Whale Tales and Water Trails: Kayaking the Pacific with Giants

Whale Tales and Water Trails: Kayaking the Pacific with Giants

What makes kayaking with humpback whales in Costa Rica so special? Kayaking alongside humpback whales offers a quiet, intimate view of these ocean giants—an experience far more magical than watching from a crowded tour boat. During August and September, Costa Rica’s...

Tico Time is Real—And It’s Beautiful

Tico Time is Real—And It’s Beautiful

Forget your calendar, silence your alerts, and put down that planner. Welcome to Costa Rica, where time flows like a lazy river, not a bullet train. “Tico Time” isn’t just an excuse for being late—it’s a way of life, a cultural rhythm that beats to the sound of...

The Smile Reflex: How Costa Rica Teaches You to Greet Everyone

The Smile Reflex: How Costa Rica Teaches You to Greet Everyone

If Costa Rica had a national reflex, it wouldn’t be flinching from a football—it would be smiling at a stranger and saying “buenas.” Whether you’re stepping into a pulpería, passing a neighbour on a gravel road, or waving from a bus seat, the simple act of greeting in...

The Lost Art of Hammock Living: A Humorous Ode to the Hammock Life

The Lost Art of Hammock Living: A Humorous Ode to the Hammock Life

Why do hammocks still matter in the modern world? Hammocks are more than just beach décor—they're horizontal sanctuaries for serious napping, lazy reflection, and expert-level loafing. While the world races ahead with smart homes and AI-generated calendars, Costa...

What Locals Think of the Real Estate Boom in Costa Rica

What Locals Think of the Real Estate Boom in Costa Rica

A Tico perspective on rising prices, land scarcity, and the influx of international buyers Why are locals concerned about the real estate boom? The real estate boom is pushing land and home prices beyond what many Costa Ricans can afford. While foreigners see Costa...

Voices of the Volcano: Spoken Word from the Slopes

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...

Costa Rica’s Undercover Volcanoes: Tenorio, Miravalles, and Barva

Costa Rica’s Undercover Volcanoes: Tenorio, Miravalles, and Barva

Costa Rica is famous for its volcanic beauty, but most travelers only ever hear about Arenal, Rincon de la Viaja, or Poás. Hidden behind the fame of these popular giants lie lesser-known treasures—Tenorio, Miravalles, and Barva—volcanoes that are just as stunning,...

Gulf of Nicoya Fishing Ban: How Costa Rica Protects Its Marine Life

Gulf of Nicoya Fishing Ban: How Costa Rica Protects Its Marine Life

Every year from May 1st to July 3rd, Costa Rica presses pause on most fishing activity in the Gulf of Nicoya, one of the country’s most ecologically rich and economically important marine regions. This isn’t just a seasonal timeout—it’s a carefully timed strategy to...

The Dish That Smells Like Rain—and Tastes Like Childhood

The Dish That Smells Like Rain—and Tastes Like Childhood

Costa Rica’s Olla de Carne with Ñampi and Tacacos: A Bowl of Wet-Season Nostalgia When the first rains hit the Costa Rican countryside, something magical starts simmering in kitchens across the country. It’s not just food—it’s a memory steeped in steam and firewood....