Costa Rica’s 30th annual Expotur gave both tourism officials and the private sector ample opportunity to promote what’s new in this Central American nation. Here are some of the latest developments and announcements.
Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica
Among the newest hotel projects in Costa Rica is the 447-room Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica, an AMResorts property scheduled to open in November. Located in the Guanacaste peninsula on El Jobo beach, the all-inclusive, family-friendly property will have five a la carte restaurants, a spa, a children’s program, a club for teens and a meeting and event space for up to 550 people.
www.dreamsresorts.com/las-mareas
Museo del Jade y de la Cultura Precolombina
A new, $21 million home for the Museo del Jade y de la Cultura Precolombina — the Museum of Jade and Pre-Columbian Culture — opened just days after Expotur. Located in downtown San Jose, the new facility, which measures more than 75,000 square feet, allows the museum to exhibit its full collection for the first time in history.
http://portal.ins-cr.com/portal.ins-cr.com/Social/MuseoJade
El Mangroove
In February, the new El Mangroove hotel debuted on Papagayo Bay. The property, a member of Preferred Hotel Group’s Preferred Boutique portfolio, has 85 rooms, a spa and a pool with private cabanas.
www.elmangroove.net
Banana Azul and Le Cameleon
On the Caribbean coast, Banana Azul, a 14-room beachfront hotel in the town of Puerto Viejo, announced plans to add 20 more rooms and new swimming pools within the next two years. Also slated for growth in the region is Le Cameleon, a 23-room luxury property that is to add 12 new rooms next year.
www.bananaazul.com
www.lecameleonhotel.com
Parador Resort & Spa
Parador Resort & Spa, a 129-room hotel located near Manuel Antonio National Park in Quepos, has opened a new gym, and the property’s chef has introduced micro-greens into his menus as part of its eco-healthy offerings.
www.hotelparador.com
New Airport
Rolando Soto, president of the Southern Caribbean Tourism Chamber, said a major goal of his organization is to aid in the acquisition of land to build a new airport near Puerto Viejo, one of Costa Rica’s most popular tourism destinations on the Caribbean coast. The airport would offer easier and faster transportation for visitors connecting from San Jose and also from the nearby Bocas del Toro, Panama.
The Details
Costa Rica Tourism Boardwww.visitcostarica.com
