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
In Santa Teresa, Costa Rica, organic healthy living is alive and well – especially at Pranamar Oceanfront Villas & Yoga Retreat. Budda Eyes Restaurant at the beachfront Santa Teresa Costa Rica hotel is dedicated to serving healthy, nourishing and innovative cuisine. “At Pranamar we try to satisfy not only your stomach, but also your soul...Read More
Green season in Guanacaste, Costa Rica is when the waterfalls at Rincon de la Vieja Volcano really show off. Near Rincon de la Vieja hotel Hacienda Guachipelin, four waterfalls flow, and all of them have pools where you can swim. Getting to the waterfalls is an adventure on its own – either by hiking or...Read More
It is amazing how many national parks, conservation areas, wildlife refuges and private reserves there are in the tiny country of Costa Rica. In the mountains of the Pacific Nicoya Peninsula, one little-known private reserve is the Karen Mogensen Nature Reserve. A wildlife refuge and reforestation project, the Karen Mogensen Nature Reserve serves as an...Read More
The Festival of Whales & Dolphins is once again making a splash at Uvita Beach in Southern Costa Rica at the beginning of September. You definitely don’t want to miss the 6th annual festival marking the peak of the annual migration of Pacific Humpback Whales to the Ballena National Marine Park in Costa Rica. This...Read More
Can you keep a secret? While the rest of Costa Rica will soon be covered under a gray umbrella of rain, the Costa Rica Caribbean Coast is about to shine under a beaming Caribbean summer sun. Curiously, the Caribbean Coast does not follow the standard weather patterns of Costa Rica. Savvy travelers know that Caribbean...Read More
There are women-only professional clubs, women-only gyms, women’s athletic events, and girls also rule at Pura Vida Adventures surf retreats in Costa Rica. Founded 10 years ago by surfer Tierza Eichner, Pura Vida Adventures brings women from the U.S. and other countries to the pristine beaches and rocking waves of Santa Teresa, Costa Rica for...Read More
You have bought your dream house in Costa Rica; or, you’ve secured the ideal rental while you check out the country as a place to live. You are checking your packing list for the big move to Costa Rica – what about Fido or Fluffy? A lot of people who move to Costa Rica bring...Read More
Rainy season in Costa Rica is the best time to visit the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge. Known as the “everglades of Costa Rica”, its 25,100 acres have been designated a “world protected area” by conservation groups like the Ramsar Convention, for being home to some of the world’s rarest plant, animal and bird species. Located...Read More
I never get tired of watching the monkeys in Costa Rica. It is so much fun to watch the cute, miniature-sized Squirrel Monkeys jump and play, and marvel at the ingenuity of clever White-faced Capuchin Monkeys. Spider Monkeys are wonderful to see swinging gracefully through the trees with their long arms, legs and tails. And...Read More
Mother’s Day in Costa Rica is a really big deal. Celebrated every year on August 15, this year, the national holiday falls on a Friday, which makes for a long weekend that lends itself to quick getaway vacations and special events. The vibrant capital city of San José Costa Rica, has a lot going on...Read More
The Costa Rica Caribbean Coast has everything you’re looking for on your holiday, whether rest and relaxation, romance, adventure, family time, fun with friends, or new beginnings like your wedding or honeymoon. The southern Caribbean of Costa Rica has a decidedly relaxed vibe. Afro-Caribbean, Latino and Bribri indigenous cultures uniquely blend with customs of newer...Read More
I am never the same person walking into a yoga studio as when I leave. Usually I am always rushing to get to class, arriving just in the nick of time to get my mat laid out, and frantically trying to breathe my way into calm, poised relaxation. After an hour or so of stretching,...Read More
The peaceful and shy Manatee has been declared a national marine mammal in Costa Rica. Costa Rica lawmakers this week passed the bill making the endangered Caribbean mammal a national symbol; the honor had been proposed by two school children from the region of Limón after they learned about Manatees in school. Also known as...Read More
Manuel Antonio Costa Rica is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the country for its abundant beauty, wildlife and adventure tours. It is also exceedingly popular for hotels. Knowing where to stay is the key in this famous location on the Central Pacific Coast – named one of the 2014 Top 25 Beaches...Read More
Often dismissed by Costa Rica vacationers as a place to avoid, or to endure only for a layover night, the vibrant capital city of San José, Costa Rica in actuality has a lot to offer visitors. It is a city of contrasts blending the old world and modern times; expressing its history and culture in...Read More
Families who travel to Costa Rica know that Costa Rica is a fun, easy and safe family vacation destination. In fact, Costa Rica is this year’s most recommended travel hotspot in the world! Positioned between Nicaragua and Panama, Costa Rica is easily accessible from North America and Europe with numerous daily flights. It is one...Read More
Saying that you have “The Best Climate in the World” is quite a claim. The little town of Atenas Costa Rica, nevertheless has stepped up and asserted that it has the best climate in the world. The motto is plastered across the backs of all buses in Atenas, on a few billboards, and even graces...Read More
There are many attractions on the southern Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica, but few visitors explore the tiny fishing village and mysterious island of Cabuya. Cabuya is known as the gateway to the Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve, Costa Rica’s first privately protected reserve at the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. Seven kilometers after...Read More
Guanacaste – known as the “sunny side” of Costa Rica – is a preferred Costa Rica vacation destination and popular place to live for its famous Pacific Coast beaches. Known as the “Gold Coast” or “Costa Rica’s Riviera,” here you can find everything from wild, completely deserted tropical beaches to booming, buzzing beach towns full...Read More
