Monthly Newsletter - March 2009

Costa Ricais at the top of many a holiday maker’s wish list, drawing over two million visitors annually with its astonishing range of attractions which include long coasts on two oceans, gorgeous beaches with teeming coral reefs, active volcanoes spewing red lava into the night sky, dense tropical jungles, eerie and mysterious cloud forests, roaring rivers and of course, a collection of wildlife that is unmatched virtually anywhere else in the world.

As a major vacation hotspot, Costa Rica is often in the news and thanks to its pioneering approach to ecotourism, conservation and wildlife protection, the country often bucks the trend by being in the news for all the right reasons.

After all, this must be the only place where over one quarter of all land is officially protected by a comprehensive national parks system, which was established to ensure the existence of ‘bio corridors’ to conserve the fragile ecosystems of the country’s many native species.

Many beaches are now covered by the Blue Flag system which certifies the quality and cleanliness of beach areas and provides an effective incentive on developers and tourism companies to play a role in protecting the natural environment.

Furthermore, in 1997 the Costa Rican Board of Tourism introduced a world leading certification scheme, encouraging tourist related businesses to sign up to a code of practice that regulates their impact on the environment and continues to invest in further conservation.

Thanks to these initiatives, Costa Rica continues to lead the pack in the field of sustainable tourism, a reputation that has paid dividends for the country’s tourism industry while contributing enormously to conservation and preservation projects across the country.

Recent news has included the country being ranked first in the Americas and fifth in the world on the Environmental Performance Index. Meanwhile international firms such as Toyota and Intel have taken an interest in the country’s outstanding environmental record and are trying to learn how to manage their own environmental impact based on Costa Rica’s expertise.

In addition, while much of Latin America is under the spotlight for often irresponsible attitudes to natural resource exploitation, Costa Rica is making waves with entirely different headlines: a refusal to permit increased oil extraction in fragile ecosystems, investments in electrical transport systems and the construction of geothermal power stations.

And Costa Rica was in the news yet again this week when Ethan Todras-Whitehill, travel writer for the New York Times, spent just eight days in the country, trying to experience as many of the different faces of Costa Rica as possible and settling for three; the primary cloud forests of Monteverde, the adrenaline-packed whitewater hotspot of Turrialba and the beachside paradise of Manuel Antonio.

He describes a whirlwind of fascinating new experiences, spotting hummingbirds buzzing through the trees in Monteverde, throwing himself headfirst down class IV rapids on the Pacuare River and visiting the famed Manual Antonio National Park, home to some of Costa Rica’s most perfect beaches. Swept away by the Costa Rican experience, Ethan marvels at the number of vacation options the country offers, the versatility of this tiny country for any holiday maker.

And now, based on Ethan’s experiences, Costa Rica For Less has assembled a trip to paradise that is tailored around your own budget and which takes in each of those holiday highlights; nature spotting in the cloud forests, white knuckle rafting adventures and relaxation on perfectly tranquil and pristine beaches.

Sources: nytimes.com, prnewswire.com, insidecostarica.com, ipsnews.net

By
Matthew Barker

If you have any questions regarding his article, please write to him at: mattb@costaricaforless.com. If you are interested in booking a trip to our newest Latin American destination, please write to travel@costaricaforless.com.

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• Tour Package to San Jose, Turrialba, Santa Elena/Monteverde and Quepos & Manuel Antonio.
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Itinerary Outline

• Day 1: Arrival to San Jose
• Day 2: Turrialba Rafting Tour
• Day 3: Turrialba Rafting Tour / Santa Elena & Monteverde
• Day 4: Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve Natural Hike Tour
• Day 5: Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve Night Hike Tour
• Day 6: Transfer to Quepos & Manuel Antonio
• Day 7: Manuel Antonio National Park Tour
• Day 8: Free Day in Quepos & Manuel Antonio
• Day 9: Transfer Out

*Note: these prices are not valid for the high season and certain holidays. Please contact a Travel Advisor for prices based on your specific travel dates.