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Travel + Leisure

http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/hottest-travel-destinations

Hottest Travel Destinations of 2013

 
From January 2013
By
Heidi Mitchell
Appeared as "13 for 2013" in T+L Magazine

A pristine bay in Costa Rica has been a secret favorite of backpackers and migrating whales. But it couldn’t stay under that shroud of cloud forest forever. The opening of an eco-resort makes Bahia Ballena more inviting and accessible, and 2013 the right moment to visit.
The world is still vast, and even as you check iconic places off your bucket list, there’s a craving to set sail for the new, the next, the undiscovered. To determine which destinations like Bahia Ballena are coming up on the radar, T+L asked safari experts and art dealers, cutting-edge chefs and even branding agencies where they’re seeing a new neighborhood emerge or wineries getting more acclaim. What started with 40-odd places we distilled down to a baker’s dozen: the hottest travel destinations of 2013.
Two countries written off in recent years—Zambia and the Philippines—are safe to visit once again, and thriving with cool new safari camps and island thatched-roof villas. The archipelago of Palawan, a
UNESCO biosphere reserve in the Philippines, just added a resort with a scuba center; hop a two-hour flight from Hong Kong, and you’ll soon be diving with the sea turtles.
In Amsterdam, reachable by nonstop flights from many U.S. cities, the Rijksmuseum emerges from a 10-year renovation in April 2013, with a wing devoted to Vermeer and Rembrandt, steps from the recently redone Stedelijk Museum. And a 7,000-year-old historic region in the arch of Italy’s boot may finally see its moment in the sun thanks to the debut of a Hollywood legend’s family home as a hotel.
Even in our backyard, we’ve found places that offer compelling new reasons to visit this year. In San Juan, Puerto Rico, two chefs are shaking up the food scene, while Minneapolis has embraced the foraging-and-farming ethos of Scandinavia—Bachelor Farmer has the city’s first-ever rooftop garden, and an alum of Noma restaurant has set up shop at Union.
So get out your map, block out some vacation time on your calendar, and make 2013 a year of travel discoveries. We promise at least a few of these places to go next will surprise you. 
Bahia Ballena, Costa Rica
Surrounded by mountains and jungle-fringed beaches on the Pacific, this pristine bay bordering a national marine park was long the secret of surfers and backpackers—and migrating whales.




Supporters Defend Plans For A Controversial International Airport In Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula

Supporters of a controversial international airport proposed near Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula in the Southern Zone recently defended their project before the Legislative Assembly’s Environmental Commission.

According to the Costa Rican civil aviation agency, the airport would incorporate technologies and practices that would make it the country’s first “green” airport.

However, there remain serious concerns about what the construction and operation of a major airport would mean for the fragile Térraba-Sierpe National Wetland nearby and the overall Osa region, one of the most biologically diverse places left in the world.

Costa Rica only has to look at rampant overdevelopment along the northern Pacific Coast to see how a busy international airport near fragile lands, coupled with weak controls, can negatively affect coastal resources and communities.

The forests and wetlands of the Osa are the greatest value for the region and its people and any new development should protect and sustain these ecological values rather than undermining them.

Costa Rica’s current plan is to construct a new international airport less than three miles from the Térraba-Sierpe Wetland, a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance that includes one of Central America’s most important mangrove forests.

Described by some as “Costa Rica’s Everglades”, the winding waterways of this region are home to an abundance of bird, mammal, reptile and aquatic species. But these wetlands do much more than provide critical habitat for wildlife, they also play an important role in erosion control, water purification and as fish and shellfish nurseries. The mangrove forests in the Térraba-Sierpe are also critical for storing carbon.

A study on mangroves by a team at the US Forest Service found that coastal mangroves store more carbon than nearly any other forest on Earth – up to four times more per hectare than other tropical forests. These findings indicate that protecting coastal mangroves – such as the ones in the Térraba-Sierpe -  is a critical component in the fight against climate change.

The Térraba-Sierpe Wetlands are so important ecologically – and economically – for Costa Rica that a study prepared for the University of Vermont estimates that the wetlands provide ecosystem services valued at between $300,000,000 to nearly $2,000,000,000.
INSIDECOSTARICA.COM | COSTA RICA  NEWS |        Thursday 18 August 2011



Costa Rica: The Best Healthcare Systems In The world!

Costa Rica is recognized world-over for cheap but quality medical facilities available to people interested in medical travel. Here, the medical tourism industry is significantly supported by governmental bodies & governing agencies.

As a result people can conveniently come to Costa Rica, stay here at luxury hotels, go for sightseeing tours, get the medical procedure done, avail high-quality medical and healthcare facilities and fly back home at the cost even lesser than what that could have to pay at their native country.

Most of the times, medical travel involves surgeries that are usually not covered in regular health insurance policies. In such a scenario, it is much more ideal to get those procedures done from a destination where quality medical facilities are available in abundance but the cost of procedure is low.

With high-quality medical facilities, trained professional doctors, well educated staff and of course the beautiful location and tropical settings, make it a popular destination for all the types of treatments. For significantly less prices, the healthcare facilities you can avail are fast, safe and comfortable.

The medical travel industry here includes several medical tourism companies having a strong network support from hospitals, clinics along with the holiday destinations resorts, hotels and a full-fledged arrangement of all the services required from your arrival to the departure. Hence for women, looking for specialized services such as plastic surgeries in Costa Rica, can come here, get the surgery done, avail a high-quality post operative care, visit the most exquisite destinations and conveniently fly back looking like a million dollars for a fraction of the price. The types of plastic surgeries in Costa Rica are tummy tucks, liposuction, breast augmentation / reconstruction / reduction, nose jobs, face lift, figure correction etc.

On the other side, Costa Rica medical tourism is not only famous for plastic surgeries and beautification treatments but it is more and more popular in international community of patients looking for life-saving procedures and healthcare treatments including treatments for cancer, diabetes, urology, fertility, neurology, dental, orthopedics, AIDS, cardio-vascular diseases and much more. Since the doctors here are well-qualified and specialized trained professionals, patients can stay assured for high-quality personal care even for most threatening medical procedures.

Costa Rica medical tourism has gained a competitive advantages due to the most beautiful geographic locations, political & economic stability, great climatic conditions and a highly responsible democratic government that ensures the best healthcare systems in the world.


INSIDECOSTARICA.COM | COSTA RICA NEWS |    Thursday 12 May 2011
terramarFacebook Page
Playa Tortuga Marine Turtle Conservation Program of the Osa:

Playa Tortuga Marine Turtle Program - We are a non-profit organization designed to create a culture of environmental conservation within Costa Rica. Playa Tortuga's Marine Turtle Program works with local communities, organizations and individuals to promote Awareness, Action, and Alliances. Up until now conservation actions and scientific Studies in the Northern Osa have been extremely limited in scope and lacked co-ordination with other projects. The most important nesting beaches of the area are: Playa Tortuga, Playa Garza, Hermosa, and Dominical.


How Owning Costa Rica Property Can Improve Your Life

In today's world, many people are looking to improve their quality of life. In this article we will discuss how owning Costa Rica property can help.

Yoga retreats, meditation retreats, eco-tourism, naturopathy, green friendly lodging and many other new age terms, dot the landscape in this small Central American country. Why? What a more perfect setting than in one of the the world's most natural locations.

For years people have been coming to Costa Rica to open up some kind of 'new age' business however these days, there has been a considerable increase in the amount of interest via the World Wide Web.

It is almost impossible, like it is here on location in Costa Rica, to not surf around the web and come across something with regards to Costa Rica. It's quite amazing actually. And with more and more 'hollywood-ites' referencing the country as their preferred getaway location, interest in Costa Rica has never been higher.

There are many reasons we could list for why people are flocking to this country but we're just going to be able to name a few for the purpose and scope of this article.

Recently elected President Laura Chinchilla of Costa Rica, has promised to continue her predecessors policies with respect to the environment and minimizing the carbon footprint Costa Rica places on the planet. For the most part, Costa Rica is chalk full of dense rainforest jungles, active volcanoes and many fantastic waterfalls. Which is why it is often referred to as the Lungs of the Earth.

Costa Rica's dedication to preserving and promoting the well being of the planet, has become infectious as people from all corners of the globe look to invest, and live, in this majestic country.

With a stable democratic government in place and absence of any military, Costa Rica's image is that of peace.

Life in Costa Rica can be very affordable and while living the 'pura vida' lifestyle Costa Rica is accustom to, one can also rest assured their saves will last far longer than it would back home. This can alleviate a tremendous amount of your daily stress also. Imagine living your life first and work second? What a change.

Do not make the mistake of believing Costa Rica is like any other Latin American country because you would not be accurate in that statement.

Costa Rica is uniquely Costa Rica and the only way to truly understand this, is to visit us and decide for yourself.

  Costa Rica, Sunday 17January 2010
San José - Caldera Highway To Be Opened On Jan 27, 2010, Two Months Early

The new autopista a Caldera will be inaugurated on January 27th, one week before the national elections, Costa Rican president, Oscar Arias, announced in Puntarenas on Saturday.

"For the first time I made it here (Puntarenas) in 50 minutes by way of the new highway", Arias told a crowd during a tour of the Pacific port town.

The section between Santa Ana and Orotina of the new San José - Caldera highway that is not yet open to the public, had been scheduled to be open in March, pushed up from the original June opening date when construction commenced two years ago.

However, advances in the work enable it open early.

President Arias called the new highway a "gift to Puntarenses", saying that Costa Rica has waited almost 40 years for this highway to become a reality, for the port city to have easy and fast access to San José and vice-versa.

The new road allows travel between La Sabana on the west side of San José to Caldera, south of Puntarenas, in less than 45 minutes. Currently it takes between 90 and 120 minutes to make the same trip.

The savings in time is because the highway cuts through the mountains, eliminating the steep climbs and drops on the current routes, as well the slowdown in traffic caused by big trucks and buses.

The sections between San José and Santa Ana and Orotina and Caldera have been open since last year, remaining was the middle portion.

The cost of tolls to travel the 77 kilometres of the new highway, from end to end, is about ¢1.500 colones each way for passenger vehicles and motorcycles, more for heavy trucks and buses.



Sunday 13 December 2009

Costanera Sur Almost Complete

Travelling from Quepos to Dominical in record time has been a dream for many for decades. However, that dream is almost a reality as work on the Costanera Sur is almost complete.

Only three kilometres of construction are left on an important road that connects the Pacific Central with the Pacific South.

Last week, Marco Vargas, ministro de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT), visited the area to inspect the 8 major and 20 minor bridges along the route and along with Alfredo Villalobos, general manager of Transportes Unidos La Costanera, the company building the road, said that the completion will end a nightmare of many, many years.

Travelling from Quepos to Dominical or vice-versa took some two hours or more, depending on weather conditions.

most of time spent at one lane bridges or dodging potholes. The new road, that took 30 years to build, will soon cut that time to a fraction.

Costa Rican president, Oscar Arias, always maintained that the Costanera Sur be build during his administration. However, neither he nor the area residents had envisioned that it would occur, 20 years later, during his second term as president.




Costa Rica tops list of 'happiest' nations

    July 5, 2009

    (CNN) -- Forget Disneyland! Costa Rica is the happiest place in the world, according to an independent research group in Britain with the goal of building a new economy, "centered on people and the environment."
    art.costa.rica.apf.gi
    Costa Rica is known for its lush rain forests and pristine beaches.

    In a report released Saturday, the group ranks nations using the "Happy Planet Index," which seeks countries with the most content people.
    In addition to happiness, the index by the New Economics Foundation considers the ecological footprint and life expectancy of countries.
    "Costa Ricans report the highest life satisfaction in the world and have the second-highest average life expectancy of the new world (second to Canada)," the organization said in a statement.
    They "also have an ecological footprint that means that the country only narrowly fails to achieve the goal of ... consuming its fair share of the Earth's natural resources."
    The Central American country, tucked between Nicaragua and Panama, touts its lush rain forests and pristine beaches. Its president, Oscar Arias Sanchez, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 for trying to help end civil wars in several Central American countries.
    This year's survey, which looked at 143 countries, featured Latin American nations in nine of the Top 10 spots.

    The runner-up was the Dominican Republic, followed by Jamaica, Guatemala and Vietnam.
    Most developed nations lagged in the study.
    While Britain ranked 74th, the United States snagged the 114th spot, because of its hefty consumption and massive ecological footprint.
    The United States was greener and happier 20 years ago than it is today, the report said.
    Other populous nations, such as China and India, had a lower index brought on by their vigorous pursuit of growth-based models, the survey suggested.
    "As the world faces the triple crunch of deep financial crisis, accelerating climate change and the looming peak in oil production, we desperately need a new compass to guide us," said Nic Marks, founder of the foundation's center for well-being.
    Marks urged nations to make a collective global change before "our high-consuming lifestyles plunge us into the chaos of irreversible climate change."
    The report, which was first conducted in 2006, covers 99 percent of the world population, the statement said.


    Costanera Sur To Be Complete By December After 47 Years of Planning
    Monday Aug 17, 2009


    It's only been 47 years in the making, but finally the Costanera Sur will be ready by December the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT) promises.

    The Costanera Sur connects the communities
    Central Pacific communities to the Southern Zone and once completely finished will save drivers up to two hours, the time it takes now to make the 42 kilometre trip between Quepos and Dominical.

    The Costanera Sur also eliminates the need to cross the Cerro de la Muerte to get to Pérez Zeledón, offering an alternative from Puntarenas and Guanacaste without having to pass through San José.

    At this time only 20 of the 42 kilometres have been paved with the first lawyer of asphalt, with the work continuing daily.

    In addition work continues on the important bridges from Parrita to Dominical. In the coming weeks it is expected that the contractor will begin pouring the concrete slab of the new Parrita bridge, which once completed, will be a two lane wide bridge that will eliminate traffic congestion, that at peak hours can add an hour or more to the trip, replacing the current one lane bridge that saw its better days decades ago.

    The Costanera Sur is a project that began as an idea back in 1942 by the Banco Centroamericano de Integración Económica (BCIE). However, the recommendation to begin construction of the project did not occur until 1962. In 1979 the administration of Rodrigo Carazo received financing for the project, however, the money was all spent on appeals and "improper" payments.

    In 1982 the government of Luis Alberto Monge signs a contract with the Spanish constructor, Agroman and the building of the Costanera is on its way. However, in 1987 the Contraloría (Comptroller's office) found irregularities with the contract whose cost went from ¢445 million colones to ¢1.8 billion, of that time, creating a scandal of proportions which forced the then ministro de Transportes, Guillermo Constenla, to rescind the Agroman contract.

    In 1997 the Belén construction company was awarded the contract for part of the project, but bad weather and lack of financing setback the project.

    In 2004 the cost of each kilometre of road for the remaining 42 kilometres that connects Quepos to Dominical was estimated to cost us$1 million dollars and as such the project comes to a complete halt.

    It wasn't until earlier this year (2009) that the MOPT gave the order to complete the highway that included widening eight of the bridges, all financed by the BCIE.

    Once complete, the 222 kilometre road runs from Barranca de Puntarenas to Palmar Sur in the Osa Peninsula, providing a direct route to Panama without having to go through San José.

    First section of asphalt going down on the Costanera Sur
    By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

    June 28,2009
    Asphalt work has started on a section of the Costanera Sur., the vital Pacific coast highway that has been promised for three decades.

    President Óscar Arias Sánchez was in the area over the weekend and gave the symbolic go ahead to the final stage of the highway.

    He also inaugurated a new bridge over the Río Naranjo between Savegre and Quepos. This is the fourth new bridge installed on this route.

    A finished Costanera Sur is expected to give a boost to tourism, development and transportation. The bulk of the heavy traffic now takes the Interamericana highway that winds through San José and Cartago and then over Cerro de la Muerte. The Costanera allows motor transport  straight down the coastal highway. 

    The highway has been gravel for years and a source of local air pollution as well as periodic washouts.

    The highway jobs are valued at $33.6 million. Three contractors are at work on different sections of the 42-kilometer (26-miles) road. It runs from Dominical to just south of Quepos.

    Officials hope the work is finished in October, weather
    ariasasphalt062909

    Casa Presidencial photo

    Óscar Arias gets to drive a steamroller on Costanera Sur


    permitting. The area is notorious for heavy flooding, and more than one local bridge is destroyed each year.

    The Río Naranjo bridge is costing $2.8 million, and it is 198 meters (about 650 feet). The concrete beams are 56 meters (184 feet), the longest of any bridge in Central America. The other three bridges span the rios Paquita, Portalón and Matapalo. Three more bridges are in construction.

    SATURDAY, JULY 21, 2007
    Costa Rica's Southern Zone To Have Airport by 2010
    SATURDAY, JULY 21, 2007


    IDA to donate land in Sierpe de Osa
    Society and Services
    The south will have an airport by 2010 
    In first stage the airport will accommodate airplanes for 50 passengers
    The organization "Judesur" will invest ¢600 million ($1,153,000.00 +-) in technical studies of the project

    The Government promised that the first stage of the airport of the Southern zone will be constructed and working no later than 2010.

    page0_2


    Yesterday, after a year of delay, the necessary funds were allocated from the organization Junta de Desarrollo for the southern zone (Judesur), for the technical studies of the project.

    Viviana Martín, president of the Council Técnico de Aviación Civil (CTAC) and Mainor Rodríguez, of Judesur signed the agreement on Saturday agreement of cooperation in an official act in Palmar Sur, Osa.


    In the first stage, the airport will feature a terminal building and a runway for airplanes of 50 passengers or less.

    According to Viviana Martín, president of the Council Técnico de Aviación Civil (CTAC), the money will be invested in the geological, archeological and hidrological evaluations that are required before constructing an airfield. Additionally , the money will be used to draw up the master plan of the airport, in which the various necessities of the project will be defined: how many boarding ports, length and width of the landing strip, and for the passenger area.

    The CTAC can count on the support of the Organización de Aviación Civil Internacional (OACI), who will select the ones to do the technical studies. This phase take about six months.




    Caldera highway gets construction go ahead at last By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
    Transport officials have given the much-awaited go ahead for the $230 million San José-Caldera highway. This means that Autopistas del Sol S.A., the concession holder for the project, has 30 months to complete the highway. The 77-km (48-mile) highway will decrease dramatically the travel time from the Central Valley to the Pacific coast.  The first stage of the job is the reconstruction of the existing highway from Parque La Sabana to Ciudad Colón. Much of the highway already is multi-lane. The big job is a 39-km (24-mile) section from Ciudad Colón to Orotina. That highway is only graded roughly now, although bridges are in place.  The third and final step is improvements of the highway from the Orotina interchange to the Puerto de Caldera at Puntarenas.  Autopistas del Sol will have the right to collect tolls for 25 years to offset the investment. The Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes said that employees worked during the holidays to make sure all the requirements were in place for the start of construction. Autopistas finally got all its financial commitments in order four days before Christmas, and a company official asked to be allowed to start work a week ago. During the holidays transport ministry workers said they got final approvals from the Ministerio de Ambiente y Energía, reviewed and approved plans and did the paperwork so that the company would not have to pay taxes on imported equipment. Environmental approval was needed because Autopista will take gravel from several deposits along the route. Ministry workers also had to coordinate with the Compañía Nacional de Fuerza y Luz, the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados and the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad for moving water and sewer lines, electric lines and telephone cables, they said.

    Reasons for Moving to Costa Rica


    Still some of the most affordable real estate in the country, with beautiful ocean views, where the mountains and jungle meet the sea.

    -The highway from Dominical towards south to the Panamanian border, is the best in Costa Rica, equal to those in the US.

    -One of the highest English-speaking Costa Rican populations.

    -A new International Airport , located just 1 hour South of Dominical, is about to start construction, in addition to the already-existing regional airport in Palmar Sur.

    -A large (86,000 sq. ft.) hospital is completed just south of Ojochal (near km 194 on the Costanera) and is open.

    -A newly-paved road connecting Quepos and Dominical, which, when completed, will reduce the journey from 2-2.5 hours to 45 minutes. This road will eventually become the Pan-American Highway.

    -There is a proposal to improve the road between Dominical and San Isidro (30 kms from Dominical).

    -A brand new road, The Caldera Highway that is almost complete will eventually connect the Central Valley (San José area) with the Central Pacific (Jaco/Parrita/Quepos). This will reduce the trip by 1 hour.

    -The largest marina in Central America is planned for Quepos called Marina Pez Vela, includes 250-300 slips, restaurants, hotels and shops, expected completion in 2008.

    -A Cruise Ship port and marina in Golfito (to the south of Uvita and the Osa Peninsula) will soon be under construction.