Costa Rica is awesome, and you all probably know the main reasons why. It has beautiful scenery highlighted by volcanoes and stunning beaches. It has an insane amount of wildlife. And so much of the country is both accessible and has been left wild, meaning this is one of the places to enjoy nature in…
If you are a fan of nature and wildlife, chances are that you have either already been to Costa Rica or it is on your list. After all, this tiny Central American country has about 5% of the planet’s biodiversity, and a remarkable tourism infrastructure that both protects much of that and allows for access.…
For most of human history, the concept of “value” was immediate. My goat has value because it can be traded for x amount of money now, or because it will feed my family for x amount of time now. And for most of human history, that was the way we assigned value to nature. An…
So you’re going to Costa Rica. That means you’re probably planning on seeing some cool plant and animal life. At least that’s the way it was for me. I spent a bit over two weeks roaming the country - on a tour with a guide - and basically all of my highlights are being in…
To say that my two night, three day, add-on for my Costa Rica tour was off to a rough start would be an understatement. I had just arrived in Tortuguero National Park after a several hour trip by bus and then boat, and the weather, which had cooperated for the entire trip to this point,…
Yes, I know. If you visit Costa Rica - or are even considering making a trip there - it is not for the history. It is for nature, for animal spotting, for outdoor adventures, for pristine beaches, and for an incredible diversity of life and landscapes. But history? I’m sure not. And I don’t blame…
I’ve been to a number of coffee producing countries, and I’ve written a number of articles from those. (Click here for Cartagena, Colombia and here for Antigua Guatemala.) Those have focused on how coffee is grown, or how visitors can find the best coffee-related experience. I’ve even spoken about coffee culture from a purely drinking…
I enter through the gates of Manuel Antonio National Park around 730am. It is already crowded; although the park only admits 1200 visitors per day it is small and doesn’t allow for a large dispersal. It is also already hot here on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, probably 80 degrees Fahrenheit and an equal amount of…
On a beautiful March morning, the Monteverde Cloud Forest would seem to be misnamed. Bright blue skies are visible through the thick rain forest canopy, sunlight illuminating the many layers of foliage, amplifying the vibrant greens. A brisk wind keeps the temperature on the chilly side, especially in the shade of the trees, vines, and…
If you ever drew a picture of a volcano as a child, it probably looked exactly like this one. Purely conical in shape with a crater - two actually, but it looks like a single one from below - at the top, Arenal volcano is one of the most recognizable, and most visited, sights in…