Costa Rica Travel News – Whether you are visiting Costa Rica or have been here forever, there’s no reason to stay in the city or by the beach the whole time. Why not take a quick trip to the Monteverde Cloud Forest, which offers amazing hiking trails and so much more. I’m sure you’ve seen pictures of quetzals and rainbows, but did you know Monteverde also has the original canopy tour, one of the most delicious restaurants and beautiful, inexpensive cabins to offer?
It’s not a far trip, just 4 hours from San Jose or about an hour from Puntarenas, nonetheless, you will probably want some good eats when you arrive. The Green is a restaurant that will hit the spot. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if you return to try something from their menu on each and every day of your stay. It’s that good!
The nice thing is that the owners and staff are friendly and willing to offer personalized attention, such as advice about what to do in this fabulous area. They speak English and are also patient if you want to practice your Spanish.
The food is fresh and that makes the taste exceptional. The cooks try new inventions all the time. They even make their own liquors, like limoncello. There’s a bar where you can create your own meal. You just take a bowl and fill it with the vegetables of your choice. Add as many signature homemade sauces as you’d like and then the chef will prepare it for you with pasta or rice and the meat of your choice. This is perfect after a long, adventure-filled day. You can have a meal exactly as you want it. Go with the Teriyaki sauce mixed with the tamarindo one!
Let’s not forget about the drinks! “The Green Lemonade” is a refreshing frozen drink that infuses lemonade with mint, basil and ginger. It’s amazingly unique and tasty!
The Green offers a relaxed, personalized service in a clean, comfy atmosphere. For more info, call 2645 6174 or check out https://www.facebook.com/thegreenmtv
The next stop on your itinerary should be to check in at Cabinas Capulin, which are centrally located within walking distance to the main part of town, Santa Elena. The owners will be available to answer any questions you have and help you arrange tours and transportation you are interested in. They offer great rates and spotless rooms. They take care to maintain the grounds and rooms at a high standard. Plus, there are some of the best views from their property and the big windows in the cabins.
There are 8 wooden cabins, tucked into the cloud forest with views of the gulf. It is possible to be just a kilometer from the center of town but totally away from the noise. Many birds can be found on the premises, eating from the Capulin trees found along the onsite hiking trail. The cabins can fit between 3 and 8 people, and some offer kitchens. They also have WIFI and free parking. For just $55-$90, it’s a steal!
You can reserve a nice breakfast to start the next day off right. It’s a family run business, so they pay attention to the needs of each group staying with them. For large groups, they offer dinner service. Soon they’ll be offering farm tours on site, in which you can see the dairy farm, coffee farm, trails and wildlife with an accredited naturalist guide. After the whole day out exploring, you will come home to a modern, hot shower, which is hard to find in Costa Rica! These farmside cabinas are the perfect home away from home, near it all.
For more info about Cabinas Capulin, visit http://cabinascapulin.com/ or call 2645-6719.
You’ll definitely want to ask the friendly owners at Capulin to arrange an Original Canopy Tour for you. It’s not only the original, but it’s also the best. That’s because it’s appropriate for just about everyone. It’s a long course, and thrilling, but not too scary. When we went on this tour, kids were in the group and they got through the course and loved every part. The first few ziplines are easy and used as practice to learn how to sit and how to hold on and brake.
There are a few surprises on this tour that you won’t find on other canopy tours, including a Tarzan Swing and a place to rappel down and then climb up inside a hollow tree and on a rope ladder. These additions add a variety to the typical canopy tour you’d find elsewhere.
By the end of the tour, you are confidently soaring through the trees, with the clouds below you, on lines that reach 500 and 800 meters in length! The landscapes you go through are gorgeous. During the 15 ziplines, you get to feel at one with nature.
There are two guides with you at all times, so you are perfectly safe. One will go before the group and receive everyone after their turn on the line, as the other guide helps the next person onto the line and then follows behind the group. The one in front will take pictures for you to have lasting memories of the fun. If there are any small children in your group, it’s possible for them to ride with the guide.
The regular cost is $45, but there are discounts available for children, students and nationals. Kids go for just $25. The whole tour takes about 2.5 hours. They will also include roundtrip transportation to nearby hotels.
This company advocates for conservation, education, reforestation and safety, so you can feel good about spending your money here. Besides getting a great tour, you are helping to raise awareness for reforestation and protection of the fragile ecosystem.
The tours start at 7:30, 10:30 and 2:30. You should wear long pants, a T-shirt, hiking shoes or sneakers and insect repellent. For more info check out www.canopytour.com or call 2645-5243.
