Thursday, May 20, 2021 - The new canton brand “Río Cuarto, todo por descubrir” (Río Cuarto, everything to discover) was launched on Thursday in a ceremony held in the town’s community center, which was virtually attended by the President of the Republic, Carlos Alvarado Quesada, and the Minister of Tourism, Gustavo Segura Sancho.
Amidst the dense forests of the southern Caribbean and just a few steps from the beach, a unique glamping experience awaits in a futuristic complex comprised of six geodesic domes. These visually stunning domes are created by the same group that makes habitation domes for Mars projects. A geodesic dome is a self-supporting structure that does not need columns or foundations and is highly resistant to inclement weather.
Did you know... That the crafts of Guaitil are made with iguana sand? That the church of San Blas is one of the country’s oldest? That Barra Honda has caverns that are 60 million years old? That you can enjoy a drink made from purple corn?
San José. Beginning on April 1, Manuel Antonio National Park will be open on Mondays. The new schedule seeks to boost visits to the park and promote the reactivation of the local economy, which has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bahía Ballena in Uvita might conjure up images of dolphins and whales (since ballena is the Spanish word for whale). Even so, the area offers a wealth of fauna to discover outside the whalewatching season.
What better way to enjoy the region’s unique attractions than with a certified tour guide who can show you the surroundings and explain what you’re seeing and the wonders that can be discovered? Their knowledge, professionalism and charisma give them everything they need to make your experience unforgettable.
Fernando Guerrero, a tour guide with 15 years of experience in the Osa Peninsula and over 10 years as a park ranger, explains that birdwatching is a significant tourist activity in this area. Guerrero notes that the region’s most iconic species is the fiery-billed aracari, known locally as the cusinga, though trogons, tanagers and many other species also call the area home. According to Guerrero, some 30-35 species can be seen in a 60-90 minute period when observing carefully and quietly.
The ICT recommends that you find a certified, knowledgeable tour guide to enjoy the wonderful variety of birds at any time of year and discover the natural marvels that our country has to offer. A tour operator with a Tourism Declaration will be able to provide high-quality service.
“Costa Rica, without a doubt, holds secret wonders around every corner,” notes Alberto López, General Manager of the ICT. “Although any trip through the country offers unforgettable experiences, a tour guide’s presence, experience, knowledge and keen senses provide their clients with positive memories and an up-close view of the species present in a given area.”
If you are interested in hiring a certified local guide, contact the Association of Guides of Bahía Ballena at 8827 8705.
When traveling, please follow the protocols and instructions of the Ministry of Health and stay within your bubble. Read more: https://www.facebook.com/PN.MarinoBallena
Thursday, February 4, 2021-Arenal Volcano National Park was selected as the sixth-best national park in the world, according to the TripAdvisor Travelers Choice Awards 2021 from the well-known travel website TripAdvisor. The ranking, released Thursday, was generated by travelers from around the world.
With a nearly perfect cone, the imposing volcano and the conservation area in which it is situated made the top spot on the list of national parks in Latin America. Globally, it was only surpassed by Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, Jim Corbertt National Park in India, the Maasai Mara Reserve in Kenya, Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, USA and Kruger National Park in South Africa.
The ranking includes a total of 25 national parks from around the world, representing countries including New Zealand, Chile, the United Kingdom, Tanzania, Vietnam, Iceland, Australia, Sri Lanka, Croatia, Canada and Brazil.
“For Costa Rica, it is an honor that Arenal Volcano National Park has been ranked as the sixth-best national park according to the TripAdvisor Travelers Choice Awards 2021,” said Carolina Trejos, Marketing Director at the ICT. “This recognition is sure to contribute to our position as a sustainable, eco-friendly destination and a sanctuary for visitors to reconnect with themselves. In the new normal in which we are living, we will continue to promote and position our country along these lines.”
The colossus of La Fortuna
"We were pleased to learn that Arenal Volcano National Park was included in the list of top ten national parks according to visits and recommendations from tourists who post on the platform across the world. This encouraging news fills us with hope and relief as we learn that our country remains at the top of the rankings based on traveler recommendations,” enthused Tadeo Morales, Vice President of the Arenal Chamber of Tourism and Commerce.
Morales added that he was positively surprised that the park ranked higher than iconic national parks such as the Grand Canyon, among other famous global conservation areas.
Though Arenal Volcano remains the most iconic natural attraction of La Fortuna de San Carlos, the local Chamber of Tourism is also focusing its efforts on renewing the local tourism facilities for local and international tourists.
The access roads to the region are all paved, and visitors can enjoy package deals at excellent prices with a wealth of accommodations to choose from. Activities on offer include hot springs, adventure activities, cable cars and hiking. The ecological park located near the town offers visitors the ability to observe the remnants of the lava streams in natural surroundings.
“We look forward to being rediscovered as tourists look for alternative options in this new normal that allow them to enjoy recreational activities without accumulations of people and under strict compliance with health protocols,” added Tadeo Morales.
According to the most recent ICT data on international tourists who visit Costa Rica by air, 35% said that they visited volcanoes, while 38% selected outdoor activities to observe flora and fauna.
The full list of the 25 best national parks in the world according to the TripAdvisor Travelers Choice Awards is available via the following link:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-NationalParks-cTop10-g1
For more information about La Fortuna de San Carlos and its tourist attractions, see www.vamosaturistear.com or the Facebook profile of the Arenal Chamber of Tourism and Commerce at https://www.facebook.com/arenalctc
On August 16, Cahuita National Park and Playa Blanca became the first national park to be fully accessible for persons with disabilities through the “Cahuita Accessible” project.
The boardwalk is 180 meters long and 1.2 meters wide and is wheelchair accessible and built with reused plastic lids, which is a material not accepted by all recycling authorities and which pollutes rivers and oceans.
ICT supported the project by acting as a collection center and promoting the campaign to collect the material. The collections were held on March 8, June 28 and August 14, with a total of 16 tons of plastic lids collected.
The project was possible thanks to a public-private partnership between Cahuita National Park, the Asociación Pro Parques and the community, represented by its Local Council.
Safety is Costa Rica’s top priority. Associated with the consumption of tainted alcohol the Government of Costa Rica has issued a national alert and confiscated 30,000 bottles of alcohol from six brands: Guaro Montano, Guaro Gran Apache, Star Welsh, Aguardiente Barón Rojo, Aguardiente Timbuka, and Aguardiente Molotov.
Local authorities strongly ask its citizens and visitors use caution and follow these guidelines:
Please see below a link to the Costa Rican Ministry of Health Warning.
Costa Rican Ministry of Health Warning
While no tourists have been affected by adulterated alcohol in Costa Rica, the safety of our tourists is of the utmost importance. The authorities continue to monitor the situation to understand and remain transparent about the investigation and procedures that follow.
The adulterated alcohol in question is of a lower grade and an investigation continues.
The U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica is aware of the reports and have issued the following safety alert:
Safety Alert –U.S. Embassy San Jose
July 23, 2019
Location: San Jose, Costa Rica
Event: The U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica is aware of the reports regarding recent deaths in Costa Rica associated with the consumption of tainted alcohol. At this time, we are not aware of any U.S. citizen illness or death due to consuming adulterated alcohol in Costa Rica. The deaths have reportedly occurred throughout the country including seven cases in San Jose, four cases in Cartago, one case in Heredia, three cases in the Limón area and two cases in Guanacaste. Out of an abundance of caution, the Government of Costa Rica has issued a national alert and confiscated 30,000 bottles of alcohol from six brands: Guaro Montano, Guaro Gran Apache, Star Welsh, Aguardiente Barón Rojo, Aguardiente Timbuka, and Aguardiente Molotov. Please see below a link to the Costa Rican Ministry of Health Warning.
Costa Rican Ministry of Health Warning
Actions to Take: The Embassy strongly recommends all persons avoid consuming alcohol from these brands. The Government of Costa Rica is investigating the situation and the Embassy remains in contact Costa Rica authorities regarding the ongoing investigation.
The Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) and the National Tourism Chamber (CANATUR) reaffirms the confidence in the seriousness with which the tourism sector assumes its responsibility to care for domestic and foreign tourists.
Cruise ship visitors arriving in Limón will soon enjoy a new experience when they debark at the Hernán Garrón Salazar port terminal, which welcomes the 193,000 cruise ship passengers who come to the Costa Rican Caribbean each year.
“We want to take their breath away right from the first glance, so that they will go on to fall in love with the flavor, natural surroundings, music, culture and beauty of the cantons of this Caribbean province”, enthused Andrea Centeno, the Executive President of the Port Administration and Economic Development Board of the Atlantic Coast (JAPDEVA).
On Wednesday, an agreement was signed between Centeno and the Minister of Tourism, Maria Amalia Revelo, that set the ICT contribution to the immediate aesthetic and functional port upgrades at ₡120 million.
The activity was held in the ICT’s headquarters and was attended by the President of the Republic, Carlos Alvarado, the Vice President and head of the Mesa Caribe, Marvin Rodríguez, along with a group of representatives of organizations from Limón.
“Limón is capable of winning over tourists with its nature and its incredible people. Our objective is to promote stays in the province, which will not only reactivate the local and national economy, but also position the province as a destination that can compete with other destinations, offering quality and a tourist experience steeped in Limón’s culture and tradition”, said President Alvarado.
To overcome this challenge, it was with great energy and commitment that artisans, tour operators, chambers of commerce, small business leaders, transportation workers, local authorities, community leaders and shipping agents, alongside ICT and JAPDEVA, participated in a brainstorming and creativity workshop sponsored by Gensler.
The international architecture and design firm used a participatory workshop to identify an initial approach to the design and tourist experience that would be based on communicating Limón identity and ensuring that the first impression would encourage tourists to go out and get to know the Costa Rican Caribbean.
The upgrade will include an improvement to the exterior of the boarding rooms, the viewpoint, the artisans’ area, the cruise ship quay’s patio area and the service area for passengers and crew.
Carmen Rodríguez Vílchez, an artisan who specializes in jewelry for cruise ship passengers and who has sold her creations in the port for 26 years, highlighted the importance of the investment. “This is a way of giving better service to the passengers who will stay in the region and consume local services, meaning that many of us can increase our sales and bring the benefits to our families”.
Boosting the Caribbean
“The tourism activity brought by cruise ships is one of the main sources of foreign exchange generation for the country. ICT and JAPDEVA are well aware of this fact, which is why they have chosen to make a joint effort to seek the integrated development of the Hernán Garrón Salazar port terminal’s infrastructure”, noted Revelo.
She added that the main goal is to “increase the quality of the services in line with international standards, with a differentiating factor that highlights the culture and activities of the people of Limón while optimizing the experience of thousands of passengers”.
93 cruise ships arrived at Limón’s port during the 2018-2019 season, for a total of 193,733 passengers of different nationalities – with the US representing the largest share. This generated economic benefits for the province and the country.
The JAPDEVA head mentioned “this joint effort allows us to increase the value added that we provide to cruise ship passengers, which translates into a greater positive impact for the community, artisans who operate on the quay, tour operators, transportation workers, small business owners and shipping agents who have linkages to this activity. Furthermore, it is a first step while progress is made towards a new, specialized terminal”.
These efforts are part of the hard work JAPDEVA is doing alongside MIDEPLAN in commissioning feasibility studies for the new marina and cruise ship terminal. The national campaign “Come to Limón” is also part of these efforts, with the ICT seeking to promote tourism to the area alongside the Limón chambers of commerce and tourism, JAPDEVA and the Mesa Caribe
The Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) received an award in the category of Leading Tourist Board for Mexico and Central America in the recent 2019 Latin America World Travel Awards, held in Bolivia.
ICT received the award from among a group of nominees that included tourism offices and institutes from Belize, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama and El Salvador.
“We are proud to receive this award for the Costa Rican Tourism Board, which is a tangible demonstration of the teamwork carried out by each and every one of our team members in accomplishing our objectives and fulfilling our responsibilities as the leading tourism body”, said Maria Amalia Revelo, Minister of Tourism.
Revelo added that public-private synergies had contributed to the strengthening of the tourism sector in the economy, and the positioning of the destination. “We have made important efforts to maintain sustainability as a cross-cutting focus of our actions, which has permitted development that takes the preservation of natural resources into account and generates wellbeing and social progress for communities. Our success as a team has been the permanent struggle to improve tourism products and to diversity the destination offer with multiple alternatives for visitors”, the Minister continued.
The ICT strategy to attract tourists is multifaceted, with multiple marketing efforts carried out to position Costa Rica as a year-round destination that is capable of offering unique experiences throughout the country to the more than 3 million tourists who visit us annually.
The awards also recognized Costa Rica as the “Leading Destination of Central America and Mexico”, which is attributed, among other aspects, to our abundant cloud forests and wealth of biodiversity. In addition, the Costa Rica Convention Center (CCCR) was awarded first place in the category of “Leading Meetings and Conference Center” for the Mexico and Central America region, which ICT has received as a positive development that validated the efforts invested as part of the marketing strategy for the niche of event, congress and incentive travel organization.
The World Travel Awards have been announced annually for over 26 years, aiming to recognize the best regions and companies dedicated to travel and tourism around the world. The competition is held in various regions. Thanks to its major reach, the Central America and Mexico category has become an industry favorite.
The world champions will be announced at the Grand Finale in Muscat, Oman, in November 2019. For more information about the nominees and winners of the World Travel Awards, please see their website www.worldtravelawards.com
