THE RAINY SEASON LOOMS AHEAD

This year the “Rainy Season” also known as “Green Season” is expected to start in mid May and if you travel during that period that gets extended until the end of October you will enjoy a particular condition of the country that those who travel during the Dry Season did not enjoy:

This time of the year, everywhere you look; you’ll see green, green, and green. Don’t know what it is, but there’s something truly primeval and invigorating about being surrounded by lush tropical vegetation during rainy season. It makes you feel truly alive in every sense of the word, but don’t take our word for it – come see for yourself.

Generally, rains occur in the early afternoons in the highlands, mid-afternoons in the pacific lowlands, and late afternoons and night in the Atlantic lowlands.

The days often start out warm and sunny, although “temporales” are not uncommon. In the highlands, rainy season usually means an hour or two of rain in the mid-afternoon. Still be prepared, because after 23 hours of a given day maybe dry and pleasant, on the 24 hour the rain may be hard as a waterfall.

A very convenient fact is that during the rainy season most hotels and tour companies provide discounted rates and special packages to their clients.

Contact us today and take advantage of those “Green Season Specials” we can offer to you and your clients and don’t miss the chance of exploring Costa Rica as not many travelers have done it.

The land of the eternal spring is waiting for you!!!!!!!

http://www.costaricaspecialdealsonline.com/?page_id=354

http://www.costaricaspecialdealsonline.com/?page_id=1302

http://www.costaricaspecialdealsonline.com/?page_id=1904

http://www.costaricaspecialdealsonline.com/?page_id=1968

http://www.costaricaspecialdealsonline.com/?page_id=3624

http://www.costaricaspecialdealsonline.com/?page_id=3917

SPECIAL DEAL PRESENTS: MANUEL ANTONIO

Quepos Town & Manuel Antonio Beach are two separate but completely interdependent central Pacific coast towns. Quepos is a fairly good sized town with about 9,000 permanent residents, a large hospital, banks, markets, stores, hotels, bars, restaurants, (new marina coming soon) and main bus terminal.

Manuel Antonio to the south is much smaller and extends along both sides of the road that stretches 4 1/2 miles up the hill and them down to the Manuel Antonio National Park, must of the Hotels are located in the Hills.

Even though there are hotels and restaurants of many nationalities on this hill between Quepos and the park. It is still common to walk along the lush green, tree lined road and see two toed sloths, bright green parrots and large iguanas. In the hills overlooking the ocean are some of the most pictures and stunning views in the country along with accommodations from luxurious to basic.

Manuel Antonio National Park is home to one of the last sizable populations of the endangered Squirrel Monkey in the region, White Faced and Howler monkeys are also common in the park. Cathedral Point with its forest topped cliffs is connected to the mainland by a thin land bridge that separates the parks two most popular beaches, Playa Espadilla Sur and Playa Manuel Antonio.

Playa Manuel Antonio is one of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica and has been rated one of the top ten in the world. The beach is a half mile long, perfect white sand crescent bordered by deep green mangroves and palm trees.

Scenic Manuel Antonio National Park is a perfect combination of warm Pacific waters and the rainforest that grows right down to the three white sand beaches. Nature trails take you along the beach strand and over a forested, rocky promontory. This park, in the humid tropical zone, protects several habitats, including primary relative isolation and secondary forest, mangroves, beach vegetation and marine resources.

Because of its relative isolation and small size it is probably one of the easiest places in Costa Rica to see wildlife, particularly sloths, coatimundis, agoutis, White-faced Monkeys and the tiny Squirrel Monkey. There is no development inside the National Park but line the 7 kilometers (4 miles) of cliff top road leading to Manuel Antonio dozens of small hotels surrounded by trees and lush tropical gardens.

Manuel Antonio offers a beautiful coast line and diverse rainforest, an ideal area to enjoy the outdoors. Manuel Antonio tour operators offer day & multi-day tours with a wide variety to choose from; including canopy, white water rafting, kayaking, horseback riding, mountain biking, Catamaran Charters, Surfing, Snorkeling, Diving, Deep -Sea Fishing and more.

http://www.costaricaspecialdealsonline.com/?page_id=7126

http://www.costaricaspecialdealsonline.com/?page_id=2549

http://www.costaricaspecialdealsonline.com/?page_id=4974

http://www.costaricaspecialdealsonline.com/?page_id=41

Costa Rica Stone Spheres, an addition to the World Heritage?

Costa Rica has presented a bid for its pre-Columbian stone spheres to be inducted into the exclusive World Heritage list by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Cultural or natural sites or monuments can make the list if UNESCO deems them to have “outstanding universal value,” according to the international Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage

Experts in archaeology, art and other fields visited several sites in the Southern Zone last week, where many of the spheres, of varying sizes, have been discovered.

Regarded as indigenous treasures, hundreds of the almost perfectly round monoliths have been spotted in different parts of the country since the 1940s. Today they can be seen in gardens of government buildings and private homes. Many are no larger than a bowling ball. Some are larger than life, such as 15-ton boulders.

They’re usually made of granodiorite, a hard, igneous stone similar to granite. Archaeologists believe native inhabitants chiseled, pecked and ground granodiorite boulders using rocks of the same material to create the spheres.

Archaeologist Francisco Corrales said the carved stones reveal much about the Costa Ricans’ pre-Columbian ancestors.

“The finding leads us to believe that these spheres were symbols of social prestige and hierarchical positions” during the Chiriquí period from 800 to 1500 AD. The Chiriquí were ancestors of the Brunca, one of Costa Rica’s eight indigenous groups.

“This is important because it reinforces the fact that they (the spheres) were created by indigenous people who had a complex society, capable of constructing such things. (The Chiriquí) were experts with stone,” he said.

Freddy Montero, cultural program officer for UNESCO’s San José office, said the recent visit is the start of a long and important process.

“It’s not as though UNESCO arrives, declares world heritage and leaves,” said Montero. He explained that the greatest value of this first step is it should encourage a process on a national and local level to work to improve research and preserve the spheres.

UNESCO representatives seem interested in the uniqueness of spheres. Nuria Sanz, who visited from UNESCO’s World Heritage Center in Paris, France, told the newswire EFE that she’s aware of cultures that also work with this form but “not in the same context or crafted in the same way” as the Costa Rican spheres.

No timeline has been set yet, but Montero acknowledged that in the past UNESCO has committed up to 10 years to working with national governments and local authorities to meet standards of preservation and research. The time it takes depends on how well a country has prepared before presenting its bid to the World Heritage Center. In Montero’s eyes, Costa Rica has invested much in researching its spheres but “there’s still a lot of work to be done.”

http://www.costaricaspecialdealsonline.com/

http://www.costaricaspecialdealsonline.com/?page_id=5184