This seventh title in the popular Costa Rica travel series showcases the variety of ecotourism accommodations and activities available in the beautiful Central American country boasting 500,000 animal and plant species. Viewers familiar with Bennett-Watt's travel titles will recognize the voice of the male narrator who clearly amplifies the scenic vistas and provides relevant information. One-quarter of the land in Costa Rica is protected so visitors have many national parks, natural preserves, and other wilderness lands to explore.
The first stop in this “odyssey of ecotourism” is the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve featuring not only research stations and miles of trails and preserves but the Greentique Hotel, the establishment that spokesperson Jim Damalas says is a “poster child of sustainable responsible practices.” He also gives a cogent definition of ecotourism and talks about the hotel that is inaccessible by road and must be reached by boat.
Next, the family-run Maquenque Eco-Lodge where bird watching is a popular activity is visited before the program heads to other rustic lodges and accommodations, including Los Pinos Cabins and Preserve, Rio Perdido Lodge, Playa Hermosa, Si Como No Resort, and Santa Juana Lodge. While each of these hotels may be a bit different, they all share the same philosophy of protecting the environment, respecting the natural beauty of the region, and allowing tourists to become immersed in nature. Impressive waterfalls, butterfly gardens, zip lines, remote hiking trails, and waterways for kayaking are some of the sites in this program that showcases the natural splendors of Costa Rica.
While some maps are included and a listing of accommodations, including telephone numbers and web addresses pop up in the credits, viewers will need to access additional maps and resources; the stated purpose of this travelogue is to scratch the surface and pique viewers’ interest. This is suggested for public library collections serving environmentally conscious travelers and works well for library programming highlighting Central America travel.
Discover more titles with our list of movies about nature.