Central America is our most popular region and whilst giving back is one of the core attributes of a Hands Up trip, another is enabling you to give back in luxury, ideally eco-luxury. As 2019 gets underway, here are six just-opened properties in Costa Rica, Belize and Guatemala that you are sure to love:
Remote Tented Luxury – Costa Rica
A private retreat overlooking the Papagayo Bay in Guanacaste, the Kasiiya Papagayo Retreat features five luxurious tented suites positioned throughout 50 hectares (123 acres) of verdant greenery. Suitable for intergenerational family trips, the tents are available on an exclusive basis only. Each air-conditioned suite opens to a spacious deck with splendid views.
Each tent has been constructed from all-natural materials for sustainability. There are three tents near the beach, and two even more remote and secluded, on the hilltop – perfect for the sunset.
The Kasiiya experience focuses on mind and body wellness, allowing you to connect to nature in your own way.
For Mountain Lovers – Costa Rica
Origins offers untamed luxury, with six spacious rooms and an incredible three-bedroom villa in northern Costa Rica. The craftsmanship blends stone, wood, and bamboo with hand-crafted furnishings, high-end amenities, and spectacular views of the valley below.
Each room features a deck with a private, heated plunge pool. The property includes lagoons, organic gardens, a waterfall, and a spa. Wildlife viewing is great here as well.
Sustainable Cloud Forest Luxury – Costa Rica
Maintaining Costa Rica’s proud record in sustainable luxury, the Senda Monteverde Hotel offers 24 charming rooms with porches overlooking lush gardens or the Pacific Ocean in the distance.
Senda suites occupy their own private, freestanding casitas while other rooms are clustered in duplexes. The hotel’s casual, playful elegance includes luxury amenities and contemporary design, accented with local artwork and cozy nooks. The Senda offers farm to table dining, and offers bird-watching, cooking classes, Spanish lessons, a coffee “tasting tour”, and more.
Lake Luxury – Guatemala
Lake Atitlán, surrounded by volcanoes, is one of the world’s most beautiful lakes, and Casa Prana offers sublime views of it all, with access only by boat or helicopter. Featuring eight bright and spacious suites combining simplicity with elegance. Stroll through the resort’s 3.6 hectares (9 acres) of private gardens with mesmerizing views of the lake. Exercise in the saltwater lap pool or rejuvenate in the wellness facilities.
A gourmet chef can prepare meals in your suite or villa, and for luxury intergenerational family trips, or for just extra privacy, book the entire property for your exclusive use.
Colonial Luxury – Guatemala
Antigua is arguably the prettiest Colonial town in Central America, and there are already some lovely properties here, such as Posada del Angel, but its always nice to welcome a new contender. Palo-Santo has five stylish rooms, and contains several historic and classic features, including a traditional lush garden courtyard and a peaceful chapel. Enjoy morning yoga or sunset cocktails on the roof terrace, with spellbinding views of Agua Volcano. It’s a short walk to Antigua’s Central Park and the town’s great shopping and dining, but far enough removed to get a quiet, restful sleep.
Eco-Luxury on the Beach – Belize
From the creators of awesome Ka’ana in the Mayan jungle comes Itz’ana on Placencia beach. At the center of Belize’s newest resort is the Great House, where Limilia, the resort’s signature restaurant, among others, is located. Limilia will have a seasonal menu with both local and international seafood options. Itz’ana offers a Cook Your Catch excursion where you head out to catch fish for dinner, which is prepared by Limilia’s chefs.
Of the 46 Waterfront Residences, the best are the Four- and Five-Bedroom Lagoon Villas, both of which offer at least 4,000 square feet of space, large terraces, a waterfront plunge pool, and more. Accentuating the eco-luxury aspects, these accommodations (and several others) are fitted with rooftop solar panels, reducing the resort’s carbon footprint. These are ideal for luxury intergenerational family trips, and activity options abound here, from rappeling down waterfalls to spa treatments to whale shark and even jaguar spotting.
Give back in luxury in Central America
In Costa Rica, there is a wide variety of ways to give back in luxury, from wildlife conservation to assisting at a recycling center tor at a medical clinic caring primarily for Nicaraguan refugees
In Guatemala you can build a decent place to live for a family in need, and in Belize you can provide a family with a fuel-efficient stove, which is much safer and healthier too.
Is a luxury family volunteer vacation in Central America for you?
If you have a taste for adventure, want to make an impact whilst bonding closer as a family and inspiring your children to be world-changers, and appreciate the finer things in life, then yes, a trip where you can give back in luxury is for you!
Contact us for a no obligation consultation, and discover for yourself what is possible!
