Lifestyle
Hotel Parador: Five Star Hospitality In The Costa Rican Rain Forest
By: Bijan Bayne   |    Posted on September 29, 2011   |   0 Comments

Nestled atop the craggy, colorful summit of the Manuel Antonio National Park, a verdant ecosystem, the Hotel Parador is the sole five star establishment in Costa Rica's rain forest. Less than two hours from the San Jose airport, the Parador was constructed as a 52 room accomodation in the 1980's, without displacing any of the existing mountainside or stone. The hotel evolved to house 150-odd suites. Travelers seeking ecotourist comfort will find it here, the Parador earned the Costa Rican Tourism Board’s highest 5-Leaf Sustainability rating, and the Ecological Blue Flag. Waste and food materials are recycled at the hotel's compost plant, to fertilize the resplendent landscaping. In addition, guests' room key cards activate and deactivate each suite's electricity upon entry and exit. Water is reused in the many gardens,and rainwater is collected. The Parador's staff also educate the local citizentry and schoolchildren regarding the importance of recylcling.

The vista of the Pacific Ocean provides a panormanic frame from one's balcony, or from the terrace restaurant La Galeria. Other dining choices include El Quijote for fans of Latin fusion, medieval-themed private dining room La Reina ("The Queen"), and for lighter fare, Sushi Fune, or a swim up bar. Among the Parador's amenities are tennis courts, a gym, an excellent spa, and the grounds' own winding nature trails.Schedule a night tour to see and hear rain forest wildlife, by day guests may participate in surfing, parasailing, kayaking, snorkeling, scuba, deep sea fishing, or private tours of a park called Rain Forest Adventures, through arrangement by the concierges. At Rain Forest Adventures, visitors hike with private guides to an aerial tram that affords lofty vantage points from which to see toucans, spider and holler monkeys, exotic fauna, and a steep waterfall. Your guide will have binoculars. The tram was built in 1994, without displacing any trees. At the apex of the tram ride, zip line your way back via 10 stations of varying length. Rain Forest Adventures operates five such tours, including one in Ocho Rios, Jamaica.

A typical four square mile patch of rainforest contains as many as 1500 species of flowering plants, 750 species of trees, 125 mammal species, 400 species of birds, 100 of reptiles, 60 of amphibians, and 150 different species of butterflies. This region of Costa Rica is active in reforestation, sustainable waste management, and promoting community awareness of eco-friendly living.

Closer to the Hotel Parador, an hour guided hike through the Manuel Antonio National Park, is an excursion amongst residents such as the three-toed sloth, holler monkeys, squirrel monkeys, white-headed Capuchin monkeys, turkey vultures, coati, and iguana. Guides carry binoculars and tripods, and explain the habits of the varying species. During a break in the trek, visitors relax or take a dip at the beach that borders the park. Where else are tropical beach and rain forest separate only by a tiny strip of earth? These diverse natural options are the primary appeal of a stay at Hotel Parador. Thanks to the property's focus on preservation, those attractions will be present for years to come.