kenya mendez
Corcovado Lodge Manager
col@expeditions.co.cr
Kenya, 27, perfected her English in Burlington, Vermont, where she spent a year and a half in a student exchange program. After returning to Costa Rica she began studying biology and has nearly completed her degree at Costa Rica’s Latin University. She has been with Costa Rica Expeditions since Nov. 1998, when she started as a Transfer Guide and later moved up to Naturalist Guide. Recently Kenya took up the challenge of managing Corcovado Lodge & Tent Camp on the Osa Peninsula.
Kenya has studied miniature orchids - particularly their insect pollination – as well as the ecology of the Tropical Dry Forest and worked extensively at Santa Rosa National Park with Dr. Daniel Janzen. She was a volunteer at the National Institute for Biodiversity at Maritza Station where she collected plants and insects that pollinate orchids in the Dry Tropical Forest environment. When she's not working, Kenya, born on Sept. 23, 1978, spends her time with her younger brother and sister, and is dedicated to poetry and painting. She also likes to hike and surf.
TESTIMONIALS:
Jan 9, 2009.- “It was the best vacation we have ever taken.”
Dear Michael and Natalie: Our holiday with Costa Rica Expeditions was great!!! In fact it was the best vacation we have ever taken. Our boys had a blast and even though everyone had a tough time saying their names, (Zale and Zev) each guide and driver always tried. We have only wonderful things to say about Luis Cubero, our travel planner, and Luis, our guide. Due to plane delays, we arrived a day late in San Jose and were thrilled to find people to greet us and take us to Savegre Lodge.
Staying at Laguna Vista in Corcovado was very special. The place is beautiful. Kenya and the other staff who work there made us feel like royalty. Nan fed us great meals that were delicious and healthy. Luis was always there to get us up and out. He was thoughtful, fun, sensitive to our needs and is a wealth of knowledge on Costa Rica, which he generously shared with us.
The Pacuare Rafting and overnight was also a highlight. We did it and survived – both the tent and rapids and had a fabulous time. We look forward to returning and having more adventures. With warm memories and many thanks to all of you for a fabulous trip.
-Judi Swartz & Bob Skolnik
Jul 12, 2006.- “What great memories we have together from this trip.”
I would like to let you know what a wonderful time we all had in Costa Rica. We especially enjoyed the Corcavado Tent Lodge. What a breathtaking setting and fantastic experience. Kenya Mendez is such a welcoming and professional manager. She takes great care of her guests and really loves her job and it shows. She helped us tremendously when we had car problems and when a storm blew in suddenly she attended to our tent while we were gone. She anticipates her guests needs and takes care of it before you even ask. The entire staff was very attentive and courteous. I hope to be able to visit Corcovado again. I traveled with my 70-year-old mother and 11-year-old-daughter, what great memories we have together from this trip.
-Michelle Manquen
May 9, 2006.- “The wildlife we saw was incredible!”
Thanks for a wonderful Costa Rican Experience! Your staff was attentive and informative from the moment I was met at my hotel until I returned from Corcovado. I had been to the Tent Camp before and loved it so much I was back just one a half years later. This second trip was even better than the first. The small changes you have made were a nice touch. Our manager Kenya and the rest of the staff made sure that our stay was comfortable and that we had all we needed. The wildlife we saw was incredible! We took the plane to Sirena and hiked back to the Lodge and were not disappointed! Our guide Rufilio Nuñez (Fillo) was very knowledgeable and has an incredible eye to spot the wild life I would have walked right by. I know we were lucky, but in two days we saw 2 pumas, 3 Baird's tapirs, an anteater, howler monkeys, squirrel monkeys, white face monkeys, spider monkeys, scarlet macaws, a toucan, curassow, poison dart frog, ruby eyed tree frog, tiger heron, great kiskadee, and the list goes on! I can't imagine a trip to Costa Rica without returning to the Tent Camp. I look forward to my next visit!
-Alleen McLain, Jackson, Mississippi
Mar 29, 2006.- ''Corcovado Camp was a great adventure and we all loved it.''
Hi Michael: I just wanted to let you and Selena know what a wonderful trip we had. Selena, your planning was great. We visited varied places and ecosystems and were able to do some extensive hiking and photographing. Corcovado Camp was a great adventure and we all loved it. Ginger and I did go into Serena after the other two couples left. Even though it was an expensive side trip, it was worth every penny. Obviously the park is a very special place - we hope it can be preserved (we were able to see 3 tapirs - mother, father (we presume) and baby).
Special thanks to Victor Perez, who is an outstanding guide and young man - certainly one of the best guides we've ever been with. Kenya at Corcovado is a fabulous young woman, very capable and very attentive to anything that we needed. Ginger's vegan diet was accommodated beautifully everywhere that we went.
Thanks again and we look forward to a return trip. By the way, Bosque del Cabo was also a terrific spot with wonderful hiking trails, great food and staff, and lots of animals and birds to photograph. Michael, it was great to see you again. We'll look forward to meeting again someday. FYI our anniversary dinner on the 15th at Grano d'Oro was a really nice evening.
-Richard Goldman
Mar 22, 2006.- ''The accommodations were amazing, as were all the people.''
This trip exceeded all my expectations! Please extend my gratitude to Alejandro, our river guide on the Pacuare River; Ricardo, our host at the Tortuga Lodge; and Kenya, she was a perfect example of the peace and relaxation achieved at the Corcovado Lodge. The accommodations were amazing, as were all the people who helped make my vacation a perfect time away from home. I just wish I were still there. I'm already planning my parents’ vacation and maybe will even join them. Thanks!
-Kathryn Harris
Mar 13, 2006.- ''Pablo ranks in the top 10% of local guides around the world''.
Dear Herrol: Just wanted to let you know that I had a wonderful time at Corcovado - thank you so much for your help in arranging this trip! The tent camp was even better than the first time I visited, which was already a very high standard. I'm certain that my friend Isabella loved it and will go back as well.
Also, I just wanted to let you know that I thought that Pablo (Aguilar) was a truly excellent naturalist guide. I've traveled to many natural destinations around the world and have spent time with numerous guides, and I think that Pablo ranks in the top 10% of local guides around the world. He is quite knowledgeable but does not pretend to know things if he is uncertain (for example, on a bird identification); he speaks clearly and is easy to understand, and he has a gentle voice and soft sense of humor; he is full of information but doesn't overload people who are less interested; he distributes his attention to all members of a group equally without showing favorites; he has wonderfully keen eyes and ears for spotting wildlife; and most importantly to me, he know when to talk and when to walk quietly in full appreciation of the surrounding natural beauty. I would appreciate it if you could pass these comments along to the heads of Costa Rica Expeditions, in the hope that they will convey my appreciation to both you and Pablo - and the super staff at the lodge (particulary Kenya and the excellent cooks)!
Many thanks, and I hope that I will be able to return to Costa Rica sometime in the not-too-distant future!
-Susan McConnell
Mar 6, 2006.- "The people at Corcovado were wonderful and the place itself is amazing."
Thanks for everything! Our two nights at the Corcovado Tent Lodge and a night at the Don Carlos wrapped up our busy but fun adventure through Costa Rica. The people at Corcovado including Kenya and Marcia were wonderful and the place itself is amazing. I hope to be able to visit and spend more time in the park next time.
-Scott Steiner
Feb 21, 2006.- Corcovado Lodge Tent Camp: ''We had a wonderful time.''
We had a wonderful time in CR. Kenya was especially enjoyable as a host at the tent camp and she should be always valued as well as Marcia, Pablo and the rest of the staff. Here are some photos of out trip for you to enjoy and use if you wish. Please let me know what you think!
http://web.mac.com/
-Miguel Morejohn, Portland, OR
|
As you search for your ideal trip in the custom itineraries section of our web site, you may wish to create a list of favorite trips. To do so, click on the link above each itinerary, “Add to My Favorites.” Each itinerary you chose will be added to a personalized list of trips. You can add as many trips as you want to your list and refer back to them by clicking on the link, "See My Favorites," which will appear in the right column once you have selected a favorite.
Your list of favorites will follow you as you surf the site, allowing you to refer back to selected itineraries at any time. On your next visit to our web site, the list will reappear by clicking the link, “See My Favorites.” 
