Best Cruise Tour Awards from Princess Cruises

Rainforest Aerial Tram

Princess Cruises gives top marks to three Rainforest Adventures parks: Costa Rica Pacific, Dominica and St. Lucia

While we are be best known for offering ecotourism activities, zip lining and canopy tours in Central America and the Caribbean, a string of awards from Princess Cruises has put us firmly on the map of seafarers from around the globe.

Operating under strict conservation guidelines, Rainforest Adventures has been on the scene since 1994 when the first park (Costa Rica Atlantic) constructed the world’s first rainforest aerial tram – without removing a single tree in the process.

Today, Rainforest Adventures has expanded to six parks (located in Costa Rica Pacific, Costa Rica Atlantic, St. Lucia, Dominica, Jamaica and Panama), each offering guests thrilling, eye-opening and educational jungle activities that range from Zip line to bird watching tours to naturalist-led aerial tram rides and nature walks.

“Since the 2007/08, three of our parks have earned a total of six prestigious Princess Cruises’ High Volume Tour of the Season awards, with the most recent being just last month for our Costa Rica Pacific location,” said Annika Bratt, vice president of sales for Rainforest Adventures. “These awards recognize the importance of local tour operators and their staff as part of the Princess experience in the Caribbean. We’re honored to have been chosen, once again, as a top destination by the passengers of Princess Cruises.”

Recipients of the Princess Cruises awards are chosen based upon the number of positive passenger comments. Winners include tour companies and individual guides from Princess’ extensive line-up of more than 820 shore excursions options throughout the Caribbean region.

Rainforest Adventures’ Awards from Princess Cruises:

• Costa Rica’s Favorites with Lunch tour at Rainforest Adventures Costa Rica Pacific wins Princess Cruises’ High Volume Tour of the Season (for both the 2009/10 and 2010/11 seasons; port of Puntarenas).
• The Rainforest Aerial Tram at Rainforest Adventures Dominica wins Princess Cruises’ High Volume Tour of the Season (for both the 2008/09 and 2010/11 seasons; port of Dominica).
• The St. Lucia Canopy tour (Tranopy) at Rainforest Adventures wins Princess Cruises’ High Volume Tour of the Season (for both the 2007/08 and 2010/11 seasons

For more information about Rainforest Adventures or to book a tour:

About Rainforest Adventures

With adrenaline-inducing parks located in Costa Rica (both Pacific and Atlantic), Panama, Saint Lucia, Dominica and Jamaica, each Rainforest Adventures location serves as ecotourism attractions as well as wildlife and wilderness refuges. Since 1994, the company has been combining unique rainforest adventures (such as tram rides, bobsleds and zip lines), with exceptional, multi-lingual naturalist guides, giving each guest an educational, adventurous, sustainable and unforgettable rainforest experience. For more information, visit www.rainforestadventure.com »

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Rainforest Adventures Park is Now Open After Fire in Ocho Rios Jamaica

Evening of April 25th, a small fire broke out which damaged a section of the sales and reservation office at Rainforest Adventures Mystic Mountain in Ocho Rios, St. Ann. The fire was seen coming from the building at around 9 o'clock, and the Ocho Rios Fire Department was alerted. They sent a team of firemen, who were able to prevent the fire from doing further damage to the office building of our nature attraction. With their efforts, the fire was contained to the bathrooms next to the reservations and sales office.

Thank goodness, no one was hurt! The Fire Department of Ocho Rios did a great job. And in behalf of the management of Rainforest Adventures, we thank you for your support for your fast response to stop the fire. We also send our sincere thanks to our employees, our partners and the community that has reached out to us. Your support means so much to us.

Despite the fire, business will be as usual at Mystic Mountain. The park is open for operation once again to provide our valued tourists and visitors the best vacation experience in Ocho Rios, Jamaica.

For more information, you can watch our Facebook Page and Twitter feed for updates.

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Bonding With Nature and the Best Things to Do in Costa Rica

Costa Rica has a natural diversity and incredible wildlife which offers travelers an opportunity to bond with nature, a whole new experience especially for those who want to take some time away from their busy city lives. From rivers to waterfalls and from beaches to rainforests, the rich ecosystem of the country can be enjoyed by everyone, local and international tourists alike.

And aside from enjoying their vacation surrounded by nature, there are many exciting and eye-opening activities that they would certainly be putting on their list of things to do on their next Costa Rica travel.

Canopy Zip Lining

One of the most popular things to do in the rich rainforests of Costa Rica is the canopy zip lining. Tourists especially thrill seekers and adventure lovers will surely raise the level of their adrenaline rush as they glide on the zip line cable over the treetops, a compelling and exciting way to have a clearer view of the rainforest canopy.

Zip lining in the rainforest.

Most of the zip line tour operators not just offer the tourists to engage in this exhilarating activity; they also provide naturalist guides to educate the participants in the important facts and aspects of the Costa Rica rainforests, ecosystem, and sustainability. Zip lining in Costa Rica is completely safe, because the operators make sure that the pieces of equipment used are secure and well-maintained.

Bird Watching

Another engaging activity in Costa Rica is bird watching. The transitional tropical rainforests in the country are ideal for bird enthusiasts all over the world. Costa Rica houses a very wide variety of native birds, including tanagers, warblers, toucans and Scarlet Macaws.

Using a telescope in spotting bird species like the Scarlet Macaw.

While most bird watchers carry with them some visual enhancement devices such as binoculars and telescopes, bird watching can also be done with just the naked eyes, or even by just listening to the bird sounds. There are tourists that enjoy bird watching mainly for recreational or social reasons, and there are also ornithologists and scientists that engage in this activity for scientific purposes.

The Christmas Bird Count is one of the largest bird watching activities worldwide that is held during Christmas season. This tradition has been going on for more than a century, where tens of thousands of bird enthusiasts and ornithologists take part in this adventure. Some birding spots in Costa Rica are included in the top locations where the most counts of birds and new species are recorded during this event.

Nature Trail

Costa Rica Nature Trail

Tourists can also enjoy being surrounded by the trees while having a leisure hike along the nature trails within the overgrowth of the rich Costa Rican rainforests. And while they stride along the path, the naturalist guides are there to help them learn more about the rainforest, conservation, and the rich ecosystem of Costa Rica.

Incentive Programs for Corporate Groups and Conventions

There are eco-tour parks in Costa Rica that also offer great incentive programs for businesses and companies. The rich rainforest is a great place to help the employees engage in team-building activities. It also offers a great place to hold meetings and conventions, surrounded by nature and the ecosystem of Costa Rica.

Book for Rainforest Adventures Costa Rica Atlantic Tickets and get 10% discount on every online ticket purchase!

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Best Reasons to Visit St. Lucia

The island of St. Lucia today is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the Caribbean. Surrounded by perfect blue sea, this tropical island country is a small paradise where you can find beautiful beaches and natural attractions. There are a number of good reasons why you have to consider scheduling your next travel to St. Lucia and enjoy your island vacation with your loved ones.

1. The Attractions

St. Lucia boasts magnificent sceneries that make it one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean. There are many great places and attractions to visit in the island where you can find a topography and ecology of stunning beauty unmatched by no other location in the Caribbean.


This photo of Reduit Beach is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Beaches – St. Lucia has a number of beautiful beaches where you can escape the day-to-day grind of your city-life, and stretch out your feet on the soft white sand under the warmth of the sun and the brightness of the perfect blue sky. Unwind your stressful mind and choose from these beautiful beaches –Jalousie Beach, Reduit Beach, Anse Chastanet Beach, Choc Beach, and La Toc Beach to name a few.

The Pitons

The Pitons – these are two volcanic plugs in a World Heritage Site in St. Lucia. The two Piton Mountains are the most photographed landmark on the island, a famous tourist attraction for hikers and mountain climbers and for the adventurous-at-heart persons.

Sulphur Springs

Sulphur Springs, the only “drive-in” volcano in the world – The fishing village of Soufriere located on the southwest of St. Lucia is home to a major tourist attraction: a road that runs right up to and through the crater of the dormant Soufriere Volcano. The hot springs and mud baths here are blessed with volcanic minerals and health-giving properties, which are reputed to have therapeutic qualities for the skin, the reason why the volcano attracts many tourists.


This photo of Diamond Waterfalls is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Waterfalls – St. Lucia has a variety of waterfalls and because the island is of volcanic origin, most of the water is warm. Diamond Waterfalls is a famous attraction, as well as its Botanical Garden.

These are just some of the beautiful attractions that will strike you with awe and wonder, and you can expect to find even more.

2. The Weather

The tropical weather is also a main factor that attracts a lot of tourists to have a vacation to St. Lucia. The seasons are not as sharply defined as compared to other locations, due to the island’s proximity to the equator. There is only the wet and dry season for the climate. The temperature changes very little throughout the year. During the hottest times the temperature only ranges from the mid 80’s during the winter to upper 80’s during the summer, while it rarely drop below the mid 70’s even in the coldest part of the winter.

3. The Festivals

The natives of St. Lucia love sharing their island and their cultural heritage with visitors. Every year, St. Lucia holds two main traditional festivals: La Woz (“The Rose”) every 30th of August and La Magwit (“The Marguerite”) every 17th of October. There is also the St. Lucian Carnival held before Lent, a festive season which is common in most Caribbean countries. You would also like to check out the biggest festival of the year – the Saint Lucian Jazz Festival. This is held in early May at multiple venues throughout the island and it draws visitors and musicians from around the world.

4. The Activities and Things to Do

The island of St. Lucia offers different activities for tourists and visitors, ranging from climbing up the mountains to diving deep under the sea. People seeking for relaxation, nature appreciation, adventure, and new experience all can find the right things to do in St. Lucia.

Zip Lining at Night! – Zip lining should be a must on your list of fun things to do. This activity is common in St. Lucia, but have you tried exploring the rainforest by night under the moonlight? Considered as the World's Coolest Zip Lines by Travel and Leisure, this special treat is provided by AdrenaLUNA, a relatively new feature in the Caribbean. You can try zip lining at night at Rainforest Adventures St. Lucia, along with other exciting activities like climbing up the floating stairs and swinging from platform to platform with a Tarzan’s vine.

Horseback Riding, Oasis Marigot

Horseback Riding – There are places in St. Lucia where you can enjoy horse-back riding in the sunset, a very romantic moment for you and your love. This activity can be both adventurous and relaxing.

St. Lucia Scuba Diving

Scuba Diving – St. Lucia has excellent diving spots in the Caribbean, which are some of the best diving sites worldwide. Explore the underwater wonders, from coral reefs to shipwrecks, and gloriously swim with different species of fishes. Don’t worry if you haven’t tried it yet, because there are professional diving tutors in St. Lucia that will help you.

Experience St. Lucia and the beauty of its natural environment! Buy Rainforest Adventures St. Lucia tickets now for 10% discount on online purchases!

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The Mystic Mountain Bobsled Experience

Have you tried bobsledding? At the famous Mystic Mountain which is located in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, you can try to experience having a ride on the bobsled in the middle of the rain forest! This attraction is inspired by the famous Jamaica National Bobsled Team which participated multiple times in the Winter Olympic Games.

Originally, bobsleigh is a winter sport in which teams of two or four make timed runs down narrow, twisting, banked, iced tracks in a gravity-powered sled. The timed runs are combined to calculate the final score. The Jamaican national bobsleigh team represents Jamaica in international bobsledding competitions. The team first gained fame during their debut in the 1988 Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, where they were seen as underdogs, representing a tropical nation in a winter sport. The team returned to the Winter Olympics again in 1992, 1994, and subsequent competitions.

Jamaica National Bobsled Team

Bobsledding in the Rain Forest

Riding on a bobsled is an exhilarating activity, and it is one of the favorite things to do by tourists and locals. Most people will put this activity on top of their lists of things to do in Jamaica, particularly in Ocho Rios.

At Rainforest Adventures, you’ll be safely strapped into a custom-designed, high-tech sled and whooshed down a 1000-meter long track installed into the side of the mountain, completely driven by gravity: yes, Newton, it really works! You have complete control of the speed of your bobsled while you slide through the dense tropical landscape on top of Mystic Mountain. Visitors can purchase tickets for bobsledding, or they can avail it in a package with other activities to do.

They can go bobsledding as well as zip lining on all 7 zip lines averaging 100 meters length each, and riding on a chairlift called the SkyExplorer that takes them soaring 700 feet above the Jamaican rainforest, giving them a chance to explore the treetops above the Mystic Mountain in Ocho Rios.

Latest Bobsled Pictures

Before your bobsled ride ends, don’t forget to smile for your commemorative picture!

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A Relaxing Honeymoon in Costa Rica Yet Full of Adventures

Being married is a very important event in one's life, for this is the moment when you take vows with your most beloved person in the very sacred sacrament. In fact, wedding ceremonies are the most highlighted moment of most couples in their entire life, and the celebration even goes beyond the honeymoon: it does not just stop at the receptions where greetings and good food are shared among close friends, relatives, and visitors who witnessed this life-turning event.

Planning Your Honeymoon in Costa Rica

Being considered as one of the top destinations in the world to go for honeymoon, newlyweds can find great romantic memories and unforgettable adventures and experiences in Costa Rica. In planning your honeymoon, you may come up with a question, what kind of bonding would you prefer to have with your partner? Would you like to have a fully-relaxing vacation for a week, or a thrilling adventure that would keep your adrenaline running? Choosing a package of 24/7 relaxation is a good choice, but you might be interested in having an adventure-filled honeymoon in Costa Rica. And the third options is that you can have them both, a perfect balance of relaxation and adventure!

Rainforest Lodge

The jungle of Costa Rica is a fun place to start with. Together with Parador Hotel and Resort, Rainforest Adventures in the Atlantic-side offers the Costa Rica Love Nest Honeymoon Package, which was featured by Destination I Do Magazine in their blog post, "Honeymoon in Costa Rica: The Perfect Balance of Adventure & Relaxation". This package includes:

• Three nights in Rainforest Lodge and admission to Rain Forest Adventures Costa Rica Atlantic
• Three nights in Deluxe Room at Parador Resort & Spa (upgrades based on availability)
• Daily breakfast at both properties
• Lunch at Rain Forest Adventures
• Guided Tour to Manuel Antonio National Park
• Daily breakfast
• Transfers
• Sales and exit taxes

Whether you prefer to have a relaxing, luxurious spa environment, or whether you are the type that wants to have some action adventures and physical activities, you can find them all in Costa Rica.

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112th Christmas Bird Count Has Concluded

BIRDS - They are considered as a very important indicator for the overall health of our natural environment. As stated by The National Audubon Society's State of Birds:

Like the proverbial canaries in the coal mine, they send an urgent warning about threats to our water, air, natural resources, climate and more.

And in order to identify bird population trends, as well as to highlight species and habitats at risk, the Christmas Bird Count is annually held. The National Audubon Society, as well as other organizations, use the data collected in this longest-running wildlife census to assess the health of bird populations - and to help guide conservation action.

Recently, on the 14th of December of the year 2011, the 112th Christmas Bird Count started. This event has ended last week on the 5th of January of this year 2012, and we are now currently waiting for The National Audubon Society for the results, and how the counts went.

For the Love of Birds and For the Sake of Their Conservation

Tens of thousands of volunteers throughout the Americas participated in the annual bird watching event. This adventure has become a family tradition, generation after generation for over a hundred years. Completely equipped with their birding gears such as binoculars, bird guides, and checklists, they all go out on this annual mission, most of them starting to venture before the break of dawn. Ready to leave the comfort of a warm house during the Holiday season and to brave snow, wind, and rain just to take part in the Christmas Bird Count, they are all very dedicated to make a difference, to experience the beauty of nature, and to make an enormous contribution to conservation.

Everyone who takes part in this yearly event does it for the love of birds and the excitement of friendly competition -- and with the knowledge that their efforts are making a difference for science and bird conservation.

- Christmas Bird Count

Great Horned Owl

111th Christmas Bird Count in Central and South America

Let's have a flashback on how the 111th Christmas Bird Count (Dec. 14, 2010 to Jan. 5, 2011) in Latin America, including Costa Rica. It was an exceptional one, with the total number of counts submitted topping out at 51. In this season, there were counts in the Latin American region that had tallied over 300 species (where we got the 3rd place!); needless to say these were the highest species tallies of all counts during the 111th CBC:

1. Mindo-Tandayapa, Ecuador, retains their spot at the top of the list with 423 species
2. Yanayacu, Ecuador at 412
3. Pacific Rainforest Aerial Tram, Costa Rica (that's us!) at 377
4. La Selva, Lower Braulio Carillo, Costa Rica at 358
5. the new Western Cloud Forest, Costa Rica at 346
6. and Monteverde, Costa Rica at 311

To read more about the 111th Christmas Bird Count in Central and South America, click and download this PDF file.

Get involved in the Christmas Bird Count! Since the Christmas Bird Count began over a century ago, it has relied on the dedication and commitment of volunteer citizen scientists. In other words, it all starts with you!

Book tickets online for the bird watching tour at Rainforest Adventures Costa Rica Pacific and get 10% discount on every online ticket purchase!

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