Situated on the Osa Peninsula, Lapa Rios is an enchanting eco-resort. Owned by John and Karen Lewis, this lodge is the perfect combination of comfort and adventure, education and fun. If you are seeking a place for enjoying a family getaway, you can choose this lodge. Nature lovers who want to enjoy a memorable vacation in a beautiful natural setting, they will also find this lodge perfect. During your vacation at this lodge, you will also get opportunity to be a part of conservation and local culture. You will also enjoy discovering one of the world’s most bio-diverse regions that has untouched rainforest, wildlife, insects and desolate beaches. Newly married couple who want to enjoy a memorable and comfortable honeymoon vacation and the families with kids over 6 years will find this lodge perfect.
The lodge name has a story behind. Lapa is taken from the name of Scarlet Macaw. When the owner of the lodge first time visited the property area, they spotted a number of Scarlet Macaws flying across the jungle that was looking like a river (rio stands for Spanish) of Scarlet Macaws. At that time they felt amazed by watching that stunning scenario and decided to name their property ‘Lapa Rios’ means ‘River of Scarlet Macaws’.
LOCATION:
Lapa Rios is located in the southern part of the country near Panama. Set in a private 1000 acre Rainforest,this lodge is only 12 miles from the nearest airstrip in the town of Puerto Jimenez. You will have to take only 50 minute flight from San Jose to reach the lodge. It takes about 7 hours to reach the lodge from the Juan Santamaria International Airport, where international flights land. Within close destination from the lodge there are three beaches-Pan Dulce, Matapalo and Backwash Bay.
ACCOMMODATION:
Lapa Rios provides 16 luxurious bungalows that are set along a ridge in a 1000 acre of Rainforest Reserve. Those bungalows are open-air that allow its guests to stay close to the nature and enjoy listening to the jungle sounds and watching the beautiful sights of the rainforest and amazing ocean view. Direct from your bed or from the spacious private deck you can enjoy watching the amazing view of the Pacific Ocean or Golfo Dulce. There is a rain head showers in the private deck and a lounge and hammock that is absolutely ideal for enjoying some tranquil time. In each of the bungalow you will find king size bed or two queen size beds (depending on bungalow) with 400-thread count, organic cotton linens, ceiling fans but no air conditioner. There are also spacious indoor bathrooms with two showers, locally made, biodegradable and organic soaps and other toiletries such as lotions and shampoos and also has waffle cotton bathrobes. Accommodation facility also include cleaning service twice a day, 110V electrical outlets (standard American outlets), computer-sized safety box, complimentary local coffee in the morning and also evening turn-down service.
Dining:
While staying at the Lapa Rios eco lodge, you will enjoy having delicious menus. All the meals are prepared with local, indigenous ingredients. According to Karen ‘dining here will be one of the highlights of your stay.’ While enjoying your food, you will also enjoy watching breathtaking views of the rainforest and Golfo Dulce. This restaurant also offers fresh local fruits and vegetables with responsibly caught seafood. organic chicken and grass-fed beef. There is also a full service bar that serves beverages, fresh juices, organic wines and premium spirits.
Contact
Lapa Ríos
Osa Peninsula
Costa Rica Puerto Jiménez
Call: 011-506-2735-5281
email: info@laparios.com
Website: http://www.laparios.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LapaRiosEcolodge/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/intent/follow?source=followbutton&variant=1.0&screen_name=LapaRiosEco
]]>
The Selva Bananito Lodge and Preserve is considered as one of the extraordinary example for eco-tourism. This lodge is set in a pristine region of Costa Rica’s Caribbean area. This lodge is 20 km south and 15 km inland of Puerto Limón on the Atlantic side of the country. In Costa Rica this is the only property constructed out of recycled waste wood (that was the byproduct of logging activity). Nestled in the Talamanca Mountains, this lodge is also striving to utilize as many renewable energy sources as possible from the onset.
During your vacation at the Selva Bananito Lodge and Preserve, you will enjoy sitting in the open-air wraparound portico on the hammock and watching the amazing beauty of the surrounding area as well as will enjoy candle lit dinner when the cabin’s oil lamps are burnt at sundown. People who are seeking a place for enjoying a memorable vacation in an eco-friendly setting, they will find this lodge perfect. In the surrounding area you can also enjoy unlimited adventure and natural bliss, while still redeeming your conscience from destroying the environment.
Accommodation:
In Selva Bananito Lodge you will find accommodation facilities in the form of independent raised cabin-style structures that include all the necessary amenities and facilities. Staff of the lodge ensure its guests get all the things they need for enjoying complete comfort. In all of these spacious cabins you will enjoy rustic environment. For the construction of each of the cabins varnished woodwork has been used to give the cabins a natural touch. Each of the cabin is featured with two double beds, a desk and chair and also a spacious large bathroom. Beautiful fresh flowers are collected from the garden and given to the cabins that make the guests feel a great smell while entering the room. There are Standard cabins and Superior Cabins to choose from. Superior cabins feature bigger rooms including stylish tiled floors and wider view veranda door through which you will enjoy watching the uninterrupted natural view of the surrounding area. Some of the cabins overlooks the amazing views of the Bananito river and some other cabins offers amazing views of the neighboring Matama Mountains.
Scuba Diving:
Costa Rica is rich in its bio-diversity with marine flora and fauna and you can explore those wonderful marine life by scuba diving. There are many exciting dive sites both in Costa Rica and Panama you can visit. Isla del Cano and Cano Island Wildlife Refuge are preferable dive locations on the Pacific. Catalina Island is also can be visited that is 7 miles of Flamingo Beach in the North Pacific of the country. For scuba diving you can also go to the Bat Island that is a great dive site. For enjoying more leisurely diving, you can go to the Gulf of Papagayo where you will find several interesting dive sites. Most professional dive centers operate the scuba diving tours.
Tours and Amenities:
Adventure lovers and nature lovers will find the surrounding area of the lodge just like a paradise. A variety of tour packages including nature and eco-tourism activities are offered by the lodge. You can also go for self-guided trails through the labyrinth forest paths or can enjoy expert services of an expert guide who will help you to know about the natural magnificence of the region. You can go for bird watching tour, horseback riding tour, canopy tours, or can enjoy tree climbing, hiking through the primary rainforest, planting trees and rappelling down forest waterfall and many more.
Although there are resorts, hotels, rest houses in Costa Rica that bring tourists in touch with the exquisite beauty of the country, but there are very few who have also taken an active stand in environmental protection. Selva Bananito Lodge and Preserve is one of these very few ones.
Contact
Selva Bananito Lodge and Preserve
Phone: (506)2253-8118
Website: http://www.selvabananito.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SelvaBananito
Twitter: https://twitter.com/selvabananito
]]>
Nestled on the Playa Flamingo, on the northwest Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, north of Tamarindo, the Flamingo Beach Resort is 41 km from the Liberia Airport. Playa Flamingo is one of the most eco-friendly beaches of the country and it offers an enchanting escape on the pristine sands. This resort is surrounded by tall coconut palms and lush mountain foliage, and it is an intimate oasis for the people who want to enjoy tranquility as well as an unspoiled tropical paradise with complete relaxation. For celebrating special family celebrations or romantic getaway, this beach resort is absolutely perfect. While staying at this resort, the guests can enjoy personalized service and comfort. This resort let the guests to find plenty more to do than lounge by the pool with a mojito. This resort offers friendly and welcoming services as well as modern amenities and also arranges sustainable tourism practices to take care of the unique location.
Accommodation:
Flamingo Beach Resort provides 120 spacious guest rooms. All the rooms are different in sizes and styles. There you will find pool-view rooms, kitchenette equipped studios, and sprawling suites that overlook stunning ocean views. In each of the room you will find abundance of luxurious amenities and facilities. From your room, you will enjoy watching the exotic plants and wildlife of the area as well as listening to the ocean waves that will make you feel an inner bliss. You will also enjoy escaping to a fun, adventurous & romantic oceanside retreat just a few steps from the Pacific Ocean. It will allow you to stay close to the nature and make an interconnection with the nature. In each of the room you will find modern equipment such as air conditioner, ceiling fans, voice mail, AM/FM clock radio, flat screen TV with cable connection, complimentary WiFi access. There are also private bathrooms with tubs and showers and also complimentary bath toiletries including hairdryer. There you will also find a make-up room. If you want to stay at this resort with your partner for enjoying a memorable honeymoon or romantic getaway, you will find the Honeymoon suites perfect. That suites are features with living room, large Jacuzzi-bath and luxurious amenities and facilities. If you want to enjoy stunning ocean view direct from your room, you can stay at the Ocean view Suites that are featured with living room, and fully equipped kitchenette. In this resort you will find also a Presidential Suite that features a private garden, a conference room and a kitchenette. In the resort property you will also find a oversized outdoor swimming pool with a swim-up cocktail bar.
Sustainability:
This resort has aim to work for developing the awareness of sustainability, maximizing energy savings, protecting country’s flora and fauna, striving toward carbon neutrality and encourage its guests and staff to take part in the environmental practices. This resort has obtained certificate for sustainable tourism with a level of four “leaves,” in 2011. It is working for promoting Costa Rican cultural values as well as to foster social development and equality.
Activities:
In the surrounding area of the Flamingo Beach Resort, you will get opportunity to enjoy a variety of fun and adventure activities as well as explore the region’s natural beauty. There are some beautiful national parks that you can visit and enjoy watching different species of colorful birds as well as a variety of wild animals. You can enjoy boat riding through the mangroves and estuaries or delight on the relaxing Corobici River Floating tour. If you love adventure activities, you can go for surfing. Horseback riding is also a great activity to enjoy the beauty of the area. You can go for scuba diving and explore the beauty of the underwater. You can also go for sunset cruises and enjoy a memorable vacation.
Spa:
This beach resort have partnered with expert health and beauty treatment providers. While staying at this resort, you will enjoy a restful and relaxing spa experience. At the time of your vacation, for enjoying compete relaxation, you can take advantage of any of the health and beauty services offered by the resort. You can enjoy facials, body treatments, spa massage, manicure and pedicures or a complete spa package and find yourself relaxed, refreshed and energetic.
Contact
Flamingo Beach Resort
Playa Flamingo, 00000 Santa Cruz, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Phone: 011-506-2654-4444
email: groupsales@resortflamingobeach.com
Website: http://www.resortflamingobeach.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamingobeachresort/info
Twitter: https://twitter.com/flamingo_beach
]]>
Discovery Beach House is perfect for those who are seeking a place to enjoy a wonderful vacation close to the nature and want to enjoy beach activities. This beach house is located at the edge of Manuel Antonio National Park on the Central Pacific Coast. The surrounding area of this beach house has the country’s most impressive natural settings, different species of wildlife and wonderful waterfalls. From this beach house within one-minute walk you can reach the white sand beach and there you can enjoy a variety of beach activities in the pristine tropical water.
Living Room:
Surrounded by tranquil Japanese Garden, this living room allows the guests to stay close to the nature and enjoy watching the amazing view of the garden. This room is featured with 42 inch plasma screen, sky TV, CD player, DVD player and library and also wireless Internet.
Great Room:
This Great Room consists an amazing two story vaulted beamed ceiling. This room is surrounded by French doors that will lead you to a Spanish tile terrace and an emerald pal-lined garden. This rooms features a hand crafted dining table with a carved monkey accent. It has seat for 12 people. There are no walls that allows the guests to enjoy free flowing conversation between the kitchen, living room and dining room.
Master Bedroom:
This second story bedroom include canopy bed. This room is featured with and expansive terrace with a Moroccan tiled table where you can spend some relaxed time with your morning cup of coffee and enjoy watching the wonderful view of the rainforest, pool and ocean. This master bedroom also features windows through which you can enjoy watching different species of wild animals. There is a sit by the side of the window that is ideal for sitting and enjoy reading your favorite book.
Master bath:
Master bathroom is featured with hand-painted double sinks that were reproduced Frida Kahlo’s “White Flowers” painting. Wall of the bathroom has green color that gives it a natural touch and there are also hand painted callalillies. At the time of taking bath in the oversized bathtub, you will also enjoy watching the wonderful beauty of the private tropical garden.
Kitchen:
Decorated with designed cabinets, the kitchen is stocked with spices and condiments. In this colorful Mexican kitchen you will find the decoration has been done by following the artist Frida Kahlo’s own kitchen at her Blue House in Coyacan, Mexico. Painted with bright color such as green, blue, red and gold colors make the kitchen inviting and festive.
Activities:
Manuel Antonio Diving:
People who are fond of water activities like diving and want to enjoy exploring the wonderful life below the surface, they can go for Manuel Antonio Diving. Discovery Beach House offers PADI resort courses that can be taken by the entry level diver. If you are already an advanced diver, you can also take other PADI course instruction and can develop your skills.
This resort offers the boat including dive platform, tank racks, ladders, dry storage, fresh water shower and sound system. During this tour you will also enjoy exploring the colorful rock and reef formations that are home to the huge schools of barracuda, jacks and grunts. You can also watch different species of fishes and various types of eels and crustaceans.
Contact
Discovery Beach House
Discovery Beach House, Apartado 260, Quepos Costa Rica 6350
Phone: 011-506-8335-5792
email: info@crvacationproperties.com
Website: http://www.discoverybeachouse.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/discoverybeachouse
More info: http://www.costarica-scuba.com/discovery-beach-house/
]]>
Furthermore, the town is located close to other tourist-oriented destinations. If you want to experience the tranquility and gripping vibe of southeastern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, then book a trip with Cocozuma Traveler Day Tours and embark on a spirited adventure.
The tour company arranges exciting budget-oriented trips for families with children, couples and backpackers. Some of the adventures offered by the company include snorkeling, deep sea fishing, horseback riding on the beach and nature expeditions. The company takes care of the transportation by providing water taxi services and car rentals. Boogie board, surfboards and ATVs can also be rented. Cocozuma helps vacationers find accommodations as well.
Cocozuma Traveler Day Tours Trips
The Fishing Club
Cocozuma Traveller Day Tours offers sport fishing expeditions conducted by an efficient captain. There are four options for the tours; you can choose from full day, half day, and sunrise or sunset tours.
Horseback Riding to El Chorro Waterfall
Ride along the pristine shores of Montezuma on a horse and visit the spectacular waterfalls. The four hours long journey is all about nature views, beach activities, horseback riding and waterfalls. If you have a thing for nature as well as thrilling ventures, then this trip will be perfect for you. Equipment is provided by Cocozuma Traveler Day Tours.
Snorkeling at Tortuga Island
Located off the coast of Curu Nature Reserve, Tortuga Island is a small isle which you can access through a boat ride. Once there, snorkel your way into the water and meet the enchanting marine life, indulge in a scrumptious meal of grilled fish and have refreshing drinks.
Isla Tortuga Diving Club
Cocozuma Traveler offers diving trips with Isla Tortuga Diving Club S.A., an official diving school in Costa Rica. The trips and prices vary according to the diver’s previous experience.
Water Taxi Service
With the water taxi service, easily travel between Montezuma and Jaco; enjoy lovely views of the ocean and save yourself from unnecessary trouble!
Cocozuma Traveler Day Tours arranges accommodations for their guests. If you are planning to visit the town, simply email them and they will get back to you. Besides that, they offer transportation and car services considering the needs of their costumers. To know about the prices, deals and other services offered by Cocozuma Traveler Day Tours, please visit their website!
Contact Cocozuma Traveler Day Tours
Location: Montezuma, Jaco and Santa Teresa, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.cocozumacr.com/
Email: info@cocozumacr.com
Phone Number: +506 2642-1011 (Montezuma), and 506 2643 5196 (Jaco)
For more information on Cocozuma Traveler Day Tours:
Visit Cocozuma Traveler Day Tours’s Facebook Page to know more about the company.
Check out Cocozuma Traveler Day Tours’s reviews on TripAdvisor.
Visit www.costaricajourneys.com for further details on Cocozuma Traveler Day Tours.
Travelers can enjoy plethora of exciting ventures here and visit 
impressive parks, quaint museums, zoos and butterfly farms and so much more. On your very first trip, you will notice the lack of street signs in the town. First time visitors have a difficult time exploring the town and they readily get lost. For this very reason, SJO Maps have designed a set of amazing maps. Loaded with numerous landmarks, references, main attractions and points of interest, SJO Maps are your perfect tour guide.
SJO Maps
Brief descriptions of the maps available are listed below:
San Jose Casinos
San Jose Casinos is an awesome 8.5 x 11 PDF map that will lead you to the best casinos in the city. Along with casinos, the map gives direction to ATM machine so that you never run out of money.
San Jose Walking Tour
Travelers who want to take things slow and wish to start off their adventure with a lazy stroll will find San Jose Walking Tour perfect. The map points out to all the must-see locations and allow vacationers to visit them on foot.
San Jose Transportation
Most people travel through buses in San Jose. San Jose Transportation lists each and every bus stop in the city as well as information on taxis and private transportation.
San Jose Central
Find your way around downtown San Jose with this map. It has street names, traffic direction, popular attractions such as parks, churches, museums, hotels, ATM’s and much more.
San Jose East
San Jose East shows all the points of interest from Parque Nacional to Mall San Pedro. .
San Jose West
The handy map features areas from Mercado Central to Parque Sabana.
Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio National Park is a breathtakingly beautiful nature reserve and is one of the top most tourist destinations of Costa Rica. Manuel Antonio and its neighboring town, Quepos, are approximately four hours away from San Jose. With the help of this map, you can find accommodations, restaurants, bars and internet cafes in Manuel Antonio and Quepos.
SJO Maps are convenient, well designed, easily available and quite affordable. They have a small size with a dimension of 8.5 x 11 which allows travelers to put them in their pockets and carry them around wherever they want. To purchase the maps, visit SJO Maps’ website, click on the maps you want and pay online through PayPal. Once the payment is made, you will get a download link to retrieve the maps in PDF or ZIP files. For queries and information, you can email SJO Maps at sales@SJOMaps.com.
Contact SJO Maps
Location: San Jose, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.sjomaps.com/
Email: sales@SJOMaps.com
For more information on SJO Maps, please visit their webiste.
]]>Cocos Island is a rugged yet incredibly verdant island which is a part of the same chain of volcanoes, most of which are still underwater for example the Galapagos. A single hot-spot pushed up volcanic material from deep below the Earth’s crust by which the total chain of volcanoes formed. In 1526 Juan Cabezas discovered this island and later the home to unruly prisoners also find out the island in the late 19th century. The outer edge of the Cocos island is surrounded by Steep cliffs (some of which are about 300 feet high and have waterfalls bursting onto the sandy shore) which makes it possible to safe entrance at Chatham Bay or Bahia Chatham.
Biodiversity:
Cocos Island is the home to many species of birds including Holy Spirit bird or, Espíritu Santu, a white-colored bird resembling a dove . Three of those species birds are endemic to Coco Island—the Cocos Island cuckoo, Cocos Island finch and the Cocos flycatcher. Not only the birds, there are also a plant species-the Franklin Roosevelt, named after the former US president who visited the island, can be seen in this island. Three are also living species of bodies-the brown, masked and red-footed which dwell in this prime habitat and 362 species of insects also can be found in this island. 70 of the 235 identified vascular plant species in the world, some 25 species of moss, 27 species of live wort and 85 species of fungus are also found in this island. At least 27 endemic fish species including the exotic rosy-lipped batfish also found in this island.
Climate:
In Cocos Island per year average rainfall is 25 feet, resulting in a covering of lush green foliage. There are many waterfalls of which there are up to 70 falls of varying sizes during the peak of the rainy season. Due to the heavy rainfall, Cocos island is also prone to frequent landslides.
How to reach the island:
One can go to the Cocos Island by boat or sea-plane from various destinations on the Osa Peninsula. There are limited ways to be able to step foot on the island but one of the best ways to explore the natural beauty of this island is through a dive trip. As the currents of the island keep changing and drop-offs are severe, only experienced divers should visit the island and also should check with local authorities for current condition. Tourists can visit the island by taking permission of island rangers.
]]>Reasons for medical tourism
Cost of a health care procedure. Some of the procedures costs are so expensive at home and mostly abroad the cost of such procedure is almost half price.- Lack of certain types of medical care. Some countries, mostly the war-AA torn countries and the less developed ones are lacking some medical treatments.
- Inefficiency in the health care in home countries. Some of the countries have poor equipment’s or untrained medical doctors in certain fields of medicine.
- Convenient travel options. With the increasing and growing medical travel agencies, travelling has become easy with more connections and arrangements done by the agencies.
- Short wait times. Some of the procedures at home involve taking long waits due to the long queue of people waiting for the same procedure. Canada has this case where in 2012, between the referral and surgery procedure the average time for waiting was 18 weeks.
Services sought by medical tourists
- Complex procedures such as joint replacement (hip/knee), dental surgery, cardiac surgery, and most of the organs surgeries.
- Elective procedures such as cosmetic surgeries.
- Psychiatry.
- Convalescent cares
- Alternative treatments.
- Burial services are also available.
Process of medical tourism
A contact is made with the person travelling abroad for medical treatment to a medical tourism agency. The agencies usually require a medical report which include medical history and diagnosis and the nature of the ailment. Consultants and certified medical practitioners then advice on the method of treatment. Discussions are also made on the total approximate expenditure, tourist destinations, choice of hospitals and duration of stays. A recommendation letter is also given to for a medical visa, to be acquired from the concerned embassy. When the patient travels the travel agency takes care of the patient until treatment or procedure is complete.
Countries that offer medical tourism
- Costa rica. It has three hospitals accredited with Joint Commission International (JCI).
- Brazil. Dozens of hospitals have been accredited with (JCI).
- Israel. A popular destination for medical tourism.
- South Africa. First African country to offer medical tourism. Offers medical and dental care.
- India.
- United States. Has several major medical centers that offer international patient centers.
- Others include India, New Zealand, Singapore and many others.
The world is becoming more connected and travelling is getting more affordable and easier. Therefore medical tourism is taking its root in most of the countries.
]]>
The area has a range of activities such as; horseback riding whereby on your way up you will have to stop to view the eye catching beautiful lagoon where you will see the horses refreshing themselves. If you need a tour there is for you, it is an adventurous 3 hour horseback ride. The ride ascends a mountain as it traverses both the cattle fields and rainforest. There is also whitewater rafting where there are three main rivers like: Toro River, where only the most experienced rafters take the challenge because it is a “Bull River” with technical rapids and large sweeping waves. Penas Blanca’s river, is the ideal place for all the ages and here be on a watch out of the monkeys, iguanas, caimans, crocodile, sloths and different type of species of birds. The river is slow moving and pleasant.The Balsa River is also suitable for all the ages, rafting trips down the river is adventures and it will take 2 hours to pass through scenic forest landscape so each of the rivers caters for different style of rafting. Waterfall rappelling, the tour is child friendly and anyone in moderate condition, local non-profit association administers the fall. Hiking is the most explore moments you will come across many animals’ monkeys, white-faced monkeys and snakes, or birds like parrots, brown magpies and orioles, plants including various species of palms and bromeliads, guayabo de Monte, bait, ceiba, cerri, laurel, higuerones, fungi, orchids, and ferns. Canopy tours it offers tourists a chance to experience the rainforest. It rangers from 40 and 1,400 Ft. in length, strong sturdy steel cables connect the platforms and trees. Travelers will be able to enjoy perfect views of the Arenal Volcano and the surrounding area such as the rainforest, pastures, hillsides and streams. This can be enjoyed by anyone in moderate physical shape and over the age of 8 and the tour generally last between 2-3 hours and the best thing it’s always covered with full insurance. Cave explorations this is 2,700 meters stretch of limestone of caves formed some 15 to 20 million years, in the northern lowlands. You will come across limestone rock formations, monochrome frogs, bats, fish, spiders, crickets, and a variety of marine fossils. This cave offer a glimpse into a mystical underground world that is filled with subterranean, rivers, fossils and caverns.
Visitors will enjoy taking a rest at the hot springs. This is an adventure Centre if looking for an outdoor activities. Finally the hike winds through secondary and primary rainforest has the best view of a blue tinted river and waterfall.
]]>