ipacheco, Author at Elemento Natural

BlogMay 19, 2017December 8, 2024 By ipacheco

Travel like a local in Costa Rica…travel like a tico!

Costa Rica is a privileged country because of its nature, geography, biodiversity and its people! To top it off, it has a long history of tourism and service, which makes it a perfect destination for your vacations.

“Ticos” (slang for costaricans) have the advantage of living in this country, visited by millions of tourists every year, and therefore they have much more time to visit all these destinations and do all the fun activities that are offered in Costa Rica. But, through the years, what is it that “ticos” do when they travel around? And, if a tourist visits the country and he/she wants to travel like a local…what can we recommend?

There are many answers to these questions, but we, at Elemento Natural, started developing a list to guide and help all those visitors that want to travel around Costa Rica the way that “ticos” do!

When a “tico” goes to the beach, he will definitely carry his cooler with drinks and snacks, plus towels and chairs. After finding a good shade under a tree, he can then sit and spend the whole day enjoying the beach and the ocean.
If a “tico” goes to the Central or North Pacific, he will be very tempted to make a strategic stop in “El Puerto” (the Port of Puntarenas), to eat a Churchill (shaved ice with syrup). Any costarican has done that at some point, and if for some reason they don’t do it in a particular trip, the craving will linger for a while.

Any ‘tico’ will go to a bar at any time, near home or when they are traveling around, to have a beer or a drink with a boca (Costarican version of tapas)!
When a ‘tico’ goes to the beach, he will find a good restaurant right on the beach to have a ceviche or a whole fish.
If you travel like a local and you go to Puerto Viejo in Limón, you will visit Manzanillo and you will hike at least until the famous view-point, you will take some pictures and then you will relax at the beaches on the way.
When a ‘tico’ goes to the beach on the Pacific side, waiting for the sunset will be a daily must-do. And when the time comes, he will look for a perfect spot to watch it, take pictures…and share them just to brag!

During any given weekend wether near home or the vacation spot, a local will go to the Patron Saint Festivals to eat the tasty ‘pupusas’ or Chinese food for example, and share with their friends, maybe at a typical costarican bullfight.
If a “tico” goes to Guanacaste, it is very likely that he will not stay at his hotel or cabina. He will take at least one day to go beach hopping, visiting at least two or three more.
The majority of costaricans like football, one way or another. That is why, if they get a chance they will go to the stadium to watch a game and support their favorite team, especially if it is a game of “La Sele”, the national team.
If in San José, most people have gone to Escalante, Amón or La California, especially nowadays, that the gastronomy is varied enough for every taste and budget!
If you travel like a local, and you go to the South Caribbean, you will certainly eat rice & beans, patí or plantintá, and possibly you will stop in Cahuita to do so.

These are just a few examples of the ways that “ticos” travel around in their country, that´s the way they travel Costa Rica! So, travel like a local, #TravelWithElemento

BlogApril 8, 2017December 8, 2024 By ipacheco

Travel to Costa Rica from Scandinavia…or vice-versa: what is different and what is not that different?

Travelling is something most people love. You get to meet new people, explore new countries and try new foods: it´s a self-development experience. While travelling you will encounter many things that are not the same as in your home country, and some other that are not that different. They might greet you in another way or have a different way of life than you.

Coming from Scandinavia (Norway) and visiting Costa Rica, a traveler will see some of these differences: starting by the obvious, Costa Rica is warm and sunny, Norway is cold and windy. And of course the weather will brew a different set of people which will withstand such warmth or cold. Norwegians tend to seem a little upfront before you get to know them; Latin people are more open from the start and they’ll include you somehow faster than a Norwegian would do at the start of a friendship. In Costa Rica it’s normal to hug and kiss people on the cheek, while in Norway the norm is more a handshake: Norwegians really love their personal space and a handshake is more than enough when you meet someone new. And the similarities…in both countries you can find trustful and caring people to grow an excellent and lasting friendship!

visit costa rica from scandinavia — Visit Costa Rica from Scandinavia

A lot of people travel to explore new tastes and new food. All countries have different gastronomy. Much of it depends on what you can produce or get in your country: Norway has always been a farmland, and because of its cold weather and geographic location in the north, there is a lot of seasonal fruits and vegetables. That can explain why the traditional food there consists of a lot of dried meat and fish, and potatoes and other hard root vegetables that can be stored throughout the winter without getting bad. If you look at Costarican typical food, you will find a lot more tropical fresh fruits and vegetables combined with different kinds of meats: also there will be main ingredients like rice and beans, because it’s cheaper and has good nutritional value. And of course, the similarities: in both places you can find delicious food for all tastes! It is as likely to find a Norwegian in Costa Rica enjoying a sweet and juicy papaya, than it would be to find a Costarican in Norway enjoying a tasteful salmon filet.

People from different places have a different views on life. Some people are more relaxed while others need to have a plan for every step of their day. This also differs from country to country: Costaricans don’t like confrontation, while Scandinavians tend to be quite direct. In those terms, Costaricans have a more relaxed view on life and might be less organized, while Scandinavians will exceed at planning and executing a perfect vacation, for example!

Most people travel to explore new things, and nature is a big part of travelling. People travel to Norway because of the mountains and the fjords, while people travel to Costa Rica to look at the volcanoes and the beaches. Nature will take your breath away in both places: while the shapes and colors will be different, the spectacular landscapes and wildlife will be unique and will awake your senses in a very similar way! Keep traveling, keep growing and keep sharing…tourism is a personal journey that should never stop!

#TravelWithElemento

By Alex Dahl – Norway, for Elemento Natural.

BlogFebruary 17, 2017 By ipacheco

5 species you must see when you travel Costa Rica

[dropcap]What hides in the forests and waters of Costa Rica?[/dropcap]

When travelling to Costa Rica you are most certain to meet some species of exotic animals, even if you are looking or not. Either if you are looking to scuba dive in Caño Island, or look at the the monkeys and sloths at Osa peninsula, this country will certainly tickle your senses.

Costa Rica is home to more than 500,000 species which represents about 4% of the world’s species. This makes this little country one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. Here are 5 different animals that live here and that you can´t miss in your Costa Rica travel.

Sloths
There are two types of Sloths in Costa Rica which is the brown throated three-toed Sloth and the two toed Sloth. The main difference on these two is obviously the toes, but there are also other differences. The three-toed Sloth has black eyes: these are the Sloths that has a “smiling mouth”. These are also a bit smaller than the two-toed Sloth which has white ringed faces and brown snouts. Their pelt is also a bit more ragged than the three-toed Sloths. The Sloths can be found all over Costa Rica but there are some places which will almost guarantee you to get a glimpse of these unique creatures, like the Osa Peninsula, Tortuguero or Manuel Antonio.

Toucans
Toucans are one of the most known birds of Costa Rica. There are six different types of Toucans that can be found throughout the country, mostly in the Pacific and the Caribbean lowlands. The different species of Toucans are: the keel-billed, chestnut-mandibled, emerald toucanet, yellow-eared toucanet, collared aracari and the fiery-billed aracari. Toucans are very important for the rainforest because of their ability to spread seeds. These birds are a must when you travel to Costa Rica, even though one of them is the national bird of Belize!

Monkeys
There are a couple of different types of monkeys in Costa Rica, most of them can be found spread out in the country. Though, Osa Peninsula is one of the few areas where you can actually see the four species at the same place. The monkeys you can find here are the squirrel monkey, the spider monkey, the white-faced capuchin and the howler monkey.

These are somehow small monkeys who usually travel in packs. They use their tails as an equipment, to hang by the trees or even swing from branch to branch. The most common of these monkeys are the white-faced and the howler monkey. Both of them are found throughout Costa Rica as long as there is some forest vegetation. So if you hear a loud monkey scream in the forest, it’s probably the Howler monkey. Their scream can be heard from one kilometer away or even more.

Strawberry poison dart frog
You will stumble upon a lot of different amphibiens when you travel across Costa Rica, one in particular is the Strawberry poison dart frog. This little frog is not more than an inch long and is bright red and has blue legs (reason why some call it also the blue-jeans frog). But the frog can also morph into 15-20 other colors. This makes it a very interesting frog to see in your trip to Costa Rica. The reason for its colors is to show that the frog is poisonous to other predators. The indigenous people used the poison from the frog on their arrows when they hunted.

Sea turtles
The coasts of Costa Rica are well known for its Sea turtles. There are different types of turtles depending on where you go in the country and they have different nesting times. You’ve got five main species around Costa Rica which are: The green sea turtle, the leatherback, the Olive Ridley, the Hawksbill and the Loggerhead sea turtle. The one that’s most seen throughout the country, and the world, is the Olive Ridley sea turtle which is the smallest of them.

Some places are of course better to go watch turtles than others, places like Tortuguero for the Green sea turtle; or some beaches of Guanacaste like Ostional for the Olive Ridley sea turtle.

The wildlife in Costa Rica is something completely different from what you will see in countries in Scandinavia, Europe or North America: you will experience a ton of new things and see both vegetation and animals you’ve never seen before. We, at Elemento Natural, are ready to plan the trip of your life, just come and visit Costa Rica with us.

#TravelWithElemento

By Alex Dahl – Norway, for Elemento Natural.

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BlogDecember 19, 2016 By ipacheco

Three ways to discover Osa Peninsula with Elemento Natural

Corcovado National Park, located in Osa Peninsula southwest of Costa Rica, is considered by many to be one of the best national parks in the world, one of the most bio-diverse in the planet. The rainforest in it, is not only inside the national park, but it actually covers most of the peninsula, making it tremendously rich in flora and fauna. However, you can not set aside the other natural attractions of the area like the Dulce Gulf, the many beaches like Drake and the wetlands like Sierpe.

Elemento Natural wants to give you 3 recommendations to get up close and personal with Osa, this amazing area of Costa Rica; all three, very different between each other, but that each one of them becomes an awesome trip.

The most traditional way of visiting Osa is going to Drake Bay via Sierpe Wetlands. This option requires that you first reach Sierpe and then take a boat that will take you to the Pacific Ocean and to your hotel in Drake. Going through Sierpe River is an adventure in itself. Once in Drake you can visit the little villeage and some of the local eco-tourism projects in Rancho Quemado and El Progreso. In Drake Bay, you will have easy access to 2 of the best destinations of the area:
1. The Park´s ranger stations San Pedrillo and Sirena, inside the Corcovado National Park: incredible spots for wild life watching.
2. Caño Island, one of Costa Rica´s best spots with marine life, excellent for scuba diving and snorkeling.
The next one, maybe more remote than the previous, is to visit La Palma which is located just before Puerto Jiménez. You can get here by car, and you also have the advantage of being close to Rancho Quemado and El Progreso, that you can also reach by car (mostly during the dry season). Being close to Puerto Jiménez, it´s pretty easy to take a boat to enjoy the beauties of Dulce Gulf, the dolphins, whales and the beaches. Also, the Los Patos ranger station is close by, so Corcovado National Park is still an important part of your journey to the Peninsula. There are some very nice beaches near by, to enjoy the sun and the ocean.
Finally, you can visit Cabo Matapalo, at the tip of the penisula. It is definitely the most remote area, but well worth it because of the spectacular natural views and the impressive flora and abundant fauna. If you want to be in a place where everything is about nature, this is it. And of course, you can still access Corcovado Park through La Leona sector. You can even fly from there or from Puerto Jiménez to Sirena Station, for a day hike. The beaches on this side are amazing, and you can find many world wide famous surf spots.

Any way you choose, you are going to enjoy nature and you will feel it was totally worth it to make a trip longer than usual. We recommend at least 4 days so you can really get to know the area, hike, swim and rest. The Osa Peninsula es a jewel in our country, worldwide famous! Travel with Elemento Natural and discover Costa Rica.

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BlogNovember 9, 2016 By ipacheco

6 Tips to change snow for sand: A successful winter get-away in Costa Rica

Winter is coming! By the end of November, this isn’t only a ‘Game of Thrones’ quote, but it’s true for all the countries of the North, like US, Canada, Norway, Sweden and Europe in general. Well, it happens that this is also the time when the rainy season ends in Costa Rica and the ‘summer time’ begins! So, this is the perfect time to plan a winter get-awa, fly down south…and visit Costa Rica!

It sounds like a good idea, and it should be easy enough, but as glamorous as it may sound, traveling can be exhausting and it is not rare that you come back home needing a vacation from your vacation to rest before you can return to your day to day! Elemento Natural wants you turn this winter escape into a perfect vacation, a break where you can truly relax and rejuvenate. So, we will give you our best tips for a really successful winter get-away in Costa Rica:

#2: yes, you figured it out…#1 is to actually travel to Costa Rica! So, our second tip is to visit the hot springs of Arenal Volcano. There are several options of hot spring pools to visit in the area, from basic to fancy and all in between. In the end, if you are looking for relaxation, soaking in thermal waters heated to therapeutic temperatures by a volcano, is probably nature’s more effective way to do it. You can think of it as Mother Earth’s most famous Spa! And it works: spend an hour or two in the hot springs, sipping a drink or two, and you will know what we mean!

#3: in a related environment, you can also find near the volcanoes the sources of volcanic mud and clay. In fact, these have been used for centuries to help with all kinds of ailments. Clay and mud help clean impurities from the pores thanks to its antibacterial properties, and they have the ability to bind to those impurities in your skin and pull them out like a sponge. So, if you want to talk about rejuvenation, take one volcanic mud bath at the nearest Mother Earth’s Spa. Just a word of caution: minimize the clothing and accessories you use when covering yourself in mud as they might catch a volcanic-like odor (sulfur, if you know what I mean).

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#4: have you noticed how people are usually hypnotized by the sight of water? You can find people all over the world just staring at lakes, rivers, waterfalls…and of course the ocean! Well, good news: our Pacific shore, especially in Guanacaste, offers a fantastic opportunity to witness the most impressive sunsets in the world. You don’t need to find a luxurious hotel room with an ocean view from its balcony (although it is also recommended if you can); you just need to go to any beach, find a good spot, sit down and wait for it. We are sure the word ‘breathtaking’ will come to mind, or the certainty that you are witnessing God’s creation in the most extraordinary way. So, with this scenario we know you will find your inner peace and your path to meditation…or at least you will realize it would be such much easier if you had this sight every day!

#5: and talking about water, do go to a waterfall! Not only you can lose yourself in time, watching the endless flow of falling and powerful streams of crystal clean water, but you can also close your eyes and be absorbed by the soothing sound of it. And if that wasn’t good enough to clear your mind of all your troubles, go in and swim in the cold natural pond at the base of it. If the waterfall isn’t too big or high, try to go directly under it and feel the massaging water on your back, just for a few seconds! And that lead us to…

#6: of course, get a massage! Costa Rica has many world class spas and we are sure you will find one in your hotel, in the town you are visiting or even at the beach! Indulge yourself, and get some good 30-60 minutes of your preferred spa treatment to ensure you will return home just as good as new!

We know being a tourist can be exhausting some times, but if you follow our tips you will come back from Costa Rica well rested, recovered and with all the energy to go back to work, to the cold…or just visit Costa Rica one more time! If you want to include all these tips into your vacation plan to get a break from all that snow, contact Elemento Natural for the best locations and ideas on how to make your itinerary stress-free!

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BlogOctober 18, 2016 By ipacheco

What are the most emblematic birds of Central America and where to spot them in Costa Rica?

Each country has chosen a bird as a national symbol, and in Central America the national birds tend to be both emblematic and extremely beautiful, given that the tropical life zones in all these countries have a privileged biological diversity.

Costa Rica is one of the top 5 most visited bird watching destinations in the world by bird lovers, since it doesn´t only have the biodiversity but also an extense network for education and research in many public and private institutions, that facilitate the wildlife observation in its natural habitats. This is why, in our blog we tell you what are those beautiful birds that represent Central America, but that you can spot in your visit to Costa Rica.

Toucan: the Keel-billed Toucan is Belize´s national bird. Its scientific name is ramphastos sulfuratus. The most notable characteristic is the beautiful canoe-shapped bill with vivid colors. Its habitat and distribution goes from the tropical side of México to northern Colombia and Venezuela. However in Costa Rica it is a common resident of the lowland forests of the Caribbean coast; the population decreases towards the north on the Pacific side and the Central Valley, but it is also very common in the lower outskirts of the Guanacaste Mountain Range, the Nicoya Península and some areas of the Osa Península. In a bird watching tour, it´s going to be one of the first guests checked into your bird list!

Scarlet Macaw: this gorgeous bird represents Honduras. It has an intense red color, mixed with other vivid colors; the beauty of its fly and the fact that they are monogamous (so the mostly fly in couples), make of this species a unique finding for any bird-watcher. You could find it virtually anywhere in the country back in the 70´s, but now it´s not that easy. However, it can be added to your checklist if you visit the Central Pacific: el Carara National Park and Tárcoles are excellent destinations to watch the scarlet macaws, and nowadays it is more and more common to find them as you move down south on the Pacific coast line. In fact, the other perfect area to find the ara macao is the Osa Peninsula. The other species of macaw that lives in Costa Rica is the great green macaw, ara ambigua, that can be found in the northern lowlands. Those are, without a doubt, two of the species you will want to spot in your next birding tour in Costa Rica.

Resplendent Quetzal: some say it´s one of the most beautiful birds in the world, and it´s Guatemala´s national bird! Bird watchers think it is easier to spot it in the area called los Santos in Dota, Costa Rica. It is a trogon which´s scientific name is pharomachrus mocinno. It lives in the highland cloud forests, so it can also be found in Monteverde. However, if you include San Gerardo de Dota in your bird watching expedition, the sighting of the quetzal is practically guaranteed all year long. On top of that, you will enjoy an amazing natural cloud forest landscape, with the rivers, waterfalls, birds and wild life in general: this is definitely one of our most recommended locations for a spectacular vacation in Costa Rica.

Turquoise-browed motmot: this small but beautiful bird represents both El Salvador (since 1999) and Nicaragua (since 1971). The locals in El Salvador call it “torogoz” and in Nicaragua they call it “guardabarranco”, the scientific name being eumomota superciliosa. It lives in less dense forests along with cleared areas, and it spends much of their time perched among tree branches and fences, moving their tail side to side. If you have included Guanacaste with its tropical dry forest in your bird watching itinerary in Costa Rica, you will surely add this species to your bird list.

Harpy Eagle: its name comes from the legendary beast half bird – half woman, from the greek mythology. It is the biggest eagle in America, the female tends to be bigger than the male, reaching a wingspan of two meters. It feeds from other tree-dwelling species like monkeys, sloths or iguanas, prey that they can easily snatch from the tree branches with their powerful claws or talons. It´s Panamá´s national bird, and many institutions are devoted to protectem over there; it is also a national symbol for biodiversity in Ecuador. Of all the bird species mentioned in this blog, harpia harpyja is the most endangered one, and rarely seen: you would be really lucky if you find it in your Costa Rica birding expedition, and you would need to go deep into the highlands of Talamanca. You will possibly get a better chance if you go bird watching in Panamá with us.

We have only mentioned five bird species, all of them beautiful and important in Central America. Its importance is not only aesthetic or political, but they also play a crucial role in conservation: they are called umbrella species because by protecting them, many other species of birds and wildlife are indirectly protected. Travel to Costa Rica with Elemento Natural so you can watch these and other hundreds of species that live in our forests.

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BlogOctober 5, 2016 By ipacheco

Is Costa Rica really a good bird watching destination?

[quote]Costa Rica is within the top 5 most important destinations in the world for bird watchers.[/quote]

If you have ever been to Costa Rica or if you live there, you have definitely seen an ornithologist with his telescope or binoculars en search of birds, or a group of “birders” thrilled because the just found that special bird they were looking for. It is literally thousands of bird watchers from all over the world that visit our national parks and wild life reserves each month and each year. In Elemento Natural we also love this touristic activity, and we will now explain to you some of the reasons why engaging in a bird watching tour in Costa Rica is actually a brilliant idea.

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No doubt, there are other excellent destinations for bird watching in the world. But, did you know that we are in the top 5 most important destinations in the world for ornithologists? We are just behind nature giants like Perú and Brasil with their imponent amazon rainforest, or behind biodiversity giants like Ecuador with its Galápagos. So, the answer is yes… Costa Rica es one of the main destinations in the world for avifauna!
We are on the right track, since we already know we are within the 5 destinations most visited in the world by bird watchesr. Now, we also need to take into account that Costa Rica is not the country with more bird species in the world: Colombia, Brasil and Perú are in the top 3 with 1700 to 1900 species each, followed by other several countries including many african and some asian. In Costa Rica we have a little bit over 900 species, however we need to add that our total area is only 51000 km²; in other words, we can fit 25 times our country in Perú, some 50 times in Colombia and 100 times in Brasil. So, to make it clearer, en a very small country we have a high concentration of bird species: bird density and diversity makes us a very unique destination.
Last but not least, with a large network of public universities and other involved institutions, Costa Rica has deeply studied the status of birds in the country, residents, migratory, endemic; status of its habitats and health of the populations. All this information has been made available and utilized efficiently by the private sector, to foster the creation of adequate infrastructure near the main birding hotspots, near the national parks or the natural reserves and biological corridors. All this means, is that accesibility to our birds populations is superior. For this reason, when a bird watcher comes to Costa Rica it is pretty easy for him to walk out with a list of 400 to 500 species…that´s just golden!

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Source: audubon.org

[quote]”In Costa Rica we have a little bit over 900 species”.[/quote]

Now…when is it the best time to travel to Costa Rica for bird watching?

The answer will depend on many factors: do you have a specific species in mind? Is this your second or third visit? Do you have a special interest in a particular zone or habitat? Many experts say that the best time is at the end of the dry season, since there are many species ending their nesting period, so it becomes easy to watch them in their nesting sites. But there are others that say that in the middle of the rainy season it´s better because you get to see more migratory birds. In Elemento Natural we encourage you to visit no matter when through the year and enjoy this amazing activity, we promise you will leave happy and with a bird-list full of new species!

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BlogSeptember 28, 2016 By ipacheco

10 apps for your next trip to Costa Rica

We all know that travelling is a wonderful experience, and we also know that today technology has an important role in facilitating certain aspects of our trips to make things easier. So, Elemento Natural wants to recommend you some of our favorite apps for travelers, especially if your next destination is Costa Rica!

1. Evernote: This is an ideal app for the organized traveler: you can easily create and organize your itineraries, addresses, contacts, lists and even your first drafts with the key notes you took.

Evernote allows you to create and organize your information in different notes, you can even add audio, images or attach files with important information. You can synchronize easily several devices and then enjoy your vacatios to the fullest.

Download Evernote: https://evernote.com/

2. Waze: This is the most valuable road companion! Waze facilitará will make sure you find your destinations that you want to reach and will let you choose the best routes to avoid heavy traffic, especially during the rush hours.

If you like to drive and use your own means to transfer from one place to another, this is an app you must have in your smartphone, search your destination point and let the adventure begin!

Download Waze: https://www.waze.com

3. Instagram: Instagram is more than the filters you can apply to your pictures. It can be your perfect photo album to remember all those amazing moments during your travel: take a pic, share it with your community, show them all the different places you have been to from your perspective, share how beautiful Costa Rica is, so it becomes the next dream destination for your family and friends. Also, look for those exotic places showing up on the “trends” from the instagram search.

Download instragram: https://www.instagram.com

4. Qué Comemos?:

We can´t forget the food! How about express delivery from your favorite restaurants from an app? This is possible in Costa Rica with Qué Comemos? Order food online, with the full menu at your service and with no phone calls. Just keep enjoying your vacation while the food travels to you, and Bon appetit!

Download que comemos: http://quecomemos.cr

5. Uber: transfering from one point to another in Costa Rica can get tricky sometimes: if you need to do short trips, if you don´t want to drive or if you are just looking for a reference point to start enjoying San José´s hotspots, then Uber is your best and affordable choice for private transfer.

Download Uber: https://www.uber.com/es/cities/san-jose/

6. Spotify: We can´t forget the music! Make your favorite playlists, choose the mood of the music according to your day´s destination or have a blast with a carpool Karaoke with your friends, while you reach your next stop. In Elemento Natural we love good music, so it is a must in each one of our “rides”. Choose between thousands of songs and free music from your mobile device and may the music be with you!

Download Spotify: https://www.spotify.com

7. Yapp!: are you looking for the best optoins to eat locally, enjoy Costa Rica´s nightlife or just discover what´s on for tonight? Yapp! offers a guide of events close to your location so you can keep on enjoying Costa Rica. Additionally, through its web extension you can buy online tickets to concerts and other events available in Yapp!

Download Yapp!: http://yappexperience.com

8. Wi-Fi Finder

Today more than ever, internet access is one of the key things for a traveler, no matter where he/she is. However, access and roaming charges can skyrocket when you are not in your country or region: and this is where free wifi becomes a plus anywhere we visit.

Wi-Fi Finder helps you find free wifi close to your location, you just need to scan the area and the app will show you where to go nearby.

Download Wifi-Finder: Available for Android.

9. Packpoint Packing

Do you usually forget something when you travel? No worries! We found a solution with Packpoint, the most complete travel list for your next trip.

Packpoint will help you make a complete list, orderly, of all these items you must bring with you on your travels. First, you define what type of trip you have, your destination and the long of your stay. Then you can specify the type of activities and finally it will give you specific lists and ideas of the things you can´t forget, Et voilà!

Download Packpoint: http://www.packpnt.com

10. Ojeadores de Árboles Mágicos.

This is an app from the Magical Trees Foundation, that will help you identify tree species by the color of the flowers, by region: you can discover interesting facts about hundreds of trees in Costa Rica. It´s a perfect way to reconnect with nature and become a botanical amateur!

Download Ojeadores: http://www.arbolesmagicos.org/

If you have a smartphone and you like travelling, don´t think it twice and download all these apps that Elemento Natural recommends you. You know you can´t get tired of travelling, so you need to benefit from technology in each of your trips.

J.Tenorio, Tree Box Studio
for Elemento Natural.

BlogSeptember 6, 2016 By ipacheco

The 5 best photography spots in Costa Rica

We, at Elemento Natural, also love photography: nature and landscapes are always the main photo objectives of our trips, so we are picking for you the places you can not miss in your list of spectacular photos of Costa Rica and therefore we are recommending: the 5 best photography spots in Costa Rica.

1. Cultural city center in San José

If you visit Costa Rica for the very first time, you will likely start your trip in the capital city, San José, which is an ideal place for taking short distance pictures of some of the most recognized city landmarks of Costa Rica: the National Theater, the Gold Museum, the Melico Salazar theater, the Costarican Center for Science and Culture (Children Museum) and the National Museum are all uniquely beautiful and colorful, which will make a good set of photos. On top of making excellent photography spots, you will have the experience of learning deeply the history and culture of this centralamerican country.

If your field is documentary photography, don´t skip the Central Market or the Artisans Market where you will find lots of friendly and Pura Vida people! You can engage with people, talk to them and have meaningful conversations and of course take their pictures; “ticos” are often accesible and friendly so you will probably get a good smile and a good impression, on top of the photos.

2. Poás, Alajuela

Definitely the main attraction of the area is the Poás Volcano crater: not a bad start for your tour in Costa Rica´s northern region! If you want to get a good shot of the crater, our first recommendation is to make an early visit to the national park so you can get the morning light: the park opens at 8:00 am so you will still get a good lighting for your shot. During the hike on the trails of the park you will enjoy the plants and wildlife and the beautiful lagoon.

Once you leave the Poás Volcano National Park, you will notice a spectacular view from atop the mountain, with the greenest country side, strawberry fields and a few traditional houses; just a perfect set up for a surprisingly good photo.

As you continue going down you will reach the Heredia crossing, and you will take the road to Vara Blanca and Nueva Cinchona, to reach the amazing La Paz Waterfall, visited by thousands of tourists that come here every year.

3. North Pacific
Some of our favorite destinations to photograph the beach life and the astonishing sunsets are located in the north side of Puntarenas, taking the ferry boat to cross the Nicoya Gulf, and in a couple of hours you will get to paradise! Once in Cóbano just take the road to Playa Del Carmen, Santa Teresa and you will start getting a landscape of the ocean with many surfers, a pet-friendly beach, and that will be your first photo objective.

Schedule your route and make sure to include the rocky beach at Mal País, where the sunset with its incredible colors virtually poses for your pictures. You will also profit from the different animals that wonder around you and the shells and beach rocks on the beach.

Last but not least, don´t forget Montezuma, where the forest and the river with its spectacular waterfalls will complete you collection of Costa Rica photographs. Take a break, a short walk on the beach, visit the little village, taste the local food, enjoy the nightlife and the crafts of the local artists: in the end you will have a good set of ´lifestyle´ photos, that will make a good fuzz in your social networks!

4. South Caribbean culture

The costarican caribbean is rich because its afrocaribbean culture, where the color is king and the smiles of its people are always present: the South Caribbean is a must for photography lovers because it gives you a combination of beach, rainforest and abundant wildlife, on top of the carismatic people and the flavorful gastronomy.

A good start is the beach at Manzanillo, with animals, birdwatching, trails and beach: once you get to the ´mirador´, you will know you have to take that picture of the coastline!

Continue on to Punta Uva, another exquisite combination of rainforest and ocean, ideal for some underwater pictures (if you have the right equipment). Howler monkeys might show up for your wildlife photos. Keep going and visit Cocles Beach, the meeting point for surfers, so your perfect spot for sport photography: you can spend here many hours capturing lots of action!

5. Chirripó Hill

If you want to indulge your wanderlust, then you must plan a trip to Costa Rica´s highest peak. However, a visit to Chirripó National Park has to be carefully and timely planned, since this is one of the most remote protected areas, the entrance must be authorized and the spaces in the lodge inside the park and the guides are very limited.

The journey starts with a highland forest and outstanding trees; save your energies and your pixs since you are only starting! You will see from water springs, to dryer landscapes, including the forest of the burned trees, and the ´old man beard´lichens…just to mention some of the exiting photo objecitves in this 14.5 km route to the lodge.

Once you reach the lodge, you can continue hiking to Crestones Hill, Ventisqueros Mount, Las Morenas, the Lions´Sabana or the Rabbit´s Valley! This national park offers too many different landscapes for your photographs!

But the biggest reward will be unveiled once you reach the highest peak in Costa Rica at 3820 meters above sea level! A picture will probably make it to one of the main walls of your house!

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If you want to visit this destination in Costa Rica, or any of the others we suggested, just contact us for more information at info@elementonatural.com and we will help you plan your travels and vacations!
Jose Tenorio for Elemento Natural.

BlogAugust 12, 2016 By ipacheco

What does Pura Vida mean…

Costa Ricans (Ticos) use this term to say hello, to say goodbye, to say everything’s great, to say everything’s cool. This is the Ticos way of life. Not surprisingly, Costa Rica has been named one of the happiest countries in the world, mostly because its inhabitants don’t get too stressed about things in general. Ticos have a very relaxed, simple way of looking at life. No worries, no fuss, no stress.

But where did Costa Ricans take this phrase from? According to a study of the expression, by Anna Marie Trester a film called Pura vida came to Costa Rica from Mexico in 1956, directed by Gilberto Martinez Solares. In the movie, “Pura vida“ is the expression of eternal optimism used by a comic character knowed as “Clavillazo”, played by the actor Antonio Espino, who unfortunately can’t seem to do anything right. People started using it then, and it kept growing until the phrase “Pura vida” was used nationwide by 1970. Nowadays, it represents the national motto, which identifies the Costa Rican spirit and our way of being.

Pura Vida somehow manages to be versatile enough that it fits in almost any situation and it makes you feel cool for “pulling it in” when you have a lack of options.

We want to share 6 meanings of “Pura Vida” with you:

1. #PuraVidaMeans “Hello”, “How are you?” “Hey what’s up?” It is used both as an informal greeting and a pleasant farewell.

2. #PuraVidaMeans: “going great”. It is a synonym for “excellent”. It reflects happiness, gratitude and satisfaction towards a situation. “Pura Vida” means that people need to be grateful for the things they have instead of dwelling on the negative things that they don’t.

3. #PuraVidaMeans: “in good health”. It is equivalent to having “well-being”. It represents a deep appreciation of your environment and your surroundings.

4. #PuraVidaMeans: “take it easy” or “no worries”. It is believing things will turn out all right. It means looking at the bad stuff with cheer optimism. It’s synonym of the Kenyan Swahili phrase “hakuna matata”.

5. #PuraVidaMeans : “this is real living”. In essence, life is what you make of it, so enjoy life while you can. It implies a sense of Carpe Diem. Enjoy the moment in your life, while this moment lasts. It is loving life to its full extent. So begin to live because life is short…

6. #PuraVidaMeans: a state of mind and a philosophy. It represents the Costa Rican way of life. It means we are all at the same level. That no matter what your current situation is, it is all good. So you need to consider that maybe…just maybe, your situation isn’t all that bad and that no matter how little or how much you have in life, we are all here together.

The real Pura Vida can only be experienced by personally interacting with the people who created it. So, if you want to know what living a peaceful, simple, uncluttered life with a deep appreciation for nature, family and friends feels like, we at Elemanto Natural invite you to visit Costa Rica. Book your trip with us and experience Pura Vida for yourself!

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Sylvia León Koberg for Elemento Natural.

Sources:

http://www.repretel.com/actualidad/los-significados-de-upe-y-pura-vida-2256

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpIoxofbzjw

http://www.bestcostaricantours.com/about/puravida.html

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Pura%20Vida