Costa Rica However You Please

Ethan Todras-Whitehill has a nice overview of Costa Rica's myriad travel opportunities on NYTimes.com. He calls the counry a "Rorschach test for travelers."

I think this is a solid analogy because--with so many drastically different ways to enjoy the "Rich Coast" nation--depending upon whether you elect "adventure" or "respite" as the theme for your trip, your choice will reflect what you hope to get out of the experience.

The article covers the three big draws of Costa Rica travel sector. These categories, as he refers to them, are "Eco-Tourism," "Adventure-Tourism," and "Luxury Tourism." Enjoy the sample:

Planning a trip for myself and my father last November, I set myself a challenge. How many Costa Ricas could we sample in just eight days? I settled on three: the rich primordial forest, the adventurer's playground and the beachfront paradise. After subtracting travel time within the country, we would have a day and a half to two and a half days at our chosen location for each one, time enough for a taste, at least, of the country's riches.
...
Twenty-seven percent of Costa Rica's land area is devoted to national parks and reserves, one of the highest percentages for any country. Monteverde, which is the primary place marketed to eco-tourists, is between two reserves — Monteverde and Santa Elena — deep in the Costa Rican highlands. It is well developed, with hotels, several restaurants, shops and art galleries. It even has an asphalt road connecting the two reserves and villages between, which is curious since the four-hour drive through farms and orchards to get to the area from San José is rocky and rutted — a result, locals say, of an earlier desire to keep down the number of visitors (now, most would prefer that the government pave the road). It is an oasis of infrastructure amid the rural and the wild.
(Photo courtesy of Michael Nagle for The New York Times)

Go for Green on Earth Day!

Earth Day is a name used for two different observances, both held annually during spring in the northern hemisphere, and autumn in the southern hemisphere. These are intended to inspire awareness of and appreciation for the Earth's environment. In an article I found about Earth Day, the author listed a few of the places which would be catering to this special day by providing eco-friendly food and services to the public. Read below for more on More "Green" Earth Day Travel Ideas

Apparently, it's not enough for some lodgings to provide "green" guests with simple eco-friendly amenities such as organic cotton sheets and hybrid shuttles, now, just in time for Earth Day, an increasing number of hotels are offering environmentally correct menu options at their in-house restaurants as well.

The on-site eateries are serving up organic and locally grown foods, much to the delight of tree hugging guests.

Heath-conscious "green" travelers in Colorado looking for an Earth Day deal should head over to Aspen's swank Little Nell. The lodging employs Ryan Hardy, a 2008 James Beard "Best Chef" regional finalist, who oversees Montagna. The in-house restaurant serves organic vegetables, pork, eggs and chicken, which are raised on a farm Hardy bought outside the city. He also makes his own cheese for the restaurant.

The same goes for the 20-room Canoe Bay resort in Chetek, Wisconsin. The resort's owners not only serve organic products, but guests can also forage for mushrooms, leeks and blackberries on the property with the resort's chef. If you don't feel like wrestling fresh mushrooms from the earth you could opt to join the chef to pick herbs such as lemongrass, cilantro, rosemary, and mint for dinner.

And it's not just smaller properties that are going "green," the Marriott chain has also jumped on the organic bandwagon by introducing a program that encourages its chefs to use locally sourced food. The initiative is said to be costing the chain a pretty penny, but executives say eco-friendly guests are more than willing to pay more for products that benefit the environment.

For more about what you can do for Earth Day check out this site