April 2019

Apr 28, 2019

Nine Waterfalls within Driving Distance from Playa Grande, Costa Rica

Even though Guanacaste is the driest of the seven provinces, there is no shortage of waterfalls to chase around this diverse region of Costa Rica. From Playa Grande, there are ample opportunities to gaze up at several glorious waterfalls. The waterfalls in this particular list are all within driving distance from Playa Grande and can be visited as part of a day-trip to several other popular natural attractions.

Llanos de Cortés

Llanos de Cortés is an easily accessible waterfall just outside of Liberia in the town of Bagaces. This is the perfect place to stop by on your way to or from other attractions like Rincón de la Vieja National Park, La Fortuna, the Tenorio National Park, or the Puma Rescue Center. After paying a small entrance fee and taking a short walk down a path from the parking lot, you will arrive at a magnificent waterfall and pristine natural swimming pool. This spot is also ideal for an afternoon picnic, as many locals like to do on the weekends here.

day-trips-from-playa-grande-costa-rica-beachfront-hotel-surf — Picnic by a waterfall/ Photo Courtesy of Me

Four Main Waterfalls in the Rincón de la Vieja National Park

waterfalls-in-costa-rica-guanacaste-rincon-de-la-vieja-national-park — A great way to escape the Guanacaste heat/ Photo Credit: Patrick Nouhailler-Flickr

Oropéndula

This 82-foot waterfall is conveniently located near the Las Pailas entrance to the Rincón de la Vieja National Park. You can assess this impressive waterfall on horseback or on foot. At the base of the falls is a crystal clear turquoise swimming hole.

Chorreras

There are actually two waterfalls that cascade down a canyon in the Rincón de la Vieja National Park. What’s unique about this particular waterfall(s) is that the pool beneath is a majestic sky blue color thanks to the high concentration of minerals in the water. On horseback, you can reach this duel-waterfall in 25-minutes.

Victoria

Victoria waterfall is located on the Rio Negro and plunges 115-foot into an inviting natural pool. The Rio Negro is a famed river tubing destination within the Rincón de la Vieja Nationa Park. You can certainly tube the river and explore this waterfall in a day’s adventure.

Cangreja

The Canjrega waterfall is located deep in the biodiverse and beautiful forest of Rincón de la Vieja. Cooper from the nearby volcano turns the water that pools at the base of this 130-foot waterfall a heavenly blue color. From the park’s entrance, you can easily hike to this jaw-dropping forest waterfall.

Waterfalls at Sensoria

waterfalls-costa-rica-sensoria-playa-grande-national-park — A great place to chase waterfalls/Photo Courtesy of Sensoria

Sensoria: Land of Senses and Magical Rainforest is a privately owned and protected property in Guanacaste that is host to four spectacular waterfalls, natural thermal hot springs, blue rivers, and abundant wildlife. Only a few guests are granted access to Sensoria daily, so if you make a reservation, you can rest assured knowing that you won’t be bothered by crowds of people while you are enjoying the waterfalls and natural attractions of this little slice of paradise. The four waterfalls are Buenos Aires, Aguilar, Jicara, and Dantas.

waterfalls-nature-day-trips-costa-rica — Visit Sensoria for a waterfall filled day/Photo Courtesy of Sensoria

While many visitors from around the world flock to Guanacaste’s golden beaches, the interior of the province is host to waterfalls, diverse forest ecosystems, and an incredible collection of wildlife. If you are staying in Playa Grande, you can enjoy both the salt and fresh water features of this unique place in Costa Rica.

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Apr 14, 2019

Fruit Feature: Papaya, the Miracle Worker of the Tropics

Papaya is the ultimate tropical fruit! Papaya flourishes throughout Central America, the Caribbean, Florida, and India. This widely available fruit grows year-around in the tropics. You will find papaya at every fruit stand and food market throughout Costa Rica, as well as being a common ingredient for smoothies and juices. While papaya is a tasty fruit, it is also one that possesses an incredible amount of vitamins and nutrients. This powerhouse fruit offers an impressive array of health benefits to anyone who regularly consumes it.

Plus, find out how papaya leaves are used to treat a common mosquito-transmitted illness.

playa-grande-costa-rica-beachfront-hotel-surf — Papaya plantation in Costa Rica

Papaya contains…

Zeaxanthin: an antioxidant that has been proven to help eyes filter blue light (light from your computer, phone, and television screens) and ward off macular degeneration.

Beta-carotene: an antioxidant that helps reduce the risk of cancer.

Vitamin K: improves calcium absorption and reduces calcium elimination in the body.

Papain: an enzyme that aids in digestion and helps reduce inflammation in the body.

Chymopapain: an enzyme that reduces inflammation in the body. Chronic inflammation has been linked to nearly every chronic disease.

Potassium: reduces the risk of developing heart disease. A diet that is high in potassium and low in sodium is essential for heart health.

Choline: a nutrient that supports sleep, memory, and muscle movement. It also supports the structure of cellular membranes.

Vitamin A and C: promotes healthy skin and hair.

Papaya is also chalked full of B vitamins, vitamin E, calcium, and lycopene, an antioxidant that is also found in tomatoes.

cures-for-dengue-fever — Nature’s medicine

Papaya fights dengue!

Dengue is a mosquito-transmitted illness that affects millions of people every year throughout the tropics. There are several different strands of dengue, but some can lead to hospitalization and the need for a blood transfusion. One of the most dangerous aspects of this viral infection is that it causes your blood platelets to drop significantly, and in some severe cases this can lead to internal bleeding.

Papaya leaf extract or juice has been proven to help prevent platelets from dropping to dangerously low levels and even prevent platelet destruction all together when infected with dengue.

This natural treatment has also been known to help reduce the other symptoms that are associated with dengue, such as high fever, severe headache, and debilitating body aches.

https://youtu.be/l4qaKEHXVj4

While papaya is available in North America and other regions where it is not locally grown, make sure you enjoy some fresh papaya from the source the next time you are in Costa Rica.

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