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During the weeks from July to September (give or take a month), Central America experiences a so-called Green Season, when nature is at its absolute lushest with green as far as the eye can see and days are characterized by bright, sunny mornings with relaxing, rainy afternoons. Not to mention, travelers can take advantage of less crowds, cheaper rates, special deals, and activities that remind us to slow down the pace, connect with nature, and just…be.
A handful of hotels in the region are catering to guests this Green Season, with special offers and experiences that help them get in touch with their natural surroundings. Whether they’re beach-obsessed, a nature junkie, or an urbanite, the properties below are giving travelers a reason to visit during Green Season.
BEACH
El Mangroove / Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Why Go in Green Season: Beach fanatics will find that Green Season is the perfect time to escape to El Mangroove — an 85-suite boutique beach resort tucked between a tranquil bay and a mangrove forest on Costa Rica’s coveted Gulf of Papagayo. On sunny mornings, guests can explore nearby secluded beaches via the resort’s private boats, stand-up paddle-board in the calm bay waters, and lounge by an oceanfront pool where howler monkeys can be spotted in the trees overhead. When the evening brings that tropical rainfall, they can opt to spa in a private outdoor bungalow to the sound of the falling rain, sip cocktails by the resort’s beachfront fire pit, or simply curl up with a good book in their own personal hammock (there’s one in every guest room!). Fewer tourists and all of the area’s bright, green vegetation in full bloom make for a stunningly secluded escape where travelers can immerse themselves in nature and get some much-needed R&R.
Offer: Green season rates start at $239/night; compared to high season rates, starting at $429/night (42% savings!).
CITY
The Westin Playa Bonita / Panama City, Panama
Why Go in Green Season: If you’re planning on canceling your city escape during green season, think again. With the rainy season in full effect you’ll have plenty of time to explore Panama’s culture and heritage while mostly indoors. With The Westin Playa Bonita as your homebase, travelers are a quick drive from the ancient city of Casco Viejo, Panama City’s hippest (and smallest) neighborhood and UNESCO protected district. Kickstart your day by strolling through the characterful streets filled with museums, century-old churches and Guna women selling embroidered molas. When the afternoon showers start to roll around, make your way back to the resort for a quick cat nap in your room with a view of ships waiting to enter the Panama canal, or opt for some much needed R&R at the Clarins Spa before a night of feasting at the international restaurants on property.
Offer: City lovers can book the Sunsational Savings package and get a third night free, room upgrade (based on availability) and a $50 resort credit. Rates from $162/night.
RAINFOREST
Tabacon Thermal Resort & Spa / Arenal, Costa Rica
Why Go in Green Season: Enveloped by a maze of endless green dotted with colorful, exotic flora, Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa offers guests a rainforest escape unlike any other. This tropical paradise is spread across 900 acres of rainforest near the base of the Arenal Volcano, with thermal springs and cascading waterfalls naturally heated by the nearby volcano’s magma. The key to enjoying Green Season here is to wake up bright and early to take advantage of sunny mornings with adrenaline-pumping adventure tours such as zip lining, horseback riding, and whitewater rafting. When the rain starts to fall in the evenings, unwind with spa treatments and yoga classes rendered in outdoor rainforest bungalows, soak in steaming hot springs that reach temps of 105°, and indulge in a candlelit chef’s dinner where a multi-course meal is prepared in an outdoor bungalow where you can dine to a soothing soundtrack of local wildlife and falling rain.
Offer: Green season rates start at $337/night; compared to high season rates from $390/night (13.5% savings!).
JUNGLE
Las Lagunas Boutique Hotel / Flores, Guatemala
Why Go in Green Season: A short drive away from the magnificent, bucket list ruins of Tikal, Uaxactún and Yaxhá, Las Lagunas Boutique Hotel is spread across more than 300 acres of lush, private reserve. A perfect escape for those looking to experience a bucket list destination surrounded by natural beauty, the smaller crowds in green season will have travelers feeling like they have the place all to themselves. This luxe property offers 19 overwater bungalow suites overlooking the sparkling lagoon and jungle (at its greenest this time of year), the perfect backdrop to embrace the unpredictable great outdoors. Las Lagunas is the perfect blend of luxury and eco-tourism, with an in-house museum, a full-service spa facility, and a half-moon shaped infinity pool that looks over the Quexil Lagoon.
Offer: Book three nights for the price of two for travel in September and October 2018. Rates start at $630 for a three-night stay in a Waterfront Queen Suite (normally $945 for a three-night stay). Includes accommodations for up to two adults and two children (each with a private deck and jacuzzi overlooking the lagoon and surrounding greenery), daily continental breakfast, and a boat tour to nearby Monkey Island for a meet and greet with wild, yet friendly monkeys.
LAKE
Casa Palopo / Lake Atitlan, Guatemala
Why Go in Green Season: Perched on the shore of Lake Atitlán in the Guatemalan highlands, Casa Palopó offers an exclusive, high-end getaway for sophisticated travelers who value a rich dose of culture with their vacation experience. Each of the boutique hotel’s 15 accommodations offers brightly colored stucco walls, an original collection of Latin American artworks, handcrafted antique furniture, artisan-made goods and uninterrupted views of the lake and the three majestic volcanoes across the shore. Dubbed “the land of eternal spring,” Guatemala is famous for mild temperatures year round. During the summer, travelers can expect to wake up to bright blue skies and clear volcano views, the perfect weather for enjoying a boat ride to the Mayan towns that surround the shore of the lake. In the afternoons, retreat to the hotel’s terrace or cozy library where the soft drizzle of the rain is the perfect soundtrack to read a book or take a leisurely nap.
Offer: Rates in green season start at just $167 per night, not inclusive of 32% tax and fees.
Source: latinflyer.com