Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our friends from the United States! Here in Costa Rica we call Thanksgiving the Dia Accion de Gracias, and though it is not a Costa Rican holiday we definitely like to take the time to reflect and be grateful.

What are we thankful for this Thanksgiving? We are thankful for the sunshine that graces our beaches and gardens and warms our souls. We are thankful for the staff here at our hotel who keeps our property beautiful and ready to greet our smiling guests from all corners of the world. We are thankful for being in Costa Rica, where Pura Vida really is the way of life here, which is why this country is always ranked as one of the happiest countries in the world. Lastly, we are thankful for our guests, new and regulars, who come to our beachfront bed and breakfast every year to rejuvenate, relax, and enjoy all our property has to offer. If you have visited us, thank you! And if you are considering paying us a visit, we thank you as well! Wherever you are, we hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!

The beginning of high season 2015!!!

Now that it is the beginning of high season here in Tamarindo, Costa Rica, we are excited to welcome back old friends and make new friends with guests coming to visit our boutique bed and breakfast for the first time. Along with high season comes wedding season, and we couldn’t be more excited to get back in the swing of things by welcoming some wedding industry friends to our boutique hotel for our three-course breakfast! Sueno del Mar is open to the public for breakfast daily, and you will not be disappointed by the spread we provide on our breakfast terrace looking out to the beautiful beaches of Playa Langosta.

If you’re looking for the perfect place for your destination wedding or elopement, come check Sueno del Mar and join us for a relaxing morning. We can help you plan the details for a memorable event over a gourmet breakfast and delicious Costa Rican coffee or fresh fruit juice.

Wedding industry friends joining us for breakfast in celebration of the beginning of high season (from left to right): Jonathan Cooley and Kirsten Juntunen of Four Winds Weddings  Jeff Hooper of Katherine Stinnett Photography, our very own Sol of Sueño del Mar, Katie Stinnett of Katherine Stinnett Photography, Julie Comfort of Comfort Studio and Christina Craft of Funkytown Photography.

Our beachfront hotel in Playa Langosta is the perfect setting for your next Costa Rica vacation.

Antares Sailing Adventure Tour

If sailing is on your to-do list for your Tamarindo, Costa Rica vacation, here at Sueño del Mar Bed & Breakfast we can set you up with one of the best sailing adventures around! The Antares is an 80-foot schooner anchored right here in the Tamarindo bay. Not only is the Antares located nearby and ready to take you on a beautiful tour of the surrounding waters, it is also family owned and operated by long-term Tamarindo residents! While you sail into the open waters, you will also be treated with on-board gourmet dining, an open bar, and cozy bean bag chairs to lounge in while you take in the scenery.

The crew will sail you out of the bay to some of the best local snorkeling spots for you to explore. And if you would rather hang out on board and relax in the sun, you can enjoy some live music while sipping your refreshing cocktail. After the snorkeling portion of the trip, you will be served an incredible meal made from fresh, local ingredients. Some of the menu options include fresh tuna, salmon, and plenty of veggie options as well.

Come stay with us at our luxury bed and breakfast here in Tamarindo, Costa Rica and let us plan your next great sailing adventure on the Antares!

Photos courtesy of tamarindosailing.net.

ATV tours in Costa Rica!!

Costa Rica is the perfect destination for adventurous travelers, and here in Tamarindo, Costa Rica we have plenty of opportunities to explore! Along with being a famous spot for surfing, Tamarindo is also an ideal destination to check out the scenery while riding an ATV (all terrain vehicle). Set out with a guide to explore the beach, the rugged trails in the tropical forests, and the mountains in and around Tamarindo. An ATV tour is an exhilarating way to check out the area's scenery including several varieties of native trees such as teak and guanacaste trees. While you are admiring the trees from your ATV, be sure to keep your eyes open for wildlife! Howler and capuchin monkeys, several species of birds, and even armadillos may be seen along the way. Most ATV tours also take you on a trip through a Costa Rican town where you can encounter the local farms, markets, and friendly faces.

Here at our boutique bed and breakfast we will be happy to set up your ATV tour! Most tours last 2-3 hours and can be taken in the morning or the afternoon. The ATV company will provide you with a guide for your group, helmets, refreshments, and even round trip transportation from our bed and breakfast. Remember to wear comfortable clothes and tennis shoes, as well as sunscreen and insect repellent. If you want to hop in the ocean on the beach portion of your ATV tour, we suggest wearing a swim suit under your clothes and bringing a towel.

ATV tours are a unique way to experience the scenic views and local charm of Tamarindo, Costa Rica! Make sure to let us know here at our bed and breakfast and we will set you up with the best ATV tour guides in town!

Our beachfront hotel in Playa Langosta is the perfect setting for your next Costa Rica vacation.

Costa Rica Coffee Production

 A major benefit of visiting our boutique bed & breakfast is the gourmet breakfast you are served each morning accompanied by a cup of Costa Rican's finest coffee! There's a reason artisan coffee shops in other countries offer Costa Rican coffee, and that is because it is some of the best in the world. Starting in the 19th century, coffee became one of Costa Rica's major exports and to this day keeps Costa Rica ranked as the 13th-largest producer of coffee worldwide.




So what sets Costa Rican coffee apart? First of all, more than half or the 70,000 coffee farmers in the country are part of cooperatives involved with fair trade organizations. These fair trade organizations help secure better rights and salaries for small farmers and promote economic, social, and environmental sustainability. Along with being fair trade, the flavor of Costa Rican coffee will definitely entice you to have more than just one cup! The classic Costa Rican cup of joe is usually described as being softly acidic and mild.

So come stay with us at our boutique bed & breakfast in Tamarindo, and you will be welcomed to the breakfast terrace with a fresh cup of coffee! You can see for yourself why we are proud to serve you our local brew and why you'll want to take a few bags home with you when you go.

 

Our beachfront hotel in Playa Langosta is the perfect setting for your next Costa Rica vacation.

Photo: KATHERINE STINNETT PHOTOGRAPHY
www.katherinestinnett.com

Butterflies at Sueño del Mar

Our small country of Costa Rica is full of biodiversity, and along with a plethora of incredible flowers and plants, there is a huge assortment of butterflies floating around our forests and gardens. With over 3,000 species of butterflies and moths in this country, there is no shortage of these beautiful creatures here at our boutique bed & breakfast. Whether you explore the rain forests or national parks of Costa Rica, you will undoubtedly come face to face with a butterfly or two, and here are some of our favorites.

1. Blue Morpho (Morpho peleides)

2. Thick-tipped Greta (Great oto)

3. Rusty-tipped Page (Siproeta epaphus)

4. Banded Purple Wing (Myscelia cyaniris)

5. Crimson Patch (Chlosyne janais)

6. Orange Barred Tiger (Dryadula phaetusa)

When you visit our boutique bed & breakfast in Tamarindo, Costa Rica we can show you our Costa Rica butterfly guide and point out the species we have in our beautiful tropical gardens.



Photo by:
www.katherinestinnett.com

KATHERINE STINNETT PHOTOGRAPHY

Pottery from the town of Guaitil

When visiting our boutique bed & breakfast in Tamarindo, Costa Rica, you will probably want to purchase a locally-made souvenir to take back home. One of the oldest and most well-known souvenirs in the country you can purchase is a handmade piece of pottery from the town of Guaitil. Famous throughout Costa Rica, the tiny village located in Guanacaste in less than an hour away from Tamarindo. The people of Guaitil take great pride in their pre-Columbian Chorotega style pottery which is made using the same traditions and techniques of their ancestors. The entire village is dedicated to the production and trade of pottery, as the craft has been passed down from generations.

If you can take a visit to the village of Guaitil while you are in Costa Rica, you can find all sorts of different clay pottery including bowls, jars, vases, pitchers, animal figurines, and platters. The pottery is made by drying the clay first and then crushing it into a powder. Then the potters mix the clay powder with sand and water. Then the piece of pottery is formed, painted, and polished on a stone to make the piece shiny. Afterwards the pottery is allowed to dry and then put into a fire-burning oven.

We hope you are able to take a home an authentic piece of Costa Rican pottery with you after your stay at our bed & breakfast hotel!


Photo:KATHERINE STINNETT PHOTOGRAPHY
www.katherinestinnett.com