The use of sky lanterns is prohibited in Costa Rica

As of last February 15^th, the Costa Rican government through the Ministry of Health, prohibited the use, marketing and manufacture of sky lanterns or so-called "Globes of desire”.

Sky lanterns in Costa Rica

After several fires during the first minutes of the 2016 caused by these lamps, the Unit for the Prevention and Investigation of fires in the firefighters of Costa Rica carried out various tests with the "Globes of desire", which confirmed how dangerous they can be.

The analysis determined that a piece of paraffin that contains the balloon can remain on for  an extensive period of time and fall on a plastic sheet (which are used on the roofs of the houses), or any other combustible material, has the potential to develop a fire in less than three minutes.

The firefighters further found that these balloons cannot be used in conditions where the wind speed is greater than the eight kilometers per hour and in Costa Rica regular winds are much stronger than that, so that the risk of more fires was patent.

"The sky lanterns, once launched, lose control and can fall in any site, so the risk in its use is very high. We undertook a struggle against its use and today we rejoice about the Government resolution" said Alexander Solis, Head of the Research Unit for the prevention of fires.

Source: ElGuardian.cr

Website: Premio DMC

Manuel Antonio Beach ranked among the best beaches in the world

Costa Rica’s Manuel Antonio Beach is among the best beaches in the world , as ranked by Trip Advisor

Manuel Antonio National Park

" Gorgeous beach , gentle tide , hot water . A paradise for swimmers " , describe the reviews to the beach in the Central Pacific region of Costa Rica

Manuel Antonio is ranked 15th, over beaches like The Baths in the British Virgin Islands , Camp 's Bay Beach, South Africa and Clearwater Beach in Florida.

Read here: Costa Rica Central Pacific at a glance

Manuel Antonio Beach, south from Los Sueños Marriott in Herradura Beach is an all-time favorite among participants to any event or incentive program. It certainly has a bit for everyone, from great surf, to aquatic sports and a very colored National Park that offers an abundance of wildlife in a majestic rainforest, and now, as it seems, it has been chosen to be one of the World’s favorite.

Read also: Manuel Antonio National Park... Is it for everyone?

It is truly a haven for nature lovers, however it is a place where other activities can also be done. Check with your consultant for recommendations.

Manuel Antonio National Park

Read also: About "After Words" film, made in Manuel Antonio

Sources:

Trip Advisor

La República

Find out more in: Premio DMC

Rincon de la Vieja for Incentives and Corporate Events

Rincon de la Vieja is, by far, a most favorite among the National Parks of Guanacaste. It is huge (Over 38,000 Acres) and extremely varied, in all ways possible, from its gorgeous nature to its wide array of activities to offer.

Rincon de la Vieja

In terms of its nature, it has several life systems, from the luscious green humid rain forests to the tropical dry forest, passing by several other types of ecosystems.

Read here: Talking about golf in Guanacaste

Rincon de la Vieja waterfalls

Now, when talking about the larger groups of the corporate meetings and incentives’ industry we have to divide this famous attraction in two main areas:

The National Parks and its surroundings and, the cattle haciendas and activities on its back region, where participants can enjoy the natural beauty of the volcano with from a different perspective.

Let’s talk first about the Rincon de la Vieja National Park and its surroundings:

The most important trail at the park is called “Las Pailas” and it is a wonderful and quite unique combination of rain forest, dry forest, huge trees, a fantastic waterfall and volcanic bubbling ponds and steaming cracks. It will give the visitor a chance to see the core of the Costa Rican nature in about three hours of walk on a rather flat (Although there are a couple of hills to climb) pathway, great birds and some wildlife sightings that may include the loud howler monkeys, the yellowish spider monkeys and a raccoon like type of mammals called “White-nosed coatimundis”.  All of this trail interpreted by a naturalist certified tour guide, becomes an amazing realm of correlations and wonderful natural history facts.

Escalade Tour in Rincon de la Vieja

Read here: 8 Activities to enjoy in Tamarindo

Other options in the surroundings of the National Park

We can combine this trail with several options offered by Guachipelín Lodge, including canyoning (Zip-lining and wall climbing in a river canyon), horseback rides and hot springs with mud baths.

This can also be combined with the kayaking tour in the Colorado River, a great journey to experience the best of the Costa Rican adventure and its nature as It provides and evergreen landscape that is truly breathtaking from wherever you see it.

Another option is to go to the other side of the park, in Borinquen Resort, in a most beautiful setting where the participants may go into a most relaxing trip combining mud baths, natural saunas, a spa and of course a natural hot springs series of pools immersed in the forests. They will also have the options of doing horseback in an authentic Costa Rican cattle ranch and the zip-lines through the forests.

Volcanic mud in Rincon de la Vieja

Read here: About the Central Pacific Coast

To go on these tours, it’s important to know the length of the trips from the hotels used in Incentive trips and corporate events and meetings.

Distances from

Four Seasons: 1 hour and 45 minutes

JW Marriott: 2 Hours

Westin Conchal: 1 hours and 45 minutes

Andaz Papagayo: 1 hour and 45 minutes

EL Mangroove: 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Source: Premio DMC

Costa Rica Central Pacific in a glance

The Costa Rica Central Pacific Coast is a magnificent region for incentive programs, events or meetings. Close to the main international airport (1 1/2 hours on the 27th and Coastal Highways), it is luscious green, it has great tours and activities, National Parks and gorgeous beaches. 

Costa Rica Central Pacific Map

The Central Pacific, and mainly Herradura Beach, with its famous Los Sueños Marriott is the center of many successful incentive programs and corporate events. And incidentally a popular vacations route for hundreds of executives, famous Hollywood stars and even rock singers, every year.

Geographical Location

The Central Pacific region runs from the western parts of the Central Valley and Puntarenas provinces, from the Tarcoles River (The popular crocodiles bridge) to Dominical Beach (Soth from Manuel Antonio National Park.

Landscape

The region is quite flat with a permanent view of rolling hills and mountains that turn into amazing rainforests once one gets in them.   As you drive through the area in the sunny season you may notice that there are several leafless trees together with luscious forests and this happens because at this particular point is where the tropical dry forest turns into humid rainforest.

Weather

The Costa Rica Central Pacific has two main periods: The sunny (Also called the dry season), from December to mid-May and the rainy season, from mid-May to November, with a very stable and quite pleasant temperature of 85° F all year round. However, in the sunny season it may rise to 90’2 and even occasionally to the 100°’s F°.

In the rainy season temperature does not change much and rains happen usually two or three hours in the afternoons. (Except whenever there are hurricanes or low pressure systems in the Caribbean that may cause episodes of continuous pouring rains on the Pacific side. But then, again, these happen twice or three times in the year).

The relative humidity is constantly at 85 percent.  In January and February, it drops to between 75 and 80 percent humidity, and reaches its peak of 90 percent humidity in June, September and November

Along the coast, average rainfall is 143 inches per year, but as you go up the mountains up to 260 inches

In the surrounding central mountains temperature may drop a little specially in December and January. (To 60°s F°)

Read also: Central Valley for programs, meetings and events

Culture

The area of Costa Rica had, for decades three main sources of income: Bananas, Palm oil (After the banana plantation left) and fishing. Fishing remains in the travel industry, to be one of the most important things to enjoy in the region. You can have deep sea fishing and/or artisanal fishing.

Area, population and cities

With an area of 3911 km² (2430 m2) and as of 2011, it has a population of 300,000 people.

Most popular areas in terms of the travel industry are Herradura, Manuel Antonio, Quepos and Puntarenas (As a cruise ships port of call).

National Parks in the Central Pacific Region:

• Carara National Park
• Manuel Antonio National Park
• Pájaros Island
• San Lucas Island
• Tolinga Islands (Where Tortuga Island is)

Read also: Manuel Antonio National Park hike... Is it for everyone? 

Accommodations for Incentives Programs and Events:

Los Sueños Marriott Resort

• Los Sueños Marriott

Read also: Guanacaste for Incentives, meetings and events

Activities and Excursions

Some of the most popular activities for participants are:

Aerial Tram

• Golf
• Aerial Trams
• Rainforest Hikes
• Bird Watching
• Spas
• Rainforest Zip-lining Tours
• White Water Rafting
• Horseback Riding
• Shopping
• Snorkeling
• Diving
• Sailing
• Surfing
• Projects of social sensitivity
• Wildlife Rescue Centers

Juan Santamaria International Airport

Airlines arriving in the Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO):

Commercial carriers

Aeroméxico: Mexico City

Air Canada Rouge: Toronto–Pearson

Air Panama: David, Panama City-Albrook

Air Transat: Seasonal: Montréal–Trudeau, Toronto–Pearson

Alaska Airlines: Los Angeles

American Airlines: Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami

Seasonal: New York–JFK, Phoenix

Avianca Costa Rica: Bogotá, Guatemala City, Lima, Managua, Panama City, San Salvador

Seasonal: Cancún

Avianca Guatemala: Guatemala City, San Andrés, Tegucigalpa

British Airways:  London-Gatwick (begins April 27th,  2016)]

Condor: Frankfurt, Santo Domingo

Copa Airlines:  Guatemala City, Managua, Panama City, Tegucigalpa

Copa Airlines: Colombia Guatemala City, Panama City

Cubana de Aviación: Havana

Delta Air Lines: Atlanta, Los Angeles

Seasonal: Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York–JFK

Iberia:Madrid

Interjet :Mexico City

JetBlue Airways: Fort Lauderdale, Orlando

Nature Air: Bocas del Toro, Drake Bay, Golfito, La Fortuna, Liberia, Limón, Managua, Nosara, Puerto Jimenez, Punta Islita, Quepos, Tamarindo, Tambor, Tortuguero

Sansa Airlines: Costa Esmeralda, Drake Bay, Golfito, La Fortuna, Liberia, Limón, Palmar Sur, Puerto Jimenez, Quepos, San Isidro, Tamarindo, Tambor, Tortuguero

Southwest Airlines: Baltimore, Houston–Hobby

Spirit Airlines: Fort Lauderdale, Houston–Intercontinental

United Airlines: Chicago–O'Hare, Houston–Intercontinental, Newark, Washington–Dulles

Seasonal: Denver [17]

Veca Airlines: San Salvador

Volaris: Cancún, Guadalajara

WestJet: Seasonal: Toronto–Pearson

Source: Premio DMC

El Mangroove in Costa Rica Joins Autograph Collection

Autograph Collection Hotels, Marriott International’s growing collection of strikingly independent hotels, is rejoicing on their growth across the Caribbean and Latin America, and the brand’s second hotel in Costa Rica, with the addition of El Mangroove.

El Mangroove, located off the Gulf of Papagayo, in Guanacaste, is a lifestyle sustainable boutique resort, that incorporates Costa Rica’s natural beauty and a modern design through wood and water elements along with bamboo, stone and natural furnishings that combine all indoor and outdoor spaces. The hotel has 85 luxurious guest suites prepared with every imaginable amenity, a pool stretching over 130 feet with extensive views of the Gulf of Papagayo, live music and events in the evenings, on-site bicycles and a state of the art spa and fitness center that include outdoor “wild-fit” areas and multi-functional exercise decks.

Mangroove Restaurant

Covering 17 acres, and situated on 150 meters of beach front, El Mangroove is just 20-minutes from Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia, making it the closest beachfront resort to an international airport in Costa Rica.

El Mangroove also has two exclusive dining options on property. MAKOKO is the central restaurant located off the lobby serving breakfast and dinner with a farm-to-table and ocean-to-table inspired menu. MATISS is the oceanfront beach restaurant surrounded by sand on a teak deck with a laid-back atmosphere and a delicious fresh, casual and contemporary menu.

“We are proud to welcome El Mangroove to Autograph Collection Hotels and into our family of properties and brands across the Caribbean & Latin America,” said Tim Sheldon, President of the Caribbean & Latin America at Marriott International. “This year we welcomed our 100th property in the region, and I am certain that El Mangroove will bring both an exceptional and culturally rich perspective to the expanding portfolio.”

“Joining forces with a power house in the lodging industry like Marriott International is a true acknowledgement of our efforts and commitment to offering unique guest experiences,” said Jose Monge, General Manager of El Mangroove. “We are very excited about this new venture and look forward to the success of this hotel in the years to come under the Autograph Collection Hotels brand.”

Mangroove Swimming pool

Travelers can experience Papagayo Bay with the resort´s boats, and enjoy fishing or surfing trips, beach hopping excursions, sunset tours, or whale & dolphin expeditions. In addition, paddleboards, bicycles and kayaks are found on-site to explore the bay or the artsy neighboring town of El Coco. In addition, its ample and exclusive meeting facilities are ideal for groups, with more than 3000 square feet of functional space, both indoors and outdoors.

Read here: Talking about golf in Guanacaste

About Autograph Collection Hotels
Autograph Collection Hotels celebrates individuality by curating one-of-a-kind travel experiences at more than 90 luxury lifestyle hotels found in the world’s most desirable destinations. Exactly like nothing else, each hotel has been hand selected for its distinction as an iconic landmark, for its remarkable design or for its best-in-class resort amenities.

About El Mangroove
A lifestyle, contemporary, bohemian-chic beachfront hotel located in the coveted Gulf of Papagayo in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. El Mangroove features a spa, gym, great outdoors and beachside space, and a fashionable pool-side area. The sustainable and green operated hotel also features two on-site restaurants, Matiss and Makoko, which outstand for their Sensorial Gastronomy. El Mangroove was awarded Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence 2015 and 2016 as “Best Newcomer,” and “Best Waterside hotel,” respectively. Additionally in 2015, it received the 4 star Forbes Guide award, and was named Luxury Boutique Hotel of the Year by Luxury Travel Guides.

Source: Hotel News Resource

Website: Premio DMC

Central Valley for programs, meetings and events

The Central Valley is the most important, economically speaking, area of Costa Rica. We are talking about the capital city, and the most populated cities of the country, half of the total population of Costa Rica and the  labor and social heart of the country. It is geographically in the center of the country, allowing all sorts of possibilities for programs and events.

Oxcart Parade in December in San José

Landscape

The Central Valley, flat and totally surrounded by mountains enjoys a permanent breeze and some great landscapes in blue and green.

Weather

The Central Valley has two main periods: The sunny and the rainy with a very stable and quite pleasant temperature of 71° F all year round.

The sunny season starts in December and goes all the way to mid-May and temperatures may rise to the 80°s (F°)

In the rainy season temperature does not change much and rains happen usually two or three hours in the afternoons. (Except when  hurricanes or low pressure systems in the Caribbean cause episodes of continuous pouring rains. But then, again, these happen twice or three times in the year).

In the surrounding central mountains temperature may drop a little specially in December and January. (To 60°s F°)

Culture

In the Central Valley you will find the core of the Costa Rican culture, from the central markets of the main cities to all sorts of museums, theaters, typical restaurants and shows, and the roots of the traditions of the center of the country, where most of the population lives.

National Museum of Costa Rica

Area, population and cities

With an area of 3237 km² (2011 mi2) and as of 2010, it has a population of  2,600,00 million people.

The main city is, of course San Jose, not only the capital city but the one where you will find larger population areas, the government offices, and the main museums, hotels and off site venues.

The other cities are Cartago, on the East side, Heredia and Alajuela. In Alajuela is where the International Airport Juan Santamaría (SJO) is located.

National Parks in Guanacaste

Arenal Volcano National Park

Braulio Carrillo National Park

Irazú Volcano National Park

Juan Castro Blanco National Park

Poás Volcano National Park

Tapantí National Park

Turrialba Volcano National Park

Accomodations for Incentives Programs and Events:

• Costa Rica Marriott
• Double Tree Cariari
• Real Intercontinental
• Wyndham Herradura
• Courtyard Marriott

Some of the most popular activities for participants in the Central Valley are:

• Golf 
• Rainforest Hikes and aerial trams
• Bird Watching
• Hot Springs
• Spas
• Rainforest Zip-lining Tours
• White Water Rafting
• River Tubing
• Canyoning
• Horseback Riding
• Shopping
• Projects of social sensitivity
• Wildlife Rescue Centers

Read here: Ten reasons to bring families to an incentive program in Costa Rica

Airlines arriving in the Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO):

Commercial carriers

Aeroméxico       Mexico City

Air Canada Rouge           Toronto–Pearson

Air Panama        David, Panama City-Albrook

Air Transat          Seasonal: Montréal–Trudeau, Toronto–Pearson

Alaska Airlines  Los Angeles

American Airlines            Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami

Seasonal: New York–JFK, Phoenix

Avianca Costa Rica          Bogotá, Guatemala City, Lima, Managua, Panama City, San Salvador

Seasonal: Cancún            Avianca Guatemala        Guatemala City, San Andrés, Tegucigalpa

British Airways  London-Gatwick (begins 27 April 2016)]

Condor Frankfurt, Santo Domingo

Copa Airlines     Guatemala City, Managua, Panama City, Tegucigalpa

Copa Airlines Colombia Guatemala City, Panama City

Cubana de Aviación       Havana

Delta Air Lines   Atlanta, Los Angeles

Seasonal: Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York–JFK

Iberia    Madrid

Interjet                Mexico City

JetBlue Airways               Fort Lauderdale, Orlando

Nature Air     (Local airline)     Bocas del Toro, Drake Bay, Golfito, La Fortuna, Liberia, Limón, Managua, Nosara, Puerto Jimenez, Punta Islita, Quepos, Tamarindo, Tambor, Tortuguero

Sansa Airlines   (Local airline) Costa Esmeralda, Drake Bay, Golfito, La Fortuna, Liberia, Limón, Palmar Sur, Puerto Jimenez, Quepos, San Isidro, Tamarindo, Tambor, Tortuguero

Southwest Airlines         Baltimore, Houston–Hobby

Spirit Airlines     Fort Lauderdale, Houston–Intercontinental

United Airlines Chicago–O'Hare, Houston–Intercontinental, Newark, Washington–Dulles

Seasonal: Denver [17]

Veca Airlines     San Salvador

Volaris  Cancún, Guadalajara

WestJet               Seasonal: Toronto–Pearson

 

Aerial Tram

 

Pacuare River Rafting

 

Rainforest Hike

 

Irazu Volcano

Source: Premio DMC

 

National Theater in San José

 

Mascarade Parade in San José

Region of Guanacaste for Incentives, Meetings and Events

When talking about Guanacaste, it is impossible to sip the fact that this province is in fact like a condensed version of Costa Rica: Different climates, great biodiversity, a deep rooted culture and amazing adventures.

Landscape

Costa Rica has a lot of mountains, that makes the landscape to be varied and beautiful, but sometimes roads are winding and routes can turn slow. In Guanacaste however, the landscape is rather flat with rolling hills and the gorgeous Guanacaste Volcanic Mountain Range in the back.

Other hand it has some of the most beautiful beaches in Central America, surrounded by forest and wildlife and featuring great resorts.

Weather

This is the driest province of Costa Rica. With eight months of the year of sunny season, it allows itself amazing beach resorts and several activities that participants can enjoy almost all year round… And even in the rainy season it may rain, maybe two or three hours of the day.

When it comes to the mountains this changes, as they are influenced by the Caribbean winds that bring a lot of humidity. This is fantastic in terms of touristic activity, since you can enjoy very different landscapes in a very small time gap.

Culture

Guanacaste’s pace has been always a bit different from the rest of the country. Because of the conditions written above, the region was first conquered by Mesoamerican ethnic groups (Whilst the rest of Costa Rica was more influenced by South American groups) and later by Andalusia Spanish, creating a mixture of cultures between Mesoamerican (Corn diet, Aztec originated) Spanish, and the strong spirit of the Arabic roots, creating a very rich culture and folklore.

Guanacaste is, up until this day, the place where our folklore comes from: Our typical dress, the marimba, its songs and dances, the big corn tortillas and the cow boys and their horses and bullfights traditions all come from Guanacaste.

One of the most typical sites to see this mixture of cultures is Guaitil, a fantastic shopping opportunity of clay ceramics that are made the way the made them five hundred years ago.

Area, population and cities

Liberia City

With an area of 3,915 sq mi (10,141 km2) and as of 2010, it has a population of 354,154.

Guanacaste's capital is Liberia. Other important cities include Cañas and Nicoya.

In Liberia we find the International Daniel Oduber Airport (LIR).

National Parks in Guanacaste

The Conservation Area of Guanacaste encompasses several National Parks and reserves. The ones that are of interest as activities for a program or event are:

Rincon de la Vieja Volcano

Rincón de la Vieja Volcano

With its fantastic mixture of humid rainforests, dry tropical forests and volcanic steam cracks and bubbling ponds, and surrounded by several hot springs and spas is, most likely the most popular of them all.

Guanacaste National Park

Mixing also the rainforests with the dry forests, this national Park is great for nature lovers and bird watchers.

Santa Rosa National Park

This national park is a mixture of great tropical dry forest, gorgeous isolated beaches and historical points. It is used for hikes starting in La Casona (The old Hacienda house) and going around the dry forest.

Horizontes Biological Station

A great protected area used by the University of Costa Rica for research, it has a wide biodiversity, beautiful landscapes and great waterfalls

Ostional and Las Baulas:

These two marine protected areas are quite popular because they are arriving and nesting sites for sea turtles. In Las Baulas they receive the huge leatherback sea turtles and Ostional is one of five turtle arribadas sites in the World. (An arribada is a mass nesting of turtles, sometimes with hundreds of turtles arriving simultaneously to one beach).

Palo Verde

Palo Verde is simultaneously an amazing wetlands and tropical dry forests as a result of the Río Tempisque flooding over land located in a relatively arid climate region. Great birdwatching and wildlife sightings.

Accomodations for Incentives Programs and Events:

• Four Seasons Papagayo
• W. Marriott
• The Mangroove
• Andaz Papagayo
• Westin Conchal Resort & Spa

Some of the most popular activities for participants in Guanacaste are: 

• Golf 
• Rainforest Hikes
• Bird Watching
• Hot Springs
• Spas
• Rainforest Zip-lining Tours
• White Water Rafting
• River Tubing
• Canyoning
• Horseback Riding
• Shopping
• Snorkeling
• Diving
• Sailing
• Surfing
• Projects of social sensitivity
• Wildlife Rescue Centers

Read here: 8 Activities to enjoy Tamarindo Beach

Airlines arriving in the Daniel Oduber International Airport (LIR):

Commercial carriers

Air Berlin | www.airberlin.com

Air Canada | www.aircanada.com

Alaska Airlines | www.alaskaair.com/

American Airlines | www.aa.com

Copa Airlines | www.copaair.com

Delta Airlines | www.delta.com

Frontier Airlines | www.flyfrontier.com

Jetblue | www.jetblue.com

Nature Air (Domestic) | www.natureair.com

Sansa (Domestic) | www.flysansa.com

Southwest Airlines | www.southwest.com

Taca | www.taca.com

United | www.united.com

US Airways | www.usairways.com

West Jet | www.westjet.com

Charter Flights

Air Transat | www.airtransat.ca

Arkefly | www.arkefly.nl

Jazz Air | www.flyjazz.ca

Sun Country | www.suncountry.com

Sunwing | www.sunwing.ca

Thomson | flights.thomson.co.uk

Source: Premio DMC