DESTINATION COSTA RICA
PT: What about the food? CD: Te daily breakfast buffet con- sists of yogurt, fruit, bread, cereal and eggs—fairly standard. Lunch al- ways consists of gallo pinto (rice and beans), often with salsa as a topping; salads; plantains; and pork, chicken or steak. Dinner includes gallo pinto, fish, vegetables and a variety of native dishes. Some of the most popular are: • Casado – a Costa Rican staple, consisting of rice, beans, diced red peppers and onions
• Ceviche – fresh, raw fish mari- nated in citrus juices
• Sopa de Mariscos – tomato-based seafood soup with vegetables
PT: Who typically goes on one of these vacations? CD: We get a little bit of everybody. A lot of single women, husbands and
wives—people tend to be highly edu- cated and range in age from 25 to 80.
PT: What’s a typical itinerary like? CD: Well, the day after arrival, after breakfast, we’ll have a yoga class and then take a relaxing walk into the clouds in the heart of the forest along user-friendly trails with nature guides that showcase the amazing variety of tropical flora and fauna. Some of our more adventurous guests take a box lunch and head to the Arenal Volcano for zip lining and relaxing in the hot springs. In the eve- ning, we gather for quiet meditation before dinner. Every day begins with a yoga class
followed by a variety of optional tours and activities. We work on commu- nity projects at a local primary school in the morning, then go hiking or
After the sun goes down, extraordinary things happen—the Cloud Forest goes crazy.
horseback riding, or just relaxing at the spa and wellness center. We also offer different hiking ac- tivities to places like the Manuel An- tonio National Park, beach picnics and walks on the beautiful beaches, and a visit to the mountain range of Fila Chonta, as well as a visit to a tiny farm village for lunch.
WILD NIGHTLIFE PT: Is there any nightlife? What do people do in the evening before and after dinner?
CD: After the sun goes down, extraor- dinary things happen—the Cloud Forest goes crazy. Because the forest “breathes” at night, it pumps out high- er concentrations of oxygen, as well as the fragrances of plants and flow- ers. Ten the music starts. It’s nature’s most spectacular symphony orchestra and choir as the voices of millions of life forms fill the night air—insects, amphibious reptiles, birds, mammals. It is truly one of the world’s great won- ders and experiences.
30 |
| Spring 2015
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36