Spotlight Costa Rica – Espadilla Cabins
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Last week I introduced to you Espadilla Hotel but I forgot to talk about Espadilla Cabins. You will find it a few steps away from the hotel. The Cabins have their own private entrance to the beach which is 50m down the road. Some of the things you will find here are: a private parking lot and a private biological reserve but of course they share the tennis court and the pool with the hotel.
Espadilla cabins is a complex of 16 cabins. They have ceiling fans, a kitchenette a refrigerator and hot water. The Cabins are nicely decorated and very clean. The surrounding gardens are beautiful and there are lounge chairs available. The staff is very helpful and accommodating. There is no restaurant but there are a lot of great restaurants in the area.
Contact me for great discounts for a spectacular stay at Espadilla Cabins!
Here’s what people have to say about them and if you don’t believe them, I dare you to try it!
This place is located a very short walk from Manuel Antonio park and very close to the restaurants and shops on the beach. The price was quite reasonable and the rooms were clean. Staff was easily reachable by e-mail, which was nice to book the room and save the long distance phone call. Staff was extremely helpful and followed up to make sure everything was ok. The air conditioning unit worked extremely well, best of any place we stayed in Costa Rica. If I ever go back I would definitely stay of Cabinas Espadilla!
And
Me and my fiance stayed at this hotel for 3 nights. The location was a 1 minute walk to Manual Antonio beach and a 2 minute walk to the national park. The markets and restaurants were very close by and had great food and stuff to purchase. The hotel pool was always very clean, outdoors and lounge chairs were always available. The hotel was very clean, we got towels each day, had AC, coffee, and we got a key for a safe. The bathroom was very clean and came with hand soap and shampoo. I loved this place and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good place to stay for a reasonable price in a good location. We didn’t spend much time in the hotel because we spend most of our time on adventure tours, but the time we did spend here in the evenings was totally worth the money!
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Some of us like to take presents when traveling specially if we are traveling for a special occasion. If that is the case I would recommend putting it with the rest of your luggage.
But obviously there will eventually be some delicate things that you might want to take with you as a gift. Those must definitely go in your hand luggage. So a good thing to do before you even buy the present is to check hand luggage restrictions of the country you are leaving and the one you will be entering. Make sure all presents are permitted in cabin baggage, and remember that the liquids in hand luggage rules apply to presents too.
Another good thing to keep in mind is not to wrap them as they are subject to security checks and may be unwrapped. If you are uncertain about carrying any item in your luggage, check with your airline before packing.
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Many people confuses this cute felines with domestic cats. But before you take one as a pet there are some things you should know about them:
1. The ocelot’s appearance is similar to a domestic cat. Its fur resembles a Clouded Leopard or Jaguar and was once regarded as particularly valuable.
2. These guys receive many names and some are: Painted Leopard, McKenney’s Wildcat, Jaguatirica (in Brazil), Jaguarete (in Paraguay and Argentina), Tigrillo (in Ecuador), Cunaguaro (in Venezuela), or Manigordo (in Costa Rica and Panama).
3. Ocelots hunt over a range of 18 km2, taking mostly small animals like deer, various rodents, reptiles and amphibians lizards, turtles, frogs, crab, birds and fish. Almost all of the prey that the ocelot hunts is far smaller than itself.
4. Ocelots can live 8 to 11 years.
5. The ocelot is mostly nocturnal and very territorial. It will fight fiercely, sometimes to the death, in territorial disputes. In addition, the ocelot marks its territory with special urine. Like most felines, it is solitary, usually meeting only to mate.
6. During the day it rests in trees or other dense foliage, and will occasionally share its spot with another ocelot of the same sex.
7. Thousands of ocelots have been killed for their fur. The feline was classified a “vulnerable” endangered species from 1972 until 1996, but gladly is now rated “least concern”.
8. It follows and finds prey via odor trails, but the ocelot also has very good vision, including night vision. The white rings around the ocelot’s eyes help to reflect extra light into the eye at night.
Don’t miss all the other interesting articles about Traveling in Guatemala here!
Testimonial – Mehul Vashi
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Trip was simply perfect. Thanks to all the insights from you everything went very well and we had a great time for 9 days.
Spotlight Costa Rica – Hotel Espadilla, Manuel Antonio
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This week’s Spotlight recommendation is for those interested in visiting the Manuel Antonio area. I found a great family friendly hotel just 3 minutes away from Manuel Antonio National Park on foot and 2 minutes away from the beach.
Hotel Espadilla is a two story building surrounded by a beautiful tropical garden. Some of the things this hotel offers are: a pool, a restaurant, a private parking lot and a tennis court. But most importantly they have a family friendly policy, making it perfect for family vacations. The staff is very nice and helpful making the ambiance even nicer.
But what about the rooms? They are nicely decorated in tropical colors but above all they are clean. Let’s not forget the restaurant, where you will find good tropical and international dishes.
Contact mefor great discounts for a spectacular stay at Hotel Espadilla!
Here’s what people have to say about them and if you don’t believe them, I dare you to try it!
I just spent my birthday here, what a lovely hotel! A lot of the hotels in Manual Antonio will say they are within walking distance to the National Park entrance – don’t believe them. Most are situated on the long and steep road leading down to the beach, and require a bus or taxi. This hotel is quite literally 3-5 min stroll to the entrance, also 3 min to Manuel Antonio’s beach and bustling main drag. Despite this, it is quiet and serene with a lovely, tropical atmosphere.
The standard room was very large and had a super comfortable king sized bed. The restaurant and pool-side bar were very good and reasonably priced. The breakfast buffet (included) was fantastic with a choice of Costa Rican, American or Continental style breakfasts.
The staff were all very helpful and friendly. I can’t fault it. Go here, you won’t regret it.
And
I would HIGHLY recommend this hotel to anyone going to the Manuel Antonio area. The hotel and hotel grounds are absolutely beautiful — we saw many iguanas on the property and heard the howler monkeys every morning and evening. The staff were very professional and accommodating, the free breakfast is made to order and delicious, and the restaurant served some of the best food (lunches and dinner) that we had anywhere in the country. The rooms were very spacious and clean, air conditioner worked great, and there is internet at the hotel for a small fee. The pool area is great and very relaxing. The location is amazing – just a short walk from the beach, restaurants, and national park, but just far enough to not be over-crowded or noisy. Again, wonderful hotel and highly recommended.
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As a traveling mom I can’t help asking myself this question every time we are about to travel “What happens if I lose my child?” And I think most traveling moms do, specially the ones with small, wandering children. So I figured out a way to help diminish that worry.
Next time before starting on the trip, visit a local hospital and ask if they will make one of those plastic bracelets for each of your children. Usually, they will. Then you can put whatever information you’d like on a slip of paper and insert it into the bracelet. If you’re traveling to/through foreign countries, you may want to put the information in the native language of the countries you are planning to visit.
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Wildlife Costa Rica – 9 Facts About Kinkajous
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These guys, also known as honey bears, are very interesting and here are some facts about them:
1. They are also known as honey bear, because when in captivity they seem to enjoy eating honey.
2. The kinkajou’s woolly fur consists of an outer coat of gold or brownish-gray overlapping a gray undercoat.
3. 90% of their diet consists of ripe fruit. Leaves and flowers make up much of the other 10% of their diet. Also they sometimes eat insects, particularly ants.
4. An average adult kinkajou weighs 4–7 pounds and an average adult body length is 40–60 cm. In addition to body length, the average tail length is 40–55 cm.
5. They normally live 23 – 24 years, but in a Hawaiian zoo they had a kinkajou that lived for 40 years!
6. Scent glands near the mouth, on the throat, and on the belly allow kinkajous to mark their territory and their travel routes.
7. Kinkajous sleep in family units and groom one another. But they are usually solitary when foraging although they occasionally forage in small groups.
8. The kinkajou’s peak activity is usually between about 7:00 PM and midnight, and again an hour before dawn. During daylight hours, kinkajous sleep in tree hollows or in shaded tangles of leaves, avoiding direct sunlight.
9. This arboreal mammal is not an endangered species, though it is rarely seen by people because of its strict nocturnal habits. However, they are hunted for the illegal pet trade, for their fur and for their meat.
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Testimonial – Anu and Sai Appaji
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We had a fantastic time in Costa Rica and want to thank you for helping us organize our trip.
We fell in love with Costa Rica and the wonderful people! All the hotel and tour arrangements were flawless. Frank turned out to be a valuable resource – his high energy and enthusiasm are admirable and we definitely recommend him. Steve and Rita, Casa Bella Rita, are wonderful folks and we will definitely stay with them if we ever have the good fortune to visit Costa Rica again.
We cannot thank you enough for your other personalized tips including those for finding vegetarian food!
Anu and Sai Appaji, USA
Spotlight Guatemala – Ram Tzul Reserve And Hotel
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If you are planning to travel to Guatemala, make sure you stop by Ram Tzul. It is a wonderful place close to the Biotop del Quetzal, a major tourist attraction on the way to Coban, Alta Verapaz.
This is a beautiful hotel which consists of a series of cottages made out of stone and bamboo. The cottages have great views of the reserve. A reserve you said? Yes, the hotel is settled in a 150 hectare reserve of primary vegetation. This of course implies that they offer some great outdoor activities.
The hotel is a very cozy place where the service is super friendly and the food is very good. When you go there make sure you try Kak Kik, a local delicacy.
Contact mefor great discounts for a spectacular stay at Ram Tzul!
Here’s what people have to say about them and if you don’t believe them, I dare you to try it!
Just tell any bus to stop at Ram Tzul and they drop you off right at the entrance to the main building, which houses the restaurant. It is built out of bamboo and is claimed to be the largest bamboo construction in Central America.
I stayed here for 3 nights and had the best time ever! It is incredible! The food is excellent, not your average fare. The owner and manager, Gerardo, is very knowledgeable.
The hotel consists of several cabins that are also built out of bamboo and natural stone. My cabin had a nice view out on the forest.
The hotel offers trips through their eco-reserve, either on foot or on horseback. I hiked to a beautiful waterfall and swam there.
The whole place was a wonderful retreat in the Guatemalan cloud forest but with all the amenities of a well-run hotel.
I will be back!And
On a family weekend we stayed for one night in this hotel. The rooms are simple but cosy and comfortable, the panorama windows allow for great views of the beautiful mountain scenery, and the open fireplace was great to spend the evening talking and having a couple of drinks.
Food at the restaurant was OK, my wife enjoyed the local speciality Kak Kik (a turkey broth). Waiter Angel was especially nice and friendly.
We made the hike to the waterfall, which was a good experience.
Weelky Travel Tip – How Much Is It?
By · CommentsEven though prices may vary in different regions of Guatemala you might want to have some reference:
- A short taxi ride inside Guatemala City can cost you between 25 and 50 Quetzals that is between $3 and $7.
- A soda can be between 5 and 15 Quetzals ($2 or $3). A Beer is between 10 and 35 Quetzals ($1 and $5).
- A traditional breakfast that includes: Coffee, beans eggs and juice can cost anywhere from 20 to 50 Quetzals ($2 and $7).
- A lunch special can be 30 or 60 Quetzals ($4 to $8).
- A lunch or dinner in a more exclusive place (recommended) can be between 50 and 300 Quetzals ($7 to $38).
- The internet hour costs an average of 8 Quetzals (U$1).
- The hotel accommodations may cost:
5 Stars: U$100 to U$200
4 Stars: U$80 to U$100
3 Stars U$50 to $80
2 Or fewer: U$10 to u$50
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