In this Daily: The Evolution of Costa Rica as Destination
Costa Rica’s rise to prominence as a global destination for travelers has been a steady one, beginning in the latter half of the 20th century and continuing to present day. First, travelers were drawn by the natural beauty of Costa Rica, which became the founding place for ecotourism. As this burgeoning tourism industry began to mature, so too did the experiences available in the country, including a new wave of ecoluxury and fine hotels that offered an alternative to more traditional ecolodges.
Las Catalinas blends an ecologically conscious urban plan with timeless traditional architecture
Even more recent years have seen the emergence of a third travel trend in Costa Rica, one that strikes a balance between engagement in nature, the comforts and luxury of vacation, and the authentic and laid-back warmth of the country, in a modified version of a traditional sabbatical.
The Las Catalinas Collection has three lodging experiences for travelers, which each provide a different point along the spectrum. 229 is a lodging option for the smart traveler, Baranda offers the chance to immerse in town’s way of life, and Bon Vivant provides an elevated vacation in town’s finest residences.
The Rise of Ecotourism in Costa Rica
Costa Rica’s 28 national parks and protected areas are the home of more than 6% of the planet’s biodiversity, offering a biologically intense landscape with enough variance to explore for a lifetime. Combined with the vibrant local communities and welcoming culture, the country became very attractive to travelers in the late 20th century.
Recognizing these strengths, the Instituto Costaricense de Tourismo (ICT) positioned Costa Rica at the forefront of the responsible travel movement. This lead to the birth of ecotourism in Costa Rica, where travelers would tour multiple biologically notable destinations for a few days each during a circuit around the country. The tourism industry in places like the Caribbean coast, Puerto Viejo, Osa Peninsula and Santa Teresa blossomed as a result.
The country-circuit of ecotourism is still the most prominent form of travel to the country, but these journeys have evolved, to provide the smart traveler options for conscious, healthy, active, sustainable, recreational tourism and adventure sports tourism.
Upscaling with Ecoluxury and Big Box Resorts
Ecotourism’s smart eco lodging accommodations propelled Costa Rica as a vacation destination to a global audience. From there, the influx of travelers to national parks, friendly towns, and pacific coast beaches opened the door to a new branch of tourism, luxury vacations.
Recognizing the influx of tourism and the natural strengths of a tropical climate with pristine beaches, ICT helped guide an expansion in the tourism economy, to invite multinational luxury brands to enter the country under careful regulation.
Both national and international hotels and resorts soon dotted the coast, including the Papagayo Peninsula in the Guanacaste province. However, with the rise of luxury travel came a push for exclusivity and seclusion, out of a misguided belief that luxury could not exist without walls, gates, and golf courses.
This shortsighted vision isolated luxury hotels from much of the nature, beauty, and sociability that attracted tourists to Costa Rica. Early luxury offerings had no sense of soul or place, and in time tourism in the country shifted yet again to adapt to a new definition of luxury vacationing.
Connection, thoughtful hospitality, and easy sociability became the new luxury for Costa Rica. Excellent service, personal concierge services, private chef dinners, and casual authentic experiences were the emphasis. Sprawling golf courses and other standardized general amenities were replaced with the natural beauty and friendly authenticity of Costa Rica. Comfort and quality still remained, but new experiences were real.
Embracing the Local Lifestyle
As luxury converged towards authenticity, a third form of travel came to life, one where visitors sought to get into the rhythms of life in a foreign country. In touch with nature, active, and embracing the local way of life, this third travel trend finds a happy medium between the cultural and social immersion of ecotours and the high-end luxury of Costa Rica’s later resort offerings.
This type of stay is a chance to live abroad and explore the perspectives of a new country while feeling truly at home. In many ways it’s a compressed form of sabbatical leave, without needing the full 12 months off from work.
Staying in real Costa Rican towns, and truly integrating into a different way of life is now possible in just a few days, and can be extended for a week, a month or two, as well as for the more traditional experience of taking a break from work for a year. Supported by top-class infrastructure, surrounded by the real communities of Costa Rica, and never more than steps away from nature, these trips can provide creative inspiration, spiritual and personal refreshment, or simply the chance to spend quality time with the family.
Taking a break to live differently, gain perspective, and connect with yourself and others, is now possible in a short period of time, especially in Costa Rica. Once there, a vibrant natural world, low cost of living, top class education, and plentiful options for physical activity ensure that visitors have all they need to step into a different way of life.
Find All Three in Las Catalinas
Each of the these three styles of travel have a home in Las Catalinas. For visitors touring the country on a cultural and natural tour, 229 provides a smart lodging option and the ideal home base to dive into the many activities of the area. Visitors seeking a more authentic version of a luxury stay will find an elevated vacation at Bon Vivant, with attentive service and unparalleled experiences for the whole family. Finally, for a sabbatical style visit to embrace all that Costa Rica has to offer, Baranda provides a home away from home for a stay of any length.
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