Playa Dominical – 900mtrs: This beach is well known around the world as one of the hottest places for surfing, Playa Dominical offers also a wonderful beach surrounded by good places where you can stay.

Playa Dominicalito – 5km: If you need tranquility and at the same time you don’t want to be far away from your hotel and services, Dominicalito is just for you. The water there is crystal and warm.

Playa Uvita – 17km: this is one of the most beautiful beaches in the southern pacific area. If you like to swim in the ocean or just take a walk, you found the right place. Also is located near the gas station.

Playa La Colonia – 22km: Ideal beach for camping! Few kilometers from Uvita & Bahia. This beach is located just in front of the Bosque Azul which has all the basic accommodations for campers. Look for sunsets, they are unique.

Playa Arco – 24km: If you’re looking for a hidden paradise, you will find one at this beach. Located just beside Playa Ballena you can reach it only by walking a short path, no access from the road! Monkey’s, waterfalls, caves & soft sand will fill your soul with calm and peace. Ideal for lovers!

Playa Ballena – 27km: Right in the heart of the National Park, you can walk at least 15 km on that endless sand beach without seeing a single human being.

Playa Piñuela – 35km: Nice and calm bay. Most of the boats choose that bay to go out to the open sea. Also, you can meet fishermen and buy all kind of fish.

Playa Ventana – 38km: Small virgin beach surrounded by the jungle. On low tide, visit the splendid and mysterious caves, you might find Captain Drake’s treasure!

Playa Tortuga – 42km: Wild beautiful beach, almost untouched Spectacular sunsets and panoramic view on the mountains.

Here is some usefull information for if you would like to go to the South Pacific of Costa Rica:

Did you know that the American magazine Travel Leisure together with professionals awarded the Costa Ballena to one of thé best places to visit of 2013!

The Marino Ballena National Park is one of the unique marine parks of Costa Rica. It beauty lies in its ocean. During the 2 whale seasons, the whales cross this national park. Not only whales are present, also dolphins. If you are traveling with family and everyone is looking for different adventures Marino Ballena offers multiple activities. You can enjoy the shore by walking all along the coast line our walk a along to the Baru river, you can take a ultra flight and fly over the ocean. You can also take a boat tour across the Marino Ballena waters.

The South Pacific is really easy to reach. There is a lot of public transport, private and direct transport there is a roads that lead to the coastline, and even a national flight called: Nature Air. Only 35 minutes away from Dominical, right after Quepos.

Surrounded by beatifull gardens and along the Barú river, Villas Río Mar is only 900 meters away from the sea. If you mention that you read our blog, we are prepared to offer you a 10% discount on these packages and special price on Dolphin and Whale watching tour in the Marino Ballena National Park.

Special packages for ticos and residents

Room + Breakfast + Lunch o Dinner

Room + Breakfast + Luch  + Dinner

Taxes included  (13%)

Expotur offers its participants an excellent trading platform. The Expotur is organized by ACOPROT (Costa Rican Association of Tourism Professionals) and it is a show for those who are looking for new alliances and consolidate contracts for 2013 and 2014. The visitors are all working in international tourism companies and are interested in negotiating and expand their services towards their customers. For example: tour operators, wholesalers, meeting planners, incentive and corporate travel.

This year, as every other year Villas Rio Mar will be present. We will have a stand at the Expotur # 58. We would like to invite you to visit at the Expotur. We will have several interesting offers and you will of course also have the chance to learn a bit more about the South Pacific!

I have a question for the people that live in Costa Rica, or the people that already have been here;

Have you ever seen a second-hand store?!

I have to say, it didn’t occur to me since I don’t visit a second hand store regularly in my own country, but it is true! Out of the 5 cities that I’ve been to in Costa Rica, there was ONE second-hand store, and that was in Quepos. The whole store was American orientated and almost only contained American brands etc.

Plastic bottles are being used for cleaning supplies. Old clothes and old towels are being used as wipes and cloths. Plastic bags as, garbage bags, old tires as direction signs. And many other examples!

Did you know that Costa Rica rose out of the sea instead of being present on the original Tectonic continents? That is also why the earth of Costa Rica is so fertile. So you can say that Costa Rica is 100% organic!

If you see the coastline of the Marina Ballena National park, or the Manuel Antonio National Park in Quepos, you know how nature is intended and why we as human beings should do everything in our power to keep it like this.

Villas Río Mar is strongly committed to preserving the natural heritage of Costa Rica. We are of course an Eco-Lodge. We also know that the Corcovado foundation will also help us conserving nature, and because of that we would like to ask all you, if you would like to donate an amount to the Corcovado Foundation. For more information go to www.corcovadofoundation.org .

Sophie den Breejen

Not a lot of people speak English. If you go to small towns or you would like to be more in contact with the locals it is really recommended to learn Spanish.

There are a lot of language schools in Costa Rica, for example some Costa Rican Spanish schools are:

• Centro Panamericano de Idiomas
• ILISA Language Institute
• SEPA Spanish Language School
• InterCultura Language School in Costa Rica
• Epifania Spanish School in Costa Rica
• IPEE Spanish School in Costa Rica
• Forester Spanish School in Costa Rica

Most of the language schools also offer different activities outside of school so you will have the opportunity to enjoy the Costa Rican culture, their dances en of course the beautiful nature.

In Dominical is a Spanish school present. Dominical is famous for its surfing, of course the school also offers surfing opportunities. Not only that, but also dance classes, excursions to the south pacific and much more.

Enjoy a wonderful holidays and learn other language. Villas Rio Mar offers to combine a lot fun and Spanish classes. Ask for our package here: info@villasriomar.com

Villas Rio Mar, situated in Dominical, Osa is one of the few hotels that owns a conference room. Fully equipped with all necessary technology (projector, speakers, wifi connection and air conditioning). Everything is ready to make your meeting successful. There are enough activities around for the whole family. So while you are doing business, your family can enjoy the beautiful beaches and adventure activities on the Costa Ballena coastline.

Dominical beach is only 3 hours driving away from San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica. You can also take a domestic flight. The flight from San Jose to Quepos only takes 25 minutes. There is a car rental in Quepos, from there it only takes 35 minutes to Dominical.

If you would like more information about our facilities, please contact us on info@villasriomar.com. Mention that you have read the blog and we will inform you about the special prices. We can help you organizing everything and to turn your business meeting into a small holiday.

Costa Ballena in the canton of Osa ranges from Baru River to the mouth of the Rio Terraba. The following small towns belong to the area: Dominical – Dominicalito – Hermosa Beach – San Josecito – Uvita – Bahía – La Union – Ballena – Ojochal – Punta Mala and Coronado.

One of the main attractions in the South Pacific area of Costa Rica is the Marino Ballena National Park.

The park was created in order to protect marine biodiversity, another important reason was to avoid the unplanned development in the area, companies found this places as a gem to develop their hotels, restaurants and tours companies but in an ecology way and try to attract more green travelers. Most of the people are foreigners and locals whom fell in love of green country and they have been trying to make Costa Ballena grow in rational way.

Marino Ballena has accomplished its goal and has been struggle every year to continue to protect these waters which are preferred by the humpback whales, Pilot whales and dolphins. There are two very important whale and dolphin migrations every year. The first one is from December to March. The second one, which is also the most important one, is from July to October. We expect about 6million whales arriving per year. A curious detail is that they choose the warmth of the South Pacific of Costa Rica ocean to have their babies and to teach them their first steps. That is why we can say that many of the whales from the north or south of the planet are “costarricense”.

Who has not seen a whale swimming the Pacific Ocean?! If no, you are losing one of the most impressive spectacles of nature. This park has much to offer if you are not able to watch a whale or take a boat trip you must go walk on one of the most important geological formations of sand. We call it tombolo, whale tail or as many call it Paso de Moisés. This is a stretch of sand that is about 1km long. The beach has the shape of a whale tail. Walking on the beach you can see some marine birds and if you are really lucky you maybe will also see a whale or a dolphin.

If you are Costarrician and you have not visited Marino Ballena National Park yet, do it now!! It is only a few hours from your home and you are losing the opportunity to see nature at its best. If you are foreigner, don’t hesitate visiting us! You will not regret it! Many experts recommend Costa Ballena, the popular magazine Travel + Leisure awarded to this destination as one of the top places to visit this 2013. Dare!! Eco resort Villas Rio Mar is located only at 20min from the park entrance Marino Ballena.

So do you want an unforgettable vacation! Come and visit us and of course Marino Ballena National park!

Playa Dominical is no exception, on 23 and 24 March, the 4th round of the tournament will be held, right here in Dominical!

It will take place right in front of the Tortillas Flats restaurant. Dominical will already be very busy because of the beginning of Easter weekend. The surf tournament is one of the most expected events for the locals and tourists. Dominical is a small, relaxed town surrounded by tropical forest and famous for the good surf point. Here you will find numerous restaurants, bars and hotels.

The beaches and tournament dates are as follows:

December, 15 and 16 – Parrita (4 Stars)
January, 26 and 27 – Puerto Viejo (4 Stars)
February, 23 and 24 – Jaco (4 Stars)
March, 23 and 24 – Sunday (4 Stars)
April 27 and 28 – Santa Teresa (4 Stars)
May 25 and 26 – Nosara (4 Stars)
June, 22 and 23 – Esterillos Oeste (4 Stars)
Julio, 26, 27 and 28 – Playa Hermosa (5 Stars)

If you need more information on the tournament please contact the Costa Rican Surf Federation: www.surfingcr.net

If you’re looking for holidays the next weekend in Dominical can be your best option. Villas Rio Mar is located a few meters walking to Playa Dominical, or unless you would like to reach the ocean by paddling on a surfboard on the Baru river. (the hotel is not responsible for any damage caused). If you want to know our special rates for this weekend please contact us at 2787-0053 or send us an email info villasriomar.com

Diquis area has been identified up to 200 spheres of various sizes which diameter ranges from 10 cm to 2.50 meter. These particular stones were found many years ago by the company Unit Fruit Company in their banana plantations. They were first found in the South Pacific area of Costa Rica, the company donated them to museums and even private institutions. The art and culture ministries and the National Museum have worked for many years to preserve these spheres stones in their original form and area as it is protected for Finca 06 in Cortez, Osa this place has around 13 spheres stones in different sizes (1.90 cm diameter)

Sphere Project or festival will be celebrated from this March 22 to March 24 of 2013 in the town of Palmar Norte and Sur located in the canton of Osa, Puntarenas. It is about 45min from Hotel Villas Rio Mar. This festival aims to highlight the diversity and archaeological of the canton that makes this unique. The festival holds Spheres stones and activities such as concerts, arts and crafts show, food, lectures and all kinds of cultural activity.

So here by we would like to invite you to visit the South Pacific of Costa Rica and be part of this festival! If you are looking for accommodation near Palmar Norte and Sur, Hotel Villas Rio Mar is an eco-resort located about 45min driving along a road with a beautiful view of the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. For those who read this article mention we will be offering for 22, 23 and 24 to 30% discount on rooms.

For more information about the festival www.mcj.go.cr

Reservation at Hotel Villas Rio Mar info@villasriomar.com / 27870053

One of the first things you need to know as being a tourist: If you don’t know what to say, say: “Pura Vida.” It doesn’t matter in what kind of situation, If you run in to somebody, or literally run in to somebody; say Pura Vida. And everything is ok. (The hotel is not responsible and/or can be taken responsible for any personal damage or damage to property)

Pura Vida means literally; The Pure Life. I tried asking multiple ticos about what it actually meant but nobody was really able to give me a clear answer.

Ticos (the people from Costa Rica) are one of the happiest people on earth. When explaining “Pura Vida” the thing that appeared most, was a positive feeling. When they say “Pura Vida”, they have had a positive experience with a person, or a happening and that is when they say it.

There has actually been a study about the phrase “Pura Vida”. According to Anna Marie Trester the phrase was used in a Mexican movie and came to Costa Rica in 1956. After that, everybody was using it.

I think that only ticos know what to use it when it’s not a greet or a farewell. Enjoy your stay in Costa Rica and you will notice the happiness of the people!

Sophie den Breejen