Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/5950
Black Meetings & Tourism December 2009: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 19 arrange for breakfast and lunch. About 50,000 visitors go through the estate annually. You'll learn more about coffee than you ever thought possible. *Warning – Be aware that the flies can be brutal! The La Paz Waterfall Gardens waterfallgardens.com is an impressive popular attraction. It's not to be believed. When people think about Costa Rica, they imagine flow- ers, birds, butterflies, lush tropical Rain Forests, flowing rivers and spectacular waterfalls. You'll see all that and more at La Paz Waterfall Gardens. Open all year round, the venue has more than 3.5 kilometers of walking trails. There is also a butterfly observatory, hummingbird gar- den, serpentarium, frog exhibit, Tica House, trout lake and several bird watching areas. Whether you spend the whole day or a couple of hours – there is much to see. The Waterfall Gardens is primarily a self-guided tour, but guided tours are available at $35 per group. If you take a tour of the city, the TEATRO NACIONAL (National Theatre) is a must. Construction started in 1891 and was completed in 1897. At the time it was built, it took 65% of the national budget. THE TRADITIONAL FARM TOUR is a tourist favorite. Located in La Alegria de Siquirres, the main theme of the tour is Costa Rican customs and traditions. Visitors are able to witness the production and operation of an actual macadamia farm, plantings of coffee, sugar- cane, a botanical garden, and a 150-years-old, oxen-driv- en, but operational trapiche (sugar cane press). www.tradi- tionalfarmtour.com GOOD EATIN ' La Lluna de Valencia is helmed by chef Sr. Vicente Agui Lau Cerezo, who welcomes everyone to walk through his kitchen. If you're lucky, he'll even give you a song. And you can't walk out with- out eating some of his paella, which is incredible. The sign over the entrance to his establishment reads, 'Tot Menos Apurarse,' which, translated, means 'Do Everything Without Hurrying.' HOTELS One of Costa Rica's gems is the Almonds and Corals Hotel, located in the midst of the Gandoca Manzanilo Wildlife Refuge. Anyone into nature will feel right at home because the hotel is actually situated in the jungle. You will hear monkeys up in the trees and see lizards as you walk around the proper- ty. There are 24 bungalows, some are suites, others are master suites, both with refrigerators, fans, and tub/jacuzzis. The bun- galows lie under giant trees in "a forest so dense that the sun- rays hardly touch the ground," according to the brochure. There is also a souvenir shop, restaurant, a bar and a spa where you can sit in a Jacuzzi or enjoy a massage while listening to the sounds of nature. Walk down one of the pathways and in short order you'll hit the Caribbean sea. The hotel is located 25 kilo- meters from Cahuita National Park, southern part of the Limon Province at the Caribbean Coast. Owners, Marco Odio and Aurora Gamez, are the perfect hosts. Almonds & Corals is absolutely magical! www.almondsand- corals.com Located in the heart of downtown San Jose, the SLEEP INN is an excellent choice for an outstanding price. Conveniently located only 15 kms from the Santamaria International Airport, the Sleep Inn is only a short dis- tance from tourist attractions like the Teatro Nacional, Museo de Jade, Museo de Oro, and parks that are part of the national heritage. A collection of boutique hotels, called K Hotels, is mak- ing its mark in San Jose. K-Hotels are located worldwide. For information: k-hotels.com LIMON The port city of Puerto Viejo, Limon is an area that is racially diverse. A location with a Caribbean essence, it's populated by descendants of late 19th-Century Jamaican immigrants. There are also indigenous tribes in the area who still lack electricity in their hillside villages. Spend some time and check out the place via walking, horseback or on a boat. The Veragua Rainforest Research & Adventure Park, located in Las Brisas de Veragua, recently opened. It's located next to the International La Amistad Park and the Chirripo Native Reserve. Highlights include a waterfall, a live reptile exhibit, trails through the rainforest, frog exhibit, a live butterfly exhibit and an open air ride through the rainforest. For information: www.veragua- rainforest.com. The Paradero Eco Tour is located 15 minutes from downtown Limon. It boasts 27.5 acres of wildlife and rain- forest. There are canal boat rides, bird watching, and a but- terfly farm (the largest in the Caribbean coast). The but- terflies fly naturally around guests. www.paraderoeco- tour@yahoo.com Chocolate lovers unite! Limon has a Cacaotrails Chocolate Tour that is self-indulgent and fabulously satis- fying. You will learn all about the history of cocoa, the trees and fruit. Then, you can make chocolate in the tradi- tional way with your own hands. Chocolate lovers will be in heaven. But, it's more than just a chocolate factory. Their muse- um demonstrates local Afro-Caribbean culture and its his- tory. Next, you can stroll through the facility's 25-acre botanical garden and the medicinal garden. Top off the day with a traditional Caribbean meal. They also offer trail and canoe guided tours in the Cahuita National Park. www.cacaotrails.com