Northern Pacific Coast

Sea Turtle Nesting Schedule

The Caribbean Coast March-July: Leatherback Turtles • June-October: Green Turtles • May-November: Hawksbill Turtles

The Pacific Coast October-March: Leatherback Turtles • June-December: Ridley Turtles

Guanacaste (Tamarindo, Conchal, Papagayo, Hacienda Pinilla) The Pacific Coast of boasts four distinct eco-systems: The and nearby Rincon de la Vieja to the North feature the high-elevation cloud forests and thermal springs of Orosi and Cacao Volcanoes. Guanacaste National Park is one of the last stands of dry forest in Costa Rica, and was created in 1989 to connect Santa Rosa National Park and across the continental divide to the Caribbean rainforest of Northern Costa Rica. The hope is that together these two parks protect enough land to ensure sufficiently large habitats for wide-ranging species such as jaguars and mountain lions. They also simultaneously provide a biological corridor for birds and insects making their seasonal migrations between the dry forest and the evergreen cloud and rainforests. Tamarindo Wildlife Reserve is one of the last mangrove forests in Central America, and Las Baulas Protected Area is an important turtle nesting area. This is one of the hotter, drier areas of Costa Rica, and the whole Guanacaste region has more predictable seasons than the rest of Costa Rica. The chance of rain is much less during the dry season from December to April. Conversely, it is fairly likely that it will rain on any given day during the rainy season from May until November. The two rainiest months are October and November. The rainy season is usually interrupted by a two or Tamarindo Diria – First Class three week dry spell in late July or early August, called the Veranillo de San Juan (Saint Tamarindo Diria Beach Hotel offers 113 finely decorated rooms, 14 Joseph's little summer). condos and two spectacular pools – one of them is the biggest in Our selected hotels range from the northern beaches of the Gulf of Papagayo, south to the Tamarindo Beach and considered one of Costa Rica's best – all beaches around the popular town of Tamarindo, with its famous white crescent beach of surrounded by exuberant tropical gardens in front of the ocean. the same name. Most of the hotels around Papagayo are hillside hotels, while the hotels Amenities include an ocean-front restaurant offering local and around Tamarindo are beach-level hotels. Most hotels, however, are set 500-1500 feet back international cuisine, swim-up bar, three 18-hole golf courses nearby, from the beach. Only the Tamarindo Diria Hotel is a beachfront hotel. tennis court, and Jacuzzi. All rooms are air-conditioned with satellite Capitan Suizo - Tamarindo TV. In addition, there is laundry service available. First Class Capitan Suizo is a small, charming hotel situated on COSTA RICA COSTA Tamarindo Beach and surrounded by large, native trees and lush, colorful grounds. It features eight thatched-roof bungalows and 22 rooms, all with ter- race or balcony, and ocean views. The hotel also offers an exotic free-form swimming pool, an open-air interna- tional restaurant with a Swiss accent, and bar. Bungalows and rooms feature a mezzanine bedroom with king-size bed, and sliding doors that open to a tropical garden.

Suggested Optional Day Tours • Night Sea Turtle Nesting Tour: Playa Grande (OCT-MAR) (available only from Tamarindo Beach) • Half-day Guatil Ceramics Village Tour • Half-day Canopy Tour: 4 hours from Tamarindo/Conchal Cala Luna Boutique Hotel & Villas – First Class • Full-day Rincon de la Vieja National Park Tour Nestled amid old-growth trees and native tropical vegetation, this with lunch beach resort is celebrated for its world-class service and dedication to • Corobici River Float: 10 hours with lunch the guests Situated on the white sand beach called Playa Langosta, just a few steps from Tamarindo. Features include open-air yoga, surf • Full-day Rincon de la Vieja Canopy Tour instruction, spa treatments and a wide array of activities. The deluxe with lunch rooms feature wood-beamed ceilings, one queen or two double beds, • Full-day Palo Verde National Park with lunch and a sunken spa bath. The two-bedroom/two-bath villas feature pri- • Los Innocentes Ecological Ranch vate plunge pools, one bedroom with a king bed and a second bed- (with horsepacking & lunch) room with two double beds, a living room and fully equipped kitchen. • Full-day Buena Vista Hot Springs & Canopy The three-bedroom/three bath villas have another bedroom with two Tour (with horsepacking & lunch) 16 double beds. COSTA RICA 17 Deluxe + Deluxe JW Marriott Hacienda at – Pinilla JW Marriott Gua- Resortnacaste and the Spa offers sumptu- ultimate ous Costa Rica vacation. This beautiful resort on a is situated secluded beach in Deluxe+ 6 Guanacaste National Park 7Vieja National Park Rincon de la 8Area Las Baulas Protected 9 Tamarindo Andaz Peninsula Papagayo – Andaz – Inclusive All Resort reflects Papagayo Andaz Peninsula Rica of Costa the indigenous nature service with the personalized combined with the Andaz experience. associated 153 thoughtfully Andaz offers The with & suites guest rooms appointed and floor-to-ceilingbalconies windows with breathtaking of either Culebra views Room amenities or the forest. Bay include a complimentary non-alcoholic service, premium 24-hour room minibar, a walk-in WiFi, complimentaryTV, cable hair- and slippers, robes rain shower, Nestled safes. dryers, and in-room also offers the hotel beaches, two between adults-only kids a family pool, pool. club, a prime location within Costa Rica's renowned central coast. The hotel The coast. central renowned Rica's a prime location within Costa feet, than 25,000 square more a free-flowing pool that covers features and a state-of-the-artand a full-service rooms spa with 23 treatment is nexttwo-level gym. An 18-hole championship golf course door to with breathtaking experience challenging a and features the hotel Ocean. of flourishing landscapes and the Pacific views National Parks, Biological & Wildlife & Biological National Parks, Areas Reserves and Protected Coast: Pacific Deluxe Deluxe + Deluxe All Inclusive – Inclusive All Paradisus Playa Conchal Playa Paradisus exemplary luxury golf course, an Arnold Palmer-designed and service Enjoy in a pristine setting. The luxurious Paradisus Playa Conchal Beach and Golf Resort of Conchal the shores on Playa is located luxurious Paradisus The the from dry just steps tropical a magnificent forest, by surrounded Ocean, the Pacific 308 deluxe offers hotel The Beach. Conchal sands of the Melia white Playa glittering free-form a fantastic restaurants, five are There suites. master and two suites bungalow Trent courts, tennis an 18-hole Robert lighted four swimming pool with swim-up bar, casino and business center. spa, beauty parlor, health club, Jones-designed golf course, it makes the perfect honeymoon hideaway. romantic say, Needless to Four Seasons at Peninsula Papagayo – Papagayo Peninsula Seasons at Four tennis, three swimming pools, a tropically serene spa and fitness center, and dynamic center, spa and fitness serene a tropically pools, swimming three tennis, in restaurants, different at three land and at sea. Gourmet dining is available on ecoadventures Seasons Resort furnished feature at Four guest rooms All spacious dining. in-room to additon cable and international the beauty maximize outdoors, of the to or terraces balconies clad in marble airy cool, Extra-spacious and inviting, are bathrooms and DVD players. television glass-enclosed separate deep soaking shower, Seasons tub, features: Four signature and offering alcove. in a separate WC with telephone double vanitylarge and Spilling down a lush mountainside to an isthmus of golden sand, Four Seasons combines Four an isthmus of golden sand, a lush mountainside to Spilling down Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica – All Inclusive – Rica Inclusive – All Costa Las Mareas Dreams Deluxe+ on an expansive is an Unlimited-Luxury® escape in a privileged location. 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