Ene 26, 2020

6 consejos para evitar una quemadura solar severa durante la estación seca en Costa Rica

If you haven’t already noticed or you’ve yet to visit during Costa Rica’s winter, which is between December and April, the sun is incredibly intense. This time of the year is noted for its consistently clear blue skies, offshore winds, and blazing sunshine. Between the weather being highly predictable, unlike other in months, and Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and Easter, this is a very popular time to visit Costa Rica. Hence why it is also known as High Season. 

There are few things worse during a beach vacation than to score a severe sunburn. If the proper precautions aren’t taken, this is a real possibility, especially if you have light or sensitive skin. 

But, fear not! Avoiding a severe sunburn during Costa Rica’s dry season isn’t all that difficult. All you have to do is follow the following tips. 

Regularly reapply sunscreen

First and foremost, you should only be using sunscreen that contains ONLY zinc oxide and titanium oxide. Any other active ingredients are highly detrimental to the ocean environment, especially the coral reefs. 

APOTECA SIMPLE is a local Playa Grande brand that makes and sells amazing and highly effective all-natural mineral sunscreen if you forgot to bring some from home or realize the sunscreen you brought is actually toxic.

It is important to reapply sunscreen at least every two hours and right after swimming once your skin has dried off. Being diligent about this will save you from suffering later! 

Wear a sun shirt and hat 

An easy way to protect your skin and save you from having to put on so much sunscreen is to wear a lightweight and fast-drying sun shirt or rash guard when you are at the beach or in the sea. Wearing a hat is never a bad call either. Frijoles Locos, the local surf shop up the road from la posada RipJack, has a lot of rash guard and hat options if you didn’t pack any.

Seek or make shade

As you will see, there is not a whole lot of shade on the beach in Playa Grande, and often the wind is a bit too strong for an umbrella (also, staking an umbrella deep into the sand is potentially dangerous if there are leatherback sea turtle eggs buried). There is a cluster of palm trees halfway down the beach to the north, as well as some shade spots at the end of the beach near the big rock. 

There are a lot of innovative shade tents and canopies on the market though that are also easy to pack. You can find some of these on Amazon if you want to plan and bring something down with you. You’ll definitely last longer at the beach, and your skin will thank you if you can make some shade. 

Avoid peak sun intensity hours 

According to the American Skin Association between 10 AM and 4 PM, the sun is at its peak intensity. You will undoubtedly feel this in Guanacaste. If you don’t have a source of shade on the beach, it is best to limit or avoid roasting in direct sunlight during these hours. 

The heat of the day is a perfect time to take a nap, read in a hammock, take a tour that doesn’t involve the beach, attend a yoga class, or enjoy a long lunch at a shaded restaurant. 

Don’t try to get tan 

Even if you wear sunscreen, a shirt, a hat, and spend some time in the shade, you will still get sun on your skin. If you try and get a tan, you will likely burn. Just being outside, on the beach, in the ocean, or doing any of the other amazing activities available in Costa Rica, you will return home tanner than you came. 

Embrace sunrise and sunset 

Sunrise and sunset are genuinely glorious times of the day to be on the beach in Playa Grande. The sun’s intensity is lightened, the temperature is cooler, and the sky is swirled with colors other than blue. You are also far less likely to scorch your skin earlier and later in the day.

Happy beaching!

Dic 15, 2019

7 actividades acuáticas que puedes disfrutar en Costa Rica que no son surf

Costa Rica ha sido durante mucho tiempo sinónimo de surf, junto con el ecoturismo. Con más de 300 playas, hay docenas que son ideales para surfistas de todos los niveles y preferencias de olas. De hecho, Playa Grade es reconocida como una de las mejores playas de surf en el norte de Guanacaste. Sin embargo, si no eres surfista, no te preocupes, todavía hay muchas otras actividades acuáticas increíbles que puedes disfrutar mientras estás en Costa Ricuna.

7 actividades acuáticas que puedes disfrutar en Costa Rica que no son surf

Actividades acuáticas para hacer a lo largo de la costa.

Nadando

Costa Rica es calurosa durante todo el año. Y, excepto en febrero y marzo, cuando la temperatura del agua baja un poco, el resto del año, puede esperar mares cálidos y agradables. Cuando las olas son pequeñas, Playa Grande es un lugar encantador para darse un chapuzón; sin embargo, tenga cuidado cuando haya oleaje en el agua ya que las corrientes de resaca son comunes y las olas pueden ser poderosas. Si las olas son demasiado grandes para nadar, a menudo hay piscinas de mareas alrededor de la gran roca en el extremo norte de la playa que son agradables para refrescarse.

Playas cercanas como Bahia Piratas, Playa Conchaly Playa Flamingo son típicamente muy tranquilos y perfectamente adecuados para nadar.

Paddleboard de pie

Con muchas bahías protegidas arriba y abajo de la costa, el paddle surf de pie es una forma divertida y saludable de pasar un tiempo en el agua. Playa Grande no es un lugar ideal para practicar este deporte acuático, pero puede encontrar alquileres y recorridos a través de Costa Rica Stand Up Paddle Adventures y Costa Rica SUP y Yoga.

Actividades acuáticas para hacer en el mar

Snorkeling / Snuba / Buceo

Justo frente a la costa y un poco al norte se encuentran las islas Catalina. Esta cadena de islas es famosa por su increíble buceo. Si desea bucear, hacer snorkel o hacer snuba, y si es un novato o un cronometrador, Snuba Costa Rica es con quién quieres aventurarte debajo de la superficie. Las tortugas marinas, las mantarrayas, los tiburones e incluso el raro tiburón ballena son visitantes habituales de las islas Catalina, así como cientos de especies de peces tropicales.

Para hacer tierra adentro

Rafting en aguas bravas

Costa Rica es el hogar de varios rápidos de aguas blancas de clase mundial. Los rápidos más famosos son los siguientes: La Fortuna, Peñas Blancas, Río Toro, Río Balsa, Turrialba, Sarapiqui, Pacuare, Reventazón, Savegre y Naranjo. Encontrará de todo, desde rápidos suaves pero divertidos de clase I hasta potentes y adrenalina clase IV en Costa Rica. Si bien será un día largo, es posible embarcarse en una excursión de un día para hacer rafting en aguas bravas desde Playa Grande.

Termas Termales

Actualmente hay tres volcanes activos en Costa Rica (¡ese número puede cambiar en cualquier momento, sin embargo!), Junto con más de 200 formaciones volcánicas. Por esta razón, Costa Rica tiene muchos aguas termales! La Fortuna es uno de los destinos más populares para visitar si desea sumergirse en algunos de los jacuzzis de la naturaleza; Lo cual es muy recomendable.

Tanto si eres surfista como si no, hay muchas maneras refrescantes, relajantes y activas de pasar tiempo en el agua mientras estás De vacaciones en Costa Rica. ¡Estas siete actividades acuáticas deberían ayudarlo a comenzar con el pie derecho!

Nov 30, 2019

9 artículos imprescindibles en su bolso para un día de playa en Playa Grande

A favorite way to spend the day in Playa Grande for both locals and visitors alike is to have a Playa Grande beach day. With nearly four miles of golden sand beach, there is ample space to claim your own spot and post up for the day by the sea. In preparation for your beach day, you’ll want to make sure that you pack the following essentials. Aside from the list below, you might also want to consider packing a little picnic complete with a couple of beers, a cold-pressed juice, or some fresh coconut water. As we begin December, we begin the dry season in Costa Rica, which marks the start of perfect beach weather.  

How to Pack: 9 Items You Must Have in Your Bag for a Playa Grande Beach Day

Natural Mineral Sunscreen

While the dry season (December through April) is noted for consistent cloudless blue skies, the sun is intense. This is not the time or the place to go sans sunscreen in hopes of getting a tan! You could cover your body in the thickest and highest SPF sunscreen and would still find yourself kissed by the sun at the end of the day. It is also important to remember that what you put on your skin will end up in the ocean too. So, make sure that you only use sunscreen that contains the active ingredients of zinc oxide and titanium oxide; anything else is toxic to the coral reefs, the marine environment, and your body. 

APOTECA SIMPLE y New Body Costa Rica are two local brands that are making 100% environmentally friendly and effective sunscreen products.

Natural Insect Repellent

Around sunrise and sunset, the no-see-ums can be brutal on the beach, and mosquitos are common year-round and all-around Costa Rica. To avoid having to cut your beach time short, pack some natural insect repellent, and you will have no issues with biting bugs. 

Microfiber Towel

A microfiber towel is not only light and easy to pack, but it dries quickly and doesn’t hold onto the sand when you shake it out. This is a must-have item for any beach vacation. 

Reusable and Insulated Water Bottle

Aside from the obvious avoidance of single-use plastics, an insulated reusable water bottle is a must-have for the tropics. Nothing is satisfying about drinking hot sunbaked water on a hot day at the beach. An insulated water bottle will keep your water nice and chilly for the entirety of your beach day. My personal favorite is the Yeti 36-ounce Rambler Bottle. Regardless of how hot it is outside, my icy water stays icy until the very last drop!  

Local Fruit

There are few things more refreshing after swimming in the salty ocean than slices of watermelon, piña, mangoes, papaya, or oranges, or perhaps some pitaya or mamón chinos. Costa Rica is rich in native tropical fruit! 

Small Bills 

You definitely don’t want to bring anything valuable down to the beach, especially if you plan on swimming or leaving your belongings unattended. However, you might want to bring a few smalls bills in case you want a couple of tacos later in the day from Taco Star or head up to the RipJack Inn for happy hour. 

Latest Edition of The Howler Magazine

La revista Howler is a free monthly lifestyle, travel, and adventure magazine that is available all around town, including at the RipJack Inn, Ollas y cuencos, Frijoles Locos, and the Wilmart. This English-written magazine includes articles and stories about Costa Rican culture, history, attractions, local happenings, surf, wildlife, tours, restaurants, business and investment information, and current events. This informative, inspiring, and beautifully designed magazine offers great reading material for your Playa Grande beach day.

Bag for Collecting Trash During Your Playa Grande Beach Day

If you see any trash on the beach, please pick it up. Keeping our beaches and our ocean clean is a collective effort. While Playa Grande is actually a really clean beach, sometimes, and especially after big swells or storms, plastic and other debris end up on our shoreline. You can repurpose a plastic grocery bag or any other bag you’re able to reuse to collect any little pieces of trash you find around your beach spot. 

Change of Clothes or Beach Cover-Up 

Following the magnificent sunset, you might want to go straight from the beach to the RipJack Inn for post-sunset drinks or dinner. If you bring a change of clothes or a cover-up, you can easily transition from the beach to happy hour and dinner! 

Of course, you’ll want to bring sunglasses and maybe a hat and a sun shirt, as well for your Playa Grande beach day. You can also rent a beach chair from the RipJack Inn reception if you want to update your beach set-up!

Nov 17, 2019

El baño forestal en Costa Rica y por qué es sorprendente para su salud

National Geographic incluyó a Costa Rica como uno de los mejores países para practicar el arte japonés de los baños de bosque. En la década de 1980, el término shinrin-yoku (shinrin significa bosque y yoku significa baño) se acuñó en Japón y desde entonces se ha convertido en una práctica ecológica fisiológica y psicológica científicamente respaldada. La idea de que pasar tiempo en la naturaleza es bueno para la salud está lejos de ser nueva. Sin embargo, en una era donde un estimado 93% de estadounidenses Pasan la mayor parte del día en interiores, según un estudio de la Agencia de Protección Ambiental, esta ecoterapia se ha vuelto más necesaria que nunca. Por suerte, si estas en costa rica, el acceso a esta práctica altamente beneficiosa puede ser tan simple como salir al aire libre. 

¿Qué es el baño de bosque?

El baño de bosque, también llamado terapia forestal, es una práctica que implica pasar tiempo entre los árboles de manera consciente y relajada. Es una práctica, similar al yoga y la meditación, en el sentido de que es completamente personal. Algunos prefieren pasear por el bosque, mientras que otros prefieren sentarse entre los árboles. No existe una forma correcta o incorrecta de disfrutar del baño en el bosque; de hecho, incluso practicando yoga o meditación en el bosque se considera una forma de terapia forestal. La parte más crucial es que tomas la decisión consciente de estar presente y prestar atención a las vistas, los sonidos, los olores, las texturas e incluso los sabores del bosque; aquí es donde ocurre la curación. 

¿Por qué los baños de bosque son beneficiosos para la salud física y mental?

La terapia forestal se ha relacionado con:

Estrés reducido

Presión arterial reducida

Función del sistema inmunológico reforzada

Estado de ánimo mejorado

Nivel de energía elevado

Mayor capacidad de concentración.

Capacidad reforzada para comunicarse con la naturaleza.

Recuperación acelerada de una enfermedad o cirugía.

Conexión más fuerte con uno mismo 

Creatividad

Felicidad

Mente más clara

Sensación general de bienestar 

¿Cuáles son los mejores lugares para tomar un baño de bosque cerca de Playa Grande? 

Playa Grande se encuentra a una distancia de un día de viaje de varios parques nacionales y bosques, incluido el Parque Nacional Santa Rosa, el Parque Nacional Rincón de la Vieja, el Parque Nacional Palo Verde y el Parque Nacional Barra Honda. Aquí encontrará una combinación de bosques secos tropicales, selvas tropicales y exuberantes bosques de manglares. Sin embargo, no es necesario buscar un parque nacional para aprovechar los beneficios de los baños en el bosque. Los árboles y los hermosos espacios verdes abundan por todas partes y en Playa Grande. La idea es principalmente liberarnos de los espacios amurallados y las limitaciones de la tecnología y pasar un tiempo con nuestra Madre Tierra sanadora y rejuvenecedora. 

Si está interesado en una visita guiada de terapia forestal, Sensoria, una reserva privada de selva tropical cerca de Rincón de la Vieja, ofrece esta oportunidad única a los visitantes. Su rastro incluso está certificado por el Asociación de Terapia de la Naturaleza y los Bosques.

Si bien es simple rodearse de árboles y naturaleza mientras está en Costa Rica, no olvide buscar estos momentos del árbol en su vida cotidiana. La terapia forestal, como casi cualquier otro tipo de terapia, es mejor cuando se repite más de una vez.  

Oct 20, 2019

4 razones por las que debería luna de miel en Playa Grande, Costa Rica

First and foremost, congratulations! You are one of the lucky ones to find and marry your soulmate! Your honeymoon is the first trip that you will take as a married couple, and here’s why we think you should consider honeymooning in Playa Grande, Costa Rica. 

Quiet and Intimate Ocean-Side Town

Playa Grande is a beach and surf town that has a far more relaxed and laidback vibe in comparison to some of the busier nearby towns like Tamarindo. While Playa Grande is on the quieter side, it is far from a boring place to spend your honeymoon. This wonderful walkable town offers an intimate setting by the sea for lovebirds. You won’t hear bumping bass, beeping horns, or rambunctious party animals here! Instead, you’ll hear birds chirping, monkey chatting, and waves breaking on the beach. 

Nothing Says Romance Like Long Walks on the Beach

Playa Grande, which literally translates to Big Beach, is very long. It is one of the best beaches in the area to take long walks hand and hand with the one you love the most. It is not uncommon to have vast portions of the beach all to yourself.  

Easy Access to Everything 

If you are an activity and tour-seeking honeymoon couple, everything that you would want to do in Northern Guanacaste is readily accessible from Playa Grande. You can easily book scuba diving, sailing, horseback riding, surfing, and stand up paddle boarding tours. You can also attend yoga and fitness classes right in town and any day of the week. Or, perhaps you want to visit volcanoes and natural hot springs or spend the day at the spa on your honeymoon. All of these options and more are all within proximity of your honeymoon home base. 

Sunsets, Shooting Stars, and Space 

The sunsets on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica are absolutely breathtaking! The sunset show is different every night, but nearly every night is brilliant. Watching the sunset on the beach with a glass of bubbly or your favorite cocktail (which you can order and bring down to the beach from the RipJack Inn bar), will likely become a nightly ritual on your honeymoon. Once the sun dips below the horizon, and the last glow of sunlight disappears, the stargazing in Playa Grande is enchanting. Unlike other more populas areas, where light pollution can be relatively high, Playa Grande’s night sky is dark and often star-filled. 

Costa Rica has become a very popular tourist destination and is often crowded on the coast. Playa Grande is one of the few places where there is still a lot of space. What’s better than space, shooting stars, and sunsets alongside the sea with your soulmate?