One of the ultimate paradises left untouched on this planet.
The name literally means rich coast but Costa Rica is rich for more reasons than its coasts. Costa Rica has been able to distinguish itself from the rest of Central America with its political stability, strong democratic institutions, and low violent crime rates. Costa Rica’s tourism industry has excelled due to its biodiversity, location, stability, strong environmental lobby, its higher standard of living, and the warm hearted hospitality of its people. Ecotourism means ecological tourism and Costa Rica is proof of that.

Costa Rica’s incredible biodiversity offers foreigners a glimpse at mountains, volcanoes, beaches and rainforests, all located within a relatively small region. Costa Rica’s diverse flora and fauna are protected in 24 national parks. In spite of its small size harbors an amazing variety of climatic zones and natural habitats are due to the height of the mountain ranges which separate the lowlands of the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. 

 On the unspoiled northern Pacific coast of Costa Rica, in Guanacaste, you will find wildlife from parrots to endangered sea turtles, dramatic volcanic cliffs, powdery sand beaches, beautiful coves, calm seas, and the five-star Occidental Grand Papagayo.  This resort achieves a new level of all-inclusive luxury that is ideal for everyone and every occasion, from couples, to families, to friends, and perfect for weddings, honeymoons, and reunions.    This tropical retreat overlooks the Bay of Papagayo, and is immersed in the rainforest that surrounds it.

 All of their 169 elegant rooms include stunning views, private balcony or terrace, air conditioning, satellite television, copier, printer, fax, and stocked mini bar.  You can also upgrade to the resort’s Royal Club, which features luxury and comfort within their amenities, which include: personal, customized VIP service, special concierge, express check-in/check-out, and more.  And another alternative is their Grand Romance Deluxe plan, where romance is guaranteed.  Through the Romance plan you will receive turndown service, a fruit basket upon arrival, a bottle of chilled champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries, in-room massages, breakfast in bed, romantic dinner to two, spa discounts, bathrobes and a surprise gift.

 And the accommodations don’t end there.  Also included on the property are their newly opened world class spa that offers and diverse menu of treatments, and their fitness center that will allow you a full workout on their state-of-the-art equipment.  They offer daily recreation and sports programs that offer everything from pool games to bird watching.  The calm seas offer ideal conditions for boat excursions, snorkeling, kayaking, fishing, scuba diving and more.  Also included for your convenience is money exchange, laundry services, car rental, babysitting services, an on-call doctor, and meeting rooms.  And through the resort you can arrange tours to tropical forests, or to bird and wildlife habitats and eco-tours, horseback riding along the coast, scuba diving, deep-sea fishing, and excursions to local sights (such as Palo Verde, Arenal Volcano, National Parks and Liberia).

 Within the resort there are dining options for any occasion or mood.  Not only can you order lunch by the pool, or room service and breakfast in bed, but they offer many restaurants as well.  There are three restaurants at the Grand Papagayo (serving Italian at one, Pan-Asian banquet at another, and a grand continental buffet at the last of the three).  Cocktails at sunset are regular at the Lobby Bar, and many take part in smoking a premium cigar in the resort’s cigar bar.  And at night you can dance ‘till dawn at the resort’s hip disco, or take part in the many nighttime entertainment programs, from cocktail parties to themed Costa Rican events.

 San Juan is remembered for its rich history, hot salsa clubs, and its cosmopolitan Caribbean charm.  Here, in this modern, beautiful city, English is widely spoken, the U.S. dollar is accepted, and it is easily reached from the states. 

 And in Old San Juan, there is a raging culinary and fashion scene emerging everywhere, with amazing restaurants sprouting from Fortaleza Street, and high name shops, such as Gucci and Dior, have opened their doors in the Condado neighborhood.

 Also, in Old San Juan you will find the glitzy beachfront resorts it is known for, including the upscale Ritz-Carlton.  This is one of the most luxurious in the area, and is places on an exquisite stretch of beach on Isla Verde and is located just minutes from the airport.  Between their excellent restaurants, beautiful pools and beach, high-class casino, and relaxing spa, you will find no time to do anything but relax and enjoy yourself.

 They recently added two first-rate restaurants, which have gained the awe of Ritz-Carlton guests and other visitors alike.  First of which is the BLT Steak.  This restaurant is the third branch of chef Laurent Tourondel’s modern steakhouses that are also located in New York and Washington D.C.  In this warm and inviting environment you can order such delights as braised short ribs, Kobe strip steak, and porterhouse, among others.  You can also order their tropical pina colada sundae.  Second, is Il Mulino, which is a branch of the popular restaurant in New York’s Greenwich Village.  This Italian restaurant has a recently been redone, along with their lobby bar, which has grown as a hub of activity for tourists and locals, and where bands playing anything from jazz to pop to salsa, will entertain you.

 The hotel boasts 416 guestrooms designed in soothing yellows and greens, with tropical-style artwork placed beautifully.  Many of their rooms overlook the beach from large picture windows and feature perks such as flat-screen TVs, full-length mirrors, Bulgari amenities, and marble baths.  Their garden suites provide you with your own pool-level patios that are surrounded by shrubbery to offer privacy.  Their presidential suites have been used by big names such as Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez, and Marc Anthony, and feature a dining room, kitchen and whirlpool bathtub.  They are also located on the ninth floor, or ‘Club Level,’ where you have access to a private lounge with complimentary snacks and cocktails served all throughout the day.

 Also in this resort you will find the beautiful pool area, which is surrounded by tropical gardens, and that feature a large marble fountain along with six coralstone water-spouting lions (which are the Ritz-Carlton’s symbol).  You will also find their outdoor hot tub located just steps from the beach, and the breath-taking beach where there are hammocks and many watersports that are available. 

 And the last of the Ritz-Carlton’s perks is their 12,000-square-foot spa.  At this spa you can indulge in treatments such as their detoxifying coffee and coconut milk scrub, their rainforest stone massage, or their papaya and mango facial.

 Costa Rica, with its natural wonders, beautiful scenery, and rich culture, has always been a popular destination for those looking for adventure, or just to relax in one of the most beautiful places in the world.  With a half-dozen active volcanoes in the country, and many species of bird and animal spread across the area, Costa Rica is the perfect destination for anyone.

 San Jose, the capital, central and interior city of Costa Rica, presents a casuality and beauty that embraces all that visit there.  This is the main spot in Costa Rica, and is home to sophisticated, yet informal restaurants, performances by its National Symphony Orchestra, and high-end hotels such as Marriott Costa Rica Hotel, the Real InterContinental, the Hilton Cariari and the Grano de Oro. 

 One main attraction of San Jose is its museums.  The National Museum features pre-Columbian artifacts in stone, ceramic and gold, along with colonial religious art.  The Jade Museum is home to the Americas’ largest collection of jade pieces.  At the Gold Museum you will find their 1,800-piece collection, located beneath the Plaza de la Cultura.  And the Costa Rican Art Museum features 19th century works.  While there, you will also want to stop at the National Theater, and Mercado Central, the lively square-block that hosts one of San Jose’s best indoor markets.

 When it comes to the natural side of San Jose, you need not look far.  From the central town you can take day trips to numerous countryside beauties.  Nearby is the town of Sarchi, where you can watch craftsmen make oxcarts and paint them.  Also, two of Costa Rica’s volcanoes are easily accessible from San Jose.  One of which, Irazu Volcano, is the country’s tallest at 11,325 ft., and has five craters.  And if you follow a paved road to the summit during the dry season, you can see both the Caribbean and Pacific.  And The Poas Volcano stands at 8,650 ft. and is one of the country’s most active.  Here you can hike trails that wind through the forest and lead you to the beautiful crater lake.  Also nearby is INBio Park, which is part museum, part education center, part nature park, or the Lankester Gardens, which home some 800 varieties of orchids that are found in Costa Rica, or the La Paz Waterfall Gardens, which include a large butterfly garden, a hummingbird garden and an orchid garden.

 Guanacaste is perfect for activities such as scuba diving, sportfighing, surfing and kayaking and is the home for upscale travel and luxury in Costa Rica.  Sol Melia started the craze with their 345-suite Paradisus Playa Conchal Resort and Golf Club.  Among the others who followed in this trend are:  Four Seasons Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo, a top luxury resort that also features an 18-hole Arnold Palmer course, full-service spa, and five restaurants; the Hilton Papagayo Resort, which joined the ranks as one the top resorts of Guanacaste last year; the Hyatt Regency Azulera Resort & Spa, which features a Greg Norman championship golf course, which opens next year. 

 Throughout all of Costa Rica two of the top attractions are the sea turtles that flock to the area and the canopy tours that zip you across the sky above the rainforest.  In Costa Rica you can spot six different species of sea turtle-Olive Ridley, Pacific green, Atlantic green, hawksbill, loggerhead and giant leatherback-and easily at that.  One of the main places for spotting the turtles is Santa Rosa National Park, is near Liberia, among others are:  Las Baulas National Park near Tamarindo; and The Ostional National Wildlife Refuge near Playa Nosaria, which happens to be where the massive egg-laying of the Olive Ridley take place.  At the new L’Aquavia Hotel they put you right on the scene for the Olive Ridley egg-layings.  Also on the Caribbean coast you’ll find the Tortuguero National Park, which protects the nesting ground for the endangered giant leatherback turtles.  There are at least 30 canopy tours strewn across the country that allow you to fly about the rainforest canopy to observe the local birds, butterflies, animals (especially monkeys), flowers and plant life.  You will observe, without harming, from above by the means of funiculars, aerial gondolas, platforms, bridges, walkways, skywalks and ziplines.

 Costa Rica has all you can hope for, from adventure to luxury, everything is at your fingertips.

 If you travel to Costa Rica for adventure, you need not look far.  In 1978 Michael Kaye (who was the first outfitter to raft some of Costa Rica’s rivers) started Costa Rica Expeditions.  Costa Rica Expeditions offers 10-day packages, and more, where you can pack in all the adventure you please.  With the multisport packages you can fly through the canopy on a zip-line 98 feet above the forest floor, raft class four rapid on the Pacuare River, and mountain bike around the Arenal volcano.  You can also request a bespoke itinerary, where you can customize it to fill your needs.

 For all the Eco-travelers going to Costa Rica, there are many hotels accommodating their needs.  The 16 room Lapa Rios sits beside Corcovado National Park.  These palm-thatch roofed bungalows are filled with bamboo furniture and offer an eco-friendly take on luxury.  The Aguila de Osa Inn sits within a thick forest, as its 13 oversized rooms with cathedral ceilings and Italian-tiled baths are barely visible from the waters of Drake Bay.  This inn is hidden behind the forest, and is more remote, as you have to access is by boat.  In Tortuguero, or Costa Rica’s mini-amazon, guests can help scientists tag leatherback turtles for the Caribbean Conservation Corporation while they stay in the research facility’s basic beachside rooms.

 If you ache for luxury, Costa Rica has much to offer.  The Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo opened two years ago, and since then has wowed guests with 24-hour room service, their beautiful earth-toned buildings, and two gold-sand beaches.  the 10-villa Florblanca offers sophisticated cuisine, and decadent outdoor bathrooms and stucco porches.  Hotel Punta Islita features a swim up bar in their mushroom-shaped pool, 17 thatched-roof villas, and hot-volcanic-stone messages.  The Gaia Hotel & Reserve is Costa Rica’s latest in luxury hotels, here guests are treated like royalty and given a private butler for laundry, room service, and arranging tours and activities.

 Newly opened, the Celeste Mountain Lodge in Bijagua, Costa Rica, blends nature with luxury for their clients.  Laying over a mountain top, you sit atop the valley below, where the small village of Bijagua lies.  Surrounded by forest reserves and the Tenorjo and Miravalles volcanoes, you will always be amazed.  You can look out the windows at the Cerro Montezuma (third hump of the Tenerio vocano) which faces the property as a large green wall, or towards the west at the five peaks of the Miravalles volcano.

 This Lodge offers all the nature one could hope for right outside the door, and the lodge has been designed under bio-climatic standards in order to adapt to the local conditions.  You can easily explore, as you will spot wildlife everywhere, such as the howler and white-faced monkeys that are found everywhere, the many bird species in the area and the beautiful vegetation and landscape.  These aspects combine to make the Celeste Mountain Lodge a comfortable, beautiful, and unforgettable experience.