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SEP 2011

Fall for Costa Rica!

Coinciding with the Northern hemisphere’s Autumn, Costa Rica’s Green Season is upon us. With it, we celebrate the coming month’s great values for a fun getaway. Accessi-ble, affordable, and laid back, the Green Season displays

nature at its lush peak. Grupo Islita is proud to greet this special time of the year with a refreshed stewardship outlook, special bundled va-cations, and extra values to entice couples, families, and groups of friends.

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Hotel Punta Islita and El

Silencio Lodge & Spa have

announced the appoint-

ment of Costa Rican hos-

pitality and sustainability

expert, Mr. Gustavo Se-

gura, as Director and CEO.

“I undertake this role with

a hopeful vision, outlining

a clear mandate to align

Grupo Islita’s two proper-

ties in a common path to-

wards excellence, and

sustainability” affirmed

Mr. Segura. “Our hospi-

tality product is superla-

tive and ideal for consci-

entious high-end travelers

who cherish authenticity

and planet-friendly stew-

ardship”.

Mr. Segura’s leadership

integrates Hotel Punta Is-

lita’s secluded coastal

landscapes and El Silencio

Lodge & Spa’s cloud forest

wellness. Vacations fea-

turing both properties,

will grant a streamlined

reservation process, expe-

dite response times, and

efficient logistics at an op-

timal value.

Mr. Gustavo Segura brings

a fourteen-year track rec-

ord in the national and in-

ternational responsible

tourism arena, highlight-

ed by effective and suc-

cessful leadership in both

the private and public

sectors. His expertise has

been sought by the gov-

ernments of Peru, Brazil,

Ecuador, Honduras, and

Argentina’s Tucuman

Province. While at the

helm of two prestigious

hotels in Costa Rica, he

succeeded in attaining the

top-level rating (5 leaves)

as awarded by the Costa

Rican Sustainability Certi-

fication program (CST).

He currently sits on the

board of the Costa Rican

Tourism Institute (ICT).

“I undertake this role with a hopeful vision, outlining a clear

mandate to align Grupo Islita’s two properties in a common

path towards sustainable excellence.”

Mr. Gustavo Segura

Grupo Islita Appoints New Director

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Quest for Pura Vida, a visual journey

detailing Costa Rica's planet-friendly

mantra just premiered on American

Public Television. Produced and

hosted by award-winning author

Richard Bangs, it features some of

the country's most impressive land-

scapes and vividly captures the con-

tagious optimism of its people. The

preview is simply stunning and we

were thrilled to spot Islita in several

shots. Please enjoy!

http://bit.ly/QuestForPuraVida

Condé Nast Johansens Voting Sweepstakes

Your travel expertise could earn you a luxury

getaway for two! If Hotel Punta Islita's view

left you breathless, if you can still savor one of

our signature ceviches, or if remembering one

of Casa Spa's wellness treatments elicits bliss-

ful relaxation, please take a minute to vote for

us. Best of luck in the drawing!

http://bit.ly/JohansensVote

The Holiday Season is one of the best and most popular times to enjoy Costa Rica’s hos-pitality and eco-adventures. And at Hotel Punta Islita, the traditional New Year’s Car-naval celebration featuring live tropical mu-sic and beachside fireworks is a not-to-be-missed event. We have a few openings in our double occupancy rooms and Private Vil-las and would like to give you first-priority. Plus this year, you can easily combine Hotel Punta Islita with El Silencio Lodge & Spa for a complete (and flexible) Costa Rica vacation. For more information please write to: reserve@hotelpuntaislita.com

2011-12 Holiday

Availability!

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El Silencio Lodge & Spa, Tabacón Resort, and Hotel Punta Islita welcome couples with up-scale comfort, Spa treatments, and Costa Rica’s authentic “Pura Vida” mantra.

For more information please contact: reserve@hotelpuntaislita.com

Flanked by two national parks

in Bajos del Toro, El Silencio

Lodge & Spa offers a natural

immersion experience. A se-

rene cloud forest, dotted with

waterfalls to elicit romance.

INCLUDES:

2 nights in a Suite

Three daily a-la-carte meals

Eco-Concierge services

In-Room snacks

Mystic Hiking Adventure

Gazed upon by Arenal Vol-

cano’s temperamental cone,

Tabacón Resort features lava

fireworks, natural Spa ele-

ments, and the infinite flow of

Earth-heated soaking springs.

INCLUDES:

3 nights in Deluxe Premium

Internet access

Tropical welcome beverage

Temazcal Group Session

$150 spa credit per couple

Hot springs unlimited access

At Hotel Punta Islita, life’s best

experiences intensify. Over-

looking a rugged ocean cove in

Guanacaste, it features exciting

eco-adventures and heartfelt

hospitality.

INCLUDES:

3 nights in Deluxe Room

Internet access

Pura Vida welcome cocktail

Daily breakfast

$50 spa credit per couple

One guided Destination Tour

Choice of Eco-Adventure

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Hotel Punta Islita is offering a spe-cial $75 per day Resort Credit. Val-

id for new reservations for stays between September 15 through December 20th, 2011. Three-night minimum. Applicable to hotel services including food & beverages, tours, spa. For detailed information, please contact: reserve@hotelpuntaislita.com

We Vouch for Value!

Current Biology published a

study that gives a scientific seal

of approval to hammock nap-

ping. According to preliminary

research, sleeping while cradled

and swayed by a comfy ham-

mock promotes faster and

deeper ZZZs. More research is

needed to establish the rea-

sons, and we are happy to

oblige! To learn more, visit the

NPR piece here:

http://n.pr/HammockZZZ

Hammock Time...

New Flights: Update Costa Rica is an accessible travel destination, serviced by major air-lines. We gladly share the an-nouncement of upcoming direct flights servicing Liberia Airport in Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Province. Convenient to Hotel Punta Islita!

November 2011 Air Berlin Düsseldorf Jet Blue New York (JFK)– Liberia (LIR) January 2012 Sun Country Airlines Minnesota (MSP)—Liberia (LIR)

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Chef Lizzeth adds

tropical spark

to Costa Rica’s fa-

vorite beverage.

Just add 1 whole clove to the coffee grinds and brew normal-ly. Serve with warm milk/milk substitute and add sugar, hon-ey, or your favorite sweetener to taste. Finish with coconut flakes and cinnamon.

Like Hotel Punta Islita Our Facebook MicroSite is Up! Featuring colorful informative tabs and custom menus, it is easier than ever to learn about Hotel Punta Is-lita’s latest offerings, specials, and news. We cordially invite you to view it online at: http://on.fb.me/HPIWelcome

We thank Tablet Hotels for featuring Hotel Punta Islita in a coffee-lover’s blog post detail-ing “Highly Caffeinated Hotels”. We are very excited to have a chance to showcase some of Costa Rica's best, tastiest, and most aromatic java. A cup of coffee while gently swaying in a hammock with the ocean as backdrop is one of life's simplest yet giddiest pleasures. Salud! http://tablettalk.com/2011/08/10/best-hotels-gourmet-coffee/

Coconut Sparkle Coffee Tip

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Islita Town -- Even

Better, the 2nd Time

Around I first visited Punta

Islita Resort five years ago; I was

deeply impressed by the range of

community projects that the hotel

had helped start in the local com-

munity. In an initiative involving

local residents and several well

known Costa Rican artists, this dis-

advantaged coastal town had been

transformed into what is hailed as

the first open air art museum in the

Americas. Sculptures dotted the

edges of the soccer field and bright

colored murals adorned the primary

school, daycare, community center,

and even the one local store. A

small museum sold crafts made by

local cooperatives. Marta Figueroa,

who showed me around town, was

clearly proud: “This used to be the

ugliest little town on the coast. Now

look how beautiful we are!” The

women jewelry makers excitedly

explained that they had just re-

turned from a trip to Guatemala

(the first time any of them had left

Costa Rica) to meet with craftswom-

en there.

This July I was fortunate to return

for a stay in one of the resort’s glo-

rious villas overlooking the sea. We

learned that this stunning villa be-

longs to one of the generous fami-

lies who have not only purchased

real estate in Costa Rica, but have

developed an ongoing giving pro-

gram to support the Hotel’s com-

munity betterment initiatives. Phi-

lanthropy in virtuous cycles!

We were given a tour of the town’s

Casa Museo and art studios by the

hotel’s general manager Alonso Ber-

mudez – and what a surprise! What

began as rudimentary jewelry and

embroidery had diversified into an

engaging collection. Graceful mo-

biles made from driftwood, shells

and seeds, brightly colored minia-

ture wooden paintings – similar to

the town’s murals, block-print tex-

tile art depicting turtles, macaws,

and other local scenes. Also added

are children’s clothing, cloth bags,

pottery, candles, and, of course,

jewelry.

Alonso suggested visiting the recy-

cling center, started by the hotel

but now servicing the resort as well

as surrounding communities. Even

this efficient and environmentally

sustainable garbage collection cen-

ter is adorned with art! The town

had held a contest and given prizes

to the best sculptures made from

trash. My favorite was a toucan

made from an old tire now hanging

from the tin ceiling of the recycling

center!

I was pleased to find Marta is still

involved in the museum and cham-

pioning its artists. She said she’d left

for a time, but had been drawn back

because “I just love this project.”

As a first-hand, second-look wit-

ness...I couldn’t agree more!

Dr. Martha Honey is the Co-Director of the Center for Responsible Travel, a re-search institution with offices in Wash-ington DC and Stanford University. She

is a leading authority in sustainable tour-ism and traveler’s philanthropy.

http://linkd.in/MarthaHoney

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El Silencio’s guests will soon be able to explore Bajos del

Toro’s bucolic landscapes on horseback in an fun new ad-

venture designed by our own eco-concierges. A relaxed

pace will let riders fully take in Poas Volcano’s heat-etched

slopes and blue-tinted streams and waterfalls. The trek

will include a visit to Cooper lake, essential to the genera-

tion of clean hydropower. As the trail veers into the heart

of the Juan Castro Blanco National Park, participants will

be shrouded in one of Costa Rica’s most pristine primary

cloud forests for a uniquely soul-soothing immersion expe-

rience. A highlight will be witnessing Rio Segundo, an

abandoned hacienda slowly being reclaimed by nature’s

implacable exuberance. In General Manager Andrey’s own

words: “This will be a must-live adventure”!

Happy Independence Day!

As Costa Rica celebrates its independence day on September 15th, visitors

will be delighted to find colorful festivities including oxcart parades, paper

lanterns, and traditional song & dance. But what will be most joyous will be

an entire nation brightly flashing the broad smiles of a happy, healthy nation.

Oxcart Mural: Islita Community Art Museum

El Silencio Lodge & Spa will soon feature a

new unforgettable eco-adventure!