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Essence of Dreams
A Luxury Costa Rican Villa
Costa Rica
Costa Rica.....a land of unparallel natural beauty and a world of adventures to experience
Set between the Latin America nations of Nicaragua and Panama, Costa Rica has, over the past several years, become a sought after travel destination for vacationers. With the usage of only 0.1% of the world’s landmass (roughly the smaller than the size of West Virginia), Costa Rica is a tropical home to renowned jungles, beaches, and volcanoes as well as a plethora of exotic wildlife and captivating scenery.
Nature there is boundless, stretching from coast to coast with expansive lush locales that are truly one-of-a-kind to behold. It contains 5% percent of the world’s biodiversity and 25% percent of Costa Rica is comprised of protected forests and reserves. Its numerous beaches are both spectacular and uniquely diverse. Relax on sandy beach and soak up the sun or ride the waves on a surfer board or on the back of a jet ski.
While there, answer the call of adventure, sampling a wide array of thrillseeking activities that only a country like Costa Rica can offer. Zip line through its many jungles, scale the mountainside of a dormant volcano, or take a ride on horseback through some extraordinary vistas. Adventures in Costa Rica are truly limitless.
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Whatever entices you, be adventure, exploring, or simply just relaxing, Costa Rica offers something for everyone. So, pack your bags, book your plane ticket, and journey to this tropical land that beckons you to unlock its breathless wonders.
Playa Hermosa
Translated from Spanish as “Beautiful Beach”, Playa Hermosa is ideal to immerse oneself in a sun-drenched paradise with its placid beach that overlooks the Gulf of Papagayo and lush tropical surroundings.
Quiet, tranquil, and accessible are some of the words that comes to mind when thinking of Guanacaste’s Playa Hermosa (not to be confused with the town of the same name in Costa Rica’s Puntarenas region). The area offers one of the best maintained beaches in the country, snatching up the prestigious “Blue Flag” award (an award that is given to beaches for exceeding standards in environmental safety, and management policies). The grey sanded beach itself is over two kilometer long and is rarely crowded; a perfect getaway for couples and families, who are looking to escape the crowded beach lifestyle of home.
In addition, Playa Hermosa is, more or less, off the beaten path that other beaches of the Guanacaste region, combining tranquil privacy and easy accessibility.
But Playa Hermosa is more than just crystal blue waters on a relaxed beach cove. Beyond the water and sand, lies a quaint town that’s nestled into a lush green forest backdrop. It’s a small town that creates a cozy atmosphere, away from the heavy metropolitan areas. However, if need of some modern amenities (shopping, banking, grocery stores, restaurants, bars and clubs, etc.), a ten-minute drive south will lead you to the beachfront town of Playa De Coco or a twenty-minute drive north will lead you to the large town of Liberia.
For those individuals looking for adventure, Playa Hermosa is conveniently placed for such outdoor activities. Tourist companies are dotted in and around the Playa Hermosa area, offering various rentals such as kayaks, canoes, catamaran, windsurfing, jet skis, and water bikes. Other activities such as fishing trips, snorkeling and diving safaris are offered and a great way to experience the local aquatic fauna.
For land adventures, there are guided horseback tours in the surrounding area as well as day trips to explore Costa Rica’s wildlife and majestic vistas.
Whatever you decide to do, whether relaxing on the beach, taking a wildlife tour or a jaunt to a nearby town, Playa Hermosa is perfectly situated to allow you to immerse yourself in relaxation and enjoy your holiday vacation.
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* Essence of Dreams is located in Playa Hermosa
Costa Rica Facts & Tibits
Costa Rica is divided into seven regions: ​Alajuela, ​Cartgo, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose
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* Essence of Dreams is in the Guanacaste region, which is located in the northwestern region of Costa Rica and facing the Pacific Ocean
Being so close to the Earth’s equator, Costa Rica’s climate is considered tropical year-round with variances of microclimates conditions depending on elevation, topography, and geographical regions across the country. Costa Rica’s overall weather conditions are comprised of two seasons: the “dry” season and the “rainy season”
The “dry season” runs opposite from Europe and North America, running from December to April. Much like “snowbirds” retreating south for the winter, many travelers come to Costa Rica during this time to escape winter’s blustery conditions of the northern hemisphere for a warmer climate and a few extra hours of daylight; given the tourist name “high” season. During this season, the climate, while still tropical in nature, is mostly dry, consisting of little to no rainfall, which causes most of nature’s foliage (trees, plants, and landscape) to appear dry or “dead”. The trade-off is that the weather is “mostly” pleasant and less humid than in its counterpart season and is a perfect time for surfing as storm swells from the Pacific Ocean create very strong and reliable waves to surf on.
The “rainy” season, often called the “green season” by tourists, runs from the other half of the year in Costa Rica, lasting from May to November. While the “rainy season” speaks for itself, it’s a lot less wet and rainy than many people would think. Travelers will still get plenty of sun, with much more humid conditions, but will receive frequent rainfall (mostly like during the morning or afternoon hours). With the rain constantly falling, the country’s foliage will grow and flourish, transforming much of the landscape to impressively lush and green (hence “green season”). While this all-in general terms, there are some “pocket” areas in Costa Rica that will receive a significant amount of rainfall during this time (a result of the country having “microclimate” conditions). While the “high season” happens during the dry season, the rainy season is considered the “low” season by tourists.
Spanish is the official language for Costa Rica. However, due to the increase of international of tourism, there are a large number of its citizens that are moderately bilingual. English, of course, is the most common second language used in Costa Rica with popular tourist attractions areas featuring signs in English and employees who speak it fluently. Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean that everyone speaks English there. It’s a good idea to travel with someone who knows Spanish or simply brush up on your Spanish (whether from a learning language books or recalling your high school Spanish classes). With life simpler and slower paced, you’ll find most Costa Rica citizens are very accommodating and patient with your Spanish, regardless how rudimentary it is.
Costa Rica’s national currency is the colón (pronounced Ka-lon-a) or known as the Costa Rican colón and abbreviated as CRC. With the growth in tourism, the U.S dollar and major credit cards are generally accepted in most towns and cities, more so in large hotels and established businesses (restaurants, stores, shops, etc). However, more secluded areas in the country or small family business / restaurants only use the colón. Costa Rican banks offer a good exchange rate if needed to convert dollars to colónies in your stay in Costa Rica.
Costa Rica does not observe the U.S. Daylight Saving Time, but is considered 6 hours behind the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT-6). To put things perspective for Americans, Costa Rica’s time zone is equivalent to the U.S. Central Standard Time.
No need to buy converters when traveling to Costa Rica. North American appliances are compatible with Costa Rica's electrical system, which functions at 110 volts.
Any foreigner who is temporally in Costa Rica has the right to receive medical attention at hospitals and clinics in case of an emergency, sudden illness, or chronic disease. Costa Rica has a modern public health care system under the administration of the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS) and also offers some of the health care in Latin America. Additionally, travelers have access to several private hospitals that offer high-quality medical care with state-of-the-art facilities at a tiny fraction of its U.S. equivalent cost. As a caution, the United States for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that travelers be up-to-date on routine vaccines (MMR, DPT, Etc.), as well as hepatitis A and B, and typhoid.
Traveling to Costa Rica by air is the most common way to get into the country. While Costa Rica offers four international airports, there is one that we recommend that is nearby Essence of Dreams (only 30 minutes away)
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Liberia International Airport (LIR) also known as Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (located in the Guanacaste Region of Costa Rica)
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The following Airlines fly into Liberia International Airport connect via United States.
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