Blog

Description of the area:

The Cotococha Lodge has a wide range of natural attractions and popular destinations. We are on the banks of the Napo River surrounded by exuberant vegetation.

Some of the main natural attractions are excursions to visit the primary and secondary forests, indigenous Quichua communities, a butterfly garden, the rescue center for endemic animals (under the care of foreign volunteers), waterfalls, and more.

Our installations and their decoration are in accord with the environment: wooden cabins with thatch roofs, stone trails, gardens with endemic vegetation. We also have private baths, hot water, a cleaning service, a restaurant and bar; our prices are all-inclusive (lodging, food, and excursions) and a wide variety of packages (3, 4, and 5 days).

Available activities:

Adventure, sports
Eco/nature/wildlife
River rafting
Tours
Visits to conservation projects
Walking/hiking

How to get there:

• Nearest international airport: Mariscal Sucre Airport – Quito, Ecuador
• Nearest local airport: Airport in the city of Tena
• We are 35 minutes from the airport in the city of Tena, on a first class paved highway; four-wheel drive vehicles are not required.

Making a difference:

• Caring for the wellbeing of the local and global environment: we don’t dispose waste in the river or in the forests, and we have made changes to responsibly manage solid and liquid wastes; we don’t contaminate the air, we maintain the vegetation inside and outside the lodge, we don’t introduce domestic animals into the area or allow guests to bring them to the lodge, we inform staff and lodge guests on how to avoid negatively impacting flora and fauna in the area.
• Our business provides support to the local community: the majority of employees are from the local area; the two guides are indigenous quichuas; we contract water and land transportation services from local suppliers; we help economically by purchasing arts and crafts from native communities, and through the entrance fees for the butterfly garden and the animal rescue center.

We are committed to sustainable tourism and this is why we received certification from SmartVoyager.

Description of the area:

We offer marine and terrestrial transport services that are known for their friendliness, courtesy, and punctuality.

The most popular destinations out of Puerto Barrios that we visit are Río Dulce, Sarstun, Quirigua, 7 Altares, Cocolí, Playa Blanca and Punta Plama. There are other destinations, including Belize and Honduras.

Available activities: (in the destinations where the company travels to)

Adventure, sports
Bird watching
Canopy exploration
Eco/nature/wildlife
Educational, research, volunteering
Fishing
Scuba diving/snorkeling
Spiritual/religious
River rafting
Tours
Visits to conservation projects
Walking/hiking
Wellness, health, spa

How to get there:

We are located on Avenida 1, calles 10 and 11, only at 2 miles (3 km) from the Puerto Barrios airport.

Making a difference:

We follow the guidelines of the cleaner production program.

We provide support to the community; 80% of the services required are hired locally.

Four-stroke outboard motors that do not contaminate the environment are used. These motors are certified by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Description of the area:

Great Adventure for the whole family. Three Star Costa Rican family operated hotel, reasonably priced. Award given for sustainable program policy. Twenty-five comfortable rooms with a/c and hot water. Other amenities include: restaurants, pool, Jacuzzi, parking, safe deposit boxes, ATM, banking service, Rentacar service. Located near restaurants, a rainforest reserve and the town of Quepos. Shuttle every 20 minutes to the parks, beaches and downtown. Fifteen daily tours including canopy, sport fishing, horseback riding, park tours, white water rafting, ATVs, diving lessons, sea kayaking, snorkeling trips, surf lessons, sunset sails, mangrove swamp tours, and jet ski. Ask about our special wedding package.

Available activities:

Adventure, sports
Biking
Bird watching
Canopy exploration
Eco/nature/wildlife
Educational, research, volunteering
Fishing
Horseback riding
River rafting
Scuba diving/snorkeling
Spiritual/religious
Tours
Visits to conservation projects
Walking/hiking

How to get there:

• Closest international airport: SJO

• Closest local airport: Quepos

• Distance, by land, to the nearest airport: 10 min

Making a difference:

We support the nearby national park and local policies and voluntary programs with donations. We are members of several local organizations that help clean up the beaches. In the hotel, we have a recycling program; use biodegradable soap, shampoo and products; we are involved in a program helping local schools; we use alternative energies, like solar panels for hot water, use only fluorescent lights and use timers to turn off lights not in use. We have a water conservation program.

Description of the area:

Manuel Antonio is considered one of the most beautiful coastlines in Costa Rica. The perfect backdrop for the movie,”The Blue Lagoon,” Mother Nature sculpted the perfect set of beaches with rainforest terraces overlooking the tropical Pacific. Discreetly integrated amidst an ideal jungle hilltop, the award winning eco-designed Si Como No Resort & Spa provides comfort and barefoot luxury for all its guests. From Hotel Si Como No you can visit nearby beaches, the National Park, mangroves, the adjacent Wildlife Nature Exhibits, or enjoy a variety of water sports and local shopping, including the hotel’s Gift Shop & Art Gallery.

Getting to Si Como No is truly a scenic adventure! From the Costa Rican International Airport, take the Pan-American Highway to Atenas. Exit at the Atenas – Orotina sign and continue your drive over the scenic mountains past Orotina. Follow the Hotel signage past Jaco to Parrita, and finally Quepos. Once in Quepos, turn left just past the tiny park, and drive another 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) on the only road to Manuel Antonio National Park. You will see the hotel parking entrance next to the Net Café and Regalame Gift Shop & Art Gallery.

Available activities:

Adventure, sports
Biking
Bird watching
Canopy exploration
Eco/nature/wildlife
Fishing
Horseback riding
River rafting
Scuba diving/snorkeling
Tours
Visits to conservation projects
Walking/hiking
Wellness, health, spa

How to get there:

Nearest international airport: Juan Santa Maria Int. Airport
Nearest local / national airport: Quepos Local Airport
Distance, by land, to the nearest airport: 15 min

Making a difference:

Si Como No is one of only 4 hotels in the country to receive “five leaves” – the highest rating available from the CST. The hotel has systems that separate the laundry gray waters from the normal sanitation and that use bio-digesters to treat solid waste. The organic waste from the kitchens is converted to organic compost through a Japanese method called “Bocashi.” The compost is used throughout the hotel’s botanical gardens. Glass, plastic and aluminum containers are all recycled and well water is used for irrigation. Window and ceiling insulation and energy-efficient air conditioning systems were installed to conserve electricity, and a significant portion of the hotel’s water is heated with solar energy. We believe Si Como No demonstrates that all the local flora and fauna, including us Homo sapiens, can share the land and help preserve the environment together by practicing sustainable goals we all have in common.

Description of the area:

We are on the main street of the beautiful municipality of Livingston. One of the prettiest attractions of this paradise is the Dulce River: its natural beauty, Amatique Bay, and the river mouth. Another attraction in this region is the Afro-Caribbean culture.

We have 34 years of experience in the culinary field.

How to get there:

• Nearest international airport: Aeropuerto Mundo Maya, en Santa Elena, Flores, Petén

• Nearest local/national airport: the same

• Distance, by land, to the nearest airport: 137 miles. Note: Livingston can be reached only by boat.

Making a difference:

We recycle wastes and avoid using canned products to reduce environmental contamination and destruction.

We help the community by providing services to the village and donating products to the schools for holiday celebrations.

Description of the area:

The Santa Lucía lodge is quite close to Quito, only 80 km (50 miles) away; it is the center of a spectacular forest, far from the urban routine, a special place for people who want to enjoy complete tranquility, in harmony with nature.

The site is unforgettable for nature-lovers and ideal for bird-watchers due to the great variety of birds including rare, threatened, and endemic species such as the white-faced nunbird (Hapaloptila castanea), plate-billed mountain toucan (Andigena laminirostris), giant (Gralleria gigantea) and moustached antpittas (Gralleria alleni), Andean cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruviana), etc. For botany enthusiasts there are thousands of plant species to discover, some medicinal, others food sources, not to mention the singular beauty of orchids and bromeliads. There are 45 species of mammals recorded for the area some lucky visitors have spotted pumas, spectacled bears, and more; another peculiarity are the waterfalls and panoramic views of the cloud forests. Those who enjoy hiking can walk for 6-8 hours downhill in the Andes to the sub-tropical area, appreciating the gradual change in species richness along the way.

The zone full of pre-Inca archeological remnants that date back 500 years B.C.; trails, ceremonial areas, forts, and other features denote an interesting ancestral culture.

Available activities:

Adventure, sports
Bird watching
Eco / nature / wildlife
Educational, research, volunteering
Tours
Visits to conservation projects
Walking / hiking

How to get there:

Nearest local/international airport: Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito.

You must be willing to walk when you visit Santa Lucía. The trip from Quito to the Santa Lucía lodge takes 2 hours in car and 2 hours of walking uphill in the forest. There are mules to carry the baggage or ride, if the visitor wishes. The Ecolodge can be reached year-round.

Making a difference:

The campesinos of Santa Lucía decided 11 years ago to conserve their 730 hectares (1804 acres) of cloud forest, of which 80% are virgin forest and remaining 20% have been used for traditional farming. At the beginning of 2001, in order to make conservation sustainable, the organization finished building a lodge for ecotourists with space for 20 people; the same year they began a project to restore the cloud forest that has now reforested 20 hectares (49 acres).

In 2002, a wildlife monitoring project was begun, to keep track of sightings in the forest; training was also provided to local para-biologists. To date, 396 bird species have been recorded.

Tourism in Santa Lucía ensures the conservation of hundreds of springs that feed the crystalline Umachaca River and it has also created jobs for the people of the area, environmental education in the local school with 200 children, training workshops on reforestation for residents, and other activities that guarantee the current and future health of the environment so that, as the people say, “the children of our children may have the same opportunity that we now have.”

Contact:

Francisco Molina
Administrator
Cooperativa Santa Lucía
No. 17-07-9414 Quito, Ecuador
Tel/fax: +593-2/2-157-242

info@santaluciaecuador.com
www.santaluciaecuador.com

Description of the area:

El Rodeo Country Inn has 22 Superior Rooms and 7 Junior Suites, all with beautiful hardwood floors and elegant wood furnishings. All rooms are equipped with cable TV, air conditioning, direct dial telephone and extra large bathrooms with hot water bathtub, hairdryer, coffee maker, safe deposit box and selected amenities. Suites are also equipped with mini-bar, iron and ironing boards.
El Rodeo has beautifully landscaped gardens, which give this property the feel of a country inn, despite being so close to key points in San Jose. The luxurious pool area is surrounded by perfectly manicured landscape, and right across from it our tennis court is available for guests.

In addition, El Rodeo has full restaurant service. Breakfast is included in your rate, and a full typical buffet is served everyday in the hotel’s terrace. Lunch and dinner are available in our world famous El Rodeo Steakhouse. Room service from the restaurant menu is also available from 12:00 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.

For a quick bite or if you need to satisfy your sweet tooth, stop by our charming coffee shop, Grand Café. Open from Tuesday to Saturday, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., it offers all kinds of pastries and snacks, accompanied by the world famous gourmet Costa Rican coffee.
If you feel like exploring other options, there are many different bars and restaurants around the area where you can also enjoy a variety of dining choices. You will find fast food restaurants, Sushi, Italian, and even Mediterranean restaurants close by, some even at walking distance from El Rodeo! Our Front Desk staff will gladly recommend the best places and point you in the right direction.

Guest laundry is also available; if you turn in your clothes before 9 a.m. we will have them ready for you that same afternoon. Wireless Internet access is available throughout the hotel at no additional charge, and we also have a computer available for guests if you decide not to bring your own laptop.

Available activities:

Tours
Visits to conservation projects
Walking/hiking

How to get there:

• Closest international airport: SJO

• Closest local airport: SJO

• Distance, by land, to the nearest airport: 15 min

Our hotel is conveniently located a few minutes away from the airport. A taxi from the Juan Santamaria International Airport is approximately $10, and from the Tobias Bolanos Airport approximately $25. We will gladly arrange your transportation upon request. Please let us know if you have any other questions, we would be happy to help.
How to get to El Rodeo driving
From the Juan Santamaria International Airport, take the General Cañas Highway and continue on it for approximately 10 minutes, until you see signs indicating the exit to INTEL. Continue straight down this road, you will pass Intel on your right and should continue until the road ends and you see Ojo de Agua. Here you must turn left. Continue until you get to an intersection and you see La Rivera de Belen Mall on your left. Take the middle road and then turn right on the stop sign. Keep going straight until you get to a stoplight and you see the Panasonic factory in the corner on your left. Turn left and you will see El Rodeo on your right.

Making a difference:

El Rodeo Country Inn is a sustainable operation. Besides separating and recycling all our trash and using only biodegradable products, we also help the local community with different conservation and community projects. All of our employees are from the area and we do not let them go even during the low season. Many of them have no experience in this type of job, or speak little English, but we are constantly training them and helping them develop their skills and improve each day. We hope that you can appreciate this work and that you will come down and visit us.