Villa Temenos Costa Rica

12/12/2024

It's a total monkey fest when the White Faced Capuchins swing by! This is the time of year when they're hanging around daily!

04/07/2024

An amazingly beautiful and unique country. 17 Facts You May Not Know About Costa Rica:

1. Costa Rica's forests are home to an astounding array of creatures, including the world's tiniest squirrel species, the aptly named "pygmy squirrel," which measures just a few inches in length.
2. The decision to abolish the army in 1948 was not only a move towards peace but also stemmed from a unique circumstance: after a brief civil war, the victorious side opted to invest in education and healthcare instead of maintaining military forces.
3. While many know about Costa Rica's active volcanoes, few realize that the country also hosts one of the world's few accessible underwater volcanic vents, known as "Black Smoke" or "Black Smokers," found off its Pacific coast.
4. Costa Rica boasts an intriguing legend surrounding the Blue Morpho butterfly: some indigenous communities believe that encountering a Blue Morpho brings good luck and symbolizes a visit from departed loved ones.
5. Beyond its reputation for relaxation, "Pura Vida" is also a philosophy deeply ingrained in Costa Rican culture, encouraging individuals to embrace life's simple pleasures and prioritize happiness over material wealth.
6. In the highlands of Costa Rica, where coffee is cultivated, there exists a tradition known as "La Fiesta del Tigre," or "The Festival of the Tiger," where locals dress in elaborate costumes to celebrate the coffee harvest.
7. Costa Rica's commitment to ecotourism extends to innovative initiatives such as "sustainable surfing," where surfers are encouraged to protect coastal ecosystems and minimize their environmental impact.
8. One of Costa Rica's hidden gems for wildlife enthusiasts is the chance to witness the annual "massive moth migration," where millions of moths undertake a synchronized journey across the country's forests.
9. In addition to its renowned Pacific whale watching, Costa Rica offers a unique experience on its Caribbean coast: the chance to spot the elusive West Indian Manatee, one of the world's rarest marine mammals.
10. While many are familiar with Costa Rica's stunning waterfalls, few know about the "Cave of Wonders," a hidden cave behind the La Fortuna Waterfall believed by locals to hold mystical properties.
11. Costa Rica's commitment to conservation extends to its urban areas, where innovative projects such as vertical gardens and rooftop forests are transforming cityscapes into thriving ecosystems.
12. Hidden within Costa Rica's dense rainforests are ancient petroglyphs, some dating back thousands of years, offering clues to the country's pre-Columbian civilizations and their connection to nature.
13. Costa Rica's hummingbird diversity extends beyond the colorful species commonly seen by tourists; it also includes the secretive "Sapphire-throated hummingbird," known for its iridescent plumage and elusive nature.
14. Costa Rica's quest for carbon neutrality is not limited to energy; the country is also pioneering sustainable transportation initiatives, including the development of electric-powered "eco-buses" in urban centers.
15. While the oxcart tradition is celebrated, few know about the "Festival of Oxen," an annual event in rural communities where elaborately decorated oxcarts are paraded through the streets in a colorful spectacle.
16. Within the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve lies a hidden wonder: the "Enchanted Tree," a centuries-old strangler fig believed by locals to possess mystical powers and serve as a guardian of the forest.
17. Costa Rica's longevity secrets extend beyond diet and lifestyle; some communities attribute their longevity to the healing properties of indigenous plants, which are used in traditional medicines passed down through generations.

17/06/2024

Costa Rica Wildlife: Meet the Central American Spider Monkey!
Some animals seem perfectly designed for their environments. Dolphins’ streamlined bodies appear excellently adapted to slipping through the waves just as magnificent frigatebirds’ long wings make it look as though they could fly forever. The same could be said for today’s featured creature, the Central American spider monkey. They move through the treetops with such grace and ease, it’s almost as though their bodies were designed for it. Spoiler alert! That’s because they are.

Central American spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) are also known as black-handed spider monkeys and Geoffroy’s spider monkey. The scientific name and one of the common names include Geoffroy as a reference to an old-timey French naturalist whose name you can find attached to several species of wild creatures. The Spanish names that I’ve come across in Costa Rica are mono araña and mono colorado.

These monkeys spend the majority of their time in the upper levels of the forest. Much of the time they spend up there is in search of something to eat. Though they eat things like flowers, bark, insects, and honey, the large majority of their diet is made up of fruit. They are the most frugivorous (fruit eating) of Costa Rica’s four species of monkey, with fruit making up between seventy to eighty percent of their diet.

The problem with relying on fruit as a major food source is that there is often a ton of distance between one fruiting tree and another, requiring a lot of movement. Central American spider monkeys have physical and social adaptations to just this sort of lifestyle. Physically, their arms and tails are designed to swing them through the forest canopy with ease. Their arms are long and powerful, and their hands have long fingers and lack a thumb, giving them a hook shape that allows them to swing from one branch to another.

Their long prehensile tail has a leathery pad on the underside at the tip that aids in gripping branches and allows the tail to function like another arm. Socially, they have adapted to their sporadically located food by breaking up their large groups of 20 to 40 individuals into smaller ones, allowing them to spread out and more efficiently locate fruit trees.

Central American spider monkeys are my favorite species of monkey. I think they are generally awesome looking. I like the way they move through the treetops. And I love how upset they get when they see me walking below them on the forest floor, aggressively shaking branches and yelling at me.

I worked closely with two female spider monkeys during my time at a wildlife rehabilitation and release center. Every morning they would greet me with a squeaking noise and a kissy face which I happily returned. I often fed them by placing small pieces of fruit in a sort of disc-shaped puzzle where they would have to rotate a disc with a small hole in it to line it up properly with the food recipient below. It was a more interesting way for them to feed themselves as compared to an open bowl of food, and they excelled at it.

About the Author
Vincent Losasso, founder of Guanacaste Wildlife Monitoring, is a biologist who works with camera traps throughout Costa Rica. Learn more about his projects on facebook or instagram. You can also email him at: [email protected]

Camera trap videos of Central American spider monkeys in Costa Rica

09/06/2024

Southwest Airlines Inaugurates Direct Route from Orlando to San Jose!

Southwest Airlines inaugurates a new daily direct route between Costa Rica and Orlando, offering convenient non-stop flights

08/06/2024

It’s whale season! These beautiful giants swim in the bay below Villa Temenos and all along the southern coast. Dominical Information is your personal concierge service when you stay at Villa Temenos!

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24/03/2024

https://youtu.be/UKNvzQTlo4opp

"Sunday Morning" takes us among the colorful birds in the jungle near San Jose, Costa Rica. Videographer: Judith Lehmberg."CBS News Sunday Morning" features ...

24/03/2024

Nature: Birds of Costa Rica

25/12/2023

Merry Christmas, from all of us at Villa Temenos!!! Come visit us again!