9
Aug
2010
Tripadvisor Review
A guest from Canada who handles student groups in Costa Rica for the summer vacation wrote the following review on tripadvisor:
I have stayed at the Hacienda now for the past 3 years. Each time for 3 days with a group of High school students.The Hacienda is a unique blend of a working ranch/ hotel. They have certainly improved the food and hotel to make it more comfortable. The rooms are air conditioned and very comfortable. The personal are very friendly and always willing to assist you in any way possible. Some of the staff do not speak english but I never had any trouble having any question or concern dealt with rapidly and effiecently through the main desk, Now, one has to keep in mind that this a working ranch. So yes, there are some animal noises or smells around the sable area. It is the fact that the Hacienda is a working ranch that makes it so special. The hotel offers a variety of adventure activities that are well worth the price. The Hacienda is ideally located a few kilometers from the national park. I recommend this hotel if you are looking for a unique Costa Rican experience. This is why I come back year after year and all my high students always have a positive experience.
To make your reservation for Hacienda Guachipelin call toll free from USA or Canada to 1-888-730-3840 or write to info@guachipelin.com . You can also make your reservation directly on sites like expedia or travelocity . There are great specials for the next 3 months, like $35 per person or the 3rd night free (some restrictions apply).
1
Aug
2010
New York to Costa Rica
If you are planning to travel to Costa Rica from New York , for the coming month of september, there are great news. Airfares in Jet Blue couldn’t be any better: $385.55 taxes included (as quoted today) per person for a round trip ticket. Imagine leaving New York, from JKF at 6 AM 08:39 AM and arriving to San Jose, Costa Rica’s international airport Juan Santamaria at 11:21 AM. It doesn’t get any better. If you want to rent a small 4×4 for a week, for the first week of september, there is a rate with insurance for $223.82 with National Car Rental. This vehicle is enough for 2 or 3 people. Then just imagine to go for 3 days to Rincon de la Vieja Volcano, the most visited national park in Guanacaste for as low as $194 for a 3 night special that includes a double room with a/c and tv, breakfast and a horseback ride tour to one of the waterfalls in Hacienda Guachipelin. After a 3 night stay at Hacienda Guachipelin, travelers can enjoy the beach area nearby, like Coco Beach or Hermosa Beach of the Papagayo Gulf area.
Costa Rica is famous for the diverse adventure offer. From mountain bike to horseback rides, zip lines, rafting, trekking, hiking and more. There are lots of active volcanoes, hot springs and waterfalls. The best part is that Costa Rica is really friendly to tourists. For more information on tours contact guanacastetours.com . Don’t miss out on the September and October specials on Costa Rica. Pura Vida !!!!
JetBlue Costa Rica
29
Jun
2010
Up to 50% off !!!!
Costa Rica, this small nation, almost the size of West Virginia, is known as much for its leadership in sustainable tourism as it is for its incredible offering of activities and experiences for all types of travelers. Whether someone is looking to be adventurous, relax with the family, explore nature, take in a second honeymoon with someone special, or all of the above, Costa Rica has a special offer in hand. There are over 75 special travel promotions running in the country ranging from additional free nights, great upgrades, up to 50 per cent discount on spa treatments and much more. For a complete list of the hotel properties, tour operators and car rental companies that are offering special vacation deals, visit http://www.visitcostarica.com/ict/news/com-vpromomay2010.html. Travelers wanting to take advantage of these promotions should mention VPROMO when requesting the special rates.
26
May
2010
Costa Rica facts
Here is a very interesting video that shows some facts about our country. This video explains why is it that in a very small country, with not a big source of income, lots of things can be accomplished. The Costa Rican way of life, happy and peaceful, with no army but and army of school teachers. And another interesting fact, our belief in soustainability, and our new countries goal, becoming the first carbon neutral country.
A place to experience all of this is Rincon de la Vieja area, where there is presently being developed a clean energy project, a Geothermal electrical generation project, as well as one of the most visited nationals parks, with lots of volcanic activity, often being called the Yellowstone of Costa Rica.
Rincon de la Vieja is located north of Costa Rica, in the Guanacaste province, just about an hour away from Papagayo Gulf and about 1 1/2 hour away from Tamarindo beach.
19
Apr
2010
Green Season Specials
Guanacaste Horsebak ride
Green Season is here in Costa Rica and so are green season specials. But, what is green season? Green season our equivalent of spring time. In Costa Rica green season runs from may to november. At Hacienda Guachipelin we celebrate this special time with specials (for may and june).
- Special #1 Free Shuttle Service from Liberia’s Airport Daniel Oduber to Hacienda Guachipelin
- Special #2 Third night for free
All specials include admission tickets for the Hot Springs and the Mud Springs during the stay.
Hacienda Guachipelin s a great place for adventure lovers, for nature lovers, for hikers and of course our specialty horse lovers. We have been operating for more that 20 years now with our hotel, our restaurant and our adventure center. We are the best starting point for Rincon de la Vieja Volcano, one of the most visited National Parks in the Guanacaste Province. For more information please call toll free 1-888-730-3840 or write to info@guachipelin.com .
5
Apr
2010
Costa Rica’s new flight from NY
As mentioned on AA Web page there is a great offer to earn bonus miles Between New York And Costa Rica. Earn AAdvantage® bonus miles for round-trip travel between New York/JFK and San Jose, Costa Rica, simply by registering on AA web page and traveling between April 6, 2010, and June 30, 2010.
Beginning April 6, American Airlines will offer new daily nonstop service from New York (JFK) to San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO). For a limited time, you can earn up to 5,000 AAdvantage bonus miles for each round-trip you fly on our new route. Just register prior to travel and fly between April 6, 2010 and June 30, 2010. Business Class Fares 5,000 bonus miles and Economy Class Fares 2,500 bonus miles.
This flight gives travelers new options to fly into Costa Rica.
4
Apr
2010
Costa Rica Horseback rides
A repeat guest from Hacienda Guachipelin writes about his riding experience with us:
Horseback Ride Hacienda Guachipelin
I discovered the hacienda guachipelin back in 1999 when my daughter spent one year of post-graduate studies in San Jose (Costa Rica). We spent one week at guachipelin, went riding all day and have been coming back at least one a year ever since.
I, various members of my family as well as relatives have been riding horses in many countries over the years. When guachipelin refers to horseback riding in its brochures or website, it is not doing justice to what it really is. It is quite extraordinary!!
The horses are unlike any others. They are very agile, extremely good-natured, responsive and have lots of stamina. Saddles and tack are in great shape. Riding is tailored to individual abilities – if you like to ride fast, this is the place you want to be! The terrain, the scenery, the trails or open spaces do invite you to enjoy riding the way it should be.
And you are being accompanied by the most friendly sabaneros you will ever meet – they are there to make your experience more enjoyable, not to tell you to stay in line or don’t do this or that. You ride thru herds of cattle, pregnant mares or mares with their offsprings, yearlings – all in beautiful peaceful country side. If you like to ride horses and like to feel free – guachipelin is the place!!
If you are a beginner or an intermediate rider, the horses selected will be especially gentle and very caring sabaneros will make sure you will have a great time.
So, to the discrimininating horse lover and rider, hacienda guachipelin is where you want to be. Not to forget the very comfortable accommodations and great food, drink and entertainment. Don Rene, our guide is a local mature, sincere horse loving and knowledgeable person.
8
Mar
2010
Costa Rica Dive
Guanacaste, is Costa Rica’s northern province, famous for the sun, the nice beaches, the volcanoes, the adventure tours and the good diving. The starting point for good diving is Playas del Coco or Coco Beach. Coco Beach is a small fisherman’s town that eventually was turned into a tourist destination in itself. Lots of activities happen around Coco, and diving is one of them. But, how is diving in Guanacaste?
costa rica sharks
In Guanacaste, you would regularly see Southern Stingrays, Spotted Eagle Rays, a variety of eels, White-tip Reef Sharks, tons of Puffer and Porcupine Fish, Octopus, turtles, Seahorses, lobsters, Nudibranchs and numerous schools of many different varieties of fish. At the more advanced sites like the Catalina Islands, and the Bat Islands, you would commonly see many larger animals such as Giant Manta Rays, Whale Sharks, and Bull Sharks. On the surface you would often get the pleasant surprise visit of dolphin pods, hump back whales and pilot whales!
There are various kinds of small coral formations, which include both soft and hard sponges, as well as an unparalleled array of marine plants. They grow on the amazing volcanic rock formations that make up the remarkable bottom topography here.
One of the local sites that you would often be taken to, Tortuga, has a cute 30 ft. fishing vessel called “Rusty II” at about 70 ft. There are many stories explaining why it sunk, but Rich coast’s is definitely the best!
All the dives at the Catalina and Bat Islands are drift dives…. You would also drift from Play Penn to Punta Argentina if the current allows you. This is a local dive. The average range of visibility is 15 to 60 feet (5 to 18 meters) depending on the amount of plankton the tides bring in for the big fish.
The night diving here is incredible! All the marine life that is napping during the day, such as the 6 ft. moray eels and octopus roam the waters creating a spectacular show!
Hacienda Guachipelin has partnered with Rich Coast Diving to offer Guachipelin’s guests an unforgetable diving experience in Guanacaste. Rich coast operates since early 1993 in Playas del Coco. Rich Coast is a PADI 5 Star IDC facility in Costa Rica offering a full range of PADI scuba diving courses, beginning from entry level courses through to PADI Professional Dive Courses, and of course, fun dive tours and snorkel trips, catering to divers who appreciate personal attention, diving in small groups on the most comfortable boats. The owners, Brenda van Gestel, PADI Master Instructor, and Martin van Gestel in-house Course Director, are great hosts and fun to be around, yet serious and very professional with their job. A two tank dive is $80 and $20 for equipment.
Hacienda Guachipelin can arrange diving or snorkeling trips with Rich Coast Diving any time. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity, Adventures in Rincon de la Vieja Volcano, in Hacienda Guachipelin and Diving at Playas del Coco, with Rich Coast Diving, Land and Sea.
1
Mar
2010
CMIGreen Green Traveler Survey
A must read, the Green Traveler Survey Report , produced by Community Marketing, Inc.: a study based on a 2009 survey of 4,109 adults throughout the United States, but exclusively focused on 1,800 respondents (85%) who consider themselves to be extremely or eco-conscious and also took at least one overnight vacation in the past 12 months, has a lot of important information for the travel industry.
When this 1,800 people were asked which hotel brand, airline, cruise line or destination had done a better job in presenting themselves as environmentally friendly, only a few were able to name any. Only one brand seemed to have a clear, green identity: Costa Rica, a small country in Central America, north of Panama, between the Caribean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, 8º north of the equator.
The study reveals that among the interviewed the first 2 initiatives to travelers are:
• 68% say recycling is number one
• 66% say is energy efficiency
• water efficiency
Other interesting findings are that in spite of the prevailing economic situation, 63% of the people were still Maintained green purchases.
Respondents participated in leisure travel relatively frequently: 75.6% had taken at least two vacations away from home during the last year, and 22% took from 5 to 8 vacations during that time.
In Costa Rica eco hotels area classified by leafs, given by the Costa Rica Tourism institute. Hacienda Guachipelin is part of this program, offering many diferent tours, from advenuture to nature tours, hikes to horseback rides. HaciendaGuachipelin is right next to the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano National Park. For reservations from USA or Canada Call Toll Free 1-888-730-3840 or send us an email to reservas@guachipelin.com
24
Feb
2010
About Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a country located in Central America that has unlimited tourist potential and is ranked as one of the most visited international destinations. One of Costa Rica’s main sources of income is tourism. Costa Rica is a democratic and peaceful country, and it has not had an army since the year 1949.
Although the country is small and it covers only 0.03 % of the surface of the globe, it proudly shelters a 6% of the existing biodiversity in the entire world.
25.58 % of the country is composed of conservation and natural protected territory.
Costa Rica is also an attractive country for investment and it offers great potential for the establishment of important multinational companies, thanks to the outstanding academic level of its population, as well as the high standard of modern services and social and political stability.
Hacienda Guachipelin offers lots of activities for visitors. Family and friends of patients visit Rincon de la Vieja National Park for entertainment and relaxation.
For Reservations email to info@guachipelin.com or call us toll free from US or Canada 1-888-730-3840