Costa Rica Scoop

Mar / Apr

News and insights for upscale travel by Grupo Islita | Mar / Apr 2014

2014

Upscale Costa Rica destinations

$1499* *Per person, double occupancy. Includes daily breakfast, andtaxes. Subject to blackout dates and availability.

Valid until December 19th, 2014.

Magical Romance

6 nights / 7 days

hotelpuntaislita.com | elsilenciolodge.com

Our Magical Romancespecials let couplesstage or relive thesingular dazzle of ahoneymoon.

Featuring unforgettableprivate dinners, funeco-adventures,engaging culturalexperiences, andcharming surprises.

And as a Scoop reader,we cordially offer a10% discount on therack rate. Enjoy orshare with your friends,family, or clients! Justmention "Scoop" in thereservation request!

-Grupo Islita-

Gustavo, his wife Silva, and a very tallHarlequin celebrate love's whimisicalcharacter.

Love is BeautifuL Fun!

It is my pleasure to introduce theMarch/April 2014 editionof Costa Rica Scoop. We hope you enjoy the followingpages as we celebrate lovebirds and the fun of love!

Anticipating months of proposals, June weddings, andanniversaries, we salute all who believe that sharing life'ssweetandbitterwithaspecial personmakesushappier andstonger. For many, travel is a wonderful way to honor arelationship and our hotels are thrilled to offer unforgettablesettings to best stage unique celebrations for all couples.

Exploring a new destination to enjoy new flavors, newadventures, and new sights or returning to a favorite placeto relive bright memories is a wonderful way to strengthenthe bonds of shared life experiences.

In this issue,wehighlightCostaRicaasanexciting romanticdestination, offering diverse coastal and mountain settingsthat let couples engage in playful fun while surrounded bynature and colorful feathered characters that embracecommited partnership.

Andasaveryspecial thankyoubeingpart of our readership,weareofferingaspecial10%discountonourmost popularcombined travel package: Magical Honeymoon.Featuring bothHotel Punta Islita andEl Silencio Lodge&Spa it is a classic Costa Rica favorite, blending romance,adventure, and (of course) lots of fun.

Thank you for your continued friendship!

-Gustavo

Gustavo Segura | CEO Grupo Islita

Costa Rica To Do List:

✓

-Hotel Punta Islita-

Surprise your sweetie at home with not only a specialhome-cooked dinner but a spectacular setting. As theweather begins heating up, dress up the patio tablewith a white tablecloth, matching napkins, and yourbest dinnerware & flatware. Place close to yourfavorite garden feature.Add candles, a beautiful centerpiece, soft music, and(if safe) two tiki torches for added atmosphere.Hotel Punta Islita's private beachside dinner.

All About Staging!

"Commissioning an original piece by one of PuntaIslita's community artists is a unique way to createa meaningful memento of your honeymoon. Plus,you help champion the local economy and culture!-Loida Prétiz, Museum Director Islita Community Art Museum

Local community art and art studios can be found at the heart of Islita Village.

Birds of aFeatherThanks to Hotel Punta Islita'ssustainability partnership withThe Ara Project, spectacularScarlet Macaws can onceagain be spotted in theregions' tropical dry forest.Guests may have noticed thatthe spectacular antics of themacaws are usuallyperformed in pairs. This isbecause these brilliantcreatures generally mate forlife, feeding each other,grooming each other, andbonding together to raise theiroffspring.Highly intelligent, they flocktogether in larger numbers tonest and socialize, using theirvocal skills to communicate.They generally use one clawto secure themselves to treebranches and the other one tograsp food. Interestingly,most are left-handed!

Costa Rica To Do List:

✓

Love avocado?

1 ripe medium avocado (about 1 cup)

1 tbsp low-fat plain yogurt

2 tbsps bamboo-smoked sesame seeds

2 tbsps crushed raw cashew nuts

A splash of Sriracha Sauce (optional)

Scoop theavocado in abowl. Mashcoarsely with afork and fold inthe remainingingredients.Enjoy!

So you already find avocados yummy. But if you are only pairing them with chips andsalsa, you are missing out on the full potential of this heart-loving fruit. Try this supersimple recipe as a sandwich spread or a fun flavorful bed for red quinoa.

Prep:

"Couples shoud definitely not miss out on ourprivate torch-lit dinner or forest-immersed lunch.These are magical storybook experiences!-Arnay García, General Manager El Silencio Lodge & Spa

-El Silencio Lodge & Spa-

Tails of theGroomEl Silencio's complimentarytree-planting ceremony ishelping repopulate the regionwith Aguacatillo Trees, anative species that is part ofthe Resplendent Quetzal'smain diet. Although Quetzalsightings are still infrequent,in partnership with our guests,we are gradually bringingback these gorgeouscreatures to healthy numbers.

The Quetzal's breedingseason takes place betweenMarch and June. Inanticipation, males growstunning twin tail feathers thatcan measure up to three feetlong. Although the femalesshare the bright plumage, itcan be said that the weddingtrain is worn exclusively bythe stylish groom.

Leave thewedding train upto me!

Costa( love

Rica- inspired )

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Upscale Costa Rica destinations

hotelpuntaislita.com | elsilenciolodge.com

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