Heads up in Arenal

A report came out in today´s La Nacion,  (Costa Rica´s leading Spanish newspaper ) advising tourist of the crime increase  in the La Fortuna area, home of the Arenal Volcano.

The article  states that there are false tour guides that speak English that the tourist hire, then they are robbed.   These false tour guides hang out in the park and at bus stops.

Also, some locations that tourist frequent are being robbed.  When the tourist return they find their camera´s missing.   

Some safety measures when you travel to Arenal or anywhere in Costa Rica can be followed.  These simple measures will give you the peace of mind you deserve while on vacation.

When you plan your trip, it´s advisable to have all your arrangements prior to leaving.  Use a reputable tour operator.  We also recommend Costanicatours.  Make sure your hotels are booked, and that your tours are planned.  Your tour operator should send you your travel vouchers with  hotel and tour operator phone numbers listed.

When you have a tour planned, you voucher should specify  which company is being used.   You can then check them out on the Internet.  Make sure that the tour operator picks you up from your hotel lobby, and you should have a pick up time.  The guide should be with you at all times.  The robberies mentioned in the paper are where tourist ventured out on their own.  If  you go on any tour with a reputable company, you will not have a problem.

If you are driving, do not leave your car unattended with valuables inside.  For first time visitors we recommend private or semi private transfers. 

If you do need to leave your hotel in the evening, request a cab from the hotel lobby.  You can request the same cab driver to pick you up in Arenal.  Just give him a time frame when to pick you up and they will.

Don´t carry your passport.  Carry a copy of your passport with you and leave the original in the safe deposit box of your hotel room.

Also, don´t use flashy jewelery.  You can leave that at home.

Following these simple safety measure will allow you to have a relaxing vacation.

 

International Medical Insurance

They were finally able to go  on that long awaited vacation.  Escaping the brutal winter months, they arrive at the airport,  relieved to have  fantastic weather. 

They were  taken to their hotel for the evening.  They could not help but feel the excitement as they finally arrived in Costa Rica. 

Suddenly, the wife becomes ill on their first night.   She is taken to a private hospital.   Her diagnosis:  Appendicitis.  She is operated, and spends her vacation recovering in the hospital and hotel room.

The tour they had planned is lost.  No white water rafting, no volcano hikes, no basking on the sun, and no reimbursement.

College students taking their spring break in Costa Rica are surfing in the Pacific.  One of students suffers a terrible accident.  He is taken to the hospital where he is diagnosed  a  quadriplegic. 

His family back home struggle to obtain the funds needed to care for him and to bring him home to the states.   His college classmates hold fund raisers on campus to help his parents with  the high cost of bringing home their son.

Both of these stories are tragic.  Both of these stories are true. 

What these stories have in common is that neither party purchased Travel  Medical Insurance.

For the first case, the hospital fees would have been covered, plus a reimbursement of the tour they had purchased.

For the second case, the hospital fees and specialized air travel home would have been provided.

What happens if you become sick in anther country? What happens if your luggage gets lost?

ACR Tours provides  Travel Medical Insurance for these very same reasons.  Illness and accidents come un-announced.  Luggage gets lost.   

For just a few dollars a day you can purchase medical insurance and it is something we always advise our clients to do.  

Apply for your  Travel Medical Insurance and get covered.

 

Tortuguero- Samoa Lodge

Costa Rica has this unique place called Tortuguero.  It’s unique because it is  located in the middle of the tropical jungle  in the Caribbean, and has a mixture of Indian and African roots.  To get to Tortuguero, you either must fly in or as explained below, take a tour bus and make the rest of the trip on boat through the canals.

When you tour with Samoa Lodge, the following is included in your travel package:

• Transfer either by bus/boat/bus  or air/boat/air
• All meals and beverages
• Banana plantation tour
• Tour of the canals of Tortuguero
• Visit to the town of Tortuguero
• Morning tour of the canals- abundance wildlife here
• Hill of Tortuguero- offers impressive view of the valley plus you may discover the following:  Three different kinds of monkeys,  sloths, caimans, turtles, iguanas, poison arrow frogs and many bird and insects  including the blue morpho butterfly.

Samoa Lodge offers one, two and three night package.  The two night package is best.

Want to try someplace different?  Try Samoa Lodge.  You will not be disappointed.

 

A Guide for living in Costa Rica

There is a new blog out as a guide for living in Costa Rica. 

You can check it out here:        http://www.CostaRicaHQ.org

 

Relocating to Costa Rica

Have you ever had a desire to live in Costa Rica, but did not know who to call or where to begin?

 Do you have questions that no one seems to know the answer to?

What if you have kids and need to enroll them in school, which school, and where?

How do you get a drivers license?

What is the cost of living like?

All these questions will be answered and much more.  All you need to do is check out James Brausch and view his post titled  Costa Rica Package. 

Here is an excerpt of his post:

We will provide assistance with electricity, telephone and Internet setup.  You will need to pay for the services, but we will give you bilingual help to get them set up and show you how to pay them on the Internet or in a grocery store.

Would you like to escape the snow and cold climate you are experiencing now?  Come and bask in the sun in a tropical beach, just like my husband is doing in the picture. 

To get that and more, click on  the Costa Rica Package.

 

Caño Negro Tour

The wildlife reserve Caño Negro is one of the most important reserves for bird watching and observation of other wild animals in the whole country. The variety of birds is incredible. Caño Negro is also the home of sloths, three types of monkeys, caimans, bats as well as a big variety of plants, typical for this humid climate.Our tour starts in Fortuna. With a minibus we drive for about 1 ½ hours through agricultural landscape to the restaurant “el Caiman”, directly boarding the river “Rio Frio”. After a welcome drink we board the motorboat and ride slowly for about 20 minutes on the river to reach the National refuge Caño Negro. For the next 2 ½ hours we enjoy the beautiful Fauna and Flora of this exceptional pretty National Refuge. From the beginning of the bus ride the guide explains to us all about the native, regional agriculture. Included: Transport, bilingual, nature bound tour guide, welcome-drink, drinking water, entrance to the National refuge and a typical lunch in the restaurant “El Caiman”.

What you have to bring: Light and comfortable clothing, Tennis- or trekking shoes, sunhat, sun cream, camera and binoculars.

Departure: 7:30 a.m.

Return: 4:00 p.m.

 

Bungee Jumping in Arenal

One of the biggest attractions in Arenal is bungee jumping.  

Feel how your life flows through your body in an activity that generates more adrenaline than any other.  The only problem is that this tour is addictive!

With this exciting tour, there are several options to choose from:

Water Touchdowns: Arenal bungee gives you the option of water immersion while bungee jumping.   Costa Rican tropical sun, the Arenal Volcano in front of you,  a free fall.   A refreshing immersion in crystalline water. 

 Rocket Launcher:  The catapult will launch you from the ground to the sky in a fast speed.  You will go from 0 to 100 km/hour in 3 seconds.

 Big Swing: Unique in the country.  A 26 meter free fall, a 48 meter arch and a 180 degree angle will make you think again what a childs swing really is. Before the adventue starts,  you are equipped with a special safety harness that allows you to take your start position.  You will be raised over 26  meters, and then you will be sent to enjoy the advnture.

 To take the tour- minimum weight is 90 pounds,  maximum is 270 pounds.

 Equipment and staff certified by the North American Bungee Association. (NABA)

Bilingual staff are directly trained by Bungee Consultats International.  The only bungee in Costa Rica with an Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT) Certification.

Comfortable clothes like jeans and closed shoes are recommended.  An extra shirt in case you get wet and  camera.  Pictures are taken by the staff if you choose to purchase a CD of your jump.

 

Lavas Tacotal Hotel

While staying in Arenal with Eugenia, I chose to stay at Lavas Tacotal Hotel.  We had a deluxe suite with an amazing view of the volcano.  The hotel has 43 rooms in a clean setting with gorgeous plants and two pools.  Breakfast is included with your stay.

When we  wanted to venture out to Fortuna, all we did was go to the reception desk where they called a taxi for us.  The cost to Fortuna one way was about 3,800.00 colones. Taxi’s are available at the park, so there is no problem finding one for your return to the hotel.

One thing that I did not pass up, was a massage.  The massage therapist came to the room and I enjoyed a 45 minute back and neck massage for $50.00

This hotel is rated three stars, economical and very clean.  We recommend this hotel.

 

Cultour

Since we are blogging Arenal- I decided to take a visit and check out a new tour called Cultour- short for Culture Tour.  I was not disappointed!

See pictures here

We were taken to La Casona- built in 1910.  This home housed the first telegraph in the area.  Later it was sold in 1960 to a local family.  The home has been restored, but 85% of the original home remains the same.Our tour included a visit to the “Trapiche,” or sugar cane processing where you obtain sugar juice.  We were then taken back into the home where we made tortillas, how fun!  Coffee was served with home-made tortillas, cheese and “natilla.”  It was perfect since it was a bit cool and raining.

We then boarded a tractor and took a ride to a nearby town called Zona Fluca.  This was a gorgeous area.  We saw lovely homes and beautiful gardens.  We then went to the school where the children sang and did some typical dancing shows for us.

Once again on the tractor to visit Don Aguinaldo’s farm, full or ornamental plants and birds galore.  Here we were served fruit while Don Aguinaldo played the guitar and sang

We were once again on the tractor ride back to the Casona where lunch was waiting for us.

So, did I have fun?  Of course, this tour was a cultour tour describing the area, plants, fruits, and tradition of Costa Rica.  It is something you will not want to miss.

 

Arenal Manoa Hotel

Arenal Manoa Hotel is one of the newer hotels located 7 km west of Fortuna.  This hotel offers 40 rooms and offers the following:

• Two queen sized beds
• A/C
• Television
• Private bath with hot water
• Telephone
• Security box
• Terrace with a view to the volcano
• Refrigerador
• Swimming pool
• Breakfast included

The hotel also offers a farm, where you can see the process of milking cows.  The trails of the farm are available to the guest, where you can see ornamental plants, sheep and birds.

 Rates are as follows through April 2008

Single- $145.00 per room

Double -$145.00

Triple – $160.00

Quadruple – $175.00

Taxes and breakfast is included.  All tours are available from this lovely hotel. 

To reserve- e-mail us at acrtours@racsa.co.cr