Travelers who are looking for a tropical destination on their next vacation might want to consider a cruise. There are so many benefits to cruising. You get to visit multiple countries, islands or points of interest all on the same trip without hassling with transportation, border crossings or logistics. On a cruise, you unpack once...Read More
Costa Rica has become a popular, easy and fun destination for Friends’ Trips for travelers from North America. This hot travel destination usually appeals to the adventurous, and certainly Costa Rica is foremost for adventure travel. Whether a bachelor or bachelorette party group, guys’ trip, girlfriend getaway, or simply a group of friends looking for...Read More
Jungle, mountains, rivers, waterfalls, canyons and gravel roads come together in Turrialba, making this region Central America’s adventure-sport capital. Turrialba is the perfect destination for those who wish to enjoy adventure amid lush nature, so it’s no coincidence that Turrialba is the cradle adventure tourism in Costa Rica. You will find a wide range of...Read More
What are the best places to visit in Costa Rica? What are the best things to do in Costa Rica? I get these questions a lot. Having lived in Costa Rica for 12 years, working in the tourism industry, I field questions from extended family, friends, friends of friends, and even complete strangers if I...Read More
Normally, you don’t see tough, radical conservationists attending lectures by land developers. But there they were, 100 strong, from the Nature Conservancy, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and from all over Latin America – all raptly listening to how land development can actually preserve forests. Nervous before his formidable audience, Guillermo...Read More
How many species live on the Earth? Scientists estimate roughly 8.7 million, according to a 2011 study in the journal PLoS Biology, published by the Public Library of Science. The crucial point, however, is that approximately 83% of those plant and animal species have yet to be discovered. Scientists calculate that there are probably 6.5...Read More
I love traveling in off-season. High season travelers and summer vacationers are gone. Back to school and back to work, which means better travel opportunities for me and you. Off-season is when crowds disappear and prices drop, as hotels, tour operators and airlines look to attract travelers with deep discounts. Granted, it’s not the low...Read More
Costa Rica is known for its rainforests, beaches, nature and biodiversity. True, indeed. But do you know that Costa Rica is the most innovative country in Latin America? Or that the Central American nation has celebrated well over a half-century of peace with no military forces? Or that it is home to a highly-educated society...Read More
Re-use your towels at your hotel, ask that your bed linens not be changed daily, take a shower instead of a bath, wear water-resistant sunblock – these are all ways travelers can be responsible water consumers and participate in this year’s World Tourism Day that highlights water conservation. In support of the United Nations International...Read More
What do a tomato, blueberry, onion and dark chocolate have in common? They are “superfoods,” so-called by doctors and nutrition and health experts for their amazing beneficial properties that can help you keep the right weight, fight off heart disease and cancer, live longer, and even put you in a better mood. You don’t need...Read More
Long, fat, round pipes in dark brown and off-white snake along the rust red ground through the underbrush. They remind me of giant worms from some prehistoric setting … though not quite like that terrible 1990 movie Tremors. The pipes belong to the Pailas Geothermal Power Plant at the Rincón de la Vieja Volcano in...Read More
I remember the first time I caught a needlefish. Its electric blue teeth and skeleton (seen upon filleting) were a shocking surprise. The needlefish is tricky to catch given its long, narrow jaws filled with needle-sharp teeth (hence, its name) that usually cut fishing line like dental floss. Once you have one, though, they are...Read More
Travel can change the world. At least former U.S. President Bill Clinton thinks so. “The travel industry has the potential – and the responsibility – to spread peace and change the world,” Clinton told travel executives while speaking at the World Travel & Tourism Council’s 13th annual Global Summit in Abu Dhabi in April 2013....Read More
As you head south along the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica from Jaco down past Quepos/Manuel Antonio toward Dominical, vast forests of palm trees stretch for miles along the highway. Lush and thickly planted, with emerald ferns growing on the trunks and a dense carpet of green underneath, the palms always remind me of a...Read More
Looking for a Costa Rica family adventure out in nature? Spend a fun-filled day splashing in the mild rollercoaster rapids of the Pejibaye River. The beautiful, tropical Pejibaye River is a tributary of the mighty Reventazon River in the Turrialba Valley, just two hours from San Jose. Its low-key Class 2-3 rapids (in the lower...Read More
I had a pair of friends visit me in Costa Rica not long ago who were vegetarian and vegan. My first reaction was, “Oh, no, what are they going to eat?” I know how much Costa Ricans love their chicken, beef, chicharrones (fried pork), fish, etc. They said, not to worry. Rice and beans are...Read More
One of the most popular day tours from San Jose, Costa Rica, is the charming artisan town of Sarchi. Called the “cradle of Costa Rican handicrafts,” both international tourists and locals alike visit Sarchi for its more than 200 stores and small family-operated woodworking and leather workshops. It is a perfect Central Valley day tour...Read More
What’s the latest vacation craze? Surfing and yoga retreats in the balmy tropics are the hot fashion. But what if you don’t know how to surf or live far from the nearest ocean? Is it still an adventure worth taking? Try it and you’ll see. Here’s what a few surf retreat fans had to say:...Read More
At the very bottom of Costa Rica, the placid blue waters of the Golfo Dulce shine like a mirror most days, reflecting occasional clouds and the immense cerulean sky. Its calm surface is broken by the odd small, local boat cruising along, but the most action is caused by dolphins frolicking or fishing, sea turtles...Read More
We set out down the beach under a leaden sky stuffed with clouds. It was 8:00 at night, close to my bedtime (I know, I’m on Costa Rica “country” time). At first it was hard to see, with the nearly full moon sliding in and out of clouds; but soon our eyes adjusted to the...Read More
Mountain bikers around the world: There’s a new adventure race happening in August in Costa Rica – the 100-mile Rincón de la Vieja Challenge. The mountain bike endurance race is set for Aug. 24, 2013, starting off from Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin at Rincón de la Vieja Volcano in Guanacaste. The 100-mile race is the first...Read More
The entire country arguably could be considered one big outdoor classroom – filled to the brim with amazing nature and exciting adventure. For this reason, Costa Rica has become one of the top family vacation destinations in the world. All in one small country you can find warm tropical weather, beautiful beaches along two oceans...Read More
One of the top day tours on Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast, Veragua Rainforest Research & Adventure, is celebrating its fifth anniversary this month. The highly popular nature and adventure attraction, and important scientific research center, was four years in the making and now five years open. In that time, the tour destination has achieved a...Read More
If Costa Rica’s professional surf scene had an A-team, it would look something like this: Carlos Muñoz, Jair Pérez, Noe Mar McGonagle, Gilbert Brown, Anthony Fillingim, Luis Vindas, Leilani McGonagle, Lisbeth Vindas, and Nataly Bernold. The nine top surfers seem to shuffle places between being national champions and taking the top five slots at any...Read More
