Driving toward the mountains of Talamanca, 45 minutes from Quepos-Manuel Antonio, is the town of Londres, and the Rural Tourism Project of  Los Campesinos Private Reserve. Created by three local costarricans, who wanted to share their tico traditions, great food, and their stories about growing up in the area and the old Costa Rica, but most important to give visitors the opportunity to experience the authentic side of the country, by spending a day hiking among farms, creeks, waterfalls, and wildlife in the primary and secondary forest. Los Campesinos reserve is located on a majestic mountain range between the Naranjo and Savegre rivers watersheds. The Reserve is part of the community of Quebrada Arroyo, and is managed by Don Miguel Mora, his brother Visaí and his wife Doña Juanita. Visitors have the opportunity to interact with the locals, walk in a hanging bridge, and if you feel even more adventures, you could experience a traditional manual tram (kind of a metal tram suspended by ropes) to get across the Savegre River. A day of memorable moments that could be added, if you are staying in the Manuel Antonio Area.
See our suggested itineraries, and asks us for more details at info@greenspot.travel

Came back from Costa Rica, three days ago, and to our surprise the airline had new regulations while flying. According to the flight attendant, the rules apply to all of the airlines while entering the U.S.

-  No iPhones, Blackberrys, etc for the duration of the flights.

- You can’t stand up for the last hour of an international flight. You are not even allowed to go to the bathroom.

-Nothing should be on your lap, or/and hands for the last hour of the flight either.

-You are not allowed to talk or interact with first class passengers and vice versa.

The Arenal Volcano is clear.  You can see the smoke coming out of the crater, and the tourists in town taking pictures, as well as the locals like me.
Christmas in the tropics is different, at least that’s what I think.  People look happier, there’s lots of hugging involved, jokes, loud conversations, people laughing, and the ambiance is just a happy one. My family and I ended up having a barbecue in the open patio, the sky was covered with starts, there was a cool breeze, and the smell of meat on the grill made it to the neighbor‘s houses, who later on stopped by to have a bite with us.
The time to open the presents arrived. I think my sisters and I were as excited as our two little niece and nephew about opening their presents. We headed to the little Christmas tree, in my Mom’s living room, which had a few presents under it. It made me think of my childhood, and the JUST one present that my sisters and I used to get or even share for Christmas, but we knew that gift was so precious, and we will make it last forever. Hard times, but definitely unforgettable ones for us.
Back to the 2009 Christmas at my Mom’s, the two little ones started opening presents, their faces all happy, and Allison the oldest one, was so excited that she actually cried and said “makes me so happy to open all these presents” I couldn’t hold myself, and I cried as well…

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas time with your families and friends, and that the new year that is about to come, fill your lives with many blessings and lots of more memorable family times, which at the end is the most important thing in anybody’s life.

Here I am in the warm Costa Rican weather! Working — yes, it is all about work, but still a very nice opportunity I have to do it from here, reachable at any time for my clients who are getting their bags ready to come down here as well. And for those who are still trying to plan their vacation to this tropical country… my country.
Staying here in the Central Valley for the next 4 nights, while I make it down to my mom’s in the Arenal area.  It is funny the way the U.S restaurants and hotel chains like this one are better in foreign countries. I have to say it is actually quite pleasant to stay here (at the Holiday Inn by the International Airport), breakfast was good, service is very nice and the rooms are actually very clean and smell good!  Perhaps, a hotel option I could consider for the in and out of the country nights for people travelling on a budget with late flights into San Jose or early flights out. Oh … and I forgot to mention that local phone calls, international phone calls, internet and shuttle to the airport are services included in the rate.
More from me later…

Condé Nast Traveler Reader’s Have Voted!  

Each year at this time, Condé Nast Traveler magazine releases the results from its annual Reader’s Choice Awards, ranking the best cities, islands, cruise lines, airlines, hotels, resorts, and car rental agencies worldwide. While all the winners will be announced in the November issue, awards were given out on October 15 and we are pleased to say Lapa Rios Ecolodge was named the Top Hotel in Central America!  ”The Condé Nast Traveler Reader’s Choice Awards are highly prized by our team as an indication that we are meeting and exceeding our guests’ expectations,” says Hans Pfister, president of Cayuga Sustainable Hospitality which operates Lapa Rios Rainforest Ecolodge.”To be named top hotel in Central America is an honor and provides us with the goal to work hard to keep that top ranking for 2010!”. 

This award follows a string of recognition for Lapa Rios including being named as a 2009 World Savers for its commitment to sustainability in the September issue of CondéNast Traveler, and the best nature and wilderness lodge by Away.com, the leading online destination for travelers planning their next vacation.

 But the images that people have are all wrong!!!! The country and the people of Nicaragua were AWESOME.  The sliding down the flank of Cerro Negro and the Ferry to the Volcanic Island of Ometepe was a once in a life time experience.  Something I’ll always remember. Julio, my guide probably lost some blood circulation, when I was going down Cerro Negro, in his left shoulder, I was holding on so tight at least at the beginning. The culture and the history in Leon were very impressive, the murals incredible.  Also, I met the owner of LaPerla, James Peterson, there, and had a great chat. I had the pool all to myself at Morgan’s Rock.  That was a very nice place!

Julio and my driver Yamal were Super Terrific!!!!!  I met their wives one night and we went out for/filebin/masaya-volcano.jpg dinner.  Then, we went out dancing.  They kept me entertained and laughing. The best way to experience the Nicaraguan culture. One of the wives gave me embroidery napkins and a CD of a singer named Paquita La del Barrio.  Funny, very funny. Every time I play the CD, it gives me back memories of my Nicaraguan trip.

So far 3 for 3, once more I had a FANTASTIC time.   You really know how to pick the right spots.  

Thanks Again For A Great Time!!!

Jeanann F.
Greenspot Repeat Client
 

Costa Rica Adventure
August 14 –22, 2008

Cloud Forest and Rain Forest in Costa Rica
April 9 - 18, 2009

Nicaragua  Adventure
August 17 – 26, 2009

International conservationists continue to protest Costa Rica’s plan to downgrade Las Baulas Marine Park, threatening the very existence of the ancient, Leatherback sea turtle. The country’s national park system anchors the billion dollar a year tourism industry and compromising it will undermine this vital economic sector, not to mention its global status as a bastion of wildlife and ecosystem protection.

It was time for us to go back home, and think about what we’ve seen in this wonderful paradise, called Mexico. The people, the food, the culture and the history makes of it, a must destination to visit.
We would be certainly offering an itinerary to Mexico in the upcoming months, and would guarantee that you will have a great time while visiting.

Off to have breakfast to the Akal-ki hotel, the kind of the hotel that gives you the peacefulness and quietness in your mind and body. A place where groups of yogis, have their retreats and where families and couples connect to each other in the ambiance offered by the Bacalar lake, lake  of the 7 colors.
Akal-ki is located in front of the Bacalar Lake, the turquoise waters are product of the deep green tone of the mangroves and reed beds. Being the second largest sweet water lake in Mexico, just 3 hours from Cancun, and featuring  one of the most impressive and deep “holy holes” in the whole Yucatan Peninsula , with an estimate deepness of 600 ft. Akal-ki, a place founded to retreat yourself and purify your soul, as Luis explained to us while having a delicious breakfast. With just 11 bungalows that accommodates from 2 people to families of 6, their operation runs under sustainable practices. Great food, upscale service and comfortable lodging, makes visitors return every year.
After touring Akalki, we headed to the famous Cancun, I have to say that I was “excited” to see what Cancun looked like, as I’ve heard so much about it, all these years. Before we got there, we stopped at Playa del Carmen, a very busy place for my taste. Crowds of people walk the strip during the day and as the night falls, between sombreros and colorful souvenirs stores. We arrived at Dreams Cancun, located 15 minutes from the center of the area, where the action really is. The hotel is a mega-resort with buffet meals and swimming pools, where you can just sit under the big umbrella and have your margarita. It was nice to hear that even though they are an all-inclusive hotel, they still have a green department, which is working with Rainforest Alliance’s help, to operate under sustainable practices as well. There was just one thing that put me out of balance, “swimming with dolphins”?!, an optional activity we were offered to do. What do you think about it?

After breakfast at the Hacienda Tres Rios, we departed on our one hour drive to the third most visited archeological site in the area, Tulum. As I mentioned on day 3, the archeological site resembles the existence of a disappearing Mayan culture and their believes. Our guide Hugo gave us a complete explanation of the site and each of the monuments, quite a lot of information!.  The heat was so intense that Hugo had to get the group out of the shadows of the trees, every 10 minutes. We learned that the site was a major center for trading, for the arrival of the Oley Turtles and one of the best preserved coastal Maya sites. As the tour was getting to an end, we were anxious to get to the Hotel Papaya Playa, located just 10 minutes form Tulum, and where the owners would be welcoming us with a delicious lunch and to spend some free time on the white-sand beaches and the turquoise waters. The Hotel Papaya Playa is a beach front small resort, recommended mainly to backpackers, couples and families. A place that provides a enjoyable environment with a minimum environmental impact, and where you get easily lost with the music of the ocean.