May Miranda joined Parador Resort & Spa as a restaurant server when he was 19 years old and the resort featured only 57 rooms.

Today, 16 years later, Parador is the largest full service resort in the area with 129 rooms and suites and May continues as an integral and valued member of the Parador family.

Over the years, May has exemplified consistently dedicated service and as the resort grew, so too did May’s career within the organization.

After several promotions in the food and beverage department and intensive hotel-sponsored training in Etiquette and Protocol at San Jose’s prestigious INA, May now heads up our tour desk where he and his colleagues ensure that our guests experience the most exciting, educational and enjoyable activities available.

In addition, May is the “Go-To” guy for any guest services requirements concerning itinerary changes, hotel bookings and transportation and the planning and organizing of visits to other regions of Costa Rica. “Parador hired me when I had no experience and has provided me with continued opportunities for challenge and advancement,” says May. “Now, fourteen years later I am a well trained person in the world of hospitality and look forward to many more years working with Parador and serving our guests.”

And Parador gave May something else life-changing, as well — his wife whom he met when she was also working at Parador as cashier and hostess. It’s nice to know that Parador inspires romance for everyone, including our staff!

 

 

He has performed for political dignitaries, including former Presidents of Costa Rica and his native Nicaragua, and has also played with many musical luminaries such as Willie Colon, Paquito de Rivera, and Arturo Sandoval. And now the artist known as Makondo joins Parador Resort & Spa as our resident entertainer.

 

Expert at interpreting a wide range of genres – including jazz, Latin and pop – Makondo was born in 1960 to a musical family in Nicaragua and began playing piano and studying music theory at the ripe old age of eight. He later graduated from the Nicaragua Conservatory of Music where he became equally proficient at a number of other instruments including the tumbon.

 

Makondo relocated to his adopted home of Costa Rica in 1980 where he quickly became a highly sought after session player and soloist and in-house performer for some of the top resorts and restaurants throughout the country.  Makondo has also spent many years living and touring abroad, bringing his trademark sound to audiences throughout Europe, South America, India and Mexico, where he led his own orchestra for two years. This versatile musician sings in English, Spanish and Italian, has recorded 7 CDs (available for purchase at Parador) and is a devotee of spiritual principles and practices emanating from the Indian culture that so inspired him.

 

But it’s not all serious business, as Makondo laughingly reveals. In addition to the high and haughty, this jovial musician has also happily performed in less rarefied settings such as wild bachelor parties — because he believes that music is the great equalizer. And it should be fun. Most requested song over the years and around the world? “Summertime” — which is just fine with him as it does happen to be one of his personal favorites, as well.

 

Parador Resort & Spa is delighted to welcome Makondo to the family and thrilled that our guests will be able to enjoy the musical offerings of this accomplished artist each evening at La Galeria.

 

 

Although Maylin Villavicencio is not front-of-house visible to our guests, tucked away as she is in the administrative offices,  her job as Executive Secretary to Parador’s President and Managing Director is vital to the resort’s operation.

 

A native of Quepos, Maylin studied at the local college before joining the Parador team in 2001. She has worked in various departments over the years, including human resources, where she garnered the broad-based qualifying experience and computer skills that prepared her for her current highly responsible position. In addition, she is continuing her studies in San Jose on weekends, making Maylin a very busy and industrious young career woman.

 

Always with a smile and a willingness to help, Maylin is by far one of the most popular employees on “campus,” having been elected “Miss Parador” by her colleagues three times.  She’s also the person who finds time to organize all of the hotel’s employee activities and parties, including mother’s day and father’s day luncheons, birthday celebrations and more.

 

The married mother of two children loves walking and spending quality time with her family.  But she does not – she impishly admits – enjoy her time in the kitchen. She’d rather be doing anything else, including cleaning and incessantly moving furniture around, to avoid her least favorite room. Luckily she has the support of her husband and mother to assist in that dreaded area!

 

Adding to its long list of accomplishments and awards, Parador Resort & Spa has most recently been nominated as “Best Beach Hotel 2011” by The National Chamber of Tourism in Costa Rica (CANATUR). Initiated in 2005, these awards are issued every two years in recognition of individuals and businesses that have achieved excellence and positively contributed to the growth of Costa Rica’s tourism industry. Categories include “Best Travel Agency,” “Best Restaurant,” “Best Rental Car Company,” “Best Domestic Airline”,  and “Best Travel Journalist,” amongst others.

 

(CANATUR)was founded as a nonprofit organization in 1974 to consolidate and promote development within Costa Rica’s tourist sector. Through financial, organizational and human development, (CANATUR)represents a wide range of national and regional businesses and works with government agencies such as ICT (Costa Rican Tourism Board) to implement policies and projects that favor both individual enterprises and the tourism industry as a whole.

 

According Gonzalo Vargas, former President of (CANATUR), “The delivery of these awards is one way to recognize the hard work of many people who are struggling every day for improving the national tourism industry through projects with high quality services. For (CANATUR)it is a joy and an honor to perform this award, we hope each year more rewarding of businesses, institutional and individual awards toward tourism.”

 

Winners will be announced at a gala ceremony to be held at the Marriot Hotel in San Jose on September 28, 2011

 

 

Reflecting Parador Resort & Spa’s green philosophy, international ambiance and tropical milieu, La Dulcinea Boutique carries an inspired collection of handcrafted jewelry, woodwork, ceramics and exotic clothing. The beautifully eclectic shop on the second floor of the hotel’s main building is the love child of Parador owner Marianne Schans who personally and meticulously chooses each item for its uniqueness and quality.  From hand-hewn bowls, platters and furniture using Costa Rica’s native woods, to objets d’art created from nature’s bounty and beautiful jewelry fashioned by local artisans, La Dulcinea is well worth a visit. A selection of bejeweled sandals, colorful wraps and breezy clothing is perfect for Manuel Antonio’s relaxed vibe and balmy climate.   For your convenience, we will happily assist with shipping larger items to destinations around the world.

 

Inexpensive souvenirs and daily necessities such as toiletries and munchies can be found at La Joyita Gift Shop located next to the tour desk on the terrace surrounding the main pool.

 

 

Parador Resort & Spa introduces weekly cooking classes for our guests under the tutelage of the resort’s renowned Executive Chef, Edgar Vargas and our talented Sous Chef Alejandro Torres. This is a great opportunity for masters and culinary neophytes alike to learn to create some of the exquisite dishes served at our four restaurants.  In addition to traditional Costa Rican fare, the “curriculum” will include Sushi, Latin Fusion and several more exotic offerings from our menus.  Using only the freshest local ingredients, the “Keep It Cooking” classes will be held at La Galeria Restaurant each Thursday from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm. And the best part – you can eat what you’ve sewn, or ahem, cooked! $10.00 for Parador guests; maximum 15 people.

 

Says Executive Chef Vargas: “Our goal is to involve our guests in the food making process and invite them to dine with us. We want to make it fun, create a memorable experience, and put the human touch on a huge operation. We look forward to getting to know our guests better and to have them know us.”

 

The following are some of the dishes participants will learn to prepare:

 

VARIEDAD DE ROLLOS DE SUSHI/ASSORTED SUSHI ROLLS:

Basic Maki Roll – nori, Japanese rice, cucumber and avocado

California Roll – nori, Japanese rice, crab, mayo, cucumber and avocado all sprinkled with tobiko (fish eggs)

Inside Out Rolls

Dragon Roll – nori, rice, tempura shrimp, smoked eel and eel sauce

Rainbow Roll – rice, nori, cucumber ,sesame seeds, salmon, tuna, masago (fish eggs)

We will also do a demo on how to make miso soup with tofu,wakame (seaweed) and green onion

 

COMIDA TYPICA (COSTA RICAN CUISINE):

Fried red snapper with all the trimmings (such as rice, cabbage, salad, patacones and garlic sauce)

Arroz con pollo, arroz con camarones and arroz con mariscos

Three different casados (pork, chicken and beef with onions)

A variety of rices

 

GOURMET FARE CULLED FROM LA GALARIA MENU:

Mushroom tenderloin with roasted garlic mashed potato.

Mediterranean chicken stuffed with prosciutto and mozzarella cheese.

The Parador brochette with 3 dipping sauces(signature dish)

 

LATIN FUSION CUISINE:

(from El Quijote Restaurant and representing traditional dishes from Latin American countries including Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Cuba.)

Bisteck a caballo (cowboy steak) from Colombia

Latin salad topped with French fries, thinly marinated steak and fried egg

Chicken Mofongo – From Puerto Rico, this is a stuffed chicken breast with bacon and plantain, garlic and onions served with rice and beans and a red pepper sauce

Argentinian Tirilla Steak (skirt steak) served with French fries, Latin salad and traditional chimichurry sauce

Costilla Guanacasteca served with fried yucca, Costa Rican cabbage salad and lemon.

Buen Provecho!