Recommend September 2017 - 41

Go Central ameriCa:

6 Different Ways
Carla Hunt

1.

Arenal's New Luxury Highs

There is now more room at the inn since awardwinning, five-star Nayara Hotel & Gardens,
located in Costa Rica's Arenal Volcano
National Park, connects by pedestrian bridge
above a rainforest ravine to its sister resort
Nayara Springs, and its adults-only new villas,
each featuring a private plunge pool fed by
mineral hot springs, complimentary mini-bar and
laundry, private host, and exclusive tours and spa
treatments. The expansion also includes a new
yoga pavilion, new gym and pool with swim-up
bar. What all Nayara guests can look forward
to is a newly opened Sloth Sanctuary, treetop
homes to 15 sloths, as well incredible dining
at Altamira Restaurant. On the special offers
menu for Nayara Springs this season there's
a delicious culinary experience package that
includes complimentary a la carte dinner (as well
buffet breakfast) at an average of $523 per night
for two people. Then consider the offering 35%
off Best Available Nightly Rate for a luxury Springs
Villa that includes complimentary breakfast; the
average price per night for two people will be
$488. nayarasprings.com

3.

Crater Lake Comforts

Location! Location! Location! Settle in for a
couple of nights at Nicaragua's new Pacaya
Lodge & Spa, beautifully positioned hilltop
overlooking a crater lake in the Laguna de
Apoyo Lagoon Natural Reserve. Pacaya,
located about 20 minutes from Granada,
offers 26 modern, sleek, arts-accented rooms,
occupying the main lodge and eight casitas,
all with crater-lake views and broad balconies
with hammocks. Paths weave through the
resort connecting rooms and suites to the
Restaurante Guardabarranco, to a pool-witha-panorama and to the spa. Welcoming local
employees know how to show off their home
with fine service and nonstop delicious dining.
Take the complimentary shuttle down to
swim and paddle in the Apoyo Lagoon, and
do explore: taxi by tuck-tuck into the nearby
Pueblos Blancos (White Towns), known for arts
and handicrafts, and book an early evening
out to gape into the crater of Masaya Volcano.
Rates start at $144. pacayalodge.com

Two for the Road

Via two new 8-day tours, Latin American
Escapes is making it easy, adventurous
and fascinating for clients to get to know
El Salvador. On the 8-day El Salvador
Discovery, the focus is on history, culture
and scenic beauty, starring archaeological
stops such as Joya de Ceren and Tazumal;
a night along the Route of the Flowers;
and three nights in colonial Suchitoto,
with day excursions to the artisan town
of La Palma and to Morzapan to travel
the "Peace Route." Or consider the
8-day El Salvador Adventure, including
hiking the crater of Ilamatepec Volcano,
archaeological touring, kayaking on Lake
Suchitoto, and ziplining through the
canopy. Discovery tour is from $1,295
pp sharing; Adventure is from $1,075 pp
sharing. latinamericanescapes.com

Private Island Getaway

Fly fisherman, scuba divers, snorkelers
and the just-relaxing set will be delighted
to know that Belize's private-island
Turneffe Island Resort has had a resortwide relaunch. Spread across 14 acres, this
private island hidden gem-35 miles off the
cost of Belize City-is known as a place to
chase the elusive "Caribbean Grand Slam,"
catching bonefish, tarpon and permit all in
one day, as well as trips to one of the deepest
dives in the world, the Great Blue Hole.
Completely upgraded are its exclusive 22
beachside guestrooms, including the luxury
secluded presidential and honeymoon villas.
Enhanced are the three original buildings,
with guest facilities that include an outdoor
bar and pool, as well as a helicopter pad.
Newly revamped are the resort's 3-, 4- and
7-night packages, customized for fishing,
diving, snorkeling, relaxation or combos of
these. turnefferesort.com

Teeing Off

There's a new destination on the radar of
golfers: Gary Player's 18-hole golf course at
the Indura Beach & Golf Resort, sitting
on the north coast of Honduras along a
26-mile stretch of Tela Bay. Last March,
the resort hosted the Honduras Open, a new
stop on the PGA Latin America circuit.
The course, which spreads across 1,800
acres, embracing beaches, lagoons and
tropical wetland vegetation, is managed by
global leader Troon Golf. Guests staying
at Indura, a member of Hilton's Curio
Collection, are accommodated in 60 suites,
tucked into 15 villas; those beachfront
come with concierge services. In addition
to great golf, amenities include a pool and
world-class spa. Double room rates start at
$140. induraresort.com

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5.

Ocean to Ocean

Panama's new and wider Canal was opened in
June 2016, tailored to accommodate the more
gigantic cargo and passenger ships of today
and tomorrow. Ancon Expeditions salutes
the Canal's new milestone in history and
humanity with its 8-day The Panama Expansion
tour, a special program taking clients to the
most important and influential areas related
to this man-made wonder. The trip starts with
a dugout canoe journey on the Chagres River
to spend time with the Embera indigenous
community; then it's onward for birdwatching
along the famous Pipeline Road in Soberania
National Park and along Gatun Lake. From
there, clients travel to the UNESCO World
Heritage site of Portobelo and the Agua Clara
Locks on the Atlantic (the Canal expansion);
visit San Lorenzo Castle and ride the Canal
Railway. The final days are spent getting to
know Panama City and the Canal Zone, then
by boat, making the journey ocean-to-ocean
through the locks during a Panama Canal
transit. All meals and top hotels are never far
from the Canal and the surrounding Canal
Zone tropical forests are included in the tour
cost of $2,150. anconexpeditions.com
september 2017 41
http://www.induraresort.com http://www.latinamericanescapes.com http://www.nayarasprings.com http://www.turnefferesort.com http://www.anconexpeditions.com http://www.pacayalodge.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend September 2017
