My husband Chuck and I recently spent our belated honeymoon in lush, gorgeous Costa Rica. This relatively small Central American country is chockfull of wildlife and is an absolute bird-watchers’ paradise boasting more than 800 species. With the fairly recent boom in eco-tourism, Costa Rica has positioned itself as one of the leading places in the world for travelers seeking a more environmentally friendly adventure. Sadly, not all travelers are “green-minded” and eco-tourism is not without its share of issues.
[teaserbreak]
With that said, one can still experience the intense beauty of Costa Rica and all it has to offer while remaining respectful of the surroundings. We were excited to discover not only an animal-friendly resort, but also one that is vegetarian/vegan! Lands in Love — or Tierras Enamoradas — sits on 280 acres in the cloud forest of northwestern Costa Rica.
We jumped at the chance to respectfully utilize the property’s many activities from ‘zipping’ through the tree canopies to rappelling down waterfalls, hiking, and much more. I enjoyed my coffee each morning on our porch overlooking the cloud forest and tracking the many species of gorgeous birds.
And the food! As many traveling vegetarians and vegans know, finding nutritious and varied foods can sometimes be a challenge. Not at Lands in Love! Chef Naama prepared delicious meals for us as well as specially made vegan treats. The entire staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and best of all — vegetarian and animal-friendly/respectful.
Other amazing aspects of our trip included the wonderful wildlife we saw throughout the country — everything from three-toed sloths and toucans to Howler and white-faced Capuchin monkeys — and my new favorite, the Coatamundi. Sadly, in some areas, feeding these animals is a problem among tourists, but we were happy to see that many places and their guides highly discourage it — instead asking everyone to enjoy them only with their eyes, binoculars, or cameras.
For us, it was one of the most memorable trips ever on so many levels. And for me personally, reaffirmed my passion for what we at Born Free USA believe and work to ensure — wildlife belongs in the wild.
I’m proud to announce, too, our new partnership with Lands in Love. Should your plans include a trip to Costa Rica, be sure to check them out! By staying there and mentioning Born Free USA, 15% of your bill is donated to our organization.
Blogging off,
Tracy