Gulf of Papagayo PHILADELPHIA, PA (March 3, 2015) — Apple Leisure Group®’s subsidiary, AMResorts®, announced the signing of the company’s third deal in the first quarter of 2015. Secrets® Papagayo Resort & Spa will also be the second property for the company in Costa Rica, following the highly anticipated opening of Dreams® Las Mareas Costa Rica late last year. Apple Leisure Group Signs D...

Source: Pure Hospitality LAS VEGAS, Feb. 25, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Pure Hospitality Solutions, Inc., (OTC: PNOW) announced today, that the Company has made stronger relationships, to ensure that its FROL booking engine is given new life as Oveedia, the anticipated Central-America-Caribbean Online Travel Agency (OTA) to be launched in Costa Rica later this year. "Take a serious look at the OT...

Source: OVSICORI Can a luxurious lifestyle become synonymous with sustainability? According to Suzy Amis Cameron, who is married to acclaimed filmmaker James Cameron, luxury can be combined with an eco-lifestyle, and she recently made this point clear during a red carpet event that took place before the Oscars. It so happens that Ms. Amis Cameron has partnered with an upscale “green luxury” bo...

Source: Bue River Resort Guanacaste, Costa Rica, February 17, 2015 -- (PR.com) -- This year, Blue River Resort & Hot Springs was chosen by Fodor's for the service, quality, and value they offer every visitor at their resort.   Although each and every business that is included in Fodor’s Travel guide is deemed worthy of a traveler’s time, the Fodor’s Choice distinguishes hotels, ...

Manuel Antonio Beach in Costa Rica The popular online travel reviews and advice website TripAdvisor recently announced its 2015 Traveler's Choice Awards, a tradition that is currently in its third year. It so happens that one of Costa Rica's most pristine stretches Pacific coastline made the list of the world's Top 20 Traveler's Choice Beaches in the World. Here is the introduction to the o...

Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo in Guanacaste Right before Christmas 2014, The Costa Rica Star reported that the Forbes Travel Guide, previously known as Mobil Travel Guide, chose our country as one their markets for the purpose of rating hotels and restaurants. Joining this prestigious travel information resource was a matter of pride for Costa Rica, and it did not take l...

Source: Vista Celestial Over the last few years, luxury has been one of the most visible trends within the tourism industry of Costa Rica. There used to be a time when traveling to Costa Rica meant modest accommodations, spartan customer service and functional transportation. To this effect, Costa Rica was mostly known as an ideal destination for backpackers and budget travelers. These days, how...

Playa Samara Triathlon Over the last few years, Costa Rica has become the number one destination for adventure sports and high-endurance athletic competitions. Many of these events take place in the Guanacaste region, and thus many athletes have already made this province their temporary home for training purposes. Runners, competitive cyclists, open water swimmers, and endurance hikers who tr...

Basel, Switzerland The Embassy of Costa Rica in Switzerland reports high interest in our country at a recent Travel and Tourism Expo in the large city of Basel, which is strategically located right on the border with France and Germany. According to an institutional communiqué issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Costa Rica was represented along with the Embassies of Chile, Peru and Vene...

Toucan in Costa Rica Nature conservation and reforestation efforts in Costa Rica are certainly paying off for coffee producers, land owners, tourism and hospitality operators, and -of course- birdwatchers. Just about any visitor who stays at an eco-resort in Costa Rica is bound to enjoy birdwatching whether they planned it or not. Here's a recent press release on this topic: Manuel Antonio, Cos...

As the luxury travel and accommodation segment in Costa Rica continues to grow, tourism and hospitality providers are targeting their efforts on specific tourist demographics such as families and couples. As previously reported by The Costa Rica Star, luxury villa rentals are a major part of the upscale travel experience in our country, and the following press release by Villas of Distinction show...

Source: Flickr Commons Some of the prettiest tourist attractions in Costa Rica are located along the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. Cartographers have mapped out and designated more than 100 beaches in Costa Rica, and some of them are so secluded that they do not appear in commercially available maps. Depending on personal preference, some beaches may appear to be prettier than others, and this...

Ann Arbor MI (PRWEB) February 12, 2015 - Journeys International, the first adventure travel company to offer trips designed specifically for families, announced today the top 10 family destinations for 2015: Costa Rica Peru Panama China Japan Thailand Tanzania South Africa Galapagos (Ecuador) Indonesia “Firsthand research, feedback from our clients, and the expert knowledge of our o...

Originally from Kingdom of Spain, and inspired by medieval jousts, 'La Carrera de Cintas' is one of various equestrian events in Costa Rica, particularly in the province of Guanacaste, which is renowned for its cowboy (sabanero) identity and culture. The essence of this equestrian tournament is to catch the colorful tape positioned on a rope, which is hoisted up at about 3 meters from the groun...

Amanda Hellman A few days ago, The Costa Rica Star reported on an incident whereby a photojournalist on assignment for Diario Extra was viciously attacked by a tour operator in the Sarapiqui River. Reporter Alfonso Gatjens was investigating the tragic death of Amanda Hellman, a woman from the United States who lost her life during a kayaking tour of the river, which had been subject to incleme...

Playa Brasilito A woman vacationing in Playa Brasilito, one of Costa Rica's Gold Coast beaches located in the province of Guanacaste, lost her life in the surf this weekend. According to a report published by daily tabloid Diario Extra, the woman was an Italian tourist named Patricia Taburiny, who was 64 years of age. Unlike other, recent reports of tourist drownings in Costa Rica, heavy surf ...

The next time you arrive in Costa Rica and head to an auto rental agency counter to pick up the vehicle you intend to drive during your vacation (we recommend a Daihatsu Terios Bego), you just may run into someone famous. Costa Rica is known to attract celebrities from the world of entertainment, sport and business. In this press release from a car rental agency located near the Juan Santamaria In...

Playa Junquillal is part of the charming communities that make up the Gold Coast of Costa Rica. This quiet beach town is located about 30 kilometers west of Santa Cruz and 20 kilometers south of the major expat enclave of Tamarindo Beach. Playa Junquillal is about as quiet, serene, relaxed, and authentic as you can get in Costa Rica. Here you can find an estuary, choice breaks, a savannah, a handf...

Wikimedia Commons A smoky and hazy issue seems to be unfolding between the Ministry of Public Health (Spanish initials: MSP) and the Chamber of Hotels in Costa Rica. Chamber members are fuming because they consider that the MSP is misinterpreting the Anti-Tobacco Control Law #9028, which has been a source of discontent with regard to its interpretation, implementation and enforcement over the ...

Source: Wikimedia Commons Solo travelers make up an interesting segment of the tourism industry. They are mostly middle-aged women who enjoy traveling by themselves from time to time. Many solo travelers are married and have families with whom they enjoy vacations with most of the time; still, these tend to be affluent and educated tourists who may wish to explore Costa Rica or participate in ...

Rainforest in Costa Rica San Jose, Costa Rica (PRWEB) January 30, 2015 - During the winter months, Getaways Resort Management knows that many travelers want to be able to find amazing destinations that will offer them sunshine and sandy beaches while snow flurries set in back home. Fortunately, there are many of these all around the world, each more beautiful than the last. Costa Rica is one o...

Hotel Iguanazul Introducing the new Hotel Iguanazul - a truly unique Costa Rican experience Beautifully updated Costa Rican hotel on the Pacific (TRAVPR.COM) CANADA/COSTA RICA - February 2nd, 2015 - The Hotel Iguanazul, a boutique hotel located in Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica, has recently undergone a wonderful transformation. The upgraded hotel features 24 comfortable guest rooms tha...

Traveling on a shoestring budget and backpacking through Europe seem to be vestiges of travel trends from the late 20th century. Luxury travel and upscale, all-inclusive vacations are the current hot tourism trend, and Costa Rica seems to be doing quite well in that regard. According to this amazing press release from the Travel Leaders Group in the United States, Cuba is one of the up-and-comi...

The Sarapiqui River A journalist investigating the death of a woman from the United States was physically assaulted by an entrepreneur who provides river rafting tours in Costa Rica. Such was the report published by Diario Extra, the daily tabloid which assigned Alfonso Gatjens to look into the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of Amanda Hellman, a woman from the U.S. who died in the ...

Source: Tulemar Resort There is a growing list of resort properties in Costa Rica that have been earning the coveted TripAdvisor Awards. This latest TripAdvisor Award recipient is located in the pristine Manuel Antonio National Park in the Southern Pacific coast. Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica (PRWEB) January 30, 2015 - The annual TripAdvisor "Traveler's Choice" awards have been announced, and ...

Playa Hermosa Guanacaste This past Monday, a retired woman from Montreal and her two-year old grandniece tragically drowned in Playa Santa Teresa, located on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. According to the Toronto Sun, Andree Hamel rushed into the surf to save little Jasmine, who was born in Costa Rica; alas, both were caught in the strong undertow produced by dangerous rip current condition...

Source: El Silencio Bajos del Toro, Costa Rica (PRWEB) January 28, 2015 - El Silencio Lodge & Spa has been recognized as a world-class model of hospitality by Relais & Châteaux, a collection of the world’s finest independent hotels and restaurants. Relais & Châteaux’s by-invitation membership entails a rigorous incognito evaluation process that celebrates the “5-C’s”: Character, Co...

Source: Pure LAS VEGAS, Jan. 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Pure Hospitality Solutions, Inc., (OTC: PNOW) announced today, that the Company has moved to engage the services of the Sabre Travel Network, potentially adding 125,000 base hotels to the Oveedia platform. Aside from Pure's Central American-Caribbean niche, Sabre brings an affiliate network of over 400 airlines, 16 cruise lines and more tha...

Source: Nayara According to the renowned online travel community TripAdvisor, Costa Rica is home to the second-best hotel in the world. The Nayara Hotel, Spa and Gardens, located near the Arenal Volcano National Park, is a luxury hotel that has more than 2,100 reviews on TripAdvisor, and most of them are positive. Here is a snippet from one review: “The staff makes you feel comfortable and ta...

Penas Blancas file photo When it comes to topics of discussion related to Costa Rica travel, onward tickets are seldom mentioned. Foreign visitors who arrive in Costa Rica with a tourist visa and a round-trip ticket do not generally have to worry about this issue; however, travelers who wish to extend their trips, explore Central America and the Caribbean, become perpetual tourists, or re-ente...

Tourism Police Assisting Backpackers. Source: Fuerza Publica Over the last two months, Fuerza Publica officers assigned to the special branch of Tourism Police have been reviewing their operations and strengthening their presence in Guanacaste and other regions of Costa Rica that welcome a high number of visitors during the high season. According to a press release recently published by the...

Source: News.co.,cr archives Tour operators, travel agencies and hospitality businesses are used to seeing trends develop on an annual basis. Whereas in the late 20th century there was high demand for backpacking through Europe and budget travel in general, two of the major trends developing in 2015 include luxury travel and active vacations. Costa Rica is well-prepared to cater to luxury and ...

Source: Tabacon CHICAGO, Jan. 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines today announces the launch of United Eco-Skies® Vacations, a new travel program that provides United customers with vacation options that incorporate sustainability and environmental responsibility into their getaways. The airline is working with The Mark Travel Corporation, exclusive tour operator for United Vacations, and...

Source: Marriott WESTON, Fla., Jan. 14, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Marriott Hotels, Marriott International's flagship brand, is putting a whole new "POV" on the guest experience by providing GoPro HERO4 cameras at 17 Caribbean and Latin American resorts and hotels. The exclusive offer allows guests to test drive a GoPro HERO4, the most advanced GoPro yet and capture and share all of their adventures...

Source: Wikimedia Commons TORONTO, Jan. 5, 2015 /CNW/ - With a cold winter ahead, many Canadians will be escaping down south in search of warmer weather. In fact, Travelocity.ca reveals traffic to their website surges after the holiday season. A new Travelocity.ca survey revealed the majority of Canadians said they enjoy an all-inclusive beach vacation with 65 per cent saying they are easy and...

Source: Flickr Commons Greeley, Colorado (PRWEB) January 08, 2015 - Icon Trips and broadcaster Roy Firestone are offering a Costa Rica vacation from June 20 – 27, 2015 with Buffalo football stars Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas and Bruce Smith. This exclusive vacation allows a limited number of guests to interact with 3 football legends while experiencing Costa Rica’s diverse highlights. Former B...

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Geographic Society announced today the launch of National Geographic Private Expeditions, a new line of trips geared toward independent travelers, offered in partnership with Virtuoso®, the leading international network of luxury-focused travel agencies and advisors. Private Expeditions are unique itineraries to destinations all over...

Three elderly tourists from Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom have lost their lives at sea while enjoying a catamaran cruise off the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. Acting President Ana Helena Chacon, who is currently in office as President Luis Guillermo Solis is on an official trip to China, held a press conference during which she indicated that 106 passengers were rescued after the...

Source: Ylang Ylang Resort As 2014 comes to an end, beach resorts in Costa Rica are preparing special activities for their guests, visitors and residents. One such resort is the Ylang Ylang, located on the Puntarenas portion of the Nicoya Peninsula, right near the tip. This resort is close to the coastal town of Montezuma, a prime tourism spot in Costa Rica. Like other beach resorts, Ylang Yla...

Playa Conchal The Westin Golf Resort and Spa in Playa Conchal, province of Guanacaste, has earned the coveted World Travel Awards in two important categories. This grand hotel and upscale golf resort in Costa Rica has been recognized as Mexico & Central America's Leading All Inclusive Resort 2014 as well as Leading Family Resort.   As described by parent company Starwood, &nb...