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My Backyard: Destinations
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REGIONAL HIGHLIGHTS: South Of The Border
By Stephen Jermanok
2005 Nov (Vol. 7, No. 6) |
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| Tropical bliss: Winter never felt so good. Courtesy of Casa Sagrada Guesthouse and Retreat Center |
Operation Defrost
Lapa Rios Rainforest ecolodge, Costa Rica
On the southernmost coast of Costa Rica, a 1,000-acre rainforest called the Lapa Rios Preserve perches over the Pacific Ocean, offering the best of many worlds. You can spend the morning hiking along the Carbonera River to a pristine waterfall, accompanied by four types of monkeys, macaws and rainbow-colored toucans. In the afternoon, sea kayak around Matapalo Point or surf the Golfo Dulce.
The 16 open-air bungalows and main lodge of the Lapa Rios Rainforest Ecolodge are far from nylon-tent accommodations. Hardwood floors, bamboo walls and vaulted, thatched-roof ceilings provide plenty of space and privacy. Other luxuries include soft mosquito netting over queen-sized beds and secluded garden showers. Former Peace Corp volunteers Karen and John Lewis built the retreat in 1990 as a way to save hundreds of acres of rainforest from farming. All those monkeys and birds who will wake you up in the morning are a tribute to their brilliant success. If you go: Rooms start at $158 per night;
011-506-735-5281; www.laparios.com.
Around the clock: Lapa Rios
8 a.m.
Rise and shine. Watch the early morning light reflect off the resort’s natural pool before heading to breakfast.
9 a.m.
Take a two- to three-hour morning hike with a naturalist through the rainforest to a waterfall and swimming hole, stopping to view spider monkeys, scarlet macaws, toucans, parrots and other
indigenous birds. $20 and up; 011-506-735-5281.
12:30 p.m.
When the heat’s too much to bear, duck into the resort’s open-air restaurant for some chilled lime-cucumber-shrimp soup and a fresh organic salad.
2 p.m.
Head to the ocean to sea kayak with a guide along the coast, or to swim with wild sea turtles and dolphins. $45 and up for two hours;
011-506-735-5281.
7:30 p.m.
After an in-room massage ($45 for 50 minutes), enjoy a candlelit dinner at sunset near the swimming pool, which overlooks both rainforest and ocean.
Body and Soul
Casa Sagrada Guesthouse
Oaxaca, Mexico
Cradled in the shadows of the Sierra Madre and overlooking a village known for its hand-loomed rugs, the Casa Sagrada Guesthouse and Retreat Center embraces the culturally vibrant Oaxaca region of Mexico. Mary Jane Mendoza, a yoga instructor, and her husband Arnulfo, one of the premier weavers of Zapotec tapestries, are your hosts. From the property, bike into the pine-filled mountains or hike to the sacred mountain of Guia Betz. You can also meditate and take yoga classes with a panoramic view of the sacred mountain. Learn to roast chiles in hot ash and grind spices to create traditional mole, and venture to the large outdoor market in the central city of Oaxaca (16 miles away) for a sampling of textiles. That way, you can return home to your local gym with your new Zapotecan yoga rug. 310-455-6085; www.casasagrada.com.
Family Friendly
Wyndham El Conquistador Resort
Puerto Rico
At first glance, Puerto Rico’s Wyndham El Conquistador Resort might seem like any other mega-hotel in the Caribbean, with its 750 rooms, six pools, golf course and casino, but take a peek at the kids programs and you’ll realize the difference. Junior will have a blast on one of the hotel’s ecotours, sea kayaking on Bioluminescent Bay or trekking to the massive caves of Rio Camuy Cave Park. The whole family will want to take the all-day hike to the lush El Yunque Rainforest to walk alongside orchids, ending at La Mina Falls for a cool dip. There are more nature trails at the hotel, which is set on a hillside overlooking the Atlantic. The resort also offers scuba diving, sea kayaking, sailing or just plain beach lounging with a thick novel in one hand, rum punch in the other. 877-999-3223; www.wyndham.com.
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Updated: Feb 24th, 2006 - 14:18:11
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