More than 250 travel advisors turned out last week in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver to experience the La Pura Vida lifestyle as a delegation of more than a dozen suppliers from Costa Rica, plus the country’s tourism minister, made the case that there’s no better time for Canadians for visit.
In Toronto, where the Illuminarium venue provided an immersive Costan Rican atmosphere, tourism minister William Rodriguez Lopez noted that current circumstances make Costa Rica an ideal destination for Canadians, and snowbirds in particular, who may have reservations about travelling to the U.S.
“We are working hard in this market because we recognize that this is the moment for Costa Rica in Canada – for many reasons,” Lopez said.
One of them is continuing efforts to improve direct air service that already includes substantial lift through Air Canada, Transat and Copa Airlines, and the minister revealed that air service will increase even more “very soon.”
All of the airlines were represented at the event in Toronto, which also included tabletops for a dozen Costa Rica tour operator and hotel suppliers.
Nestled between Nicaragua and Panama, Costa Rica offers visitors an abundance of unique landscapes, and 12 distinct microclimates, from rain- and cloud forests to volcanic peaks and the pristine beaches of the Pacific Coast – not to mention sheltering approximately 5% of the known biodiversity in the world, including such animals as quetzales, toucans, tapirs, pumas, white-face monkeys, and anteaters.
Travellers can take part in such activities as birding, whale watching, canyoning, or simply discovering the rainforest on specialized tours that accentuate the unique ecosystem, which boasts more than 800 species of trees and more than 6,000 species of vascular plants.
Must-see sights include the Arenal volcano and Monteverde cloud forest.
“Cost Rica is really unique in that it truly is an all-ages destination,” Goway’s Latin American product manger Robert Miller told Travel Industry Today. “Whether you’re a family looking to get in touch with nature in a very controlled way (or) if you’re a young person looking for a wild time and active adventure, it’s perfect for you; and if you’re a person with a deep appreciation for nature who’s looking for a relaxed pace tour by exploring reserves, along side a private guide or as part of a shared tour, it’s also going to be good for them. It’s a really unique location (and) incredibly popular.”
He’s quick to note, however, that Costa Rica is not a “fly and flop” destination, and the country’s natural environment, and the activities that go along with it, from ziplining to simply staying in an eco lodge to discover the flora and fauna firsthand, are the destination’s key draw.
Noting that Costa Rica has two airports – one in the capital, San Jose, and the other in Liberia on the Pacific Coast – Miller points out that travellers can take advantage of flying into one and out of the other, easily taking in both jungle and beaches and maximizing their time in both.
Agents at the events were reminded that Costa Rica’s agent specialist program is easy to navigate (about 40 minutes) and successful participants will have the opportunity to take part in two FAM trips in September.
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