Starting this weekend the port city of Limón kicks off its annual Carnival festivities, a 12-day Caribbean street party celebrating the kaleidoscope of cultures on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. The famous party commemorates Christopher Columbus’ historic arrival to Costa Rica’s coconut-fringed Caribbean coast in 1502. Visitors will come from all over for the 2012 “Carnaval...Read More
Ecotourism and Costa Rica are practically synonymous, especially since Costa Rica essentially pioneered the flourishing ecotourism trend. In April of this year, Costa Rica was named the most popular eco-friendly destination in the world by TripAdvisor members. The country has been on the forefront of the eco-friendly travel movement ever since it developed its Certification...Read More
The buzz is true – Costa Rica is a surfer’s paradise. There are hundreds and hundreds of beach towns, from little villages to bustling cosmopolitan centers, and just as many surf breaks. The country counts more than 700 miles of coastline between both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. With warm tropical water, long rolling waves,...Read More
Most tourists to Costa Rica never see San Jose. They are whisked off from the Juan Santamaria International Airport outside the city to the “pretty” sights of the country; or they fly into the northern Guanacaste international airport at Liberia and don’t go anywhere near the Central Valley. That’s too bad. San Jose has a...Read More
It is a gigantic journey. A one-way trip can last upwards of 5,000 miles. Imagine walking from a bit north of Anchorage, Alaska, all the way to San Jose, Costa Rica, and that’s the distance we’re talking about. Or, think of swimming from Antarctica to Costa Rica. Now imagine not resting nearly at all, and...Read More
The year was 1998. There was a very small flow of visitors coming to Costa Rica, about 100,000 according to the official numbers. A decade later, that number has increased up to 2 million tourists per year. This $1.9 billion industry is mainly based on Eco-tourism and has been driven by the green buzzword. As...Read More
The Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica counts many superb sights and attractions. You have the canals and sea turtle nesting beaches of the Tortuguero National Park, the marvelous beaches of Cahuita and Puerto Viejo, the Afro-Caribbean port town of Limon, the wild beauty of the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife and Marine Refuge, and the impressive Talamanca Mountains,...Read More
Did you know that kids have an actual right to play? Article 31 of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child states that “… the right of the child to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural...Read More
When most people think about Costa Rica they imagine wonderful beaches. However, visitors should also discover the mysterious cloud forest. If you love scenic locations and wish to enjoy spending your time out in the wild, then you must certainly visit this little paradise of Monteverde and Santa Elena. Many locals in the region can trace...Read More
Del Mar Surfing Academy in Costa Rica has a new and exciting teen group trip that combines the best of its surfing training on the Central Pacific Coast with a Caribbean jungle adventure in Tortuguero. Del Mar Surfing Academy is one of the top surf schools in Costa Rica for teens (ages 13 to 19),...Read More
Surfer girls are cool. They’ve got that fit, sunkissed, water-tousled hair, smiling, laid back style that makes them so irresistible. Who wouldn’t want to be a surfer girl? Surfing is outrageously fun. You’ve got the challenge and freedom of riding the incredible power of the ocean; the feeling of dancing with sunshine sparkling on the...Read More
Traveling to a foreign country is not easy, especially when it is for the first time. In Costa Rica’s case, it is important for both domestic and foreign to know the characteristics of the various means of transportation available. That way you will avoid many problems and make your trip a more pleasant experience. Rent...Read More
At Pranamar Oceanfront Villas on Costa Rica’s Playa Santa Teresa, it’s all about the adventure. To start with, it’s an adventure getting there! Santa Teresa is on the outer edge on the Pacific just above the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. The roads are not paved here, and you must either come by way of...Read More
Sometimes called the “Hawaii of Latin American surfing,” Costa Rica is positively one of the world’s top surfing destinations. Add up warm water, consistent surf year-round, over 700 miles of coastline between both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts, literally thousands of beach breaks with easy access, and friendly people, and you get paradise! Costa Rica’s...Read More
Summer’s here and school’s out in North America and Europe! In Costa Rica, only a few more weeks until July vacations! SURF’S UP! Make your vacation memorable in Costa Rica with Del Mar Surfing Academy! Del Mar’s pro staff is ready to help you have the time of your life on one of their 7-night...Read More
As with anything, it begins with a story. A small Central American nation yearning to grow from subsistence farming to being a world player with agricultural exports chooses to think big. Costa Rica is the country, and coffee is its most valuable commodity. The year is 1871. This is the decade of enormous world industrial,...Read More
Just across the border, to Costa Rica’s north, lies the enchanting country of Nicaragua. The “Land of Lakes and Volcanoes,” as it is called, is easily reached by day trip or a longer weekend journey from Costa Rica. The civil war ended more than 20 years ago, and today, Nicaragua is one of the safest...Read More
What’s all the buzz about Stand Up Paddle Surfing? It’s one of the fastest emerging global water sports, that’s what. Also called Stand Up Paddle Boarding, or SUP for short, the sport is popular with surfers as a way to keep fit when surf is low and also as another way to catch waves. Because...Read More
“Keep close to Nature’s heart … and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.” ~ John Muir Leaving everything you are familiar with and going to a new destination could be the recipe for any manner of trip. Add in a...Read More
The romance of traveling by train never fades. Trains mean a journey. The feeling of travel while sitting on a train is unique. The scenery flows past in a way not like from an airplane or in a car – especially if you’re the one driving and you can’t sightsee, but also because a train...Read More
If you are like a lot of travelers – I included – you generally tend to plan where you are going on any trip, as far as location is concerned, and probably also where you will stay. And unless you are going somewhere for a specific activity, or on a planned itinerary holiday, you tend...Read More
If you live anywhere near the ocean, even if you don’t surf, teaching your kids to surf is a great confidence booster that lets them learn a fantastic sport that brings enjoyment to all who do it. In surfing hotspot Costa Rica, at Jaco Beach on the Central Pacific Coast, Del Mar Surfing Academy is...Read More
For art lovers, there is a museum in downtown San Jose that you won’t want to miss. Unique in its history, it used to be the terminal of Costa Rica’s old international airport, at the east end of where Sabana Park is today. The Costa Rican Art Museum (Museo de Arte Costarricense) is housed in...Read More
One of my favorite quotes about summer is … “The things we did last summer, I’ll remember all winter long.” Teens and kids, summer is almost here! What memories are you going to make to last all winter long? How about a really cool surfing camp vacation in Costa Rica with Del Mar Surfing Academy! Head...Read More
