Costa Rica Travel Tips – (Part 1)

Posted on August 10, 2011 by Barbara Windish (Regional Sales Manager)

I just returned from an amazing week in Costa Rica with friends, it was one of my best vacations in recent years. Costa Rica has so much to offer, whether you are looking to relax or take on a new adventure

Keel billed Toucans - sited on the road to Monteverde

We started our week with two nights in Monteverde. The drive from Liberia takes you through beautiful, green meadows with grazing cattle and higher into the mountains you pass coffee plants hugging the hillsides. If you are lucky, as we were, you will view several varieties of birds, including colorful toucans. The small town of Monteverde is casual with a variety of restaurants and accommodations. Tip – be sure to sample the local ice cream, the cows are known to have sweeter milk that makes it delicious.

The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve provided us with a full morning of hiking in the most peaceful setting imaginable. We saw a variety of plants and birds and an amazing view at the Continental Divide. The overall beauty is just hard to put into words. Our afternoon was spent walking the hanging bridges in Monteverde. This experience gives you a chance to see the forest from the top looking down. Tip – be sure to pack your binoculars, it’s the best way to see the birds and monkeys.

Trail in the Monteverde Cloud Forest

For the next four nights, our journey continued with a drive around Lake Arenal to the town of La Fortuna. This is the center of activity for visitors to the Arenal Volcano. Tip – Don RuFino in downtown La Fortuna is an excellent place for lunch or dinner – atmosphere is casual but the food is elegant.

In the Arenal area, we enjoyed a variety of activities including:

Bird watching – we did a special hike in El Silencio Reserve. Tip – get up early to see the birds when they are active, we started our hike at 6:00am. Over the course of 7 days, we saw 45 different types of birds, including hummingbirds, toucans, Montezuma Oropendola, woodpeckers, Collard Aracari, Emerald Toucanet, Swallowtail Kite, Rufous Motmot, just to name a few.

Zip lining – you can’t go to Costa Rica without doing at least one zip line adventure. Not only did we have the thrill of zipping over the rain forest but we saw Spider monkeys and a variety of birds.

Rappelling through waterfalls in the Arenal area - yes this is me

Rappelling through waterfalls –as if jumping backwards off a ledge isn’t enough, imagine doing it through 5 waterfalls in the mountains of Costa Rica surrounded by the beautiful rain forest. This was my first experience at rappelling and that first 165 foot drop was a blast!

Arenal Hanging Bridges – this reserve has 17 bridges with great bird and monkey viewing opportunities, waterfalls and the lush rain forest.

La Fortuna waterfall – this spectacular 210 foot waterfall is worth the hike down to – Tip – be sure to wear your swimsuit, the water is cold but swimming at the base of the waterfall is memorable.

Thanks for reading the first part about my fabulous trip to Costa Rica and I hope you’ve enjoyed all the little tips throughout my journey. Stay tuned for more Costa Rica Travel Tips!

Swimming With Whale Sharks!

Posted on August 3, 2011 by Ali Gerakaris (Marketing)

Swimming with whale sharks is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity — one of those stories you can tell for decades, and an experience that makes a simple trip to Cancun an unbelievable memory.

Each summer, hundreds of whale sharks gather in the open ocean off of Cancun to feed on the microscopic plankton that thrive in Mexico’s warm waters (translation: whale sharks have no interest in eating YOU). Whale sharks are ginormous, a scientific term that puts them upwards of 20 feet long, but they are extremely agile. They have no interest in swimming into you.

Dreams Cancun Resort & Spa is the best starting point for your whale shark adventure. Solo Buceo is the dive operation on property, and our guide, Rodrigo, has been diving the waters off of Cancun with his father since he was a kid. Rodrigo knows his stuff, and he doesn’t mind if a friend is a little bit seasick on your journey to find the sharks. We went in late June, and the waters were rough. Rodrigo says that by July and August, the ocean is like glass — no chance of being seasick then! (Although your mileage may vary.)

Solo Buceo’s boats leave the dock at Dreams Cancun at 7 a.m. — an hour before the other whale shark operations leave. The upside is that you have time alone with the sharks before the other companies catch up with you. The downside is that, if you’re first, you have to find the sharks.

We headed just north of Isla Mujeres into the deep blue. We found the whale sharks about an hour and a half later — 16 miles out in the open ocean.

We jumped in the ocean in pairs, and Rodrigo and his team guide you to the best viewing spots. With a hundred giant whale sharks in the water, we really didn’t need help spotting the sharks. It was like whale shark soup.

The whale sharks are majestic, giant and powerful swimmers. Their mouths are enormous, and if you ever want to be reminded of your size in the universe, swimming with whale sharks is a good place to start.

My scuba friends, Pat and Sherry Hammer, came along on our whale shark adventure. Pat is a PADI Platinum Course Director (he teaches the scuba teachers), and Sherry is also an amazing scuba instructor and underwater hand holder — I can attest to that last qualification personally. They own SCUBA Emporium and are considered top influencers in the dive community.

All this backstory to say that my goal was to watch their reaction to snorkeling with the whale sharks to gauge the level of coolness of the excursion. Conclusion: Amazingly Cool

When we returned to Dreams Cancun, Pat went over a few facts about whale sharks, and how to identify them. Each whale shark has unique polka dot-like markings. A nonprofit organization, Project AWARE, is compiling a database on each shark with the hope that they can learn more about individual whale shark migration. We uploaded our photos to the Project AWARE site, and I became a proud graduate of the PADI Whale Shark Awareness Distinctive Specialty Course. I have a new PADI card to add to my collection, and a new understanding and appreciation of these gentle giants.

If you’ll be in the Cancun/Riviera Maya area between May and Sept, Amstar DMC can hook you up on a whale shark excursion. Ask the Apple rep in the lobby or book before you leave.

(Fair warning: Depending on ocean conditions, the ride to the sharks might be choppy. Consider confirming conditions with the snorkeling operations prior to departing, if you (or your friends *wink*) have a tendency to get seasick. Also, we did a back roll into the water from the boat. This excursion required a fair level of physical activity and agility.)

Customer Care in Resort – Amstar DMC. A friendly face in a faraway place!

Posted on July 28, 2011 by Christine May (Managing Editor)

Each day, thousands of Apple Vacationers are relying on Amstar’s services. In Mexico , the Dominican Republic and Jamaica, Amstar’s enthusiastic and service-minded teams await to tailor your vacation and to convert ordinary stays into unforgettable life-time experiences.

They have an extensive list of services, products and activities as well as a full range of transportation options, exciting and innovative excursions , and a wonderful, multilingual staff. Whether looking for pleasure and relaxation in sunny tropical surroundings, or a boost of adrenaline through exciting adventure and action tours, rest assured Amstar can fulfill those dreams.

Amstar DMC knows what it takes to surpass expectations and bring dreams to life.

When you’re planning your Apple Vacation (online, with a Reservations Specialist or Travel Agent) be sure to check out the various excursions available at your destination. Amstar has many different activities to choose from regardless if you like exciting and thrilling or prefer laid-back or romantic. It’s completely up to you and your style of vacation. If you’ve already booked your vacation, you can still plan your excursion when you’re in resort. Just look for the Apple Representative on the property. A friendly face in a faraway place! The Apple Representatives will happily assist you book an excursion or tour. They can also help you with any questions you may have.

To see a full list of Amstar’s activities and tours visit www.amstardmc.com

*Tours available in Mexico, Jamaica, and Dominican Republic only.

Swim with the Dolphins in Riviera Maya

Posted on July 25, 2011 by Sue Kitsemble (Regional Sales Manager - Chicago)

I have been to Cancun & Riviera Maya many times. One thing I have not done in this destination is “swim with the Dolphins”! After meeting with the Amstar representative at our hotel we chose the one offered at Xcaret. You can also pre-reserve this through travel agent or on Amstar website. Upon arrival you are greeted and asked to watch a video on safety & how to handle the dolphins. We were in a group of four adults with 4 dolphins. We spent about an hour interacting in water. Everyone is asked to wear a life vest. They are amazing creatures! They allowed us to touch the dolphins, swim with them and then even do some tricks with them. We saw families, couples and people of all ages. They offer a variety of options you can even be a trainer for a day!

This is a must do when in the Riviera Maya or Cancun area. Dreams Cancun Resort & Spa offers this experience right at the hotel. This summer, so many hotels are offering “Kids stay and eat free”! This would add to your perfect vacation. It is an experience I will never forget!

Panama for Families!

Posted on October 28, 2010 by Eileen Herncane (Editor at Large)

Gamboa Rainforest Resort (Inclusive). If I was traveling with kids to Panama this would be my choice of hotel. Only ½ hour drive from Panama City brings you into the heart of the rainforest just minutes from the Canal. It has the feel of a really upscale lodge and is set right in the middle of the Soberania National Park. It is reminiscent of a Disney themed property. The rooms are large with a rustic feel and large glass windows that overlook the property and swimming pools. Some have 2 twin beds and a loft bedroom with a king bed accessed by a circular metal staircase. The bathrooms are nicely appointed and done in white and blue tile. There is internet access, a library, and family’s activities room as well as a world class spa. There are 3 restaurants with the highlight being the Chagres River View, which offers fine dining and an extensive selection of wines. The highlight of the property however is the numerous optional excursions offered by the resort, which include biking, boat tours and aerial tram views of the rainforest and canal. The hotel has a tour desk which co-ordinates all of its excursions.

I did the following tours:

221 Monkey Island Tour
Clients travel by boat thru the canal in search of regional wildlife such as alligators, caimans and monkeys. You are escorted by a naturalist guide and are able to observe Capuchin and Howler monkeys at a very close range as they often jump on the roof of the boat. This tour would be great for kids.

Lunch at Los Lagartos Restaurant/Gamboa Resort
The Las Lagartos Restaurant is in a unique setting at the marina with a terrace overlooking the water where you can view turtles, caiman and fish from the dock while you are eating. The menu consists of normal sandwich/hamburger fare as well as locally caught fish. Food and service were both excellent.

monkey Ariel Tram
Clients travel the rainforest canopy in a tram up to an observation tower where they have incredible views of the Canal and Chagres River. You are able to see monkeys and exotic birds both on the way up and down. After the tram trip you are taken by the naturalist to a butterfly farm, an orchid farm, a reptile house and a small aquarium with indigenous fish and turtles from the surrounding area.

Also available at the Gamboa Resort are kayaks, fishing excursions, hiking tours, bird watching, boat tours on the Chagres River and safari night excursions.

Dinner.
We dined at Chagres Riverview Restaurant at the Gamboa Resort. This is their fine dining restaurant. Menu consisted of typical continental fare as well as locally caught seafood. They have an extensive wine list. Food and service were excellent.