The Costa Rican Institute of Tourism, an autonomous government agency, is better known by its initials, I.C.T. It was formed in 1955 with the purpose of regulating the tourist activities in Costa Rica. Its objectives are the planning, promotion, and commercialization of the tourist services within Costa Rica. This planning is for the promotion methods, the attraction of tourist, and the pleasing environment within the country for the foreign visitors, that are looking for relaxation, amusement, or entertainment. The term APARTOTEL (Apartments-Hotels), by definition, is the type of establishment that offers lodging for a daily or monthly rate. One of its main characteristics is that it is made up of apartment type units, each one with one or more bedrooms, a private bathroom, a room-dining room, and kitchen. Also, it provides secure parking for the guests´s cards.

APARTOTEL LOS YOSES ® is a pioneer for this type of service in the country, with the help of the I.C.T. for what has been welcomed in an everything to their norms and procedures through the Declaration of Tourist Activity from their foundation . At the moment he/she meets with ours categorized with 4 stars- according to the manual of hotel categorization of Costa Rica under standard international and elaborated by the company Menlo Consulting Group.Inc.-, being this the maximum category of this type of establishments, for what the guest counts guarantee, commitment and solidity of a continuous improvement in our his standards of quality and of service.

The Costa Rican Association of Hotels, better known within the country by their initials C.C.H.,was created in 1940. This is the organization that represents the tourism sector of national hotels before the Costa Rican Tourism Institute, the I.C.T., which is an autonomous government entity.

Among its many goals, as a truly representative organization of the members of the tourist sector, it offers the qualitative and quantitative assessment of the needs of its Associates in order to improve the economic and social areas of the Costa Rican society, always keeping the ethical principle of professionalism of the business.

APARTOTEL LOS YOSES® has been an active member since 1985, and it restates its intention of working toward a healthy, loyal, and formal competition while continually improving its standards of quality

The Neotrópica Foundation is a private, non-profit organization, that is dedicated to transforming the realities of the handling of natural resources. Neotrópica is working for sustainable practices that protect the natural environment and improve the quality of life of present and future communities.It also promotes changes in the legislative and political environment. Also, it develops planning to protect the natural environment of Costa Rica. This is the protection and development of national parks, forest management and reservations, scientific conservation investigation, and conservation education. It also promotes plans for socio-cultural well-being in connection with nature.

APARTOTEL LOS YOSES®, aware of the necessity for a sustainable natural environment, supports the programs of the Neotrópica Foundation. We invite everyone to visit their web site.

web site: www.neotropica.org e-mail: fneotrop@sol.racsa.co.cr

The Certificate for tourist sustainability - CST - is a program of the Costa Rican Tourist Institute (ICT) that gives the certificate to the lodging establishments that fulfill the sustainability requirement. They must meet the requirements to achieve a balance between their tourism activity and the natural, cultural, and social resources of t he country.

This reward is granted by the National Commission of Accreditation, which is headquartered in Costa Rica, and which sets the basic levels that the establishment must reach os the sustainability certificate.

APATOTEL LOS YOSES® is one of the first establishment in the country to receive the sustainable certificate, having received this reward on August 13, 1999. We will continue to implement new norms for a better environment.

web site: www.sustainable-tourism.co.cr

COSI (Costa Rica Spanish Institute) is a Spanish language school in Costa Rica that offers intensive Spanish classes beginning each week all year around.

web site: www.cosi.co.cr e-mail: info@cosi.co.cr

Forester Instituto Internacional in San José, Costa Rica, offers several exciting programs of instruction in the Spanish language. The institute also offers long term programs for those interested in staying more that one month.

web site: www.fores.com e-mail: forester@racsa.co.cr