Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/5950
Black Meetings & Tourism December 2009: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com MONTEVERDE One can't visit Costa Rica and not have Monteverde on the list of places to see. Hold on to your hat, though, because it's going to be a bumpy, five-hour ride. For the best kind of driving comfort, enlist Transportes Turisticos Cielo Azul. You'll still be on unpaved roads, but you'll have a comfy ride. www.cieloazul.co.cr Located in north-central Costa Rica, there are a number of attractions for everyone in Monteverde, including adventure, hiking, entertainment, culture, nature and wildlife. Highlights include the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve, the Original Canopy Tour, the World of Insects, Hummingbird Gallery, Serpentario (a collection of 26 species of snakes), the Monteverde Butterfly Garden, the Ecological Sanctuary and more. EXPOTUR San Jose recently played host to Expotur, a convention designed to attract tourists from the U.S., Canada and South America. The country's good manners and hospitality were on display at the Ramada Plaza Herradura Hotel and Convention Center San Jose (*the official convention cen- ter) where a number of destination sellers were hawking their wares. More than 260 vendors, many of who were tout- ing "sustainable tourism," represented hotels, resorts, cruises, eco-friendly destinations, tours, airlines, travel agents and more. An impressive gathering, all were there for a central theme – increasing tourism to Costa Rica. *The 232-room Ramada Plaza Herradura Hotel and Convention Center is located 10 miles from downtown and four miles from San Jose airport. GOING GREEN Ecotourism is extremely popular amongst tourists visiting the national parks and protected areas around the country. Costa Rica ranks fifth in the world for its environmental concern. With its nat- ural resources as a priority, Costa Rica protects 26% of the National territory and 16% of its marine surface. "By 2021, we want to be the first country to be carbon neutral," said Benavides. "Sustainability is our main goal. It's a complex thing, but it's possible." FAMILY Whether you're going for business, pleasure, or for a family vacation, Costa Rica has something for everyone. The country has a number of family recreation activities and other programs, including guided visits, games, hikes, food tasting, beach sports and interfacing with several commu- nities and cultural groups. • • • GETTING THERE • • • Costa Rica is easily accessible from the U.S. It's 2 hours, 50 minutes from Miami, six hours from Los Angeles and Chicago and five hours from New York. FOR MORE INFORMATION Costa Rica Tourism and Travel Bureau (011-506) 296-7074; www.costaricabureau.com ENTRY REQUIREMENTS American citizens need valid passports but do not need a visa for a 90-day stay. OTHER HELPFUL INFORMATION TO KNOW CAPITAL: San Jose AREA: 51,100 sq km POPULATION: 3.5 million LANGUAGE: Spanish, second language for the majori- ty of the population is English. OFFICIAL RELIGION: Catholic WEATHER: Two season – Rainy or winter (May- November); dry, or summer (December - April) AVERAGE TEMPERATURE: 72° F CURRENCY: Costa Rican colón ELECTRICITY: 110V, 60Hz 20