That feeling of welcome, of coming home, makes all the difference to a weary traveller after a long hot day. Luckily, Costa Rica has a strong family base when it comes to tourism.
We’ve all been there. You get up early in the morning, sit through hours in a crowded airport, then in a cramped plane to arrive in another crowded airport. You drag your belongings through long security lines, and customs. You finally find a taxi or a shuttle to your hotel and arrive with a huge sigh… only to find no one at the desk.
You stand at the empty counter, craning your neck to see if there’s anyone “back there” while your family mutters and frowns. When they eventually wander out from the back, they efficiently check you, give you a key and send you off. You walk away with nothing tangible to complain about, but a vague feeling of dismissal.
It happens all the time, regardless of how ‘upscale’ the hotel is. Most hotels are run by corporations with managers, and while they are professional and experienced, running the hotel is a job, not a lifestyle, so their heart isn’t in it.
Every so often though, you get lucky. You find a business that’s family run. It’s the heart and soul of the people who own it and run it, because it matters to them. You matter to them. What a joy it is to walk in that door and instead of silence or elevator music, there’s a smiling face and a warm greeting.
That feeling of welcome, of coming home, makes all the difference to a weary traveller after a long hot day. Luckily, Costa Rica has a strong family base when it comes to tourism. It’s growing little by little, but for now, while it’s young, tourists can enjoy the benefits of the warm, personal service of people who care.
Serving you supports their family. The family and the business grow together, and as the children grow up, they often become part of the business as well. They watch, learn, and carry on the traditions of their parents. That warm, personalized service that makes everything better.
At the brand new Ocotea Hotel, mother and daughter team Karen and Valeria Fallas have been providing that kind of one-on-one, customized service for years. As part of Ocotea Tours and Transfers, they are the best at what they do, and their reputation proves it.
When they realized the need for sustainable eco-friendly accommodations in Monteverde, they decided to branch out. It’s been a long, and complex journey, but one they have committed to completely. The project is self-financed and has been years in the making but they are proud of the fact that the Ocotea Hotel will be completely sustainable. Every step of the way, from inception to research and design, they have minimized the hotel's effect on the surrounding environment, because it's’ their home… and their future.
So much of Costa Rican culture is intertwined with the world around them. What affects the ecosystem, affects them in a very direct way, and in a relatively short timespan. By protecting and nurturing their home, they are ensuring that their children and their children’s children can enjoy it for generations to come, and that it will support and sustain them in return.
Karen and Valeria have a very simple goal. They wish to provide guests with a means of enjoying the beauty and serenity of nature, allowing it to seep into their very bones and bring peace in a way that only nature can do.
They want visitors to enjoy the very best service and to walk away with a renewed sense of well-being, and a new understanding of the world around them.
They would say this is a calling, not a job… and that is why visiting a family-run business provides an experience like no other.
The Ocotea Boutique Hotel which is opening in December 2021, is a masterpiece of comfort and serenity nestled into the hillside. Karen and Valeria have been involved in every step of the planning and building. It is full of personal touches and thoughtful spaces.
The fittings, furnishings and decor are all designed to blend seamlessly with the natural surroundings. To allow guests to immerse themselves in the sights, sounds and smells of Monteverde’s cloud forest.
All of their knowledge and experience has gone into making their hotel the best that it can be right down to the smallest detail, and it shows. Guests of the hotel will enjoy that urge to provide great service, and the thoughtful touches while they relax on the property. They will benefit from their wealth of experience when it comes time to choose activities during their stay.
They know the best trails to hike, the names of the birds singing outside your window, and the hidden gems to visit while you’re in the area. They are happy to share their knowledge with you, and teach you all about the wonders of Monteverde, and Costa Rica.
When you’re used to large hotel chains where no one knows your name and you have to flag them down to ask a question, (which staff often can’t answer), the difference in atmosphere is obvious.
That feeling applies to other businesses too. It’s not uncommon to go on a private chocolate tour where an eight year old boy is your guide into the property, and he hands you off to his older brother who takes you through part of the process while their mother roasts the cocoa beans on the fire nearby, and dad is in the field milking the cow.
At some point in the future, things may become more commercialized, but for now, I enjoy the personalized care, and the happy smiles that go along with supporting a family-run business. I like knowing that when I make an effort to support them, I’m helping people who need it the most. I’m helping people who make it their business not only to protect their traditional way of life, but to share it with strangers so that we can enjoy it too.
These are people who live in harmony with nature, teach us to understand the importance of the ecosystems around us, and how the balance of those ecosystems affect everything else. It’s much easier to understand in the forest under a canopy of trees where life is everywhere, than in an urban jungle of cement and tarmac where “green-space” means a patch of grass and a couple of trees.
I highly recommend making the choice to support the smaller family-run businesses when you come to Costa Rica. Let them welcome you into their homes, their farms, and their hotels. Let them share what they know with you. You’ll walk away with a smile on your face and a warmth in your heart, and a new appreciation for nature and all it includes.
Pura Vida my friends!
Coffee Sprouts: https://pixabay.com/users/maliaroestiphotography-7810779/