Where Lush Jungle Meets the White-Sand Beaches: Manuel Antonio By Living Social
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The Escape Kit• A Four-Night Stay for Two in a Bungalow with a $100 Food Credit ($449)• A Five-Night Stay for Two in a Bungalow with a $120 Food Credit ($559)• A Six-Night Stay for Two in a Bungalow with a $140 Food Credit ($669)• Or, a Seven-Night Stay for Two in a Bungalow with a $160 Food Credit ($779)• Full Daily Breakfast for Two• Two Drinks Per Person Per DayThe DestinationCosta Rica's reputation as an eden for eco-tourism is well deserved. More than 500,000 species—roughly four-percent of the planet's total—are represented within its borders, making this Central American nation Earth's most biodiverse. Though the country contains 20 nation parks, it owes its eco-cred to the smallest among them: Manuel Antonio. This 1,700-acre rain forest packs an eye-popping punch with flashy-feathered toucans, wild beaches, and stands of bamboo reaching 30 feet high. Among its most famous residents are iguanas, sloths, and squirrel monkeys, which Lonely Planet calls "the cutest fur balls you have ever seen."The DigsIf it wasn't for the delightfully cool air conditioning and the cable TV and in-room refrigerator and microwave, you'd swear you were living in the trees instead of the wistfully eco-friendly bungalows of Hotel Byblos Resort & Casino, a boutique adventure resort located on the fringe of the forest in beautiful Manuel Antonio. Natural teak-wood furnishings, wood-beam ceilings, and earthy clay tiles blend seamlessly into the natural rainforest that blooms outside your elevated private balcony—which you may want to keep open, so the soft Costa Rican breezes can waft over your king or queen bed outfitted in high-thread-count linens and orthopedic mattresses.The DiversionsCosta Rica is an adventurer's paradise, and on-site thrills at Hotel Byblos are no exception. Take a chance on the floor games and slot machines at the on-site casino, or dive into the clear waters of the outdoor swimming pool surrounded by jungle. With activities coordinated by the hotel, you'll have your pick of ways to experience what the locals call pura vida—the good life. Race across the beach on a horseback ride, zip-line above the lush canopy, or dive beneath the surface on a snorkeling or dolphin watching excursion. For a slower yet equally indulgent pace, treat yourself to a bevy of sensuous body treatments at nearby Cala Spa. Regardless, you'll have stories galore as you gather round the dinner table at the resort's poolside bistro or sports bar
