Monteverde’s Cloud Forest, in Costa Rica, is a type of rain forest, but a type that can only be found in two places in the world, and this is one of them.

Cloud forests are magnificent and bursting with wild life; they are packed with hundreds, if not thousands, of birds, mammals, and exceptionally rich flora.

Monteverde Cloud Forest, specifically, was voted one of Costa Rica’s seven wonders.  It is visited by tens of thousands of tourists yearly who go there to be amazed by nature, and by scientists who visit it to try to understand nature more deeply.

This place offers an amazing sensorial and spiritual experience, but what exactly is it?

As mentioned before, a cloud forest is a type of rain forest; it is a complex ecosystem that is only able to survive in very particular tropical mountain areas.  Its elevation is so high, that the majority of the time the forest is covered by clouds, so, the water is directly placed on the leaves of the trees and plants instead of through rain.

In the higher places, water drips persistently from the leaves of the trees and plants, making it the perfect environment for wild life to survive.  You will be able to see it with your own eyes. There is life everywhere, masses of trees, plants like ferns, flowers and mosses, growing on the trees, and animals flying, jumping, walking, and running through and over them.

The clouds are the eternal companions, and it can get very cold for someone who has been experiencing the tropics, but remember that it is the cloud forest, a place where the weather is as different as the forest’s life.

There are more than 755 tree species in Monteverde, probably more, and around 358 fern species, some of which get so big that they can be regarded as trees.  You will see about 40 to 50 tree species producing fruit at any time, creating an environment so rich in food that it attracts thousands of birds and mammals to its core.

Monteverde is especially attractive for people who like bird watching; there are more than 425 bird species there, some so rare and difficult to spot that it is a gem when you finally do.  There is no way someone can remain immune to the beauty of watching these birds behave in their natural habitat.

Besides the species that dominate the skies, Monteverde is home to hundreds of mammals too.  There are 6 species of big cats that are confirmed to live in the area, and 68 species of bats, besides the howler monkeys, foxes, sloths, and armadillos, only to name a few.

The cloud forest makes Costa Ricans proud.  Besides boosting the economy, it offers jobs to thousands of people, and evidences one of the major fortunes this country possesses and one that is cherished and envied by many others: its nature.

Even if you only visit it once in your life, Monteverde will leave its mark on you; you will never forget it and the life lessons it will teach you.

For the adventurous family who appreciates the outdoors and time on the water, sports fishing makes for the perfect group activity. Costa Rica’s 800 miles of coastline has a reputation for some of the most spectacular fishing of anywhere in the world. Some of the most fertile fishing grounds lie off Costa Rica’s Central Pacific coast. The water surrounding Los Sueños Marina and Herradura Bay is not only a beautiful crystal blue but is home to the hottest fishing spots in the country.
Whether you choose to book a half-day, full-day, or a multi-day fishing excursion, you’re whole family will enjoy the experience and learn about the sport as well as all of Costa Rica’s marine inhabitants. Most of the bilingual captains and mates are local and have been fishing these areas for years, so they know their stuff. The kids have never been fishing before? No problem. The mates will take time to explain all of the basics of fishing to the little ones—from how to bait their own hooks, to how to cast safely, and finally how to successfully reel in the big one.

Novice and expert anglers alike flock to the popular Los Sueños Marina for its short run to these calm seas packed with a huge variety of fish. You’ve never seen fish this big before! The blue and black marlin can easily weigh 600 pounds, and stories of striped marlin fishing in Costa Rica are told around the world. With their power, size, and persistence, they put on an awesome show. Marlins will fight you to the finish, diving down into deep waters, and continuing to dance for you for hours. The beautiful sailfish spend more time in the air than they do in the water during their fight. Have your camera ready to snap some priceless pictures of the fish and the expression on your kids’ faces! The Dorado, or mahi mahi, is an extremely fast-moving fish that can be recognized by its vibrant colors. Out of water, its hues visibly and dramatically change, from their sparkling golden tones and bright blues and greens on their sides and back through muted yellow-grey, giving rise to their Spanish name, Dorado Maverikos or “Golden Maverick”. It’s been estimated that they can reach speeds of 50 mph in short bursts. As if you’re not enticed enough, you’ll also have your chance to land Yellow-Fin Tuna, Roosterfish, Wahoo, and Snapper in these same waters.

Don’t worry about lugging along any of your gear on vacation. The chartered tours provide state of the art big game fishing equipment, including Penn Int and Shimano. Environmentally conscious hook designs allow hooks to set without jerking the rods–an effective method of hooking fish while causing the least amount of damage to the fish for a safe release.

Chartered trips on our luxury vessels also include drinks, snacks, beverages and beer, and lunch (during full day trips). All the planning is done for you. So sit back, relax, and catch the big one you’ve only dreamed about.

Having a positive and happy vacation experience always begins long before you arrive at your destination.  Plenty of planning has to go into every trip and before you can even begin planning, you have to be sure of your final destination. If you’ve been considering a trip to the beautiful country of Costa Rica, the answers to some of these frequently asked questions may help with your decision.

Do I need a passport or visa to enter Costa Rica?
All travelers to the country must have a valid passport that will remain current for six months after you enter the country.  Travelers from some countries such as the US, Canada the UK and others do not require visas. If you are uncertain about needing a visa, ask your travel agent or contact the Costa Rican embassy.

What type of food can I expect?
Tasting the cuisine of a country can be a very enjoyable part of the travel experience.  Typical fare for locals in Costa Rica includes beans, tortillas, rice, beef and lots of fish, prepared in very traditional methods. Plenty of fresh tropical fruits and vegetables are also available.

What is the weather like?
Temperatures are consistently warm and average about 74 degrees, with temperatures getting a lot hotter along the coast.  There is a wet season which runs from December to April followed by the dry season.  For obvious reasons, most people prefer to travel during the dry season where you might still get one or two days of rain per week.

Is Costa Rica family friendly?
Absolutely!  Manu of the tours are not only suitable and a lot of fun for children, but they can be very educational as well.  Monkey watching, canopy tours, butterfly conservatories and turtle saving are just a few of the many tours that are often geared to the younger set.  Older children and teens can enjoy rafting, zip lining, surfing and diving.  Costa Rica definitely has something for everyone!

Can we get around without a car?
Since the majority of Costa Ricans do not own cars, the public transportation system is very efficient.  Buses run almost continuously between cities, towns and villages.  There are also numerous private shuttle and taxi companies that are very reasonable.  Small local airlines also offer flights within the country.

Do I need to get immunized?
Legally, no immunizations are currently required, but most health officials recommend you get a Hepatitis and typhoid vaccine before travelling.  Be sure to consult your doctor for advice on this matter.

Can I drink the water?
Water is generally safe to drink in the major centers but many people feel it is better to be safe than sorry and stick to bottled water which is readily available, even in more remote villages.

Is Costa Rica safe?
As in any country, there is some crime in the big cities.  Due to its high rate of tourism, most areas are perfectly safe.  The best policy is to travel smart. Keep your belongings close to you, stick to well travelled areas lock up valuables in a safe place and avoid carrying large amounts of cash.

Welcome to the April Issue

Here at CR Luxury our mission is clear – to provide our clients with stellar service by always keeping the lines of communication open and that is why we are introducing our new monthly newsletter to keep you updated with our latest plans and special events within the Los Sueños community.   We’d love to hear from you, so if you have any questions you’d like to address feel free to contact us.  Remember we’re always here to help.

Do you know something we should know?  Do you know of any exciting events or changes that would benefit the Los Sueños community? Feel free to contact us with any information you’d like to share with fellow owners and we’ll make sure to include it in next month’s newsletter.

- Marcela & Sandra

April Events

Easter 2010

If you’re looking forward to celebrating Easter (March 28 - April 5) in Costa Rica there are a few things you should know before you arrive.   Most Costa Ricans are primarily Catholic and do tend to take this religious holiday seriously by attending mass and taking part in other religious events while others hit the beaches and opt for more of a sabbatical.  During this time you will find big crowds at the beaches and many other tourist destinations so you may want to plan ahead with our Diamond Concierge team.  Below, we’ve included some key information about what to expect during the Easter holiday season and how to make the proper arrangements.

If you are interested in attending mass in the Los Suenos Beach Club or the Jaco area please review our schedule below:

Mass  Hours:

April 1:

Herradura Church at 4pm

April 2:

Herradura Church at 5pm Mass
Jaco Hotel Tangieri: Religious Procession begins at 8:30am
Jaco Church: 3pm Mass

April 3:
Herradura Church: 5pm Mass

April 4:
Los Suenos Beach Club Fellowship: 8am (English Service)

Herradura Church: Mass 8am
Jaco Church: 10am & 7pm Mass

If you are interested in attending mass in any of the churches listed please keep in mind that they are held completely in Spanish.   Contact our Diamond Concierge team should you require transportation or directions.

No Alcohol Available During Easter
One more thing to keep in mind that beginning Thursday, April 1st at 12:01 am (midnight) until Saturday, April 3rd at 12:01 am no alcohol will served or available for purchase nationwide in Costa Rica.   If you’d like to make special arrangements before you arrive in Los Sueños, please contact our Diamond Concierge team and they will be happy to stock your condo accordingly.

Traffic
In and around San Jose traffic is very light during this time since many people generally leave town which in turn leaves the city to become a ghost town.   The Jaco area and surrounding beaches will generally be very crowded since it’s a popular destination among locals.   If you plan to leave the Los Suenos community during this time, we suggest you consult with our concierge team for advice on the best routes to take.  Also, if you’re traveling to the airport during Easter weekend, keep in mind that locals will be returning to San Jose which means that you may be sitting in traffic.   Make sure to plan ahead so you don’t miss your flight.

Easter Menu
If you’re looking for special Easter dishes, you’ll be sure to find plenty of suitable options within the Los Sueños restaurant community.   Guests can choose from fresh seafood dishes as well as many vegetarian options found in any of our four restaurants including Bambu, El Galeon, The Hook Up, The Terrace Lounge as well as Lanterna.   For detailed information about each restaurant and their menu you can go to the Los Sueños restaurant website at www.LSRestaurants.com

Everyone at CR Luxury would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your continued business and loyalty throughout the years. In our efforts to improve your experience with CR Luxury, we have been working on reorganizing and adding new members to the CR Luxury team as a method of improving our service.

You’ll also be happy to know that we have added a new Office Directory which will outline each of our departments as well as their contact information in case you should have any questions or concerns.   Remember that each member of our staff is here to help improve your experience so don’t hesitate to call and let us know how we can help. Click here to CR Office Directory)

New Additions to CR Luxury Team:

Maria-Liz Ramirez
Operations Manager
marializ@crluxury.com

Maria comes to us from the Philippines where her career in the Hotel/Tourism industry began. Since the late 80’s Maria has worked in five star hotels around the globe in countries such as Singapore, Sweden, Japan and Hong Kong to name a few.   She holds an M.A. in Business Management and years and years of tourism related training and service.   How did she end up in Costa Rica? She came to Costa Rica on vacation and never left.   It happens all the time!  In her spare time Maria-Liz loves to scuba dive and is actually trained as a rescue medic diver.   A great person to take along on a scuba diving trip!

Rodolfo Rodriguez Quiroz
Maintenance
maintenance@crluxury.com

Roldolfo was hired onto the CR Luxury team after having an impressive level of experience with maintenance and electro mechanics.   He has taken part in several national government projects and has an outstanding educational background to match.   On his off-time Rodolfo enjoys extreme sports and lots of good food.

Nini Pardo
Reservations Agent
nini@crluxury.com

Nini is a San Jose native with over 13 years experience working for multinational companies within the service industry.  Among her many talents include speaking three languages including Italian as well as always putting forth a positive attitude in her day to day life.   Oh! And she loves the beach!

Roberto Cespedes
Accounting Assistant
roberto@crluxury.com

Roberto is a transplant from San Jose who has worked within the tourism industry for the last nine years of his life.  He is an experienced surfer who has been hitting the waves since he was 15 years old and hopefully he’ll be nice enough to offer our staff here some lessons.  We are happy to have Roberto and he is a great addition to our accounting department.

In the News

A few weeks back we had a very special visit from newly elected Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla who stayed in our luxurious Villa La Joya.  During her time at Los Sueños, she was gracious enough to spend a little time with CR Luxury’s President Marcela Laborde as well as our new Operations Manager Maria-Liz Ramirez.  Read more about President Chinchilla’s Visit.

CR Blog
For those of you who haven’t had a chance to CR blog it’s a great resource for information about our tours, weddings, sport fishing events and Costa Rica overall.   We will be updating our blog daily with fresh articles, videos, interviews and testimonials so make sure you don’t miss out.

Here are a few excerpts from our blog you may enjoy:

Costa Rica Beaches in Half the Time
Are you packed and ready to start your Los Sueños luxury getaway?

Fishing Hotspots in Costa Rica
Avid fishermen will agree that there is no place quite like Costa Rica for sport fishing.

Destination Wedding Steeped in Cultural Tradition With a Spicy Latin Twist
Costa Rica is quickly becoming the #1 choice for destination weddings.

We hope you have been enjoying our April Newsletter so far! This section will offer you recommendations on restaurants, events, services etc. in and around the Herradura/Jaco area that we feel are worthwhile and that you shouldn’t live without.  For next month, we’d like to include some of your personal recommendations for restaurants or any other businesses that you’d like to rave about so please send your recommendations via e-mail at: liz@crluxury.com.

Also, this month we’d like to take time out to remind you that CR Luxury is also available to organize your next corporate retreat or event.   Our facilities include 8 state of the art meeting rooms, a 400 seat ballroom, high-speed internet as well as an attentive concierge team ready to assist you with your individual needs.

Last month, we welcomed Canadian marketing expert, Gerry Visca, who hosted a corporate retreat at Los Sueños and left us a nice message about his experience in the video below.

Click to see video.

To host your next corporate event, you can e-mail:  aura@crluxury.com

Owners! Join us on Facebook and Twitter

Social media is a great way to connect with CR Luxury and keep up with customer feedback as well as current events.   Make sure you join our Facebook and Twitter accounts to see what we’re up to and make sure to drop us a line.

Picture of Month

Our star Luxury Event Coordinator, Aura Mora, organized one of the most beautiful wedding events of the year, the Merlob-Valentiner Wedding.  This 250 guest event combined a joining of cultures in one of the most breathtaking wedding destinations, Costa Rica.  The bride, Katharina, was captured in this photo walking into the sunset as it draped the Los Suenos Resort.  What a beautiful shot!

To organize your wedding with CR Luxury please contact Aura at aura@crluxury.com.

A favorite destination among Eco-tourists is the Tortuguero National Park located in the northern Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. The park is full of windy canals that allow tourists to have the full jungle tour experience. Once you’re there you’ll be surrounded by the flora and fauna native to Costa Rica as well as the most popular attraction of them all; the leatherback turtles, which come to the shores to lay their eggs and if you’re lucky enough you just may be a witness to this amazing experience. It’s a tour that should be part of every Costa Rica vacation.

Within the Tortuguero area guests can easily disconnect from the outside world by renting a cabin with no television and no other distractions except the sights and sounds of nature. When was the last time you did that?

During the daytime there are several tours available for guests to experience the area. You can take a riverboat tour which is generally guided by an expert of the area. The tour will take you through the various canals where you’ll be able to experience the wildlife and get to know a few sloths, birds, Capuchin monkeys and even crocodiles. Here are a number of species which are known to the area:

-57 Species of Amphibians
-111 Species of Reptiles
-309 Species of Birds
-30 Species of Fresh Water Fish
-30 Species of Mammals

Tortuguero Park is easily accessible via Nature Air, one of the local airlines, as well as by boat. If you’re coming by boat you must arrange transportation from Moin near Puerto Limon. There are no roads to Tortuguero so you must choose one of the two options for transportation. It’s best to arrange a tour so that way you’ll have a worry-free experience.

One of the most unforgettable experiences in Tortuguero is witnessing the Leatherback and Hawksbill turtles nest. To watch these turtles lay their eggs, you will need to arrange a tour which is scheduled at night since no one is allowed on the beaches past 6pm. The tour allows visitors to view the turtles from a distance in order to not disturb this natural process. Once the eggs are laid, it takes up to 10 weeks for the eggs to hatch and make their way to the ocean which is another great sight to see.

Fishing is also another attraction to this park where anglers come from around the world to catch fresh water fish such as Atlantic Snook and Tarpon.

Entrance fees to the park are $7 per person and park hours are from 8:00am to 6pm.

If you’re planning a Costa Rica vacation, the Tortuguero National Park is not to be missed. Ask your hotel concierge to learn more about this area as well as how to arrange a tour to Tortuguero National Park.

In just a few short months the kids will be out of school for the summer and the whole family will be in need of a getaway. Don’t take another trip to Disney World this year. Try something new instead and plan a Costa Rica vacation that both you and the kids will enjoy. Are you worried about pleasing your finicky teenager, keeping your little ones entertained, and at the same time getting in some private, quality time with your partner? Well then Costa Rica is the perfect place for you and your family.

At Los Sueños Luxury Resorts, located in Herradura, on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast, we combine the very best the country has to offer, and make all of the experiences easily accessible to our guests. Just let us know what types of activities your family is interested in, and our Concierge Service will make suggestions and even plan out your days for you.

Los Sueños can accommodate large or small groups for short- or long-term stays, so bring the grandparents, aunts, and uncles, and stay a while. Our luxurious, modern condos come complete with laundry facilities, maid service, air conditioning, and full kitchens. All of the comforts of home are available here in our tropical paradise.

We entice visitors with a wide variety of activities to fit all age levels and personalities. Los Sueños guests can take unlimited advantage of the resort’s golf course, marina, and beach club, and explore the beautiful 1,100 acres of grounds that surround the facility. While the kids are having fun poolside, you can take that extra golf lesson you really need. A customized lesson taught by one of our experienced professionals can be arranged at any time. Our instructors are also nature lovers and will be your guide to the fauna and animals that are indigenous to the area.

The whole family can relax on the beach, go for a swim in the warm blue waters, or take up a new water sport. Nearby Playa Jaco is a surfing mecca with some of the best breaks in Central America. World class surfers offer lessons for any level. Ocean kayaking is also popular in Costa Rica and is the ideal way for the family to explore the coastline and take in the views from offshore together. For an underwater view, try snorkeling in the local waters. The kids will love identifying the thousands of colorful tropical fish, sea turtles, and coral that line the bottom of the ocean.

At the Los Sueños marina, you can book a pleasure cruise around Herradura Bay or set out for a day of family sport fishing. Our luxury, chartered vessels will expertly navigate the waters around the resort, while you drop your lines in for pacific sailfish, marlin, yellow-fin tuna, dorado, and more. Who will catch the biggest fish?

For families seeking even more adventure, take a canopy tour for a pure adrenaline rush. On a zip line suspended between trees, you will sore through the rainforest and above the waterfalls. Don’t miss out on this truly unique thrill.

This is merely a sampling of the activities you and your family can enjoy in and around Los Sueños. Start planning today and check out all of your Costa Rica vacation options with Costa Rica Luxury Rentals.

To all our avid fishermen and women I wanted to post our latest fishing report for the first half of March.  It looks like the first week of the month was hot time for both Sailfish and Dorado as well as some Tuna.  We’ll keep posting the fishing reports as we get them to keep you informed about fishing in Costa Rica.

If you’re interested in planning your own Sport Fishing adventure at Los Suenos Resort  make sure to contact Costa Rica Luxury Rentals for an unequaled fishing experience in one of Latin America’s most sophisticated marinas.

The 2010 Signature Billfish Series closed at Los Sueños Resort and Marina on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica and certainly was an exciting week for all! The series wrapped up the second and final leg of competition on February 20, 2010.

This is truly an international event as a total of 43 teams from the United States, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Russia battled it out and released a combined total of 1014 billfish with 994 sailfish and 20 marlin.

We met with a couple of the teams early on in Leg 2, who were in great spirits in spite of some missed opportunities and less-than-terrific luck.

Newcomer “Layla” a 72’ Jim Smith owned by Jim Derrick of Buffalo, NY. And his team just recently moved the boat to Los Sueños after several visits here and a newfound love for fishing out of Los Suenos. Their luck was not with them that first day of competition but their enthusiasm was “off the charts” and the team was ready to tackle the next day’s challenges.

On their fishing trips to Los Sueños , the team from the Layla likes to be right in the center of the action and enjoys renting fully equipped luxury condominiums for their stays at the resort.

We also chatted with co-owners of the Ol Salt, Shawn Kooyman and Los Sueños resident Michael Topp and whose team fought quite a battle. They ran into a variety of pitfalls and finally arrived exhausted about 11 PM after the first day out knowing that Thursday’s catch would be disqualified from the count as they missed the cut off time to turn in their daily score sheets. The second day of tournament week was a tough one for the old Salt as well with only a few bites for the day, they did manage to get “on the board” scoring 100 points with one sailfish on Friday. The boys from the Ol Salt still had a great attitude and were ready to head out for the final day, finishing with another sailfish on Saturday for a Second Leg total of 200 points.

Both legs of the 2010 tournament had some very close scores throughout the competition. In Leg 1, some of the scores were so close in fact that with so many teams tied, the winners had to be decided by time. Those with the earliest, official times of release break the ties and determined who came out on top.
This was the case for the Top Angler award in the first leg going to Los Sueños Developer and Innovator, Bill Royster.

This year’s 1st leg winners on the Cerveza are are relative newcomers to the Los Sueños Marina but definitely no strangers to fishing or to taking top awards! The Cerveza team, although did not make it this time in the money, fought hard again in the 2nd leg and did finish respectably in the top ten.

Owner Tom Russell, a regular guest with CR Luxury Rentals is on a great run in the competition here in Costa Rica. He’s been fishing the Cerveza here since December of 2008.

The guys say they owe so much of their success to the Captain of the Cerveza, Butch Davis who is called “The Secret Weapon” & El Capitan” by his team.

Spanish Fly tied with Fuujin at 1700 points but beat their last time taking the 3rd Place position in Leg II and team member Ronnie Fields was Leg II’s Top Angler.

Owner Jeff Cohen’s, Los Sueños based Da Bait, a 61’ Spencer, moved up from 16th place in Leg I to a spectacular 2nd Place win in Leg II with 13 Sails and a late surprise Marlin nabbed by Angler Bob Burnside which threw the team into the second place position. Da Bait finished with 2,700 points and taking 2nd place prize money of $28,000. Captain Curt Lind of Palm Beach, Florida, dubbed Captain Marvel by his teammates also led Da Bait to win the “Daily” with 800 points on Saturday of Leg II.

Cohen says there are many factors that helped them reach their position in the tournament…. When asked how they rose to the occasion he said that fishing with his closest friend and business associate, Pat Parenty as well as the tremendous amount of love and camaraderie among the entire team is the real key that helped them shoot to this year’s success.

It seems 2nd Place may hold some magic along with luck, skill and hard work. In Leg 1, the 2nd Place team aboard another “newcomer”, Big Oh, missed the win by only 300 points. Although definitely happy with finishing in the top three they weren’t going to settle for “second best”!
In Leg 2, They took the lead on Thursday and held steady even with a really slow Saturday they came out on top. The Big Oh finished in first place without a single Marlin, not only taking 1st Place in Leg II but taking top honors as Overall Winner with total prize money of $144,000.

Costa Rica Luxury Rentals congratulates all the participants in the tournament and are here to help with luxury accommodations, tours, airport transportation, tee times or just good advice about almost anything you may think of while visiting Costa Rica. Feel free to contact our Diamond Concierge Service Toll Free 7 Days a week to fulfill your requests.

We’ll look forward to seeing all the familiar teams and some fresh new competitors beginning in November 2010 at the Los Suenos Marlin Invitational.

CR Luxury Rentals’ condos and villas are situated on the property of the 1,100 acre Los Sueños Resort and Marina; on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, with easy access from major airports throughout the Americas.

About Costa Rica Luxury Rentals and Tours
CR Luxury offers an exclusive portfolio of privately owned Costa Rica vacation properties within the world-renowned Los Sueños Resort and Marina. CR Luxury is the preferred Costa Rica vacation rental company for Los Sueños. Guests enjoy access to the resort’s world-class amenities including a 200 slip international marina; championship golf; private beach club; casino; spa; meeting facilities; shopping and fine dining restaurants of the Los Sueños Resort, the Marina Village and the Los Sueños Beach Club. CR Luxury condominiums and villas offer the perfect base to explore the riches of Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Coast including National parks; sport fishing; canopy tours; river rafting; surfing and much more. Become a fan on Facebook. Follow CR Luxury on Twitter. For more information or to book online, visit. CRLuxury online or call toll-free 1.866.525.2188.

Costa Rica is a top destination for whitewater rafting.  It offers a wide array of wild warm tropical rivers throughout its territory that are active for rafting almost all year round; however, the rainy season is the best because the rivers get incredibly high, in fact, some become so dangerous that they are banned for rafting.  During the summer, you can always hit the Atlantic side, where it is more humid and there are many adventurous options.

Here we offer you a list of the 5 rivers for whitewater rafting in Costa Rica that will most certainly give you an adrenaline rush:

1.Río Reventazón
Its name means “bursting river”, and it definitely is.  It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner at rafting or a pro, you will love this river.  It is always full because the Cachí Dam controls its water flow.

Reventazón is Costa Rica’s most popular and one of the best whitewater rafting rivers. It is close to San José and offers excellent access to connecting spots at the beginning of its four sections.  These sections vary in difficulty:

-Powerhouse to Tucurrique (Class III-IV)

-Tucurrique to Angostura (Class III)

-Angostura to Peralta (Class V)

-Peralta to Siquirres (Class IV)

2.Río Pacuare
Even though the Reventazón is more accessible, longer and more popular, the international rafting community sees the Pacuare River as its jewel.  It is among the top ten rafting and kayaking rivers worldwide because of its exhilarating beauty and thrills; you will never forget running the Pacuare.  It has two main sections:

-Bajo Pacuare- San Martín (Class V, VI)

-San Martín- Siquirres (Class III, IV)

It is called “the quintessential tropical river”, with narrow courses that twist along dense forest canyons portraying around 20 waterfalls, among which you will see one of Costa Rica’s natural wonders, the 150 feet Huacas Falls.  The primary rain forest that surrounds it houses jaguars, ocelots, monkeys, sloths, and hundreds of birds.

3.Río General
This river has over 1,000 miles of good rapids; however, one section gets all the attention: San Isidro- El Brujo (Class III, IV).  This is a very long river that carries huge amounts of water from June to November, offering a very different experience from other rivers in Costa Rica.  It is not easy to access though, since it is located in one of the most remote areas in the country and requires a trip of four days.

4.Río Sarapiquí
This is an Atlantic option that suits everyone.  It offers wild, gentle floating, and intermediate whitewater sections.  It is perfect for people who love nature and bird watching.  Its main sections are:

-San Miguel- La Vírgen (Class IV, V)

-La Vírgen- Chilamate (Class III)

-Chilamate- Puerto Viejo (Class I, II)

5.Río Corobicí
This river houses the most popular floating experience in Costa Rica.  Along its section Cañas- Bebedero (Class I, II), you will delight your eyes and ears with the nature surrounding you.  It is a run suitable for all ages, where you will find over 300 bird species: ospreys, mot-mots, herons, cormorans, kingfishers, jacanas, and many others.

These five rivers delight whitewater rafting fans and professionals in Costa Rica; however, the quest for discovery never ends.  There are two recent additions to the best whitewater adventures: Río Savegre and Río Naranjo.  They offer challenging Class III runs and beautiful scenery on the Pacific side.

Costa Rica is HOT HOT HOT this January for anglers fishing out of the Los Sueños Resort and Marina on the Central Pacific Coast.

Cerveza was the big winner this time around with a total of 33 Sailfish and 1 Marlin with a check for the top prize of $46,500.

Saturday, January 16th wrapped up the 1st leg of the Los Sueños Signature Billfish Series 2010 and the competition was fierce! So close in fact that with so many teams tied the winners had to be decided by time.
Those with the earliest, official times of release break the ties and determine who came out on top.

This year’s 1st leg winners are relative newcomers to the Los Sueños Marina but definitely no strangers to fishing or to taking top awards!

Owner Tom Russell, a regular guest with CR Luxury Rentals is on a great run in the competition here in Costa Rica. He’s been fishing these waters on the Cerveza since December of 2008.

Cerveza’s Captain, Butch Davis, comes from a fishing family. His father was also a captain and ran fishing charters out of Indian River Delaware. Now with 30 years experience, Butch passed his captain’s license exam at the age of 17…He wasn’t even old enough to be a licensed captain at that time. He told us “they let me take the test thinking I couldn’t pass it . Since I wasn’t old enough to have the license yet I had to wait to receive it and they mailed it to me on my 18th birthday”!

Cerveza owner, Tom Russell says they have fished in many places such as the East Coast of the United States and the Bahamas.  But fishing out of Los Sueños is the best.  The facts show it too.  Russell says the “competition here is great”!

Tom Russell, Captain Butch Davis and their incredible team are on quite a winning role. Just last month, here at Los Suenos, they also took the top honors as World Champions in the WBS, World Billfish Series.

In 2009 alone the Cerveza caught 450 Billfish in only 70 days of fishing.

When asked how they do it, Owner, Tom Russell says “it’s our Secret Weapon, aka “El Capitan” Butch Davis”. Davis humbly says “we fish a lot… to be really good, you have to fish a lot”.  That they do, and they have the trophies to prove it!

Top Angler award was a very tight competition as well…several competitors were tied for fish caught but the tie breaking time proved the winner was none other than Los Suenos visionary and developer, Bill Royster. Mark Jones who placed 4th this time in the Top Angler category took 1st place as Top Angler in the November 2009 Los Sueños Marlin Invitational.

Cerveza owner, Tom Russell says it’s not only the fishing that keeps him here at Los Sueños.

He comes to the resort for the amazing catch and great competition but also brings his family to enjoy the resort and the excitement & adventure of the rainforest while staying in the luxury condominiums here in the gated communities of the resort. He says “Casandra and Roxana of the CR Luxury Diamond Concierge Team are great and always provide everything they need”….he also goes on to say he plays favorites with another CR Luxury team member…”we love Jose Eduardo the best!” The CR Luxury office is conveniently located right in the Marina Village.

When asked “why Costa Rica?” Russell says “I love the fishing, the people and the country. Bill Royster had an amazing vision and this resort is the best I have seen”.

Costa Rica Luxury Rentals congratulates all the participants in the tournament and are here to help with luxury accommodations, tours, airport transportation, tee times or just good advice about almot anything you may want or need while visiting Costa Rica.

We look forward to seeing you back here in February for the 2nd leg of the Los Sueños Signature Billfish Series.