Tortuga Island

Tortuga Island is a haven of beauty and serenity lying off the Southern-west peak of the Gulf of Nicoya
Peninsula. The peninsula is known as abode of natural tranquility and buzz in the shape of fabulous
beaches by the Pacific Ocean and tropical rain-forests. Towns like Mal Pais, Montezuma and Santa Teresa
have recently become holiday hotspot. Surfers, sports-enthusiasts, naturists, families and couples all
retreat to Costa Rica for a memorable and adventurous time. Tortuga Island is an enticing hideaway with
a promise of surroundings of luscious nature and amazing sports opportunities. The island is covered by
a sheet of silver sand punctuated with dancing coconut trees and palm trees and rimmed by an endless
azure lagoon. Either have a sporty day out there or simply succumb into the relaxing zone.

There are numerous agencies and accommodations’ concierges that arrange tours to Tortuga Island by a boat
trip. The boat commonly travels from Jaco and Puntarenas and is an exhilarating and beauteous 90 minutes
ride. In the beginning, the boat cruises along the bay and give tourists a chance to view a delightful
scene of roughened volcanic rocks, red-colored rocks, fawn crystals of sand, oysters, and colorful
pieces of crushed shells lining the borders of the shore. Once you have reached the island, you will be
greeted by a curtain of tropical beauty at its best. The long sunny days are perfect for all sorts of
activities; swimming, snorkeling, water biking, kayaking, getting on a glass bottom
boat,  hiking the trails on the mounts, exploring the forests, playing a fun game of
volleyball, going on a canopy tour, zipping through the tree tops, watching the birds and having a
leisurely picnic. Scuba diving and snorkeling are the main activities that lure the travelers to the
island. The exclusive spots are pierced by the right amount of the sun-rays and are protected by a
barrier of volcanic rocks and reef. One can admire the mystical marine life up close. Watch the
sting-rays, manta-rays, reef sharks, octopuses, spotted eagle rays, playful spinner dolphins, morays,
needle fishes and angel fishes go about their own business. The clear and warm waters around Tortuga
Island are blessed with a diverse range of species. If the trip is on your luckiest day, you might see a
humpback whale seafaring around the waters. For hikers, follow the trail up to the top of the hill and
from there, take in the abstracts of the ocean far below.

After hours of adventures and animated fun, take out
your baskets of appetizing food and eat under the sunny clime and the warm breeze of ocean. Often, the
tour organizers prepare a picnic for everyone. If you are on a romantic retreat, take a stroll by the
sugary-white coast of the isle and renew the romance. Enjoy the picturesque views infinite waters, and
the spectacles of dazzling sunsets. As the sun goes down, a serene boar ride will take you back to the
beach of Montezuma.

 

Getting Around Santa Teresa and Mal Pais

 

In Mal Pais and Santa Teresa, there are several choices for moving between places. Travelers have options
like rental cars, private vans, minivans, boats, ferries, shuttles, public bus, and even horses!
Depending on a route, budget, and length of stay, travelers can either choose one of them or their
combination.

Rental Cars

Rentals cars are often preferred by the tourists as they offer full privacy and freedom over the course
of traveling. There are quite a few numbers of services of rental cars in Mal Pais and Santa Teresa
regions of Costa Rica. However, some of them can trick you into paying more than necessary. Budget, Bego
and Terios are the recommended companies for rental cars. They will cost no more than a shuttle service
and provides better control over your plans. These companies are allotted with all sorts of
cars suiting the budget of travelers. Furthermore, the owners of cars are residents of Costa
Rica and they know their way around. Several roads of Mal Pais and Santa Teresa are rough and of dirt,
and the rental agencies’ owners are the best judges to let the renters know what kind of car will best
suit the roads and their needs. There are agencies by the airport and other local areas. They
become a big help if a car broke down on the way and allows you to swap them, thus preventing you from
hassle. Now coming on to the rates, the lowest price you can pay for a car is 70 to 90 dollars per day
depending on the season. The prices are high due to the rough roads which often cause the travelers to
damage them. In wet seasons, a 4WD is recommended while in dry ones, a 2WD is convenient. The
car is ideal for visitors living in the houses on the hills. If they are residing in other parts of the
town, they may not need the car. Moreover, there are numerous enticing places in Santa Teresa and Mal
Pais like waterfalls, beaches, nature reserves parks, bars and restaurants, so having a car also mean
you can head over anywhere anytime. Also, it is safe to drive in Mal Pais and Santa Teresa.

 

Public Buses

There is a daily public bus service to Mal Pais from San Jose. One advantage of buses is that the tickets
are cheap. They cost about 7 US dollars per person. Another benefit is that the buses cover most of the
places in the towns. However, all the buses take their routes from San Jose, and
this quality is often found to be inconvenient by the tourists as it adds considerable
time to their travel. Also, on busy days, one may have a hard time finding an empty seat.

 

Private Taxi

A private taxi can be hired to take you around the town. It will cost around 200 US dollars.

 

 Shuttles/Mini-buses

Shuttle comes to the rescue for those cannot    or do not want to drive. It is
an allocated, air-conditioned mini-bus or a coaster that differ from public buses as the seats are
reserved in advance. Shuttle service costs 45 to 50 US dollars.

 

 

 

Languages Spoken in Mal Pais and Santa Teresa

In Costa Rica, the cardinal language generally spoken is Spanish. The principal newspapers, magazines,
news castings and most of the major authorized affairs are conveyed in Spanish. As the area has been
lately becoming a holiday hotspot, the visitors have cast quite an influence on the usage of English
language. The international visitors, workers of rental agencies, airport employees, concierge of
hotels, and staff of Bed and Breakfast, villas and rental houses are found to be bilingual, that is they
have mastered the fluency English and Spanish.  Such bilingualism will be usually seen in the
areas which are populated by foreigners and vacationers in popular vacation destinations such Mal Pais,
Montezuma or Santa Teresa

 

There are numerous Costa Rican expressions that may be confusing to the foreigners

– For example, the word Ma’e (pronounced as my) is used as a kindred to the English word “dude”, but it
actually means ‘idiot’. This expression is commonly used affectionately among ticos friends and
families. (Tico, Ticos in plural, is a word used for natives of Costa Rica)

– Another well-known expression, Pura vida, when translated in English means ‘Pure Life’ (pronounced as
Poora Veeda’).  This is an expression which is widespreadly used by the natives of Costa Rica.
It can be used for several purposes.  For example, it is most often used in contexts such as
expressions of gaiety, excitement, greetings, toasting, enthusiasm, approval, support and so on.

– Pulperia means a shop, rather a general store.

– Tuanis is akin to the English word ‘okay” and ‘cool’.  It is derived from the English word
‘too much nice’.
In Costa Rica and other Latin American regions, a regnant version of slang language in Costa Rica is
mostly used which is known as ‘pachuco’ or ‘pachuquismo’. It is acknowledged as anamiable way of
speaking, and is a predominant way of communicating between friends and families in most social
classes of Costa Rica.

The word ‘vos’ (you or vos sos that means you are) and tu
(also means you) are informal words used among the citizens of Costa Rica, Uruguay,  Argentina
and many other Latin American countries. When being formal, the ticas make use of the word ‘Regalo mi’
which translate into ‘gift me’ instead of more informal, get me.

 

 

Limonense Creolé

Along with Costa Rican Spanish, in several areas, especially in Puerto Limon, a province
of  Costa Rica on Caribbean sea side, a different English-based creole language. It is known
as Limónese Creole (it is also called as Limón Creole English and Mekatelyu).  It has many
versions such as Colón Creole, Mískito Coastal Creole, Belizean Kriol language, and San Andrés and
Providencia Creole.

 

Following are the essential expressions that will help you get around the towns:

Yes: Si

No: No

Please: Por favor

Thank you: Gracias

You’re welcome: De Nada

Excuse me: Disculpe

How do I get there? :         ¿Cómo voy hasta ahí?

How much is it?:     ¿Cuánto cuesta?

Where is the restroom? :       ¿Dónde están los baños?

Where is the closest gas station?:    ¿Donde está la gasolinera más

próxima?

I’m
lost:                              Me
he perdido.

Can you show me on the map:   ¿Me lo puede señalar en el mapa?