Costa Rica, already officially the happiest country in the world, must be grinning away because sustainable just got sexy
THE UNITED NATIONS has declared 2017 the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, and this global leader in sustainability has just found itself the perfect opportunity to flaunt its most enviably gorgeous eco-resorts. Costa Rica produces nearly 93 per cent of its electricity from renewable resources and conserves almost 30 per cent of its national territory. The country is also on track to become the first carbon neutral nation in just a few years. At the forefront of Costa Rica’s sustainable tourism is the Cayuga Collection, comprising the sexiest ecolodges, resorts and hotels throughout Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
‘The most glamorous romantic resort in Costa Rica’, Kurà Design Villas (Uvita) (Infinity Pool – main image, above) creates a luxurious and contemporary adult haven, comprising just six seductive Design Villas, each boasting spectacular views of the Southern Pacific coastline. Overlooking the lush Uvita canopy, the exclusive hotel sets the bar for chic sustainability, allowing guests to explore the region’s rich biodiversity in ultimate style from their secluded location high among the treetops. www.kuracostarica.com
Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort (Manuel Antonio) is set in an 11-acre private nature reserve, boasting nature trails and access to two beautiful beaches, Espadilla and Playitas Beach. The luxury hotel overlooks the spectacular Manuel Antonio National Park, home to a number of different ecosystems from fresh water lagoons to coral reefs, and to species of primate only found on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. www.arenasdelmar.com
Just a short drive from San José, the lush gardens and cosy suites of Finca Rosa Blanca Coffee Plantation Resort (Central Valley) are the perfect spots to watch the city lights twinkle in the valley below. At this quirky, whitewashed hotel set on a 12-hectare coffee plantation, guests are invited to learn the art of gourmet coffee by experiencing a coffee cupping in the most authentic of surroundings. www.fincarosablanca.com
Inspired by old school tropical destinations of eras that appreciated low-key glamour and total escape, The Harmony Hotel (Playa Guiones, Nosara, Nicoya Peninsula) is located on Playa Guiones, just a stone’s throw from a pristine surf break with some of the best and consistent year-round waves on this side of the Pacific. This lush, sustainable property is the ideal place to relax and mingle with hummingbirds and howler monkeys. http://www.harmonynosara.com/
Set in a private nature reserve spread over 1,000 acres of Central America’s last remaining lowland tropical rainforest in the wild Osa Peninsula, Lapa Rios Ecolodge (Puerto Jimenez, Osa Peninsula) is paradise for wildlife, nature and beach lovers. Seventeen private bungalows line three ridges overlooking the pristine point where the Golfo Dulce meets the Pacific Ocean. The lodge is also home to monkeys, macaws, pumas, toucans, tree frogs and thousands of other creatures. www.laparios.com
Latitude 10 Beach Resort (Santa Teresa, Nicoya Peninsula), the secluded, five-acre beachfront resort, features just five open-air suites, and was originally built as a luxury private residence for summertime escapes. The resort is totally surrounded by nature and sets the bar for ultimate personalised pampering and blissful, low-key relaxation. www.latitude10resort.com
Located on a private island in Lake Nicaragua, the nine luxury casitas at Jicaro Island Ecolodge (Granada, Nicaragua) are nestled among the trees, creating a space of magical peace and tranquillity just a short boat ride from the colonial town of Granada. From Jicaro’s wellness centre and yoga deck, guests may look out across the lake to the majestic Mombacho Volcano, and can enjoy the calm and romantic evening waters from the privacy of their own canoes. www.jicarolodge.com
All Cayuga properties specialise in creating the symbiosis of sustainability and luxury, always providing a sense of place by taking into account local culture and customs. To Cayuga, sustainability is about more than re-using your towel twice and environmental initiatives. Its properties have earned four and five leaves from the country’s Cámara Nacional de Ecoturismo. Cayuga works with local communities to train and employ local people and improve local living and learning conditions. Each of its properties is involved in conservation and community development, and the company even created a public charity called Equilibrium to further its reach and impact. For more information about all of Cayuga’s properties and experiences, visit www.cayugaonline.com
