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JUNE 2011

Costa Rica is an enticing destination. A great value and suitable for couples, families, single travelers, and groups. But beyond the marvelous bio-diversity that captures the imagination, visitors find a welcoming na-tion, culturally rich and open. Where educated people know how to voice their opinion, show initiative, and display self-confidence. Where friendly people are intel-lectually curious and appreciate sharing their herit-age and learning from others. In short, a perfect en-vironment for discovery and cultural exchange.

Costa Rica the Summer Stunner!

Get Going... On a FREE Costa Rica Family Getaway!

The Costa Rica Tourism Board and the Los Angeles Zoo still give you the opportunity to regis-

ter for a chance to win a 6 Day, 7 Night eco-vacation for a family of four. An $8000 value!

Open to US residents until Jun 30th. No purchase necessary. To participate, just visit:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Get-Going_Costa_Rica_Family_Eco-Adventure_Sweepstakes

New Flights! Costa Rica is an ac-cessible travel desti-nation, serviced by major airlines. We gladly share the an-nouncement of up-coming direct flights:

November 2011 Air Berlin Düsseldorf

January 2012 Sun Country Airlines St. Paul Minnesota

Courtesy of ICT Courtesy of ICT

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Hooray for Sea Turtles!

Did you know that globally endangered sea turtles are

the quiet heroes of marine and beach environments?

Their sea grass grazing helps optimize the living habitats

of key food chain populations. Beach egg laying and

hatching provide essential nutrients to erosion-

preventing sand dune vegetation. These functions, es-

sential to the health of coastal ecosystems, have prompted aggressive conservation and recovery efforts. Ho-

tel Punta Islita has supported the initiatives led by the Camaronal Foundation. Thanks their efforts, Leather-

backs, Kemp Ridley, Green, Hawksbill, and Black turtles have once again returned in robust numbers.

A guided nighttime adventure lets travelers observe the entire egg-

laying ritual, from the moment a specimen is spotted reaching the

shore. Graceful and acrobatic in the water, their girth transforms

sea-turtles once on land. Impossibly slow, but determined, they car-

ry their massive weight (up to 700 pounds) to find the perfect

nesting spot. The heavy sound of dragged friction gives credence to

their effort. Muscular hind flippers dig the nest by gently wiping

away the sand in a process akin to a Tai-Chi session. After position-

ing themselves over the hole, the egg-laying process begins. Be-

tween 50 and 200 eggs are usually deposited. Perfectly round and

white, they glisten in the night like moist Ping-Pong balls. Once the

last egg drops, the Tai-Chi resumes, this time to carefully refill the

nest with sand, tapping and sculpting the upper layer to hopefully

disguise the site from poachers and predators. Finally, the sea turtle

retraces its steps, slowly returning to the surf line and completing a

uniquely peaceful and mesmerizing ritual. We have already seen

this year’s first arrivals and expect them to continue through mid

November. Don’t miss it!

We look forward to the 2nd

edition of the Punta Islita

Mountain Biking Ride. A three

-day fun challenge for all levels,

combining rugged mountains,

beach backdrops, river cross-

ings & pampered comfort.

Interested? Please contact:

reserve@hotelpuntaislita.com

July 15-17th

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Hotel Punta Islita’s Red Macaw recovery partnership with the Ara Project is thriving! The first ten birds arrived on June 5th and are already acclimating to the weather and wildlife. Hotel Punta Islita has donated a plot of land embedded in the tropical dry forest, a specialized aviary cage, living quar-ters for a biologist, and the biologist’s wag-es. As is the case with successful sustainabil-ity initiatives, diverse people are involved, including our landscaping staff! They eager-ly gather fallen beach almonds to feed and help the Macaws familiarize with an abun-dant local food staple. The first plumed guests are to be released in 2-3 months and

will be closely monitored to ensure a smooth transition. Subsequent yearly re-leases of new pairs are planned until the ar-ea is populated by a self-sustaining, ge-netically diverse flock. With successful projects along Costa Rica’s Pacific coastline, The Ara Project’s expertise is actively helping recover Costa Rica’s near-extinct Macaw populations. In the course of the next months, we will be providing regular updates about the Islita project, featuring candid photographs, interesting facts about these bird species, and presenting the dedi-cated team behind this initiative.

Meet Our Colorful Guests!

Images courtesy of The Ara Project: http://www.thearaproject.org

The first specimens are already enjoying Hotel Punta Islita’s spacious and airy Macaw Suite.

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Vote & Win! A luxury getaway for two

could be yours just for

voting in Condé Nast Jo-

hansens’ Awards for Excellence 2012. This is the first year

that this prestigious guide to the world’s most select ho-

tels features online voting and we hope you can voice your

enthusiasm for Hotel Punta Islita. Muchas gracias and

buena suerte! http://www.johansens.com/awards

Chef Lizzeth revisits Costa Rica’s favorite dish,

the ubiquitous Gallo Pinto. Although its

main ingredients are rice and beans,

tradition dictates that Gallo Pinto can feature

a medley of condiments and event leftover

veggies. Perfect as a BBQ side dish or in a

wrap. For a healthier version, you can

substitute the white rice with wild rice or quinoa! 1 tbsp. sunflower oil 1 cup of pre-cooked black or red beans ½ cup black or red bean broth 2 cups of pre-cooked white rice 1 tbsp. finely chopped yellow onion 1 tbsp. finely chopped red bell pepper 1 tbsp. finely chopped celery 1 tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro 1 tsp. salt & black pepper

Heat oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Sautee

onion and red bell pepper for two minutes. Add

salt and a cup of black beans, mix and add a bit of

bean broth to keep moist. Cook for about 5

minutes. Add rice and more bean broth as neces-

sary. Mix all ingredients. Cook for an additional 3

minutes. Remove from heat and add cilantro and

celery. Mix in and sprinkle with black pepper.

Gallo Pinto

Summer is upon us and NBC is launching a new re-

ality TV dating show that puts potential couples in

the heart of Costa Rica’s untamed rain forest. After

unsuccessful blind dates and speed dates, ten sin-

gle men and ten single women share challenging

physical adventures in hopes of finding a special

someone. We will have to wait until the June 29th

premiere to see if the show successfully incorpo-

rates the fun elements that have made Survivor and

The Amazing Race guilty-viewing hits. In any case,

we look forward to see Costa Rica’s spectacular

scenery showcased in prime time TV.

If the smiling faces of Hotel Punta Islita’s honey-

mooners are a good indicator, canopy zip-lining,

river kayaking, surfing, and horseback riding just

may be the ticket to true love.

Our honeymoon specials give couples the chance

to live wild eco-adventures with the benefit of

plush accommodations, fine dining & spa wellness.

For a sampling, check them out at:

http://bit.ly/magicalcostarica

http://bit.ly/tropicalhoneymoonbliss

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Hotel Punta Islita

offers private

flights aboard its

own twin-engine

Piper Seneca V. For more information,

please contact Marietta:

jreservas@grupoislita.com

Private flights include complimentary

ground transfers (Airstrip-Hotel-Airstrip),

complimentary Green Fees, and a 25 mi-

nute Reflexology Treatment at Casa Spa.

Nature Air offers convenient ser-

vice connecting Pavas Regional

Airport in San José (SYQ) and the

Islita Airstrip. (PBP). Please take

note of their flight schedule:

Nature Air is the world’s first carbon-neutral airline

and offers flyers spacious twin-engine planes with

panoramic windows and the convenience of a 40-

pound luggage allowance. To learn more:

http://bit.ly/NatureAirHPI

Day of the Week Departs From At

Mon, Wed, Fri Pavas 8:15 am

Mon, Wed, Fri Islita 9:20 am

Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun flights may be scheduled with a 4 passenger mini-mum. Please ask for details.

Flight Plan:

Go Public!

Go Private!

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Green Leaves:

When traveling to Costa Rica, please support hotels and tour operators that

participate in the Certification for Sustainable Tourism Program, a government-

sponsored initiative that periodically evaluates and ranks a company’s sustaina-

bility practices. We strongly believe that commitment to social responsibility

and the environment goes hand-in-hand with top customer service, innovation,

and authenticity. The CST program can help make your Costa Rica travel more

fun , more enjoyable, and more sustainable! http://bit.ly/CSTCostaRicaHotels

From the unrehearsed natural hospitality, to the decorative ele-

ments, furniture, architecture, and flavors, we want every aspect

of El Silencio Lodge & Spa to reflect the authentic elements that

distinguish the rural Costa Rican highlands.

Learn more about Hotel Punta Islita’s sister property:

http://www.elsilenciolodge.com