Superfoods you need to know about for healthy living

What do a tomato, blueberry, onion and dark chocolate have in common?

They are "superfoods," so-called by doctors and nutrition and health experts for their amazing beneficial properties that can help you keep the right weight, fight off heart disease and cancer, live longer, and even put you in a better mood.

You don't need specific foods for specific ailments, reports WebMD. A healthy diet incorporating a variety of these easy-to-find superfoods will work fine to improve your overall health. One thing they all have in common: Every superfood is a real, whole (unprocessed) food.

Just a few generations ago, in the Western world, everyone cooked with whole, fresh foods. Packaged and processed foods didn't exist back then. Mothers and grandmothers used to know how to cure common ailments with tinctures of garlic and other herbs, or homemade chicken soup, and other natural remedies.

Though they are the latest trend in holistic nutrition, superfoods' healing properties have been tested by science. They contain high concentrations of important nutrients, and many are low in calories. Foods containing these nutrients have been proven to help prevent and, in some cases, reverse the effects of aging, including cardiovascular disease, Type II Diabetes, hypertension and certain cancers, studies show.

Just about every brightly colored fruit and vegetable fits the category of a superfood. So do nuts, beans, seeds and aromatic and brightly-colored herbs and spices. The beneficial properties of each one of these superfoods could fill an entire book. Vegetables should ideally be organic, for even more benefit, say experts.

Make superfoods part of your regular, daily routine and enjoy your new healthier life!

Top Super Healthy Superfoods:

• Apples
• Avocados
• Beans
• Blueberries
• Broccoli
• Cinnamon
• Coconut oil
• Dark Chocolate (60% or more cocoa content)
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Honey
• Kiwi
• Oats
• Onions (especially red onions)
• Oranges
• Pomegranate
• Pumpkin
• Salmon
• Soy
• Spinach
• Tea (green or black)
• Tomatoes
• Turkey
• Walnuts
• Yogurt (light or low-fat)

Complete list of superfoods at: http://www.superfoodsrx.com/superfoods/

Healthy Living

Healthy living describes Costa Rica's community of Nosara perfectly. The cosmopolitan community there on the Pacific Coast of the Nicoya Peninsula is known for yoga centers, surfing and a laid-back lifestyle. Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula also is renowned as a "Blue Zone" for long-living.

One of the finest places to stay in Nosara is L'acqua Viva Resort & Spa. The hotel's name means "live water," and water is a key element flowing through and around the spectacular Bali-style architecture. Gardens of exotic plants and flowers add color to the picture.

L'acqua Viva borders the Nosara Coastal Forest Preserve and Wildlife Refuge, and is a short one kilometer walk to a fine white sand beach. Ostional National Wildlife Refuge, where Olive Ridley, Leatherback and Pacific Green Sea Turtles come to nest, is a 15-minute drive away. L'acqua Viva is part of the Enchanting Hotels group of Costa Rica.

By Shannon Farley

La Casa de la Aventura es Costa Rica

Situado en la provincia de Guanacaste, en el Pacífico norte de Costa Rica, se yergue el Rincón de la Vieja. Es el volcán más grande en la región noroeste del país. Con una altura de 1.915 metros, la caldera posee 15 Km. de ancho. Es un sitio considerado como lugar místico y sagrado según la antigua tribu curubandé. Asimismo, el parque nacional circundante fue declarado Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la UNESCO en 1999.

Esta zona sirvió de escenario para la prueba de ciclismo de montaña «Rincón de la Vieja Challenge». En dicho evento deportivo, el representante de Portugal, Luis Leão Pinto, se coronó ganador. La competición inició desde el hotel Hacienda Guachipelín (en las cercanías del área protegida) y concluyó el pasado domingo 24 de agosto. En total, tuvo una distancia de 100 millas (160,9 kilómetros) y fue la primera de su tipo en América Latina. Según sus organizadores, es el único recorrido que da vueltas a un volcán activo.

En medio de este entorno, un grupo de ciclistas internacionales pusieron a prueba sus habilidades y resistencia, atravesando cinco tipos de microclimas. Recorrieron desde planicies áridas, bosques nublados exuberantes y ríos; hasta el famoso volcán Miravalles. Por ese motivo, se incluyeron pistas de tierra, caminos de barro rojo, senderos de roca volcánica y tramos en suave piedra caliza

.

Por eso, los amantes de la adrenalina se sentirán muy a gusto en la zona de Guanacaste. Específicamente el hotel Hacienda Guachipelín es el lugar para alojarse en las cercanías de Rincón de la Vieja y disfrutar de unas vacaciones activas. Situado 25 Km. al noreste de Liberia, la capital de la región, resulta ideal para vivir la aventura en medio de la naturaleza. Las actividades son variadas aunque con un factor común: un ambiente propio de hacienda ganadera costarricense.

Leer Más : http://www.guachipelin.com/blog/?p=921

Por: Andrés Figueroa Vásquez.

Costa Rica’s next clean energy solution?

Long, fat, round pipes in dark brown and off-white snake along the rust red ground through the underbrush. They remind me of giant worms from some prehistoric setting … though not quite like that terrible 1990 movie Tremors.

The pipes belong to the Pailas Geothermal Power Plant at the Rincón de la Vieja Volcano in Costa Rica's northwestern Guanacaste region. As the world investigates alternative energy solutions that are sustainable and not harmful to the environment, Costa Rica is actively exploring its own clean energy options.

The small Central American nation currently produces more than 90% of its electricity from renewable sources, mostly hydroelectric projects. However, hydroelectric power is weather-dependent, and during the driest months of summer it is stretched to its limits when water reserves are low. Wind turbine technology is being installed in many places as one solution. The Ad Astra Rocket Company, founded by famous Costa Rican astronaut and scientist Franklin Chang, in Liberia, Guanacaste, is researching the possibility to extract hydrogen from water also to produce renewable energy.

Costa Rica has a plentiful resource however that is largely untapped – volcanic geothermal energy. Geothermal power uses underground steam from volcanoes. The energy is harnessed by drawing hot water and steam from within the Earth's crust, and then cooling it to move power turbines. An advantage of geothermal power is that it is continuously generated, and not dependent on weather conditions.

Being on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," Costa Rica is bursting with volcanoes. So far, the North Volcanic Mountain Ridge in Guanacaste has been the ideal region for geothermal power generation, with its Rincón de la Vieja, Miravalles and Tenorio volcanoes. The Miravalles Geothermal Field, which consists of five plants, produces nearly 14% of the National Electrical System's (SEN) capacity; it opened in 1994.

The Pailas Geothermal Power Plant opened in July 2011 just outside the Pailas section of the Rincón de la Vieja National Park. The 600,000-year-old Rincón de La Vieja Volcano is the largest volcano in Costa Rica's northwest region. "Pailas" means cauldrons, and a hike in the national park will show you why this area is so popular for geothermal energy; steam pours out of fumaroles, sulfur lagoons boil with minerals, and volcanic mud pits bubble and spit.

At present, Costa Rica's Legislative Assembly is debating a bill that would allow exploration and production of geothermal energy inside the Rincón de la Vieja National Park. Costa Rica has a law that prohibits the extraction of resources from national parks, so lawmakers would either have to modify park boundaries and add territory somewhere else to compensate, or reform the National Parks Law.

Conservationists and officials with the Costa Rica Electricity Institute (ICE) are working to implement environmental considerations to plans for the geothermal plant to minimize impact. While Costa Rica's volcanoes are a huge wellspring for geothermal energy, most are located within national parks, which were created to protect natural resources. For instance, the 11,000-hectare Rincón de la Vieja National Park and the neighboring Guanacaste Conservation Area have been declared a "World Heritage Site" by the United Nations. It will be a big step forward for Costa Rica if the country can create better sustainable clean energy solutions while at the same time protect the natural resources it has worked so hard to preserve.

Visit Rincón de la Vieja

Hotel Hacienda Guachipelín is the ideal place to stay when visiting Rincón de la Vieja Volcano. The first-class ecotourism lodge is a leading adventure and nature tours center, offering canopy zip lines, canyoning, waterfall rappelling, river tubing, horseback riding, nature trails, and natural thermal springs – all on a working horse and cattle ranch.

Hacienda Guachipelín offers guided hikes in the Pailas section of the Rincón de la Vieja National Park; you will visit the outside of the Pailas Geothermal Power Plant on this tour.

By Shannon Farley

Southern Costa Rica offers world-class Pacific fishing.

I remember the first time I caught a needlefish. Its electric blue teeth and skeleton (seen upon filleting) were a shocking surprise. The needlefish is tricky to catch given its long, narrow jaws filled with needle-sharp teeth (hence, its name) that usually cut fishing line like dental floss. Once you have one, though, they are really tasty – especially fried in olive oil and garlic for a finger snack!

I caught my first needlefish, my first blackfin tuna, and my first red snapper all in the placid blue waters of Costa Rica's Golfo Dulce (Sweet Gulf) while staying at the Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge. I must confess, I am not a fishing expert, but in these waters I think anyone can catch a fish.

The Pacific Ocean in Southern Costa Rica is one of the best fishing spots in the world. Offshore in the deep water, people come from all over the world to catch Yellowfin Tuna, Mahi Mahi (Dorado in Spanish), Marlin and Sailfish. Inside the calm, pristine Golfo Dulce, inshore fishing is spectacular with snapper, snook, jack, roosterfish, bonito, barracuda, needlefish, blackfin tuna and mackerel ready for the catch.

The Golfo Dulce is one of only three tropical fjords in the world; with depths exceeding 200 meters in the inner basin, it is one of the deepest. It lies between the Osa Peninsula to the west and the southern Pacific region of Costa Rica to the east. The Gulf's waters are sheltered from the open ocean by a shallow 60-meter shelf at its southern end. It is an area of tremendous biodiversity, and home to the virgin rainforest of the Piedras Blancas National Park.

Resident and migratory communities of Bottlenose Dolphins, Spotted Dolphins and Spinner Dolphins live here. Sea turtles swim in these blue-green waters, and migrating humpback whales visit from the Southern Hemisphere in August and September.

Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge is perfectly positioned on the inner Gulf, backing right up to the National Park's dense forests and coastal mountains. Fresh fish is caught daily and served at lunch and dinner. Catch a fish as a guest and you'll probably be snacking on the tasty morsels during happy hour or feasting at dinner. The award-winning ecolodge offers a variety of fishing opportunities – ranging from dropping a line right off Playa Nicuesa's pier to kayak fishing to deep sea sportfishing.

Playa Nicuesa's skilled boat captains and fishing guides know all of the Gulf's secret spots. If you go out trolling along the Gulf's shores, or in the brackish mangrove-filled waters of the Esquinas River, it will be by 24-foot "panga" boat with a 115-horsepower four-stroke engine. You also can paddle along the Gulf's rocky shoreline in kayaks equipped with fishing rod holders and see if you can snag a snapper or barracuda. Or stay right on the beach or pier at the lodge and learn from the local experts how to fish with a hand line. Best times to fish are early morning (6:00-8:00 a.m.) and just before sunset (4:00-6:00 p.m.), giving you calm waters, beautiful scenery and prime catching opportunities when fish are active and feeding.

Offshore sportfishing tours usually last a full day. It takes about 50 minutes to get to the mouth of the Pacific, and then you will go from five to 20 miles offshore.

Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge provides customized offshore and inshore fishing vacation packages. The lodge holds the highest "5-Leaf level" of Costa Rica's Certificate of Sustainable Tourism program, and is a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence winner. They feature nature and adventure tours, yoga classes and retreats, family vacations, and honeymoon trips.

By Shannon Farley

Travel changes the world for Costa Rican schoolchildren

Travel can change the world.

At least former U.S. President Bill Clinton thinks so. "The travel industry has the potential – and the responsibility – to spread peace and change the world," Clinton told travel executives while speaking at the World Travel & Tourism Council's 13th annual Global Summit in Abu Dhabi in April 2013.

Student travel organizations like EcoTeach and People to People also think so. The two U.S.-based educational student travel organizations promote global awareness, peace and cultural exchange with international educational trips for grades 5-12 and college students.

Here in Costa Rica, EcoTeach and People to People, along with the Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation, have partnered with Veragua Rainforest Research & Adventure to change the world for rural schoolchildren in Costa Rica's Caribbean region.

Veragua Rainforest Adopt-a-School Program

Veragua Rainforest is a nature and adventure park, and important scientific research center, an hour inland from the Caribbean port of Limón, in the foothills bordering the La Amistad International Park. The area is remote and very rural. People who live there subsist on farming or travel to work in banana or pineapple plantations; Veragua Rainforest has become one of the district's main employers.

Two tiny communities in the area – Brisas and the Union of the Peje River – each have their own elementary schools. Between 20 and 30 children attend each of the tiny, one-room schools. Facilities are simple – a large classroom, a dining hall, bathrooms, a small grassy area. In Costa Rica, students are required to wear school uniforms, which parents must provide; parents' also must pay for their children's school books and school supplies, such as pencils, notebooks, etc. In economy-strapped areas such as these, families often don't have such extra funds. The schools themselves struggle to meet ends meet as well. That's where Veragua Rainforest comes in with their social responsibility program and partners like EcoTeach, People to People and the Costa Rica Humanitarian Foundation.

EcoTeach

EcoTeach – based out of Washington, USA – operates regular educational trips to Costa Rica for high school, middle school and university students from the USA, Canada, and the UK. The organization focuses on hands-on conservation work, ecology and cultural exchange. They sponsor four schools in Costa Rica, said Costa Rica Operations Manager Carlos "Pika" Viquez.

For the past three years, EcoTeach has operated a 7-day Veragua Rainforest Service Trip that involves volunteering at the Brisas School. Over the years, visiting international student groups have helped build bathrooms, put in electricity and running water, installed new roofs and floors, painted buildings, and given the schoolchildren uniforms, books and school supplies.

"The conditions at the school were terrible. They didn't have running water or electricity. The school is very isolated and very few people live there," noted Viquez. "We wanted to help improve the facilities and improve the quality of the kids' education. What you see now is like a '5-star' school compared to what was there before. But every time I go there, I find something that needs to be done. It's a work in progress."

"Schools like this are not like schools in the States," Viquez continued. "The students who come to help feel very proud of the work they are contributing. Many of them ask us how they can help once they get back to their countries. A lot of returning groups ask to do more work at the school, and bring school supplies with them."

Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation

The Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation (CRHF) is a non-profit organization that manages more than 50 projects throughout the country involving education, community development, primary and preventive healthcare, and extensive support services for women, at-risk youth and indigenous groups.

Individuals and student groups from Canada, Europe and the United States volunteer with CRHF. Earlier this year students and teachers from the Robert Alexander McMath Secondary School in British Colombia, Canada, helped Veragua Rainforest give a much-needed facelift to the Union of the Peje River school. 

The visiting group painted murals on walls and the school's dining hall, upgraded the teacher's living quarters with a fresh coat of paint, installed new roofs, and cheered up pathways with trees planted in brightly painted old tires. Students also spent time at Veragua Rainforest in biology research labs, and had cultural exchange time with the Union of the Peje River school children.

People to People

Over the last three years, groups with the renowned U.S. educational student travel organization People to People also have helped Veragua Rainforest improve the Union of the Peje River school. Students have fixed bathrooms, varnished desks, planted trees, built sidewalks, and donated computers to the school. They even paid for a bicycle for the school director to use for transport to and from school.

People to People operates a 14-day trip to Costa Rica; two days are spent at Veragua Rainforest working on environmental research projects and helping at the local school.

By Shannon Farley

Politicas de biodiversidad en Costa Rica

A principios del mes de agosto, Costa Rica presentó un análisis acerca de la situación actual de la biodiversidad en su territorio. En él se incluyen los recursos genéticos que se emplean en la agricultura para producir alimentos y materias primas. Se comenzó así la actualización de la Estrategia Nacional de Biodiversidad 2014-2020 (ENB).

Según las declaraciones de la viceministra de Ambiente y Energía, Ana Lorena Guevara, se pretende cumplir con los compromisos internacionales adquiridos por el Estado costarricense. 

En primer término, se desea plasmar como parte del Plan Estratégico para la Diversidad Biológica 2011-2020. Asimismo, forma parte de las Metas de Aichi del 2010, adoptadas por la Conferencia de las Partes del Convenio de Diversidad Biológica en Japón. El convenio propone impulsar la conservación de los recursos de la biodiversidad, su utilización sostenible y la distribución justa y equitativa de los beneficios obtenidos por dicho uso.

El estudio comprobó que las amenazas al medio ambiente son múltiples. Se pueden citar, por ejemplo, el incremento de la población humana, sus patrones de uso y consumo. Esto degenera en contaminación, cambio de hábitats y sobreexplotación. A su vez, se crean las condiciones propicias para la variabilidad, el cambio climático y, consecuentemente, la penetración de especies invasoras.

Si bien entre el 2011 y el 2013 se reportaron 5.000 especies nuevas en Costa Rica, Guevara también hizo hincapié en algunos puntos negativos:

«Hemos venido perdiendo diversidad agrícola y por eso pensamos que dentro de la actualización de la ENB hay que establecer acciones concretas para la conservación de recursos fito y zoogenéticos, de cara a la alimentación del mundo», dijo.

La iniciativa fue puesta en marcha por el Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo (PNUD) con el patrocinio del Fondo para el Medio Ambiente Mundial (GEF, por sus siglas en inglés). Este proyecto se crea de forma participativa mediante consultas multisectoriales, un proceso apoyado por la oficina del Instituto Interamericano de Cooperación para la Agricultura (IICA).

De acuerdo a Marta Liliana Jiménez, directora ejecutiva de la oficina técnica de la Comisión Nacional para la Gestión de la Biodiversidad (CONAGEBio), el plan de actualización de la ENB se compone de tres etapas. En la primera parte se diagnostica el estado de la biodiversidad y su marco normativo. Posteriormente se establece una política y un proyecto de acción para implementar la estrategia. Al final se desarrollan los mecanismos de intercambio de información y el estudio económico de servicios ambientales de los ecosistemas.

«Como parte de las Metas de Aichi, Costa Rica debería tener lista la ENB para el 2015, así como un plan de acción eficaz y participativo», aseguró Jiménez.

En el caso costarricense, la vigilancia en el cumplimiento de las obligaciones les corresponde al CONAGEBio y al Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación (SINAC), órganos del Ministerio de Ambiente, Energía y Mares (MINAE). Tal cartera responde al interés gubernamental por la preservación del patrimonio natural del país. Este sirve de acicate para otras iniciativas de carácter privado, sobre todo vinculadas al sector turístico. Un claro ejemplo de ello es el hotel Nicuesa, ubicado en la zona aledaña al Parque Nacional Piedras Blancas, en el Pacífico sur. Se vislumbra como un proyecto en respetuoso del entorno y un sitio para vacacionar de primer orden.

Por: Andrés Figueroa Vásquez.

Scientific discovery could help ecosystems in palm oil boom.

As you head south along the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica from Jaco down past Quepos/Manuel Antonio toward Dominical, vast forests of palm trees stretch for miles along the highway.

Lush and thickly planted, with emerald ferns growing on the trunks and a dense carpet of green underneath, the palms always remind me of a tropical enchanted forest.

These immense plantations are African Palms, and their oil production is one of the largest agricultural industries in Costa Rica. Palm oil – not to be confused with coconut oil – is the world's most consumed vegetable oil. The oil extracted from palm oil kernels (called dates) is used around the world in products ranging from candy and cosmetics to candles, cooking oil, industrial lubricants and even biofuels.

Although it is planted on only 5% of the total world vegetable oil acreage, palm oil accounts for 33% of vegetable oil and 45% of edible oil worldwide, according to the scientific journal Nature. Grown widely in the tropics, oil palms have gained worldwide attention recently for the destruction of rainforest and wetlands to create plantations – especially in Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo.

However, studies published last month in Nature by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) reveal that a targeted oil palm gene called "Shell" could boost oil production yields, thereby easing pressure on tropical rainforests by not needing to expand plantations.

The oil palm has an impressively long lineage, dating back to the origins of flowering plants (Arecaceae family) during the Cretaceous period about 140 to 200 million years ago, says the investigation. The oil palm genus Elaeis consists of two species – Elaeis guineensis originating from West Africa, and E. oleifera from Central and South America. The species from West Africa has a greater yield, but the species from the Americas has higher unsaturated fatty acid content, lower tree height, and better disease resistance.

African Palms can live for more than 200 years. They are pollinated by the wind, and in Costa Rica, the fruit is maintained and harvested all by hand. Workers cut the large fruit pods from the trees when they are a bright orange-red and full of kernels. In the palm-growing areas, you can see open-bed trailers full of palm fruit being pulled by a tractor or truck. Palm oil workers ride their bicycles along roads by the plantations balancing scythes on very long poles over their shoulders.

If scientists are able to manipulate this new Shell gene (responsible for whether the oil palm shell is thick or thin), research shows that it could result in a 30% higher yield of palm oil per fruit, and also produce shorter trees, making the palms easier to maintain and the fruit easier to cut, reports the Nature journal.

"Mutations in this gene … explain the single most important economic trait of the oil palm: how the thickness of its shell correlates to fruit size and oil yield," stated Rajinder Singh of the MPOB's Advanced Biotechnology and Breeding Center in the report. "This discovery may help balance the competing interests of meeting increasing world-wide demand for edible oil and biofuels on the one hand, and of rainforest conservation on the other."

From Parrita to Dominical, along Costa Rica's Central Pacific Coast, the economy is principally based on palm oil production. Long gone are the original Chiquita banana plantations, replaced in the 1940s and 1950s by African Palms in response to a blight of Panama banana disease.

Rent a luxury vacation home or tropical bungalow in the heart of Costa Rica's African Palm oil plantations. Portasol Rainforest and Oceanview Living is an oasis of pristine rainforest in the midst of palm oil plantations, just 30 minutes from the famous beaches of Manuel Antonio and also Dominical. 

The long, less-traveled beach of Matapalo is a 5-minute drive away. The sustainable residential community has vacation rentals and properties for sale. Its 1,300 acres offer private trails in the jungle, rivers and waterfalls with natural pools, comfortable lodging, and spa services.

By Shannon Farley

Top 5 Honeymoon Destinations in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is one of the world's top destinations for newlyweds to honeymoon. The Central American nation ranks third in the world, after Hawaii and Italy, and above other destinations like Greece, Tahiti and the Caribbean, according to Perfect Honeymoons & Holidays Travel.

With multiple attractions, tropical climate, beautiful scenery and exotic character, Costa Rica is an unforgettable honeymoon getaway. Only a few hours' flight from North America, Costa Rica is blessed with spectacular beaches, enchanting rainforest, live volcanoes, and an abundance of nature and wildlife. Without a doubt, it is an exciting location that invites romance, rest and relaxation, as well as passion and adventure. Let your dreams and romance go wild at Costa Rica's best five honeymoon spots. See our hot vacation deal offers: Manuel Antonio, Central Pacific Coast:

• 7-Day Tropical Paradise Vacation combining Manuel Antonio with Volcano Arenal
• 4-night Manuel Antonio Luxury Condo Special

Arenal Volcano:

• Ultimate Costa Rica Rainforest Hot Springs Getaway to the famous Tabacon Resort
• 9-day Costa Rica Volcano and Beach Adventure to Arenal Volcano and Tamarindo Beach
• 7-Day Unforgettable Costa Rica Adventure Vacation combining stays and adventure tours at Volcano Arenal and Manuel Antonio

Tamarindo Beach, Guanacaste Pacific Coast:

• 4 nights at Cala Luna Hotel on a Tamarindo Beach Travel Deal
• 9-day Costa Rica Volcano and Beach Adventure to Arenal Volcano and Tamarindo
• Discount flight from San Jose to Tamarindo

Nicoya Peninsula, Pacific Coast:

• 4 nights at Hotel Punta Islita on a Costa Rica Beach Resort Holiday

Papagayo Gulf, northern Guanacaste Pacific Coast:

• All-inclusive Hotel RIU Guanacaste Costa Rica deal

Costa Rica Special Deals is a dependable online travel service, based in Costa Rica, that offers top Costa Rica vacation and tour deals. By Shannon Farley

Top 5 Dreamiest Honeymoon Destinations in Costa Rica

http://enchanting-costarica.com/travel-tips/top-5-dreamiest-honeymoon-destinations-in-costa-rica/

Costa Rica en la lucha contra el carbono en el medio ambiente

El Fondo Cooperativo para el Carbono de los Bosques (FCPF, por sus siglas en inglés), es una alianza global centrada en la reducción de las emisiones derivadas de la deforestación y la degradación forestal. Este programa crea un marco de trabajo y de procesos para ayudar a los países a prepararse en cara a estos retos. Asimismo, asesora para acceder a incentivos financieros, demostrando cómo se pueden aplicar a nivel de país.

Costa Rica fue la primera nación del mundo beneficiada a través de dicha iniciativa. Ello fue resultado de sus esfuerzos para reducir sus emisiones por quema de bosques. Asimismo, tuvo que ver el aumento en la cobertura boscosa a lo largo y ancho del territorio nacional.

Nuestro país es el único Estado en América Latina que, lejos de disminuir la riqueza de su flora, se ha abocado a repoblar sus bosques y selvas. Lo anterior es debido a una voluntad de larga data que busca fomentar un programa de pago por servicios ambientales.

¡Deforestar ya no paga! La tendencia global valora la conservación y recuperación del bosque nativo. En ese sentido, la comunidad Portasol lleva la delantera. Ubicada en las zonas montañosas del Pacífico central costarricense, consiste en un complejo habitacional que incluye casas de habitación y alquiler de alojamientos, viviendas y búngalos. Su razón de ser es la conservación meditada del ambiente natural circundante. Los propietarios se comprometen a destinar una proporción de los terrenos a la protección ecológica. Así, estos permiten que exista un corredor biológico que disminuye las emisiones de carbono.

Leer Más : http://portasol.cr/en/news-blog/120-el-pago-por-servicios-ambientales-se-consolida-en-costa-rica.html

Por: Andrés Figueroa Vásquez.

Costa Rica es el pais mas feliz del mundo

Para el fundador del Índice del Planeta Feliz (IPF), Nic Marks, la felicidad es el resultado de una alta esperanza de vida, la sensación de bienestar y una huella ecológica baja. Si se toman en cuenta estos factores, la población de Costa Rica es la más feliz del planeta.

Según la clasificatoria del IPF para el 2012, dado a conocer el 14 de junio, a Costa Rica está por encima de Vietnam y Colombia en cuanto a temas de felicidad.

Un aspecto que ayudó en el cálculo de la ecuación fue la llamada «huella ecológica», que le pasó la factura al mundo desarrollado. No en vano los siguientes tres puestos también pertenecen a Estados fuera de esta zona: Belice, El Salvador y Jamaica. Además, tienen en común costas paradisíacas y climas cálidos.

Por otro lado, la expectativa de vida más alta es la de Japón con 83,4 años; mientras que Hong Kong queda de segundo en 82,8 años; Suiza de tercero 82,3 años; y en Italia y Australia en 81,9 años en ambos casos. En términos de huella ecológica, sin embargo, estos países tienen algunas de las tasas más altas de consumo de recursos per cápita.

El sitio más feliz del planeta de acuerdo con los parámetros de IPF. Posee casi 100 años de democracia ininterrumpida. En 1949 el caudillo José Figueres Ferrer estableció un Gobierno que garantizó el sufragio universal y que prescribió las Fuerzas Armadas.

Hoy por hoy, esta nación centroamericana obtiene su energía de fuentes renovables (un 90% del total). Reconocidos líderes internacionales, como el propio presidente estadounidense Barack Obama, lo han llamado «un caso de éxito».

Adicionalmente, posee riquezas naturales únicas en el planeta. Sin lugar a dudas, estas desempeñan un papel fundamental en el sentimiento de felicidad de la población costarricense. Existe variedad de actividades que pueden realizarse en estos parajes. Una de las más famosas es el Rafting. De hecho, durante el 2011 Costa Rica fue la sede del campeonato mundial de esta disciplina. 

Turrialba se destaca como un destino apto para dicho deporte extremo, con múltiples establecimientos para su práctica. En ese sentido, Explornatura es la mejor opción pues cuenta con la experiencia y el personal capacitado para atender a los turistas.

Leer Más : http://www.explornatura.com/en/blog/219-whitewater-rafting-costa-rica-for-families.html

Por: Andrés Figueroa Vásquez.

Yelp y TripAdvisor: la ayuda de los turistas

Testimonios de usuarios pueden afectar las ganancias de los negocios

¿Recuerda aquellas vacaciones de verano en que las que nunca limpiaron su habitación? ¿Tiene memoria de un restaurante en el que hay que comer antes de ir para no caer desmayado? Estas son algunas de las situaciones que usted podría evitarle a otros clientes. Simplemente acceda a sitios como Yelp y TripAdvisor, opine y ayude a cientos de personas en búsqueda de un hospedaje o un lugar donde cenar.

A través de calificaciones y comentarios los visitantes podrán obtener beneficios personales. Es la manera más fidedigna de tener información sincera y de primera mano para los amantes de viajar.

«El cliente de hoy es muy transitado y exigente. Ahora se prefiere saber de primera mano sobre experiencias locales a profundidad por parte de viajeros reales», comenta Roberto de la Ossa, gerente del hotel Trópico Latino. «Para nosotros es un verdadero placer trabajar con TripAdvisor. Este nos permite convertir el contenido generado por los usuarios en un mayor compromiso con nuestros grupos de interés y le da un valor añadido a nuestros servicios».

Por su lado, Yelp pone en contacto a los internautas, filtra la información menos interesante y logra que el cibernauta comente aquella más útil.

«Nuestra estrategia de mercadeo ubica a los consumidores en el centro de lo que hacemos», concluyó De la Ossa. «Nos esforzamos por crear valor para nuestros visitantes mediante la entrega de contenido relevante para satisfacer sus necesidades diferenciadas y conectar con ellos a través de la participación y las plataformas de medios innovadores».

Por: Andrés Figueroa Vásquez.

Sostenibilidad en Costa Rica:Paginas Verdes Costa Rica

Páginas Verdes es un directorio que busca incluir a todas las empresas amigables con el ambiente en Costa Rica. Según sus fundadores, la intención es que con el auge de los productos verdes haya más personas interesadas en productos y servicios sostenibles.

La guía incluye desde los productos ecológicos más comunes hasta otros menos usuales. En ella los consumidores costarricenses encontrarán café orgánico, productores de alimentos, proveedores de energía alternativa, reciclaje y transporte verde.

La empresa ha ayudado a negocios para que se transformen en empresas más respetuosas con el entorno. También ha brindado consultorías al Gobierno de la República para mejorar las prácticas sostenibles.

Páginas Verdes toma una visión holística a la hora de evaluar una empresa, basada sobre todo en el tipo de venta que haga: de productos, servicios u organización no gubernamental (ONG).

La idea surgió en 2008 y el lanzamiento virtual un año más tarde. Además del sitio web, existe una edición impresa. El siguiente paso es crear una aplicación para teléfonos inteligentes, en un intento por ampliar su alcance.

De modo afín, a partir del 2013 desean promover actividades de tipo formativo en temáticas vinculadas al medio ambiente. Se hará énfasis en eventos y ferias nacionales.

Es que no cabe duda que el respeto al ambiente ha venido para quedarse. En ese sentido, el hotel y villas Pranamar se ha montado en la ola. Sus administradores y propietarios se han dedicado a ofrecer un servicio de primera calidad del lado con la protección ecológica. Ubicado en Playa Santa Teresa de Cóbano, en la provincia de Puntarenas, cuenta con una variedad de habitaciones que se adecua a sus deseos, además de un restaurante que se especializa en cocina saludable.

Leer Más: http://www.pranamarvillas.com/es/blog-es/41-sostenibilidad/111-busque-en-paginas-verdes-todo-para-ser-ecologico.html

Por: Andrés Figueroa Vásquez.

Family vacation adventure:Pejibaye River

Looking for a Costa Rica family adventure out in nature? Spend a fun-filled day splashing in the mild rollercoaster rapids of the Pejibaye River.

The beautiful, tropical Pejibaye River is a tributary of the mighty Reventazon River in the Turrialba Valley, just two hours from San Jose. Its low-key Class 2-3 rapids (in the lower section) make it a great introductory whitewater rafting trip for beginners and children (ages 8 and up). The three-hour river trip gives you spectacular scenery of coffee and sugarcane plantations, chances for wildlife viewing, and small rollicking rapids for a good time. It is one of the safest rivers for whitewater rafting in Costa Rica since the access road runs right along shore.

At the trip's start, you will have some practice time paddling through the first small rapids. It just takes one or two rapids for you to get the hang of rafting, and then you can enjoy the adventure! For a little extra fun, part way down the river you can jump off a giant rock into a deep pool of water.

Turrialba-based adventure tour operator Explornatura operates the Family Rafting Pejibaye River trip every day that weather and river conditions permit.

Add more tours for a full day of adventure

Combine whitewater rafting on the Pejibaye River with a hiking tour of the Pre-Columbian archaeological site of the Guayabo National Monument, a botanical plantation tour of the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE), or a biking or horseback riding tour of the Turrialba Valley. Explornatura offers these family tours and more adventures in Turrialba, Costa Rica.

Turrialba

The tranquil town of Turrialba is located in the Central Highlands of Costa Rica, east of San Jose, next to the volcano that gives the town its name. Beautiful rural landscapes lead up to Volcano Turrialba's giant crater, which has roared into life in recent years. The area is rich in ecosystems, full of plants and animals and rivers. Turrialba's economy focuses on agriculture (coffee, sugarcane, peaches and macadamia nuts), dairy cattle (Costa Rica's famous "Turrialba" cheese comes from here) and adventure tourism.

It is the town's love of adventure combined with its natural resource of gushing tropical rivers that makes Turrialba the "whitewater rafting capital" of Costa Rica. The Central American nation is one of the world's top destinations for whitewater rafting. The World Rafting Championships were held on the Pacuare River in 2011.

Family Rafting Pejibaye River trip

• What to bring? Quick-dry T-shirt and shorts, swimsuit, tennis shoes or strap-on sandals, and sun block. Extra clothes and towel will be needed at the end of the tour.
• What's included? Transportation, fruit snack, specialized equipment, and bilingual tour guide.
• Suitable for anyone 8 years and older; no previous experience required.

By Shannon Farley

Family vacation adventure: whitewater rafting Costa Rica

http://enchanting-costarica.com/activities/family-vacation-adventure-whitewater-rafting-costa-rica/

Traveling in Costa Rica as a vegetarian or vegan is easy.

I had a pair of friends visit me in Costa Rica not long ago who were vegetarian and vegan. My first reaction was, "Oh, no, what are they going to eat?" I know how much Costa Ricans love their chicken, beef, chicharrones (fried pork), fish, etc.

They said, not to worry. Rice and beans are the nation's main staples, and there is a wealth of fresh vegetables and tropical fruits. It's true!

Traveling in Costa Rica as a vegetarian or vegan, or even needing a gluten-free or dairy-free diet, is relatively easy. Rice and beans (both red and black) are present at every meal, including breakfast. Steamed vegetables, simple salads, fried plantains, corn tortillas, and plenty of tropical fruits are common and readily available. If you eat fish, the country is full of fresh fish (both saltwater and fresh water) and seafood.

Here are some easy tips for eating vegetarian / vegan while traveling in Costa Rica:

1. Learn food names in Spanish so you can understand a menu and ask for what you'd like. (See my handy English/Spanish food guide below!)
2. Be very clear about what you can eat / not eat. Just saying that you are "vegeteriano/a" (vegetarian) does not guarantee you won't be served fish or chicken, or that bits of meat aren't mixed in a dish.
3. Order a combination of several appetizers or side dishes if you can't find any entree on the menu that works. Costa Rica has several very-filling vegetarian soups, for instance.
4. Make a request. Maybe something on the menu looks really appetizing, but they've included chicken in it. Simply ask them to prepare it with vegetables instead of chicken. "Arroz con pollo" (rice with chicken) can be turned into "Arroz Jardinero" (rice with vegetables), for example.
5. Be flexible. Remember, you are traveling in a different country with its own culture, cuisine, customs and ways of doing things. Costa Ricans are friendly and will do their best to help if you have patience and explain what you need.
6. Seek out vegetarian restaurants. There are many throughout the country. Chinese restaurants also are popular and always have vegetarian options.
7.  

The open-air restaurant at Pranamar Oceanfront Villas & Yoga Retreat, at world-renowned Santa Teresa Beach, specializes in healthy cuisine and can accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and other special dietary needs. The luxury boutique hotel fronts the spectacular beach of Santa Teresa on the southern Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica.

Their Buddha Eyes Restaurant, positioned beautifully on the edge of a lagoon-style pool, merges Pacific Rim and Asian cuisine with native Costa Rican and Italian touches. They feature organic Costa Rican fruits and vegetables, creative vegetarian cooking, and fresh just-out-of-the-ocean fish and shellfish.

Head Chef Rodrigo Soriano of Argentina specializes in fish and grilled meats. Chef Claudio "Cicco" Mazzone from Italy is known far and wide for his homemade eggplant parmesan, based on his grandmother's secret recipe. Chef Jesus Zabala from Venezuela adds his touch to vegan and vegetarian dishes. Guests rave about Pranamar's salads, hotel staff said. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served seven days a week and the restaurant is open to the public.

A TripAdvisor 2013 Certificate of Excellence award winner, Pranamar Villas features luxurious two-story poolside villas, elaborate oceanfront villas and tropical bungalows in lush tropical gardens. Pranamar gives daily in-house yoga classes, regular yoga retreats and workshops, all-inclusive yoga vacations, surfing and yoga holidays, and has a beachfront spa with relaxing massages and body treatments.

English/Spanish food guide for Costa Rica

• Gallo pinto – White rice and usually black beans cooked with garlic, onion, red bell pepper and cilantro. Served for breakfast.
• Huevos (revueltos / fritos) – Eggs (scrambled / fried)
• Frutas -- Fruit
• Granola – Granola (easy!)
• Yogurt -- Yogurt
• Chorreadas – Corn pancakes served for breakfast or with coffee. (Check to make sure they are not made with milk if you are eating dairy-free.)
• Platanos – Fried plantains
• Casado (sin carne / pollo / pescado) – Typical meal (without meat / chicken / fish) for lunch or dinner. The dish consists of white rice, black beans, fried plantains, and salad of lettuce, tomato and onion. Vegetarian options serve steamed vegetables.
• Arroz – Rice
• Frijoles – Beans
• Vegetales al vapor – Steamed vegetables
• Arroz Jardinero – Garden, or vegetarian, rice dish
• Sopa Negra – Black bean soup (usually served with a hard-boiled egg; just ask for "no huevos" if you want dairy-free).
• Ensalada -- Salad
• Batidos en agua – Fruit smoothies in water ("en leche" is in milk)
• Tortillas de maiz – Corn tortillas

By Shannon Farley

Costa Rica tercera en la lista de mejores destinos para recién casados.

El país aparece en los 10 mejores destinos para lunas de miel, según la agencia especializada Perfect Honeymoons & Holidays Travel

Costa Rica está posicionada como un destino ideal para disfrutar de la luna de miel. Durante el 2012 el 10,7 % de los turistas que llegaron a esta nación (166.000 personas) correspondió a recién casados.

Este segmento ha tenido un crecimiento sostenido desde hace varios años. Por ejemplo, para el 2006 únicamente el 4,6 % era de enamorados. Esta información se desprende del reportaje del semanario El Financiero publicado el domingo anterior. Este se basó en datos del Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT), entidad gubernamental encargada de las políticas al respecto.

Se puede deducir que es un mercado en claro ascenso, en especial en el caso de parejas estadounidenses. Estas prefieren casarse en el país y alojarse en los hoteles locales. Ello contrasta con las parejas europeas, que hacen lo propio en su tierra natal para luego visitar el extranjero.

El país está en la lista de los 10 mejores destinos para recién casados. Esta es una clasificatoria desarrollada por Perfect Honeymoons & Holidays Travel, una de las agencias de viajes más antiguas y reconocidas en la industria turística. Costa Rica se ubica en el puesto tercero, detrás de potencias como Hawái e Italia. Aventaja a otros países importantes como Grecia y Tahití.

Si aún está dudando en aprovechar las ventajas de Costa Rica, lo mejor es que visite el sitio de CRT. En él encontrará las mejores opciones con los precios más accesibles, con una calidad única. Los paquetes para recién casados son ideados pensando en sus gustos particulares. Contáctelos sin compromiso.

Ver Más :

Por: Andrés Figueroa Vásquez.

Sarchi artisan town is popular San Jose, Costa Rica day tour

One of the most popular day tours from San Jose, Costa Rica, is the charming artisan town of Sarchi.

Called the "cradle of Costa Rican handicrafts," both international tourists and locals alike visit Sarchi for its more than 200 stores and small family-operated woodworking and leather workshops. It is a perfect Central Valley day tour to combine with the Poás Volcano, a coffee tour, or the Juan Castro Blanco National Park. Sarchi is also an excellent stop on the way to Volcano Arenal.

Located on the slopes of Costa Rica's Central Mountain Range at the eastern edge of the Central Valley, the quaint country town of Sarchi is 27 kilometers northwest of the provincial capital city of Alajuela, and 46 kilometers from the nation's capital city of San Jose. The route to get to Sarchi passes through picturesque countryside and some of the largest coffee and sugarcane plantations in Costa Rica.

As Costa Rica's most well-known crafts center, Sarchi is famous for its colorfully painted oxcarts and oxen yokes – national symbols of Costa Rican folklore and traditions. The tradition of painting and decorating oxcarts started in the early 20^th century. Back in the day, wooden carts pulled by a pair of oxen were the main mode of transportation in the mountainous country, especially to transport coffee beans to markets. Originally each region of Costa Rica had its own particular oxcart design, which identified a driver's origin by the painted patterns on his cart's wheels. Today, oxcarts still play a principal role in parades and religious celebrations.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization honored Costa Rica's vibrantly painted oxcarts in 2005 for their contribution to the heritage of humanity. You can see the "World's Largest Oxcart" – built in 2006 to get the town's name into The Guinness Book of World Records – in the Central Park in front of the main church.

Travelers come to Sarchi to purchase elegantly crafted wood furniture and souvenirs made from tropical hardwoods, leather, textiles, natural papers, and ceramics.

Popular things to purchase:

• Miniature painted oxcarts, beautifully decorated oxcart wheels; or, you can buy an entire small-scale oxcart to put in your garden or home.
• Wood and hand-tooled leather rocking chairs. They fold up into a box so you can take it on an airplane; however, most stores will ship your chair via Fedex or other delivery service to your home. Make sure to check out extra accessories such as padded arm rests, head pillows, leather detachable cup holders or magazine pouches, and footstools.
• Tropical wood boxes, kitchen cutting boards, wood jewelry, or a variety of Costa Rica's animals made into wooden figurines.
• Hand-painted ceramic plates and pots in the traditional Chorotega indigenous tradition from the Nicoya region of Guanacaste.
• Ornately carved wooden chests perfect for holding all of your treasures.

Sights to see in Sarchi:

• Catholic Church – the pink and blue "wedding cake" church features a vaulted hardwood ceiling and carvings by local artisans (on a hill overlooking the north side of town by the central park).
• Artisan Market ("Mercado de Artesanías") – a large warehouse-like store selling crafts of all kinds, operated by an artists' cooperative (on the edge of north Sarchi next to the gas station).
• World's Largest Oxcart – huge and brightly painted, the oxcart rests on a platform in the central park in front of the church in north Sarchi.
• Artisan Plaza ("Plaza de la Artesanía") – a large outdoor mall of souvenir shops in south Sarchi.
• The 111-year-old Joaquín Chaverri Oxcart Factory (built in 1902), where you can find all kinds of souvenirs and painted oxcarts; see artists painting oxcarts in real life in their workshop.

Planning to travel to Costa Rica? Travel agency Team CRT creates unforgettable Costa Rica vacation itineraries and packages. Visit the lovely town of Sarchi on one of their day tours. Team CRT arranges nature tours, beach vacations, adventure tours, family vacations, relaxation vacations, honeymoons and golf vacations.

By Shannon Farley