Why do so many people dream of Costa Rica? People come to Costa Rica chasing beauty, wildlife, and the mythical ease of “Pura Vida.” Before I ever boarded a plane to Costa Rica, the country existed in my imagination as a place of endless green. It was sloths in trees,...
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...
What are Costa Rica’s jungle apex predators? The top predators in Costa Rica’s jungles are jaguars, pumas, ocelots, and jaguarundis. These big cats rule the tropical terrain with stealth and power. As the rainy season reaches its peak in August and September, the...
Joan McDonald Vernon has cast a long line of influence across sportfishing in Central America and beyond. For over two decades, she’s been the driving force behind some of the most respected billfish tournaments in the region — from laid-back “fishing rodeos” to elite...
There was a time—not too far in the past—when uttering the F word would’ve gotten you kicked out of class, scolded at the dinner table, or labeled a degenerate. It was the linguistic equivalent of chewing with your mouth open in church. Now? It’s in bestselling books,...
Local bartenders share drink recipes that balance sun, humidity, and beachside bliss. What makes a perfect July cocktail in the tropics? A great July cocktail should be cooling, fruity, and easy to sip under the sun. The best drinks in Costa Rica during this time...
From howler monkeys to toucans, the dry break draws out more than just tourists. What is Costa Rica’s “mini summer”? Mini summer, or "veranillo de San Juan", is a brief dry spell that usually occurs between late June and mid-July, interrupting the otherwise rainy...
There’s a universal truth about time that unites schoolchildren and pensioners alike: nobody experiences it the same way. Ask a child in the middle of the school term when Christmas is coming, and you’ll hear dramatic sighs, exaggerated eye-rolls, and complaints that...
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...
How amphibians turn June’s jungle nights into a love-fuelled chorus of croaks, chirps, and colour What happens in Costa Rica’s jungles when the rain starts to fall? As soon as the rainy season begins in June, the forests of Costa Rica explode with amphibian life. The...
There's a new buzz brewing in the real estate world, and it's not coming from Wall Street—it’s coming from the highland slopes of Costa Rica and other coffee-rich nations. Buying a coffee farm has become the latest dream for investors, entrepreneurs, expats, and...
Pejibaye, also known as peach palm fruit, is a staple in Costa Rica and much of Central and South America. This small, brightly colored fruit might not look like much at first glance, but it is packed with flavor, nutrients, and history. Whether you encounter it at a...