Photo: Trip Advisor.com

Source: newsguide.us

ABC Television’s Live Well HD Network’s “Save My Planet” showcases the success of a novel tourism initiative that bridges community outreach, environmental stewardship, and inclusive development.

The latest installment of ABC Television’s Live Well HD Network’s original program, “Save My Planet” features a special segment, shot on location at Hotel Punta Islita and its closest neighbor, Islita Village. Host Stephen Brooks narrates the fascinating success stories of community members who have transformed their homeland for the better.

For years, the forest surrounding Islita had been stripped through unsustainable cattle ranching, slash-and-burn agriculture, and indiscriminate hunting. At nearby beaches, sea turtle populations dwindled due to poaching practices. As resources were depleted, the area became economically depressed, fueling urban migration and cultural stagnation.

“Tourism enterprises are in a unique position to inspire and effect change.” -Alonso Bermudez, General Manager, Hotel Punta Islita Since its 1994 inauguration, and opting out of enclave business models, Hotel Punta Islita helped to reverse this process. Education, local training and hiring programs, local purchases, and innovative community outreach initiatives, including the creation of an Open-Air Contemporary Art Museum, gradually transformed the area into a thriving collective of travel professionals, artists, and entrepreneurs.

Today, travelers are marveled by an ecosystem where sea-turtle populations are growing and the recovered tropical dry forest and mangroves again teem with howler monkeys and bird species. Furthermore, visitors are greeted by a healthy community, eager to showcase its art, music, and culinary traditions.

“Tourism enterprises are in a unique position to inspire and effect change,” said Alonso Bermudez. His personal success story is featured in “Save My Planet” as he details his rise from Front Desk Operator to General Manager. Mr. Bermudez added, “As a business entity, Hotel Punta Islita has been able to leverage and channel resources from the Costa Rican government, philanthropic foundations, other businesses, and even private citizens to support and grow its programs. Hotel Punta Islita provided a spark and my fellow community members responded with enthusiasm. I am thrilled to tell my own personal story and I am proud that the people of Islita set yet another example of Costa Rica’s green leadership.”

Developed by Answers Media, an interactive media production company based in Chicago, Save My Planet is a fun, fast-paced show detailing practical “green living” strategies. The episode featuring Islita can be watched here.

Hotel Punta Islita is an upscale beachfront resort set along the coastline of Guanacaste, Costa Rica. A proud member of Small Luxury Hotels (SLH), it is the perfect destination for savvy travelers who seek impressive natural landscapes, friendship-based hospitality, cultural authenticity, and thrilling eco-adventures.

Hotel Punta Islita  and its sister property, El Silencio Lodge & Spa respectively feature the best of Costa Rica’s sunny beaches and cloud forests. Both have been featured in top travel publications as exemplary in service, spectacular settings, and commitment to planet-positive, people-friendly practices.

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Source: Hotels Costarica

Combined wind and kite surfing on Costa Rica’s Bahia Salinas and Lake Arenal

(EMAILWIRE.COM, February 03, 2010 ) GUANACASTE, COSTA RICA, Feb 02, 2010—Recreo Resort, located on Bolanos Bay on the northwest Pacific coast, province of Guanacaste, Costa Rica, is home to the annual renewal of “Windy Passions.” For those yearning for a combination of ocean and lake kiting, this exciting two week program takes advantage of the strong seasonal winds of Bahia Salinas and Lake Arenal during the February 20 – March 6 period.

Read More

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To view and enjoy some of the most picturesque views of the world, go and visit Costa Rica, at least once. If you intend to go on a foreign trip where you can enjoy a huge variety of sights, then this is an ideal destination for you. The place is full of amazing venues that cover and capture the cultural and traditional fragments of this Central American country. Costa Rica offers you to spend quality time with your family and friends by staying at one of the many luxury hotels there. You can select the best-suited hotel for accommodation out of a large variety of three, four and five star hotels. You will also have the luxury resorts and spa hotels available at various Costa Rica locations. A luxury hotel stay offers you every chance to enjoy thoroughly all the charms that this region has to offer. The spacious accommodations together with deluxe facilities and tremendous relaxation sites are the special attributes of such luxury hotels.

In addition to providing comfortable accommodation, luxury hotels in Costa Rica offer a large number of vacation activities too, such as cultural tours, volcano tours, rain forest walks, scuba diving, sailing, surfing, snorkel tours, wildlife watching, horseback riding and many more. Some of the best luxury hotels and resorts for your Costa Rica vacation are described hereunder.

La Mansion Inn: It is located in Manuel Antonio. It presents marvelous mountainside views and is also bordered by wonderful forests. Decorated keeping Mediterranean décor in mind, this resort offers original paintings from various artists. Also suitable for honeymoon, it is considered as an elegant and romantic place for travelers.

Gaia Hotel & Reserve: Also located in Manuel Antonio, this 5-star hotel touches the sandy beaches of Costa Rica. Rain forests and natural scenic views surround this hotel completely. This develops a feel of staying at a natural location among the visitors. It is supposed to be an ideal location for nature-friendly people. The hotel has the luxurious facilities, like LCD flat screen TVs, Jacuzzis and central air- conditioning.

Punta Islita Resort and Spa: It is referred to as a complete retreat destination for travelers. This luxury hotel invites visitors from all over the world. Special features cover easy access to the beach and stunning view of the Pacific Ocean. Luxuries in the resort include deluxe bedrooms, suites, casitas, rental units, villas and many more. A visit to the neighboring sites of the hotel will assist you to learn about the culture and lifestyle of Costa Rica.

Real Intercontinental Hotel: It is located in the suburbs of Escazu. This hotel is touching the main sites of tourists’ attraction. Offering deluxe amenities along with individual personal services for tourists, this luxury hotel is a perfect destination for those who are looking for a modern, sophisticated venue for vacations. Special features of this hotel include tropical gardens, beauty salon, fitness center and spa services.

Rancho Pacifico: This hotel is famous for stunning and beautiful panorama of waterfalls and rainforests. Considered as a private vacation spot with personalized services for all guests, this venue attracts a huge number of tourists. Having just 11 rooms, each equipped with deluxe furnishings and facilities, the resort is well-suited for a luxurious and comfortable stay away from home.

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Source: Hotels Costa Rica

Considered to be one of the most exotic beaches on the Costa Rican Gold Coast, Playa Conchal is situated in the north of Guanacaste province on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. Two kilometers from Playa Brasilito, this marvelous beach is also a stone’s throw away from the famous Playa Flamingo and Tamarindo. Together with Playa Brasilito, this beach is separated by a rocky headland known as Punta Conchal, which gets its name from the sand found here that is composed of hundreds of millions of tiny crushed shells.

This four kilometer beach stretch is accessible by air from San Jose to Tamarindo Domestic Airport, from where you can take a 10-minute taxi ride into town. However, you can also get here by taxi from the Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia, but it is around a 45-minute drive. If you don’t mind the traveling, you can enjoy a lovely scenic drive from San Jose to Playa Conchal, which takes around 4 hours.

A fabulous beach that has near perfect weather all year long, Playa Conchal, is bathed in sunshine most of the time, with over 12 hours of daylight from December to April. The water here always remains at a comfortable temperature and is ideal for swimming or snorkeling.

Close to the beach is the impressive resort of Paradisus Playa Conchal, one of the best hotels on the coast. You can consider staying here as this beach has no adjoining town. However, do keep in mind that a resort of this caliber is on the pricey side. For those traveling on a budget or just backpacking through, you can stay in the town of Brasilito.

With some of the clearest waters on the Gold Coast, snorkeling is a must-indulge activity for anyone who knows how to swim. With a fantastic array of marine life on display, you can swim with the many tropical fish that dwell here, and even catch a glimpse of stingrays that swim in the area. For the more adventurous, deep seas fishing, scuba diving, and other water sports are offered as well. If you get tired of the beach, Playa Conchal is also close to a few national parks and nature reserves. Nearby is a small estuary as well. Surrounded by a number of cattle ranches, Playa Conchal also has quite a few areas where one can camp out and sleep under the stars.

For the avid golfer, the ‘Garra de Leon’ Golf Course is just a few paces away from the beach. This championship course, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., is considered to be one of the best golf courses in Central America with its breathtaking scenic beauty of the Pacific coast. Bordered by a forest on one side, you can often catch sight of howler monkeys that live there.

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Source: Visit Costa Rica

Three months after the opening of their first hotel in Costa Rica, the Spanish chain Riu is planning on opening a second complex in Guanacaste.
The construction will be in Matapalo, on the same land where the first building was built.

The difference is that the second one will go by the name “Palace” and will be of the Premium category, more sophisticated and with some 500 rooms.

Both structures will occupy 5 percent of the property, which measures 939 acres. The building to be inaugurated in November is valued at $150 million. It will be an all-inclusive establishment centered around the family.

The layout will be 701 rooms divided among six floors. It will also have a gymnasium, casino, discotheque, spa, and five conference rooms.

The decision to invest was made in response to the potential the owners noticed in the area.

Right now the company is taking measures to be environmentally aware.

Riu is the 16th chain in the world and the third in Spain. Last year they saw 2.1 million tourists pass through the doors of their establishments.

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Costa Rica's Tree House Lodge

Source: ABC News

Treehouses aren’t just for little kids. Treehouse hotels offer adventure, a sense of fun, and even romance for newlyweds. Destination Wedding Magazine recommends five treehouse hotels in its Fall 2009 issue, some of them offering high-priced luxury. They are:

Lodge Kura Hulanda, Curacao:

Offers a luxurious treehouse mansion with a four-poster bed, high on a cliff overlooking Kalki Beach, from $1,200 a night.

Kanopi House, Jamaica:

Four treehouse-style bungalows near Port Antonio on the island’s northeastern coast, from $300 a person, all-inclusive.

Tree House Lodge, Costa Rica:

A Caribbean-coast retreat in the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, where you can relax in hammocks and take canopy rainforest tours, from $300.

Tsala Treetop Lodge & Villas, South Africa:

Located between the coastal towns of Plettenberg Bay and Kynsna on the Garden Route of the Western Cape, from $370.

Winvian, Connecticut:

A Litchfield Hills resort that includes among its themed suites the luxurious Treehouse, a two-story cottage 35 feet off the ground, with a whirlpool, fireplace and French doors, from $1,999.

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Source: Hotel Coco Rico

The Hotel Coco Rico is the perfect spot to relax after a fun day at the beach, on the ocean or in the jungle. We are only a short walk from the beach and even less from bars and restaurants.
Tamarindo is well known for the large variety of tours and entertainment of all kinds offered. You can go sailing at sunset, track crocodiles in the mangrove, enjoy surf classes, scuba diving, snorkeling, sport fishing, 4×4 expeditions, canopy tours, bird watching and much much more. We will gladly help you to book your tours or find what you are looking for.
If you prefer to stay on the premises, you can relax in the jacuzzi and enjoy the tropical garden. The hotel is equipped with a common kitchen to accommodate you on the site. The 6 charming double rooms all have AC, orthopedic mattresses, hot water bathrooms and private terrace!
Rooms & Rates
All our double rooms are equipped with private hot water bathroom, AC and ceiling fan. Some have double beds and others have single beds, all with orthopedic matresses. There is also a common kitchen if you want to prepare your own food.
Low Season High Season Christmas and Holy week
Double with fan $30 $40 $60
Double with AC $40 $50 $70
Triple with fan $40 $50 $70
Triple with AC $50 $60 $80

Prices in $USD. All taxes included
Low season is from May to November
High season is from December to April
Holiday season is from December 22nd 2009 to January 3rd 2010
Holy week is from March 28th 2010 to April 4th 2010
Notes :
* To confirm your reservation, you have to pay a deposit of 50%. If you cancel at least 15 days before your arrival date, we will refund half your desposit. On a shorter notice, we won’t refund the deposit.
* You have to reserve for at least 3 nights during Holiday season and Holy week
* You can rent the whole hotel for groups of 14 persons.

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Source: Go Visit Costarica

Looming 1,150 feet above the Pacific Ocean, Villa Caletas shines like a jewel among resorts, prized not only for location, design and décor, but also for outstanding facilities. The spectacular 360-degree panorama from this tropical-jungle perch sweeps over the gulf islands of the

Nicoya Peninsula to the crescent beaches of Jacó, Herradura and Punta Leona, taking in the majestic mountains. Below, rainforests spread to the sandy shores, where Villa Caletas has its own inviting beach.
Villa Caletas has 5 Standard Rooms, 5 Standard Deluxe, 13 Villas; 6 Junior Suites with Jacuzzi, 2 Suites, 2 Suite Superior and 2 Master Suites. All our rooms have the following: cable TV, minibar, coffee maker, private bathroom, shower with hot water, hair dryer, ceiling fans, air conditioning, telephone with outside line and safety box. All rooms are non – smoking.

Villa Caletas also has a full service spa and we offer a variety of services. Including the following: Massage Therapy, Couple’s Massage Therapy, Volcanic Mud Treatment, European Body Peel, Seaweed Wrap, and European Facial; just to mention a few.

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Photo: Marriott Residence Inn, Escazu

Source: Visit Costa Rica

The hotel company Marriott opened the first hotel in Costa Rica under the Residence Inn chain, which has operations outside of the US and Canada. The 109-room facility is located in Escazú within the Escazú Avenue project.

The layout is designed for long-term stays. The hotel has amenities geared toward corporate tastes; however, it is also suitable for vacationing families.

“The location and the facilities make it ideal. Its proximity to CIMA Hospital will attract visitors who come to the country for medical reasons. In addition, executives who relocate to Costa Rica can stay in the hotel while they look for permanent housing,” commented Laura Miranda, Marketing Manager for Marriott Costa Rica.

Part of the reasons that led to the decision to invest in Costa Rica were the positive results from their other three chains already in the country, JW Marriott, Marriott Hotels and Resort and Courtyard. This first operation in Costa Rica will be a stepping stone to expanding the brand at an international level.

The design was inspired by other lifestyle centers, a concept that is promoted by Escazú Avenue, part of a world trend to offer various services in the same location, such as shops, hotels, lodging, restaurants, theaters, and offices.

The architecture is contemporary and its design was headed by the architecture firms, Trejos Facio, Zurcher Arquitectos, and Studio 506. The internal design was led by Marriott and the Costa Rican company Fusion.

The hotel offers suites, one or two bedroom studios, furnished kitchens, Internet, breakfast service, laundry service, and complementary grocery shopping. The common areas offer a gym, pool, and conference rooms.

The company’s expectation is to make the hotel a destination for long-term stays with the comforts of home.

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Source: Hotel Campoverde

The Campo Verde Hotel is a new hotel located just in front of the Arenal Volcano, 10 minutes North West from La Fortuna and 10 minutes East from tne National Park Volcan Arenal

The Volcano imposes admiration by its ash explosions and lava flows, at night gives the impression of fireworks. Come and enjoy the best view of the impressive Arenal Volcano and the rainforest from your private terrace, the best service in the area and wonderful place to rest and relax healthy.

Nature lovers and birdwatchers are welcome to enjoy the natural beauty of the surroundings of the hotel, where we find rivers, waterfalls, a very varied fauna and the panoramic view of the Arenal Volcano. You will be enchanted by the magical murmur of the river mixed with the sound of a great variety of birds and other wild life.

Rooms
Its spacious and confortable rooms offer you all the facilities to rest and relax, enjoy the view of the Arenal Volcano and the rainforest from your private terrace. All bungalows can accommodate up to four people, and they feature:

Two queen size beds
Color TV with cable
Air conditioned
Private bathroom with hot water
Mini-refrigerator.
Coffee maker
Hair dryer
Safety box

The Deluxe Rooms have a comfortable, modern and spacious design, you can enjoy the view of the Arenal Volcano and the rainforest from your private terrace.
A place to relax and share a romantic moment with that special someone. The bungalows have:
One king bed
Sitting room with color TV with cable
Air conditioning
Refrigerator
Private bath with Jacuzzi and hot water
Coffee maker
Hair dryer
Safety box

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