliffs and terraced vineyards; tour a Port wine cellar; and experience dinner at a typical Portuguese quinta. An excursion to Salamanca, Spain, includes lunch with a traditional flamenco show.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br /> 7. Poland Culinary Vacations takes a slow-vacation approach to its small group programs (of no more than 15 participants) featuring hands-on demonstrations side-by-side with local chefs in big-city kitchens in acclaimed restaurants, and on its rural routes to small Polish villages in the countryside.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br /> 8. A Ride & Seek cycling tour of Puglia highlights a region of southern Italy known for its olives, durum wheat, and sheep’s milk cheeses. Ride through ancient olive groves; taste wonderful homemade pasta dishes; and watch as mozzarella is made the traditional way – a tasting is obligatory.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br /> 9. On a tour of Moscow and St. Petersburg with MIR Corporation, experience Russian cuisine beyond borscht and blini. Explore enduring open-air markets and their new organic relatives; sample czarist and nouvelle cuisine; visit retro Soviet cafes and modern vodka bars; and meet famed chefs and dine in a country dacha.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br /> 10. La RosaWorks Sicily Tours & Travel has already scheduled its Beating Heart of Sicily Tour for May of 2018. Emphasizing culture, wine and food — dining on local specialties in farmhouses and palazzos, wineries and a Byzantine Chapel — clients will learn, experience and maybe even return to Sicily many times over.</span></p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em>This article first appeared in Travel Market Report; Photo: Shutterstock.com</em></span></p><p></p></div>Cirque du Soleil Arrives at a Luxury Mayan Rivera Resorthttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/cirque-du-soleil-vidanta-riviera-maya-mexico2017-11-15T15:43:20.000Z2017-11-15T15:43:20.000ZSteve Mirskyhttps://tripatini.com/members/SteveMirsky964<div><p><a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Cirque-du-Soleil-JOYA-Trampo-Wall-Act-2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Cirque-du-Soleil-JOYA-Trampo-Wall-Act-2.jpg?width=1000" class="align-center" width="1000" alt="Cirque-du-Soleil-JOYA-Trampo-Wall-Act-2.jpg?width=1000" /></a></p><p></p><p><span class="font-size-3"><a href="https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/">Cirque du Soleil</a> shows are imbued in the magic of lighting, interplay of costumes, and spectacular acrobatics, all tied into a storyline filled with intrigue and charisma. Cirque's <a href="https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/joya">JOYA</a>, performed on continuous engagement in Mexico's Mayan Riviera, is certainly no different and has the extra special distinction of being the only show to incorporate a VIP dining experience into the festivities.</span></p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Cirque-du-Soleil-JOYA-Theatre.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Cirque-du-Soleil-JOYA-Theatre.jpg?width=1000" class="align-center" width="1000" alt="Cirque-du-Soleil-JOYA-Theatre.jpg?width=1000" /></a></p><p></p><p><span class="font-size-3">Upon entering El Teatro de Cirque du Soleil on the property of <a href="https://www.vidanta.com">Vidanta Riviera Maya</a>, you immediately realize you're embarking on something special as you begin walking along the gently sloped wooden boardwalk winding over a lagoon ringed with mangroves leading up to the theater perched 11 meters above the Mayan jungle, fronted by a gigantic waterfall illuminated with colors at night.</span></p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Cirque-du-Soleil-JOYA.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Cirque-du-Soleil-JOYA.jpg?width=1000" class="align-center" width="1000" alt="Cirque-du-Soleil-JOYA.jpg?width=1000" /></a></p><p></p><p><span class="font-size-3">The theater's design blends into its natural surroundings with thatched palapa-style roofs and an interior replicating the discovery of a cavernous cenote, one of the enormous sinkholes found throughout Yucatan Peninsula. During ancient times they were believed to be sacred portals to a mythical underworld.</span></p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Cirque-du-Soleil-JOYA-Mr.-Zelig-with-Pirate.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Cirque-du-Soleil-JOYA-Mr.-Zelig-with-Pirate.jpg?width=1000" class="align-center" width="1000" alt="Cirque-du-Soleil-JOYA-Mr.-Zelig-with-Pirate.jpg?width=1000" /></a></p><p></p><p><span class="font-size-3">JOYA director Martin Genest taps plot scenes into Mexico's diverse history and culture, going beyond familiar Mexican clichés and stereotypes. The main character Zelig is an aging naturalist devoting his life collecting all the knowledge of the world in a "Naturalium" filled with shelves of old books. This represents Mexico as home to one of the largest universities in the world with a culture of knowledge transfer dating back to ancient Mayan civilization. This concept is further solidified when Zelig bestows his life's work to granddaughter Joya at the end.</span></p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Cirque-du-Soleil-JOYA-Joya-and-the-Masters.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Cirque-du-Soleil-JOYA-Joya-and-the-Masters.jpg?width=1000" class="align-center" width="1000" alt="Cirque-du-Soleil-JOYA-Joya-and-the-Masters.jpg?width=1000" /></a></p><p></p><p><span class="font-size-3">Joya's thunderous entrance via an asteroid that wreaks havoc in the Naturalium alludes to a huge asteroid that fell in the Yucatán Peninsula 66 million years ago, obliterating the world's dinosaurs. A huge mural styled after Mexican fresco painter Diego Rivera appears on stage representing the inner turmoil and juxtaposing thoughts of Joya, depicted by the migration of millions of monarch butterflies that migrate over 3,000 miles each year from southern Canada to central Mexico.</span></p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Cirque-du-Soleil-JOYA-VIP-Cocktail.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Cirque-du-Soleil-JOYA-VIP-Cocktail.jpg?width=1000" class="align-center" width="1000" alt="Cirque-du-Soleil-JOYA-VIP-Cocktail.jpg?width=1000" /></a></p><p></p><p><span class="font-size-3"><a href="https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/joya#about">JOYÀ's VIP gastronomic experience</a> also busts preconceived notions of what constitutes authentic Mexican cuisine. You get access to a pre-show cocktail experience melding an aura of alchemy and eclectic mixology with drinks like the Alebrije.</span></p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Cirque-du-Soleil-JOYA-VIP-Dinner-Show-and-Champagne-Seating.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Cirque-du-Soleil-JOYA-VIP-Dinner-Show-and-Champagne-Seating.jpg?width=1000" class="align-center" width="1000" alt="Cirque-du-Soleil-JOYA-VIP-Dinner-Show-and-Champagne-Seating.jpg?width=1000" /></a></p><p></p><p><span class="font-size-3">One hour before the performance, prior to any other ticketholders being admitted, you are seated at one of the circular tables ringing the stage, lit by chandeliers high above, where a three-course dinner featuring inventive dishes entirely made with ingredients sourced from Mexico are artfully presented with an accompanying bottle of champagne.</span></p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Cirque-du-Soleil-JOYA-Natura-Dinner-First-Course.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Cirque-du-Soleil-JOYA-Natura-Dinner-First-Course.jpg?width=1000" class="align-center" width="1000" alt="Cirque-du-Soleil-JOYA-Natura-Dinner-First-Course.jpg?width=1000" /></a></p><p></p><p><span class="font-size-3">Grupo Vidanta executive chef Alexis Bostelmann designed each dish to be a creative blend of inspiration and audacity. Starting with an edible wafer based menu, you are served a nature-filled “breadbasket” sculpted in the form of a plant containing different breads and crackers with savory herbs and seeds.</span></p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Cirque-du-Soleil-JOYA-Salmon.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Cirque-du-Soleil-JOYA-Salmon.jpg?width=1000" class="align-center" width="1000" alt="Cirque-du-Soleil-JOYA-Salmon.jpg?width=1000" /></a></p><p></p><p><span class="font-size-3">Appetizers (Natura) are made with exquisite ingredients like marinated watermelon and tartar of baja cold smoked catch of the day, while your choice of main courses (Arto) includes braised short rib and filet of salmon.</span></p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Cirque-du-Soleil-JOYA-VIP-Dinner-Experience-Desserts.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Cirque-du-Soleil-JOYA-VIP-Dinner-Experience-Desserts.jpg?width=1000" class="align-center" width="1000" alt="Cirque-du-Soleil-JOYA-VIP-Dinner-Experience-Desserts.jpg?width=1000" /></a></p><p></p><p><span class="font-size-3">The experience is topped with a stunning array of exquisite house made textural desserts (Scienco) presented inside a box with an exterior replicating a book.</span></p><p></p><blockquote><span class="font-size-3"><em><br /> <span class="font-size-1">Photos courtesy of Joya. Coverage made possible by participating in a sponsored attendance.</span></em></span></blockquote></div>4 Costa Rica Must-Sees for Adventure/Nature Lovershttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/costa-rica-adventure-ecotourism2017-10-03T11:25:16.000Z2017-10-03T11:25:16.000ZShannon Farleyhttps://tripatini.com/members/ShannonFarley<div><p><b><i>If you like to adventure, these four iconic places in Costa Rica need to be on your travel list. <br /></i></b></p><p></p><p>From the towering Rincon de la Vieja Volcano to an endless horizon of water birds during migration season in Palo Verde National Park, here are some of the most iconic places in Costa Rica to visit in the Guanacaste province.</p><p></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009191690,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="650" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009191690,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-full" alt="9009191690?profile=original" /></a><span class="font-size-4"><strong><br /> RINCON DE LA VIEJA NATIONAL PARK</strong></span></p><p><span class="font-size-2"><span class="font-size-3"><b>To Do:</b> Hiking, waterfall swimming, hot springs, horseback riding, wildlife viewing</span></span></p><p>The massive, 600,000-year-old geological wonder of the <a href="http://www.guanacastetours.com/rincon-de-la-vieja-national-park-las-pailas-trails-oropendola-waterfall-rio-negro-hot-springs/" target="_blank">Rincón de la Vieja Volcano</a> in Guanacaste, Costa Rica is an adventurer’s dream. Seeing the awesome power of the live volcano in the <a href="https://www.guachipelin.com/en/location/national-park.html" target="_blank">Rincón de la Vieja National Park</a> – steaming fumaroles, mini-geysers, bubbling volcanic mud pits, and natural hot springs – give you an incredible experience like no other volcano in Costa Rica. At 6,286 feet (1,916 meters) tall and 9 miles (15 km) wide, Rincón de la Vieja is the largest and most active volcano in Guanacaste. It bridges the Continental Divide with at least nine volcanic craters. More than 32 rivers flow down its sides. The volcano and national park are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Guanacaste Conservation Area.</p><p>Nature lovers are in luck since the exotic dry tropical forest of the Rincón de la Vieja National Park is home to over 300 bird species and many mammals, including white-faced, howler and spider monkeys, armadillos, collared peccaries, pumas and white-nosed coatis.</p><p>Even more, the northern side of Rincon de la Vieja Volcano is completely different. Dry tropical forest turns into lush, green rainforest and a paradise of sky blue streams, gushing waterfalls, warm thermal springs, ornate orchids, and wild jungle where jaguars and tapirs roam. You can visit the area at the <a href="http://www.guanacastetours.com/sensoria-land-of-senses/" target="_blank">Sensoria private nature reserve</a>.</p><p></p><p><span class="font-size-4"><strong><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009192073,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="650" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009192073,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" alt="9009192073?profile=original" /></a><br /> PALO VERDE NATIONAL PARK</strong></span></p><p><span class="font-size-3"><b>To Do:</b></span> <span class="font-size-3">Bird watching, wildlife viewing, river safari</span></p><p><a href="http://www.guanacastetours.com/palo-verde-national-park-nature-cruise/" target="_blank">Palo Verde National Park</a> is best known for its superb bird watching in Costa Rica. Covering more than 18,410 hectares (45,490 acres) along the Tempisque River delta, Palo Verde National Park protects some of the most important wetlands in Costa Rica and the world. A combination of wetlands, salt water marshes, mangroves, and dry tropical forest attract thousands of native and migratory birds, along with other wildlife like American Crocodiles, Spectacled Caimans, howler and white-faced monkeys, iguanas and turtles.</p><p></p><p><span class="font-size-3"><b><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9296628700,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="650" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9296628700,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-full" alt="9296628700?profile=original" /></a><br /> MIRAVALLES & TENORIO VOLCANOES</b></span></p><p><span class="font-size-3"><b>To Do:</b> Hiking, hanging bridges tour, wildlife viewing</span></p><p>Listen to the hum of the jungle and spend time in nature – proven to have healing benefits – at the twin volcanoes of Miravalles and Tenorio in Guanacaste. Surrounded by lush cloud forest, these two volcanoes and their national parks offer breathtaking pristine beauty. Famous for being the tallest peak in the Guanacaste mountain range, the Miravalles Volcano is dormant, although it still produces geothermal energy for electricity. The Tenorio Volcano National Park is known for its abundant wildlife and hiking trails like the <a href="http://www.guanacastetours.com/heliconias-rain-forest-hanging-bridges/" target="_blank">Heliconias Rainforest and Hanging Bridges</a>.</p><p></p><p><span class="font-size-4"><b><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009192666,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="650" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009192666,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-full" alt="9009192666?profile=original" /></a><br /> COROBICI RIVER</b></span></p><p><span class="font-size-3"><b>To Do:</b> River rafting float trip, bird watching, wildlife viewing</span></p><p>One of the best ways to discover the incredible wildlife of Costa Rica is on a gentle <a href="http://www.guanacastetours.com/corobici-river-float-tour/" target="_blank">float tour down the Corobici River</a>. Located in the heart of the Guanacaste province, the Corobici is a wide Class I and II river with moderate waves, suitable for all ages. This is an especially excellent tour for bird watching and wildlife viewing.</p><p>While your guide rows the raft, you get to keep an eye out for exotic tropical birds like toucans, parrots, motmots, cuckoos, laughing falcons, kingfishers, sungrebes, egrets, ospreys and herons, along with monkeys, otters, iguanas and other animals. This is a great Guanacaste tour for families.</p><p></p><p>Experience the diverse beauty of Guanacaste at these top iconic places in Costa Rica with Guanacaste Tours.</p><p><b><i> </i></b></p></div>It's Summer! Why Not Vacation Outdoors in Costa Rica?https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/summer-vacation-outdoors-icosta-ric2017-07-03T18:48:13.000Z2017-07-03T18:48:13.000ZShannon Farleyhttps://tripatini.com/members/ShannonFarley<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9296625892,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="650" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9296625892,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" alt="9296625892?profile=original" /></a></p><p><br /> It’s summer - time to be outside enjoying everything nature has to offer! Time for a vacation where you can disconnect in nature and slow down from the fast pace of daily life.</p><p><br /> “Nature offers one of the most reliable boosts to your mental and physical well-being,” reports <em>Business Insider</em>.</p><p><br /> “Breathe in the beauty and remember that by keeping our planet healthy, we keep ourselves healthy too,” urges the United Nations in this month’s World Environment Day 2017 theme of "Connecting People to Nature."</p><p><br /> In the land of stunning scenery, sunshine and smiles in <a href="http://www.guanacastetours.com/" target="_blank">Guanacaste, Costa Rica</a>, being on vacation outside in breathtaking nature is easy. Costa Ricans work hard to preserve their nature, protecting more than 25 percent of the country’s territory in national parks and private reserves.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009176096,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="700" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009176096,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" alt="9009176096?profile=original" /></a><br /> For some of the <a href="https://www.guachipelin.com/en/tours/nature-tours.html" target="_blank">best nature tours in Guanacaste</a> by the <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/location/national-park.html" target="_blank">Rincon de la Vieja National Park</a>, head to eco-adventure <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/" target="_blank">Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin</a>. Swim in beautiful waterfall pools, soak in natural volcanic <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/tours/hot-springs.html" target="_blank">hot springs</a>, go <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/tours/horseback-riding.html" target="_blank">horseback riding</a> through unique dry tropical forest, and see exotic wildlife. The forest around Hacienda Guachipelin and the western side of Rincón de la Vieja Volcano forms an interesting ecosystem for different kinds of animals and plants than you see elsewhere in Costa Rica.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009176481,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="700" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009176481,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" alt="9009176481?profile=original" /></a><br /> An Enchanting Hotel Costa Rica, Hacienda Guachipelin has plenty of adrenaline-charged <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/tours/adventure-tours.html" target="_blank">adventure tours</a> as well, and all of them outside in spectacular nature.</p><p><br /> Set on a 137-year-old, traditional Guanacaste ranch, Hacienda Guachipelin provides a incredible experience of Costa Rica’s rich ranching and cowboy traditions. And they do it while being environmentally friendly and committed to sustainability and conservation.</p><p>So you can be outdoors in nature on vacation and be kind to the planet at the same time.</p><p><i><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009177086,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="700" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009177086,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" alt="9009177086?profile=original" /></a><br /></i></p></div>A Guide to Rio de Janeiro's Ipanema Beachhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/ipanema-beach-a-guide-to-going-to-the-beach-in-rio-de-janeiro2017-04-13T16:00:00.000Z2017-04-13T16:00:00.000Zlauren quinnhttps://tripatini.com/members/laurenquinn<div><div class="sqs-block html-block sqs-block-html" id="block-6a0e0f2134cc7b6fc605"><div class="sqs-block-content" id="yui_3_17_2_1_1491317618117_281"><p style="text-align:center;"><span class="font-size-2"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009140486,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009140486,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" alt="9009140486?profile=original" /></a><span class="font-size-1"><em>A visit to Ipanema Beach is number one on every visitor's to-do list</em></span><br /> <br /></span></p><p><span class="font-size-2">When visitors to Rio ask me at <strong><a href="http://www.bromeliario.com" target="_blank">Bromelia Rio Travel</a></strong> what I recommend, the reply is always the same… go to the beach. Ipanema might not have the calmest waters nor the most turquoise, but it is by far the most incredible beach I have ever been to. It is tantalizing to the senses! All you have to do is show up and the magical world of Rio will come to you. The best part is it all unfolds in a very relaxed fashion. You won’t find insistent vendors or pushy people here. The beautiful bodies, happy grandmas, sexy couples, <strong><a href="https://bromeliario.com/rio-football-match-tickets/" target="_blank">futebol (soccer)</a></strong>, volleyball, and paddleball games, live <strong><a href="https://bromeliario.com/local-rio-samba-party-tour/" target="_blank">samba music</a></strong>, colorful bikinis for sale, hot beach snacks, ice cold drinks, handmade toys, fragrant sunscreen and oils, will all walk by. Your options are simple: either give the thumbs-up sign (meaning thank you but no) or the ‘<em>psiu</em>’ sound, indicating that you want to participate. So here is your little instruction guide to a happy day at the beach.<br /> <br /></span></p><p id="yui_3_17_2_1_1491317618117_280"><span class="font-size-2">A <strong><a href="https://bromeliario.com/a-locals-guide-to-rio-de-janeiro/" target="_blank">Carioca</a></strong> (Rio de Janeiro native) arrives at the beach early and stays all day - sometimes up to ten hours in the summer. Look for a wet path from the sidewalk to a beach stand, this means the sand will be cooler to walk on and the owner of the beach stand <em>‘barraca’</em> is thoughtful and hopefully more honest. Walk up to the stand that feels good and rent a chair and an umbrella, which rents by the day and not the hour. Everything on the beach costs about 5-6 reais, except a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBTXfPwaayo" target="_blank">caipirinha</a> and an umbrella, which are about 10-15 reais. You might pay per round; however, most often the <em>barraca</em> keeps a tally which you pay for at the end of the day. From then on you can either order drinks from your chair or go up for prompter service if the service boys are busy flirting. Locals say the ideal time to be directly in the sun is before 11 am and after 3 pm. In between is excellent for long chats under the umbrella ‘<em>guarda-sol</em>’ or a small snooze after the morning round of ice cold beers. <br /> <br /></span></p><p><span class="font-size-2">Everything for sale on the beach will walk by you every few minutes, so if you miss it, know that another opportunity will arrive shortly. Each vendor has an individual call that he sings out loud to try and entice you to buy his product. Some make up songs with samba rhythms and some with funk (a style of music from Rio that is similar to hip-hop). Locals have their favorite vendors and are faithful to them. The songs make it easier to not miss them if you are making that night’s plans with your new Carioca friend. </span></p><p></p></div></div><div class="sqs-block image-block sqs-block-image sqs-text-ready" id="block-yui_3_17_2_9_1490477781418_5043"><div class="sqs-block-content" id="yui_3_17_2_1_1491317618117_135"><div class="image-block-outer-wrapper layout-caption-below design-layout-inline" id="yui_3_17_2_1_1491317618117_134"><div class="intrinsic" id="yui_3_17_2_1_1491317618117_133"><div class="image-block-wrapper has-aspect-ratio" id="yui_3_17_2_1_1491317618117_132"><span class="font-size-2"><img class="thumb-image loaded" alt="Colorful Array of Beach Umbrellas on Ipanema Beach" src="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5621c48fe4b092a567c0a7cd/t/58d86a9603596e5dede0dd32/1490578078282/Brazilian+Beach+Casa+Bromelia?format=1000w" /></span></div><div class="image-caption-wrapper"><div class="image-caption"><p style="text-align:center;"><span class="font-size-1"><em>Colorful array of beach umbrellas on Ipanema Beach</em></span></p><p style="text-align:center;"></p></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="sqs-block html-block sqs-block-html" id="block-yui_3_17_2_9_1490477781418_5246"><div class="sqs-block-content"><p><span class="font-size-2"><em><strong>A MUST:</strong> </em>Order a m<em>atte</em> (iced tea with lemonade) and a bag of <em>globo</em> crackers (green is salty, red is sweet). This is the ultimate classic Carioca tradition. The matte vendors will be wearing orange outfits and have a large metal barrel under each arm, one with tea and one with lemonade. You choose how much of each one you would like. If you have ‘<em>boa energia</em> ("<span>good energy"), </span>the vendor might offer you a complimentary top-up <em>chorinho</em>, which literally translates to "little cry." But be careful. According to Brazilians, if lime gets on your skin whilst in the sunshine, it will stain. So best to put a little lemonade in first and then fill up with tea. Remember when Brazilians feel good around you, it is their pleasure to share all that they have.<br /> <br /></span></p><p><span class="font-size-2"><strong><em>Another beach gem</em>:</strong> You will see men walking up and down the beach swinging small grills used to bbq cheese (<em>queijo coalho</em>). This is a type of cheese, similar to Halumi, that is very dense and lends itself perfectly to the small bbq. You can order it with oregano or natural, but both will come charred black and delicious!<br /> <br /></span></p><p><span class="font-size-2"><strong><em>Swimsuits</em>:</strong> The men with hundreds of tiny pieces of fluorescent fabric fixed onto an umbrella are the bathing suit vendors. Bouncing up and down the beach, like jelly fish, these boys have nothing but time in the world. Flag one of them down and they will be happy to have you try on everything they have and will also be glad to hold up a <strong><a href="https://shop.bromeliario.com/pareos-sarongs/" target="_blank">sarong</a></strong> ‘<em>canga</em>’ while you shimmy in and out of them. The and ‘<em>sungas</em>' (small male bathing suit) are cheap and cheerful! Brazilians own what they have on the beach. In translation, there is no shame in sporting a eensy weensy bikini no matter what your size. From personal experience, there is very little difference between the small and extra-large bikinis. In short, we all wear the same bikini!<br /> <br /></span></p><p><span class="font-size-2"><strong><em>Tips for Grooming & Tanning</em>:</strong> The average Brazilian swears that it isn’t their natural skin tone that lends itself so well to tanning. The secret to that golden tan is keeping wet the entire time on the beach. This involves the effortless and graceful dunking in between the massive waves and strong undertow or the much easier frequent runs to the saltwater beach showers. You can also expedite the process by drinking carrot/beet juice daily from a ‘<em>suco’</em> stand and applying layers of carrot ‘<em>cenoura</em>’ or <em>urucum</em> oil while at the beach (which you can find sold in small brown bottles alongside the sunscreen). A Brazilian woman will also bring to the beach a comb and a bottle of conditioner. She will give her hair a hydrating treatment while enjoying her ice cold beverage and catching up on that week’s gossip.<br /> <br /></span></p><p><span class="font-size-2"><strong>MOST IMPORTANTLY:</strong> Don’t be shy! Brazilians aren’t uncomfortable making friends even if you don’t speak the same language. They find these differences charming. It will make your day incredibly beautiful if you befriend locals, who will be more than happy to share their food, teach you about Brazil and laugh all afternoon with you. </span></p><p><span class="font-size-2"><em><strong><br /> What to bring:</strong></em></span></p><ul><li><span style="color:#000000;" class="font-size-2"><strong><a href="https://shop.bromeliario.com/pareos-sarongs/" target="_blank">a sarong</a></strong> (not a towel…no one uses towels on the beach)</span></li><li><strong><a href="https://shop.bromeliario.com/shop-swimwear/" target="_blank">a Brazilian swimsuit</a></strong></li><li><span class="font-size-2">suntan lotion</span></li><li><span style="color:#000000;" class="font-size-2">sunglasses</span></li><li><span style="color:#000000;" class="font-size-2"><span style="color:#000000;">straw sunhat</span></span></li><li><span style="color:#000000;" class="font-size-2"><span style="color:#000000;">hair conditioner</span></span></li><li><span style="color:#000000;" class="font-size-2"><span style="color:#000000;"><a target="_blank" href="http://amzn.to/2nFWHRX"></a>havaianas (flip-flops)</span></span></li><li><span style="color:#000000;" class="font-size-2">beach bag</span></li></ul><p><span class="font-size-2"><strong><em><br /> What not to bring:</em></strong></span></p><ul><li><span class="font-size-2">Anything valuable to the beach, especially a phone or passport.</span></li></ul><p></p><p><span class="font-size-2"><em><strong>MY FAVORITE BEACH:</strong> </em>Posto 9 is the most interesting and trendy part of Ipanema. It is where the fashionistas, celebrities, gays, tourists and classic Cariocas all come together. </span></p><p></p><p><span class="font-size-2"><em><strong>MY FAVORITE BEACH STAND:</strong> Barraca do Uruguai (#80)</em> has the deserved reputation for the best drinks, food (chimichurri sandwiches) and eye candy. Anthony Bourdain even visited during his Rio episode. This family has been running the stand for over 30 years and has even received an award from the government for being an Ipanema beach Institution. This is a stand with dignity, even the sandwich bread is delivered fresh every hour. Tell them, Lauren, the California Girl, sent you. You will be treated like family!</span></p><p><span class="font-size-2"><strong><br /> VIDEO: What's in an Ipanema Beach Bag?</strong></span></p><p><span class="font-size-2"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-m5133mfgR0"><br /> <strong>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-m5133mfgR0</strong><br /></a></span></p><p></p></div></div></div>Hot Springs in Costa Rica Are the New Spa Vacationhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/hot-springs-in-costa-rica-are-the-new-spa-vacation2016-05-04T20:30:00.000Z2016-05-04T20:30:00.000ZShannon Farleyhttps://tripatini.com/members/ShannonFarley<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008934894,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008934894,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="685" alt="9008934894?profile=original" /></a></p><p><br />For those looking to relax and detoxify their bodies, <b>hot springs in Costa Rica</b> are the “new, hot destination.”<br /><br />Hot springs have been treasured for centuries by people all over the world for their <a href="http://vitals.lifehacker.com/the-surprising-health-benefits-of-hot-springs-and-miner-1755445948" target="_blank">therapeutic benefits</a>. Luxuriant warm water rich in minerals like sulfur, silica, calcium, iron and magnesium are rejuvenating, detoxifying and relaxing. Not to mention great for stress reduction. Reported <a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/146809-benefits-of-hot-springs-spas/" target="_blank">health benefits of hot springs</a> include relief from arthritis, fibromyalgia, skin conditions, and high blood pressure.</p><p> </p><p>Now hot springs in Costa Rica are even more accessible than ever with <b>nonstop <a href="http://www.liberiacostaricaairport.net/#liberiaairportairlines" target="_blank">flights to Liberia, Costa Rica</a></b>, in the northern Guanacaste region, from the U.S., Canada and Europe.<br /><br /></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009066894,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="650" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009066894,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9009066894?profile=original" /></a></p><p><br />Less than an hour from the Liberia International Airport, the sprawling ranch of <strong><a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/" target="_blank">Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin</a></strong> at the foot of the magnificent <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/location/national-park.html" target="_blank">Rincon de la Vieja Volcano</a> features beautiful and relaxing <b>volcanic </b><strong><a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/tours/relaxation-tours/rio-negro-hot-springs.html" target="_blank">hot springs at Rio Negro</a></strong> (“Black River”). The hot springs are heated naturally by this largest and most active volcano in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. In and around the <b>Rincon de la Vieja National Park</b>, you can see steam vents, bubbling volcanic mud pits, thermal springs and waterfalls.</p><p> </p><p>Surrounded by thick forest, the pristine Rio Negro flows through 10 man-made pools that Hacienda Guachipelin has created to capture the steaming mineral-rich water. You access pools (of varying temperatures) on both sides of the river by two hanging bridges. Heated volcanic clay is available to smooth all over like a “spa body masque.”</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009067467,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="650" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009067467,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9009067467?profile=original" /></a></p><p><br />There are changing rooms, bathrooms and lockers at the hot springs entrance. From there, you walk an easy trail less than a quarter-mile (350 meters) through the forest to the hot springs pools. Watch for monkeys, Blue Morpho butterflies and other wildlife along the way.<br /><br /></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009067501,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009067501,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="640" alt="9009067501?profile=original" /></a><br />The Costa Rica eco-hotel offers <b>tours to the hot springs</b> with a fun horseback ride, or you can drive 15 minutes in your own vehicle from the hotel. The very popular <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/tours/costa-rica-adventure-tours.html" target="_blank">One Day Adventure Pass</a> and <b>One Day Nature Pass</b> at Hacienda Guachipelin also both include a visit to the Rio Negro Hot Springs.</p><p> </p><p><b>Open:</b> 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily</p><p><b>Entrance</b> is complimentary for hotel guests, or costs $20 for adult visitors; $15 for children (4-11 years).<br /><br /></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009068262,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009068262,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="477" alt="9009068262?profile=original" /></a></p><p><br />For a more private spa experience, visit the hotel’s <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/tours/relaxation-tours/simbiosis-volcanic-mud-springs-spa.html" target="_blank">Simbiosis Spa & Hot Springs</a>. On the banks of the Colorado River at the Hacienda Guachipelin Ranch, Simbiosis Spa features volcanic mud baths, volcanic clay water hot springs pools in the forest, a sauna, massages and body treatments, and a reception area with dressing rooms. Open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily. Entrance is $15 for adults and $10 for children (4-11 years, and does not include massages or body treatments.</p><p></p></div>The legend of how Nicuesa Beach in Costa Rica got its namehttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/the-legend-of-how-nicuesa-beach-in-costa-rica-got-its-name2016-03-21T20:19:35.000Z2016-03-21T20:19:35.000ZShannon Farleyhttps://tripatini.com/members/ShannonFarley<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009058092,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009058092,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9009058092?profile=original" /></a>No one really knows how<b> <a href="http://www.nicuesalodge.com/about-playa-nicuesa/exotic-destination/" target="_blank">Nicuesa Beach</a> in Costa Rica</b> got its unusual name.</p><p>One thing is for certain, the picturesque little cove in the Pacific gulf of <a href="http://www.nicuesalodge.com/about-playa-nicuesa/getting-here/" target="_blank">Golfo Dulce in southern Costa Rica</a> takes its name auspiciously from the Spanish conquistador and explorer, <strong><a href="http://www.bruceruiz.net/PanamaHistory/diego_de_nicuesa.htm" target="_blank">Diego de Nicuesa</a></strong> (1464 – 1511). His name further lives on in <strong><a href="http://www.nicuesalodge.com/" target="_blank">Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge</a></strong>, a beautiful ecotourism and nature lodge located on Nicuesa beach.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009059057,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009059057,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="192" alt="9009059057?profile=original" /></a>But <b>who was Diego de Nicuesa</b>, and how did a little Costa Rican beach receive his name?</p><p>Diego de Nicuesa was a very rich nobleman and a member of the Spanish Royal Court. He held the office of The Royal Carver, serving the king and queen at mealtimes. Nicuesa was known to be one of the most pretentious and arrogant individuals in Madrid, although reportedly he was very popular with the ladies at Court.</p><p>In 1508, Spanish King Ferdinand II (married to Queen Isabella I), looked for volunteers to go colonize the “new world”, called <i>Tierra Firme</i>, that had been found by Christopher Columbus. All of Tierra Firme, west of the Gulf of Darien where Panama meets Colombia, was named <i>Castilla del Oro</i>, or Castle of Gold, for the riches of gold alleged to be in those lands.</p><p>The King wanted that gold and appointed Nicuesa, along with Spaniard Alonso de Ojeda, to go colonize these new lands – giving each a separate territory to govern. Nicuesa’s land was what would now be the northern half of Panama, Costa Rica and Nicaragua, while Ojeda had southern Panama and Colombia. At the time, however, Europeans did not know that the Pacific Ocean existed, and so their concept of the area confined to the east coasts and what land they could see extending beyond.</p><p>Nicuesa and his men in their new home unfortunately were besieged by disease, hunger, the hostile jungle environment, and indigenous peoples who didn’t feel like being colonized. No gold was found. After more than a year, nearly all of Nicuesa’s 700 men had died, his horses had been eaten, and his ships were sinking. The ragtag group managed to build a small fort at a place they called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nombre_de_Dios,_Col%C3%B3n" target="_blank">Nombre de Dios</a>, or Name of God, in the Colón Province of northern Panama.</p><p>The little colony nearly disappeared until at the end of 1510, one of Nicuesa's captains, Rodrigo Enriquez de Colmenares, who had been left behind on the supply island of Jamaica, showed up loaded with provisions and fresh men. Colmenares found Nicuesa and the handful of men that were still alive and reinvigorated them with fresh food and clothing.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009059275,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="636" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009059275,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9009059275?profile=original" /></a>Nicuesa found out that a southern colony named "Nuestra Señora de Antigua del Darien", governed by Spanish explorer <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasco_N%C3%BA%C3%B1ez_de_Balboa" target="_blank">Vasco Nuñez de Balboa</a>, was faring quite well and it wounded his pride. Since the little colonial town was technically in his territory, Nicuesa decided in early 1511 to journey there to enforce his power and take control of the settlement. But by the time he arrived, the colonists were warned of Nicuesa’s pretentious intent and denied him entry. Most of his men were allowed to stay, however Nicuesa and 17 loyal followers were put out to sea in a leaking ship and were never heard from again.</p><p>Vasco Núñez de Balboa went on to cross the Isthmus of Panama to the Pacific Ocean in 1513, two years after Nicuesa’s disappearance, becoming the first European to reach the Pacific Coast in the New World.</p><p>Maybe Balboa named Playa Nicuesa when he was exploring up the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. He needed a name for the little beach and decided to immortalize Nicuesa as one of the first Spanish colonists.</p><p>The legend remains a mystery!</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009059686,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009059686,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="640" alt="9009059686?profile=original" /></a>Luckily <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NicuesaLodge" target="_blank">Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge</a> has none of the pretentiousness of its beach’s namesake. The beautiful <a href="http://www.nicuesalodge.com/about-playa-nicuesa/our-philosophy-of-sustainability/" target="_blank">Costa Rica eco-hotel</a> is a down-to-earth place to stay in Golfo Dulce, offering <a href="http://www.nicuesalodge.com/costa-rica-eco-lodge-rates-packages/" target="_blank">all-inclusive vacations</a> in comfortable rustic luxury, and amazing <a href="http://www.nicuesalodge.com/activities/rainforest-eco-adventures/" target="_blank">rainforest</a> and <a href="http://www.nicuesalodge.com/activities/ocean-eco-adventures/" target="_blank">ocean adventures</a>. Located on a 165-acre private rainforest preserve – accessible only by boat on the Golfo Dulce – the <b>exotic destination</b> is part of an immense wildlife corridor including the famous Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula and the Piedras Blancas National Park.</p><p>To <a href="http://www.nicuesalodge.com/accommodations/" target="_blank">stay at Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge</a>, check here for <a href="http://www.nicuesalodge.com/costa-rica-eco-lodge-rates-packages/reservations/" target="_blank">reservations</a>. </p><p><b><i><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009022077,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="650" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009022077,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9009022077?profile=original" /></a>Article by Shannon Farley</i></b></p></div>Costa Rica's version of a dude ranch at Hotel Hacienda Guachipelinhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/costa-rica-s-version-of-a-dude-ranch-at-hotel-hacienda2016-01-24T19:45:05.000Z2016-01-24T19:45:05.000ZShannon Farleyhttps://tripatini.com/members/ShannonFarley<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009027467,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="600" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009027467,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9009027467?profile=original" /></a>It’s 5:45 a.m. The sun is already shining, and I am gingerly making my way through the cow corral, being careful not to step in anything I shouldn’t nor get too close to the long-horned cows.</p><p>I’m headed to the cow barn at <b><a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/" target="_blank">Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin</a> at <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/location/map.html" target="_blank">Rincon de la Vieja, Costa Rica</a></b>, to see how the ranch hands handle the morning milking. Inside, several buckets of steaming, frothy white milk wait in the holding area until they are carried to the hotel restaurant kitchen for processing.</p><p></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009028068,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="350" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009028068,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9009028068?profile=original" /></a>One of the ranch hands is tucked on a little wooden stool by the side of a hefty black cow placidly munching on a rack of hay. His hands skillfully worked the cow’s udder streaming milk rhythmically into a bucket. “Do you want to give it a try?” he asks me.</p><p> Guests at the <b>Costa Rica eco-adventure hotel</b> are invited to <b>watch the milking process every morning, and to give it a try</b> if they want. With a little hesitation, I took my place on the wooden stool. I managed to squirt a little milk into the bucket during my turn. Not bad for a first-time!</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008997284,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008997284,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="473" alt="9008997284?profile=original" /></a></p><p>Life on the 3,400-acre ranch at Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin is full of surprises for guests interested in learning more about the <a href="http://www.enchanting-costarica.com/activities/horse-riding-and-cowboy-dreams-in-guanacaste-costa-rica/" target="_blank">cowboy traditions of Guanacaste, Costa Rica</a>.</p><p>In the rolling plains and dry tropical forest that run up to the towering, active <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/location/national-park.html" target="_blank">Rincon de la Vieja Volcano</a>, the <b>family-owned Hacienda Guachipelin</b> raises horses, cattle, pigs, chickens and turkeys, and grows a wide variety of fruit trees as well as vegetables and herbs in gardens, a greenhouse and farmland.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008946487,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008946487,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="640" alt="9008946487?profile=original" /></a></p><p>Most of the fruit, vegetables, herbs, eggs, milk and dairy products that guests enjoy in the <a href="http://www.enchanting-costarica.com/costa-rica-2/hotel-hacienda-guachipelin-rescues-fresh-culinary-traditions-costa-rica/" target="_blank">hotel restaurant</a> are produced on the ranch. Eggs come from 350 free-range chickens in a huge henhouse. Fresh milk and homemade farmer’s cheese is served at breakfast, and is incorporated into dishes and desserts.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008997056,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008997056,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="510" alt="9008997056?profile=original" /></a></p><p>Learn about ranch activities and see what kind of cowboy or cowgirl you’d be on the <a href="http://guachipelin.com/en/cowboy-for-a-day.html" target="_blank">Cowboy for a Day Tour</a> <b>at Hacienda Guachipelin</b>. You can also ride trusty ranch horses on scenic forest trails to the Rincon de la Vieja National Park, waterfalls and natural hot springs. There are <b>six different <a href="http://guachipelin.com/en/horseback-riding-to-the-oropendola-waterfall-and-rincon-de-la-vieja-national-park.html" target="_blank">horseback riding tours</a> at Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin</b>.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009027701,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009027701,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="586" alt="9009027701?profile=original" /></a></p><p>When you are around the hotel, don’t miss seeing the <b>traditional Costa Rican oxcart</b> making its rounds daily at the noon hour by the <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/hotel/adventure-park.html" target="_blank">Adventure Center</a>. Brightly hand-painted wooden carts pulled by a team of oxen are an important tradition in Costa Rica and are named a <b>UNESCO Intangible World Heritage</b>. And you can’t help loving the faithful ranch dogs that seem to befriend everyone.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9296609861,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9296609861,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="600" alt="9296609861?profile=original" /></a></p><p><strong><a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/hotel/facilities.html" target="_blank">Hotel Hacienda Guachipelín</a></strong></p><p>Hacienda Guachipelin is a <b>unique eco-tourism destination in Guanacaste, Costa Rica</b>, spectacularly located at the foot of the active <b>Rincón de la Vieja Volcano</b>. Stay overnight in <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/rooms-and-rates.html" target="_blank">comfortable ranch-style accommodations</a>, or enjoy the <a href="http://www.enchanting-costarica.com/activities/adventure-tours-in-guanacaste-costa-rica/" target="_blank">best adventure tours in Guanacaste</a> as a day visitor. Located only 15.5 miles (25 km) northeast of Guanacaste’s main city of Liberia, the hotel is easily accessible from the Liberia International Airport.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009022492,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009022492,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="640" alt="9009022492?profile=original" /></a></p><p><b><i>Article by Shannon Farley</i></b></p></div>Farm-to-table cooking at Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin in Costa Ricahttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/farm-to-table-cooking-at-hotel-hacienda-guachipelin-in-costa-rica2015-10-22T19:22:29.000Z2015-10-22T19:22:29.000ZShannon Farleyhttps://tripatini.com/members/ShannonFarley<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008997056,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008997056,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="510" alt="9008997056?profile=original" /></a>Wouldn’t it be nice to dine in a restaurant that only served <b>freshly-made meals made with locally-sourced ingredients</b>, vegetables picked that same day, sauces that didn’t come from a jar or can, bread hot out of the oven, juices that only a moment ago were whole fruit, and desserts loving crafted by an on-site pastry chef?</p><p> </p><p>In fact, you can. This is what is cooking at <b><a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/" target="_blank">Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin</a> in <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/location/map.html" target="_blank">Guanacaste, Costa Rica</a></b>. The renowned <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/hotel/adventure-park.html" target="_blank">Costa Rica eco-adventure hotel</a> at the base of the <b><a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/location/national-park.html" target="_blank">Rincon de la Vieja Volcano</a></b> recently renovated its restaurant and kitchen to be bigger, better and fresher!</p><p> </p><p>Known in the USA as <b>“Farm-to-table” style</b>, this is the real deal at Hacienda Guachipelin, <b>using ingredients found in Costa Rica and always freshly made</b>.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008997453,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="500" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008997453,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008997453?profile=original" /></a>How fresh is fresh? A large portion of Hacienda Guachipelin’s fruit, vegetables, spices, eggs, milk and cheese are <b>harvested daily from the working horse and cattle ranch’s 3,400-acre farm.</b></p><p>Eggs come from <b>300 free-range chickens</b> in a huge henhouse. Milk arrives in the kitchen at 6:30 every morning, hot and steaming from <b>just-milked cows</b> at the cow barn. Kitchen staff makes its own farmer’s cheese, served at breakfast. The restaurant also keeps almond milk and soy milk for persons with lactose allergies.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008997284,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="200" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008997284,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008997284?profile=original" /></a>In a large area of fields and livestock enclosures, long rows of <b>tomatoes, bell peppers and celery grow organically</b> in the sunshine. Lettuce, basil, cilantro, jalapeno chilies and cucumbers fill an <b>organic hydroponic greenhouse</b> near the kitchen and restaurant. Out in the <b>aromatic spice garden</b> in front of the greenhouse you can find dill, parsley, lemongrass, mint, rosemary, turmeric, ginger, and two kinds of oregano.</p><p><b><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008997900,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="500" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008997900,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008997900?profile=original" /></a>Natural juices and marmalade jams</b> are made fresh at the hotel from oranges, lemons, guanabana fruit, cas, guayaba, passion fruit, watermelon, papaya and pineapple that is either grown on the property or bought from small regional farmers. There are no processed sauces from jars or cans, no MSG, nor any boxed juices or pre-prepared foods.</p><p><b>Breads and desserts are made on site</b> by Hacienda Guachipelin’s pastry chef, and all baked in wood-burning ovens (the wood comes from the farm). The restaurant even has many <b>gluten-free bread options</b> for people with gluten allergies, including gluten-free pizzas. At breakfast, <b>corn tortillas are handmade</b> in the traditional Costa Rican style.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008998856,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="500" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008998856,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008998856?profile=original" /></a>Hacienda Guachipelin has its <b>own bees and is producing honey</b>. Drinking water at the hotel is <b>natural spring water</b> produced on the property. Coffee served in the restaurant comes from a small farm in Naranjo, Costa Rica that is owned by a friend of Hacienda Guachipelin owner, Jose Tomas Batalla. Tilapia fish comes from a local farm in the nearby town of Canas.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9296606698,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="500" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9296606698,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9296606698?profile=original" /></a>“We don’t cut corners. We make as much as we can homemade,” commented hotel owner, Jose Tomas Batalla. “We want to run our hotel with mindfulness.”</p><p>Hacienda Guachipelin focuses especially on using typical Costa Rican fruits, vegetables, breads and meals. “We want to give people an authentic experience of being in Guanacaste and Costa Rica,” said Batalla. “We are <b>rescuing the culinary traditions of Costa Rica and Guanacaste</b>.”</p><p>The <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/hotel/bar-restaurant.html" target="_blank">Hacienda Guachipelin restaurant</a> has been expanded to <b>seat 250 persons</b>, with a dedicated area for groups, hotel guests and day tour visitors. When the hotel is busy, meals are served buffet style; however, there is always an a la carte menu available.</p><p><a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/hotel/facilities.html" target="_blank"><img width="500" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008999279,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008999279?profile=original" />Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin</a></p><p>You can dine at the <b>best restaurant in Rincon de la Vieja</b> when you visit <b>award-winning eco-hotel</b> <b>Hacienda Guachipelin</b>. Recipient of <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g321538-d301252-Reviews-Hacienda_Guachipelin-Rincon_de_La_Vieja_Province_of_Guanacaste.html" target="_blank">TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence 2015</a>, Hacienda Guachipelin offers some of the <b><a href="http://www.enchanting-costarica.com/activities/adventure-tours-in-guanacaste-costa-rica/" target="_blank">best adventure tours in Guanacaste, Costa Rica</a> and <a href="http://www.enchanting-costarica.com/activities/costa-rica-nature-tours-rincon-de-la-vieja-volcano/" target="_blank">nature tours at Rincon de la Vieja Volcano</a></b>.</p><p><b>Hacienda Guachipelin’s Adventure Center</b> is open seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Not only hotel guests get to enjoy <b>Hacienda Guachipelin’s popular <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/tours/adventure-tours/canyon-canopy-tour.html" target="_blank">Costa Rica adventure tours</a></b>; many day visitors staying in other Guanacaste locations come too.</p><p><b><i><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008946487,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008946487,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="640" alt="9008946487?profile=original" /></a>Article by Shannon Farley</i></b></p></div>Nature tours in Guanacaste Costa Rica show exotic wildlife.https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/nature-tours-in-guanacaste-costa-rica-show-exotic-wildlife2015-09-26T22:59:46.000Z2015-09-26T22:59:46.000ZShannon Farleyhttps://tripatini.com/members/ShannonFarley<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008994901,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008994901,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="640" alt="9008994901?profile=original" /></a>The dry tropical forest covering the western side of <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/location/national-park.html" target="_blank">Rincon de la Vieja Volcano</a> <b>in <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/location/map.html" target="_blank">Guanacaste, Costa Rica</a></b> creates an interesting ecosystem for many different animals and plants than you would see elsewhere in Costa Rica.</p><p> </p><p>The <b>award-winning eco-hotel</b> <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/" target="_blank">Hacienda Guachipelin</a>, located at the base of the massive volcano, offers fun and fascinating <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/butterfly-farm-serpentarium.html" target="_blank">Costa Rica nature tours</a>. You can <b>visit</b> <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/chorreras-waterfall.html" target="_blank">waterfalls</a> and <b>natural <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/tours/relaxation-tours/rio-negro-hot-springs.html" target="_blank">volcanic hot springs</a></b>, go <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/hiking-in-rincon-de-la-vieja-national-park-las-pailas-trail.html" target="_blank">hiking in the Rincon de la Vieja National Park</a>, learn about ancient cultures on an <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/archeology-tour.html" target="_blank">archaeology tour</a>, and <b>see exotic wildlife</b> in Hacienda Guachipelin’s <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/butterfly-farm-serpentarium.html" target="_blank">Butterfly Garden, Serpentarium & Frog Exhibit</a>.</p><p> </p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008996061,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008996061,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="640" alt="9008996061?profile=original" /></a>The <b>Butterfly Garden</b> shows three of the major families of butterflies in Costa Rica: Pieridae, Papilionidae and Nimphalidae. The <b>Serpentarium and Frog Exhibit</b> presents 23 kinds of snakes, including 11 that are poisonous; six species of frogs and two types of basilisk lizards – in glass and wood habitat cases. The tour guide will explain details about each animal. The tour also visits the ranch’s <b>Look-out Point</b>, where you can see the Rincón de la Vieja and Santa Maria volcanoes as well as the Pacific Coast of Guanacaste.</p><p> </p><p>Nature Tour times: 8:00 AM / 10:00 AM / 1:30 PM / 2:30 PM</p><p>Tour duration: 1.5 hours</p><p>Tour Prices: USD $20 adults (11+ years) / USD $15 children (4-10 years)</p><p> </p><p><strong><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9296605857,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9296605857,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="595" alt="9296605857?profile=original" /></a>Choose the <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/tours/one-day-adventure-nature-pass.html" target="_blank">One Day Nature Pass</a> and you will have included</strong> buffet lunch <strong>in</strong> <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/hotel/bar-restaurant.html" target="_blank">Hacienda Guachipelin’s Restaurant</a>, and a visit to the natural volcanic hot springs at Rio Negro (transport by vehicle). Tour Prices: USD $55 adults (11+ years) and USD $45 children (4-10 years).</p><p> </p><p>Another interesting nature and cultural tour at Hacienda Guachipelin is the <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/archeology-tour.html" target="_blank">Archaeology tour</a>. Created by an archaeologist with the University of Costa Rica, eight stations give an introduction to the history of Guanacaste and Rincon de la Vieja, and show daily life of the indigenous peoples who lived near the massive Rincon de la Vieja Volcano in Guanacaste.</p><p> </p><p><b><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008824694,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008824694,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="640" alt="9008824694?profile=original" /></a></b><a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/hotel/adventure-park.html" target="_blank">Hacienda Guachipelin’s Adventure Center</a> is open seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You should note that the <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/location/national-park.html" target="_blank">Rincon de la Vieja National Park</a> <b>is closed on Mondays</b>. For the <b>best day of Costa Rica adventure tours</b>, get the <b><a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/tours/one-day-adventure-nature-pass.html" target="_blank">One Day Adventure Pass</a> at Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin</b>. It includes canopy zip lines, horseback riding, river tubing, and natural volcanic hot springs.</p><p><br /> You don’t have to be a hotel guest to enjoy <b>Hacienda Guachipelin’s Adventure Park</b>; many <b>day visitors</b> staying in other Guanacaste locations come to the popular eco-adventure hotel for tours.</p><p> </p><p><b><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008873279,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008873279,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="630" alt="9008873279?profile=original" /></a><a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/hotel/facilities.html" target="_blank">Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin</a></b></p><p> </p><p>At the base of the <b>Rincon de la Vieja Volcano</b> in the northwestern province of <b>Guanacaste, Costa Rica</b>, Hacienda Guachipelin is an <b>award-winning eco-tourism hotel</b> and <b>3,400-acre horse and cattle ranch</b>. The hotel is 15.5 miles (25 km) northeast of Guanacaste’s main city of Liberia.</p><p> </p><p><b><i>Article by Shannon Farley</i></b></p><p> </p></div>Costa Rica se dispone a atraer más turistas chinoshttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/costa-rica-se-dispone-a-atraer-m-s-turistas-chinos2013-06-13T15:35:42.000Z2013-06-13T15:35:42.000ZDanny Solano Alvarezhttps://tripatini.com/members/DannySolanoAlvarez<div><p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/turismochino.jpg"><img src="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/turismochino-300x168.jpg" alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-5217" title="turismochino" align="left" height="168" width="300" /></a>El mercado chino está de moda. Sea por el motivo que sea, cada industria y sector de la economía mundial quiere un pedazo de este enorme pastel. El turismo no es la excepción. Costa Rica no se ha quedado sentada, por lo que se ha lanzado a la caza activa de viajeros de este país. Fuentes gubernamentales afirman que se proyecta un aumento de cinco veces el número de visitantes del gigante asiático para los próximos tres años.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Según datos del Gobierno, más de 10.000 habitantes de la tierra del sol naciente vinieron a nuestro país desde junio del 2012. En ese sentido, el <strong>ministro de Turismo, Allan Flores</strong>, afirmó a la agencia de noticias Efe:</p><p style="text-align:justify;">«Esperamos que en un mediano plazo, entre dos y tres años, lleguemos a la cifra de 50.000 visitantes. Esto requiere mucho trabajo, esfuerzo y una gran inversión; pero estamos preparados para hacerlo».</p><p style="text-align:justify;">De acuerdo con la <strong>Organización Mundial del Turismo (OMT),</strong> el año anterior hubo un incremento de la industria del 4% en comparación con el 2011. En total, se alcanzaron 1.035 turistas internacionales. Las dos naciones que registraron el mayor aumento fueron justamente China y Rusia, quienes lideran como mercados emisores con el 42% y el 31%, respectivamente.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Flores asegura que la Administración espera atraer una buena porción de los 80 millones de chinos que viajan al extranjero. A tal efecto, los personeros de su cartera están creando estrategias de mercadeo y acuerdos oficiales.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Esta es una demanda trascendental en cuanto a promoción internacional. Por ende, el ministerio se dispone a establecer una alianza de transporte con una aerolínea de China a partir de este mes. El acuerdo será ratificado a través de un memorando de entendimiento firmado entre las dos Administraciones desde agosto anterior. Se pretende que haya mayores posibilidades para que las empresas aeronáuticas vengan a territorio nacional, además de establecer vuelos directos a Oriente.</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/6648-feria-turistica-cottm-beijing-2013.jpg"><img src="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/6648-feria-turistica-cottm-beijing-2013-300x150.jpg" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-5218" style="margin:5px;" title="6648-feria-turistica-cottm-beijing-2013" align="right" height="150" width="300" /></a>Otra prueba más del interés de Costa Rica para hacerse con el mercado turístico chino fue la participación en la feria <strong>China Outbound Travel & Tourism Market (COTTM Beijing 2013)</strong>, celebrada en Pekín en abril.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">En total, hubo 10 empresas ticas que se incorporaron a la iniciativa. Con ella se pretendía establecer una campaña agresiva que ayudara al sector privado a concretar negocios con turoperadores del gigante asiático. La experiencia fue tan fructífera que se planea participar de nuevo en el 2014.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Ambas naciones establecieron relaciones diplomáticas en 2007. Desde entonces, ya se han firmado acuerdos de cooperación internacional en materias como: cultura, energía, deporte, política y economía. Sin embargo, las cifras bilaterales en cuanto a tránsito de personas aún son desconocidas.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Al ser un mercado relativamente nuevo, la información sale más a cuentagotas. Sin embargo, el jefe de Turismo asegura que ha habido esfuerzos constantes para impulsar este destino.</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Santa-Teresa-01-233x300.jpg"><img src="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Santa-Teresa-01-233x300.jpg" alt="" class="alignleft wp-image-5219" style="margin:5px;" title="Santa-Teresa-01-233x300" align="left" height="276" width="233" /></a>En ese sentido, el secretario general de la OMT, <strong>Taleb Rifai</strong>, hizo hincapié en la aplicación de nuevas tecnologías para aupar el sector. Durante su visita al país a finales de mayo, instó a <strong>América Latina</strong> para que vea a China como una pieza fundamental en la atracción de inversiones.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Costa Rica, con una población de 4,5 millones de personas, recibió 2,34 millones de turistas el año anterior. Esto se tradujo en ingresos por 2.219 millones de dólares estadounidenses, una cifra récord para el país.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">La industria del turismo en esta nación centroamericana se ve estimulada por su enorme biodiversidad y bellezas naturales. En ese sentido, las playas Santa Teresa y Mal País son, en la actualidad, el lugar de moda para los amantes de surf. Ambas se extienden por una costa escarpada donde aparecen bares y centros turísticos para todos los presupuestos. Destaca el <strong><a href="http://hoteltropicolatino.com/">hotel Trópico Latino</a>,</strong> situado en cuatro acres de playa virgen tropical. Allí encontrará hermosas zonas de baño y también afloramientos de roca donde se forman piscinas naturales.</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Por: <a href="https://plus.google.com/118430106737331663430?rel=author">Andrés Figueroa Vásquez</a>.</strong></p></div>New Costa Rica mountain biking tour is a real adventure at Rincon de la Vieja Volcanohttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/new-costa-rica-mountain-biking-tour-is-a-real-adventure-at-rincon2015-07-31T22:46:14.000Z2015-07-31T22:46:14.000ZShannon Farleyhttps://tripatini.com/members/ShannonFarley<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008985867,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="600" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008985867,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008985867?profile=original" /></a>If you like the <b>thrill of riding rough and fast down the rugged terrain of an active volcano in Costa Rica</b>, passing through rainforest, splashing through rivers and getting muddy, then <b>this new mountain biking tour is for you</b>.</p><p> </p><p>In <b>Guanacaste, Costa Rica – a major area for mountain biking</b> – <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/" target="_blank">Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin</a> has created the <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/tours/iron-horse-downhill-mountain-bike-tour.html" target="_blank">Iron-Horse Downhill Mountain Bike Tour</a> for travelers who want to experience the <b>unparalleled adventure of <a href="http://www.guanabikers.com/en/tours/iron-horse.html" target="_blank">mountain biking in Costa Rica</a></b>.</p><p> </p><p>Over the years, <b>Costa Rica has become a top destination for superb mountain biking</b>. It started 23 years ago with the debut of the <b>annual</b> <b>“<a href="http://www.adventurerace.com/" target="_blank">La Ruta de los Conquistadores</a>”</b> (The Route of the Conquistadors), <b>one of the toughest mountain bike races in the world</b>, crossing Costa Rica from the Pacific Coast to the Caribbean in only three days.</p><p> </p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008986275,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="600" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008986275,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008986275?profile=original" /></a><a href="http://www.enchanting-costarica.com/activities/rincon-de-la-vieja-mountain-bike-race-makes-u-s-national-ultra-endurance-series/" target="_blank">Mountain biking in Costa Rica</a> has taken off from there – <b>increasing in popularity and attracting mountain bikers from around the world</b> to ride the Central American country’s roads, tracks and trails, and to compete in annual races. Now in its third year, the annual <b><a href="http://www.rincondelaviejachallenge.com/" target="_blank">Rincón de la Vieja Challenge</a> extreme</b> <b>mountain bike race</b> circumnavigates the active <strong><a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/location/national-park.html" target="_blank">Rincón de la Vieja Volcano</a></strong> <b>in Guanacaste</b> for a 100-mile (160 km) ride in 12 hours. This year’s race happens on <b>Aug. 22, 2015</b> at <b><a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/hotel/adventure-park.html" target="_blank">eco-adventure hotel Hacienda Guachipelin</a>.</b></p><p> </p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008986091,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="300" class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008986091,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008986091?profile=original" /></a>The award-winning hotel, located next to the <b><a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/location/national-park.html" target="_blank">Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park</a>,</b> offers the <a href="http://www.enchanting-costarica.com/activities/hacienda-guachipelin-best-guanacaste-costa-rica-adventure-tours/" target="_blank">best Costa Rica adventure tours</a> – zip-lines, canyoning, waterfall rappelling, river tubing, horseback riding, mountain biking, nature trails, and natural volcanic hot springs. It also is headquarters for the famous international adventure race <a href="http://endurancechallenge.cr/en/" target="_blank">The North Face Endurance Challenge Costa Rica</a>, held annually in May.</p><p>The <b>brilliant and unique aspect</b> about the <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/tours/iron-horse-downhill-mountain-bike-tour.html" target="_blank">Iron-Horse Downhill Mountain Bike Tour</a> is that it <b>includes <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/tours/horseback-rides.html" target="_blank">horseback riding</a>, waterfalls, mountain biking, <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/tours/adventure-tours/rio.html" target="_blank">river tubing</a> and <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/tours/adventure-tours/canyon-canopy-tour.html" target="_blank">zip-lines</a></b> all in one full-day tour. A shortened half-day tour also is available.</p><p>You start out <b>riding Hacienda Guachipelin’s ranch horses</b> up the Rincón de la Vieja Volcano slopes into higher elevation <b>rainforest to a waterfall</b> where you can go for a quick swim. Then you’ll <b>descend the volcano by mountain bike</b>, riding tracks and dirt roads through the forest, crossing rivers and open fields. When you get to the Negro River, you’ll jump into <b>river tubing</b> right away, a really fun and refreshing adventure. Then it’s <b>back to the hotel for a sumptuous lunch</b>, and an afternoon of <b>flying through the trees on zip-lines to finish a day you’ll never forget</b>.</p><p> </p><p>The tour requires <b>two persons minimum, ages 16 years and older</b>. Difficulty level is medium. Tours include: Full suspension bike or hard tail bike, helmet, gloves, assistance vehicle, hydration, backup equipment (extra bicycles), and bilingual mountain biking guides (English-Spanish).</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.bookingplacecostarica.com/reservations/hotel/availability.aspx?hotelId=HGU0113" target="_blank">Contact Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin</a> for tour and hotel reservations.</p><p></p></div>Some like it hot at Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin in Costa Ricahttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/some-like-it-hot-at-hotel-hacienda-guachipelin-in-costa-rica2015-03-19T02:54:07.000Z2015-03-19T02:54:07.000ZShannon Farleyhttps://tripatini.com/members/ShannonFarley<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008934894,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="600" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008934894,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008934894?profile=original" /></a>After a big day of hiking, zip-lining, horseback riding or other <a href="http://www.enchanting-costarica.com/activities/hacienda-guachipelin-best-guanacaste-costa-rica-adventure-tours/" target="_blank">adventure tours in Costa Rica</a>, there is nearly nothing better than <b>soaking in steamy</b> <b>thermal springs</b> so hot they make you tingle all over. Your tired muscles are soon relaxed into spaghetti-like existence and the cares of the world melt away.</p><p> </p><p><b>Mineral-rich hot springs</b> have <a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/146809-benefits-of-hot-springs-spas/" target="_blank">rejuvenating and therapeutic properties</a> treasured for centuries by people all over the world. Travelers pay big bucks to visit famous spas with mineral springs. At adventure eco-hotel <strong><a href="http://www.haciendaguachipelin.com/" target="_blank">Hacienda Guachipelin</a></strong> at <b><a href="http://www.haciendaguachipelin.com/en/location/rincon-de-la-vieja-national-park.html" target="_blank">Rincón de la Vieja Volcano</a> in Costa Rica</b>, you can visit <b>natural volcanic <a href="http://www.haciendaguachipelin.com/en/hot-springs.html" target="_blank">hot springs</a> for free</b> if you’re a hotel guest.</p><p> </p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008934691,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="600" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008934691,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008934691?profile=original" /></a>The <b>hot springs</b> are one of the <b>things most talked about by visitors</b> to <b>Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin</b>. “We enjoyed the hot springs, hiked to the waterfalls and were impressed by the surrounding nature,” wrote one guest on <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g321538-d301252-Reviews-Hacienda_Guachipelin-Rincon_de_La_Vieja_Province_of_Guanacaste.html" target="_blank">Hacienda Guachipelin’s TripAdvisor page</a>. “We also visited the hot springs one morning – the hot springs were wonderful – we sat in pools on both sides of the river,” commented another guest.</p><p> </p><p>Sitting on the Pacific Ring of Fire – infamous for its profuse volcanic activity – <b>Costa Rica has more than 200 volcanic formations</b>. The massive 600,000-year-old <b>Rincón de la Vieja Volcano</b> is the <b>largest volcano</b> in <b>northwest Guanacaste, Costa Rica.</b> In and around the <strong><a href="http://www.haciendaguachipelin.com/en/location/rincon-de-la-vieja-national-park.html" target="_blank">Rincón de la Vieja National Park</a></strong>, there are fumaroles, steam vents, bubbling volcanic mud pits, thermal springs and <a href="http://www.enchanting-costarica.com/activities/rincon-de-la-vieja-national-park-waterfalls-show-off-in-costa-rica-green-season/" target="_blank">waterfalls</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Located very <b>near the Las Pailas entrance to the national park</b>, Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin has developed <b>the </b><strong><a href="http://www.haciendaguachipelin.com/en/rio-negro-hot-springs.html" target="_blank">hot springs at Rio Negro</a></strong> <b>(“Black River”)</b> with pools, trails, changing rooms, restrooms and lockers. The eco-hotel offers <b>tours to the hot springs</b> either by a fun horseback ride or by vehicle. <b>Entrance</b> <b>is</b> <b>complimentary for hotel guests</b>, or costs $15 for day visitors.</p><p> </p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008935070,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="450" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008935070,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008935070?profile=original" /></a>Surrounded by unique tropical dry forest, <b>Rio Negro</b> flows through <b>seven man-made pools</b> filled with <b>steaming</b> <b>mineral-rich volcanic waters</b>. Heated volcanic mud is available to smooth over your body like a spa “masque,” and after it dries, wash it off with cold river water before jumping back in the hot pools.</p><p> </p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9296595901,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9296595901,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="350" alt="9296595901?profile=original" /></a>Only 13 miles from Liberia, Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin is one of the <strong><a href="http://www.haciendaguachipelin.com/en/location.html" target="_blank">best places to stay in Guanacaste</a></strong>. <b>The </b><strong><a href="http://www.haciendaguachipelin.com/en/the-hotel/adventure-park.html" target="_blank">adventure park at Hacienda Guachipelin</a></strong> offers the best <b><a href="http://www.haciendaguachipelin.com/en/tours.html" target="_blank">Costa Rica adventure tours</a>;</b> go for the <strong><a href="http://www.haciendaguachipelin.com/one-day-pass.html" target="_blank">One Day Adventure Pass</a></strong> to get the most value<b>.</b></p><p> </p><p><b><i>Article by Shannon Farley</i></b></p></div>"Fiestas Bravas" in Guancaste Costa Ricahttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/fiestas-bravas-in-guancaste-costa-rica2015-01-14T19:39:36.000Z2015-01-14T19:39:36.000ZDanny Solano Alvarezhttps://tripatini.com/members/DannySolanoAlvarez<div><p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.guachipelin.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/fiesta-brava.jpg"><img class="align-left" src="http://www.guachipelin.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/fiesta-brava-300x225.jpg?width=276" width="276" alt="fiesta-brava-300x225.jpg?width=276" /></a>Guanacaste’s celebrations are coming up, exciting dates for this side of the country; <strong>full of traditional activities, typical music and folklore dancing</strong>.</p><p>Up coming for the week of <strong>January 15th</strong> we have lots of festivities in Santa Cruz, typical Costa Rican rural town, where people gather to celebrate with typical music, folkloric dancing and <strong>bullfighting</strong> to honor the <a title="black christ of esquipulas costa rica" href="http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cristo_Negro_de_Esquipulas" target="_blank"><strong>Black Christ of Esquipulas</strong></a>. Since 1926 it’s celebrated in commemoration of their catholic religion when Christ suffered before being crucified.</p><p>In the corners of the main streets of <strong>Santa Cruz marimbas</strong> are located to brighten the atmosphere; while the bullfights are held where many people come to a roundabout on the main square to challenge the bulls.</p><p>During the week they also celebrate the famous horsemen activity “tope” where hundreds of people from all over the country come with their horses and typical costumes to the main streets of the city and parade. During this activity many tourists rent horses and participate in the festival.<a target="_blank" href="http://www.guachipelin.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/fiesta-brava-1.jpg"><img class="align-right" src="http://www.guachipelin.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/fiesta-brava-1-300x199.jpg?width=300" width="300" alt="fiesta-brava-1-300x199.jpg?width=300" /></a></p><p><strong>Dancing in the park to the sound of marimba music is another traditional activity, among local meals prepared as part of the celebration including the “rosquillas”, sweet “tamal” and coyol wine.</strong></p><p>Santa Cruz is a beautiful town filled with friendly and openhearted people who are always open to help tourists when needed. The town is also close to some of the most popular beaches in Costa Rica, which they have buses travelling back and forth almost each hour.</p><p>Between the last week of February and early March the <strong>“<a title="“Fiestas Cívicas” of Liberia" href="http://www.visitcentroamerica.com/?q=en/traditional-fiestas-liberia" target="_blank">Fiestas Cívicas</a>”</strong> of Liberia are held where folklore and traditions are celebrated with music, rides and concerts throughout Liberia.</p><p><img class="wp-gallery mceItem" title="gallery columns="2" ids="1020,1021"" alt="" src="http://www.guachipelin.com/blog/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wpgallery/img/t.gif" /></p><p>The city of Liberia is located on the plains of the province of Guanacaste. It has a warm but dry climate characteristic of the area. Its name comes from the Latin "liber" meaning free and independent.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.guachipelin.com"><img class="align-left" src="http://www.guachipelin.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Hotel-Hacienda-Guachipelin-300x148.jpg?width=300" width="300" alt="Hotel-Hacienda-Guachipelin-300x148.jpg?width=300" /></a>At just 13 miles away from Liberia and 72 from Santa Cruz, in the surroundings of the <a title="Rincon de la Vieja National Park" href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en.html" target="_blank"><strong>Rincon de la Vieja Volcano,</strong></a> Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin is one of the best places to stay in <a title="Guanacaste Hotels" href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/location.html" target="_blank"><strong>Guanacaste, Costa Rica</strong></a>. <strong>Now for these celebration dates, you can also enjoy great Costa Rica travel deals at Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin and enjoy Guanacaste’s festivities.</strong></p><p>Costa Rica's love for “fiesta” is contagious; taste the food, make friends, enjoy traditions and party with the ticos are musts you can’t miss during these dates in Guanacaste, activities you can enjoy at <strong>Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin</strong>.</p><p><strong>By Maria Laura Charles</strong></p></div>New rooms for the New Year at Hacienda Guachipelin in Costa Ricahttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/christmas-at-hacienda-guachipelin-in-costa-rica2014-12-19T21:32:56.000Z2014-12-19T21:32:56.000ZShannon Farleyhttps://tripatini.com/members/ShannonFarley<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008912896,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008912896,original{{/staticFileLink}}" height="311" width="232" alt="9008912896?profile=original" /></a>Just in time for Christmas, travelers to <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/location/rincon-de-la-vieja-national-park.html" target="_blank">Rincon de la Vieja Volcano</a> in <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/location/map.html" target="_blank">Guanacaste, Costa Rica</a>, can enjoy charming new guest rooms at award-winning eco-hotel <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/" target="_blank">Hacienda Guachipelin</a>.</p><p> </p><p>At the base of the <b>Rincon de la Vieja Volcano</b>, Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin is one of the <a href="http://guachipelin.com/hotel-facilities.html" target="_blank">best places to stay in Guanacaste</a>. The eco-tourism hotel is a working horse and cattle ranch and has a fantastic <a href="http://guachipelin.com/en/the-hotel/adventure-park.html" target="_blank">adventure park</a>. They were awarded the <b><a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g321538-d301252-Reviews-Hacienda_Guachipelin-Rincon_de_La_Vieja_Province_of_Guanacaste.html" target="_blank">TripAdvisor</a> Certificate of Excellence for 2014</b>.</p><p> </p><p>The <b>spacious </b><a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/rooms-and-rates/rooms.html" target="_blank">new Superior rooms</a> have <b>beautiful views</b>. <b>Ten new rooms</b> are equipped with two queen beds or one king-size bed, Wi-Fi, TV, phone, safe box, fan and air-conditioning. Two of the rooms are <b>specially equipped for disabled travelers</b>.</p><p> </p><p>“I love the typical authentic flavor of this traditional Costa Rican hacienda located at the active volcano and national park of Rincon de la Vieja,” commented Daniel Chavarria, founder of <a href="http://www.enchanting-hotels.cr/" target="_blank">Enchanting Hotels Costa Rica</a>.</p><p> </p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008914485,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="350" class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008914485,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008914485?profile=original" /></a>Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin offers <b>comfortable ranch-style rooms and suites</b> with views of the volcano and the Hacienda. Wide and inviting verandas welcome you to relax and meet fellow travelers. A <b>sumptuous </b><a href="http://guachipelin.com/bar-restaurant.html" target="_blank">breakfast buffet</a> and entrance to the hotel’s <b>natural <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/hot-springs.html" target="_blank">volcanic hot springs</a> are included</b> for all guests at Hacienda Guachipelin.</p><p> </p><p><b>The </b><a href="http://guachipelin.com/en/the-hotel/adventure-park.html" target="_blank">adventure park at Hacienda Guachipelin</a> offers the best <a href="http://guachipelin.com/en/tours.html" target="_blank">things to do in Guanacaste, Costa Rica</a>, including horseback riding, hiking in the <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/location/rincon-de-la-vieja-national-park.html" target="_blank">Rincon de la Vieja National Park</a>, river tubing, natural hot springs and volcanic mud baths, waterfall rappelling, hikes to waterfalls, and the very unique Canyon Canopy Tour.</p><p> </p><p><b>Article by <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/+ShannonFarley/posts" target="_blank">Shannon Farley</a><br /></b></p><p> </p></div>Green season when the waterfalls show off at Rincon de la Viejahttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/green-season-when-the-waterfalls-show-off-at-rincon-de-la-vieja2014-09-10T21:04:51.000Z2014-09-10T21:04:51.000ZShannon Farleyhttps://tripatini.com/members/ShannonFarley<div><p><b><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008871856,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="500" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008871856,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008871856?profile=original" /></a>Green season</b> at <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/location/rincon-de-la-vieja-national-park.html" target="_blank">Rincon de la Vieja Volcano</a> in <b>Guanacaste, Costa Rica</b>, means more water flowing everywhere. Time for those <b>exhilarating <a href="http://guachipelin.com/en/rio-negro-tubing-adventure.html" target="_blank">river tubing trips</a></b> on the Negro River. And time for <b>waterfalls</b>.</p><p> </p><p><b>Four major waterfalls</b> flow at <b>Rincon de la Vieja</b> by <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/" target="_blank">Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin</a>, and all of them have <b>pools where you can swim</b> in refreshing, pure water. Getting there is an adventure – either by <b>hiking or horseback riding</b>. Almost all <b>waterfall tours</b> from the <a href="http://guachipelin.com/en/the-hotel/adventure-park.html" target="_blank">Hacienda Guachipelin Adventure Center</a> last two to three hours, and are available between 7:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.</p><p> </p><p><strong><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9296589877,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="450" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9296589877,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9296589877?profile=original" /></a><a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/oropendola-waterfall.html" target="_blank">Oropéndola Waterfall</a></strong></p><p> </p><p>Located near the Las Pailas entrance to the <b>Rincon de la Vieja National Park</b>, the Oropéndola Waterfall plunges an impressive 82 feet (25 meters) in a beautiful canyon of the Rio Blanco (White River). The sparkling turquoise pool below makes for a refreshing swim.</p><p>How to get there: A 45-minute each-way horseback ride on a scenic trail, and short walk to the waterfall; or a 1.5 hour each-way scenic hike; or a 15-minute drive and short walk.</p><p> </p><p><strong><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008872079,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="450" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008872079,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008872079?profile=original" /></a><a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/las-chorreras-waterfall.html" target="_blank">Chorreras Waterfall</a></strong></p><p> </p><p>Two waterfalls cascade into a beautiful sky blue mineral water pool in this amphitheatre canyon at Chorreras Waterfall. It is an excellent place for a cooling swim, or just to enjoy the beautiful surroundings.</p><p>How to get there: A 25-minute each-way horseback ride on a scenic trail, and short walk to the waterfall; or a 45-minute each-way scenic hike on the same trail.</p><p> </p><p><strong><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008872882,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="450" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008872882,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008872882?profile=original" /></a><a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/la-victoria-waterfall.html" target="_blank">Victoria Waterfall</a></strong></p><p> </p><p>The 115-foot (35-meter) Victoria Waterfall on the Rio Negro (Black River) is where the river tubing trips start their adventure downriver. The surrounding canyon has unique vegetation and topography, and you can swim in the pool at the waterfall’s base.</p><p>How to get there: A 45-minute each-way horseback ride on a scenic trail, and a short, steep descent to the waterfall; or a one hour each-way scenic hike on the same trail.</p><p> </p><p><strong><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008872894,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="450" class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008872894,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008872894?profile=original" /></a><a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/hiking-track-to-la-cangreja-waterfall.html" target="_blank">Cangreja (Crab) Waterfall</a></strong></p><p> </p><p>The Cangreja Waterfall is located <b>inside the Rincon de la Vieja National Park forest</b>. Spilling 130 feet (40 meters) in a white ribbon of water out of the green forest, the waterfall forms a celestial blue pool at its base; its color comes from dissolved copper minerals from the volcano. The only way to get to this waterfall is by hiking 3 miles (5 km) into the national park; along the trail you might see wildlife like white-faced or howler monkeys, coatis, armadillos, Central American agoutis, iguanas, and birds like the Blue-crowned Motmot or the Emerald Toucanet.</p><p>How to get there: 15-minute drive to the national park entrance and then hiking.</p><p></p><p><strong><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008873279,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="400" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008873279,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008873279?profile=original" /></a><a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/" target="_blank">Rincon de la Vieja Hotels</a></strong></p><p> </p><p>One of the best times to visit <b>Rincon de la Vieja</b> is now in the <b>green season</b> (May to November) when the active volcano’s fumaroles and boiling mud pots are most active. The <b>hiking is fantastic</b> and <a href="http://guachipelin.com/hotel-facilities.html" target="_blank">Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin</a> has the <a href="http://www.enchanting-costarica.com/activities/hacienda-guachipelin-best-guanacaste-costa-rica-adventure-tours/" target="_blank">best Costa Rica adventure tours</a>. Afterward, you can enjoy a warm volcanic mud bath and soak in Hacienda Guachipelin’s <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/hot-springs.html" target="_blank">natural hot springs</a>.</p><p> </p><p>In green season, you can enjoy great <a href="http://www.enchanting-costarica.com/hot-news/costa-rica-travel-deals-in-guanacaste/" target="_blank">Costa Rica travel deals</a> at Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin, a <b>TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2014</b> winner.</p><p> </p><p><b>Article by Shannon Farley</b></p></div>Best adventure tour in Guanacaste, Costa Ricahttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/best-adventure-tour-in-guanacaste-costa-rica2014-04-16T20:08:03.000Z2014-04-16T20:08:03.000ZShannon Farleyhttps://tripatini.com/members/ShannonFarley<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9296586281,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="250" class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9296586281,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9296586281?profile=original" /></a>Some of the best <a href="http://guachipelin.com/en/tours.html" target="_blank">things to do in Guanacaste, Costa Rica</a> are found at <strong><a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/" target="_blank">Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin</a></strong> by <strong>Rincon de la</strong> <strong>Vieja Volcano</strong>. The dilemma actually is trying to decide what to do, since there is so much from which to choose.</p><p> </p><p>That’s why the <strong><a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/one-day-pass.html" target="_blank">One Day Adventure Pass</a></strong> or the <b>One Day Nature Pass</b> really is your best bet. If you stay at this <b>Rincon de la Vieja hotel</b> for several days, you can go for both! You don’t necessarily have to be a hotel guest to enjoy the One Day Pass either – you can be a <strong>day tour visitor</strong>. An extravagant buffet lunch in Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin’s restaurant is included in both passes.</p><p> </p><p><strong>One Day Adventure Pass<a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008840057,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="250" class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008840057,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008840057?profile=original" /></a></strong><br /> You can do all of these top <a href="http://guachipelin.com/en/tours.html" target="_blank">Costa Rica adventure tours</a> or just a few. It is completely feasible to do everything if you start by 8:00 a.m.</p><p>* <a href="http://guachipelin.com/en/canyon-canopy-tour.html" target="_blank">Canyon Canopy Tour</a><br /> * <a href="http://guachipelin.com/en/rio-negro-tubing-adventure.html" target="_blank">Rio Negro Tubing Adventure</a><br /> * <a href="http://guachipelin.com/en/guanacaste-packages.html" target="_blank">Horseback Rides</a> – choose one of many tours, or simply ride horses to get to Rio Negro.<br /> * Volcanic mud bath and <a href="http://guachipelin.com/en/rio-negro-hot-springs.html" target="_blank">thermal hot springs at Rio Negro</a></p><p>The <a href="http://guachipelin.com/en/waterfalls-canyoning-tour.html" target="_blank">Waterfalls Canyoning Tour</a> may be included in the One Day Adventure Pass for an extra charge of $20 per person.</p><p></p><p><strong><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008839498,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="150" class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008839498,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008839498?profile=original" /></a>One Day Nature Pass</strong></p><p>The Nature Pass is a softer day that focuses on wildlife and the <b>Rincon de la Vieja</b> area’s natural beauty. This tour package is easily realized in a little over a half-day.</p><p>* <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/serpentarium.html" target="_blank">Butterfly Garden, Serpentarium and Frog Habitats</a><br /> * Walk to Look-out Point<br /> * Visit the waterfalls and mineral hot springs at Rio Negro (transport by vehicle)</p><p></p><p><a href="http://guachipelin.com/en/the-hotel/adventure-park.html" target="_blank">Hacienda Guachipelin’s Adventure Center</a> organizes all activities. They are open every day from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You should note that tours in the <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/location/rincon-de-la-vieja-national-park.html" target="_blank">Rincon de la Vieja National Park</a> do not include the park admission fee ($10/person), and that the park is closed on Mondays. <br /> <br /> <a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008840272,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="200" class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008840272,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008840272?profile=original" /></a>Resting in the rolling plains at the base of the <b>Rincon de la Vieja Volcano</b> in the northwestern province of <b>Guanacaste, Costa Rica</b>, <strong>Hacienda Guachipelin</strong> is a working horse and cattle ranch in addition to being an <strong>eco-tourism hotel</strong>. Three rivers crisscross the 3,400-acre ranch, with waterfalls and natural thermal springs, creating an idyllic setting in the distinctive dry tropical forest.</p><p>Hotel Hacienda Guachipelín is located 15.5 miles (25 km) northeast of Guanacaste’s main city of Liberia, by the Pailas section of the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano.</p><p> </p><p><b>Article by Shannon Farley</b></p></div>Childhood memory becomes Costa Rica eco-tour at Sensoriahttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/childhood-memory-becomes-costa-rica-eco-tour-at-sensoria2014-03-13T16:44:13.000Z2014-03-13T16:44:13.000ZShannon Farleyhttps://tripatini.com/members/ShannonFarley<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008826294,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="200" class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008826294,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008826294?profile=original" /></a>Every young child has a special place where they feel happiest. For Fernando Madrigal, as a young boy <strong>growing up in Costa Rica</strong>, that place was his grandparents’ farm – the Finca La Troya in the Orosi Valley of Cartago.</p><p> </p><p>“I spent practically all of my childhood and youth on this farm until my grandparents sold it,” reflected Madrigal. “I remember that La Troya was a magical place. There was a place at the top of the farm where there was a mountain with primary forest. My uncle, Rodrigo Madrigal Montealegre, would take me, my brother and my cousins walking there. The forest was full of monkeys, sloths, vines hanging from the trees, natural springs full of water and spectacular nature. To me, it was the most beautiful place in the world and I was always very happy there.”</p><p> </p><p>The desire to <strong>recapture his childhood magical forest</strong> led Madrigal in 2008 to seek out another place of <strong>amazing Costa Rica nature.</strong> “I went to a prestigious real estate agency in Costa Rica and asked them to find me the wildest place, with spectacular nature, abundant wildlife and plentiful natural springs. We found exactly what I was looking for in the <strong>northern foothills of the Rincón de la Vieja Volcano</strong>, <strong>which we now call ‘Sensoria’</strong>,” he said.</p><p> </p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008826669,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="250" class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008826669,original{{/staticFileLink}}" height="343" alt="9008826669?profile=original" /></a>Talk about an enchanted paradise. On the <strong>private nature reserve of</strong> <a href="http://www.sensoria.cr/en/" target="_blank">Sensoria</a>, <strong>rainforest</strong> grows thick and wild, sky blue <strong>volcanic mineral streams and waterfalls</strong> flow bountifully, steaming <strong>thermal springs</strong> bubble out of the earth, and <strong>exotic animals</strong> roam freely.</p><p> </p><p>As its name implies, <a href="http://www.sensoria.cr/en/aboutus.html" target="_blank">Sensoria is a place for your senses</a>: to hear, see, smell, touch and taste. It is an extraordinary <a href="http://www.sensoria.cr/en/the-tour.html" target="_blank">Costa Rica eco-tour</a> that takes you <strong>hiking through pristine wilderness to swim in hidden waterfall pools and volcanic thermal springs</strong>. Madrigal said they created the <strong>tour for nature lovers</strong> to be able to experience the breathtaking beauty of a rainforest. Trails are as natural as possible and accessible for any ambulatory person in good physical condition, he said.</p><p> </p><p>Sensoria’s proximity to the <strong>Rincon de la Vieja Volcano and National Park</strong>, and its <strong>verdant jungle</strong> on the volcano’s northeastern slope, make it a <strong>unique Guanacaste tour.</strong> The region of the massive <strong>Guanacaste Conservation Area</strong> is reported to hold <strong>2.6% of the world’s biodiversity</strong>. Madrigal said they protect the fragile ecosystem by limiting the number of people visiting the reserve: maximum 30 persons in a day on two or three different tours.</p><p> </p><p>“<a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008826685,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="200" class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008826685,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008826685?profile=original" /></a>This place is easily the most gorgeous place on planet Earth! It feels like a dream here. It’s hard to believe nature can feel so sublime. Thank you for caring for this place and keeping it sacred,” summed up one Sensoria visitor.</p><p> </p><p><strong><a href="http://www.sensoria.cr/en/location.html" target="_blank">How to get there</a></strong></p><p>Sensoria is located north of Liberia and 4.5 km north of the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano in Guanacaste. The hiking tour lasts three to four hours.</p><p> </p><p><b>Article by <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/+ShannonFarley/posts" target="_blank">Shannon Farley</a><br /></b></p></div>Guanacaste, Costa Rica is vital alternative energy producerhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/guanacaste-costa-rica-is-vital-alternative-energy-producer2014-02-19T00:34:48.000Z2014-02-19T00:34:48.000ZShannon Farleyhttps://tripatini.com/members/ShannonFarley<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008814480,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="250" class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008814480,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008814480?profile=original" /></a>The immense plains, powerful volcanoes and dry, sunny climate of <strong>Guanacaste</strong> are becoming pivotal for <strong>Costa Rica’s production of renewable energy.</strong> The second largest province in the country is being tapped for its <strong>powerful resources of wind, solar and geothermal energy.</strong></p><p><strong>Costa Rica currently produces 91% of its energy from renewable sources:</strong> 73% from hydroelectric power, 13% from geothermal plants, 4% from wind turbines, and 1% from biomass, according to the Costa Rica Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE). <strong>Hydroelectric power, however, is climate-dependent</strong>, and during the driest months of summer it is stretched to its limits when water reserves are low. This is why Guanacaste is so important.</p><p> </p><p><b><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008814891,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="200" class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008814891,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008814891?profile=original" /></a>Wind energy</b></p><p>In <strong>Guanacaste, Costa Rica – one of the world’s windiest locations</strong> – Costa Rican and international companies are harnessing the power of the wind with <strong>huge wind turbine farms</strong>. There are currently <a href="http://www.thewindpower.net/country_windfarms_en_29_costa-rica.php" target="_blank">11 wind energy projects in Costa Rica</a>, most in Guanacaste, and also by Volcano and Lake Arenal and in the Central Valley. Spanish wind engineering firm Gamesa is building a <a href="http://news.co.cr/new-wind-energy-project-planned-in-guanacaste/31266/" target="_blank">new wind farm in Guanacaste</a> to start generating electricity by 2015.</p><p><b><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008815275,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="200" class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008815275,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008815275?profile=original" /></a>Solar energy</b></p><p>Solar energy companies are a hot venture in Guanacaste right now. When the <a href="http://www.pv-tech.org/news/costa_rica_inaugurates_its_largest_solar_plant_in_miravalles" target="_blank">Miravalles Solar Plant</a> opened on the slopes of the Miravalles Volcano in November 2012, thanks to a $10 million loan by the Japanese government, it was the first of its kind in Costa Rica and the <strong>largest solar project in Central America</strong>. Now there are several solar projects in the works for the region.</p><p><b>Geothermal energy</b></p><p><strong><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008815284,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="200" class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008815284,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008815284?profile=original" /></a>Guanacaste’s North Volcanic Mountain Ridge has been essential for geothermal power generation</strong>, tapping the Rincón de la Vieja, Miravalles and Tenorio volcanoes. The <strong>Miravalles Geothermal Field</strong> (opened in 1994) produces almost 14% of the National Electrical System’s (SEN) capacity. The <strong>Pailas Geothermal Power Plant</strong> opened in July 2011 just outside the Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park. Last November, President Laura Chinchilla signed an agreement with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for a $560 million loan to <a href="http://www.ticotimes.net/More-news/News-Briefs/Costa-Rica-to-build-3-geothermal-electricity-plants-with-Japanese-funding_Tuesday-November-19-2013" target="_blank">build three more geothermal power plants</a> near the famous <strong>Rincón de la Vieja Volcano in Guanacaste</strong>.</p><p> </p><p><b><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008816252,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="250" class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008816252,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008816252?profile=original" /></a>Visit Guanacaste</b></p><p><strong>One of Guanacaste’s best areas to visit is the</strong> <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/location/rincon-de-la-vieja-national-park.html" target="_blank">Rincón de la Vieja Volcano</a>. Stay at <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/" target="_blank">Hotel Hacienda Guachipelín,</a> a first-class ecotourism lodge at Rincón de la Vieja.</p><p>For things to do in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, try the <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/tours.html" target="_blank">Costa Rica adventure tours at Hacienda Guachipelin</a>. Their <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/the-hotel/adventure-park.html" target="_blank">adventure park</a> offers you canopy zip lines, canyoning, waterfall rappelling, river tubing, horseback riding, nature trails, natural thermal springs, and tours into the Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Article by Shannon Farley</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p></div>