Unfortunately, the word elopement doesn't call to mind visions of elegance, let alone communing with nature. Yet, elopements are good for the environment, because they sharply reduce the pollution and waste resulting from a large affair.
While I am not a fan of destination weddings, on my recent trip, I found Costa Rica to be a magical place to celebrate a green elopement, and a very elegant one, to boot! Costa Rica, a beautiful country blessed with natural resources, has become a model of sustainable tourism, and provides the perfect backdrop to celebrate a green wedding and an ecologically-responsible honeymoon.
One step into the exuberant gardens of the Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort, and I was smitten. Located near Costa Rica's Arenal volcano, the resort boasts the most beautiful gardens in the country, reeking of spectacular waterfalls and lush tropical flora. The resort can arrange for a wedding officiant and hotel staff can act as witnesses, so that nature lovers can tie the knot privately in its luscious gardens.
The hotel rooms are luxurious and beautifully appointed, and the staff will make newlyweds feel extra pampered. Soaking in the delicious thermal waters in the garden makes for an excellent beginning of a honeymoon, as well as cozying up in the cabanas of the relaxing adults-only Shangri-La Garden. The resort is accessible for doing a variety of nature tours in the area, but guests can enjoy fantastic views of the volcano without having to leave the hotel.
The hotel has received many awards as a leader of the hospitality industry in Costa Rica. Visit their website at www.tabacon.com.
For a taste of rustic elegance, head a half an hour south to the Chachagua Rainforest Hotel. Located on 247 acres of tropical rainforest, the hotel is a model of sustainable tourism. Included in the book "1000 Places to See Before you Die," the lodge is the ultimate rainforest experience.
Within the reserve, you may take one of many available nature walks with Naturalist Cristian Padilla. We got to see a variety of flora and fauna, and fell in love with the colorful toucan birds and the shy two-toed sloth. You will find the sustainability tour inspiring, and Cristian will offer you excellent suggestions to set up a green household once back home.
But the magic of the Chachagua Rainforest Hotel is that you do not need to leave the lodge to feel immersed in nature. Spending lazy days on the hammock of your intimate bungalow will surely hit the spot, while their chefs and attentive staff will delight you with the yummiest of food. For more information on this fabulous spot, go to their website at www.chachaguarainforesthotel.com
And to prove wrong the skeptics who think that luxury and sustainability are incompatible, check in at the Gaia Hotel and Reserve. The Gaia has received multiple awards as a leading green hotel, as well as in recognition for its commitment to excellence. This five-star property is minutes away from Manuel Antonio National Park and has its own 14-acre reserve on a tract of lowland coastal forest. There you can enjoy luxurious rooms, a dizzying array of spa treatments and delectable Costa Rican fusion meals, while enjoying a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean. You can even join the chef in their kitchen and participate in preparing your meal.
Naturalist Erik Ramirez will acquaint you with the flora and fauna within the Gaia reserve, and guides escorted tours to Manuel Antonio, where you can see, among many fascinating creatures, the red-eyed tree frog (sleeping), and the park favorites--the playful white-throated capuchin monkeys. The pristine beaches of the park are a perfect place to cool off after a walk on the warm rainforest. Take a look at their website at http://www.gaiahr.com/
But the highlight of the trip was our stay at the Quetzal's Paradise. You can enjoy the most beautiful sunset from their charming rustic cabins, scattered on a cloud forest. Their mountain fresh air and lush vegetation brought me back to my childhood vacations at my grandfather's coffee farm.
Among their celebrity residents are several species of hummingbirds and, most importantly, the elusive Magnificent Quetzal, an exotic bird considered one of the most beautiful in the world. I can't begin to describe the thrill of holding the hummingbirds at the feeders of their Restaurant de los Colibries and feeling them buzz around me like little flying rainbows.
Without a doubt, the crown jewel of this vacation was the viewing of the quetzal, a rare bird sacred to the ancient Mayan and Aztec cultures. Fabio, our guide, was very knowledgeable of their habits and whereabouts, and spotted for us their nests, where we had the opportunity to view a female and two males, with their long tails and exquisite feathers. Find out more at www.quetzalsparadise.com.
As my husband and I held each other in the cool darkness of our cabin, we had a chance to reflect with gratitude on this marvelous vacation, and the love of nature and travel that brought us together and defines us as a couple. We committed to, as we vowed five years ago, to continue on sharing together this adventure we call life.
