Tamarindo Bay or Bahia de Tamarindo, a Watercolor Painting by the Author. Limited Edition Fine Art Prints are available.
Playa Conchal – Conchal Beach, a great spot for snorkeling at Reserva Conchal/The Westin Playa Conchal
The zip lines at Rincon de la Vieja National Park
Zip Lines at Rincon de la Vieja National Park
Roseate Spoonbills
a scene of the big 1 acre pool at The Westin Playa Conchal on the property with our Bougainvillea condominium. Bougainvillea owners and guests have access to the Westin Hotel amenities.
Catamarans and kayaks on the beach at Playa Conchal, available for rent
With the Pacific ocean to your back, looking east across the Robert Trent Jones II golf course to the Bougainvillea condos. Our unit is on the ground floor in the center of the picture, just to the right of the one-story pool and bbq building
Our veranda
Some of our family enjoying the sunset during our 40th anniversary week gathering
A waterfall along a hiking trail at Rincon de la Vieja National Park, about an hour from our condo at Reserva Conchal
Grandson on horseback at Rincon de la Vieja National Park
A grandson on horseback at Rincon de la Vieja National Park
Looking to the south in our backyard in the morining
The little village of Guatil where there are native pottery makers
Nogui’s restaurant on the beach at the end of the traffic circle in Tamarindo at sunset
A cactus corral in Huacas a few kilometers from Reserva Conchal
The entry to our ground level 2 bedroom, 2 bath Bougainvillea condominium at Reserva Conchal
The Bougainvillea condo pool and bbq area next to our unit
Looking to the south from our backyard at mid day during the Costa Rican “summer” – December – April
The Farmer’s Market on Saturday Morning at Santa Cruz
A local fellow with his ox cart in Guanacaste
A Howler Monkey swinging through the trees. You shouldn’t have any trouble seeing them but you’ll hear them for sure.
School Children, Estudiantes, on the way home near the tiny hamlet of Jose de Pinilla
The view from our condominium, the 3rd hole of the Robert Trent Jones II golf course.
The view from our veranda, the Robert Trent Jones II golf course, the main lobby of the Westin Playa Conchal, and the mountains beyond. The Pacific Ocean is just to the right in this view. This is a “green season” view, May – December.
The big pool at the Westin Playa Conchal Golf Resort and Spa
Private Condo Pool and BBQ Area at the Bougainvillea condos at Reserva Conchal
Family at Lola’s, a must-visit-spot at Playa Avellanas. Great food, great drinks, great beach, great memories
Grandsons playing in the tide pools at Playa Avellanas
The View toward the Pacific at Atenas, west of San Jose
The entry to our 2 bed/2 bath Bougainvillea unit at Reserva Conchal
The little bandits, the Coati’s coming out of the forest near Lake Arenal, to hold up the traffic and demand food. They’re harmless and fun.
Tamarindo Bay, Playa Grande in the background. This photo inspired the author’s painting “Tamarindo Bay” or if you prefer, “Bahia de Tamarindo.”
Catch of the Day – Pargo or Red Snapper to you
Fiesta in Guanacaste – This photo inspired the author’s painting “Fiesta!”
Map of Costa Rica
Map of the Northwest Pacific Coast
The waters off the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica are the world’s # 1 sport fishing area
Caballos en la playa or Horses on the beach to you
Boards – Tamarindo and Playa Avellanas are among the most popular surfing spots
Senor Lagarto – an Iguana – They’re harmless and you might see one as large as 5 feet long though most are smaller
Some Folks Enjoying the Tide Pools
The Estuary at Langosta at high tide
Kayaking an estuary
A Couple of Surfers
You don’t have to know how when you first get there.
Snorkeling the waters of the Pacific
Tamarindo Bay from on high with Playa Grande in the background
This Coati or Coati Mundi is a relative of the Raccoon. These harmless little creatures are fun to watch. At a distance you could mistake them for monkeys as the run along with their tales aloft.
Sunset on Playa Tamarindo
Sunset on Nogui’s a fun bar and restaurant on the beach in Tamarindo inspired the author’s watercolor painting of the same name
Santa Cruz, Guanacaste – Sabado – Mercado de los Agricultores -o en Inglese, Saturday – Farmer’s Market
Waves on Playa Langosta – Tamarindo
Howler monkeys in a tree
The Beach Club at Reserva Conchal
Whale of Espanol – Ballena pronounced By-jenna
Some friends playing with Lolita at Lola’s, Playa Avellanas
Lolita the pet at Lola’s Restaurant and Bar, Playa Avellanas
Lolita is the matre d’ at Lola’s at Playa Avellanas. The original manager was Lola for whom the place is named. She went to that great pig pen in the sky a couple of years ago and her replacement came in as a piglet, named, what else, Lolita.
Lola’s at Playa Avellanas is a magical restaurant and bar on the beach. It seems to appear out of nowhere at the end of a dirt road. May well be the highlight of your trip.
a road through the countryside during the rainy season. It is passable, fear not.
Coati
The author’s Watercolor Painting “Ceramica de Guatil.”
The Caribbean and Central America
Capucin or White Faced Monkay
Caiman, a small relative of the alligator
Brown Pelicans
Black Headed Trogon
Iguana
Howler Monkey
Gecko – harmless but may try to sell you insurance
The authors’ watercolor painting “Fiesta!”
A great spot in Brasilito, a little town between Tamarindo and Flamingo. Very close to Reserva Conchal, the site of our condo. This is Don Brasilitos.
Crocodile o Cocodrillo
Caracara – looks like a hawk had an amorous encounter with a chicken
Coyote – Coe – Yo – Tay
The author’s watercolor painting, “Costa Rica, Cactus, and Cows.”
Tortuga
Spider Monkey or Titi
Scarlet Macaw
Roseate Spoonbill
Magpie Jay
Kiskadee
Keel-Billed Toucan
The author’s watercolor painting “Tamarindo Bay.”
The author’s watercolor painting “Sunset on Nogui’s” inspired by a great beachfront spot in Tamarindo
The author’s watercolor painting “Farmer’s Market” inspired by the Saturday morning farmer’s market at Santa Cruz, Guanacaste
Fox -o en Espanol, Zorro
Zorrillo
The author’s watercolor painting “Verduleria” inspired by the Saturday morning farmer’s market at Santa Cruz, Guanacaste
Violet Sabrewing
Kiskadee
Rush hour traffic in Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Manuel Antonio National Park – Quepos – The Central Pacific Coast
Flat Stanley goes to escuela at Brasilito
Flat Stanley visits Volcan Arenal
Cousins in a hammock at Lola’s – Playa Avellanas
The Pacific from High Above Playa Grande
The author’s watercolor painting “Magpie Jay in Hibiscus.”
Looking down on San Jose from the suburb of Escazu
Some of the delicious food at Lola’s, Fresh Tuna burger and fresh fish and chips
Lola’s at Playa Avellanas
Another shot of Lola’s at Playa Avellanas
Perequitos
Sailing on Tamarindo Bay
Some nice 20 foot Crocodiles at The Crocodile Bridge headed south along the central Pacific Coast
A sloth along the trail in Manuel Antonio National Park
Beach at Manuel Antonio National Park
Beach at Manuel Antonio – Central Pacific Coast
The Pacific from high above Manuel Antonio
A small lodge at Lake Arenal – Volcan Arenal – Near La Fortuna
A view of Lake Arenal
The Private Beach Club at Reserva Conchal
The Beach Club Pool
Dining at The Beach Club
a 2000 Colones note, equal to about $4.00 U.S. as of early 2013
Some of the Condominiums in the background with the Robert Trent Jones II Golf Course at Reserva Conchal
El Cocodrillo at the Crocodile Bridge along the coast highway headed south toward Quepos
Entrance to the hiking trail at Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio
Aerial View of Reserva Conchal
Reserva Conchal and The Westin Playa Conchal
Playa Conchal
Don Brasilitos – a good, fun cheap place to eat & free WIFI
Don Brasilito’s great place in Brasilito
Hombres enjoying a cerveza or two at Don Brasilitos
A family at Don Brasilitos in Brasilito, Guanacaste, near Reserva Conchal
Saturday Morning Farmer’s Market at Santa Cruz
Saturday morning in Santa Cruz
Pool at Hotel Capitan Suizo
The little boats on the National Park estuary tour outside Tamarindo
The Estuary Tour as you enter Tamarindo Parque Nacional Marina Las Baulas
Black Crowned Night Herons along the Estuary Tour
A view of the lobby at the San Jose Marriott
The beach at Manuel Antonio National Park
A cactus corral at Huacas between Tamarindo and Flamingo
More scenes of the fabulous Lola’s at Playa Avellanas just south of Tamarindo. Not to be missed.
A lost baby Howler monkey. She was taken to a vet and recovery center and is just fine.
Looking to the Pacific at the town of Atenas, west of San Jose
Tame Pecari at Rincon de la Vieja
Sunday Afternoon at the Big Pool
A tour group sign
Local Vacas in Guanacaste
a coati or Coati Mundi. Harmless, friendly and fun.
Near Playa Grande, Guanacaste
The small native village Guatil, a pottery center of the Choretaga people near Santa Cruz, Guanacaste
Local entertainers at one of the restaurants.
Nogui’s restaurant at the traffic circle, on the beach in Tamarindo. The inspiration for the author’s watercolor painting “Sunset on Nogui’s”
a local fellow with his oxcart in Guanacaste
Crosswalk
a Hummingbird (Colibri) at a banana flower in Tamarindo
some of our family on a hike at Rincon de la Vieja National Park near Liberia, Guanacaste
a decent sized Iguana. Harmless. They get bigger than this too.
The lobby at the Westin Playa Conchal, the location of our condo
Lola’s at Playa Avellanas, south of Tamarindo
The Bougainvillea condos at Reserva Conchal, site of our condo.
A great shot of Lola’s at Playa Avellanas
Our Costa Rica Condo 