Discover the Fusion of Culture, Art, and Entertainment in Costa Rica
Click to explore this section of the interactive digital magazine:
Chavela Vargas
Indomitable Non-Conformist Ahead of Her Time María Isabel Anita Carmen de Jesús Vargas Lizano, better known as Chavela Vargas, Mexican ranchera singer and rebellious free spirit, knew from a very young age what it meant to be different. With an indomitable...
Tamales at Your Table
Costa Rica is a country that loves a good gathering: sunrise surf and volcano treks, marimba in the plaza, gallery nights that spill into dinner, wildlife that steals the show, real estate chats over coffee, and businesses built on relationships. At the centre of so...
The Characteristics of Costa Rican Music
Authentic Costa Rican music is characterized by a blend of indigenous, Spanish, and Afro-Caribbean influences that have evolved over centuries. Traditional music often features instruments such as the marimba (a wooden xylophone with a bright sound), guitars, drums,...
Santa Cruz: A Brief History
Santa Cruz, Costa Rica: from Chorotega heartland to living cultural capital Set between the Diría and Enmedio rivers, Santa Cruz is a story-rich corner of Guanacaste where Costa Rica’s adventures, culture, entertainment, wildlife, real estate, business and food all...
The Real Taste of Costa Rica “Chiliguaro”
Chiliguaro: Costa Rica’s Spicy National Shot (with roots, rituals and real-world examples) Costa Rica folds Adventures, Culture, Entertainment, wildlife, Real Estate, Business and Food into everyday life — and you can taste that mix in a tiny glass of chiliguaro. This...
Why Nicoya, Costa Rica Is a Blue Zone of Thriving Elders
[vc_row][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text] Live longer in Costa Rica Blue Zone: Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula is one of five regions in the world referred to as a “blue zone,” home to some of the oldest and healthiest people on the planet. Most blue zone...
Whistling Conversations: Costa Rica’s Forgotten Birdsong Language
Costa Rica is famous for surf breaks and cloud forests, but it’s the small, odd, human things that give the country its heartbeat: adventures told over gallo pinto, culture shared on a breezy veranda, entertainment that might be a neighbour’s marimba or a story...
The Indigenous Tribes of Costa Rica
[vc_row][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text] Despite the fact that Costa Rica is an incredibly diverse nation, like in many parts of the world, indigenous communities are at risk of losing their cultural identities due to colonization, urbanization, and...
Sounds of the Soul: Traditional Marimba in the Modern Era
There’s a sound in Costa Rica that can stop you mid-step. It’s warm, earthy, and somehow both simple and complex—like sunshine poured into music. That sound belongs to the marimba, the country’s national instrument, whose wooden keys have echoed through village...
Fireflies, Fairytales, and the Nights That Glow
From May to September, when the air in Costa Rica feels as soft as silk and the earth exhales the scent of rain-soaked leaves, a quiet magic takes hold. At first, it’s subtle—a single flicker near the hedgerow, another glint by the riverbank. Then, as twilight...
Tropical Brews: Costa Rica’s Craft Beer Infusion with Passionfruit, Guava, and Pineapple
In Costa Rica, the craft beer revolution isn’t just about hops and barley—it’s about bottling the country’s vibrant landscapes into every pour. While classic IPAs, pale ales, and wheat beers are gaining loyal followings, local brewers are taking things a step further...
Oktoberfest in Costa Rica: A Tropical Twist on a Bavarian Classic
When someone says “Oktoberfest”, your mind probably jumps to images of Munich’s sprawling beer tents, the sound of brass bands, and the unmistakable clink of giant steins in the crisp German autumn air. Now, transport that image several thousand kilometres south, swap...
Steins by the Sea: Costa Rica’s Tropical Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest originated as a royal wedding celebration on October 12, 1810. It marked the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria to Princess Therese of Saxon-Hildburghausen. The festivities were held in an open field outside Munich, which was later named...
Trivia Questions About Costa Rica’s independence
On what date did Costa Rica declare its independence from Spain? Which city hosted the Declaration of Independence in Costa Rica? Costa Rica shares its Independence Day with four other Central American countries. Name two of them. What was the political entity that...
Harry Bodaan, accused of a gruesome murder, asserts his innocence in new book
It was a crime that shocked a nation — a top Costa Rican anesthesiologist viciously raped and murdered while staying at La Mansion Inn in Manuel Antonio, accompanied only by a little dog. Adding to the shock was the arrest of the hotel owner, the 69-year-old...
Tico Karaoke: The National Sport You Didn’t Know Existed
Where emotions go full throttle, and off-key is part of the charm. When night falls in Costa Rica, and the last spoonful of gallo pinto has long been digested, something magical happens in corner bars, beach joints, and neon-lit cantinas. No, it’s not fútbol. It’s...
Puppets, Pageantry, and Pure Weirdness: Costa Rica’s Traveling Theatre Scene
You’re sitting in a plaza munching on a tamal when—wait, is that a pirate dueling a chicken with a broomstick? Welcome to the delightfully absurd, surprisingly profound, and occasionally head-scratching world of Costa Rica’s travelling theatre scene. It’s where...
The Magic of Machetes: More Than a Tool, It’s a Way of Life
In Costa Rica, you’ll spot it strapped to a belt, slung over a shoulder, or leaned against a banana tree. The machete isn’t just a tool here—it’s practically family. Passed from grandpa to grandson, sharpened daily, and spoken of with the same reverence usually...
Voices of the Volcano: Spoken Word from the Slopes
What is “Voices of the Volcano”? “Voices of the Volcano” is a raw, underground poetry movement erupting near Costa Rica’s mighty volcanoes, where poets trade stages for steam vents and microphones for mist. In these intimate gatherings around Arenal and Poás, locals...
July’s Festival of Maíz: Corn Gets Its Crown
What is the Festival of Maíz in Costa Rica? The Festival of Maíz is Costa Rica’s annual celebration of corn, the sacred grain that has fed generations and shaped culture across the country. Every July, rural towns come alive with the smells of masa, the rhythms of...
Monkey Myths and Jungle Legends from Costa Rica’s Wild Side
There’s something off-kilter about the Nicoya Peninsula. Not bad, just… different. The air feels thicker, like it’s carrying more than just heat and humidity. The trees lean in a little too close. The howler monkeys don’t just call—they sound like they’re screaming in...
Big Mountain Drops a Fresh Reggae Anthem: “One Light, One Love”
Big Mountain is back with a powerful new single that reggae lovers won’t want to miss. “One Light, One Love”—now streaming on all major platforms—is a heartfelt collaboration between frontman Quino, E.N. Young, and Maxi Vargas. The track fuses warm island rhythms with...
How Costa Rica’s Coffee Fuels Art, Writing, and Everyday Inspiration
It’s 6:45 a.m. in the Central Valley. A painter in Palmares unwraps a canvas as golden light cuts through the mist. The smell of freshly brewed coffee—organic, rich, and earthy—drifts through the hills. That aroma? It's likely from Torunes Farm, an artisanal coffee...
“Coffee and Creativity” – How the Country’s Caffeine Culture Inspires Artists and Writers
It’s 6:45am in the Central Valley. A painter unwraps a canvas under the early morning sun while the scent of locally roasted beans brews through the air like a quiet overture. Across town, a poet stirs her cafecito, notebook open, chasing metaphors like butterflies....
What’s with the weird names in Costa Rica?
“What’s in a Name?” – The Origins of Costa Rica’s Funniest and Most Unusual Town Names If you’ve ever looked at a map of Costa Rica and done a double take at town names like Zapote, Palo Seco, or Veinticinco de Abril, you’re not alone. While many countries have their...
The Beginners Costa Rican Survival Guide
Essential local hacks for navigating everything from currency exchange to ordering a beer You’ve landed in Costa Rica, stepped off the plane with “pura vida” echoing in your head, only to realise you’ve no clue how to ask for the loo, your pockets are jingling with...
The Ultimate Costa Rica Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know
Lake Arenal and volcano Arenal
San José After Dark: A Guide to the Capital’s Hidden Nightlife
Where the Capital Comes Alive San José may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of nightlife in Costa Rica, but the capital has a thriving after-dark scene just waiting to be explored. Beyond the usual tourist spots, San José hides an eclectic mix...
The Art of Boruca Masks: Tradition, Meaning, and Modern Adaptations
Costa Rica’s indigenous communities hold some of the most remarkable artistic traditions in Central America, and among them, the Boruca people stand out with their intricate, hand-carved masks. These masks, bursting with vivid colors and striking animal designs, are...
The Mystery and Myths Behind Semana Santa in Costa Rica
Semana Santa, or Holy Week, is one of Costa Rica’s most sacred and culturally rich celebrations, blending religious traditions with folklore and superstitions that have been passed down through generations. While the week is best...
The Mystery and Myths Behind Semana Santa in Costa Rica
Semana Santa, or Holy Week, is one of Costa Rica’s most sacred and culturally rich celebrations, blending religious traditions with folklore and superstitions that have been passed down through generations. While the week is best...
The Animal Art of amy pink
The animal joy series of art captures the animal's light, spirit, and energy. Animal joy was born through Amy Pink's world travels after it became very clear that animals were attracted to her in all kinds of crazy ways that positively delighted her. When not...
Bob’s Caffeinated Adventure: Finding Liquid Gold and Magic Honey in Palmares
[vc_row][vc_column width="3/4" css=".vc_custom_1691013008333{background-color: #f9ecc5 !important;}"][vc_column_text]Bob’s love for adventure is only rivaled by his love for a good cup of coffee. So when he heard about Torunes Coffee Plantation in the hills of...
Los Mojados: Jaco’s Most Astonishing Band
Jaco Beach, Costa Rica – One thing for sure is Los Mojados needs a bigger stage! What started as a brother-and-sister guitar-duo 21-years-ago has evolved full circle into a musical journey few other bands ever experience. Sheer determination, guts and a vision for...
EXpat writer britt nelson
Britt Nelson, 75, came to Costa Rica in 2011 from Florida. He is a retired, multi-award winning photo journalist, reporter and news editor for the New York Times Company. He has been published thousands of times on the front pages of American newspapers. He is...
Theatrical Nature: Arenal Volcano’s Eruption History Told Through Local Legends
[vc_row][vc_column width="3/4" css=".vc_custom_1691013008333{background-color: #f9ecc5 !important;}"][vc_column_text]Arenal Volcano: Myths, Legends, and the Science Behind Costa Rica’s Fiery Giant The Iconic Arenal Volcano: A Natural Wonder and Cultural Treasure...
The Architectural Heritage of Costa Rica: A Journey Through Time and Style
[vc_row][vc_column width="3/4" css=".vc_custom_1691013008333{background-color: #f9ecc5 !important;}"][vc_column_text]Costa Rica, a country known for its lush landscapes and rich biodiversity, also boasts a remarkable architectural heritage that narrates a history of...
Bob’s Sunset Cocktail Crawl: Chasing Green Flashes in Costa Rica
[vc_row][vc_column width="3/4" css=".vc_custom_1691013008333{background-color: #f9ecc5 !important;}"][vc_column_text]After a day filled with exciting adventures, Bob needed a break. The serene Costa Rican beach beckoned him with promises of relaxation, cocktails, and...
Craig Thatcher Band on Feb 21st at Playa Flamingo for Abriendo Mentes
[vc_row][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text]One of the biggest events of the year. Join us in Playa Flamingo! TICKETS HERE. https://givebutter.com/QIfcTv[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image="60958"...