Cahuita Calling

If you're into Costa Rica and are considering a visit to the Caribbean coast, September is likely the best time for visiting. 

September is a month that precedes both the high point of hurricane season, and the high point of tourist season.  

Cahuita is a sleepy Caribbean beach town that I recommend just north of Puerto Viejo,and I think it a shining gem on the eastern shores of the country. 

Here you will find sandy beaches that meet warm waters, cold beer, fresh fish, reggae tunes, AND a national park.

In the past, when visiting Cahuita, I have always stayed with Chris and Joe at 

Coral Hill Bungalows B&B 

www.coralhillbungalows.com

This cozy nest is 200 meters from the Beach at Playa Negra in a garden setting where gourmet breakfasts are served daily. How about fritata and artfully prepared fresh fruit topped off with hibiscus flowers?

The cabinas are clean and well appointed with bamboo furniture, safes, ceiling fans, hair dryers, hand painted sinks in the large bathrooms.   The bungalows also come with lanais

outfitted with hammock and rockers for cocktail hour or ... 

NOTHING AT ALL.

 

Wildlife surrounds you here!

We are ALWAYS blessed with howlers above us, visiting frogs, roaming Agoutis, a Two-Toed Sloth and a wide array of birds: Toucans, Oropendolas, Hummingbirds, Euphonias just to name a few...

As wonderful as Coral Hill is, I think it high time I try something new ~ a place and experience to share with you, so this year, we will be staying at Topo's Treehouse very close to Chris and Joe's place.

http://topotreehouse.com/  

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Cahuita National Park 

has 9 kilometers of easy footpaths and snorkeling vendors a-plenty 

The coral reef, just off the coast, is the largest on the Caribbean coast, creating a home to diverse schools of aquatic life.  I have it in mind to seek out an approved person to escort me into the underwater part of the park this year. 

You are not welcome to "walk in" within the park's boundaries.  Approved guides are rumored to exist, and I'm hoping for a change of pace from the boat tours departing from alongside Miss Edith's place.






http://costa-rica-guide.com/Natural/Cahuita.html

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Close-by,

you can find Tsiru Ue, home of BriBri chocolate,  handmade as you learn about the indigenous culture,                                                                                                       

 Jaguar Wildlife Refuge and Rehabilitation Center, where you can get up-close and personal with sloths and monkeys,  

LuluBerlu Art Gallery,  full of amazing artwork by locals,

and the ever vibrant downtown street life of Puerto Viejo.  

NOW GO AND ENJOY!!

http://www.puertoviejosatellite.com

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The Perfect Marriage

While surfing the daily news from CR, 

I came across a picture of my favorite mid-day meal of the tropics, 

THE CASADO.  

The picture made my mouth water and my heart ache to be there.  No matter what I do with my own recipes, eating casado is just not the same in New Jersey. I can start with organic ingredients, but simply cannot reproduce the locally-sourced part.

Most of the time, an insane amount of food is on that plate, and yet somehow, 

one can manage to LOSE WEIGHT eating this way.  

After all, there's not one bit of junk food present, and enough nutrition to recover from a day of hiking, riding, kayaking, surfing or swimming.  

For a ten minute education for gringos on Costa Rican food tradition, click:

http://news.co.cr/retirees-should-be-aware-of-costa-ricas-rich-food-tradition/14561/

Enjoy a healthy week, wherever you are!

The Art of The Boruca

 The remarkable and seemingly endless creativity displayed by the Boruca artists is inspiring as well as insightful regarding the their native cosmology and tribal history. 

Their masks attest to the rich biodiversity of the Southern Pacific zone of Costa Rica. They  bear witness to the deep-rooted and ancient culture of this tribal group whose ancestors were the famed pre-Hispanic gold workers and creators of the mysterious, and still unexplained stone spheres (Diquís/Gran Chiriquí culture 700 AD – European contact).

The different mask styles are:

•     traditional diablo masks (balsa wood or tropical cedar)
•     hybrid ‘ecological-diablo’ masks (balsa wood or tropical cedar)
•     highly elaborate and detailed ‘ecological/cultural masks’ (balsa wood or tropical cedar) 

Festival de Mascaras*

The Brunka (also known as the Boruca) tribe of the Southern Pacific region of Costa Rica are the protagonists of a unique,  centuries-old indigenous mask-making tradition centered around their annual celebration called the Danza or Juego de los Diablitos.   This tribal ceremony is of social-historic importance to the Brunka and has been faithfully celebrated for centuries – always at the end of the old year and the beginning of the new.  In this three day annual festival, held December 31 - January 2, the male participants of the tribe perform a ritual dance re-enacting the Spanish conquest.   The most important part of the costumes are the masks. With the mask, each member is empowered to fght and dispel the evil of the Spanish intruders who are represented by a mock bull. The festival masks use demon features which the
indigenous people adopted symbolically from the Spanish Catholics.

  

In these re-enactments, the Boruca triumphant over the Spanish. This victory
celebrates the identity and existence of the Boruca people against past enemies,
as well as current threats to their community and way of life. Especially, as
the modern world encroaches, indigenous people have struggled to find a
balance that retains their spirituality and harmony with nature. Their past and
their art demonstrate acknowledgment that they are part of the natural world.
Remembering who they are and where they come from serves to reinforce their
identity.
Coming from a society insulated from nature by industrial technology, we can learn a great deal by better understanding these cultures. Perhaps this knowledge can help us recognize our connections to the natural world.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

See more masks from the shop of Santos Lazaro 

* Special thanks to Galeria Namu and Galeria Coco Loco information sources

Rental Cars in Costa Rica: not always perfect, but....

While there's generally nothing but good stuff related to a trip to Costa Rica, let us not think that everything is perfect. As much as I'll recommend a place or service provider because they were GOOD,
I should also share when something was NOT.

We have rented our autos from Avanti in San Jose for years, beginning upon the recommendation of a friend. They were small, friendly and accommodating. Over the years though, Avanti grew, relocated, and then became USave.

Last year, we were double charged for our rental, their office using our credit card deposit AND our checkout [problem cleared through card member support] and I didn't complain. Anyone can make a mistake...

But this year, we were rented a 4x4 that sprayed motor oil all over the country, finding out only when we leaked in grand fashion in the valet courtyard at a swanky hotel. Dipstick registered nothing, but not a single idiot light had come on.

We had to cancel some of our excursions between Guanacaste and Alajuela because we just kept blowing oil.
Quarts later and at our "jumping off" hotel, the Buena Vista, hotel staff contacted USave to ensure that a person was sent out rather than the old, "We'll just pick it up from the hotel tomorrow" line.

A young man who was "not in a position of authority" came out and heard of our troubles.
I emailed USave to reiterate immediately upon our arrival home.

Our credit card was charged the full amount [not surprising], but no one responded to my email.

Not sorry - nothing.

How about all the motor oil all over Costa Rica?
My bet is that they are STILL leasing that pig out to the touristas.

And so, I will no longer rent an auto from Avanti/USave and will not recommend them.
Even to enemies.

Costa Rica suffers either way....

Sound like your kind of place?

"...After a day of sightseeing and adventure join us by the infinity-edge pool and the Jungle Blue lounge our private guest club house to relax and kick back with a refreshing tropical drink or cocktail from the bar. Here you can enjoy the stunning views of the rainforest, nature and Pacific coastline including Cano Island, Ballena Marine Park and Osa Peninsula and just let the Magic happen!

Jungle Blue Bar offers a selection of cocktails, tea & coffee, juices, soft drinks and wines as well as snacks both in the guest club house as well as poolside.

As the songs of the Toucans bring on the sunset the lounge at Jungle Blue Club House is illuminated by candles, citronela tiki torches and indirect lighting to create a special and romantic atmosphere were you can relax, plan your next day of adventures, catch up on news with free Wi-Fi internet or just enjoy a drink.

A delicious full breakfast (inclusive in the daily rate) is served in the Jungle Blue Lounge Club House from 7:30am to 11:00am."

I'm sold - look for our review of Tiki Villas in Uvita by the end of December!

In the mean time, take a peek at their web page:  

http://www.tiki-villas.com/index.html

and as always, stop by http://www.mango-tango.net for Costa Rica calendar offerings

When missing the tropics...

I add cream of coconut instead of cream and sugar to my morning coffee.  Lately, the half and half has been going bad....