{"id":10328,"date":"2018-02-27T02:41:52","date_gmt":"2018-02-26T18:41:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.travelwithachallenge.com\/?page_id=10328"},"modified":"2024-01-03T13:00:44","modified_gmt":"2024-01-03T21:00:44","slug":"costa-ricas-community-based-eco-lodges","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.travelwithachallenge.com\/?page_id=10328","title":{"rendered":"Costa Rica\u2019s Community-Based Eco-Lodges."},"content":{"rendered":"

My Favorite Costa Rica Eco-Lodges<\/span>
\nBy Catherine Evans, Tours of Exploration<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Costa-Rica-Toucan-in-Tree\"
A colorful toucan surveys his cloud forest domain. <\/em>\u00a9La Quinta Sarapiqu\u00ed Lodge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The popularity of Costa Rica among tropical travelers is not surprising. You are never more than one hour from a national park or private reserve teeming with plants and wildlife or a few hours from a beautiful coastal retreat. Costa Rica covers a mere 0.03 percent of the planet\u2019s surface, and yet is home to 5% of all living organisms on earth. It seems to have it all \u2013 active volcanoes, lush cloud forests, lowland jungles, rolling savannas, black volcanic and coral sand beaches, and some of the finest forest-lined rivers on the planet. Such spectacular settings amplify the interaction with the country\u2019s exotic flora and fauna. The Nation has had the foresight to protect nearly 25% of its land in a remarkable series of park systems and reserves while maintaining community development and measured economic growth.<\/span> The result has made them pioneers and global leaders in eco-tourism. Couple this with a well-educated and peaceful host population, and you have the makings for an ideal nature-rich trip.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n
\"Costa-Rica-Photographing-Coatimundi\"
Travelers enjoy photographing a troop of coati, a member of the raccoon family. <\/em>\u00a9Alex Arias<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

My first visit to Costa Rica was a 14-day natural history expedition that took me from coast to coast through a variety of national parks and private reserves led by a local biologist guide. The exhilaration of that first journey led to more adventures in Costa Rica, none so exciting as my journey to work with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and several local NGO\u2019s in three communities: Arenal, Santa Elena\/Monteverde and Bijagua. The aim of this community-based development project was to assist in efforts to shift from deforestation and intense agriculture towards more environmentally-sound economic activities that included eco-lodges, organic farming, medical plant nurseries, and cottage industry development \u2013 all towards an environmentally sustainable future.<\/p>\n

\"Catarata-Lodge-Room\"
Catarata Eco-Lodge offers a variety of cozy rooms. <\/em>\u00a9Catarata Eco-Lodge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I have been back more than once to visit Catarata Eco-Lodge<\/a>, one of three eco-lodges originally assisted by the WWF collaborative project. What is unique in the world of eco-lodges is that this is community-owned and operated. Moneys generated from visitors support projects that include orchid rehabilitation, paca breeding, organic farming and butterfly nurseries. Three generations of locals can often be observed in the lodge activities and projects.<\/p>\n

\"Catarata-Lodge-Garden\"
Catarata Eco-Lodge gardens overlook the active Arenal Volcano. <\/em>\u00a9Catarata Eco-Lodge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A big draw for visitors here is the famous Arenal Volcano, visible from the lodge on a clear day. An evening visit to the local hot springs is also a delight, always keeping an eye open for glimpses of the giant flow of incandescent red lava running down the mountain slopes. The lodge also serves as a base for exploring the nearby forests, visiting the waterfalls (cataratas) and rafting on the Sarapiqu\u00ed River.<\/p>\n

\"Costa-Rica-Sarapiqui-River-Boat\"
Sarapiqu\u00ed River nature-spotting excursion. <\/em>\u00a9Alex Arias<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Sarapiqu\u00ed region itself is another wonderful region to include in an ecological journey to Costa Rica. It is located about two hours each from Arenal or from the capital San Jose. I highly recommend a stop enroute at La Paz Waterfalls & Gardens<\/a>. This private wildlife sanctuary has lush tropical rain forest, flowing white rivers, spectacular waterfalls, birds, butterflies, monkeys, hummingbirds, snakes, felines and frogs.<\/p>\n

\"Costa-Rica-Howler-Monkey\"
Howler monkeys are among the largest and certainly the loudest of New World monkeys, heard up to three miles or nearly five kilometers away. <\/em>\u00a9Leo Chaves<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Another eco-lodge that deserves recommendation is La Quinta<\/a>. What was once a ten-acre livestock farm has been regenerated and reforested with native trees and gardens to complement some old-growth forest on the riverside. The forests and wild gardens attract abundant bird diversity, butterflies, frogs, and some small mammals too.<\/p>\n

\"Costa-Rica-La-Quinta-Hotel-Aerial-View\"
An aerial view of La Quinta Sarapiqu\u00ed Lodge illustrates its ten acres composed of reforested native trees, an old-growth forest on the riverside and tropical gardens. <\/em>\u00a9La Quinta Sarapiqu\u00ed Lodge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The small lodge is family owned and operated and locally staffed. The Inn is certified at the highest qualification level (5 leaves) by the Costa Rican Tourism Board with its Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST). Even though this place is larger than some other eco-lodges, its popularity with ecotourists means that early bookings are essential.<\/p>\n

Perhaps the quintessential eco-destination in Costa Rica is Monteverde on the continental divide where weather patterns from both the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean create a wonderful example of a cloud forest ecosystem.<\/p>\n

Plan to stay a minimum of three nights to allow ample time to search for birds, monkeys and other wildlife in the cloud forest and dry forests that are protected in national and private reserves. Look here for one of the most famous inhabitants, the Resplendent Quetzal. The Monteverde forest is home for many other interesting bird species such as the Emerald Toucanet, Black Guan, Purple Throated Mountain Gem (hummingbird), and the Blue Crowned Motmot, just to mention a few found here.<\/p>\n

\"Costa-Rica-Quetzal-Bird-in-Flight\"
The well-named Resplendent Quetzal bird is found in humid highland forests of Central America. Even with their famous bright plumage, they can be hard to spot in their natural wooded habitats. <\/em>\u00a9Marco Fallas<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One of my favorite eco-lodges in this neck of the woods is Hotel Fonda Vela<\/a> at a 4,200-foot\/1,400-meter elevation in the Monteverde Cloud Forest. After a long closure, this informal hillside property opened again in 2017. The gardens and trails of its 35 acres are always spectacular with sightings of some sixty different species of migratory birds, and over 200 species of non-migratory birds. The owners, brothers Paul and Steven Smith, grew up on this property and went on to build and manage the hotel. \u201cOur goal,\u201d they say, \u201cis to promote a greater visitor understanding of the environment and this unique habitat.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Costa-Rica-Fonda-Vela-Suite\"
A Hotel Fonda Vela junior suite. <\/em>\u00a9Hotel Fonda Vela<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And finally, in the Northwest of Costa Rica is the tiny community of Bijagua nature travelers can find three small eco-lodges (Las Heliconias<\/a>, Celeste Mountain Lodge<\/a>,\u00a0 and Rio Celeste Hideway<\/a>) listed in order from basic to boutique luxury.<\/p>\n

These accommodations sit on the edge of the pristine Tenorio Volcano National Park, one of the country\u2019s youngest parks created in 1995. There a series of hanging bridges allows incredible canopy views of the flora and birds. Walking one time with one of the lodge owners, we hiked to the pristine Rio Celeste. The azure waters of celestial blue were so magical that I knew at that moment I would name my soon-to-be-born daughter, Celeste, after this beautiful place. Someday soon I hope to return there with her.<\/p>\n

\"Costa-Rica-Emerald-Toucanet\"
The Emerald Toucanet is one of several sub-species of Toucan. <\/em>\u00a9Alex Arias<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
<\/span><\/div>\n

Follow Up Facts<\/span>For nearly 35 years, Tours of Exploration, now named Adventica Travel<\/strong> www.adventicatravel.com\/<\/a> has been planning ecotourism visits in Costa Rica and countries around the world. Almost 90 percent of clients are 50 to 80 years of age mainly from Canada (80%) and the US (15%) with the balance from Europe and Australia (5%).
\nCosta Rica Tourism<\/strong> website, www.visitcostarica.com<\/a>.<\/span> In particular spend some time investigating the website\u2019s Ecotourism Ideas<\/a>, and Rural Tourism Ideas<\/a>.\u00a0 See complete list<\/a> of Costa Rica\u2019s National Parks, Reserves and Protected Areas.
\nWe also recommend two other richly-illustrated feature articles<\/strong> in our Travel Article Library: one about Costa Rica\u2019s Five Best National Parks<\/a>, and a personal reflection<\/a> by the Living Abroad in Costa Rica<\/em> author as she gets to know her new home country.<\/span>
\nAs well, you will enjoy reading Catherine\u2019s most recent contribution to our Travel Article Library detailing her discoveries while scuba diving on Belize\u2019s Mezoamerican Coral Reef<\/a>, the second longest in the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

During a 35-year career in tourism, Catherine Evans<\/strong> has contributed to a range of innovative projects in experiential, educational, ecotourism, and wildlife tourism as well as community-based development. With an MA in Tourism Management, she has been a successful entrepreneur of the global travel company, Tours of Exploration, now known as Adventica Travel www.adventicatravel.com<\/a>, which customizes programs on all seven continents.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

My Favorite Costa Rica Eco-Lodges By Catherine Evans, Tours of Exploration The popularity of Costa Rica among tropical travelers is not surprising. You are never more than one hour from a national park or private reserve teeming with plants and wildlife or a few hours from a beautiful coastal retreat. Costa Rica covers a mere […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.travelwithachallenge.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10328"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.travelwithachallenge.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.travelwithachallenge.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelwithachallenge.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelwithachallenge.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10328"}],"version-history":[{"count":31,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelwithachallenge.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10328\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15089,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelwithachallenge.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10328\/revisions\/15089"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.travelwithachallenge.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10328"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}