Situated in the southeast of the Nicoya Península, just 45 minutes from Montezuma, is the Curú Wildlife Refuge, famous for its pristine white sand beaches and abundant wildlife. This area, sometimes overlooked, is an obligatory stop for Eco-tourists. To get here you must take Route 27 to Puntarenas and head to the Pacquera ferry which will take you across the Nicoya Gulf in just about one and a...

Costa Rica currently has three biosphere reserves: La Amistad, Cordillera Volcánica Central and Agua y Paz; now it is trying to get a fourth one: Savegre River. What is a biosphere reserve? According to the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), these are “areas of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems which promote solutions reconciling the conservation of bio...

It’s always a good time to visit Costa Rica, but for the most part you will always hear it is best during the “summer” time, dry season actually is a better term considering it’s always summer in this country; however, traveling to Costa Rica during the green season or rainy season has its advantages. The green or rainy season in Costa Rica extends from May through December, however when it com...

Costa Rica has a total of 28 National Parks and 72 areas that are either protected zones, biological reserves or wildlife refuges, covering over 26% of the total area of the country. Tourists both local and foreigners prefer coastal and mountain destinations, those that are conveniently located, are easily accessible and of course, those that have more attractions to offer. According to inform...

The Poás Volcano has been experiencing a peak of activity for almost a month, the last big explosion took place on Saturday evening, since then, the volcano has continued emanating a column of vapor and has presented small eruptions, a few reaching just close to 1 kilometer in altitude. Although the eruption on Saturday evening forced the park rangers to leave the National Park, the professiona...

The Central Volcanic Mountain Range Conservation Area (ACCVC, its initials in Spanish) invites residents in the western Central Valley towns of Zarcero, Naranjo, Grecia, Sarchí, and Bajos del Toro to participate in a participatory process to create a management plan for El Chayote and Río Toro protected areas, said Costa Rican conservation officials. The plan will specify measures to be taken o...

Costa Rica’s Minister of Environment, Edgar Gutiérrez Espeleta referred to the Discovery Costa Rica project to be developed in Liberia, Guanacaste in a press release: “The environmental element is a fundamental part of these types of projects. Our country has proudly opted for some time now for a model of development in harmony with the environment, and thanks to this, our biggest wealth is pre...

“Discovery Costa Rica”, a $1 billion eco-tourism park will open in late 2020 near Liberia, Guanacaste, the cost of the project will be covered by Sun Latin America, and Discovery Communications Inc. will license its name to it in an effort to capitalize on followers from its Latin American channels which include Discovery Channel and Animal Planet. The park will include Discovery-branded hotels...

This time we are not going to talk about the different beaches and already popular National Parks you can visit in Costa Rica; if you love the outdoor experiences this country offers you, we leave you three awesome places that not too many foreigners or expats know about: Cerro Yarcazú: This mountain peak in Puriscal is an awesome option to enjoy nature and wonderful scenic and panoramic views....

With over 41 million international arrivals in 2015 and an average growth of 5 percent, Latin America’s travel and tourism industry has incredible potential to help generate growth, create jobs and enable regional development, said a recent report by the World Economic Forum. Costa Rica ranked fourth in the forum's 2017 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report. Researchers said wh...

Hiking is one of the preferred outdoor activities in Costa Rica, there are many places to hike in the country and it is a low-cost activity which is why it has gained so much popularity, whether you are an amateur or a professional, you are sure to find a mountain that fits your requirements. Clearly the main goal if you are taking your hiking seriously will be the Cerro Chirripó Grande, this i...

The National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) and the Costa Rica Ministry of Environment will deploy a Holy Week operation to protect the natural resources throughout the touristic activities. The operation of control and surveillance will be in effect starting April 8 and through Sunday, April 16, with the finality of preventing the extraction of gold, illegal hunting, illegal transportat...

The Costa Rican nonprofit group, Asociación Mar a Mar (The Sea to Sea Association), is developing a unique outdoor experience that will allow hikers to traverse the country from the Atlantic to the Pacific Coast in two weeks. The trail is called El Camino de Costa Rica. “Our aim is to have every hiker in the world want to walk El Camino de Costa Rica, or part of it, at least once in their lifet...

Through a press release, the travel service company Cheapflights, pulled together their picks for 10 destinations to make a difference: top ecotourism impact spots with a line-up of hands-on, inspiring opportunities to play a role in protecting the planet. "In honor of Earth Day, make your next vacation more meaningful by giving the gift of your time to the planet. To inspire travelers to roll ...

The Association Costa Rica por Siempre (Costa Rica forever) , the Ministry of Environment and The National System of Conservation Areas are promoting the visitation to five Costa Rican National Parks through the contest: CRx5 Challenge (Desafío CRx5). The five parks picked for this contest are: Palo Verde, Tortuguero, Tapantí-Cerro de la Muerte, Carara and Arenal Volcano. CRx5 Challenge enco...

Some years ago it was Travel and Leisure magazine that recognized this destination in Costa Rica as one of the most romantic in the world back in 2009, now it is National Geographic that includes Osa in its last ranking of 9 Most Romantic Places to Visit in Spring. The ranking includes the following places in this order: 1) Paris (France) 2) The Moselle (Western Europe) 3) Marrakech (Moroc...

If you have the opportunity to visit each and every corner of this magnificent country you should take it, hidden away where you least expect it you can be pleasantly surprised by the secrets of nature. This is the case with Rancho Humo Estancia and eco-boutique hotel located near Palo Verde National Park, in the Nicoya Peninsula, Rancho Humo provides adventure, wellness and relaxation all in t...

Starbucks Coffee Company announced that it will develop a visitor’s center at its coffee farm, Hacienda Alsacia, on the slopes of Poás volcano, about 30 minutes from the international airport in Alajuela, Costa Rica. The center will begin receiving tourists in 2018. Since the purchase of the 240-hectare farm in March 2013, Starbucks has run it as a typical coffee plantation, and in doing so, ha...

Many are not familiar with the term glamping; glamping refers to “glamorous camping”, and is a new trend that has been extending throughout the world, and Costa Rica is no exception. Glamping provides the possibility of enjoying an outdoors experience without sacrificing on comfort; which is the reason many do not like regular camping. Glamping includes tents, huts, villas, cabins, treehouses o...

After several years of work trying to recover the wetlands of Palo Verde National Park in Guanacaste, this park celebrates today the IV Bird Festival. This exotic bird sanctuary has been battling with the typha (typha dominguensis), an invasive plant that affects the wetlands, reducing the extension and depth of the wetlands' water mirrors, which are used by aquatic birds to feed and rest in th...

If you are constantly looking for new places to discover in Costa Rica, this is one you may have not visited before, and a great option to stop by in your next visit to Puntarenas or nearby beaches (this place is 1 hour and 30 minutes from Jaco); if you are vacationing with your kids, they will also fall in love with this place. Located between the communities of Aranjuez and Pithaya in Puntare...

An investigation by National Geographic will be taken as base by the Costa Rica Government to consider the viability of extending the protection zone at Coco Island. The President of Costa Rica, Luis Guillermo Solis, had announced in 2016 during his meeting with Ecuador President regarding the Maritime Delimitation Agreement between these two countries, the intention of extending in 10 thousan...

The Ostional National Wildlife Refuge in Costa Rica witnesses the arrival of thousands of turtles every year for nesting season, a spectacular natural event which takes place several times a year since four different species of sea turtles take to this place to lay their eggs. This past Monday a calculated amount of almost eleven thousand olive ridley sea turtles made it to this nesting site in...

The close to 300 people that were in the limits of the Corcovado National Park in the Osa Peninsula since last Sunday and that threatened to enter the park, left voluntarily and peacefully after sustaining conversations with different Government officials. Authorities from the Ministry of Public Security, the Osa Conservation Area and the Presidency, held a meeting with the gold miners and list...

Out of Costa Rica’s seven provinces maybe Cartago is the one that tourists know less off, however, this province has a lot to offer. Cartago was once the capital of Costa Rica, and home to some of the most influential families of the XVIII and XIX centuries. The temperature here is colder than the rest of the country, and the scenic views impressive. If you are interested in exploring all Co...

With the purpose of increasing the tourism and improving the conditions for national and foreign tourists that visit Corcovado National Park, and in order to provide park rangers with an adequate space to do their work, the Costa Rica Government inaugurated today the new infrastructure at Corcovado in which $2.4 million dollars of the Sustainable Tourism program were invested. The works were ha...

The Tempisque Conservation Area (ACT) of the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) was alerted by the Police of the existence of three adult crocodiles trapped in a concrete trough in the mangrove area of Chira Island in Puntarenas, apparently, they had been there for a few days. The artificial troughs are part of an abandoned infrastructure of what used to be a salt evaporation pond. A...

The National Commission of Risk Prevention and Emergency Attention (CNE) and the Technical Assessment Vulcanology Committee (CAT) insist that the security of the people visiting the areas close to the Turrialba volcano is a priority, and for this reason the current restrictions most remain in such way that visitors must stay within a 2 km radius (1.24 miles) and when necessary at a distance of 5 k...

“El Viejo”, in English “The Old Man” is located in Filadelfia, Guanacaste, at it involves 5000 acres of Wildlife Refuge, recognized as such since 2008. This old-style “hacienda” is a real “sabanero” home, which strives to offer tourists a rich cultural experience as well as great adventure tours. With Costa Rican style rodeos, traditional dances, masquerades, and of course typical Costa Rican f...

With the purpose of improving the visitors’ experience and encourage them to visit the forest, wetlands, beach, coral reefs, and the lively afro-Caribbean culture , new infrastructure was built in the Cahuita National Park, both in the sector of Puerto Vargas, and the community of Cahuita. The work done in Puerto Vargas includes the construction of new restrooms and showers, the reconditioning o...

National Geographic features in their section “unique lodges of the world” two Costa Rican hotels, the Pacuare Lodge located in Limón Province, and Lapa Ríos Eco Lodge in the Osa Península. The Pacuare Lodge is described by the publication as a pioneer in ecotourism while the Lapa Ríos Eco-Lodge is recognized as a model of sustainable tourism. Pacuare Lodge overlooks the Pacuare River in the...

By Wendy Anders A search for a missing young woman from the U.S. in Panama ended Sunday when police found her body on a hiking trail near Bocas del Toro, an archipelago along Panama’s northern Caribbean coast. No information has been forthcoming regarding the possible cause of her death, said local media. Friends and family posted messages on social media late Thursday, February 2 after C...

In response to a constitutional appeal (Recurso de Amparo) filed by the Costa Rican Conservation Federation and the Workers Union of the Ministry of Environment, the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court (Sala IV) ordered Costa Rican authorities to elaborate a plan to get rid of the invaders of the Corcovado National Park, who through logging, the extraction of gold, and hunting are causing ...

Costa Rica has many beautiful places that are worth visiting, granted everyone has different preferences when they travel, but there are some destinations in the country that are a must visit for any tourist: 1) La Fortuna, San Carlos: Whether you are the adventurous type or the Eco-traveler, if you are here in a romantic trip or traveling with kids. La Fortuna in San Carlos has something for e...

Back in 2015 the magazine Scientific America included Monteverde in Costa Rica as one of “11 Natural Wonders to See before they are gone”, victims of the climate change. “Monteverde Cloud Forest, This tropical rainforest some 1,700 meters above sea level in the volcanic mountains of Costa Rica gets its name form living among permanent clouds. The humidity is often 100%. But as the warming clim...

The most recent book by publishing house Ojalá Ediciones, titled Greatest Wildlife Spectacles, documents 29 wildlife shows of migration, mating, nesting and gathering of animals in the Guanacaste area. (Watch the video at the end of the article too) The book is written in Spanish and English, it gives information and shows images of the agglomeration of ducks in Palo Verde National Park, the hu...

Costa Rica has many beautiful beaches that attract local and foreign tourists alike; they are without a doubt one of the many treasures this country has, however, some of these beaches suffer from a certain level of pollution, like it happens in every country, naturally some of the most polluted beaches tend to be some of the most visited ones. Costa Rica makes big efforts in implementing diffe...

By Wendy Anders A 53-year-old German man, preliminarily identified with the last name of Schiloknecot, died yesterday in an accident at the El Tobogán waterfalls 30 kilometers from the northern Costa Rica city of Liberia, in the province of Guanacaste, reported the Spanish daily El Diario Extra. Apparently he and some other foreigner visitors went hiking in the forest near their hotel, which...

With the beginning of a new year everyone should try to make the most out of each day, after all, if you live in Costa Rica there are a lot of different things you can do to enjoy your life to the fullest. Here are three options of adventure tourism high in adrenaline that you can do in Costa Rica: Paragliding: Paragliding in Costa Rica continues to increase in popularity, what better way to...

Not a beach person? Don’t worry, Costa Rica has plenty of mountain retreats as well. Peace and quiet, sometimes that’s all we need, a place where we can breathe fresh air, and listen to just the sounds of nature around us, the wind, the birds and the trees. There are plenty of mountain hotels in Costa Rica, and although you can choose to go to beautiful destinations such as Monteverde or Rio...