Welcome to the blog diary of life at Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat. Running a B&B is fun and day to day life here in Costa Rica is never boring. Find out what it takes to become one of the best places to stay in Costa Rica! We are constantly number one or number two on Trip Advisor.

Adventure Games- Costa Rica provides the perfect novelty for any tourist looking for a souvenir to capture the moments of their vacation.  Costa Rica Adventure board game was inspired by Steve and Debbie and brought to reality by Debbie’s daughter, Madeline Hanson. Great Job! Created and manufactured in Costa Rica. www.adventuregamessite.com. You will find the game in many gift shops in the Sarchi, Grecia, Poaz, Fortuna and Monteverde area.

Great shot of these Caimens on the Rio Frio near Cano Negro Reserve

This photo was taken by Berni and Nhi, our friends and fellow inn owners. Their place the Pura Vida Hotel near the San Jose Airport is a favorite stop at the beginning and end of any stay in Costa Rica.  Berni and Nhi came for a stay at Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat and enjoyed the day with our guide, Enrique, cruising up and down the Rio Fri in the Cano Negro area.

It may not look like much now, but our new restaurant, at Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat, is coming along well and will be open by December! We are working on a unique menu, using  fresh, locally grown foods to create a blend of Costa Rican flavor for our guests.

We tried a new entre last night, Corbinetta ( a mild white fish) with Ginger Lime Sauce, Que Rico! For an appetizer, Black Bean Cakes with jalapeno Cilantro Sour Cream Yummy!

We are planning a solar/wind laundry drying room and a volcano with a flame created with methane gas from the waste water system.

We have been working with Proyecto Asis to use Leaves and Lizards as an intermediary release center for wild animals that need what is called a “soft release” back into the rain forest. A soft release is a type of release that help’s ease an animal that has been in captivity for an extended period of time back into the wild. Providing food, shelter and a safety during this gradual process. On Thursday the MINAE gave us permission to serve as a release center for a pair of Spider Monkeys. The monkeys have been at Asis for about a month and are ready to potentially be able to be released back into the wild.  We will provide the food, safety and shelter for the monkeys as they get used to the forest. If they continue to need the care we are providing them they will still be able to enjoy the patch of forest near their cage in the day and come back to the safety of the cage at night. It is an experiment, we will look forward to working with the experts to find the best way to provide a good and as normal as possible quality of life for these two monkeys. The goal is to see them join another troop of wild monkeys.

Our Vinculo con Caballo students are doing great! Take a look!

Finca Vista 42

Once in a while you find a great deal! We found one…it will be just right for someone…

This 20 acres farm near the town of Venado, about 30 minutes from Leaves and Lizards,  has an incredible view of 4 volcanoes: Arenal, Tenorio, Miravelles, Rincon de la Vieja and 2 countries, Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

It comes with it’s own Costa Rica company. Legally, it is clean and tidy, ready for a new owner.

$120,000. Please contact us for more information at:  leavesandlizards@gmail.com

Situated in an ideal location and altitude

Views of the most active side of Arenal

View of the pond and volcanoes toward the northwest

View of 3 volcanos Tenorio, Miravelles, Rincon de la Vijea

Follow Jose and Titan’s  Progress and meet Yirlany and Gitana

We have started construction of our new restaurant to be competed by December. By Christmas ‘09 we will be have 8 lodging options for our guests…it was time to expand in order to provide our guests with the best quality service and best experience in the Fortuna area around the Arenal Volcano.  Check out the view!

What a View it will have!

What a View it will have!

Watch the first therapeutic horseback riding lesson at Leaves and Lizards.

Howard D. returned to Leaves and Lizards for his third visit in March.  We think one day, Howard may come and never return to the cold North…..he took some great photos on his trip this year.

Check out the Rio Celeste Waterfall. .

Rio Celeste Waterfall Costa Rica