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Travelscope/Winter 2017 Page 8 Charmed in Costa Rica Story and Photos by Barbara Beckley made-to-order grouper and rock shrimp ceviches I was eating were fantastic. Pancho finds save haven at the Four Seasons Costa Rica “Whoa! The butterfly.” I gasped as it fluttered out from between the trees – and, as I stood breathlessly still – lit on my shoulder! Then came another. And another. I’d been hoping to see these creatures my entire trip – Costa Rica’s gigantic Blue Morpho butterflies, with bright turquoise wings the size of luncheon plates. Now, on my trek back from the Rio Negro Hot Springs – natural pools of warm mineral waters bubbling up in an Eden-like setting at Hacienda Guachipelin inside Rincon De La Vieja National Park – my wish came true. I’d been exploring Costa Rica’s lush northwest Guanacaste region for a few days and had already experienced wonderful adventures. Or so I thought. Like negotiating the long, narrow, swinging bridge to the hot springs; sea kayaking around Monkey Head Rock in the Gulf of Papagayo’s crystal waters, and climbing 700 hillside steps to enjoy beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean on the vast grounds of the Four Seasons Costa Rica Peninsula Papagayo, where I was staying. But then came the butterflies. And then the monkey. And then the snakes. And the school children. Following my butterfly encounter, I was sipping a margarita at the Four Seasons’ open-air Tico’s Lounge, when I saw a movement high above me. A large Capuchin monkey was inching his way across the wall some 30 feet up, just beneath the open-air lobby balcony. He seemed ready to jump down and join me. Good move, I thought, since the Eventually, however, he disappeared into the upstairs lobby – only to reappear and cause a photo frenzy by snoozing in a palm tree by the pool. I noticed his tail was short and not prehensile like most Capuchins. “He’s been ostracized by the other monkeys in the forest,” Kristen Thompson, director of marketing, told me. “We’ve named him Pancho and we’re pleased he lives here in peace.” Thompson’s sentiment pretty much reflects the way of life in Costa Rica. One hears how friendly, caring and eco-centric the Costa Ricans are. But you can’t imagine how true this is until you visit. At the Serpentarium and Frog Exhibit at Hacienda Guachipelin, I was most impressed by the affection my guide and serpentarium manager Diego Badilla had for the animals. Costa Rica has 139 snake species and at least 133 species of frogs and toads. “Look closely, she’s gorgeous,” he said, pointing out Costa Rica’s iconic green and red-eyed leaf frog. He was equally complimentary of the poison dart frog, whose bodily fluids once tipped arrows for an instant kill. Even with its bright red body and iridescent blue legs, this teeny weeny amphibian was hard to spot among the foliage. And of the snakes. “She loves attention. Do you want to hold her?” Badilla asked me a bit later, unlatching the door to the boa constrictor enclosure. Costa Rican boas are immense, and this girl was no exception. “Isn’t she beautiful,” he enthused, pointing out the brown stripe on her creamy colored head – a marking unique to Costa Rican boas. She was. But I admired her from afar, and let Badilla hold her. The Costa Ricans’ love extends to their fellow man. Paintbrush in hand at a local elementary school, I experienced the satisfaction of giving back as a participant in the Four Seasons’ Voluntourism program. First, the students entertained us with a dance program they’d choreographed themselves and been practicing continued on page 9
Travelscope/Winter 2017 Page 9 continued from page 8 Making new friends at the Serpentarium & Frog Garden for weeks. Brightly colored traditional costumes, smiles and fancy footwork opened the show. But the finale was the show-stopper – a vigorous hip-hop homage to Michael Jackson’s Thriller, complete with creepy costuming and scary make-up. Then we went to work. Slathering fresh blue paint onto faded brick walls making them sparkle like new. The students chipped in, replenishing our paints and brushes, and painting alongside us. The Four Seasons is getting into the Costa Rica lifestyle with more than voluntourism. Its new Pura Vida for All Wellness Program is set to begin in early 2017. “The program is all-encompassing; designed to refresh the mind, body and soul,” said Kelli Ricco, Four Seasons fitness and wellness director. Program perks include a wellness concierge, culinary workshops, wellness approved menu items, a local remedies class, and physical well-being initiatives from guided meditation to the Pura Vida Climb stairway challenge. Getting there: Alaska Airlines flies direct from LAX to Liberia, Costa Rica on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday; and direct to San Jose, Costa Rica on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. * Learn more: VisitCostaRica.com, Guachipelin.com, FourSeasons.com
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