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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:
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:
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
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