DAY TRIPPIN' AT RINCON DE LA VIEJA

Guess what? It is was Sunday again and the Pure Life Development team was off for another day trip. This time, Rincon de la Vieja volcano in Guanacaste. With the car packed (ice chest with fruit, juice and tuna salad) we were up and out the door by 6 a.m. only stopping at the MonteVerde Restaurant for a nice buffet breakfast! If you are on the PanAmerica Highway heading to Guanacaste, this is a must stop! Offering pinto, picadillo, sausage, fresh fruit, yogurt, natilla, bread, plantains, cakes and sweetbreads, coffee, juice....do you need more? Actually if you are going to Rincon, then yes..eat all you can, because you will need the energy later. On the road again to our final destination!

We arrive at the Las Pailas entrance to the volcano (there are two entrances, Las Pailas and Santa Maria) around 10 a.m. ready to hit the trails. The entrance fees to the park are 1,000 colones for locals and residents, and $10 for foreigners. You can buy a map of the park for 100 colones. Rincon has a lot to offer, and you cannot do it in one day. If you want to see everything, you actually need 3 days. There is a 7 hour hike up to the crater, a 4 hour hike to the waterfalls, and a 2 hour loop to see the fumerolas and mud pots. With a plan in hand, we hit the 2 hour loop with the idea of returing for lunch and doing the waterfalls!A nice hike into the woods, a small swinging bridge allows you to cross the Rio Colorado. Off into the forrest we encouter many Matapalo trees, which are strangler figs that attach to the host tree and "strangle" them out. These trees can become HUGE, and Rincon has some great examples of the species. Continuing down the trail you begin to get a hint of rotten eggs! Sulfer slowly creeping out from some bubbling caldron! We come to a sign that points one direction to a waterfall, and the other to the fumaroles. We head off to the waterfalls first. We were impressed with this nice fall cascading down a solid rock wall! A refreshing break in our hike. Next we were off to see the fumaroles, which are pools of boiling water that can reach temperatures of up to 248 degrees fahrenheit. Now that is hot! With this discovery we had just found where that smell was coming from. Continuing down the path we come to a fork in the trail. Mud pots to the right(200 meters), thermal baths to the left ( 6 kilometers). I got the bright idea that I wanted to experience the natural hot springs, so off we went! Six kilometers is nothing, right guys?

Well about 3 kilometers of going up hill, the path begins to level out. You can tell here the path is less traveled because it feels a bit abandoned. Keep your eyes open because we passed a baby Fer de Lance along the way, sunning on a rock. It is the time of the year that all the wild orchids are in bloom, especially the Nacional flower, the Guardia Morada. Are we there yet? Two hourslater we arrive at a small river with two large pools full of sulfer water! Trust me, your feet and legs are ready for a break and an indulgent soak is in order. This is heaven. It is nice because the water is very warm and the river is cold, so you can cool off if you get to hot! After about 45 minutes of heaven, cloths back on, ready to hike back. Let's just say that the hike back is not for the faint of heart. Relaxed and hungry, the body does not want to cooperate! Even though, we made it back in a record one hour and thirty minutes!
Picking up the trail where we left off, we finish our tour with the mud pots! All I can say is out of this world! Large boiling holes of volcanic mud, again at temperatures of up to 248 degrees fahrenheit. Dying tired, and almost back to the park entrance, I find a side path to check out a bubbling lake...I thought everyone was going to kill me, but what the heck...we are here, why not! Picking up the trail satisfied and taking in the last

bit of a strange landscape. Hissing and gurgling all around you. The must be what hell sounds like. But who knew hell would be so beautiful! Six hours later, we arrived at the car ready to chow down! Glad we brought a picnic. Unfortunatly it was 4:30 and no time for the waterfalls....NEXT TIME!

TOPE TOPE...PALMARES IS HERE!!!

For those of you who do not know, Palmares is a local town about 20 minutes over the mountians from Atenas. But in January of every year, the whole country knows Palmares, as PARTY CENTRAL! According to the Fiestas web site , the festivities have been a tradition for over 20 years. In 2002 the Costa Rican government declaired "las fiestas" a "nacional touristic activity". Starting with the TOPE, which is a big horse parade, and continuing for 15 days, including games, rides, bull fights, sports activites and concerts. For the concerts, Palmares pulls out all the stops bringing in the biggest in Latin stars, including Lucero, Alicia Villareal, and Calle 13. Not to mention all the best fair fare you can handle. http://www.fiestaspalmares.com/

So last Thursday, the Pure Life Development team took the afternoon off to go experience the TOPE of Palmares. Needless to say it was a blast. Cowboys, cowgirls, horses, and everything in between. The people were wild. Drinking, and dancing in the streets. This year the TOPE was dedicated to the president, OSCAR ARIAS, who watched from his seat, like many of his other countrymen. The Nacion printed that Don Oscar was quite upset that he was not allowed to ride in the parade, but did not elaborate as to why. However, all the presidential canidates we up front and center, especially front runner Laura Chinchilla.

We started off by taking in a hour or so of horses, and then made our way through the croud to find something to eat. After a 30 minute walk, which would normally take 5, we chowed down. Vigaron, which is pieces of pork cooked with onions, peppers, with fried yucca, coverd in cole slaw and pico de gallo, chinese style fried rice, fried chicken, candied apples, and of course churros filled with caramel. With our bellies full, we walked around watching others enjoy the afternoon, and then stopped to have a drink and enjoy some more horses. For those of you who are brave enough, we highly reccomend Fiestas Palmares!!

Rio Celeste Adventrue

This past Sunday, me and my friend Nelson packed up and headed to Rio Celeste for the day. Located on the slopes of the Tenorio Volcano, inside the Tenorio Volcano National Park, this "blue" river and surrounding park are paradise. Rio Celeste takes it's name from the unique blue color of the water, which is a result of a chemical change when sulphur and calcium carbonate combine to create the blue color. However, the locals have a saying: "When God finished painting the sky, he cleaned his brushes in Rio Celeste." which if you have ever washed a blue paint brush, makes perfect sence!

Getting there is easy. From San Jose/Central Valley area, just take highway 3 up past Canas, to highway 6 and turn right. Keep going about 30 kilometers until you reach Bijagua. Continue past Bijagua until you reach the signs for Tenorio Volcano and Rio Celeste. Turn right. Follow the bumpy road until you reach the park entrance. The route is very well marked.

At the parkentrance you can buy your tickets, entrance is 800 colones for residents or $10.00 for forginers. The ranger will give you a map and tell you the best route to take. You can also hire a guide who will give you a detail tour of the park, with all the information on flora, fauna, and everything in between.

Once inside you hike 1.5 kilometers to the waterfall. Getting down to it is not for the weak of heart. It is quite a journey, but you are rewarded with a 30 meter cascade of blue water. You can cross the river and continue the trail on the other side, or simple return the way you came and pick up the same trail. It is not recommended to swim in the river, however we have seen video's and photos of people doing just that. As you pick up the trail you continue another kilometer to the mirrador or "outlook" that has a magnificante view out the valley. Continue on and you come to the "Blue Lagoon", which is actually a very wide deep area of the river.

After you have had you photo op at the Blue Lagoon, pick up the trail again, and you will pass the pass the calderon, which is a bubbling area of the river, where a vein is open letting off pressure from the underground viens. Continuing on, you come to the which is the Teinderos, which is vien where Rio Celeste takes it's color. It is amazing to see how two rivers converge, and like a line drawn in the sand, change colors! This is where God's paint brushes are resting. By this time you have been hiking for a bit over an hour and you could use some relaxing time, right? Well if you can muster the energy, keep going another 15 minutes, and you come to the natural hotsprings formed at the rivers edge. Take off your shirt and shoes, and take a dip. The water is very hot in areas, so be careful. There are many hotsprings dotted throughout the park, however this one you can actually enjoy. It was nice to sit on the river side, because with back to the river, you have the ice cold of the river water and your front hot from the spring. A very unique sensation!

Make your way through the forest, back to the entrance of the park where you can freshen up with a shower! I hope you brought a picnic, but if not make your way back to Bijagua where you will find a great variety of dinning options. If you need a place to stay in the area, check out www.sueno-celeste.com The owners went out of their way to be helpful and informative, even though they did not have room at the inn! Pura Vida and good travels.

Why Blog?/Day trip

The idea behind blogging is to share information and experiences. Our goal is to give our clients useful information about the Atenas area, and share our experiences here involving everyday life. Having said that, today's blog will be about a recent trip to "Los Chorros" waterfalls, in our neighboring town of Grecia. We will also share a nice listing that will get your attention!

Grecia is located about 20 minutes northeast of Atenas. It is famous for three things: The red metal church, sugar cane, and being know as the cleanest city in Central America. Just out of town on the back road between Grecia and Alajuela, you will find the village of Tacares de Grecia, and "Los Chorros". Los Chorros translated in English is roughly (the stream or jet of water). This public park has great hiking to offer, with areas for picnics, and swimming. The trails are very well marked, and between 30-45 minutes you arrive at one of the most beautiful waterfalls with hundreds of little "chorros" coming out of the mountian side. At the base of the cascade, you find a large natural pool for swimming, along with other small pools along the river. If you are feeling adventurous you can rappel down the large waterfall with a group or private guide. We recommend the guys at: http://www.bungeecostarica.com/. We have not done this yet, but it is on the "list". We hope you will discover this piece of paradise, and feel sure once you do,you will return over and over again like we have!

Now for a great listing in LOMAS DEL PARAISO....Follow this link:

www.purelifedevelopment.com/result.php?op=mi&id=27&pl=Atenas

Who is Pure Life Development?

Pure Life Development was started by Gerardo Gonzalez-Porras and Dennis James Easters in 2007 as a full service Real Estate Company. We offer everything from sales, rentals, property managment, to construction managment and land development. Our philosophy is to provide optimal customer service while educating the client on the do's and dont's here in Costa Rica.

Our staff is completely bi-lingual, and able to assist you with any question you may have. If we do not have the answer, we will find it for you. We invite you to brouse our web site at http://www.purelifedevelopment.com/ . We hope that you too can find your piece of paradise, and start living the "PURA VIDA"!