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6
May
2013
May Special
This month of May, Hacienda Guachipelin offers a very special discount: 25% off the regular rate. Guests will also receive $25 resort credit that can be applied for tours or massage. May is the month of the transition from the dry season to the rainy season. Actually May has a very nice weather, not very rainy and not very hot, yet the sunsets are still the famous Guanacaste sunsets.
guanacaste sunset
Rincon de la Vieja National Park is 14, 161 hectares big. It was declared This national park is named after the active Rincon de la Vieja Volcano. The summit is 1895 meters high. The main attraction is Las Pailas trail, a 3+ km trail with fumaroles, hot springs, mud pots and a strong sulfur smell , that surrounds the area. There are other attractions in the trail, like the little volcano, a very active hole that bursts with steam and a very loud jet like sound.
The mountain has another volcano, the inactive one, Santa María Volcano, whic has an altitude of 1916 meters, the highest by the way. The area has other attractions like the summit, presently closed to visitors due to activity, and very nice waterfalls. The most famous is La Cangreja, which is another “Rio Celeste“. This is a phenomenon that happens around volcanoes and the water turns blue.
(This offer only applies for reservations through Trip Advisor and does not apply with other offers or promotions, valido for the month of May)
6
Feb
2013
Day Trips Guanacaste
We received this wonderful review from our tours from a group of journalists, and we wanted to share it with everybody
“…..
Day trips
Outings are easily arranged with the local tour operators who eagerly welcome bookings at the lobby. Then there are those amiable tour reps who like to hang by the beach practicing their English as they ask what country you are from.
One day local tour operator Swiss Travel took us to Rincon de la Vieja, the largest active volcano in the country’s northwest and the closest to the beach. It’s part of a national park of the same name, which translates roughly to “old woman’s nook.”
In the morning we rode horseback through lush tall grasses bearing spiny Pochote trees. This stretch of heaven is the remnant of volcanic activity eons ago but the region is still very active. Guanacaste is located like much of Costa Rica in a volcanic zone. Just around us nine craters are visible.
Locals call this place “Little Yellowstone” because of the rich biodiversity and its numerous boiling mud pots. It emits an otherworldly ambiance as the sulphurous fumaroles cast small mushroom clouds over the terrain in some parts.
By the Rio Negro (so named due to the black lava rock), we bid the horses adios then resumed the next leg: white water tubing.
Churning around and around, laughing in hysterics the entire way, I couldn’t get over myself. I mean I’m no shrinking violet when it comes to battling rapids. A Niagara Falls-born gal I am, so hitting the infamous Niagara Gorge in a turbo jet is done on a lazy afternoon (okay I was a passenger on that one, but still) and splashing around rapids outside Ottawa I’ve done in a day.
But this one was like nature’s amusement ride. It helps its dry season from December through April so water levels are low. Still the turning action as I spun around this tempest in a teapot got my heart pounding as I twisted and turned through this jungle canyon.
Giddy with excitement, I snuck my neck inside the tube like a cautious turtle bracing myself for the unknown. Instead as I looked above a heavenly blue butterfly fluttered watching over me.
That night at the resort we laughed and reminisced on how we conquered the Rio Negro.
Boy would I do it again. ”
18
May
2012
Hacienda Guachipelin on Trip Advisor
We are happy to know that 118 TA users have rated Hacienda Guachipelin as excellent. We take our reviews in a very serious way. Our costumers are the ones that evaluate us and remind us of the things that we should improve and the areas where we are good at.
Trip Advisor has been for us a great tool and ever since we started to seriously look into it, we have experienced guests reserving direct through our reservations office.
- Hacienda Guachipelin rated “excellent” by travelers
15
Dec
2011
Canyoneering Next to a Volcano
Instead of ziplining through the trees and crossing swing bridges on the Caribbean/rainforesty side of the country, however, we were able to go whole hog on the Pacific/dry forest side in the Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park of the Guanacaste region, where canopying combines with ziplining, rappeling, rock climbing, canyoneering and…….. as it was mentioned by haunted.com
Hacienda Guachipelin Canyon Tour
This is one of the most popular tours at the Hacienda since it has a bit on everything, traversing on trees, traversing in the canyon, up and down, on ropes, on the wall………
This tour is open every day from 8 AM to 5 PM. Rincon de la Vieja is a and active volcano close to the beaches in Guanacaste.
15
Oct
2011
My first Canopy Tour
Before coming to Hacienda Guachipelin I had only heard about zip lining and Canopy. So I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into when the guides started giving us information about the technique. Since I’m a little bit scared of heights this was really going to be a challenge for me and I could feel the excitement in my stomach.
To my surprise I was not scared at all, the guides treated us very well during the entire tour and I felt very secure. I was the last one of the people in the tour and I could hear a woman in front of me giving a shout of excitement, when I got there I understood why. I was going to go down a slide and then continue straight in to the forest. The feeling of relief when you leave the platform is indescribable and the fact that you do this surrounded by rich vegetation, various birds and reptiles is just amazing.
We continued to the canyon where you can choose if you want to go rock climbing or not. The next cable was going to take us thru the canyon with the wild river underneath us. This is where I did something I never in a million years thought I would do, the guide convinced me to go upside down! When I reached the next platform I could breathe again, and I was so proud of myself. Then it was time to do a Tarzan swing over the river, another great experience.
When I reached the last platform and we walked back to the Adventure centre all I could think about was – when can I do this again?
1
Oct
2011
Gold Museum Costa Rica
gold museum
The Costa Rica Gold Museum has an extraordinary collection of gold objects that reflect the worldview, social structure, and the gold of the pre-Columbian people of Costarrican territory.
The exhibition consists of 1600 pieces of pre-Columbian gold dating from 500 to 1500 AD. The introductory area interprets the cultural evolution of pre-Columbian cultures. This space also shows the development of metallurgy in Costa Rica, its stages and styles.
At the exhibition of gold pieces the visitors can appreciate the different uses and meanings of the gold.
This is a great place to visit while in San Jose and to learn about the Costarrican past cultures.
For ticket information visit www.museosdelbancocentral.org
9
Jun
2011
Horseback riding a whole day.
If you like horses I strongly recommend the whole day horseback riding you can do here at Hacienda Guachipelin. You don’t have to be good on horseback riding to do this tour!
I do my internship here at Hacienda Guachipelin and works with the horses every day, and this tour is my favorite because you get to see the best sides of Guanacaste Costa Rica. You get to see everything from dry jungle to rain forest. You get the chance to ride in rivers, up on hills and around the area of other farms. Maybe the monkeys jump over your head as you ride in the forest. You will probably see a lot of beautiful birds and other animals.
The adventure tour starts at 8 am and the ride goes to Oropéndola witch is a big and beautiful waterfall where you got the opportunity to jump from the cliffs and swim in the clear water.
After the visit to Oropéndola you get up on the horses again and start the ride to Rio Negro hot springs, when we are arriving at Rio Negro you get to see the beautiful hot springs where you get painted in mud from the volcano. You can sit and relax in the hot springs where the water comes directly from the volcano. There are different pools with different degrees in it, so you can chose the one that fits you best. After the relax at the hot springs you start to ride again.
More bathing and refreshing surprises will be discovered under the day.
/Petra
23
May
2011
2 adventurous students from Sweden in Costa Rica
We are the 2 students from Sweden named Bojan Glavas and Petra Stuart. We are doing our internship at Hacienda Guachipelin working with different tours and around the hotel. The internship at hacienda Guachipelin is for 7 weeks. Both of us study tourism at the midSweden university and we have 1 year left in school after this term. We are both very interested in adventure and ecotourism and that is why we are here. Costa Rica is very different in both climate and the culture from Sweden and we are here to explore it.
Here we are now and we’re going to write about our adventures in Costa Rica and especially about what we do here at the hotel.
Pura Vida, Bojan and Petra
31
Jan
2011
La Cangreja Waterfall
Cangreja Waterfall
This is my favorite place in the area. This big 40 meter high waterfall can be found in Rincon de la vieja National park, the name of it is Cangreja Waterfall. To get here you have to spend about two hours walking. In some places the track is a little bit difficult but it is definitely worth the effort. On the way you can see both forest and more open areas and you also get some good views. On this track it is definitely possible to see some animals such as monkeys, snakes and many birds. Before I went to this waterfall people kept telling me about this place and when I finally got there I was not disappointed. I did the hike alone and I had no problems finding the way, the path is very easy to follow. This is really the perfect place for a swim, the water is clear blue and not cold at all. Please, don’t forget to bring your bathing suit, you will need it!
After a couple of great months in the hotel it’s time for me to go back to Sweden. My internship is now coming to an end so this is my last article. I hope you enjoyed reading about the Hacienda and my time here.
Pura Vida, Camilla
21
Jan
2011
Simbiosis Spa
Guanacaste Hot Springs
Simbiosis Spa, located at Rincon de la Vieja National Park’s entrance, has new attractions for our guests.
There is a new water fountain, geyser and 2 new hot spring water pools, making a total of 5 located in deferent areas.
There is a small bar at the reception that offers different drinks for visitors.
With the admission, guests will enjoy a volcanic mud treatment, a sauna treatment, and the hot spring waters to relax.
The admission fee is $20 for adults and $15 for children.
Simbiosis is open from 10 AM to 6 pm every day.
Just a quick note to explain about Rincon de la Vieja National Park, it is the most visited national park in Guanacaste, Costa Rica’s northern province. It’s main attraction is Las Pailas Trail, with lots of volcanic activity, similar to what you would see in Yellowstone.