Sometimes it’s monkeys, or a sloth. Or maybe Scarlet Macaws or toucans. Or possibly even dolphins or a humpback whale. When travelers come to Costa Rica – the eco-capital of Latin America with nearly 6 percent of the world’s biodiversity – they often want to see certain animals. Maybe it is a favorite animal they...Read More
What does the term wellness really mean? Dictionary defines it as “the quality or state of being in good health especially as an actively sought goal”, but if you ask around, it will mean something different to everyone. Sebastian Campanile‘s studies have taken him to Argentina, Colombia and most recently Peru, where he studied Cranio...Read More
When people think of having a destination wedding, the usual locations that come to mind are picture-perfect beaches in some exotic tropical setting. But what if you and your betrothed, or your family and friends, are not really beach people? Sure, the palm trees, turquoise-colored ocean and fiery sunsets are romantic. Then again, so...Read More
Costa Rica is among the best countries to retire and is also excellent for real estate investment. You’ve been to the Central American country and see why Costa Rica is a great place to live. You have looked at real estate in Costa Rica, and now you’re ready to buy a house in Costa Rica....Read More
Whenever I travel back to the States on vacation, people always ask me, “What is Costa Rican food like?” Usually I quip: “Rice and beans” for a quick answer. Rice and beans certainly is a staple of Costa Rican cuisine – what tourist can forget the customary breakfast of gallo pinto (rice and beans) served...Read More
Culinary options in Monteverde What food are you craving? Would you like to be adventuresome and try Fusion Cuisine, or you’d like some comfort food like pasta or pizza? The Monteverde-Santa Elena area has a surprising variety of restaurants for visitors to enjoy. If you’d like some reasonably priced local fare, you can try a...Read More
What do you do when you get laid off from your job? Polish your resume? Start job hunting? Most people wouldn’t take off on an eight-month surfing vacation to Central America, Hawaii and Mexico. But that’s exactly what Tierza Eichner did in 2001 when laid off from her high-powered dot-com job. At the time, the...Read More
Where to eat in Playas del Coco? What food are you craving? Would you like to be adventuresome and try Fusion Cuisine, or you’d like some comfort food like pasta or pizza? Playas del Coco in Guanacaste has a surprising variety of restaurants for visitors to enjoy. If you’d like some reasonably priced local fare,...Read More
One moment you’re walking along a rainforest trail enjoying the incredible sounds and sights, when suddenly you spot monkeys hopping from tree to tree. You definitely want to get pictures of that, so you go off the trail following the monkeys. Before long, you’ve been so busy looking up and chasing the monkeys that now...Read More
If the craziness surrounding the US 2016 election has you a little anxious about the outcome, you may be looking for an easy escape route come 2017. Every election, especially a controversial one, thousands of Americans threaten to leave the United States if the “wrong” candidate becomes president. As anxieties about the outcome of 2016...Read More
Being eco-friendly is trending as a billion-dollar business approach touching everything from appliances, cars, clothing, cosmetics and cleaning products to tourism. Eco-friendly travel and green tourism continue to be the fastest growing sectors in the tourism industry worldwide. In ecotourism pioneer Costa Rica, being eco-friendly is extremely important. The Costa Rica Tourism Board (ICT) founded...Read More
Besides amazing style, tropical architecture design is all about working with the elements of nature. Tropical design brings the outside world in for an ambiance of openness and naturalness. Architects are in constant pursuit of breezes, cross-ventilation and shade for cooling effects, and sunlight for warmth, energy and light. Costa Rican architect Richard Muller, head...Read More
Who had the vision that Monteverde could become a mecca for tourists, biologists and conservationists? It took a convergence of fortuitous events for this place to become what it is today, and Ruth Campbell, member of the family who owns El Establo Mountain Hotel, was a part of it from the time she was only a...Read More
When you visit Malpais Costa Rica, on the southern Nicoya Peninsula, be prepared to relax and unwind. This area of the country is so laid-back, that when you’re there it feels as if you’ve left the rest of the world off somewhere else, vaguely in the background. And that’s a good thing. Besides being simply...Read More
Innovative and chic, Caribbean Costa Rica Hotel Le Cameleon keeps it fresh. Like a chameleon, the hip yet relaxed Costa Rica luxury hotel spices up life by changing its colors every day. Decorated in impeccable white, striking dashes of tropical colors around the hotel switch every day. Seat cushions. Paintings. Flower vases. Restaurant napkins. Staff...Read More
Once again, Costa Rica is the best country to retire and also ranked highly for a healthy, comfortable retirement, according to the 2016 Best Countries rankings and Annual Global Retirement Index. Atenas, Costa Rica is not only a top place for international living, but also a popular vacation destination for its ideal location, halfway between...Read More
Have you ever been to a Spanish speaking country? How about learning a few key phrases before you arrive? Costa Ricans are very friendly and helpful and will try to assist in any way they can, but knowing some of the native language will go a long way towards empathy and communication. Where to eat...Read More
Santa Teresa is a beach on the Nicoya Peninsula best know for its beaches and surfing, but what else is there to do there? Activities in the area range from the adventurous to the relaxed. Renting an ATV or going on a horseback tour are both good options to explore the beaches, rivers and mountains...Read More
Costa Rica has always taken pride in its efforts to rely mostly on renewable energy sources. According to the Costa Rica Electricity Institute, the Central American nation was powered 285 days in 2015 fossil fuel-free. Solar is the clean energy of the future, and more and more homes and businesses in Costa Rica are installing...Read More
For its fourth year, the intense ultra-trail running endurance race The North Face Endurance Challenge Costa Rica returns to the Rincón de la Vieja Volcano in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. On Saturday, May 28, 2016, hundreds of runners from all over the world will challenge themselves and each other in four endurance trail-running races of 10...Read More
It is always fascinating to look up at a clear night sky and get lost among the stars. Anyone can enjoy stargazing, even if you can’t readily name the constellations or planets. The best places to go, of course, are where the sky is wide open and very dark, with no distracting city lights. Up...Read More
You have decided to move to Costa Rica, or at least buy a vacation home in one of the world’s most popular places for living abroad. How do you choose where is the best place to buy a home in Costa Rica? The five most important things to consider are: lifestyle, climate and geography, infrastructure,...Read More
Windy summer season in Guanacaste, Costa Rica means it’s time for fun wind and water sports. But why is it so windy in Costa Rica this time of year? Blame it on the Papagayo winds. NASA tells us that when it is freezing cold and snowing in North America, the cold air and high-pressure weather...Read More
Many vacationers want to give back while traveling to the communities they visit. In Santa Teresa, Costa Rica, two top hotels share a heartfelt initiative that makes it easy for their guests to feel good about supporting the community there. Hotel Tropico Latino and Florblanca Hotel implement the “$5 Check Out Program” that allows their...Read More
