Certification for Sustainable Tourism

Sustainability, as a model of development, seeks to meet the current demands of society without compromising the rights of future generations to meet theirs. The development of the country cannot be based on the unbalanced exploitation of resources  to meet the demands of society. This is why the Costa Rica government created the CST, the certification for sustainable tourism. The CST strengthens the image of the country as an authentic environmental destination, considerably raising the competitiveness of the national tourist product.

A business like Hacineda Guachipelin will see improved efficiency within its operations through efficient handling of resources. As and end result there will be significant savings, a reduction in sources of pollution , and waste reduction.

Recently Hacienda Guachipelin was reevaluated by the Costarrican Ministry of Tourism and the certification was upgraded from 1 leaf to 2 leafs. This is proof of the effort that the staff of Hacienda Guachipelin is working with sustainable practices. This is Guachipelin’s compromise with todays and future generations.

Hacienda Guachipelin is located on the foot of Rincon de la Vieja Volcano. This national park has an area of 14,083 hectares and is divided into two sectors: Las Pailas and Santa María. The park contains nine volcanic cones and one lake, La Jilgueros. Pailas Sector: Trail (7.5 km) to the Von Seebach (1,898 meters above sea level) and Rincon de la Vieja (1,806 meters above sea level) craters; trail to las pailas (2.77 km); trail to La Cangreja (5.1 km) and Escondidas (4.3 km) waterfalls; trail to the Río Blanco pool (600 m); trail to fumaroles and mud volcanoes. For reservations contact our reservations office at info@guachipelin.com , from US   or Canada Call Toll Free 1-888-730-3840 . There are great season packages for the month of September and October of 2010. For hotels with certification for sustainability check this link.

1. Las Pailas Trail: This trail has a total distance of 5.4 kilometers. The duration of a hike on this trail is approximately 2 hours. A visitor will observe secondary volcanic activity, mud and fumaroles, hot springs, mud puddles. Also a great variety of plant life and animal life. Monkeys and large birds are common to observe. Visitors should not cross  existing fences since the high temperatures can cause serious burns. Hiking shoes and drinking water is a must.
2. The Crater top trail: This trail is for people with a good physical condition. The total distance is 15 kilometers and the time to cover the trail and return back to the rangers station is 7 hours. The final elevation is 1915 meters above sea level. Besides the plant and animal life, visitors will observe the effects of the lava eruptions from a distant past.
3. There are 2 more trails in the park that are not so popular, but they are very interesting too. Azufrales , which means sulfur springs, about 14 kilometers and La Cangreja, which means Lady Crab, a blue waterfall similar to Rio Celeste.

la cangreja

Costa Rica is know as a family travel destination and an adventure destination. This country is strategically located south of the United States, just under 3 hours from mayor US airports. If you are interested in visiting Rincon de la Vieja Hacienda Guahipelin is a good place to stay. It is close to the Park and has lots of adventure tours. For reservations, please contact info@guachipelin.com or call toll free from US or Canada to 1-888-730-3840.

I have stayed at the Hacienda now for the past 3 years. Each time for 3 days with a group of High school students.The Hacienda is a unique blend of a working ranch/ hotel. They have certainly improved the food and hotel to make it more comfortable. The rooms are air conditioned and very comfortable. The personal are very friendly and always willing to assist you in any way possible. Some of the staff do not speak english but I never had any trouble having any question or concern dealt with rapidly and effiecently through the main desk, Now, one has to keep in mind that this a working ranch. So yes, there are some animal noises or smells around the sable area. It is the fact that the Hacienda is a working ranch that makes it so special. The hotel offers a variety of adventure activities that are well worth the price. The Hacienda is ideally located a few kilometers from the national park. I recommend this hotel if you are looking for a unique Costa Rican experience. This is why I come back year after year and all my high students always have a positive experience.

To make your reservation for Hacienda Guachipelin call toll free from USA or Canada to 1-888-730-3840 or write to info@guachipelin.com . You can also make your reservation directly on sites like expedia or travelocity . There are great specials for the next 3 months, like $35 per person or the 3rd night free (some restrictions apply).

This time, Nature Air is bringing some of the finest hotels in Costa Rica on board to offer families an entire unforgettable vacation at an unbeatable price. The Kids Fly Free program will be offered from April 20 through Dec. 15 for children 12-years-old and under with the purchase of two adult tickets, when booked through select Nature Air partner hotels. Kids will enjoy free flights and free stays, making your family vacation to Costa Rica that much more attainable. Select hotels are also offering free meals for children throughout their stay.

“As a frequent traveler and father, with one on the way, I understand the financial impact of taking the whole family on vacation,” said Alexi Huntley, commercial director of Nature Air. “Costa Rica offers such unique adventures and learning opportunities that children could never experience at home. This summer it’s our goal to make vacations to Costa Rica more attainable for families with young kids.”

The following hotels are partnering with NatureAir to offer this exceptional program:

Guanacaste Area:

* Punta Islita, Punta Islita
* Tamarindo Diria, Tamarindo
* Hacienda Guachipelin, Liberia
* Bahia Del Sol, Tamarindo
* Mediterraneus, Tamarindo
* Harmony Hotel, Nosara, Playa Guiones

Tambor and Santa Teresa Area:

* Luz de Vida, Tambor
* Tangomar, Tambor
* Playa Carmen, Tambor
* Latitude 10, Santa Teresa

Arenal Volcano Area:

* Lavas Tacotel, Arenal
* Arenal Manoa, Arenal
* Royal Corin, Arenal
* Arenal Lodge, Arenal

Manuel Antonio area:

* Inn on the Park, Quepos
* Monterey del Mar, Quepos
* Villas Rio Mar, Quepos
* Villas Lirio, Quepos
* Hotel Si Como No, Quepos
* Arenas del Mar, Quepos

Osa Peninsula:

* Aguila de Osa Inn, Drake Bay
* Lapa Rios, Cabo Matapalo, Puerto Jimenez

For a complete list of flight schedules and prices visit www.natureair.com or call 1-800-235-9272. To reserve flights for the Kids Fly Free program, contact the specified hotels directly. For vacation information contact NatureAir’s eco-friendly travel division NatureVacations (www.naturevacations.com).

About NatureAir
NatureAir is the world’s first certified carbon neutral airline and the fastest growing regional airline in Central America. Since its inception in 2000, NatureAir has grown from flying 18,000 passengers annually to more than 140,000 in 2008. NatureAir is the only twin-engine airline in Costa Rica with both scheduled and chartered flights, and offers 74 daily flights to 17 destinations in Costa Rica and Panama.

NatureAir’s voluntary 100% carbon neutrality program ensures that every flight’s carbon emissions are compensated by guaranteeing conservation of forests in the Osa Peninsula in southern Costa Rica. The airline’s commitment to saving energy extends to its use of bio-diesel (cooking oils) to run the company’s entire fleet of ground equipment and diesel vans. NatureAir is a proud sponsor of the Rainforest Alliance, World Heritage Alliance, Climate Neutral Network, The Ecotourism Society, and founded the NatureKids Foundation. The World Travel & Tourism Council, Rainforest Alliance, Conde Nast Traveler and Virgin Holidays have recognized NatureAir for its sustainability efforts. For more information visit: http://www.natureair.com

Costa Rica is famous for the diverse adventure offer. From mountain bike to horseback rides, zip lines, rafting, trekking, hiking and more. There are lots of active volcanoes, hot springs and waterfalls. The best part is that Costa Rica is really friendly to tourists. For more information on tours contact guanacastetours.com . Don’t miss out on the September and October specials on Costa Rica. Pura Vida !!!!

JetBlue Costa Rica

jaribu costa rica

Rancho Humo is a beautiful property of 2638 acres. Thanks to the determination of a family, it was transformed from a cattle farm into an international example of wetland rescue. This is the new tour in the wetland area in Guanacaste.

In 2006, a plan was initiated to restore 2000 acres of former wetlands in favor of a new conservation area.

Here you can experience numerous ecosystems: mangrove, wetlands, dry tropical rainforest, pastures, a large variety of flora and fauna including herons, black crowned night herons, hawks, ducks, roseate spoonbills, wood stork, and the largest and most exotic aquatic bird in Guanacaste: the Jabiru (Jabiru mycteria, Ciconiiforme Order, Ciconiidae Family). The Jaribu has a height of 122-140 cm, a wingspan of  230-260 cm, a weight  8 kg and a length of the beak of  30-33 cm.

Aside from the captivating scenery, Rancho Humo is an hacienda that offers the culture of a traditional and picturesque town, Puerto Humo.

The one day tour at Rancho Humo includes :

1. Tempisque River / Palo Verde
2. Isla de Pájaros
3. Rancho Humo Reserve
4. Rancho Humo Lookout
5. Wetlands

Guanacaste has many attractions, and Palo Verde is one of them. In Hacienda Guachipelin we recommend to our guests to set one day aside to visit this beautiful area.

A tour operator that can arrange a trip to Rancho Humo is Guanacastetours.com
You can call toll free from USA or Canada to 1-888-874-4936

RIU’s first Costa Rican establishment, built by the firm itself and located on the oceanfront in Playa Matapalo, the beautiful region of Guanacaste on the country’s Pacific coast. The hotel is close to the international airport in Liberia LIR.

Riu is situated in northern Costa Rica, in Guanacaste on Playa de Matapalo beach. it has omplimentary sun loungers on the beach, a 6 story main building. It is surrounded by 35,000 m2 / 41,86 sq. yards of lush gardens. RIU is 33 km / 20.5 miles from Liberia airport and 50 kilometers from the most famous National Park, Rincon de la Vieja. This National Park is famous because of its abundant volcanic activity. Rincon de la Vieja is also famous for the adventure tours offered by Hacienda Guachipelin.
Hacienda Guchipelin is owned by a Costarrican family. It is a working cattle ranch and activities related to traditional cattle farming is still going on here.
For reservations for Hacienda Guachipelin, call toll free from US or Canada  to 1-888-730-3840 or write to info@guachipelin.com

The Hacienda is close to Liberia, a small town where the new international airport is located. The driving time form Liberia is about 30 minutes. When our guests fly directly in Liberia, they spend little time on the road, but when they fly in San Jose, the capital, the driving time to Guanacaste can be an issue. This is the reason why Hacienda Guachipelin has partnered with Nature Air to offer the best rates possible, so guests not only can fly at a great price, but they can also save precious vacation time, not driving, but flying.

Nature Air is based in San Jose, Costa Rica.  Nature Air is Central America’s Premier Airline for adventure travel, luxury vacations and eco tours. This airline offers domestic flights from San José to all the major Costa Rica vacation destinations. This includes Tamarindo for fishing, surfing and scuba diving and Liberia for advenutre travel. For reservations on airline tickets, just fallow the link http://www.natureair.com/guachipelin-liberia.aspx?referrer_id=440047 .

For information on Hacienda Guachipelin, please email to info@guachipelin.com or call toll free to 1-888-730-3840