Why We Chose Costa Rica » Retire for Less in Costa Rica

Why We Chose Costa Rica » Retire for Less in Costa Rica

Ostional : turtles nestling

from Costa Rica Bella 

Turtles arriving in ostional Beach, 

Guanacaste Costa Rica

Sea turtles arrive at Ostional to lay eggs almost every night.

This event occur every month, always associated with a phase of the moon, being more predictable during the winter. In the waning phase happen most of the arrivals. Turtles usually come out at night but  sometimes around two o’clock in the afternoon until seven o’clock of the next day. They usually stay three days but some winter nights can stay eight days, which can reach about 500,000 turtles to nest their eggs on average 100 eggs per turtle.

At Playa Ostional come to nest four species of turtles, Carey (Eritmochelys imbricata) sporadically during the year, La verde del Pacifico or Tortuga Negra  (Chelonia agassizzi) , la baula (Dermochelys coriacea) and La Lora (Lepidochelys olivacea) in large quantities in both the rainy and dry season.

This Beach is located in nicoya Peninsula, 2 hours from Liberia Airport. Contac us for Lodging information

Costa Rica and the Panama Canal (National Geographic Expedition)

 http://www.nationalgeographicexpeditions.com/

Costa Rica and the Panama Canal

• 8 days
• Aboard the National Geographic Sea Lion
• Explore with a team of naturalists by Zodiac, kayak, and hiking

 

 Immerse yourself in the natural wonders along the Pacific coast of Costa Rica and Panama on a voyage aboard the National Geographic Sea Lion. Venture into the rain forests of Manuel Antonio and Corcovado National Parks; search for monkeys, frogs, sloths, and brightly colored birds; and ride horseback on pristine beaches. Cap off your voyage with a crossing of the legendary Panama Canal.

 

 

Trip Highlights

• Discover hidden pools and waterfalls deep within the jungles of the Osa Peninsula.
• Kayak around the tiny islands of the Gulf of Panama, and snorkel off Isla de Coiba.
• Join biologists on a hike through the protected forests of Barro Colorado Island.
• Examine the fascinating lock system that made the Panama Canal one of the greatest engineering achievements of its era.

Itinerary - 8 Days

Day 1 — U.S./San José, Costa Rica/Herradura

Upon arrival in San José, transfer to Herradura and embark the National Geographic Sea Lion.
(D)

Day 2 — Manuel Antonio National Park

Spend the morning in Manuel Antonio National Park, where thick forests fringe spectacular white-sand beaches. Venture into this lush wilderness, watching for three-toed sloths lazing among the branches as well as monkeys and vividly colored birds. This afternoon, trace the park's beautiful coastline and stop to take a refreshing swim or a hike.
(B,L,D)

Day 3 — Osa Peninsula

Anchor off the Osa Peninsula, unreachable by road, to see some of the most pristine lowland rain forest on the Pacific coast. In the environs of Corcovado National Park, swim in waterfall pools, horseback ride on the beach, kayak, or trek through the rain forest for a chance to see four species of monkeys—howler, spider, capuchin, and squirrel.
(B,L,D)

Day 4 — Golfo Dulce

Enter the mangrove-fringed Golfo Dulce, a protected gulf along the southwestern edge of Costa Rica. Visit the Casa Orquídeas, a tropical paradise of ornamental palms, bromeliads, heliconias, orchids, and flowering gingers closed to the general public and reachable only by boat. Keep your eye out for tanagers, parrots, and toucans. Later, explore the placid bay, ideal for kayaking and swimming.
(B,L,D)

Day 5 — Coiba National Park, Panama

We'll make our first stop in Panama this morning at the remote Isla de Coiba, one of the many islands of Coiba National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Once a penal colony, the island has long been protected and accessible only by special permit. Among its many endemic species are the Coiba Island agouti and the mantled howler monkey as well as four varieties of turtle. Discover rich marine life while snorkeling, kayak along the coast, take a guided hike in the forest, or just relax on an idyllic beach.
(B,L,D)

Day 6 — Gulf of Panama Islets/Panama Canal Transit

Our nimble Zodiacs and kayaks allow us to navigate the tiny islets of the Gulf of Panama today, stopping to explore hidden coves and beaches. Here, we might spot magnificent frigate birds, brown pelicans, neotropic cormorants, and brown boobies. Reboard the Sea Lion this afternoon and head to the Panama Canal. Stretching slightly more than fifty miles, the canal was a colossal engineering feat completed in 1914 and is still traversed by some 14,000 ships every year. As cargo ships tend to pass through the canal during the day, we'll most likely begin our crossing at night when the canal is dramatically lit.
(B,L,D)

Day 7 — Gatún Lake/Panama Canal Transit

Board a Zodiac this morning to visit Barro Colorado Nature Monument in Gatún Lake by special arrangement. Scientists have worked at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute on Barro Colorado Island since 1946, researching the 120 mammals and diverse tree species that can be found here. It is also the site of a pioneering project supported by National Geographic that tracks tagged animals using automated radio signals and wireless technology. Join researchers for a walk through the forests that so challenged the builders of the canal. This evening, continue through the complex lock system of the canal.
(B,L,D)

Day 8 — Colón/Panama City/U.S.

After breakfast, disembark in Colón and transfer to the airport in Panama City for your flight home.
(B)

---

Optional Extensions

• Monteverde Cloud Forest - Pre-Trip Extension, 3 Days
• Monteverde, Sarapiquí River, and Arenal Volcano - Post-Trip Extension, 7 Days

 

Accompanying each expedition is a diverse team of experts — from naturalists to regional specialists — who will share their knowledge and insights on the wildlife, landscapes, and local culture. See one of the members of our extraordinary team below.
Robert Hernandez
A 28-year veteran of the National Geographic Society, Rob Hernandez first served as a Senior Editor for National Geographic magazine, later becoming Senior Vice President and head of the Society's International Publishing division. An ecologist by education, he spent his early career doing field research and documenting through films and photography many of the world's most remote places. After spending two years circumnavigating the Indian and Pacific Oceans in a small sailboat, he went on to lead many expeditions around the world, including several to Costa Rica and the Panama Canal.
Robert will join the following departures:
Jan 26 - Feb 02, 2013 • Feb 02 - 09, 2013

---

Info from National Geographic Expedition to Costa Rica

 http://www.nationalgeographicexpeditions.com/

 

Costa Rica: Volcanoes, Jungles, and Wildlife

• Explore volcanoes, rain forest, jungles, and coastlines on a 7-day expedition to three national parks
• Search for incredible wildlife including parrots, monkeys, otters and the Atlantic Green Sea Turtle

Expedition Details

Misty cloud forests teeming with wildlife, virgin rain forests edged by black-sand beaches, tumbling waterfalls, and simmering volcanoes—Costa Rica is a small country packed with natural wonders. On an expedition to three national parks, explore the crater of Poás volcano and the waterfalls of La Paz Waterfall Gardens, and hike off the beaten path with naturalists in the Sarapiquí river valley. Visit working farms and plantations to learn about Costa Rica’s most important crops–from pineapples and bananas to cacao and hearts of palm. Then keep an eye out for parrots, iguanas, and poison dart frogs as we glide up the waterways of Tortuguero National Park, and learn about the fascinating life cycle of the green sea turtle.

Trip Highlights

• Encounter diverse wildlife from white-faced capuchins and howler monkeys to sloths, caimans, basilisk lizards, toucans, and hundreds of butterflies.
• Go white-water rafting through the jungle on the Sarapiquí River, and enjoy a private animal safari cruise on the serene waterways of Tortuguero National Park.
• Discover Costa Rica’s diverse ecosystems, exploring rain forests, lush jungles, and the Caribbean coast.
• Witness firsthand the ancient nesting ritual of the green sea turtles, or see their hatchlings embark on an epic crawl from beach to ocean (during the nesting season, from July to October). 

Itinerary - 7 Days

Day 1 — U.S./San José, Costa Rica

Depart for San José, Costa Rica’s capital city, and transfer to our hotel upon arrival. After an orientation and time to explore the hotel’s spectacular tropical gardens, meet for a welcome reception and dinner.
Xandari Resort & Spa (D)

Day 2 — Poás Volcano National Park

A morning excursion brings us to Poás Volcano National Park. See the volcano’s steaming crater lake and learn about the surrounding ecosystem. Then head to a nearby coffee farm to watch how coffee beans are harvested and processed, and taste the lucrative local grano de oro (golden bean). Take advantage of the spa amenities at our hotel before dinner.
Xandari Resort & Spa (B,L,D)

Day 3 — La Paz Waterfalls/ Sarapiquí

Journey to the Sarapiquí region, an area known for its incredible biodiversity. Stop en route to visit the magnificent La Paz Waterfall Gardens. Set off into the cloud forest on foot to explore breathtaking waterfalls and gardens brimming with colorful tropical species; and see a mind-boggling array of butterflies, birds, and reptiles. Next, dive into the history of Costa Rica’s native peoples with a tour of the archaeological artifacts at the Museum of Indigenous Cultures. Later this afternoon, settle into our hotel, a Spanish colonial hacienda set in the foothills of Braulio Carrillo National Park.
Hacienda La Isla Lodge (B,L,D)

Day 4 — Sarapiquí

The day begins with a white-water rafting adventure (or a river safari float) on the Sarapiquí River. Keep an eye out for wildlife along the river’s edge, including sloths, iguanas, crocodiles, and numerous species of monkeys and birds. Back on terra firma, visit a historic cacao plantation to explore the history of chocolate, and then learn about the cultivation of pineapples, which are Sarapiquí’s most important crop. Later this afternoon, relax back at the lodge and stroll through the extensive orchards, bursting with orange, banana, papaya, mango, avocado, and grapefruit trees.
Hacienda La Isla Lodge (B,L,D)

Day 5 — Sarapiquí/Tortuguero National Park

Join a naturalist at a biological research station to examine the unique flora and fauna of the rain forest. Then learn about another important Costa Rican export: the palmito, or heart of palm—a culinary specialty harvested from the core of certain palm trees. On our way to the coast, take a tour of a working banana plantation, and learn the intricacies of the banana industry. Then climb into a boat on the Caňo Blanco river, and navigate the still waterways that cut through lowland tropical wet forest of Tortuguero National Park. Disembark at our secluded hotel, perched right on the water’s edge. This incredibly rich ecosystem supports a wide spectrum of wildlife, from poison dart frogs to spider monkeys to the park’s namesake— green sea turtles who return each year to nest. Take advantage of a rare opportunity to watch these turtles nesting and their young hatching, a harrowing but fascinating ritual that dates back millions of years (during the nesting season, from July to October).
Tortuga Lodge & Garden (B,L,D)

Day 6 — Tortuguero National Park

A private motorized jungle boat waits to take us deeper into Tortuguero’s complex system of backwater lagoons and creeks. The morning hours are an especially active time for this tropical wildlife kingdom, so keep your eyes peeled for howler monkeys, sloths, river otters, caimans, and a variety of lizards and birds. Later, learn about conservationists’ efforts to restore and protect Tortuguero’s long stretch of beach where the turtles make their nests. If you wish, hop in a kayak on your own this afternoon and explore narrow channels reachable only by small, hand-propelled boats. Gather for a festive farewell dinner at the lodge tonight.
Tortuga Lodge & Garden (B,L,D)

Day 7 — Tortuguero National Park/San José/U.S.

After a final breakfast in our jungle paradise, board a private charter plane back to San José, and connect to your flight home.

Christopher Baker
The Lowell Thomas Award 2008 ‘Travel Journalist of the Year,' photographer and writer Christopher Baker is one of the world's foremost authorities on Costa Rica and Cuba. He has authored guidebooks to Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Panama in the National Geographic Traveler series, and is currently at work on Colombia. He is also the author of the award-winning Mi Moto Fidel: Motorcycling Through Castro's Cuba, published by National Geographic Adventure Press. His more than 20 other books include the coffee-table book Cuba Classics: A Celebration of Vintage American Automobiles. He has written for more than 200 publications, from National Geographic Traveler to Newsweek, and has been an invited speaker at National Geographic headquarters, the National Press Club, and the World Affairs Council, among other prestigious organizations. Christopher has been profiled in USA Today and featured on the National Geographic Channel, NPR, and dozens of other radio and TV outlets.
Christopher will join the following departures:
Jan 06 - 12, 2013 • Aug 11 - 17, 2013Sep 08 - 14, 2013 • Sep 22 - 28, 2013Oct 07 - 13, 2013

Expedition Cost		$4,395

Price is per person, double occupancy. For a single room, add $1,000. Airfare and trip leader gratuity are not included in the expedition cost. Round-trip economy airfare between New York and San José is from $700; internal air from Tortuguero to San José is $225 (subject to change).

Video de Costa Rica

Patrick Pierson, un jóven videógrafo de Minnesota fue uno de los miles de turistas estadounidenses que visitó Costa Rica recientemente. En agradecimiento por un viaje maravilloso, su gente y naturaleza produjo el video "Costa Rica: Cómo vivir". Lo compartimos con ustedes. 

 

Playing on grass at the Four Seasons Papagayo / Travel / Weekend / Costa Rica Newspaper, The Tico Times

Playing on grass at the Four Seasons Papagayo / Travel / Weekend / Costa Rica Newspaper, The Tico Times

Panama: a hot holiday destination?

Panama: a hot holiday destination?

It tops lists of hot destinations for 2012 and is sold as the ideal introduction to Latin America, but does it live up to the hype?

• Gemma Bowes
• guardian.co.uk, Friday 18 May 2012 22.45 BST

Tranquilo Bay ecolodge private jetty, Panama. Photographs: Gemma Bowes

Chickens and scruffy children on bikes cross our path as we stroll along a sandy road past candy-coloured buildings beside a turquoise Caribbean sea. "Hey my friend!" Jim, our guide, stops to slap a Rasta man on the back. "How you been? You got your guitar today?"

"No man," says Calypso Joe, shaking his head, " … but I can go get it. You buy me a beer, and I play some guitar."

Ten minutes later we're on a rickety wooden platform above gentle waves, behind a shack of a cafe, beers in hand. Joe, in his 50s and wearing a palm tree-patterned shirt, strums calypso rhythms, the kind introduced to these islands by the African-Caribbean workers brought in by the banana plantation companies.

Islands in the Sun follows some Beatles, but then he whips out the good stuff, his own material: "If your mother and your wife was drownin' well, which one would you be savin'? You can always find another wife, never get another mother in your life!"

Caribbean calypso culture is not what one might expect to find in Panama, but then what is? Aside from hats, a big canal, and the "canoe man" couple behind the fake-death insurance scam, most of us know very little about the end of the Central American isthmus. Without the Mayan ruins and markets of Guatemala or the famous surf resorts and hotels of Costa Rica, its attractions are little-known.

Calypso Joe

Yet Central America is the place backpackers currently want to boast about having been to. Tom Hall of Lonely Planet has called "Nic-Pan" (Nicaragua and Panama) one of the fastest growing backpackingdestinations in the world. Conde Nast Traveller and the New York Times named Panama one of the hottest destinations of 2012, and several UK tour operators are pushing it this year as a perfect "first time to Latin America" destination.

The redevelopment of Panama City's Casco Antiguo, a huge project to restore the attractive colonial district, is a major factor – it has brought in bohemian bars, stylish restaurants, craft stores, and boutique hotels such as the new Casa Del Horno, a revamped townhouse with designer suites and black and white photography.

But it is Panama's wild nature that is increasingly drawing in tourists, and the most popular destination now is Bocas del Toro, a group of 68 Caribbean islands 32km from the Costa Rican border, where primary rainforest meets the sea. Beautiful beaches, surf breaks and a backpacker scene attracts independent travellers to Bocas Del Toro town on Isla Colon, while nature-fanatics head to several ecolodges on the nearby islands and promontories, which have opened in the last few years.

One of the most special is Tranquilo Bay ecolodge on Isla Bastimentos. I travel there via a 25-minute motorboat ride from Bocas town across a calm bay slung with low-lying, thickly forested islands. Despite its popularity, Bocas feels like a sleepy backwater. Porpoise and flying fish leap from the sea, sloths sit high in the trees, and crabs scuttle ahead as we follow a wooden walkway above a mangrove from a private jetty to the lodge. I try to put the "day beds and rum cocktails" image of what a Caribbean island should be out of my mind. Here, the jungle is too thick to cross on foot, so the white sand beaches and island town of Old Bank, where Calypso Joe plays his tunes, are only accessible by boat.

Isla Bastimentos and, right, the lounge at Tranquilo Bay

Once my mum (yep, I'm putting the Ma in Panama) and I have settled into our cabin in the gardens, we polish off a breakfast of eggs, beans, pineapple and guanabana juice, while watching hummingbirds flit around the veranda.

Iguanas, capuchin monkeys, sloths, anteaters, boa constrictors, armadillos and zillions of rare birds live here. This region is more biodiverse than almost anywhere else on earth. Panama has 125 endemic animal species, 218 mammal species, 226 reptile and 950 bird. Bocas is particularly special because three ecosystems meet: mangrove, reef and rainforest. "Wherever there's edge, species thrive," says Jim, one of the American owners of Tranquilo. "There are different species on different islands here. Toucans on some, but not the next, as they won't fly more than a kilometre over water."

Within minutes of walking out of the lodge, we see a double-toothed kite, black-checked woodpecker, warblers, blue-headed Amazons, a white hawk, a pale-billed woodpecker. I'm no twitcher but the way Jim suddenly halts and hisses, "Ssshhhh! Look! Wow! You are so lucky! These are so rare! We hardly ever see these!" is infectious.

For five years Jim and Jay, the other owner, lived in the jungle under a tarpaulin, building their dream lodge. When they arrived in 2000, there were only 10 expats in Bocas. They convinced their wives to move down and started families, and now Jim and Rene are home-schooling their kids, while Jay's family lives across the bay in Bocas. Jungle living is tough, and we wonder if the reality lives up to the dream; the way they talk non-stop to their guests and make every meal communal suggests they might be a bit lonely. They are very knowledgeable, but we feel we'd rather learn about Panama from Panamanians than Texans. So the next day we visit Popa Island to meet the Ngobe-Bugle, the largest of Panama's seven indigenous groups. They own farm land, live well and have a high degree of political autonomy. We buy beaded bracelets in one of their palapa huts, see crops of yuca, coconut and noni fruit, but are ignored by everyone except our guide, who takes us on another jungle walk. As tourism experiences go, it isn't mindblowing, but the lack of interaction feels less exploitative.

Other days we kayak and snorkel above tropical fish, football-sized sea urchins and luminous jellyfish, and spend an afternoon on Isla Colon, shopping for toucan-patterned bags and lying on Bluff Beach. Then we're off on our whirlwind tour of Panama to the coffee town of Boquete, a few hours away in Chiriquí state. The drive passes the Continental Divide, jungly hills and nature reserves, ending at the pretty hill town, full of flowers and coffee shops selling world-class, locally grown brands.

We visit 90-year-old Cafe Ruiz's plantations and factories, learning that we should always drink high quality, freshly ground beans because instant coffee is usually made from "floaters", the empty husks of coffee beans ("We call Nescafe 'no es cafe'!" laughs our guide, Carlos), and that coffee tasters are as discerning as wine-makers.

Los Establos B&B

There are lovely walks here, around (or up) Panama's highest mountain, Volcan Barú, and along the Quetzal Trail, named after a spectacular local bird. We relax in the gorgeous gardens of our hilltop B&B, Los Establos, eat corvina fish cerviche and chicharrón pork belly at luxurious Panamonte Inn & Spa, and cheap, tasty rice dishes in local workers' cafes, such as Sabrosado.

It's lovely, but slightly downbeat, despite all the caffeine. Depressingly, developers have bought many of the fine coffee plantations to turn them into gated communities for American retirees, and the local government plans to paint the town's colourful buildings a matching light brown. Boquete's charm seems at risk, but for now, it's a pretty spot.

Whether it's charming enough to justify Panama's hype as a hot new destination, I'm not convinced. To be fair, it was rainy season, but these "highlights" felt like somewhere you'd go on your way to somewhere else. There is a lack of vibrant culture found in other Latin American destinations, and yet, there are gems. With more time we'd visit Chiriquí's hotsprings and pre-Hispanic ruins, the colourful city of David, the amazing-sounding San Blas islands, autonomously run by the Kuna Indians in the Caribbean, and pristine Isla Coiba, in a marine reserve in the Pacific. And I wouldn't have missed Calypso Joe, and all that incredible nature.

• Rainbow Tours (020-7666 1260, rainbowtours.co.uk) provided the trip. A week's B&B, including the De Ville hotel and Casa del Horno in Panama City, Tranquilo Bay (tranquilobay.com), Los Establos (losestablos.net), return flights from London, domestic flights and transfers, costs from £2,255pp. Holiday Extras provided a night at a Heathrow hotel, from £55 (holidayextras.co.uk)

The Guardian on Costa Rica & Central America

Surf and turf: Central America holiday ideas Central America has something for everyone, from surfing down a volcano to surfing in the Pacific, and from rainforest lodges to pensiones in colonial cities

• • 
    Rachel Dixon
  • guardian.co.uk, Friday 18 May 2012 22.45 BST

The Nicoya peninsula in Costa Rica. Photograph: Alamy

Central America is gaining in popularity for adventure travel. Earlier this year, Latina Marketing, which promotes the region in Europe, announced a 7% increase in British travellers there in 2011 compared with 2010 – there were around 85,000 between January and October. There had been a 6% increase in foreign visitors, to more than 9.5 million.

Here are some of the region's highlights, to explain why it's on the hot list.

Belize

Tiny, English-speaking Belize is great for an action-packed holiday: snorkelling or diving on the second biggest barrier reef in the world, spotting jaguars in the Cockscomb Basin wildlife sanctuary, kayaking down jungle rivers or just relaxing on the Caribbean beaches. Don't miss Belize City, Mayan archaeological sites (such as Lamanai or Caracol) and the fantastic islands of Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker.

Go it alone Check out travelbelize.org for unusual activities including cave tubing, plus ideas of where to stay.

Book a trip Journey Latin America (020-3432 1514,journeylatinamerica.co.uk) has a 12-day trip from £1,976pp, staying in luxury countryside and beach lodges, excluding flights.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica is paradise for watersports fans, with white-water rafting at Turrialba, surfing on the Nicoya peninsula and calm seas for swimming along the Caribbean coast. Land-based attractions aren't in short supply either, with volcanoes in Rincón de la Vieja national park and cloud forests around Monteverde. Tortuguero national park is a great place to see leatherback and green turtles. La Kukula Lodge is a new small hotel in the jungle, a few hundred metres from the white-sand beaches (lakukulalodge.com, doubles $80).

Go it alone Visitcostarica.com has information about destinations, accommodation and events, plus bus timetables and a list of car rental companies for independent travellers. It also has a large section on sustainable tourism, with details of ecohotels and activities, such as zip lines in the rainforest. Go to turismo-sostenible.co.cr/en for more on sustainable travel in Costa Rica.

Book a trip Responsible Travel (responsibletravel.com) has a two-week multisport holiday from £1,099, excluding flights but including rafting, hiking and biking, and optional kayaking, waterfall rappelling, ziplining and surfing.

Guatemala

Lake Atitlán in Guatemala. Photograph: Ocean/Corbis

Guatemala is home to one of the finest colonial cities in Central America, Antigua. The craft markets in the highland villages are renowned, especially Chichicastenango. and natural highlights include Lago Atitlán, a highland lake encircled by volcanoes, Semuc Champey, a series of limestone pools, and the Sierra de los Cuchumatanes mountain range. The lost city of Tikal is one of the largest Mayan archaeological sites, and American archaeologists have just discovered the oldest Mayan calendar ever found (1,200 years old) on the walls of Xultun in the north. You could stay in that region at film director Francis Ford Coppola's La Lanchacoppolaresorts.com/lalancha, casitas sleeping two from $101) resort.

Go it alone The official tourist information site, visitguatemala.com, is very basic. A better starting point is the Wikitravel page,wikitravel.org/en/Guatemala, which has useful information on travelling by "chicken bus" and getting off the beaten track.

Book a trip Explore (0845 013 1537, explore.co.uk) has a 15-day family trip, Active Guatemala, from £1,275 (adults), £805 (children), excluding flights.

El Salvador

Another tiny but hugely scenic country, El Salvador boasts great mountain landscapes along La Ruta de las Flores, tropical forests in the El Imposible national park and surfing beaches on the Pacific coast – El Sunzal is the best. The Akwamar Adventure Club based there offers surfing and paragliding packages (akwamarsunzal.com). Cobbled Suchitoto is a lovely colonial town with an arty feel, and Joya de Cerén is unmissable: a pre-Hispanic village that was engulfed by a volcano and preserved under a layer of ash, like Pompeii.

Go it alone Elsalvador.travel has six suggested routes through the country, depending on your interests: coffee, culture, beaches, archaeology ... It also has a handy distance guide so you can work out if your planned trek/cycle ride is actually feasible. Or travel along the Peace Trail, through an area in the north-east that suffered most in the civil war (1980-92). It is a beautiful region of rivers and waterfalls, ideal for hiking and mountain biking, where tourism really benefits the local community (seeelsalvadordestinos.com).

Book a trip Responsible Travel (responsibletravel.com) has a four-day La Ruta de las Flores tour from £521 excluding flights, or Journey Latin America (020-3432 1514, journeylatinamerica.co.uk) has a 10‑day Highlights of El Salvador trip from £1,322, excluding flights.

Nicaragua

Unspoilt Nicaragua is famed for lakes and volcanoes, some covered by rainforest and suitable for hiking, some home to coffee plantations. You can walk to the top of the active Masaya volcano (usually – in recent weeks it has been a little too active for comfort); find petroglyphs on the volcanic island of Ometepe; visit the far-flung Corn Islands; or even surf down the side of the Cerro Negro volcano. The country's best-preserved colonial cities include Granada and Léon – the capital Managua is less appealing. Nicaragua is also a cheaper alternative to Costa Rica for surfers – for a budget break on the Pacific coast, try El Coco Loco, a surf and yoga resort (elcocolocoresort.com, cabins for four from around $65pp/pn, including meals and beer).

Go it alone Vianica.com is a comprehensive resource, covering everything from sea turtle nesting sites to homestays where you can learn about coffee cultivation and Nicaraguan cooking.

Book a trip Exodus (0845 004 7089, exodus.co.uk) has a 16-day cycle tour of Nicaragua, Panama and Costa Rica from £2,499 including flights.

Honduras

Ruins at Copán in Honduras. Photograph: Ocean/Corbis

Honduras is ideal for island-hopping: the Bay Islands have white sandy beaches and the main island, Roatán, has good accommodation. The fishing villages around Tela on the northern coast are the place to experience authentic Garifuna food and culture. Wildlife lovers should head to the Pico Bonito national park to observe native armadillos, or to Lago de Yojoa, with its hundreds of bird species. The ruined city of Copán is an impressive site.

Go it alone Roatanisland.net focuses on the largest island, including where to find a secluded beach. Letsgohonduras.com has a directory of hotels across Honduras plus details of La Ruta Lenca, a trail through towns that still keep the traditions of the ancient Lenca, predecessors of the Mayans.

Book a trip On The Go Tours (020-7371 1113, onthegotours.com) has a 15-day tour of Honduras and Nicaragua from £990, excluding flights, staying in simple hotels and guesthouses.

Ecología y finanzas

El efecto multiplicador de un bosque tropical nuboso

30 de abril de 2012 por Katiana Murillo

Quien ha tenido la oportunidad de conocer la Reserva Biológica Bosque Nuboso Monteverde (RBBNM) sabe lo que se siente internarse en sus 13 kilómetros de senderos inundados de lianas, musgos, helechos y bromelias; respirar ese aire fresco que aviva el ánimo; ir tras la pista del quetzal; descubrir arroyos y cascadas de aguas límpidas o simplemente dejarse envolver por su magia sobrecogedora.
La reserva de bosque tropical nuboso más famosa del mundo y una de las áreas silvestres protegidas privadas más importantes de Costa Rica cumple sus 40 años en 2012. Nació en 1972 gracias al aporte de 328 ha de bosques donados al Centro Científico Tropical (CCT) por la comunidad cuáquera de Monteverde, la primera en identificar el valor de estos bosques mágicos, ubicados en  la parte alta de la Cordillera de Tilarán.
Actualmente cuenta con un total de 4025 ha de bosque nuboso protegido, cuya extensión se compró mediante donaciones impulsadas en su momento y a las que respondieron miles de costarricenses y extranjeros.  El CCT, que constituye la ONG ambiental más antigua del país con cincuenta años, está a cargo de su administración.
La gran biodiversidad de la RBBNM es innegable: alberga cuatro diferentes zonas de vida y cuenta con más de 130 especies de mamíferos, 500 especies de aves, 120 especies de anfibios y reptiles y más de 3000 especies de plantas, incluyendo alrededor de 500 diferentes tipos de orquídeas.  Como parte de su vida silvestre se encuentra el jaguar, el pájaro campana, el ocelote, el tapir y su ave más famosa, el resplandesciente quetzal.

Sin embargo, esta biodiversidad es solo el punto de partida para un efecto multiplicador que la existencia de la reserva ha generado desde el punto de vista ambiental, social y financiero. En los últimos diez años, la RBBNM ha recibido un promedio de 70 mil visitantes al año (tanto nacionales y residentes como extranjeros pagan más de dos veces aquí que en las áreas silvestres de propiedad estatal, lo que ha fortalecido su sostenibilidad financiera).
Este ingreso económico aportado por los visitantes por el derecho de admisión, compra de artesanías, uso del restaurante y el albergue de montaña, servicios con los que también cuenta la reserva, llega anualmente en promedio a 1.4 millones de dólares, si bien la crisis financiera internacional ha disminuido la visitación y los ingresos en los últimos tres años.
Según sostiene Carlos Hernández, Gerente de la RBBNM, el 70% de los ingresos totales son invertidos en el manejo del área silvestre protegida y sus programas, como investigación y educación ambiental, y el otro 30% es utilizado por el Centro Científico Tropical en el manejo de otras 3 reservas que se encuentran en diferentes sitios del país, así como en otros proyectos. Por lo tanto, el 100% de los recursos generados por la RBBNM son reinvertidos en conservación. Incluso la reserva está generando actualmente un importante aporte en investigación sobre el efecto del cambio climático en los ecosistemas de bosque tropical nuboso.
Pero a lo largo de estos 40 años, gracias a la visitación en los primeros años de investigadores y naturalistas y en los últimos 20 años de todo tipo de turista, las comunidades de Santa Elena, Monteverde y otras aledañas fueron desarrollando servicios y facilidades así como diferentes atractivos turísticos para los miles de visitantes que arriban a la zona, la gran mayoría atraídos por la reserva.
De esta manera,  se fue ampliando el número de hoteles, restaurantes y sitios de aventura y con ellos la extensión de servicios públicos como agua potable, electricidad, servicios bancarios y comercios en general. Con esto se ha posibilitado una mejor calidad de vida para los residentes de la zona y un gran efecto multiplicador, ya que se estima que hasta un 95% se dedican a alguna actividad relacionada con el turismo.
Si quiere apoyar a la reserva y contribuir a su efecto multiplicador, tome un fin de semana de su tiempo o piense en ella para su próxima vacación. Le aseguro que vale la pena.

 Fuente: http://www.elfinancierocr.com/blog/sostenible/

Investment

OKAY Industries invests $1.5 million in Costa Rica plant

 

Posted: Monday, April 16, 2012 - By Tico Times

OKAY becomes the third company in the medical supplies sector to launch operations during the first quarter of 2012.

Okay Industries Inc., a company that specializes in the production of high-precision metal components for the medical supplies industry, last week inaugurated a $1.5 million, 1,400 square-meter plant in Costa Rica. The new facility – the company’s first plant outside the United States – is located in Free Trade Zone Z, in the province of Alajuela, north of San José.
“Today, we have 41 [international] companies operating in Costa Rica with more than 122 different products that are being exported to 73 destinations in the Americas, Asia, Oceania and Europe,” Foreign Trade Minister Anabel González said. “We will continue consolidating our country’s prestige as a leader in the medical supplies industry on an international scale.”
Okay Industries President Jason Howey said the decision to start operations in Costa Rica was a result of the stability the country offers investors, the strong medical-device industry that already operates here, and the availability of highly educated workers.

Contiki Vacations Welcomes Costa Rica and Ecuador/Galapagos as Exciting New Destinations in 2012-2014 Latin America Brochure

Youth tour operator offers 11 itineraries throughout Mexico, Costa Rica, Ecuador/Galapagos, and South America 

 

Anaheim, CA (PRWEB) April 16, 2012

Building upon the success of last year’s inaugural South America program, Contiki Vacations - the worldwide leader in fun travel packages for 18-35’s - is thrilled to introduce the addition of hot spots Costa Rica and Ecuador to its lineup for the 2012-2014 Latin America brochure, which also features Mexico as well. The brochure is available in print and online at http://www.contiki.com/brochures.
Contiki now offers 11 itineraries across six countries in Latin America and increased their departures across all trips in the program – an easy decision to make after the initial South America program sold out months before its first tour departure.
The newly added 11-day Galapagos & Ecuador tour and the 12-day Costa Rica Unplugged tour give travelers more life-changing adventures to experience, including:

•     A Galapagos BBQ feast – one of the best in the country
•     Ride on the world-famous Devil’s Nose Train, one of Ecuador’s famous attractions
•     Sunset cruises in Tortuguero, Costa Rica
•     Rafting, canopy zip-lining, canyoneering, or abseiling in Costa Rica’s Sarapiqui Rainforest
•     Special stays at the Sarapiqui Rainforest Lodge or the Jungle Lodge in Tortugero

“Contiki continues to evolve by listening to our fans and fellow travelers and delivering the destinations that excite them and the experiences they crave,” said Greg Fischbein, President of Contiki Vacations. “It’s fitting to introduce Costa Rica and Ecuador/Galapagos in this all-new Latin America program, especially after the success of our inaugural launch of South America.”
Each Contiki tour averages 30 passengers, an intimate small group experience that is large enough to meet plenty of other travelers. Each itinerary includes land-only transportation and internal flights, accommodation, breakfast daily and many other meals, sightseeing tours of all major areas, and the services of an experienced Contiki crew and professional driver, plus an English-speaking local guide. Travelers can book these trips immediately, with the first tours running in November 2012. For more information, visit http://www.contiki.com.
About Contiki
Contiki has inspired 18 – 35 year olds to travel to the world’s most fantastic destinations for 50 years. The trips are hassle-free and include the perfect mix of sightseeing, culture and free time. Travelers can choose from over 200 itineraries throughout Europe, Russia, Egypt, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Canada, South America, & the USA. For more information, please visit http://www.Contiki.com

 

1 / 2

Great getaways: Costa Rica, Turkish cruise, Cognac and a summer sale

Costa Rica

Journeys of Distinction has an "Early Bird Saver" offer on a range of worldwide escorted tours. One example is the 11-day trip to Costa Rica, which visits several national parks, for £1,955 per person. It departs on 6 October with Iberia flights from Heathrow via Madrid and includes B&B in jungle lodges and guesthouses. Sale ends 30 April. (Jod.uk.com)

Turkish cruise

This summer, navigate the bays and caves of Turkey's Lycian coast on a traditional gulet boat for £899 per person. The week-long cruise with Exodus includes all meals, activities such as kayaking and visits to several archaeological sites. Flights are with Thomson from Gatwick to Dalaman on either 9 July or 27 August. (Exodus.co.uk)

Cognac

Kirker Holidays has a three-night trip to the vineyards of Cognac for £418 per person. It includes B&B at Le Logis du Paradis, a beautiful former distillery in the Charente Valley, along with BA flights from Gatwick to Bordeaux, and car hire for the duration. The deal is valid for departures up until 27 April. (Kirkerholidays.com)