- Hacienda Baru. Five minutes up the coast is the incomparable private wildlife
reserve of Hacienda Baru. Numerous options there include guided or self-guided bird
watching tours, virgin rainforest hikes, canopy observation platforms, butterfly garden, fascinating tree climbing expeditions, and fun zip line rides that take you through the trees and over creeks and ravines. For the adventurous you can spend the night at the reserve's rainforest tent camp and experience all the sights and sounds of the night time jungle. On any visit, you will have the opportunity to see all varieties of wildlife and gain a valuable insight to the inner workings of tropical rainforest ecology. There is a nice gift store featuring locally produced, environmentally friendly arts and crafts.
- Rancho Merced. Five minutes down the coast is another private reserve called
Rancho Merced which offers very well informed guided jungle hikes, bird watching
tours and horseback rides on the beach and through the jungle. Both Rancho Merced
and Hacienda Baru actively are promoting wildlife and rainforest conservation on
many levels. A visit to either site is not only fun and very informative but also
serves to protect and promote conservation of the area.
- Beaches. The beaches in the area are diverse, nearly deserted and picture perfect:
palm and wild almond trees line the sandy shores and are caressed by the warm, lapping
Pacific surf. Take the villa’s boogie boards for an easy ride, beach comb for shells,
take a surf lesson at the world renowned Dominical break, rent surf kayaks or just sit
and be mesmerized by the unspoiled, archetypical tropical coastline.
- Don Lulo's Nuyaca Waterfalls. Up in the hills above Villa Helena is the most spectacular waterfall in Costa Rica. It is accessed by a wonderful experience with the Costa Rican family who owns the property: a horseback ride to the family’s home for breakfast, a ride to the two tiered, 100 foot falls and the refreshing, large natural swimming pool below, then lunch at the home before returning back to your car. At the home of these conservation minded locals is a small collection of endangered animals being raised and conditioned for reintroduction into the wild. A unique and fascinating day all around.
- Cano Island. One can make a day of a visit to Cano Island. This island is seen
from the villa balcony, about 30 miles off the coast. The entire island is a national wildlife park and a real treasure. On the boat ride out you’ll have the chance to see sea turtles and flying fish and then once there, enjoy a picnic lunch on the beach, snorkle the
reef for a view of tropical fish or hike the trails for a view of some native
archeological sites.
- Finca Brian y Emilia. Right in our own neighborhood is Finca Brian and Emilia,
a farm which specializes in an unbelievable variety of tropical fruit and also sports
a streamside sauna and mountain trails. You can have a tour and then pick your own in
season fruit. Can’t get any fresher than that! Just beyond the farm is a secluded and
largely unknown waterfall and bathing pool, right on the way to the beach. Cool and
refreshing and almost always all your own.
- Day trip to Quepos. If you need a little more people contact, the town of Quepos
and the national park, Manuel Antonio is just 45 kilometers up the coast and makes a
nice day trip.
- Also Available. Deep sea fishing expeditions, scuba diving, ultra light plane rides,
mangrove and sea kayak day trips, river rafting, and mountain climbing hikes can all be
arranged if your interests lean in those directions.
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