Guest Hook Travel Guides Costa Rica's Southern Zone | Page 4

ELLEN’S REAL SOUTHERN ZONE...

Like many of the world travelers who come to live
here, Ojochal has captured our hearts. It's a remarkably
unique community with so much to offer. Canadian,
American and European expatriates have joined with
the local villagers (“Ticos”) in creating a cooperative,
culturally-rich neighborhood that values self-reliance
and community spirit among friends and neighbors.

Swing at the end for the truly adventurous!), snorkeling,
whale watching or sport fishing.

During our early visits, when our villa was being
built, we met friendly, welcoming locals and wonderful
neighbors, fellow adventurers who had travelled the
world and chosen to settle here, and were introduced to
the hidden gems (more of those throughout this guide!).
This is the typical culture around these parts!

You can visit Manuel Antonio National Park or the
Osa Peninsula and Corcovado National Park to explore
the most pristine rainforest in Costa Rica.

The south Pacific coast is renowned for its
dramatic landscapes where the mountains meet the
ocean. Here you will find a series of beaches to explore
and enjoy, each with its own unique character. The one
you don’t want to miss, Playa Ventana, is the best and
most secluded, yet only 10 minutes from Villa Mariposa.
We like to think of it as our private beach because there
have been so many times we have had it to ourselves.
OK, so sometimes it gets pretty busy... you may have
“crowds” of as many as a dozen people in the afternoon!!

The area had been isolated for years until the
new highway was completed. The development is more
controlled than in the northern part which has had a
great influx of tourists over the years. You can easily take
advantage of the nearby series of beaches each with its
own unique character, hiking trails through the jungle,
go birdwatching, zip lining (with an optional Tarzan

I highly recommend horseback riding to Nauyaca
Falls and a swim in the jungle pool at the base. You can
even climb up the waterfall with a rope and dive into the
natural pool!

We adore great food and it’s wonderful to be
living minutes away from Ojochal, which is becoming the
culinary center of Costa Rica. We're able to experience
dining out at 5 star French, Mediterranean and Indonesian
restaurants in the jungle! Exotica is a perfect example - a
small exquisite restaurant down a dirt road through the
jungle serving a gourmet dining experience worthy of our
experiences in Paris (you must meet Lucy and Bob - let
them know you are guests of Ellen and Bernie).

And then there's the fresh fish... on Fridays the
fisherman brings his cooler with fresh fish to the main
entrance of Ojochal and sets up near the bar or variety
store around 9AM. Get there by 9:30 for the great tuna
steaks which you can bring home and cook on the
BBQ, whilst enjoying your favorite chilled beverage! On
Saturdays the fisherman is at the Uvita farmers market
which is 20 minutes from the villa, north of Ojochal.

All of this adds up to something which I would call
the Real Southern Zone!