What It Takes To Be Sustainable In Ecotourism In Costa Rica

Sometimes it’s not always easy to find real eco-friendly or sustainable tourism businesses when traveling. At least there are more possibilities for ecotourism in Costa Rica, which maintains rigorous standards. Costa Rica essentially pioneered the flourishing ecotourism trend nearly two decades ago. Since then, with the many stringent demands of its Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST) program, it takes a great deal of commitment, hard work and dedication to authentically be a sustainable eco-friendly business in Costa Rica. Luckily, many are. When you visit Veragua Rainforest Eco-Adventure, a nature and adventure park in Costa Rica’s Caribbean mountains, you contribute directly to the planet’s sustainability by helping fund conservation and scientific research with the Veragua Foundation for Rainforest Research. The all-in-one rainforest adventure park has a nationally-acclaimed biology research center on its 3,212-acre (1,300-hectare) private reserve. Named the No. 1 of 18 things to do in Puerto Limon, Costa Rica on TripAdvisor, Veragua Rainforest Eco-Adventure is located about an hour inland from the Caribbean port town of Limon. It is an area of breathtaking tropical rainforest bordering the La Amistad International Park, the country’s most remote national park that is shared by both Costa Rica and Panama.

“We’re located in a poor area that traditionally was involved in logging, mono-agriculture and hunting. We’re turning the region into a conservation-focused area, giving locals jobs and teaching them to protect their resources. We’re very involved in the community with education and infrastructure,” commented Veragua owner Marti Jimenez.

Veragua Rainforest is currently awaiting its first Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST) from the Costa Rica Tourism Board. The 1999 program grades the sustainability of a tourism company based on specific criteria such as proper waste management, environmental protection, use of resources, respect for local cultures and support of local communities. The five-level rating process is very detailed and involves rigorous demands, frequent inspections and evaluations. “The CST program fits right in with the triple-bottom-line philosophy (people, planet and profit) we’ve had at Veragua since inception,” said Jimenez.

In addition to being certified sustainable, Veragua will soon be one of the only tourist adventure parks in Costa Rica using mostly clean energy. Due to Veragua’s remote location, they currently depend on a diesel generator system to supply all of their electricity at the adventure park, which is both extremely costly and not eco-friendly. In February 2016, they will install solar panels on three buildings in key locations on the property. “Our solar energy project is a huge milestone because we finally will have a renewable source of energy after almost eight years of depending on diesel,” said Jimenez. “It will allow us to offer 24/7 electricity to our day and overnight visitors, and to avoid frequent, costly, and even urgent maintenance of the diesel generator.” In other recent news, Veragua Rainforest has constructed a new accessible mini-trail that will let wheelchairs and scooters access both sides of their aerial tram, thereby doubling the frequency of rides for visitors.

And if you have read on TripAdvisor or other travel forums any concerns about the road to Veragua Rainforest, rest easy – the local government recently paved 6 kilometers of the road from the main highway turnoff, and repaired the remaining 6 kilometers of gravel road. The private road inside Veragua’s gate also received extensive repair and improvement to make transportation to Veragua Rainforest even easier.

Don’t miss this top shore excursion in Limon, Costa Rica. Plan your visit today to Veragua Rainforest Eco-Adventure during your Costa Rica vacation. Open Tuesday to Sunday (and cruise ship Mondays), from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Entrance is free for children under 4 years old. Tours start every hour on the hour; the last tour begins at 3:00 p.m. Tel: +506 4000-0949.

Article by Shannon Farley

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Why You Should Make Your Next Vacation In 2016 A Surf Yoga Retreat In Costa Rica

If learning to surf is on your life wish list and you enjoy yoga – or vice versa – it’s time to make your next vacation in 2016 a surfing and yoga retreat in Costa Rica. From the rush of catching your first wave to the complete blissful relaxation of yoga on the beach at sunset, you will wonder why you haven’t done this sooner.

Engaging in daily activities of surfing and yoga, you naturally step into the flow of nature and the Earth’s energy. Faced with new situations, you learn more about who you are, what you are capable of, and your connection with the world around you.

On a surf yoga retreat in Costa Rica, not only will you soon be laughing and enjoying good times with new friends, you will take your experiences back home with you to integrate into your daily life – creating a difference lasting far longer than any regular vacation.

Costa Rica yoga surf retreats at Pranamar Oceanfront Villas & Yoga Retreat bring people from all over the world. Besides world-class surfing and internationally-acclaimed yoga classes, the tropical beauty and exotic nature at the beachfront hotel in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica is enough to put you in heaven. The intimate, Bali-style boutique hotel fronts the spectacular beach of Playa Hermosa, backed by lush jungle.

Pranamar Villas was named a Top 5 Yoga Retreat in Costa Rica by Travel & Leisure Magazine, and holds TripAdvisor’s 2015 Certificate of Excellence. Santa Teresa Beach is not only a favorite Costa Rica surf spot on the southern Nicoya Peninsula, it also was named one of Central America’s top 10 beaches for 2015. Santa Teresa is the home surf spot for Costa Rica surfer Anthony Fillingim of the Costa Rica National Surf Team, which was crowned 2015 World Surfing Champions earlier this year.

Benefits of a surf yoga retreat include surfing lessons, yoga classes, sharing experiences with like-minded people, healthy food, and additional adventures – all in a gorgeous, warm, tropical destination. Daily yoga classes at Pranamar Villas with Pranamar yoga director, Nancy Goodfellow, are very popular in the hotel’s beautiful oceanfront Yoga Shala.

You will have plenty of down time to get a soothing massage at the Pranamar Spa; or to enjoy tours and activities like stand-up Paddleboarding, horseback riding, zip lining or hiking; explore the funky cosmopolitan town of Santa Teresa; or simply relax in a hammock and blissfully do absolutely nothing.

Santa Teresa Costa Rica yoga surf retreats at Pranamar Villas fill up fast so make reservations today! For Costa Rica yoga retreats at Pranamar Oceanfront Villas, see the schedule of upcoming events.

Article by Shannon Farley

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Do You Know These Fun Facts About Guanacaste Costa Rica?

Guanacaste, Costa Rica is one of the most popular areas in the country and a preferred Costa Rica vacation destination. But did you know these interesting details?

Fun facts about Guanacaste, Costa Rica: 1. Try to pronounce the indigenous word “quahnacaztlan” and you will find that Guanacaste is a lot easier. The province is named after the beautiful tree indigenous to tropical areas of the Americas. Also known as the “Elephant Ear Tree” (Enterolobium cyclocarpum) for the shape of its dark brown seed pods, it was named the national tree of Costa Rica in August, 1959.

2. Guanacaste’s name actually dates back to a real tree which grew in the intersection between the roads that take you to Nicoya and Bagaces in Costa Rica, and Rivas in Nicaragua, back in the middle of the 17th century. Today, the park across from the Catholic Church of Liberia occupies the spot where the historical tree stood. 3. Known as the “sunny side of Costa Rica”, Guanacaste's climate is unique in the country. Guanacaste receives little rain and consistent heat from November to May, resulting in its ubiquitous tropical dry forest. The region typically records less than 130 days of rainfall annually.

4. It may be hard to imagine, but Guanacaste was once heavily forested. Its precious hardwoods were cut down to satisfy great demands for export. The result left rolling savannah grasslands and contributes greatly to the region’s sparse rainfall. 5. The largest and most active volcano in Guanacaste is Rincón de la Vieja. At 6,286 feet (1,916 meters) high and 15 kilometers (9 miles) wide, the approximately 9,000-year-old caldera is called the “Colossus of Guanacaste”. The giant bridges the Continental Divide with at least nine contiguous craters. Its last big eruption was in 1998. Rincón de la Vieja means “Corner of the Old Woman” after an indigenous legend about a girl whose lover was thrown into the crater by her father; she became a recluse living on the mountain, and was known as being a healer.

6. The first humans came to what is now Costa Rica thousands of years before Europeans arrived in the Americas. A tribe known as the Chorotegas migrated south from Mexico to Guanacaste in about 900 AD. They lived along the coast and Nicoya Peninsula. Archaeological findings show that a different people – probably who spoke a Chibchan language – lived in the interior of Guanacaste from about 10,000 BC.

7. Most of the population in Guanacaste descends from a mix of indigenous peoples and Spaniards, with a significant African influence from a large number of slaves during the Spanish colonial period. 8. Ever wonder what the Costa Rican holiday of Guanacaste Day is all about? During colonial times, Guanacaste was not part of Costa Rica. Inhabitants of the territory chose to annex to Costa Rica rather than Nicaragua on July 25, 1824 and the country celebrates that event every year.

9. Cattle ranching, of Brahman cattle and related breeds, was historically the main source of income in Guanacaste. For the past two decades, tourism has become the top economic activity. 10. Guanacaste’s famous cowboys are called “Sabaneros”, which literally translated, means “Savannah Dweller” for the grasslands found here.

Discover Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Take the archaeology tour at Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin to learn more about Guanacaste history and the indigenous peoples who lived near the massive Rincon de la Vieja Volcano. More than 14 archaeological sites – mostly cemeteries, petroglyphs and tomb markers – have been found around Hacienda Guachipelin, dating from about 300 to 800 AD.

Hotel Hacienda Guachipelín is an ideal place to experience authentic Guanacaste culture and enjoy an active vacation at Rincón de la Vieja Volcano. The ecotourism hotel has the best Costa Rica adventure tours. Hotel Hacienda Guachipelín is located 15.5 miles (25 km) northeast of Guanacaste’s main city of Liberia by the Pailas section of the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano.

Article by Shannon Farley

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Your Christmas Vacation In Costa Rica At Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge

If you are lucky, you will be spending your Christmas vacation in Costa Rica on an amazing tropical beach alongside the incredible Costa Rica rainforest at Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge. To help get you in the holiday spirit, here are some of the fun activities the Nicuesa Lodge staff has planned for you. There will be special dinners on Dec. 24 for Christmas Eve and Dec. 31 for New Year’s Eve. The gala feasts will include roast pork, grilled whole fresh fish caught by Nicuesa staff, and other traditional Costa Rican foods including fresh vegetables, rice, beans, plantains, salads and fresh fruit. Kids’ menu items include fresh fish fingers, fresh cassava chips, veggies and ice cream. Nicuesa Lodge meals are served family-style all together in the magnificent two-story tree house-style main lodge building. The open-air dining area allows unobstructed views of the tree canopy (great for wildlife spotting), the forest, beach and ocean, and at night, a huge star-filled sky. Relax after dinner in hammocks and lounge chairs and enjoy conversing with your fellow guests from all over the world.

 

Tamales in Costa Rica are an essential Christmas food, made from corn meal and filled with rice, potatoes, vegetables, garlic and onions, and usually shredded pork; then they are wrapped in banana or plantain leaves and boiled. Guests can join in the cultural tradition to learn how to make their own tamales.   Kids of all ages will have fun painting coconuts and decorating Christmas boxes to be hopefully filled by Santa on Christmas Eve.

Natural adventures are an essential part of the Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge experience, so there will be a kayaking competition for children and adults on Dec. 24 in the calm bay in front of Nicuesa’s beach. Playa Nicuesa Sustainability Coordinator, Natalia Solis, will lead an end-of-year tribute to the Earth on Dec. 30 with a tree planting ceremony, where guests can give the sustainable gift of a new tree to the world. The trees, all native to Costa Rica, were donated by the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT). On Dec. 31, Nicuesa staff will engage in the last beach cleanup of the year, and invite guests to join in their eco-conscious effort. Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge in Costa Rica is known for its pristine tropical beach and beautiful rainforest.

Efforts to keep the beach unspoiled were recognized earlier this year when Playa Nicuesa received the important Ecological Blue Flag Award for having one of Costa Rica’s cleanest beaches.  

Visit Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge in Costa Rica Can’t come at Christmas? Visit Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge in 2016! The Costa Rica eco-hotel is your dream destination for a rainforest and beach holiday in Costa Rica.

Located in the rainforest on a remote beach of the warm water gulf of Golfo Dulce in southern Costa Rica, Nicuesa Lodge is one of the first sustainable tourism eco-hotels in Costa Rica and holds the highest level of the Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST) program. It is an oasis of comfortable, rustic luxury in the jungle on a 165-acre private rainforest preserve that borders the wild Piedras Blancas National Park.

The unique adventure travel destination includes in your stay all meals, boat transfers from Puerto Jimenez or Golfito, unlimited self-guided hikes in the private reserve, use of kayaks, snorkeling and fishing equipment, and a beachfront yoga deck. Contact Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge today to book your 2016 Costa Rica family vacation, honeymoon, nature and adventure vacation, or yoga retreat.

Article by Shannon Farley

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Extend Your Stay For Envision Festival 2016 At Costa Rica Sustainable Community Portasol

Following in the footsteps of the world-famous Burning Man festival, and other transformational festivals like Lucidity, Lightning in a Bottle and Wanderlust, Envision Festival returns to Costa Rica in February 2016. Coming back to the rainforest by the sea in Uvita, Costa Rica from February 25 to 28, 2016, the four day Envision Festival once again promises the heartfelt sharing of feel-good values like community building, ecological sustainability, health and wellness, self-discovery and wisdom sharing.

Envision 2016 will be held once again at Rancho La Merced private rainforest reserve fronting the beach in Uvita on Costa Rica’s southern Pacific Coast – location of the Ballena National Marine Park, an important site for the world’s Pacific Humpback Whales to reproduce and give birth. Now in its sixth year, tens of thousands of people from all over the world have traveled to Costa Rica to attend the event in the past. The popular festival sold out in 2015, for the first time in Envision's five-year history.

The Envision Festival blends music, visionary art, yoga, dance, performance art, live art installations, spiritual speakers and workshops, all set in a beautiful tropical paradise. There is also a mini-camp for kids and families. “As a celebration dedicated to awakening our human potential, Envision provides a platform for different cultures to coexist in sustainable community, and inspire one another through art, spirituality, yoga, music, dance, performance, education, sustainability and our fundamental connection with nature,” states the Envision Festival Costa Rica mission statement

With the motto “Dance under the stars all night and play in the waves all day”, festival organizers say they come to Costa Rica for its vibrant life and energy in the jungle, enchanting waterfalls, epic surf and crimson beach sunsets – calling Costa Rica a “magical location”. Tickets for Envision 2016 are on sale. Check the Envision Festival website for festival facts, travel tips, survival guide, pre-and post events, and ways to participate.

Extend your time in Costa Rica before or after the Envision Festival at Portasol Rainforest & Ocean View Living sustainable community, a short drive up the coast from the festival location in Uvita. Past festival-goers have enjoyed staying at Portasol after the Envision Festival to continue communing with pristine nature and the Earth’s peaceful energy.

The Costa Rica sustainable community is well-positioned between Uvita and the Manuel Antonio National Park, tucked into a pristine rainforest with rivers and waterfalls and only 10 minutes to beautiful hidden beaches. Stay in beautiful Costa Rica vacation rentals and tropical vacation bungalows on 1,335 acres of private rainforest with jungle trails, waterfalls, natural pools and abundant nature. You also can enjoy unique Costa Rica wildlife tours, mountain biking and hiking at the Costa Rica eco-development.

Contact Portasol for reservations and information.

Article by Shannon Farley

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Enjoy A Fun-Filled Christmas Season In Costa Rica

Christmas season in Costa Rica is here! There is a lot going on, so get your Santa hat and merry spirit ready, and let the rhythm of Christmas in Latin America dash you away! Christmas in Costa Rica is a fun time of Christmas parades, festivals, traditional performances and concerts, and family events.

Atenas, Costa Rica will hold its annual Christmas Fair the weekend of Dec. 11, 12 and 13 in the town’s central park. It will be a weekend full of music, dance, theatrical performances, storytelling, a crafts fair and traditional foods, all culminating in the big Christmas Parade of Lights (Festival de la Luz) on Sunday, Dec. 13.

Atenas events begin at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 11. There will be artisans selling their crafts for Christmas, traditional foods, and music and dance going on all weekend in the park. Highlights include: a parade of huge puppets and a percussion marching band, called a Cimarrona con mascaradas from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. on Dec. 11; a live concert with dancing from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. on Dec. 11; a Christmas choral presentation from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., followed by a live concert from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m. on Dec. 12; storytelling, live music and dance performances from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Dec. 13; and the very fun Parade of Lights with marching bands, dancers and other entertainers from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Dec. 13, followed by a live concert and fireworks show.

In Costa Rica’s capital city of San José, holiday season kicks into full cheer with the country’s biggest Parade of Lights (Festival de la Luz) on Saturday, Dec. 12. This year is the 20^th anniversary. It gets started at 6:00 p.m. at the La Sabana Park with hundreds of marching bands from all over the country, horse-mounted groups, entertainers and brilliantly-lit floats performing their way down the Paseo Colon Boulevard to Second Avenue, finishing at the Cultural Plaza. One million or so persons converge on San José to attend the parade, showing up early in the day to claim their place on the sidewalk; the energy is electric with so many spectators. You can also watch the parade on national TV stations. If you are still in town the day after Christmas, the famous San José Horse Parade, or “Tope” is a fantastic Costa Rica cultural event to see. Thousands of horses and riders from all parts of Costa Rica will prance down Paseo Colon Boulevard to La Sabana Park from 12:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Dec. 26.

ABOUT ATENAS, COSTA RICA
The small country town of Atenas, Costa Rica is not only known as a best place to retire internationally, but also a fun vacation destination for its ideal location halfway between San José and the Central Pacific Coast. Contact Atenas Costa Rica realtors Dennis Easters and Gerardo Porras Gonzalez at Pure Life Development of Atenas for Costa Rica vacation rentals, Atenas homes for sale and Costa Rica properties for sale. For more information about Atenas, check out the Guide to Living in Atenas, Costa Rica and the recent list of restaurants in Atenas.
Article by Shannon Farley

Have A Holly, Jolly Caribbean Christmas In Costa Rica

If your usual Christmas is cold and gray, and you can’t go outside without wearing at least 10 layers, wouldn’t it be nice instead to spend Christmas in the Caribbean with your toes deep in warm sand instead of wool socks? Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica is already merrily decorated for Christmas on the southern Caribbean Coast as the Caribbean Costa Rica readies for its cheery Christmas celebration. Christmas is an important holiday for Costa Rica, just like in other countries. Christmas traditions in Costa Rica include parties and celebrations, and delicious traditional Christmas foods!

Christmas food traditions from other parts of Costa Rica, like roast turkey or pork for Christmas dinner, can also be found on the Caribbean Coast … but you can also try fresh fish or lobster. Tamales are an essential part of Christmas holidays everywhere in Costa Rica; tamales here are made from corn meal and are filled with potatoes, rice, vegetables, garlic and onions, and shredded pork or chicken or beef, and then wrapped in banana or plantain leaves and boiled. You can wash it all down with eggnog, called rompope in Spanish, or a Caribbean “Agua de sapo” – a refreshing lemonade made with brown sugar, lime and ginger. Special Costa Rica Caribbean cuisine for Christmas includes: Black cake (Queque negro) with rum, raisins, and condensed sweetened fruit – like a fruitcake; baked coconut cookies; Johnnycake or coconut bread; and using spices like oregano, ginger and cilantro on pork or turkey. For your Christmas tree, you might be used to a pine, fir or spruce; but on the Costa Rica Caribbean Coast you will find that the palm and coastal almond trees growing in front of the colorfully painted houses work just fine for hanging ornaments and lights. Residents also like to put up lots of lights and decorations on the outsides of their homes to make it really festive. And if you want to wish someone Merry Christmas in Costa Rica, you say “Feliz Navidad!”

Costa Rica Caribbean Christmas Spend your December and Christmas holidays on the Costa Rica Caribbean Coast. From now through Dec. 20, 2015, Hotel Le Caméléon by Puerto Viejo is offering the amazing discount of 50% off all room rates! The Costa Rica boutique hotel offers upscale beach accommodations in the tropical rainforest, facing one of the area’s most beautiful beaches – Playa Cocles.

Hotel Le Caméléon will have a special dinner on Dec. 24 in their Le Numu Restaurant & Bar, and a New Year’s Eve dinner and party in the restaurant and in the hotel’s La Sula Sea Lounge Beach Club across the street. Church services in the oldest Baptist Church in the center of Puerto Viejo will have a choir singing carols on Dec. 24 and 31.

Hotel Le Caméléon provides spa services, private yoga classes, first-class restaurant, reading/lounging areas, and a lap pool and cool water Jacuzzi. It is easy to get to the southern Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica with daily flights on NatureAir and Sansa Airlines from San Jose to Limon.

 

Article by Shannon Farley