OHMCR The Best Costa Rica Travel Guide

The Maquenque Wildlife Refuge in Costa Rica’s northern region has been submitted as a possible candidate for a Ramsar recognition.  The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands was signed in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran with the objective of providing a framework for international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.

Ramsar currently has over 158 members and over 1,755 wetlands that make up the Wetland List of the most important wetlands in the world.  Costa Rica is a member of Ramsar and has a total of 11 wetlands recognized by Ramsar.

This year’s annual convention was held in South Korea at which Costa Rica presented the documents to include the Maquenque Wetlands in the Ramsar list.  In order for a wetland to be considered as a candidate, it must comply with Ramsar’s regulations.  The submitted wetland must be either a unique area or be of importance for the conservation and protection of the area’s biodiversity.

The Maquenque Wildlife Refuge is located in the northern region of the province of Heredia in Sarapiqui.  The Maquenque protected area occupies a great portion of the Costa Rican protected territory that is to be integrated with the Nicaraguan protected territory for the formation of a bi-national biological corridor.

The Maquenque Wildlife Refuge is home to over 80 species of fish, 81 species of reptiles, 48 species of amphibians, 515 bird species, 139 mammals and over 350 tree species.

And most important of all, the Maquenque Wildlife Refuge protects one of the last Green Macaw population and almond trees that are crucial for the macaw’s survival and reproduction.

To be accepted as part of the Ramsar Wetland List, the Maquenque Wetlands will join other Costa Rican wetlands such as Caño Negro, Gandoca-Manzanillo, Isla del Coco, Palo Verde, Terraba-Sierpe and six other wetlands.

written by Carolyn Ramer \\ tags: Caño Negro, Gandoca-Manzanillo, Isla del Coco, Maquenque Wildlife Refuge, Palo Verde, Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, Terraba-Sierpe

The term Eco-Tourism has become a popular one among tourism service providers not only in Costa Rica but in the entire Central American region as well.  However, the term has been thrown around so many times that its meaning or what it represents has become quite vague.

Therefore, in Costa Rica, an environmentally-conscious group of people got together to legally create the Costa Rican Chamber of Eco-Tourism in order to organize this sector.

The first thing the Chamber did was define the Eco-Tourism concept as a specialized segment within the responsible tourism sector that promotes and supports nature’s conservancy and the region’s cultural values.  The Eco-Tourism sector is responsible of interpreting these values to the tourist while contributing to the community’s social-economical ambiance.

In addition, the Chamber seeks to gather all people and organizations within the tourism industry and that are linked to eco-tourism activities.  All eco-tourism related issues will be addressed to the Chamber who has the ability to determine the policies, tendencies and legal actions that may be carried out.

Since its creation in 2003, the Costa Rican Chamber of Eco-Tourism has over 60 actively involved members from sectors such as hospitality, tour operator, car rentals, banks, arts and crafts, research organizations and others.

The Hacienda Guachipelin near the Rincon de la Vieja National Park for example, has gladly enrolled as a member of the chamber in order to contribute with the sector’s growth, promotion and social responsibility.

written by Carolyn Ramer \\ tags: Costa Rican Chamber of Eco Tourism, Hacienda Guachipelin, Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin, Rincon de la Vieja National Park

In just a matter of years, Costa Rica’s northern province of Guanacaste has become the hottest destination in the North Pacific Coast.  Guanacaste’s charm has even lured from Hollywood stars to Brazilian top models who have bought exclusive beach homes overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

The province’s sudden burst of activity is partly owned to the re-opening and current modernization of the Daniel Oduber International Airport located in Guanacaste’s capital, Liberia (LIR).  The airport’s strategic location allows for a short 2 to 3 hour flight from major U.S airports as well as a short 15 to 20 minute drive to the nearest beaches.

Although Guanacaste has become tantamount of uncrowded and pristine beaches that offer spectacular sunsets, the province also offers great tropical forest and volcanic adventures through its National Parks.  One of the most visited parks is the Rincon de la Vieja National Park at just 30 minutes from the airport.

Guanacaste is renowned for its appealing year round weather and warm Pacific Ocean waters.  It is also well known for the Tempisque River’s estuaries that offer one of the best water bird observation sites in all Central America.  Large wild crocodiles are also a very common sight as they sun bathe undisturbed along the Tempisque’s riverbed.

The amount of activities available in the area is so ample that tourists might have to return to try them all out!  From scuba diving at the Catalinas, snorkeling at the Papagayo Gulf, soaking up the sun in Flamingo and surfing at Avellanas Beach to enjoying the night life at Tamarindo or Playas del Coco, Guanacaste has it all.  It’s no wonder that when it comes to adventure, Costa Rica ranks number 5 in the world.

Observing volcanic activity at the Rincon de la Vieja National Park is one of the main activities in the region.  Several additional tours are offered in the immediate area such as horseback riding tours available at the Hacienda Guachipelin, a well known hotel near the park’s entrance.  Other popular tours in the area are tubing down the Negro River, the canyon canopy and canyoning tour.

Costa Rica’s tough environmental law has contributed to keeping the most part of the North Pacific Coast pretty much undisturbed.  The area’s vegetation is quite a scene with its tropical forest and conscientiously protected rivers.

Hotel availability in Guanacaste is as varied as its many locations.  Low to mid budget hotels are found throughout the entire region while luxurious 5-star hotels are more commonly found in Guanacaste’s Northern Coast.  It is recommended for visitors to do a comprehensive internet search in order to get a good idea of hotel types and rates. Try www.guachipelin.com

Guanacaste, as well as the rest of Costa Rica, welcomes U.S dollars, Euros, Canadian dollars, major credit cards and travelers’ checks.  Hotel rates range from the low to mid range all the way to the luxurious 5-star hotels.

Staff at the majority of the hotels and car rentals speaks fluent English making it extremely easy to arrange rented or hired transportation.  As we mentioned before, internet research is always a good idea when planning your trip to Guanacaste.

written by Carolyn Ramer \\ tags: Guanacaste, Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin, Province of Guanacaste, Rincon de la Vieja, Rincon de la Vieja National Park