Don’t risk ruining your Costa Rica Vacation by not knowing this important information about immigration requirements.
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If you’ve booked a luxury vacation rental home in Costa Rica and you’ve rented a car to get there, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with some of the twists and turns of the road. Driving in a foreign country can be intimidating, especially if all the road signs are in Spanish!
1 – Road Signs – Here’s a handy glossary of common road signs listed alphabetically for easy reference. Print them out and refer to them while you’re on the road.
One of the many attractions to Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica is the abundant wildlife particularly its primates – capuchin, howler and the endangered Red-backed squirrel monkey. Having Manuel Antonio National Park in such close proximity to many vacation rental homes gives vacationers the added thrill of seeing wildlife in their own backyard.
Unfortunately out of ignorance, indifference or for a photo opportunity many tourists feed the monkeys. However, they’re not fully to blame. Although local hotels are completely aware of the dangers, a few still encourage feeding monkeys to attract more clients. When tourists see others doing it they assume it’s acceptable. But feeding the monkeys is so detrimental to their health and survival it can have catastrophic consequences.
Manuel Antonio, the emerald of Costa Rica where the color green was conceived. I first came here 20 years ago as a freelance wildlife photographer. Primates are my specialty and Costa Rica has 4 species. I’d photographed gorillas in Rwanda, chimps in Uganda and orangutans in Borneo and was looking for primates in a place that didn’t take 2 days to get there from Manhattan Beach, California.
My passion for apes and monkeys began when King Kong first stole my heart in the front row of the Jewel Theater before my feet could even reach the ground. From my very first trip to Costa Rica the dream to live on a beach with monkeys in my yard wrapped itself around my brain. I moved here 5 years ago and now enjoy daily visits from 3 species of monkeys.
If you’re heading for a vacation rental home near Manuel Antonio National Park in Costa Rica, you’re in for an incredible nature adventure. In addition to iguanas, toucans, coatimundis and more, there are 3 species of monkeys indigenous to the park.
Red-backed Squirrel Monkey
When the park boundaries were established in 1972 no one bothered to tell the Howler, Red-backed squirrel and Capuchin monkeys, so they continued to follow their established foraging routes beyond the park limits. Not all but many of Manuel Antonio’s vacation rental homes are located within these natural foraging routes known locally as the “Monkey Corridor.” However, staying in one of these vacation rental homes carries with it a big responsibility. It may seem cute, funny or thrilling to hand feed the monkeys, yet it’s extremely damaging to them in many ways.
In this episode of Evelyn’s Vacation Rental Home Tips, Evelyn reveals little known tricks used by unscrupulous rental agents and how to spot and avoid them.
Planning a vacation in Costa Rica, but need help deciding when? In this short video, Evelyn Gallardo describes Costa Rica’s seasons so you can choose the best time for your visit.
We all take photos on vacation but do we all take good photos? If you’re one of those people who’s more disappointed than pleased with your vacation photos, the good news is that’s all about to change.
Many years ago I was fortunate enough to take classes from National Geographic photographers at UCLA. The 3 most valuable secrets they shared will make a dramatic difference in your travel photos. The beauty of these 3 secrets is their pure simplicity.
Secret #1: Place Your Main Subject Off CenterEveryone puts their main subject in the middle of their photo. Bor-ing. When you place your subject off-center viewers find it intriguing. Though they may not consciously know exactly why, they’re compelled to take a closer look. To compose an attention-grabbing photo nudge your main subject toward one of the four corners. First focus it in the center by pressing the shutter half way. Without releasing the shutter shift your camera so your subject is off center then gently press the shutter the rest of the way. Your subject will remain in focus.
Ever wonder what to tip the staff at a vacation rental home? Evelyn Gallardo gives you insightful tips on what to tip the concierge, chef and security guard in this short video.
Ever wonder what to tip the staff at a vacation rental home? Evelyn Gallardo gives you insightful tips on what to tip the housekeeper, gardener and maintenance staff in this short video.
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