Correction and Changes

Hi Guys--

First off, I need to make a correction from a previous post. Anyone who is flying from Calgary, Edmonton or Kelowna need not worry about staying in a hotel in Toronto the night before the flight to Costa Rica. These departures are a red-eye, usually departing around midnight, getting to Toronto just in time to catch your flight to Liberia.

Secondly, Air Canada has moved the flight to the next day, making the week long vacation from Sunday, November 28 - Sunday, December 5. I realize the inconvenience this causes for everyone and I apologize but these things happen.

Unfortunately, everyone will need to change their reservation at their villa or hotel. The people who are staying at the Barcelo will not have to worry about this as the whole package has been pushed up a day. I hope this doesn't present too much of an issue to anyone and that your place of stay isn't all booked up. If it is, please call Melissa at 306-790-3335 for better arrangements. Or call me and we will see what we can come up with :o)

Much Love
~Sarah

For the Adventure Lover

Of course you have surfing and all of the wind & water sports right at your finger tips in Langosta.

But there are all kinds of other things to do for the adrenaline junkie! Zip lining is huge in CR, so is white water rafting, hiking, horse back riding and quad & motorbike excursions. If you do rent a quad though: Please, please please, respect the wildlife.... stay on the main paths and don't disrupt undeveloped land!!

Check out a few of these sites :

http://www.tamarindoadventures.net/

http://www.tamarindotouringcompany.com/

http://www.adrenalinatourscr.com/

Lots of Love.....

~S

Leatherback Turtles

This is something really special that happens every year at Las Baulas National Park just to the North of Tamarindo.

Between October and March, the Leatherback Turtles come to nest and lay their eggs off the coast. There are turtle tours available to check it out but please remember the fragility of the turtles and the eggs. While the tourist industry has brought money and awareness, it has also been detrimental to the endangered species.

If you do decide to check it out.... just be smart about it. Don't use a flash on your camera, don't get too close and of course listen to your guide!

Check out more info here:

http://www.leatherback.org/index.htm

Check it out

Hey everybody,

Just wanted to send this along. This guy has the best blog on Tamarindo & Langosta. He posts a picture a day and has all kinds of categories on the left hand side of the screen if you scroll down a bit. There are shots of the town, the local flora & fauna, wildlife, culture, people and everyday life. Click on the link below....

http://tamarindodailyphoto.blogspot.com/

Villas & Condos

There are so many villas and condos to rent in Langosta it is almost overwhelming. That is why we thought you all might want to know a few more details as to exactly where we will be located and surrounding accommodations.

We are staying at the Villa Jazmin in the Cerca Del Mar Complex. There are a few units left at this complex and they are all 2 - 3 bedroom units with kitchens. Some have private pools, bbq's and several perks to choose from. You can book these units through RPM Vacations by following this link or emailing them directly at rpmservices@tulin.com

There are many rental clusters located just a few minutes walk from Cerca Del Mar. The following places are just minutes away from the beach and where we will be staying:

Villas Langosta

Horizontes Del Mar

Bahia Langosta

Amanpuri

These places are also available to rent through RPM Services. Just click on the links and follow the instructions at the bottom of the page or email RPM directly for any questions. We have been dealing with Eduardo and he seems very nice (rpmservices@tulin.com). Don't forget to mention that you are with our wedding party for 10% off your booking price.

Eduardo has told us about some great houses within a quick walk from our villa. If you have a large party and are planning on rooming with a big group, I recommend getting a "casa" for the trip. Houses in the area include the

Natalia

Puesta del Sol

Casa Wendt

These are really only a deal though if you have a nice big party or family you are travelling with.

Check out the left hand side of this screen for some shots of a few of the villas mentioned.

~Mitch & Sarah

Forms and other details...

Hi Folks:

Unfortunately, I cannot attach any documents to this blog so if you are going to book one of these options, you need to email me to obtain a form and then send it in to our travel agent at mformo@mytravelgallery.com. Please send an email to sarahlaurataylor@yahoo.ca and I will send you the form for either the all-inclusive or just the air. I also want to remind everyone that these prices are subject to change very shortly so the sooner you get a deposit into our travel agent, the better. However, don't be too pressured to make a decision, I'm almost sure the pricing will be reasonable after the deadlines. It is too bad that Air Canada Vacations cannot give us a better window for decision making but c'est la vie..

Also, If you have any questions for our travel agent, don't hesitate to contact her:

Melissa Formo, Travel Consultant

My Travel Gallery

mformo@mytravelgallery.com

(306) 790-3335

Thanks for your understanding!

~Sarah

Air & Other Details

As some of you may know, we are staying at a Villa in Langosta Beach instead of a hotel. The Langosta area is filled with tons of beach-houses, bed & breakfasts and condos to rent, all within walking distance of each other. This is a great way to experience more of the country, eating at the local restaurants, bbq-ing the local catch of the day and exploring the area. Many of these places have swimming pools and a daily maid service and are quite reasonably priced. Check out some of these great places here or here or here, but remember, we are staying in Langosta beach, just South of the town of Tamarindo (about a 20 minute walk from the town).

Because of the great options for accommodations, we have arranged quotes for "just air" through Air Canada Vacations. While you may find something cheaper looking for seat sales throughout the year, these prices will ensure you have a spot leaving and returning with the rest of the group (November 27 - December 4, 2010). The other issue with this group quote is that it will require an over night stay in Toronto for people coming from the West as the charter to Liberia leaves very early in the morning. There's a good chance you will be able to find a flight leaving from Calgary or Kelowna for a comparable price, without the overnight. That being said, there might be a sizable layover in Minneapolis or Atlanta etc. So we will leave it up to you...

These prices will require a $300 +GST deposit to our Travel Agent, Melissa. Once decided, you will need to get the form from me (Sarah at sarahlaurataylor@yahoo.ca), fill it out and email it to mformo@mytravelgallery.com . Prices are per person as follows:

Return from Ottawa or Toronto: $695 (+ taxes $204)
Return from Calgary: $910 (+ taxes $217)
Return from Regina: $885 (+ taxes $210)

Return from Kelowna: $1040 (taxes +204)

Again, the non-stop flight to Liberia is departing out of Toronto very early in the morning. Because of this, guests may want to stay in a hotel in Toronto the night before however we will not know the exact departure times until later in the game.
The Liberia airport is about an hour drive from Tamarindo and some of us will be renting vehicles from the airport. Many of these villa's and beach houses will assist in arranging transportation to and from the airport as well. You may want to take this info into consideration when booking a flight as it is great to get into town at a good time and the charter from Toronto will arrive in Liberia in the afternoon. Unless, of course you go for the all-inclusive option listed below.

If you have any questions at all, please comment below and we will find an answer for you :o)

Much love...
Sarah & Mitch

All Inclusive Option

We have arranged for an all-inclusive option for our guests just a 5 minute walk from where we are staying in Langosta Beach. Barcelo Beach Resort is a 4* (some sites say 3 1/2*) all-inclusive on Langosta Beach, south of Tamarindo. Unfortunately, these prices may increase after March 17. We apologize for the short time frame it gives our guests to decide however chances are unlikely that prices will significantly increase after this date. All prices are subject to additional taxes which are about $250. Price quotes are as follows:
1 week package from Ottawa or Toronto:
Double: $1405
Single: $1755
Child 2-12: $1115
1 week package from Regina:
Double: $1585
Single: $1930
Child: $1060
1 week package from Calgary:
Double: $1595
Single: $1935
Child: $850
1 week package from Kelowna:
Double: $1600
Single: $1955
Child: $1080
There are two week packages for all of these departure points available through our travel agent. If you would like to book one of these packages, please email sarahlaurataylor@yahoo.ca for the form, fill it out and email it to mformo@mytravelgallery.com . Guests will need to send a deposit of $300 + gst. The remainder of the amount owing will be due approximately 2-3 months before the departure date. In order to get this group rate, we will need a minimum of 10 people staying at this hotel. As we get a better idea of who is staying where, we will try and keep everyone as informed as possible. Thanks!

Map of North Pacific Coast Area - surrounding Tamarindo