By Wendy Anders Dinoworld at City Mall Alajuela. Dinoworld is a Costa Rican-owned and operated attraction for all ages and abilities located in City Mall Alajuela. Tomorrow, Tuesday, December 20, 100 percent of  entrance fees to the exhibit will be donated to a Christmas program for low income children. Dinoworld has 22 animatronic dinosaurs on display, some up to four meters tall, in...

Costa Rica had its traditional Festival de la Luz (Festival of Light or Parade of Light) this Saturday, December 18 with the participation of 14 floats and 15 bands and the presence of the national cyclist Andrey Amador who was this year’s honorary guest. Floats parade, bands, masquerades, live music and fireworks were part of a beautiful December night that thousands of Costa Rican families en...

By Wendy Anders Costa Rican 'corrida de toro', Flickr Commons Along with tamales, ronpope (spiced rum), and school vacations, December and January also bring typical bullfights or “corridas de toros” to many small towns across Costa Rica, and with them, divided opinions and strong feelings. A recent survey by the National University in Heredia, Costa Rica found that 46.4 percent of Costa...

The National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC-MINAE), informs that the access to the National Parks: Rincon de la Vieja, Tenorio Volcano and Corcovado which had been closed due to the sequels of Hurricane Otte, are once again open to the public. Since November 29th, the authorities of the Guanacaste Conservation Area authorized the access to the Rincon de la Vieja National Park through the P...

Contiki, the global tour operator specializing in once-in-a-lifetime experiences for young travelers, recently polled over 5,000 18-35 year olds around the world to discover what motivates them to travel and create the The No Regrets List, the top 20 bucket list travel experiences for 2017. According to the study, 71 percent of U.S. millennials and post-millennials, view experiences as the most...

The Irazu Volcano located in the province of Cartago experimented some changes after the heavy rains received in the past days’ product of a tropical storm and also hurricane Otto. The water filled up three lakes in the volcano and a small waterfall is dropping in the main crater, the last time this phenomenon happened was back in 2012. According to Costa Rican volcanologist Gino Gonzalez, the...

/PRNewswire/ -- With more Americans taking fewer, shorter vacations a year, the Central American nation of Costa Rica – known for its natural wonders, colorful culture and friendly locals – offers travelers an ideal destination for a quick getaway. Roughly the size of West Virginia, visitors can take advantage of the country's small size to explore numerous opportunities for adventure and relaxati...

Costa Rica is among the preferred destinations by expats, every year many tourists visit the country on vacation and fall in love with the place, they make the decision of moving here, but the first question they ask themselves is: Where should we live? With the help from our friends from Immigration Experts, here we offer you information on the best and preferred places by expats to live in Co...

By Wendy Anders Ponderosa Animal Park, source Facebook. While all eyes were on the Atlantic coast of southern Central America as Hurricane Otto took shape and starting moving west, a giraffe was born in Liberia, Costa Rica in the northern province of Guanacaste, reported CRHoy.com, a Spanish digital news source. The Ponderosa Animal Park (formerly Africa Mia) welcomed baby Isabel Wednesd...

Montezuma, a small and bohemian town located in southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula in the province of Puntarenas, has gained popularity among tourists in the last few years due to its laid back and friendly style and of course its unique beauty. Many consider this area more of an option for “backpackers” but this is not entirely true, Montezuma can be enjoyed by backpackers, adventure seekers...

The Walmart supermarkets in Costa Rica will offer discounts in around 3,500 products this Friday, November 4, 2016 in what they call "The Cheapest Day of the Year" event, this event also takes place in the different Walmart locations in Central America. "The electronics department will have products with up to a 50% discount, while selected merchandise and clothing can be found with up to a 60%...

45 minutes from La Fortuna de San Carlos you can find the town of Las Cavernas de Venado, (Venado Caves or Deer Caves), this amazing destination will take you in an underground adventure. As incredible as it sounds, these caves weren’t actually discovered until 1945, although it is said the the Guatuso natives knew of their existence way before then, it wasn't until a local was in a hunting tri...

“El Salto del Calvo” (The bald man’s jump) is the highest waterfall in Central America, and yet, not many have heard about it, it is one of many well-kept secrets about Costa Rica. This waterfall is located in San Isidro de Hojancha in Guanacaste, an area of the province that not many tourists venture to even though it is not far from Liberia, around a 2 hour drive. Once you arrive in Hojanc...

Did you fall in love with Costa Rica during a visit? Perhaps you need a change in your life, a fresh start. Maybe you are tired of the cold weather in your country and you want to move somewhere where it doesn’t snow; or maybe it’s time to retire and you want a place where you can live a more relaxing life. Whatever the case may be, you are right to consider the possibility of moving to Costa Rica...

All couples search for that perfect secluded spot where they can spend a quiet weekend away from the day to day routine, Costa Rica is certainly the perfect place to rekindle romance, but with so many different alternatives we figured it’d be a good idea to give you some suggestions, mountain or beach, you’ll certainly find the perfect getaway spot for you and your loved one. Los Altos de Eros:...

The best time to visit the Caribbean Coast September and October are very rainy months in Costa Rica, the former is true for the Central Valley and the Pacific coast, but did you know these months are also the best time of the year, weather wise, to visit the Atlantic coast? The Southern Caribbean coast of Costa Rica is not the most popular destination for tourists, perhaps this is because y...

By Wendy Anders During the upcoming two weekends, visitors can take part in whale and dolphin watching tours, as well as recreational and cultural activities, during the southern Pacific Bahía Ballena Marine Park's annual whale and dolphin festival. From Sept 2-4 and again from Sept 9-11 visitors can participate in activities such as foot races, cycling, family walks, a sand sculpture contes...

Photo by Jack Donnelly By Jack Donnelly Costa Rica is famous for many things as a tourist destination: beaches, national parks teeming with wildlife, zip lining, rafting, volcanoes, etc. Yet, so many of the country’s subdued treasures are often overlooked. Among these attractions are a few very nice archaeological sites. There are no sites to rival Teotihuacán, Copán, or Machu Picchu. St...

By Wendy Anders Yesterday, on National Parks Day, President Luis Guillermo Solís met with park guards on a visit to Tenorio Volcano National Park in the northern Guanacaste mountain range. Tenorio National Park is where Costa Rica's enchanting Río Celeste, or Blue River, is located. Park rangers had been threatening to close one or more national parks if their repeated requests for increa...

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) May 11, 2016 - In a recent Bird-X blog post, the company explains how it helped preserve history at the National Theatre of Costa Rica with the installation of its bird shock track system, Avishock™. In April, Fuera Aves PRO, part of the JAMUVI Group of companies, installed 300 meters of Avishock™, on the theatre’s rooftop ledges to stop birds from landing and defecating on ...

Fer-de-lance snake, found in the jungles of Costa Rica By Carol Blair Vaughn We should care about the Reptilian Top Ten. Here's why: Scientists from Oxford University (U.K.) and from Tel Aviv University (Israel) have created a top ten list of the world’s most popular reptiles. You call this science? It turns out, that it actually IS science. The research team discovered valuable in...

Source: Starbucks At the Starbucks 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders this week, president and chief operating officer Kevin Johnson played a video of the company's agricultural research center in Costa Rica to highlight the company’s emphasis on creating a sustainable supply of coffee for future generations. Johnson announced that Starbucks in on track to donate 20 million rust-resistant ...

By Jack Donnelly Ujarrás is a wonderful place you should not run off to visit. You should plan a trip to several attractions in the area and spend some time in Ujarrás as part of your trip, maybe a nice picnic lunch. The Ruins of Ujarrás are not well known, even though they were declared a National Monument of Costa Rica by executive decree in 1985. They lie east of Paraíso (Cartago), just o...

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 10, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Fest300, the most comprehensive guide to the world's best festivals, announced today its annual list of the 300 most highly regarded festivals from around the globe. Making this year's list were returning favorites Glastonbury (Pilton, UK), Diwali (India), and Envision (Costa Rica), as well as list newcomers Electric Zoo (New York, USA) and Cape Town In...

Source: Starbucks The Starbucks Origin Experience takes partners (employees) from behind the counters of stores, corporate offices and roasting plants and brings them to work alongside farmers in coffee growing regions. The program offers a valuable perspective for people who have a passion for coffee, but may not have a connection to the distant places where coffee is grown. Starbucks phot...

Wikimedia Commons (TRAVPR.COM) UK - 12th January, 2016 - Sumak Travel, the UK based social enterprise that specializes in Latin American ecotourism, has partnered with the Cafédirect Producers’ Foundation (CPF) to launch a range of Fair Trade Adventures in Colombia, Costa Rica and Peru. Four new small group tours will give travelers a rare opportunity to meet farmers and artisans behind popula...

Source: Blue River Resort Costa Rica Rincon de la Vieja, Costa Rica, January 9, 2016. Dinosaurs have indeed taken up residence in the spectacular Rincon de la Vieja Volcano National Park. The premier Dinosaur Adventure Park is being unveiled by The Blue River Resort & Hot Springs in a lush Rain Forest, along a Blue River. The resort is located on the North Side of the Majestic Volcano R...

Colorado Springs, United States, November 27,2015/Free-Press-Release.com/ -- Manuel Antonio Rental Properties, the leading provider of luxury villa rentals in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, has announced the launch of a new catamaran tour service in order for visitors to discover the stunning Costa Rican coastline and view some of the fascinating marine life in this region of the world. The new tour ...

Flickr Commons. User: puroticorico BOSTON, MA--(Marketwired - Nov 12, 2015) - Have you already noticed the Christmas lights and holiday decorations at local malls and stores? The snow hasn't even hit the ground and yet, like clockwork, the minute Halloween ends, Christmas begins. Planning for the holidays -- shopping, decorating, meal preparations -- can be fun, but it can also be stressful an...

LAS VEGAS, Nov. 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Pure Hospitality Solutions, Inc., (OTC: PNOW) parent company of the Central American-Caribbean online travel Agency (OTA), Oveedia (www.Oveedia.com), announced today, that the Company is listing additional properties faster than expected – quickly growing its hotel database. Today, the Company welcomes Hotel Cerro Lodge as Oveedia's newest hotel listing. ...

PRFree.Org (Press Release) Sep 28, 2015 -- Global Concepts, a travel agency based in San Antonio, Texas, plans to offer all-inclusive travel packages to its customers for a week stay at the Ecoplaya Beach Resort in Costa Rica. The resort is situated in Salinas Bay, La Coyotera Beach, which is located in Guanacaste province in Costa Rica. This area is located near two national parks, as well as in ...

Source: Wikimedia Commons Since Costa Rica is blessed with a Caribbean coastline, many diving and snorkeling enthusiasts tend to pursue their passion on that side of the country, thereby missing out on the great opportunities located on the opposite side. The northern Pacific Coast of Costa Rica is home to an underwater paradise, but there are issues with visibility that can alleviated with th...

U.S. National Park Service News Release – Birds have begun their migration south! But before they began their flights to more tropical locations, Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) and its partners the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (RMBO) and its sister parks in Costa Rica collaborated to conduct a summer solstice bird count, held on June 20, 2015. Much like the winter solstice bird count, comm...

TravelMedia Ireland Press Release -- Fall in love with the amazing scenery, unique wildlife and friendly people of Costa Rica with Nuevo Mundo, the luxury South America holiday specialists. Costa Rica is a land of beauty and wonder, home to magnificent waterfalls, tropical rain forests and beautiful deserted beaches. Experience all this stunning country has to offer with Nuevo Mundo and enjoy a...

Visalia, CA- The Visalia Chamber of Commerce will host a slideshow presentation on August 5th at 12:00 pm at 222 N. Garden Street Suite 300 for the tour Natural Wonders of Costa Rica. This trip is 9 days, and includes international airfare from Fresno, 18 meals, a professional naturalist tour director, motorcoach transportation and comprehensive sightseeing. The tour will depart on February 17, 20...

DoubleTree Hilton Costa Rica Just in time for the North American summer vacation season, travel review website Family Vacation Critic and online PR network Blogs Release have compiled an updated list of the best family-friendly and all-inclusive resorts in Costa Rica. As expected, all the resorts are located in the Pacific region, which is home to the Gold Coast beaches of Costa Rica, speci...

Wikimedia Commons After months of hopeful speculation, careful planning and diligent construction, the second Hard Rock Cafe franchise in Costa Rica will open its doors to the sizable tourist and expat community of Playas del Coco in the province of Guanacaste. According to a news report filed by entertainment reporter Ariel Chaves Gonzalez of daily tabloid Diario Extra, the Hard Rock Cafe ...

Rincon de la Vieja Rincon de la Vieja, Costa Rica – July 6, 2015 – (Press Release Rocket) / The Zip-Line experience is like no other. Now combine that with a lush Costa Rican rainforest, and it would be hard to find words to accurately describe the adventure. Imagine gliding like Superman through the canopy of the world famous Rincon de la Vieja forest. There is a reason why Zip-Liners travel ...

Young tourists in Sarchi. Photo: James Marshall By  Rosa Monge Alvarez. Photos by James Marshall Sarchí, an idyllic town located about an hour away from San Jose, is known around the world for its extensive dedication to furniture making and handcrafts. Ask anyone in Costa Rica where the finest furniture can be found, and the answer will always be Sarchí. Sarchí is small municipality wit...

One of the most lucrative film enterprises in history features Costa Rica as a fictional backdrop; alas, our country has not been able to profit from this sci-fi relationship -until now. The buzz created by the release of Jurassic World could translate into a Jurassic perk for Costa Rica in the form of increased tourism. Reviews for the long-awaited summer blockbuster are in, and for the most p...