Nosara has a handful of great surfing beaches, including Playa Guiones, Playa Negra, Playa Grande, Witch’s Rock, Ollie’s Point, Mal Pais, Jaco Beach and Playa Hermosa. Playa Guiones is arguably the best-known surfing beach in Nosara, and offers 2-6 foot surfs with long rides, safe enough for beginners but still enough of a thrill for dedicated surfer guys and girls. Windy days can bring the big waves, and with them come some of the most perfect barrels to take for a ride.

The waters are filled with a good mix of local Ticos and Ticas (Costa Rican men and women), sun-bronzed ex-pats living out their endless summer and eager tourists looking for a surfing thrill. Everyone is friendly and out there to have a good time, so beginners need not worry about the intimidation factor. For novice surfers who want to learn the basics, consider taking lessons from one of the two popular surf schools in the area:  Safari Surf School and Coconut Harry’s Surf Shop. All this can be enjoyed just minutes away from Kalia’s luxury eco-villages Ruby Skky, Emerald Woods and Black Beauty.

The Breeze Model is available for your next luxury vacation in Costa Rica starting in December.

Set high over the Costa Rica rain forest lies The Breeze, one of Kalia’s impressive new model homes. The height and openness of the Breeze give residents spectacular views of Costa Rica’s lush tropical jungles. Clean, modern lines and floor to ceiling windows characterize the sweeping silhouette of the two-story luxury home that boasts a large, open floor plan. As with all Kalia model homes, the Breeze was designed to maximize the residents’ enjoyment of Costa Rica indoor/outdoor living with a total living area of 4,844 square feet.

Playa Ostional is just minutes away from this beautiful vacation home.

The indoor open floor plan encompasses 2,691 square feet of luxury while modern outdoor decks and water features claim the remaining 2,153 square feet. Thanks to Costa Rica’s year-round mild weather and warm climate, future Breeze homeowners will appreciate the seamless integration between the indoor and outdoor design of the home, enabling them to enjoy themselves equally indoors and out.

As we’ve discussed, Kalia’s mission is the marriage of sustainability and luxury, which is why the Breeze is filled with ecofriendly appointments. Eye-catching rooftop gardens insulate and reduce storm water runoff to keep Costa Rica’s waters crystal clean and free from pollutants, soothing water features double as relaxing décor and natural cooling for the home, and sustainable furniture and building materials make the Breeze the epitome of refined eco-luxury living. Luckily, discerning travelers who want a taste of the Breeze can begin by making reservations at this expansive estate starting in December.  If you are looking for a tropical paradise in which to spend the holidays, check out the Breeze and reserve your spot before it’s too late.

An Unforgettable Bird’s Eye View

Located in Nosara on Costa Rica’s stunning Pacific Coast, Miss Sky Canopy Tours is the country’s premiere provider of zip lining tours through the lush rainforests. Adventurers and nature lovers are invited to take to the pure blue skies and sail through the air to experience a once-in-a-lifetime perspective on Costa Rica’s natural beauty. Unique amongst Costa Rica’s zip lining tour options, Miss Sky Canopy is set within a completely natural 2500 acre forest reserve on a coastal mountain range. Set out in the middle of pristine wilderness, there is little distraction to Costa Rica’s breathtaking natural beauty.

Taking a Miss Sky Canopy Tour

Miss Sky Canopy Tours offers a long daytime zip lining tour, a condensed midday zip lining tour and an enchanting nighttime zip lining tour. The tour company’s 21 zip lining runs range from 500 to 600 meters long and are perched a few hundred feet off the ground for spectacular 360 degree views of Costa Rica. At the end of the tour, adventurers zip line directly into a modern disco and bar, where they can share the exciting sights seen on their zip lining with family and friends. It’s a truly unique way to experience Costa Rica’s rainforests, and is the premiere company that provides the utmost in safety and spectacular sights.

The Miss Sky Canopy Tour is only minutes away from Kalia’s Ruby Sky, Emerald Woods and Black Beauty Villages.

Luxury and Sustainability in hotels. Princesse Bora Lodge, Sainte Marie Island, Madagascar

We’re beginning to broaden the base of topics covered on Costa Rica Modern Eco-Living, in hopes that the same readers who enjoy topics on Costa Rica sustainability will also find interest in the fascinating sector of eco-luxury. What used to be at opposite ends of the consumer spectrum – sustainability and luxury – are slowly but surely merging as pioneering companies, brands and individuals are seeking the best of both worlds. Sustainable couture, green travel and eco-luxury are buzz words that characterize this shift, and this week we’d like to share two articles that speak to the heart of the issue. Happy Reading!

The End of “Pop Luxury“?

The Business of Fashion tackled the issue of sustainable luxury earlier this year with this interesting article.  Key points include Hermes’ Executive VP, Christian Blanckaert, declaring an end to “pop luxury”; the fleeting, temporal fix with fast fashion. Instead, he proposes a shift in the focus of luxury consumers to fashion that can be considered a long term investment, since these pieces of clothing and accessories have a longer shelf life and more value over trendy, short-lived counterparts. It’s a compelling argument, and a read that shouldn’t be missed.

Luxury & Sustainability in Hotels

Stemming from the world’s first Sustainable Luxury Fair in Paris, this article explores the topic of sustainability amongst leading luxury hotels. Biodynamic champagnes, battery-powered scooters for quick jaunts to the café and low-flow faucets are just some of the ways the world’s leading hotels are providing their patrons with eco-friendly alternatives. Read the full article here.

Emperor penguins atop an icy glacier.

Wealthy adrenaline junkies and intrepid travelers need not sacrifice their everyday luxuries to experience sweeping adventure. Thanks to a growing class of travelers with upper crust sensibilities and a longing for excitement, luxury travel companies are offering high end adventure tours to some of the world’s most intriguing places.

Accustomed to living richly in their daily lives, these discerning globe trotters want to spend their nights among jaguars and water buffalo in the African plains – while settling down to sleep amongst the finest five hundred thread count pillows and sheets in a luxury tent. For fearless travelers with such tastes, here is a list of some of the best adventure tours for the rich and famous:

Adventure Collection Tour to Antarctica

Sail south from the tip of Argentina into the other-worldly white plains of Antarctica. Large ships outfitted with bars, lounges and libraries break through glacial ice and on-board naturalists lecture on Antarctica’s rich and unique wildlife. On the mainland, socialite travelers will find themselves in the company of royalty – in the form of the regal Emperor Penguins that call the arctic home. Further adventuring can be accomplished by sea kayaking through icy cold waters, camping in the white wilderness and even cross country skiing.

Abercrombie & Kent’s Ancient Wonders Adventure Tour

Delve into the ancient wonders that lie within Israel, Jordan and Egypt on this luxury adventure tour from Abercrombie & Kent. Leaders in upper crust adventure travel for decades, Abercrombie & Kent travel guides will lead explorers through the sands of the ancient world by camel. Adventurers will get a taste for Bedouin life by enjoying tea with local families, preparing a Jordanian meal at the Petra Kitchen and taking a refreshing dip in the Dead Sea.

Gaia Hotel & Reserve in Costa Rica

The Gaia Hotel & Reserve offers discerning travelers a Costa Rica Adventure Package that includes three days of exploring the country’s pristine rainforests, mangroves and beaches. Adventurers can satisfy their need for thrill on rushing white water rapids or by guided ATV tours that uncover Costa Rica’s rich biodiversity, and satiate their need for luxury by curling up in Gaia’s plush suites in front of a flat screen TV.

The Nosara Yoga Institute is just minutes from Kalia's Black Beauty, Ruby Sky and Emerald Woods Eco-Villages.

The pura vida lifestyle of Costa Ricans is imbued with adventure, enjoyment and rejuvenation. One of the best ways to revitalize and find harmony within oneself is undoubtedly through the ancient practice of yoga. Yoga nourishes the mind, body and soul, which is why it coalesces so well with the Costa Rican concept of pura vida. For Costa Rica travelers and resident seeking the best yoga retreats, the Nosara Yoga Institute is an ideal destination. Though they offer thrice daily classes for the recreational yogi, the Institute specifically caters to those who want to immerse themselves in the true yoga lifestyle through week long or month long courses.

The Nosara Yoga Institute offers committed Costa Rica yogis a variety of training options. Yogis who want to awaken their inner self can sign up for Nosara’s self-awakening yoga courses touting internal discovery and a deeper awareness of oneself. For Costa Rica residents or long-term travelers who want to embark on the perfect pura vida career field, Nosara also has intensive professional yoga courses for gaining certification as a teacher. Teacher certification courses run from 200 to 500 hours of training, and can be completed during repeated month-long stays at the retreat.

Nosara’s location is perhaps one of the reasons the yoga institute has such a devoted following. Located halfway down Costa Rica’s gorgeous Nicoya Peninsula, Nosara is perched on the pristine beaches of Guanacaste. This is outstanding news for future Kalia residents, who will enjoy easy access to Nosara’s top notch facility and world class yoga teachers. Blissfully relaxing the mind, body and soul with yoga is just one more way that Kalia homeowners can embrace the pura vida culture for longer, healthier, more satisfying lives.

Source: NosaraYoga.com

A sea turtle at the Ostional National Wildlife Refuge located just a short walk from Kalia’s own Black Beauty Village.

Ecolovers revel in the beauty, mystery and depth of Costa Rica’s biodiversity. World renowned as one of the top 20 biodiverse locations on earth, Costa Rica boasts a dizzying array of animal and plant life. Though the country of Costa Rica only makes up .1% of the world’s land mass, it contains 5% of the world’s biodiversity (source: Wikipedia). Luckily, the proud residents of Costa Rica understand the value of their country’s rich biodiversity and have protected the lush flora and fauna with abundant national parks and reserves. Many spectacular animal and plant species that draw tourists to Costa Rica include the irresistibly inquisitive squirrel monkey, rare and vibrant orchids, the resplendent quetzal, otherworldly tapirs, graceful swallowtail butterflies and the endangered gentle giants of the sea, Costa Rica’s infamous sea turtles.

Costa Rica’s brimming biodiversity is a driving force behind its thriving ecotourism. One of Costa Rica’s most popular ecotourism activities is witnessing the ancient species of sea turtles participate in the annual nesting ritual. For visitors planning a trip to see sea turtle nesting, the Guanacaste province in particular serves as a hub for their activity. Giant leatherbacks, Olive Ridleys, Loggerheads and Hawksbills are among the different types of sea turtles that shuffle along the Guanacaste shores to lay their eggs each year.

The sea turtles lay their eggs at nighttime throughout the nesting season, which runs from July through November. The best place for tourists traveling to Costa Rica to witness the magical ritual of sea turtle nesting is at one of two popular National Parks, Tortuguero National Park and the Ostional National Wildlife Refuge located just a short walk from Kalia’s own Black Beauty Village. The sea turtles’ popular nesting months coincide with Costa Rica’s rainy season, during which hundreds of thousands of leatherbacks, loggerheads and olive ridleys climb ashore to nest while being watched by tourists, locals and conservationists.

For Kalia residents, witnessing this spectacular scene is another tempting benefit of owning a little slice of heaven, your own piece of Costa Rica real estate.

Ecotourism is defined as visiting a country to explore the untouched natural surroundings while leaving little to no environmental impact. While ecotourism is known for its environmental protection efforts, it also provides a larger benefit to Costa Rica by providing government funding that keeps the country’s national parks beautiful, pristine and well-managed. Costa Rica is a country that encourages sustainability and thrives on ecotourism, providing tax benefits to people who open eco-friendly businesses. Costa Rican ecotourism helps sustain local communities, funds the continued preservation of the national parks, and enables the country to continue its healthy economic development.

Some of the more popular forms of Costa Rica ecotourism travel include stunning nature hikes, rare bird watching and athletic adventures such as kayaking and biking. Costa Rica’s ecotourism also includes unique conservation vacations, a growing trend in Costa Rica thanks to increasing foreign awareness of the troubles faced by the country’s beautiful indigenous wildlife. One species receiving a lot of attention lately is Costa Rica’s leatherback sea turtles, majestic gentle giants who are hovering on the brink of extinction. Since the rich Costa Rican coast offers a safe nesting habitat for the sea turtles, many ecotourism groups have created conservation vacations where eco-minded tourists can play an important role in aiding the preservation of the sea turtle population.

Tourists planning to partake in Costa Rica ecotourism should keep a few rules in mind while traveling. Most importantly, remember that the goal of ecotourism is to avoid impacting the country’s natural beauty and biodiversity. This means avoiding the introduction of any non-native plants, fruits, or food, properly disposing of all trash, and not taking anything with you from your travels (save for your memories and gorgeous pictures to wow your friends and family with back home). Preserving the beauty of Costa Rica through green ecotourism will go a long ways toward maintaining its majestic appearance for future generations.