Arenas del Mar Beach and Nature Resort

The importance of Bambu

noreply@blogger.com (Arenas del Mar Blog) — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 16:47:00 +0000

One of the bigger issues right now regarding building materials is what to use that leaves a shallower footprint.
Concrete takes a lot of energy to make, plastic is really bad for the enviroment, and even certified wood is not that great since it takes a while to harvest( about 15 years for teak wood for example) so by the time the wood is ready to be cut down, it is already and ecosystem, with birds and other animals living on it, that is why the wood plantations are known as green desserts!!. So, what can we use that is the less harmful to the enviroment?? Well, the Asian people have probably had the answer to this question for towsend of years. Bamboo grows really fast, as much as 3 inches every day or 10 centimeters!! In 4 or 5 years they are ready to harvest, and one of the best things about it is that you don't have to cut down the whole plant, you can just trim it off which also is really good for it since it can grow faster.
Countries like Ecuador and Colombia have a huge bamboo culture, there are even "Shamans" of the bamboo construction over there. In El Salvador, Bambu was used to build homes for people that lost their houses on hurricanes. The variety of bambu Guadua is been called "vegetable steel" by engineers due to its resistance to earthquakes and the Chinese consider it a symbol of wisdom. So if are thinking about building, consider using bamboo, the enviroment will highly appreciate it.

The cute little monkeys!!

noreply@blogger.com (Arenas del Mar Blog) — Sun, 25 May 2008 01:30:00 +0000

Arenas del Mar reserve is truly a paradise for all kinds of animals. Planting so many fruit trees on the property was certainly a great idea!! This shows in the wide variety of birds and monkeys that visit us often. The monkey in the picture is a red backed squirrel monkey, and the only two places in Costa Rica where you can find them are here and in the Osa peninsula. They are omnivorous, feeding mostly on fruits and insects, also, this is the only species of monkey in Costa Rica that doesn't have a prehensile tail. They live in troops with up to 20 individuals, and when traveling they have a sharp call that makes them sound like a small bird. This variety of monkey are now beeing studied in England because they develop a variety of cancer, but it never kills the animal, so, they want to see if they can find a cure for this desease in humans. Isn't interesting?? Maybe one day our little friends will help us save many lives!! That's why in Arenas del Mar, we want to make sure this little guys have a place to live by preserving the forest around us!! Thanks to all those visitors that help us save our precious rainforest!!!

Hej, would you like to be my friend??

noreply@blogger.com (Arenas del Mar Blog) — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 23:19:00 +0000

If you come to Costa Rica and forget your alarm clock, that's not a problem... the howler monkeys will wake you up at 3: 00 am... Too early?? Well, anyway, you can just grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and enjoy the sunnrise!! This big male howler monkey that you see in the picture was cought up just walking across the employes dinning area.
I guess he just wanted to show off!! Howler monkeys travel in troops of 15 to 20 individuals, they are vegetarians feeding mostly on leaves and flowers, and this is the reason why they are the only primate of the new world that sees color.
The males are the only ones that howl, and the sound can be heard as far as a kilometer( or half a mile)away. Wow!!! That's a lot of noise for an animal that is only about the size of a cat( 3-6 kilos, or 7-13 pounds). This incredible mammals feed on specific fruits and leaves from primary forest trees, that's why is so important to preserve the forest where they live, to make sure that we will keep hearing the incredible sound of the howler monkeys. Thanks again to all those around the world that help us everyday to save our beautiful rainforest!!!!

Stars are on the sky...ups!!! Not this one!!

noreply@blogger.com (Arenas del Mar Blog) — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 20:35:00 +0000

You can not imagine the amount of interesting creatures you can find on the tide pools around Arenas del Mar Hotel, just check out this one!!
This is a fragile starfish, this weird looking animal lives right under the rocks at the Playitas beach, they feed on detritus which basically is sand. What?? Did I say sand?? How can anybody survive just on eating sand?? Well, they filter little particules of fitoplancton that get stock on the little sand grains, so , that´s how they do it!!
Some thing really interesting about fragile starfish is their capability to regenerate their limbs, also, if you cut up a starfish in several pieces everyone of them would become a new individual!! Isn´t that amazing?? Please help us preserve this amazing animals by not throwing garbage on the beach neither the ocean, we want this guys to have a nice and clean home!! Thank you!!

Hej, I just had a bite to eat of a delicious piece of clay

noreply@blogger.com (Arenas del Mar Blog) — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 17:57:00 +0000

One of the most common animals to see at Arenas del Mar, is the three toad sloth. That's why today we want to dedicate a few minutes to talk about this bizarre animal. Three toad sloths are animals with very slow metabolism, the average temperature of them is about 20 celsius, which makes it the living mammal with the coolest blood temperature. They feed mostly on leaves and flowers, and they can get their food from more than 90 diffrent species of trees. These, protect themselves with poison in the leaves that the sloth also eats, so, they come down once or twice a week to the ground to eat cley . Mmm!! sounds tasty!! Give me some of that, I have a stomach ache!! The three toad sloth is also a master of hidding, they grow a special type of mold in their fur that makes it even harder to spot when up on a tree. I dare you to find one by yourself !!!

What time is it please?

noreply@blogger.com (Arenas del Mar Blog) — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 20:30:00 +0000

We were walking down the Manuel Antonio National Park, near the end of the Perezozo trail we spotted this Sand Clock frog or Hyla ebraccata. This specie of frog lives up on bromelias as high as 20 meters above the ground, that makes it really hard to find unless you are a really good climber!!

That day we were lucky to find it jus 1.5 meters off the ground. This frog is only about 5 centimeters long and it feeds mostly on insects. Frogs like this one, are indicators of enviromental disorders in the planet, such as the ozone layer hole, this situation has triggered the growing of a fungus in their skins that can wipe out a whole specie of frog. This, we think, happened with the Golden Toad up in the cloud forest of Costa Rica. Another big reason why is important to preserve the rainforest of the world, all this little guys need the canopy of the trees as a shelter to protect them from extintion. Thanks to all those that help us save the rainforest and our little colorful friends. !!!

Much more than just “drinks by the pool”!

noreply@blogger.com (Arenas del Mar Blog) — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 21:26:00 +0000

Arenas Del Mar is definitely a very special place. With spectacular beach, rainforest setting and ocean views you will enjoy of much more than just “drinks by the pool”.

Here you have the perfect base to explore the country’s natural treasures. Enjoy howler, white-faced, and squirrel monkeys, sloths, crabs, among other forms of exotic wildlife either at Manuel Antonio’s National Park or right outside your room!

Sloth!

noreply@blogger.com (Arenas del Mar Blog) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 00:41:00 +0000

Arenas Del Mar Resort is blessed with much kind of mammals. The property includes 11 acres of Rain Forest and you will see monkeys, raccoons, and agoutis. This afternoon a male sloth surprises us in the hotel truck. Sloths are very common in the Rain Forest of Manuel Antonio and we planted many native trees like Guarumo, since they are herbivorous you will see them hanging and lazing at the trees very often.

First Guests!

noreply@blogger.com (Arenas del Mar Blog) — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 01:58:00 +0000

Arenas Del Mar is a very special resort surrounded by the rain forest. Here you will see the most abundant flora and fauna of Manuel Antonio as white face monkeys, howler monkeys and sloths. Seating in the room’s deck you can hear the sound of the waves and feel the sea breezes. Today we received Andrea and Darryl our first guests making this day memorable for a beautiful place.

Gorgeous view!

noreply@blogger.com (Arenas del Mar Blog) — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 00:16:00 +0000

Arenas Del Mar Resort is located just next to Manuel Antonio National Park. The rooms hang over Espadilla Beach creating a unique and spectacular view, a perfect spot where sunsets can be enjoyed. From your room you can see the white sand beach and the sparkling Pacific Ocean that overlooks the amazing rainforest of Manuel Antonio.

Welcome to the Arenas del Mar Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Arenas del Mar Blog) — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:30:00 +0000

We are just a few weeks away from opening the Arenas del Mar Beach and Nature Resort. The soft opening is planned for late October and we will be fully operational in November 2007, ready for the high season. Check out the latest pictures on our website at http://www.arenasdelmar.com/.

Arenas del Mar Beach and Nature Resort

noreply@blogger.com (Arenas del Mar Blog) — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:29:00 +0000

Arenas del Mar is a beach and nature resort located next to Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. “Unique and spectacular beach and nature experiences combined with highest levels of comfort and sustainability in a local Costa Rican setting” define the concept of Arenas del Mar.

The resort caters to tourists that are looking for more than just another high end resort experience. Arenas del mar offers a luxurious lodging experience in harmony with nature in a spectacular beach and rainforest setting. Guest rooms, apartments and suites offer spectacular ocean views, upscale dining in two hotel restaurants with a focus on fresh local products and personalized service that exceeds guest expectations.

Arenas del Mar is the perfect base to explore the area around Manuel Antonio and Quepos on the Central Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Tours and activities offered in the area include whitewater rafting, mangrove kayak and boat tours, guided rainforest hikes, ocean kayaking, catch and release sport fishing, Canopy Tours and horseback riding excursions.

Sustainability is a key component of the concept at all levels of the operation and the Certification for Sustainable Tourism—a program designed by the Costa Rican Tourism ministry—serves as a guide for the building and operation of the hotel. Arenas del Mar sets out to minimize the impact on the surrounding nature, while maximizing the positive economic impact on the local community through employment.

Other hotel facilities include a small spa located below the main restaurant with breathtaking views of Manuel Antonio National Park and the Pacific Ocean, a gift shop featuring local art and souvenirs and a state of the art business center near the hotel lobby.