Join overnight kayak tour

We have available space on 3 overnight kayak trips.

Are you less than 4 persons? Join some others on a mixed tour.

Dates available:
19th – 21st May 2014 (dates flexible between 15th – 23rd of May)
16th – 18th July 2014 (dates flexible between 9th – 19th of July)
1st – 3rd December 2014 (dates flexible between 28th November – 3rd December)

If you are interested in joining on one of these groups, just let us know.
Read more about our overnight trips here:
http://www.bahiarica.com/sea-kayaking/overnight-sea-kayak-tour/

Monkeys and Ospreys

We have seen the first signs summer here; The Spider monkeys are coming down to the beach, the leaves starts falling of the trees and the Ospreys are back.

We have had a very nice rainy season with some good rainfalls, but typically after dark in the evening. We are now entering into the dry season and the other day we spotted the Spider monkeys at Isla Nacital for the first time this season. We are looking forward to visiting them a lot in the coming months, it is going to be interesting to see how many of the females have newborns this year.

The Osprey is a common winter resident from early September to April and we are now seeing several especially on our mangrove kayak tours. It is fascinating to sight an Osprey hunting for fish, typically by hovering, then plunging feet first into the water to catch their fish.

The whales have arrived!

Whales migrating from both hemispheres pass by Costa Rica, so you have a pretty good chance of seeing whales if you are here in the right season.

We have now spotted the first Humpback whales for this year. It was a mom with her baby, and the baby put up quite a show breaching close to our boat.

Join us for an unforgettable encounter with these great creatures.

http://www.bahiarica.com/boat-tours/whale-and-dolphin-watching/

Bird Watching in Costa Rica

Many people come to Costa Rica specifically to see its wildlife, with the native birdlife being a particularly popular attraction. Indeed, many people who come with no intention of becoming a birdwatcher find themselves astonished by the beauty of iconic species like the Scarlet Macaw. About 850 species of birds live in Costa Rica and the region is considered to be particularly important for bird conservation. The variety of habitats in the region has allowed a wide range of species to thrive here. A selection of different habitats can be found just in the Nicoya Peninsula area. The cliffs and islands of the Nicoya Gulf are home to large colonies of seabirds, while the forest and mangrove swamps provide homes to diverse populations of other birds and wildlife. You will be able to spot a lot of different species even if you aren’t spending your days trying to track down the rarer species, but if you are serious about bird watching then you can spend the day touring the islands looking for colonies of spoonbills and frigate birds, or exploring some of the areas that have been set aside for conservation. The Palo Verde National Park, Curu Wildlife Refuge and Cabo Blanco National Park are all full of interesting species.

Species to Spot on the Nicoya Peninsula

Although there are hundreds of species of birds around Nicoya, there are some species that it is particularly worth looking out for:

  • ·Fiery-billed Aracari: a relative of the toucan, with which it shares its large, curved beak. A dark back is paired with a bright yellow belly and a red and yellow beak. Small groups of aracaris live together in old woodpecker holes, where they raise their chicks communally.

  • ·Violacious Trogon: a dark bird with a bright yellow belly and white tail feathers, this is a relation of the Resplendent Quetzal found in other parts of the country.

  • ·Clay-colored Robin: an inconspicuous brown bird that produces some of the most melodious birdsong heard during the rainy season. Local legend suggests that the rains only come because the robin calls them.

  • ·Scarlet Macaw: a distinctive and gregarious bird that is easy to spot thanks to its bright red, yellow and blue feathers, but rarely seen outside of nature reserves due to historic trapping for the pet trade. Red-lored parrots are more common, but their green plumage provides very effective camouflage, even when they gather as large flocks in the fruit trees.

  • ·Turquoise-browed Motmot: a brightly colored relative of the kingfisher, with which it shares its riverside habitat and burrow-nesting behavior. Blue and black plumage, with a particularly long and unusually shaped tail.

  • ·Rufous-tailed hummingbird: the most common species of hummingbird, a bright, jewel-like green color. Often found around Heliconias flowers.

  • ·Chachalacas: a large, brown bird that can be recognized by a call that sounds like its name.

  • ·Brown Pelican: the largest water bird in Costa Rica, its beak is unmistakable. Often seen in large flocks and diving for fish.

  • ·Frigate Bird: an elegant and acrobatic bird, with a dark body, white head and long, slender tail. Sometimes steals food from gulls and spends a lot of time hovering. Anhinga: known as the snake bird because it swims with its long neck above the water. A large, dark brown bird that can also be seen sunning itself after a dive.

  • ·Roseate Spoonbill: very distinctive, with its pink plumage and spoon-shaped bill.

  • ·Northern Jacana: a dark brownish bird with yellow spot on head. Its most interesting features are its extremely long toes, which enable it to walk across lily pads.

Preparing for Your Trip

Bird watching can easily be done while you are enjoying other activities in Costa Rica. If you take the time to look at your surroundings, you are sure to catch sight of some brightly colored birds in the trees, or a flash of feathers diving past you into the water. If you are serious about seeing the local birdlife, then you might want to plan ahead a bit more. You might want to plan a trip to one of the nearby nature reserves, or rent a kayak for the day so that you can get a closer look at the water birds.

You should also ensure that you think about any purchases that you might want to make while you are here. The list above is a good guide to some of the most spectacular species you can find in Nicoya, but you might want to get hold of a field guide so that you can identify more of the species. You will also want to invest in some good binoculars and a camera with a zoom lens if you intend to get a closer look at the birds. Although you will be able to get a good look at some of the larger and more brightly colored birds without binoculars, you will miss out if you find that you can’t see the parrots for the trees. If you don’t want to carry such heavy equipment on your flight, you will be able to find stores selling these types of equipment around the airports and the larger towns. It is sensible to make sure that you have plenty of the local currency available when you arrive in Costa Rica if you are hoping to buy any of this sort of equipment before you reach Nicoya, so checking for the best currency exchange services should be part of your vacation preparation. Failing to plan ahead could leave you facing unexpected costs, particularly when you need to buy expensive equipment.

Other Species

Although the birds of Costa Rica are spectacular, the rest of the flora and fauna in the region can be equally impressive. While you are searching for the elusive Jacana or Macaw, you may find yourself coming face to face with one of the more unusual inhabitants of the region. If you are quiet, you might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of an elusive ocelot or jaguar, but if they elude you, there are plenty of anteaters, armadillos and sloths. You are most likely to see, or at least to hear, one of the four types of monkeys that live here: Capuchin, Squirrel, Spider and Howler Monkeys. At the right time of year, Ridley turtles can be seen nesting on the beaches of Ostional Nature Reserve. If you want to get even closer to the wildlife, you can try snorkeling. The fish are just as brightly colored as the birds.

Article by Julie Howlett

Ethics And Beauty: How Ecotourism Supports Costa Rica

How Ecotourism Supports Costa Rica

Article by: Julie Howlett.

Last year, 2.3 million people flocked to Costa Rica in search of all it has to offer. Although tourism can come with its own set of issues, Costa Ricans have embraced the chance to show visitors their beautiful country. In return, many tourists have shown their respect by engaging in “ecotourism”: not disturbing the fragile natural areas they visit, supporting local communities, and behaving responsibly as a citizen of the world. Ecotourism is quickly gaining momentum as a movement, and in Costa Rica – where nearly half of tourists take part in ecotourism – the effects are particularly striking.

Preserving Costa Rica’s Biodiversity

Despite covering only 0.03% of the world’s surface, Costa Rica nevertheless contains 4% of the world’s species, making it one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. However, this rich diversity is the result of a complex ecosystem which is easily disturbed by human interference. Although 21% of the country is protected as national parks, there are still many charismatic species in need of further protection: the beautiful scarlet macaws and quetzals, the inquisitive manatee and elusive tapir, the sea turtle, and even the jaguar are all threatened by hunting, habitat loss, and even poaching for the exotic pet trade.

Ecotourism benefits Costa Rica’s environment in two ways. Firstly, it creates employment and provides an economic alternative to environmentally damaging industries such as mining, logging, and agriculture. When landowners and the country itself can earn more by leaving forests pristine, wild areas and their inhabitants are much more likely to be protected. Yet it is possible for tourism to damage the environment, so the second benefit of ecotourism is that it allows visitors a chance to see the beauty for themselves while still walking lightly on the earth. Trained guides, environmentally sound planning, and carefully designed trails are only some of the ways the environment is protected against damage from visitors; through these measures, ecotourism can help safeguard Costa Rica’s incredible biodiversity. ‘In addition, many tourists are inspired to protect their own country’s natural splendor, creating a powerful domino effect throughout the world.

How To Be a Responsible Ecotourist

Due to the increased interest in environmentally sound tourism, some companies attempt to take advantage of the buzzwords without truly doing their part. If you’re on a noisy vehicle that’s leaking oil and crashing through the forest, your guide is unlikely to be running on sound environmental principles! Don’t be afraid to ask questions before booking, and read any information available on their environmental and community work (like Bahia Rica’s initiative support and eco-friendly tours).

There are also ways in which you can limit your own environmental footprint while visiting Costa Rica. In many ways, the most important step is to take care of yourself; tourism is like being a guest in someone’s home, and that involves both ensuring your own health and cleaning up after yourself. Prepare for unlikely emergencies by getting a checkup before your trip, carrying any important medication, and ensuring that your traveller’s insurance is the right choice for your trip. Tourists engaging in adventure sports (which may include kayaking, depending on your plan) may need to purchase additional coverage or an advanced plan so that their insurance isn’t considered void in the event of even an unrelated emergency. Plans for backpackers are also available, giving peace of mind to those travelling in a less commercial manner, so examine your options carefully before deciding on the right plan for you. Once you’re in Costa Rica, remember the campsite rule: leave everything the same, or better, than you found it. This means obeying rules around interacting with wildlife, staying on trails, and not collecting anything from the wild. Since community support is also critical, visitors can help their host culture by buying from local businesses and artists.

Working With the Community

Traditional tourism creates a strict divide between a country’s citizens and visitors. Particularly in small communities, this can lead to a system of inequality and hardship for those living in the area. As the awareness of this inequality has grown, many tourists have turned to ecotourism as a way of respecting their host communities and helping to preserve the very culture they’re interested in experiencing.

Due in part to the surge in ecotourism, Costa Rica has seen economic increases even during the recent world recession, allowing for social benefits like a 96% literacy rate, increased infrastructure, and employment in tourism industry jobs which are safer and better-paying than many other industries. Sustainable tourism also creates less obvious opportunities for the local communities – for instance, many visitors and tourism companies make donations to schools, environmental projects, and other worthy causes. Increased education and opportunities allow communities to support their own local businesses, artists, and children, retaining their own culture and making the country an even more attractive destination. With ecotourism on the rise, Costa Rica’s economy and people will continue to have opportunities to diversify, grow, and flourish.

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