Eco Vacation Experiences: La Cocotera On the Web

December 21st, 2009

Leave your mark! We talk so much about counteracting any “footprint” or environmental mark but forget to mention where you can leave a notable footprint. There have been some wonderful fan photos, reviews and videos out there and we want to highlight some of the real eco vacation experiences people have had at La Cocotera Resort.

From TripAdvisor reviewer TravelToLiveToday:

“This might have been the most well designed facility we have ever stayed at. We have stayed at many outstanding facilities around the world…So many wonderful things to talk about. The rooms are incredible. Some deep engineering makes the rooms so climate comfortable- without having to turn on the air-conditioning. I don’t care for air-conditioning but always use it. At La Cocotera the rooms have huge double french doors that capture the ocean breeze…Outside of the rooms are chase lounges. So incredibly comfortable, I thought I might want to sleep outside. Inside the bed, linens and pillows are simply perfect….The food is wonderful. The chef is a native Salvadorian who trained at culinary school for three years…The ocean is simply magnificent. Very private- yet the feeling of safety because the beach is wide open.”

From Tripadvisor reviewer Peckhamgypsy:

“The rooms are very nicely designed and decorated and give a feel of quality. Likewise, the whole hotel is well designed and because of it’s position, guests can enjoy the peace and solitude of the lagoon or walk a few metres and be sitting in front of the crashing Pacific waves. I don’t normally like the concept of “meals included” resorts but in this case there really is not much choice but to eat at the hotel and the good news is that the food was varied and tasty.”

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Travelers share photos from their eco vacation to La Cocotera on SmugMug.com:

“The last week of October my friend Colette and I spent 4 days at La Cocotera Ecolodge in Barra Santiago, El Salvador. We took advantage of all the resort had to offer including taking part in a turtle release, kayaking the estuary, an afternoon on the floating ranchita, a trip by panga to the local school, and a trip to a local home to learn how to make tortillas!”

View the La Cocotera Ecolodge, El Salvador 10.08 gallery here

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Check out this fun YouTube video with pictures of the resort’s gorgeous scenery:

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La Cocotera on Flickr:

See even more eco vacation photos on Flickr, or cruise through a few traveler-submitted photos on Tripadvisor.

Have photos or reviews that you’d like to share? Feel free to submit them to lacocoteraresort @ yahoo.com and we would be happy to include them in our blog.

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Water Activities and Adventures at La Cocotera Eco Lodge

December 1st, 2009

El Salvador is an area that offers not only striking beaches, but a wide variety of exciting water activities. In fact, La Cocotera’s  ideal geographic position allows for some of the best water activities in the world. Those seeking solitude will enjoy our ultra-remote location on the northern Pacific coast, known for its national park, estuaries and mangroves. In these groves, you’ll find our El Salvador eco lodge set in a tawny sandbar with thatched-roof bungalows in a stand of coconut palms.

The country’s Balsam Coast is known as a surfer’s paradise, well known for its beach breaks, river mouths, reefs and cobblestone points. For the longest wave in El Salvador that’s perfect for both long boards and short boards, try El Sunzal. The waves are big and surfer enthusiasts can often be found spending their time here.

Some of the other water activities in the area include:

  • Eco/nature/wildlife observation in the Barra de Santiago estuary
  • Kayaking
  • Scuba diving
  • Snorkeling
  • Jet skiing
  • Boogie boarding
  • Boat tours/sailing
  • Visits to local conservation projects
  • White-water rafting
  • Deep sea fishing

To better serve our guests,  La Cocotera eco lodge offers life vests, boogie boards, kayaks and other equipment. Because we are not a large chain resort, these are easily accessible for our guests to enjoy.

After a day of nature and water activities, don’t forget to relax by the pool! Designed to be very private, relaxing and secluded, the La Cocotera pool is the perfect place to lounge and enjoy paradise. One of the most characteristic features of the pool is the design, which allows two mature palms trees to remain in the center of the pool. This is a testament to our commitment to not disturbing the natural surroundings and our effort to accommodate nature and our guests. The pool is environmentally friendly, with an ionization filtration system, eliminating any need for chemicals and chlorine.

Take your time and have fun with these uncrowded water activities. If you are looking for an all-inclusive eco lodge far away from the crowded beaches that allows you to be  a conscientious consumer and tourist, then La Cocotera is for you!

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El Salvador Ecotourism: Olive Ridley Sea Turtles

October 16th, 2009

olive-ridley-turtle

One of the great advantages of ecotourism is the opportunity to witness nature’s wonders first hand. Just one of the many unique and amazing animals that reside in our little area of El Salvador is the olive ridley sea turtle. If you are lucky, you may be able to see this sea turtle on the Barra de Santiago beach.

Olive ridley turtles get their name from the coloring of their heart-shaped shell, which starts out grey when they first hatch, but becomes olive green once the turtles are adults.  Olive ridley turtles are one of the smallest species of sea turtle, with adults reaching 2 to 2.5 feet in length and weighing 80 to 110 pounds.

Female olive ridley’s have a remarkable way of nesting that sets them apart from other animals. Large groups of turtles gather off shore, then simultaneously come ashore to nest and lay their eggs. The  nesting rush is known as an “arribada”,  which is Spanish for “arrival”. During these arribadas, hundreds to thousands of females come ashore to lay their eggs.

The olive ridley turtle’s conservation status is threatened, which means it is likely to become endangered unless the circumstances threatening its survival and reproduction improve. In breeding populations on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, the Olive Ridley turtle is endangered. The main cause of the historical decline of the olive ridley sea turtle is the collection of eggs and killing of adults on nesting beaches.

turtles

At La Cocotera Eco Resort, we sponsor a turtle release program that allows guests to participate in the release of baby olive ridley turtles into the Pacific ocean. Our eco lodge aims to promote ecotourism and inspire guests to help preserve our natural environment. We purchase the eggs from locals and raise them until they are ready to be released. If you would like to learn more about our eco resort and the turtle release program, contact us at info [at] lacocoteraresort.com

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El Salvador Featured in New York Times Travel

October 6th, 2009

olivebabies

El Salvador is slowly earning a reputation as the ideal place for sun, surf and peaceful solitude. Travel to this tropical area is on the rise as word gets out about ideal surfing conditions, unique wildlife, beautiful beaches and captivating culture. For those who seek a travel experience a little bit off the beaten path, but with the trimmings of a picturesque beach vacation,  La Cocotera ecolodge should be your first stop. In her article for the Travel Section of The New York Times Online, Bonnie Tsui dotes on the charm and beauty of El Salvador:

“A lingering reputation of El Salvador as a war-torn place has kept many foreign visitors at bay, but the country’s beaches, volcanic craters, pristine cloud forests and bird sanctuaries are setting it up to be the next Costa Rica, without the crowds. Authentic local experiences abound: rustic roadside stands everywhere sell pupusas, the country’s famous corn tortillas, usually filled with gooey cheese and refried beans. Out on the water, seasoned oyster divers, their floats and nets bobbing on the surface, are ready to chat between trips down to the rocky seabed.”

Like any area that experiences a spike in travel, big hotels have begun to sprout. By traveling to smaller coastal villages such as Barra de Santiago, you will experience the same El Salvador that Tsui describes. With waves that are  mellow but challenging, mouth-watering local fare, friendly local people and plenty of opportunity for nature exploration,  staying at an El Salvador ecolodge is a travel experience you don’t want to miss.

Read the full article on El Salvador travel at travel.nytimes.com

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Traveling Green: Ecolodge Packing Tips

September 4th, 2009

beach-hammocks

Traveling green doesn’t just mean staying at an ecolodge or turning off the lights when you leave your bungalow, you can pack green too! Here are some tips on what to bring to our beachfront ecolodge and how to keep it eco-friendly.

El Salvador has a tropical climate with two seasons: verano, or dry season (November to April), and invierno, or wet season (May to October). Rainfall during this time is usually a single downpour during the day or night with the rest of the day being sunny. The year round average air temperature is between 70 ° - 90 ° F (or 21 ° – 32 ° C), with the hottest months typically being March and April.

Remember to bring lightweight, waterproof outerwear if you plan to travel during the wet season.  To keep things wet/dry while you are out and about on excursions, such as a tour of El Imposible National Park, simply re-use old plastic bags as containers.

Pack light!  Barra de Santiago is a tropical area so you don’t need to bring any heavy clothes. Packing lighter will lighten the load for you and for all your transportation vehicles. Bring a mix of long and short sleeve shirts for hot days and cooler nights.  Instead of denim, which can be heavy and uncomfortable in the humidity and heat, opt for breathable materials for shorts and pants.

If you plan to embark on any eco tours, remember to bring hiking and/or walking shoes along with your beach shoes. On a similar note, bringing a day travel bag for hikes or eco tours is a great way to keep the essentials (sunscreen, water bottle, etc.) with you as you explore the area.

At La Cocotera, we encourage our guests to explore the wonderful natural area surrounding the ecolodge, from the ocean to the estuary to the mangroves. While you’re out and about, it’s a good idea to wear bug repellent.  Many repellents products contain harsh chemical ingredients that are bad for the environment and for you. Look for non-chemical repellents, or better yet, make your own!  Good herbs that repel mosquitoes include basil, eucalyptus, cloves, geranium, peppermint, rosemary and lemon balm (citronella). You can make your own repellent by combining 10 drops essential oil (see list of herbs, above, for choices) 2 tablespoons vegetable oil. Combine the ingredients in a glass jar; stir to blend. Dab a few drops on your skin or clothing.

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Eco Vacations: Barra de Santiago Estuary and Mangrove Forest

August 28th, 2009

La Cocotera Eco Resort is located on the sandy shores of the Barra de Santiago coast, with the Barra de  Santiago Estuary and Mangrove forest as its neighbor. If you are looking for an eco vacation that offers relaxing luxury and intruiging wildlife exploration, then La Cocotera is for you.

Barra de Santiago is home to seven different species of mangrove, and measures approximately 2,000 hectares (4,942 acres). Along with lush vegetation, the inner mangrove coastline is a haven for thousands of native and migratory birds and a various wildlife. Guests at our resort can view several types of wildlife while floating along the peaceful estuary waters including iguanas, lizards, marine mammals, shellfish, sea turtles, crocodiles, blue crabs and more!

If you are a nature and wildlife enthusiast who is looking for the perfect eco vacation activity, you must try kayaking through the Barra de Santiago estuary. To learn more about kayaking, see our other post on Eco Resort Nature Activites: Kayaking. For those staying out our eco lodge, Kayak rentals are included.

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Airline Tips & Tricks to Get You to Your El Salvador Hotel

August 19th, 2009

It seems airlines are still finding new methods to charge more these days, a wise consumer should try to save money when it comes to flying. Here some great tips for saving money that have been collected from other travel bloggers, industry insiders and personal experiences so that you can get the most out of your vacation and visit to our El Salvador hotel.

Here are five ingenious and easy ways to get discounts when flying. With just some help from the Internet and a little time, you can find multiple sites that offer discounted rates. With even a little more work, you can find the absolute best price possible. The following are some good tips to get you discount airfares:

  • Do your research. There are a lot of offers available only on the Internet if you look closely. It’s easy to look at flight search engine sites like cheapoair.com, kayak.com and mobissimo.com. After a little research you should find it is best to book at least two weeks ahead, preferably three. Flying mid-week will also significantly drive down the cost.
  • Sometimes doing all of your research online isn’t enough. In many cases travel agents might be able to get you a deal. Ask them upfront what you would expect to pay for a particular destination such as El Salvador.
  • Travel in groups. There are a lot of travel agents out there that will offer discounts to groups of people.
  • Make sure to travel in the off-season. Like mid-week deals, airlines and hotels offer discounts in the off-season months and you can benefit by traveling at these times. For example, at our El Salvador hotel, we have lower prices during off peak months.
  • Use your research as leverage. Use what you have learned when comparing deals and talking to people. See if they can match the price or lower. Many sites and hotels offer a best price guarantee so if you find a better price after booking then they will price match.

With just a little research and help from others, you can save a great deal of money for yourself and your friends making for a great eco vacation. If you have any tips or tricks of your own, please, feel free to comment and share. Happy traveling!

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El Salvador Hotels and Night Life

August 13th, 2009

Don’t forget to splash your travels with the colorful nightlife of San Salvador’s best bars and nightclubs. When you leave your El Salvador hotel for the evening, check out the Zona Rosa district, just west of the city center.  Many cafes and restaurants can be found in Paseo General Escalon, in the Zona Rosa region, while nightclubs and cinemas  (many of which show English-language films with Spanish subtitles) can often be found in shopping malls, like Metrocenter or Gran Vía. One of the area’s theaters is the beautifully restored Teatro Nacional.

Along with theaters and clubs, venues like the Feria Internacional for concerts, and Estadio Cuscatlán and Estadio Mágico Gonzalez for football (soccer) matches and concerts are great for a day out.

When you go into the restaurants remember to order the national culinary specialities:

  • Pupusa (a fried sandwich of tortillas, filled with pork, cheese, refried beans and/ or vegetables).
  • Típico salvadoreño (standard Salvadoran breakfast comprising eggs, local cheese, refried beans, fried plantains and tortillas).
  • Corn tortillas.
  • Tamal de elote (cornflour batter with meat filling, wrapped in banana leaves and steamed).

To read more about traditional and specialty cuisine, see our other post on El Salvador Food!

When you go out to the shops or clubs don’t pass up on drinking some of the local specialties:

  • Café (coffee).
  • Refrescos (natural fruit drinks).
  • Tic tac and torito (strong alcoholic beverages made from distilled sugar cane).

In El Salvador, the legal drinking age is 18. For night clubs and bars, remember that entry charges are common. For tipping in the area, give about 10% in El Salvador hotels and restaurants, and 15% is appropriate for smaller bills. Check before tipping because service charge is often included on bill.

FYI: Certain areas are best to avoid. The actual San Salvador downtown offers little to no in the way of entertainment and should be avoided for the most part at night. Outside the capital most places of entertainment (even hotels) close early.

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Eco Travel Tips from Your Environmentally Friendly Resort

July 28th, 2009

Traveling around the world can offer some of the greatest inspiration to preserve this wonderful gem that we call Earth, but traveling can also be harmful for the unaware eco-consumer.

In an effort to witness all the natural beauty of Central America and its world renowned national parks, make an effort to avoid inadvertent damage. Take these steps from National Geographic’s Traveler for the ultimate guide to sustainable travel:

  • Try booking a stay at an environmentally friendly resort or hotel. Be mindful of the global impacts of resources used; take initiative to find a local eco friendly hotel or even community environmental programs near your lodging.  Visit  LaCocoteraResort.com to read about our environmentally friendly methods and our Green Leaf Certification.
  • Make sure to unplug your home or office when you leave for a vacation. Responsible traveling begins at home! Before you head out, make sure to unplug any appliance that won’t be in use while you’re away, such as computers, phone chargers, televisions, video game players and microwaves. According to Thomas Kostigen, co-author of The Green Book, “as much as 10 percent of the electricity used in your home is wasted energy burned by adapters, chargers, computers and other appliances that we leave plugged in when we’re not using them.”
  • When you are making preparations for your trip, go paperless. Use online resources to plan and book your trip, and only when necessary, print out maps and other materials at home on recycled paper.
  • To lessen the negative impact of your travels - and help ensure optimum positive impact - thoroughly research your destination before you book. Traveling to some destinations during the market-induced high season can increase your overall negative impact, so planning a month earlier or later can be beneficial.
  • Finally, visit during a festival, or schedule your trips in conjunction with vibrant, local celebrations that provide a window into the culture and help support traditional crafts and customs. This helps sustain local economies and cultures. Travelers support the living culture because they spend money on food, lodging, locally made crafts or local events. One of our most popular events at our hotel is the turtle release program, which helps the eco system and supports the culture without inadvertently trampling it.

All these methods are simple and helpful ways to travel better and show respect for the ecosystem both in your own home and all they way across the world.

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Barra de Santiago Myth: The Legend of Chasca

July 23rd, 2009

La Cocotera Eco Friendly Resort Estuary

The estuary and mangroves next to our eco friendly resort in Barra de Santiago may have a little more magic than just the chirping of birds and rustling of wildlife. Popular among villagers is a myth called The Legend of Chasca, a tale about the goddess of fishing.

According to the story, Chasca was once a beautiful princess who fell in love with a Prince named Acayet.  When Chasca’s father, Pachacuet, discovered their love affair, he ordered that Prince Acayet be killed.  Devastated by the news of her lover’s death, Chasca threw herself into the waters of La Barra de Santiago, and was never heard from again.  To this day, people  say that Chasca still appears on some nights, sailing in a white canoe and that it is a sign of good fishing conditions. On these nights, the villagers recite these verses:

“Fisherman the moon is out
Unwrap your fishing net
This night is of good fortune
Since the beautiful white canoe is coming,
Fear not, Chasca is good,
There is nobody like Chasca.”

Source: http://elsalvadorturismo.gob.sv/ingles/ahuachapan.htm

You too can paddle through the enchanted waters of Barra de Santiago when you stay at our eco friendly resort. To learn more about La Cocotera and our beachfront accommodations, visit www.lacocoteraresort.com

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