Open the door to The Real Costa Rica and Alternative Travel! If you enjoy getting to know a country through her people, sharing traditions and customs far from the conventional tourist routes—if you are in search of new experiences, this is your web page! Whether you are looking for relaxation or alternative vacations - you travel alone or with friends – ACTUAR will help you travel in a different way, in contact with nature, with people, and the beauty of country life.   In a world that is becoming more pressured and more uniform every day, we invite you to travel at a healthy and relaxed pace, so you can savor the true essence of travel--learning about other cultures and sharing a bit of their day to day lives.   Falling asleep to the sound of crickets, walking in the forest with your senses open to the life surrounding you, waking up with the roosters to take part in the morning chores, or adventuring with guides who really know their territory are all rural tourism experiences. This book will lead you to what you have been hoping for. Each of our recommended destinations offers a great variety of activities for all ages and interests.   In addition, your visit will help to create more opportunities for country people. Many campesino families, fishing families, and indigenous communities are realizing their dream of sharing their knowledge and their joie de vivre with thenew friends that come to visit them through ecotourism.   You will also have the chance to become part of their conservation efforts. The lodges and tours featured in this book are owned by grassroots organizations that are working to protect thousands of acres of forest and valuable water resources. With organized voluntary labor, and often unheralded, they are helping to safeguard a precious treasure for future generations.   Whether you would like to spend your entire alternative vacation in community-based destinations or just escape for weekend, this web page will take you to the real Costa Rica. You’ll come back with your suitcase filled with new experiences, and with the satisfaction of having been part of a dream to make this a better world.