If you been dreaming of picking up roots, living on the edge, or literally going out on a limb in terms of eco-lifestyle possibilities, then Finca Bellavista: A Sustainable Rainforest Community might be just the thing for you.
Archive for the 'Costa Rica' Category
Ewok Style Sustainable Rainforest Community
Posted by Ted Hopton on April 19, 2008
Posted in Costa Rica, Environment, Travel | 2 Comments »
The Costa Rica Experience Moves Next Door
Posted by Ted Hopton on April 19, 2008
Tucked in the highlands near the Barú volcano, Boquete is emerging as one of Central America’s latest eco-tourism destinations.
Posted in Costa Rica, Travel | No Comments »
Preserving a Forest and a Philosophy
Posted by Ted Hopton on April 19, 2008
A Costa Rican trek served as a metaphor for the difficulty many executives are having as they transition from niche marketers to big-business men.
Posted in Costa Rica, Environment, Ethics, Innovation, Management | No Comments »
The World Is My Oyster
Posted by Ted Hopton on March 26, 2008
I have to plug a new blog, “The World Is My Oyster,” being written by one of my fellow Costa Rica travellers, Kimsan (aka, El Heuvito). It’s fun to read, but take it with a grain of salt, as my friend likes to tell a good story and doesn’t let little things like accuracy slow him down. That’s part of what makes it so much fun to read, after all.
Truly our trip to Costa Rica would not have been the same and surely would not have been as much fun without the light-hearted and adventure-loving Kimsan. His blog reflects those same qualities and I recommend it to you!
Posted in Blogs, Costa Rica, Outdoors, Travel | Tagged: Blogs, Costa Rica, kimsan ting, the world is my oyster | 2 Comments »
Costa Rica Journal: Mike’s Pics
Posted by Ted Hopton on March 7, 2008
Mike has posted his photographs from our Get Out Philadelphia Adventurers trip to Costa Rica. He’s got one of the best group shots I’ve seen yet (click on it, to the right, to see the large version of the photo).
I recommend you check Mike’s photos out, as he’s got a good photographer’s eye and captured some spots/action that aren’t well represented in some of the other photo galleries. And his last picture is quite mysterious . . .
Posted in Costa Rica, Outdoors, Photographs, Travel | Tagged: Costa Rica, La Danta Salvaje, Outdoors, Photographs, preserve, Puerto Viejo, rain forest, swimming, waterfall | No Comments »
Costa Rica Journal: Maureen’s Pics
Posted by Ted Hopton on March 6, 2008
Another country heard from! Check out Maureen’s photographs from our Get Out Philadelphia Adventurers Costa Rica trip. Her pictures include the Volcano Irazu that she and Andrew visited when they arrived ahead of the rest of our group. Thanks for posting these, Maureen.
Posted in Costa Rica, Outdoors, Photographs, Travel | Tagged: Costa Rica, La Danta Selvaje, Puerto Viejo, rain forest, Travel, Video, volcano | No Comments »
Costa Rica Journal: Tina’s Pics
Posted by Ted Hopton on March 4, 2008
Here’s the latest online gallery of photos from our Get Out Philadelphia Adventurers‘ trip to Costa Rica — Tina’s pictures are now available for your viewing pleasure. Since the monkeys in La Danta Salvaje’s rain forest particularly liked her (they expressed their affection the same way young human males do, by throwing objects at her), she was able to get the best photo I have seen yet from our group of a white-faced capuchin monkey.
Posted in Costa Rica, Outdoors, Photographs, Travel | Tagged: Animals, Costa Rica, La Danta Salvaje, monkeys, Outdoors, preserve, rain forest, white-faced-capuchin | No Comments »
Costa Rica Journal: Waterfall Swimming Video
Posted by Ted Hopton on March 3, 2008
One of the highlights of our trip to La Danta Salvaje in Costa Rica was swimming in a pool of icy water at the top of a 500′ waterfall. I can’t say I had ever done that before, and I don’t know when I might ever do it again. I’m happy to report that we recorded most of the memorable event on video, so I can share it with you.
While Andiana Jones was the first one in the water, Big Mike proved to be the boldest pioneer among us. Not only did he discover the spot to climb up to for a fun leap out into the water, but he was the only one who went directly under the pounding cascade of the waterfall. (Ooops, found out later we weren’t supposed to go there . . . too dangerous . . . as Mike learned when the water pushed him straight down and there was no bottom that he could find.)
I happily followed both of them into the bracing cold water, which actually felt quite good after a long, sweaty, muddy hike to get there. After the initial shock, we got used to the water and played contentedly in it. Even Kimsan (El Heuvito), who is aquatically challenged, got in and splashed around.
Although my video camera started to steam up at this point in the trip, due to the high humidity in the rain forest and at the waterfall in particular, I got enough footage to put together my first Costa Rica video, with an appropriate soundtrack. Enjoy!
Posted in Costa Rica, Music, Outdoors, Travel, Video | Tagged: cataract, Costa Rica, La Danta Salvaje, Outdoors, preserve, rain forest, swimming, Video, waterfall | No Comments »
Costa Rica Journal: Surfing Lesson with Beto
Posted by Ted Hopton on March 1, 2008
“Nah, I’m not going to do a surfing lesson. I don’t have that kind of balance.” That was the negative attitude I began with, based on my experience trying to balance on skateboards in the past. They always flew out from under me. Something about that side-to-side balancing on wheels just does not come easily to me.
Andrew, who has surfed before, insisted I would be able to do it. Tina was psyched to try it, and so was Mike. Finally, I decided to take a chance and try it, why not? So what if I fell in the water a lot. Plus, even though I wanted to go on the Medicine Hike and learn about all the plants that have medicinal uses, my feet really really really did not want to do any more hiking any time soon.
When we got to Puerto Viejo we had determined the best day and time to do the surfing lesson would be the next morning, but we had nothing set up in advance. No problem, Dawn knew just who to call, and she set up our lesson with Beto, the local surfing guru from Uruguay with dreadlocks and a completely laid-back vibe. After a brief description of what the lesson included, Mark was in, too, so there were five of us. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Costa Rica, Outdoors, Sports, Travel | Tagged: Beto Torres, chillaxing, Costa Rica, Puerto Viejo, surfing, surfing lesson, Travel | 2 Comments »
Costa Rica Journal: Prettiest Creature - Blue Morpho
Posted by Ted Hopton on March 1, 2008
Easily the prettiest wildlife I saw in Costa Rica was the Blue Morhpo butterfly. I did not get a good picture of one, but I selected the image at right because you can see how large these bright blue butterflies are.
The first one I saw startled me — I thought either my eyes were playing tricks on me, or someone else was. As we sat eating lunch in La Danta Salvaje after swimming in the 500′ waterfall’s pool, I saw what appeared to be a nearly neon bright disk flashing blue, disappearing, then flashing bright blue again, on and off in an erratic pattern in the air going across the river. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Costa Rica, Outdoors, Travel | Tagged: Blue Morpho, Costa Rica, insects, La Danta Salvaje, Outdoors, preserve, rain forest | No Comments »
