Montezuma Gardens

Hammockville!

ryan — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 20:53:10 +0000

We are constantly trying to improve our little slice of heaven on earth here at the Butterfly Gardens in Montezuma. This year we made an addition to the Hammock area. There are 4 places to lay at rest and read a book or have a nice siesta.

Bed and Breakfast face lift!

ryan — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:35:57 +0000

The beginning the the dry season in Costa Rica always brings new spark to life here. Tourists flood in from every corner of the world. Christmas and the new years bring families together to share this tropical paradise on the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. And for us, it brought a face lift to the Bed and Breakfast.

The color Scoria compliments the green foliage and really turned our cozy B&B into a vibrant rejuvenation of life. We hope that many people will come to enjoy our happy slice of heaven.

Kleen Kanteen

ryan — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 15:09:51 +0000

In en effort to reduce the amount of plastic water bottles used in the area we are now offering one free 18oz Kleen Kanteen stainless steel BPA free water bottle with your room stay. Also, free Agua Cristal water to fill your new bottle during your stay!

In 2004 Klean Kanteen® created the first BPA-free metal bottle for personal hydration to give consumers a safe, reusable alternative to the polycarbonate and lined aluminum bottles on the market. We are proud to help distribute healthy re-usable water bottles to our clients and guests.

Agua Cristal

ryan — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 00:43:48 +0000

We now offer free filtered water with your stay at the Mariposario! In an effort to reduce the amount of non re-usable plastic water bottles, we are now offering complimentary 18oz Kleen Kanteen water bottles with your room rental. During your stay at the butterfly garden you will be able to fill your stainless steel food grade re-usable water bottle with clean fresh filtered water from Agua Cristal free of charge. Come and stay with us in Montezuma and let us be your gateway to Costa Rica!

Jungle Living

ryan — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 23:16:49 +0000

I have to constantly pinch myself while living here in Costa Rica. Am I really here? Is this really happening? It is, and I love it. Everything is surreal and you are constantly in perpetual motion. As soon as one project finishes the next appears. It keeps you on your toes and it keeps you young. The sun fills you with joy and warmth everyday and the moon completes you with stillness and peace. A constant compliment of twelve hours each to give you total balance. I love Costa Rica!

Sunsets

ryan — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 22:03:38 +0000

Well, its Sunday and it is the first day it isn’t raining in well, the last week or so. Still it is very overcast and threatening to dump buckets at any second. So I thought it would be nice to talk about the times when it isn’t raining. We have some of the most amazing sunsets here in Montezuma. And when we are lucky, they are followed by the most amazing moon rises over the Pacific Ocean. Just a short 25 minute drive from here and you are on the other side of the Nicoya Peninsula where Santa Theresa and Mal Pais are located. Some of the funnest things to do here is spend the day in Santa Theresa and enjoy the sunset. On a clear day the sun falls, melting into the ocean and at just the moment it is about to disappear, if you are lucky, you will see a green flash. Now this doesn’t happen all of the time but it does happen and it is amazing. The picture that you see here was taken by a good friend of mine on his way to the Nicoya Peninsula while on the ferry to Paquera. If you are lucky enough to be arriving in the evening(which most people do) try to catch the 5 pm ferry. Here you will see the amazing sunset over the mountains of the Nicoya Peninsula. It makes the ferry ride just that much more enjoyable. Pura Vida!

Diaethria Marchalii

ryan — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 21:16:49 +0000

This beautiful butterfly is most commonly encountered near human habitations, where it is a familiar sight to see individuals perched head down on buildings. Its association with human habitation is most likely due to the fact the host plant is a common secondary-succession tree species with a very wide distribution in Costa Rica. Although the butterfly is widespread and common in Costa Rica, away from human habitations it is found as solitary individuals and never with the great abundance seen in other species. Both sexes feed on the juices of rotting fruits and sewage, and the males visit water seepage and wet laundry. Its closely related cousin Callicore pitheas or “pura vida” butterfly is often seen here at Mariposario Montezuma Gardens.

Whiptail Lizard

ryan — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 20:03:19 +0000

At the butterfly garden in Montezuma we have to remove all predators to keep our Mariposas safe. The 5 most commanly found lizards in the garden are the Black Iguana, Green Iguana, Anole, Skink and the Whiptail Lizard.

The whiptail lizard, or Ameiva festiva, can be found from Southern Mexico to Columbia. The ameiva genus contains about 30 different species. Certain species of whiptail lizards reproduce by parthenogenesis, a form of asexual reproduction. Whiptail lizards and many other lizards carry the bacteria Salmonella so be sure to wash your hands if you happen to handle one of these guys.

Coconut milk!

ryan — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 18:18:02 +0000

Since moving to Montezuma, Costa Rica in 2005 I have been exposed to a number of new healthy alternatives to cows milk, sugar and processed foods in general. With an abundance of fresh fruit and veggies year round it is very easy to live and eat healthy.

One of the many alternatives to cows milk is coconut milk. I find this to be very savory in coffee and in almost all of my baked goods like plantain bread, pancakes, French toast, cookies ect., ect..

Since coconuts are in abundance here it is very easy to make your own coconut milk. First you have to remove the nut from the husk. This can be difficult but with the help of a very sharp machete, that we always have around, things move on a bit quicker. Once you have done that you must remove the coconut water. You can either drink this water or use it to make your coconut milk. Once the water is removed you have to remove the meat or the white stuff that is in the coconut. This is also a bit tricky and tedious but it is done with a lot of care and a sharp little knife. When that is all removed you place the coconut meat inside of a blender with your coconut water or distilled water. Mix and strain through a colindar or cheese cloth. Voila, homemade coconut milk!

One of the many alternatives to cows milk is coconut milk. I find this to be very savory in coffee and in almost all of my baked goods like plantain bread, pancakes, French toast, cookies ect., ect..

Luckily, coconuts are in abundance at the beach and is very easy to make your own coconut milk from them. First you have to remove the nut from the husk. This can be difficult but with the help of a very sharp machete, that we always have around, things move on a bit quicker. Once you have done that you must remove the coconut water. You can either drink this water or use it to make your coconut milk. Once the water is removed you have to remove the meat or the white stuff that is in the coconut. This is also a bit tricky and tedious but it is done with a lot of care and a sharp little knife. When that is all removed you place the coconut meat inside of a blender with your coconut water or distilled water. Mix and strain through a colander or cheese cloth. Voila, homemade coconut milk!

Lobster anyone?

ryan — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 18:18:10 +0000

Summer and I went to watch the soccer games on Saturday and I noticed Pedro was selling Lobsters. We couldn’t resist and bought ourselves 4 giant lobsters. This particular Lobster that you see here on the Nicoya Peninsula is called the Spiny Lobster. They have a couple of obvious differences from your true lobster. Spiny lobsters have no claws and have much longer antennae. They mainly live in warm tropical waters on rocky coastlines. So while here in Montezuma you can surf, snorkel, Scuba Dive, fish and eat lobsters! Buen Provecho!