The two coastlines of Costa Rica – Caribbean and Pacific – are about as opposite as you can get in landscape and lifestyle – kind of like New York and California. Most tourists to Costa Rica head west to the Pacific Coast beaches. It is the adventurer looking for the unique Costa Rica who chooses...Read More
I’m sitting at my desk, meant to be working. What I’m really doing is daydreaming about snorkeling in Costa Rica. I’m plotting how I can get back to Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge on Golfo Dulce. I’m remembering swimming in that calm sea and the feel of delicious water – not bath-water warm, but not cold...Read More
After a big day of hiking, zip-lining, horseback riding or other adventure tours in Costa Rica, there is nearly nothing better than soaking in steamy thermal springs so hot they make you tingle all over. Your tired muscles are soon relaxed into spaghetti-like existence and the cares of the world melt away. Mineral-rich hot springs...Read More
I’ve been to a lot of beaches in Costa Rica. Most of them I like, some of them I don’t. Then there are others that are so off the charts in fabulousness that I nearly don’t want to tell anyone about them. All right, I’ll tell you. I’ve discovered a hidden gem. A place I...Read More
When world traveler Susan Money chooses where to stay on vacation, she prefers smaller family-run hotels. Not as small as a B&B, but preferably not a corporate establishment. “I feel taken care of at a well-run corporate hotel or resort, but I like the friendships you create at smaller family-run hotels,” said Money. “This is...Read More
Orchids have a mystique. A magic, beguiling beauty. Their complex patterns, colors and forms in a flower so delicate and fragile, simply boggle the senses. They are coveted like an elusive, exotic treasure, and bought, sold and traded around the world. Whole societies and organizations are dedicated to preserving these amazing beauties. This weekend in...Read More
Spring means a return to sunshine; and if the sun is not shining yet in your part of the world, it’s time for a sunny Spring Break getaway. There is a reason Spring Break is called what it is – a break from winter’s chill to tide you over until summer. But if you are...Read More
The southern Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica is a big melting pot of traditions and cultures. It is the heart and soul of the country’s Afro-Caribbean community, as well as home to indigenous populations of Bribrí, Carib, Miskito and Cabécar. There are descendants of Spanish conquistadors, North Americans who worked for United Fruit Company during...Read More
Famous for its year-round surf, spectacular sunsets and friendly beach town, Santa Teresa Beach in Costa Rica was once again named a top beach in Central America in the newest TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice Awards. The global travel site announced its 2015 Travelers’ Choice Awards on Feb. 18, awarding Costa Rica the honor of having some...Read More
Renting a vacation home in Costa Rica, especially one at the beach, is a great idea. Stay steps from the sand at beautiful Santa Teresa, Costa Rica in the new beachfront vacation home Martha’s House. The two-story octagon-shaped house is just off the beach and surrounded by lush tropical gardens. The house sleeps up to...Read More
Continuing to be a favorite with world travelers, beaches and hotels in Costa Rica were named among the best in the world according to the latest TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice Awards. The popular global travel site announced on Feb. 18 its 2015 Travelers’ Choice Awards for the best beaches and hotels in the world. The annual...Read More
Article by Shannon Farley In the easy-going surf and yoga town of Playa Guiones, Costa Rica, there is a very strange smell in the air this time of year. Besides the fresh scent of the ocean, from January to April, it smells like a giant stack of maple syrup covered pancakes. What is that gingerbread...Read More
Article by Shannon Farley You can’t visit Guanacaste, Costa Rica without listening at least once to the distinct resonant sounds of a traditional marimba. Considered a symbol of culture and tradition, especially in the province of Guanacaste, the marimba was declared the national musical instrument of Costa Rica by President José María Figueres in 1996....Read More
“Nature doesn’t need people. People need nature,” is the message from Conservation International. The environmental organization’s widely popular video campaigns use famous actors’ and actresses’ voices with beautiful video footage of nature in two-minute messages to promote their important manifesto: “Human beings are part of nature. Nature is not dependent on human beings to exist....Read More
People around the world have their eye on Costa Rican football star Keylor Navas. Not only is Navas a national hero for helping lead his team as goalkeeper to the quarterfinals in the 2014 World Cup, he also is a rising star as goalkeeper for the prestigious Real Madrid football team. Now, Navas has been...Read More
Looking for something fun to do this Sunday? How about a day out in sunshine, fresh air and beautiful Costa Rica botanical gardens, and spend it with your best buddy – your faithful family dog. The Else Kientzler Botanical Gardens in Sarchi, Costa Rica is hosting its second annual Canine Event – A Sunday of...Read More
Transportation in Costa Rica, unless you’ve booked a Costa Rica vacation package that includes transfers, can sometimes be complicated and expensive. Now there is a Costa Rica transportation solution that also makes your travel days fun. Desafio Adventure Company offers Adventure Connections that take care of your transportation between vacation destinations in Costa Rica and...Read More
Three of the prettiest beaches on the Southern Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica are Playa Cocles, Playa Chiquita and Punta Uva. That is if you like long stretches of gorgeous picture postcard Caribbean coastline with warm turquoise ocean and graceful tall palm trees. When you are on the beach on the Costa Rica Southern Caribbean...Read More
Mountain bikers, take note. Now there are Costa Rica vacations dedicated solely to mountain biking. If you are a mountain biking enthusiast looking for a training trip or a fun and challenging cycling vacation, now Cycling Trails Costa Rica has partnered with Horizontes Nature Tours to offer exceptional Costa Rica Cycling Tours. Known for its...Read More
What do a little black mare and the Virgin of Guadalupe have to do with Christmas traditions in Costa Rica? One of the more interesting Christmastime festivals held in Costa Rica is the Festival of “La Yeguita” (the little mare) on December 12. Held annually on the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica, the celebration combines...Read More
To your holiday decorations this year, add some pretty Christmas plants for a living touch of good cheer. Surprisingly, many holiday plants are tropical in origin, which means that you care for them like a houseplant if you live in a cold climate. The Else Kientzler Botanical Garden in Sarchi, Costa Rica, has several fun...Read More
Looking to shop for unique Christmas gifts this year? Combine Christmas shopping with a holiday in Costa Rica and go to the Holiday Art Fair in Playa Guiones by Nosara on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014. More than 35 talented international and national artists will be selling handmade art and products at the third annual Holiday...Read More
Whenever I travel anywhere that serves delicious meals, I always think, “How can I recreate this at home and enjoy it again?” In the case of Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge in Costa Rica, now I can. The Costa Rica rainforest lodge by the Osa Peninsula has released a free PDF downloadable Edible Landscape Garden Cookbook...Read More
The fascinating fact about plants and trees in Costa Rica is that each one has a story, or a folk tradition or a specific use. There is much more than meets the eye in this tropical paradise. Ovido Esquivel, director of the Else Kientzler Botanical Garden in Sarchi, Costa Rica, uncovered the mystique of some...Read More
