Vitality, May 2003 - Vitality Magazine Cape Cod

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from the airport on a working coffee plantation, is the 248-room Marriott Costa Rica hotel, which features hacienda-style colonial architecture, the stone arches, wrought-iron balconies, spacious courtyard, carved antique furniture and tapestries, and a small chapel. On the hotel grounds are five restaurants, three large meeting rooms, amphitheater, two swimming pools, a health club, sauna, tennis courts, and a golf driving range. This is undoubtedly one of the most luxurious large hotels in Costa Rica. (www.marriotthotels.com) Aurola Holiday Inn It’s fun to spend at least one night in downtown San Jose. And the 18- story, 200-room Aurola Holiday Inn is a very economical way to do it. Their current package is $75 night, which includes breakfast. It offers its own restaurant, lounge, pool and exercise area. The rooms provide a remarkable view of the city. While there, you’re within walking distance of the main shopping street, Central Avenue (Avenida Central), which has been entirely closed off to cars, and is usually a great place for not only shopping, but people watching as well. (www.aurolaholidayinn.com) Teatro Nationale is the premiere, century-old showplace in San Jose. It is located at Calle 5 avenida central (Central Avenue and 5th St.) Be sure to visit the Museos Banco Central De Costa Rica, which houses three museums: one on Numismatics, one with changing exhibits, and our favorite, the Gold museum. The latter contains 1600 pieces of precolombian gold artifacts dating from 500 to 1500 AD. And while visiters from the U.S. may know about the Aztecs and the Incas, the museum brings to light the names of those tribes who originally inhabited Costa Rica, that Americans have never heard of: the Chorotegas, the Borucas, the Bribris, the Huetares, the Teribes, the Guaymies and the Malekus. The museum is located in the plaza next to the National Theater, at Avenida Central, Calle 5 (Central Avenue and 5th St.) They’re closed Mondays. Even the little people in Costa Rica are good-natured. Within walking distance from the Holiday Inn, a great place to eat is the always-crowded News Cafe, located on Avenido Central at the Hotel Presidente. It’s a favorite of locals and visitors. (www.hotelpresidente.com) If you don’t feel like walking to dinner, one of the most pleasant discoveries about downtown is how cheap a cab ride is. That being the case, be sure to check out El Pueblo, a delightful conclave of eateries, bars, night clubs and really excellent gift shops that’s only a $2 cab ride from Holiday Inn (central downtown). While there, don’t miss trying either a dinner or lunch at La Cocina de Lena (Lena’s Kitchen). You’ll love the beef tenderloin. Marriott Los Sueños: The luxurious Marriott Los Sueños is nestled between the beach of Playa Herradura, just south of Jacó, and the nearby rainforest. It encompasses one of the largest marinas in all of Costa Rica. The hotel draws much of its charm from colonial architecture and décor. Handset floor tiles, ceiling fans, and wrought iron railings all create a mood of “casual elegance” that define the ambiance. Its stunning waterfront location means that most of the 201 rooms offer views of the ocean or rainforest. A lively casino and seven restaurants and bars entertain guests, while an 18-hole championship golf course, 25,000 square foot pool, health club, sauna, two lighted tennis courts and jogging trails are available for recreation. There’s also complete spa facilities. Many staying at Los Suenos like to take the day-long cruise to Tortuga Island, that’s leaves from the marina next to the Resort. The white-sand island offers shell-strewn beaches, The spa and hot mineral spring pool at the Rancho Rio Perlas coral reefs and crystal clear waters. (www.breezecruises.com) Nearby, be sure to visit the Carara National Park (Parque Nacional), along whose hiking trails you can see some of the rarest and most spectacular animals of tropical America. The best time to hike these (and most) trails is early, in order to see the most wildlife. Villablanca Hotel: If more rustic is your style, you’ll enjoy an overnight in one of the 48 neat and clean casitas that make up Villablanca Hotel. Each casita has its own fireplace (mountain nights can be cool), a restaurant, lounge, and a remarkable cloud Central Avenue in San Jose is always filled with people. Page 3, Vitality, May 2003
night tours to marvel at the live lava flows, ride on horseback through the varied terrain and immense natural beauty of the region, take a tour to the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, go canoeing on Cerro Chato Lake in the crater of an extinct volcano, use the swimming pool and jacuzzi, with a wonderful view of the volcano, enjoy birdwatching, hike through rain forest, have a massage, listen to nearby howler monkeys, watch toucans fly by, or wade in the waters beneath a jungle waterfall. To get to Arenal Observatory Lodge, drive to La Fortuna and follow signs. For more information, go to http://www.arenal-observatory. co.cr/ Tabacon Resort & Spa This is one of the most remarkable resorts we’ve ever seen, and one that we’d recommend. Located minutes from the Arenal Volcano, the resort offers 73 magnificent guest rooms and 9 junior suites which offer private garden jacuzzis. These are also decorated with handcrafted, locally-made furnishings. The rooms feature private balconies, gardens or terraces overlooking the volcano. The full Spa is located on grounds that feature magnificent is absolutely mystical, and relaxing beyond belief. A massage in the spa almost seems like overkill, but we recommend it anyway. The restaurant is also magnificent. It overlooks the mineral springs pool and swim-up pool bar. The composite effect for the visitor is magic. No wonder so many have had their honeymoons here. And the room rates are a fraction of what a property like this would go for in the U.S. A standard room in high season is only $139 night. The resort also offers canopy riding, waterfall hikes, horseback riding, white-water rafting, etc. (www.tabacon.com) Hotel Barceló Rancho Río Perlas Located about an hour north of San Jose, The Hotel Barceló Rancho Río Perlas is situated in the beautiful Orosi Valley in the province of Cartago. It is a magnificent holiday hotel in the mountains surrounded by beautiful National Parks. The hotel is impeccable, containing a hot-spring pool, a full spa, hiking trails, two wonderful restaurants and a lounge. (www.barcelo.com) Not far from this resort is Purisil Park, which contains a trout farm where you can catch your own Canopy riding offers a unique view of the rain forest. forest. Ask for a guided trail walk. The naturalist that will accompany you will impress you with his knowledge of the cloud forest. It’s a real learning experience. The hotel is located in the Los Angeles Cloud Forest, which is 2,000 acres of primary forest located at 3,750 ft. elevation, northwest of San Jose. Arenal Observatory Lodge A spectacular view is yours (weather permitting) at the Arenal Observatory Lodge, located just 1.7 miles from the active Arenal volcano. (A very deep, wide gourge between the hotel and the volcano protects the hotel from the eruption that’s been taking place since 1968.) The dining room overlooks both the volcano and the enormous Arenal Lake below. Guests are able to explore the lava flow trail and take Pre-Colombian gold shown at the Museos Banco Central de Costa Rica gardens complemented by hot mineral springs that flow like a river through the grounds. There’s also a cold water stream as well. Each wind through the grounds like a system of cataracts. The total effect and have them fry it up for you in their casual restaurant. There’s also beautiful hiking trails that lead to a magnificent water fall. You’ll also get an education here on the tragedy of landslides. The original farm Page 4, Vitality, May 2003 Produce stands like this are a common sight throughout Costa Rica
Page 1: Costa Rica is a place every America

Vitality, May 2003 - Vitality Magazine Cape Cod

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