Posts tagged Leatherback
Retiring in Nicaragua – The Natural Wonders of Sea Turtles
Sep 11th
An undeniable benefit of investing in real estate in Nicaragua or retiring to Nicaragua is the opportunity to witness natural events that simply do not commonly exist in North America. Several beaches in Nicaragua, both on the Pacific and the Caribbean Coasts, are among the few sites in the world where sea turtles arrive – sometimes in fantastic numbers exceeding one thousand – to lay their eggs. This interesting event is called arribadas and occurs several times per year.
Throughout the whole world, there are only seven species of sea turtles in existence. Five of those seven species are present in Nicaragua including the Green Turtle, the Hawksbill Turtle, the Leatherback Turtle, the Loggerhead Turtle, and the Olive Ridley Turtle. Sadly, each of these turtles have been placed on the endangered species list or the critically endangered species list.
The most common turtle on the Pacific beaches of Nicaragua is the Olive Ridley Turtle. The Leatherback Turtle and the Hawksbill Turtle, however, can also be found here in much smaller numbers.
On the Pacific Coast, the major problem threatening sea turtles is the commercial consumption of turtle eggs. The coastal dwellers have found an additional food source in the eggs and more significantly they found there was a very high demand for the eggs. The turtle eggs are easily sold to seafood restaurants or simply to people on the street.
At the beaches of La Flor and Chacocente, the regulated protection of the turtles and turtle eggs is managed by organizations like the Cocibolca Foundation as well as the Nicaraguan Army. At these sites tenuous agreements have been made with the local residents which stipulate that the residents can take a certain number of eggs in exchange for collaboration regarding the protection of the sea turtle nests.
Environmentally sensitive tours to La Flor to watch the arribadas can be easily arranged in colourful and charming village of San Juan del Sur. San Juan del Sur is quickly becoming a popular real estate investment destination amongst retiring baby boomers.
For more information on investing in or retiring to Nicaragua please visit Nicaragua Real Estate.
Tamarindo Costa Rica, Former Fishing Village Turned Tourist and Surfer Haven
Jan 24th
Tamarindo is among the most popular vacation destinations in Costa Rica, it’s become famous for its immaculate beaches, crystal clear blue waters, superb natural surroundings and near perfect weather.
A former fishing village in the northern regions of Guanacaste province on the North Pacific Coast, Tamarindo is the area’s most well developed tourist town with plenty of accommodations to suit every pocket. With much to enjoy and even more to do, this multi-cultural community is the ideal place to have some fun in the sun!
The beaches here are very well taken care of and the entire town has a relaxed laidback feel to it, making it the perfect place for anyone looking to have a good time. With the surfing and windsurfing conditions here near perfect for the experienced as well as novice surfers, Tamarindo is probably the most accessible beach town on the country’s entire northern Pacific Coast.
If surfing, swimming, snorkeling, sailing, kayaking, jet skiing, boogie boarding, horseback riding and scuba diving, isn’t quite enough to keep you busy, you can visit the nearby wildlife refuge of Diria, as well as the Marino Las Baulas National Park, where leatherback turtles come every summer to nest and breed.
The beach at Tamarindo is large enough for those who are looking to find some peace and quiet to get some. But for those who want to be where the action is, another favorite past time here is sportfishing, with record marlin, tuna and sailfish catches off the coast. For the land loving traveler, golf is a popular option at the Hacienda Pinilla, one of the finest golf courses in Central America.
It is important to keep in mind that Playa Tamarindo has strong rip currents and barely submerged rocks, so be careful swimming here. Also the estuaries to the north and south are very dangerous to cross at medium to high tide. To the south is the beautiful but upscale beach of Playa Langosta, with its excellent Bed & Breakfasts. Most of the high-end expensive hotels and B&B’s are spread out along Playa Langosta & south of Tamarindo.
The town itself is quite colorful with plenty of local Tico flavor. You can find several bakeries, an outdoor vegetable market, an art gallery, pottery stores, a beauty spa and more than 40 restaurants, bars and discos with cuisines to suit every palette. Easily accessible by bus, the best way to get to Tamarindo is to fly into the Liberia International Airport or if you are already in San Jose take the flight to Tamarindo Domestic Airport which is just outside of town.
Adventure…
For the more adventurous types of people who love this area, take an ATV tour into the hills above the town, but be sure to watch out for the iguanas that might cross your path. Kayaking is a great way to see the estuary up close and personal. Glide through the tree shaded slow moving waters as you take in the sights far from the bustle of the beach.
If you would rather avoid all of these touristy activities, you can simply rent a car or a mountain bike and spend a couple days exploring the wonders of the area on your own. You will love the tranquil pace, amazing sunsets and the picturesque beaches along the coastline.
Accommodation:
* Cala Luna Hotel And Villas – it is a tropical paradise fully equipped with modern conveniences, but also far away from the rush of tourists routes. Here the rooms are spacious and comfortable. The hotel has pleasing art in the reception area. You will have the opportunity to enjoy both the hotel pool and the nearby beach
* Capitan Suizo Hotel – it is a beachfront hotel surrounded by lush gardens and a beautiful jungle. The rooms here are decorated with natural stone floors, creating a relaxing atmosphere. The restaurant has also an open-air bar and there is also a swimming pool at the hotel.
* Tamarindo Diria Beach and golf resort – it is surrounded by tropical gardens that create a unique ambiance. The rooms are spacious and air conditioned. There are also two swimming pools at this hotel.
Things to do:
* Surfing
Surfing is the most common sport. But with a backdrop of sun, waves, hills and sand you can also exercise in other ways. What do you think of mountain biking? It’s really cool going on a bike tour and getting up close to the vegetation of the Pacific coast and also wildlife like birds, monkeys and snakes, etc.
* Snorkeling
Snorkeling is an excellent decision to experience the incredible marine life. However, the best places to snorkel are only accessible by boat, so you should take a snorkeling tour.
Here are some tips for when you are preparing to snorkel:
To try the mask, move the strap out of the way, brush your hair out of the way, and just push the mask firmly onto your face.
To keep the snorkel upright while you are swimming face down on the surface, the snorkel strap will need to be adjusted properly on the mask strap. The fins will help you to get down more quickly so that you can see more of the underwater world depending on how long you can hold your breath, you may need to equalize your ears for the deeper dives. This can be done by holding your nose closed and gently blowing against it during the descent, ask your snorkel guide to show you how.
* Fishing for Marlin and Sailfish
Sport fishing here is incredible. You can charter a boat for a half-day, or go farther offshore on a full-day trip to improve your chances of hooking up a marlin or sailfish. Like the sailing trips, all food and beverages are included on most boats.
* Volcanoes and Rain Forest Canopy Tours
The volcanoes and hot springs of Rincon de la Vieja National Park to the north are close enough for a day trip. The volcano at Arenal National Park is also within driving distance, though you may want to spend the evening there to see the nighttime eruptions and go on a line canopy tour. From October through March, you may witness the arrival of leatherback sea turtles for nesting season at Las Baulas Marine National Park.
A tropical sunset paints the sky every evening, and you can enjoy it from your room or balcony if you stay at a place with an ocean view. Then hit the town’s countless bars and clubs and discos. The Monkey Bar at Best Western is one of my favorites, but there are new ones popping up faster than mushrooms in the rain forest.
