Extra Green for the Holidays - Earth-Friendly, Family-Friendly Resorts in Costa Rica. Often described as the Switzerland of the Western Hemisphere, Costa Rica’s “green” vacation menu offers inquisitive, adventuresome families a rich array of exceptional family activities including surfing, zip lining, river rafting, sea turtle spotting, cloud forest trekking, and volcano watching.
Arenal Lodge – A mountain shade of green. Located above Lake Arenal, Arenal Lodge offers a vacation base for green, earth-friendly family adventures. Stephanie, a native bird greeted us in the lobby and the cool thing is - Arenal Volcano may be seen from every part of the resort. There are walking trails through the rain forest and an awesome butterfly garden. A restaurant and bar overlook the outdoor pool and two hot tubs. Typical Costa Rican breakfast is served daily and is included with each stay. It’s a perfect spot for a reunion or a wedding with its natural beauty and pleasant lodge. After short walk to the amphitheater kids can enjoy the natural playground. A tour of the privately owned grounds on 620-hectares is available to guests of all ages.
Green Points: All of the products used in our housekeeping, food & beverage and laundry departments are biodegradable and certified as environmentally safe. All of the products used in housekeeping, food & beverage and laundry departments are biodegradable and certified as environmentally safe.
Location on the planet: Arenal Lodge, 20 kilometers west of Fortuna on Hwy. 142, Costa Rica. Toll-free 1-866-317-8450 or
www.arenallodge.com
Tabacón Hot Springs – A warmer shade of green. Tabacón Hot Springs is the original hot spring located close to Arenal Volcano 12 kilometers west of La Fortuna. It is a part of Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort and well-suited for family vacations. They have children’s pools with slides and even spa programs for different age kids.
Green Points: A limited number of day passes are made available for the hot springs each day and the pass includes either a lunch or dinner buffet. The springs are well maintained with beautifully landscaped paths populated with numerous natural and manmade pools. A swim up bar at the swimming pool also has a manmade water flume to amuse small children kids.
Location on the planet: Tabacón Hot Springs Thermal Resort, toll-free 1-877-277-8291 from U.S. & Canada from the rest of the world (++506) 2519-1999 or
www.tabacon.com
Flamingo Beach Resort – A bluer shade of green. There are oodles “green” things to do while staying at Flamingo Beach Resort & Spa. Go swimming in the beautiful Pacific Ocean. Build sandcastles with the kids. Take a walk on the beautiful "blue-flag" ecological beach any time of day. Create your own sunset ceremony on the beach. Hike up the hills in the surrounding area and view and listen to sound of howler monkeys. Search for giant iguanas and listen to the squawking of macaws.
Green Points: Enjoy a complimentary yoga lesson; play a game of beach volleyball; take salsa lessons. Pick up a in the lending library and leave a book you have finished for another guest to enjoy. Enjoy an organic natural clay treatment at Serenity Spa. They do not use any abrasive products that contain acids or bleach, and all paints are 100% lead-free. Water is one of the most precious resources in the dry, tropical forest, so they work particularly hard to maximize water savings and constantly monitor and test to improve water quality. Wait for it! During turtle nesting season (May to July) it is even possible to participate in a night excursion to watch the leatherback turtles nest their eggs.
Location on the planet: Flamingo Beach Resort & Spa, Playa Flamingo Santa Cruz, Guanacaste Costa Rica. Toll-free 1-877-450-3507, 011-506-2-654-4444 or
www.resortflamingobeach.com
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green family adventures from Arenal Resort. For more green family vacation ideas browse
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