Cute, clever, playful and tiny, the Grey Crowned Central American Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri oerstedii citrinellus) known as the Mono Titi in Spanish, is the smallest primate in Costa Rica. Measuring only 9.8 to 14 inches in height and weighing 1.7 to 2.4 pounds, these little monkeys are sadly threatened with extinction due to loss of...Read More
Ever dream of escaping every so often, even if it’s just for a few hours? With so many things competing for our attention in today’s fast-paced world, it’s common to want to get away. Visiting a day spa helps you switch off and relax, disconnect from the world, and restore your mind, body and spirit....Read More
This year, why not spend the Thanksgiving holidays giving thanks for all that is good in life on a revitalizing yoga retreat in Costa Rica. Imagine taking a break from the busyness of everyday life to relax and restore your energy in the rainforest, with 80-degree warm gulf waters at your doorstep and monkeys, Scarlet...Read More
Four U.S.-based international airlines have confirmed new routes and increased flights to Costa Rica, making travel to Central America now easier than ever. The flight increases coincide with the approaching 2014-15 high tourist season (December to April) and holiday season in Costa Rica. Nonstop flights on United Airlines to Costa Rica will increase from the...Read More
Looking to get away for a quick fall break or Thanksgiving vacation? Maybe a romantic adventure holiday? If you are into nature and wildlife, Costa Rica is the place to go. A good Costa Rica vacation deal for the fall is the Romance and Natural Adventure Costa Rica Vacation Package at Maquenque Eco-Lodge in the...Read More
The transition from rainy season to summer season in Costa Rica is a time of abundant wildlife. Rivers, streams, lakes and ponds are full of water, vegetation is lush, and settings are ideal for capturing Costa Rica’s exotic wildlife on camera. This is especially true on a river trip. In the Nosara Costa Rica area...Read More
While Christopher Columbus is remembered in the USA in the upcoming October holiday, many other countries take a much broader perspective for their celebrations. The USA observes Oct. 12 (or the Monday closest to it) as Columbus Day for the date that explorer Christopher Columbus arrived in the Americas in 1492. Spain commemorates Oct. 12...Read More
The northwestern province of Guanacaste in Costa Rica has one of the largest dry tropical forest areas in the Americas. Dry tropical forests are unique with many deciduous broad-leaf trees and vegetation that survive with much less water than a tropical rainforest. It endures a dry season lasting approximately eight months, yet is still home...Read More
Whether you are thinking to live in Atenas, Costa Rica, are visiting Atenas in one of the many vacation homes, or have already moved to Costa Rica, you can find many things to do. Within an hour’s drive of Atenas, you can enjoy a round of nine or 18 holes of golf in Costa Rica...Read More
Stretching like a long finger pointing at the Arenal Volcano, Lake Arenal in Costa Rica is one of the country’s most scenic points of interest. Green rolling hills of forest and pastureland surround the deep blue lake, with the near-perfect conical symmetry of Arenal Volcano framing the skyline to the east. It is the country’s...Read More
It may surprise you, given that the Central Valley, Central Mountain Range and Pacific Coast of Costa Rica are swimming under a rain cloud, that today on the Costa Rica Southern Caribbean Coast it was hot and sunny, with blue skies and calm seas. Costa Rica Caribbean Summer is in full radiant glory. While most...Read More
A torrential thunderstorm provided the dramatic background for a small group gathered last Friday night at Portasol Rainforest & Ocean View Living in Costa Rica for a charity dinner to benefit their local Portalon Elementary School. A 5-star gourmet 4-course dinner, created by visiting award-winning chef Randy Siles of Hotel Tropico Latino in Santa Teresa...Read More
This time of year, the crisp fall weather of the north sends birds packing south to warm tropical climates. Bird migration season in Costa Rica is here. According to the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology, approximately 350 bird species from the United States and Canada migrate south to winter in the Neotropics of the Caribbean,...Read More
Once a place largely to be avoided for war and political upheaval, Central America in recent years is the darling of travel in the Americas. Led strongly by Costa Rica and Belize, the seven nations of Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama are becoming immensely popular for family travel, luxury travel,...Read More
There is so much to do and see in Costa Rica that families with kids can go nearly anywhere and be happy. What child, teen or adult wouldn’t appreciate rainforest exploring, canopy zip-lines, surfing, snorkeling, nesting sea turtles, endless beaches, and plenty of wild animals and cool bugs, plants and trees? One of the best...Read More
The setting: Romantic tropical beach, palm trees, balmy breezes, beautiful sunsets, candlelit dinners, lush rainforest. What could be a better backdrop for your destination wedding and honeymoon? Many brides and grooms these days favor a fun, exotic destination wedding with the built-in sunny honeymoon. For destination weddings, Costa Rica is one of the most popular...Read More
Each neighborhood in San Jose, Costa Rica has its own personality and character. The culturally-rich neighborhood of Barrio Amon in the capital city’s downtown center is urban, eclectic and funky. There are lots of art galleries, restaurants, cafés, bars, museums and cultural attractions. The Caribbean bus station is close. So is the Costa Rica Center...Read More
Like many beaches in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, Playa Guiones doesn’t have much shade. The coastline is lined with long grasses, shrubbery, very-low-to-the-ground stubby trees and some tall palm trees here and there. A nonprofit NGO in Costa Rica is working to change that. The Green Coasts Conservation Association (La Asociación Conservacionista Costas Verdes) is dedicated...Read More
Part mountaineering and part rock climbing, but in reverse, with the added challenge of pounding water, the waterfall rappelling extreme sport of canyoneering is the latest top popular adventure tour in Costa Rica. One of the best places for canyoneering, also called canyoning, is by the Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica. The rugged, mountainous rainforest...Read More
It is a Friday morning in my little mountain coffee town of Atenas, Costa Rica. The traditional Friday Farmers’ Market, called a “feria” in Spanish, is abuzz with shoppers and vendors. Mounds of mangoes, melons, watermelon, pineapples and a myriad of other fruits juicily beckon buyers. Crisp lettuces, spinach, cilantro and other greens glisten with...Read More
Practicing yoga outdoors has many benefits, especially at the beach. In addition to beautiful scenery and fresh air, it takes balance, concentration and strength to hold yoga poses in the sand, so you get more of a workout. Here are six reasons why yoga is fun on the beach, from Nancy Goodfellow, resident yoga instructor...Read More
Parades, lantern ceremonies, traditional music and dancing will take place all over Costa Rica this weekend to mark the day that Costa Rica and four other Central American nations gained their independence from Spain. Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras are all celebrating 193 years of independence from Spain on Sept. 15. On this...Read More
There is a lot of talk in travel about eco-tourism and being sustainable. But what does that really mean? Is that simply turning off a few lights, not wasting water and recycling the trash? According to the United Nations, sustainability is “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to...Read More
Calm seas and abundant marine life in the spectacular Pacific Ocean at Quepos and Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica create an ideal environment for fun activities. For instance, now through the end of December is humpback whale-watching season in Costa Rica; and you can nearly always see large pods of dolphins while out sailing, boating or...Read More
