Costa Rica is the birth place of Eco Tourism. It has long spread across the globe but Costa Rica still manages to be the associated face when it comes to people wanting to connect with nature on their vacations.

The Eco Preservation Society’s ideology about Eco Tourism is that we are a global community that shares natural resources, so it is in our best interests to preserve and respect our habitats. If this can be achieved through mankind’s persistent interest in wildlife and nature, not only will nature remain but it will remain for our enjoyment as well.

Another mission that the Eco Preservation Society tries to accomplish is to spread environmental education via Eco Tourism and encourages family vacations. I recently had the pleasure of Eco Vacationing with my parents on their visit to Costa Rica.

My mother and father had never been to Costa Rica before but the combination of hearing about its beauty over the years and their son moving there right out of college was enough of a reason for them to come for their first visit.

I live in a small mountain town called Santa Barbara de Heredia. It is overgrown with coffee and banana plantations. Here, life is simple. We have a central park, grocery stores, pharmacies, bakeries, restaurants, bars, churches and every other little store that suits your everyday needs. The best part about living here is that everything is walking distance from my apartment.  

When my parents arrived it was only for a brief time of five days. I knew that I wanted them to experience my daily life in the Central Valley of Costa Rica where over 70% of the population resides but I wanted them to have a nature experience as well.  So, they spent the first two nights at a place called Finca Rosa Blanca (White Rose Farm). Ironically this marvelous hotel was situated on an extensive coffee plantation that was no more than a fifteen minute walk from my apartment. It is one of a kind in all of the Central Valley. With thirteen rooms that are all uniquely crafted and designed, my parents were lucky enough to experience two of them. One each night.

The bases of this hotel is the view of the entire Central Valley from almost any point on the property, along with the myriad of flora that cascades the walkways, restaurant, terraces, pools and rooms. Not to mention the fruit trees that overrun the property that the staff encourages their guests to pick.

My mother fell in love when she would walk the grounds and without a struggle come across hummingbirds, Heliconia flowers or nature sounds that you only can here when you buy one of those Yoga records. She did not want to leave. Personally, my father and I enjoyed the nature and the views but the coffee that is freshly produced on the grounds is what captured our hearts.

Two nights goes quickly when you are in paradise and it was not any different for my family vacation. Before we knew it, Finca Rosa Blanca was another fantastic memory that could not be forgotten and it was off to our next adventure outside of the Central Valley. We were off to Arenal Volcano.

With the three and half hour drive to Arenal, my parents and I were tired upon our arrival at our hotel Los Lagos. Known for its hot springs that are heated by the Arenal Volcano that is merely 2,000 yards away, it was a no brainer that it would not be long before we were soaking in hot mineral water.

As we were checking-in, we asked the reception what the weather forecast would be due to the fact that it was raining and foggy. I did not have a good initial comprehension of the idea that Arenal is considered rainforest area and more technically considered cloud forest area. The front desk said it has been like this for the past few days but it should clear up tomorrow. Long story short, the two nights that we were there it never fully cleared, it rained every day, and was constantly oscillating between heavy and lighter fog. The good part about this weather was that we learned a lot about the area and also came to appreciate it even more than if it had been perfectly clear. But, it still would have been nice to see the full view of the Arenal Volcano at least once. Maybe next time.

Getting back to the check-in. We went for lunch at their fine restaurant and I encouraged my parents to order the Casado (literally translated as marriage) dish. It is the famous dish for the whole country because it is the typical food for the natives. Comprised of your choice of meat or fish, beans, rice, plantains, salad, and potatoes, you get a little taste of everything and never walk away hungry. This dish is good in the Sodas (native restaurants) and even better and fancier in establishments within hotels.  

Eating Casdo con Pollo with my parents at a table that was on the perimeter of the restaurant’s wooden patio that backed right up to a view of cloud forest and exotic birds, I could not have been happier. With the sounds of rain lightly hitting the oversized leaves of the nourished flora and the chirping and singing of over ten different species of birds, I definitely knew I was out of the hustle and bustle of the Central Valley City life.

Bellies full and jet-leg from the car ride were the right part of the equation to equal time to go into the hot springs and relax. That is exactly what we did. Once we put our luggage into our room, which was on the top of the property that overlooked the lush mountains, we put on our bathing suits and wobbled down to the hot springs.

There is something about knowing that you are sitting in naturally heated mineral water that does something to your psychology. You just feel clean and healthier. In accented English, my parents were complimented on how young they look before they went in and were encouraged by the staff to spend as much time in the springs as possible because they believe it to be the fountain of youth. After a couple of local beers in the underwater bar and a couple hours soaking in hot mineral water, when it was time to return to dinner our waiter, Marvin, from lunch comically remarked that he did not recognize my parents. He said that maybe they really do have the fountain of youth on the grounds of Los Lagos, and commented that maybe when he is off of work he will sneak in there and see if he can drop a couple decades.

The next morning I was woken up by the shrill that came from my mother as she was standing in the door way starring at the mountainside that was about 150 meters away. I had to rub my eyes as I starred at her because the clouds that were pouring into the room via the open door made my mother look like she was walking in a rainforest heaven. I thought I was dreaming. I finally snapped out of it and started to pay attention to the original reason of why I woke up, her shrill! She screamed, “Get up, get up! Come and see them!” As I walked over to the door and was handed my father’s heavy-duty binoculars, I saw a family of Javali (wild boar) climbing the mountain and grazing for fruits and grass. Beyond that, there was an Orange tree to the left of them that was producing loud screeching sounds. I moved my binoculars over and watched six large green loras (parrots) rip open orange after orange and screech after their orange fell to the ground. I figured I am still in my boxers and standing in my hotel room doorway and I already saw this kind of wildlife, I am looking forward to the next hour let alone the full day adventure in Arenal.  

My parents are not the type to lounge around all day. They do it once and a while after not having a break for a year or more, but putting it lightly, my parents cannot sit still. We had a full day ahead of us in Arenal and another night, it was not about to be wasted by gorging on food and watching television.

After our breakfast, we signed up for a safari-river tour of the wildlife of Arenal. Walking out of the restaurant and into the van we had no time to regroup. We were off on the next Lauricella adventure. My father and I comically joking about taking my mother on a white water rafting adventure made her uneasy and several times she snapped back by saying, “You think you are getting me to go white water rafting, you’re nuts! Uh uh, no way!” We calmed her down by saying that this boat ride down the river that we are driving to is meant for people like you. It’s calm and relaxing and you are in a boat.

Well, my father and I still laugh at the fact the we neglected to ever look behind the van to notice that we were towing a rubber rafting boat and upon our arrival at the launch site of the river the heavy rains forced the guide, William, to say, “Well, the rain has made the river a little bit more fast than usual so we are going to have to stick to the sides as to not get caught up in the fast current.” I thought my mother was going to have a heart attack. We had to do some heavy convincing to get her to agree to get in the boat. She did not have much of an option though. Either she came with us or she was going to be waiting at the launch site for a couple hours next to the plantain plantation. A 5’2” blonde does not do well with rain, mosquitoes, and the invisibly unknown. She was in the boat without too much of a struggle.

It was no more than 2 minutes after we launched that my mother’s oo’s and ah’s of amazement were competing with the sounds of the roars of the Congos (Howler monkeys). As we drifted and paddled down the river our guide, William, gave us insights to the magnificent and brightly colored flowers and trees that we passed. Stopping at places along the bank of the river with pin point accuracy, we were shown bats, sleeping nocturnal birds that were tucked away into the trees, families of Howler Monkeys playing in the canopies, and plants and flowers that had herbal healing powers according to Costa Rican tradition.

As our river expedition came to an end, the last part of our journey was regaining some of the energy that we lost by paddling and tasting some local cuisine of a native family who’s house was right on the edge of the river. Fried plantains, yucca, banana bread, homemade cheese, and fresh brewed coffee were on the menu. It does not matter where you are in the world. Home cooked food is supreme to restaurant cuisine across the board. It was spectacular. The tastes and flavors cannot be described in words. The day was bliss in the middle of nature. God’s country.

The ride back to the hotel was spent keeping our eyes peeled to the tops of the trees in hopes of spotting a sloth because they were sighted earlier in the day on this particular route. We were unlucky in this regard and we were unable to see any sloths. William, our guide, quickly made it up to us by stopping the vehicle and telling us to get out of the car to come and see the Tucans that were perched in the trees. I instantly forgot about the one disappointment of not seeing a sloth and my mind was diverted as I gazed at this gorgeously colored Tucan.

With our eyes and brains filled with new sights and information of the wildlife of Costa Rica and our tummies stuffed with local food made with love it was time for the hot springs once again.

After our last soaking of healing mineral water we went to our last dinner and enjoyed each other’s company in the midst of the comical waiters that bent over backwards to make our experience wonderful.

The next morning it was the last time to fill up on the great buffet breakfast that consisted of fresh fruits, juices, cheeses, eggs, breads, and meats. Not to mention the phenomenal dark, bold coffee. Arenal was over and we said good-bye without ever seeing more than half of the volcano. But, after what we did and what we accomplished it was the least of our worries. We had a blast and experienced enough that you could write a series of books on. Besides, Arenal is not going anywhere anytime soon. We had a fantastic time. Good enough to have an excuse to go back and just maybe see the entire volcano.

We drove back to the Central Valley for my parents’ last night. With a great dinner and some warming conversation about their next visit, the last night was ended with the return to my apartment and their return to their hotel in Alajuela, Hotel Villa Dolce.

With a hug and kiss good-bye the next morning at the airport my parents rolled their luggage into the terminal as they looked back at me and simultaneously shouted, “We’ll be back!”

Click here for my blog about my introduction into the Eco Preservation Society