MUSEUM OPENS OASIS FOR BUTTERFLIES

Winged insects and flat-footed humans can find a peaceful haven from the city in the new butterfly garden exhibit at San José’s National Museum.

Butterflies in the City: Visitors read an informative road sign positioned below a feeder at the new butterfly garden exhibit at San Jose’s National Museum.

The traffic, noise and crowds of downtown San José seem worlds away in the serenity of the National Museum’s new butterfly garden exhibit. Visitors are greeted by colorful butterflies native to Costa Rica’s Central Valley as they pass through the garden on their way to the other exhibits in the museum.

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OUR FEATURED HOTEL IN MANUEL ANTONIO – ARENAS DEL MAR HOTEL

An extraordinary beachfront resort situated in the beaches of Manuel Antonio.

This incomparable Costa Rican hotel was designed and built with an ambitious combination of deluxe accommodations coupled with the highest level of certified sustainability.

Arenas Del Mar is a beach and nature resort located adjacent to Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. “Unique and spectacular beach and nature experiences combined with highest levels of comfort and sustainability in a local Costa Rican setting” define the concept of Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort.

This Manuel Antonio resort caters to tourists that are looking for more than just another high end resort experience. Arenas Del Mar Hotel offers a luxurious lodging experience in harmony with Costa Rica’s nature in a spectacular beach and rainforest setting. Guest rooms, apartments and suites offer spectacular ocean views, upscale dining in two hotel restaurants with a focus on fresh local products and personalized service that exceeds expectations.

 Sustainability is a key component of the concept at all levels of the operation and the Certification for Sustainable Tourism-a program designed by the Costa Rican Tourism ministry-served as a guide for the building and continues to drive the operation of the hotel. Arenas Del Mar minimizes the impact on the surrounding nature, while maximizing the positive economic impact on the local community through employment and support for schools and Costa Rican culture.

 Other hotel facilities include a luxurious spa located below the main restaurant with breathtaking views of Manuel Antonio National Park and the Pacific Ocean, a gift shop featuring local art and souvenirs and a state of the art business center near the hotel lobby.




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MANUEL ANTONIO NATIONAL PARK

Foreigners flock here for a chance to live a day in a postcard-like setting. Manuel Antonio National Park’s beaches are the epitome of tropical perfection, the kind of place where the only distractions from the crashing surf come from monkeys swinging in the palm trees.

Morning is the best time, for sunny skies and to avoid crowds (only 600 people are admitted during weekdays; 800 on weekends). Hike to the third beach within the park; it may be the most spectacular beach in Costa Rica, with verdant, coconut palm-lined white-sand shores.

Check out the tombolo, which is a deposit of sand built up by millenniums of crashing waves, connecting an island with the mainland. A trail will take you to the top of Cathedral Point, offering spectacular vistas of surrounding beaches and cliffs. The trail is steep and muddy; take care and go with a partner.

Snorkeling is excellent, as is observation of sea life. Sponges, corals, various crustaceans, algae and fish all share the coast. Dolphins and whales sometimes frolic off the islands, and at low tide you can see ancient turtle traps set by the local indigenous population over a thousand years ago.

How to get there: From Quepos, its seven miles down the coast, with frequent buses and inexpensive taxis between the two spots. San José to Quepos runs morning and afternoon buses; Sansa and Nature Air have daily flights. If you’re driving, head towards Jacó and follow the Costanera Highway, arriving takes about 3 hours.

Location: Quepos (Central Pacific coast)   Hours: 7am – 4pm        Closed on Mondays

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