International Crimes, Corruption, Conspiracies, Capers.

International Crimes, Corruption, Conspiracies, Capers.

By Captain Paul Watson Let’s talk about the power of a malicious government to wage petty wars of retribution against individuals working to expose crimes and corruption. Between 2005 and 2017, I starred in a television show on Discovery Animal Planet called Whale...

Why Sloths Love the Wet Season: Puddles, Perches, and Plant Parties

Why Sloths Love the Wet Season: Puddles, Perches, and Plant Parties

Why do sloths seem happier during Costa Rica’s rainy season? Sloths thrive during the wet season because food is plentiful, trees blossom, and the damp slows predators. While humans dodge puddles and frizz, sloths are sliding into their best lives—literally. Rain...

Shadow Kings: Tracking Costa Rica’s Jungle Royals

Shadow Kings: Tracking Costa Rica’s Jungle Royals

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...

Pura Vida Parenting: Raising Kids the Costa Rican Way

Pura Vida Parenting: Raising Kids the Costa Rican Way

In Costa Rica, parenting isn’t a competitive sport—it’s a shared experience steeped in sunshine, sloths, and a strong sense of community. Children here grow up barefoot, fearless, and free-range, with muddy knees and mango juice moustaches. This is not helicopter...

Wings in the Wetlands

Wings in the Wetlands

Costa Rica’s Migratory Bird Season Takes Flight What makes Costa Rica’s wetlands a hotspot for migratory birds?Costa Rica’s wetlands serve as critical rest stops and breeding grounds for migratory birds, offering an abundance of food, mild weather, and diverse...

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...

Barefoot Is Better: Why Shoes Are Optional in Paradise

Barefoot Is Better: Why Shoes Are Optional in Paradise

It starts with a toe in the sand. Then it’s a short stroll across warm flagstones. Before long, you're ordering a smoothie in a beach café with absolutely nothing between your feet and the earth. Going barefoot in Costa Rica isn’t just acceptable—it’s a badge of...

From Beans to Billions: The Business of Costa Rican Coffee

From Beans to Billions: The Business of Costa Rican Coffee

Long before coffee became a lifestyle, Costa Rica was already perfecting the art of the bean. Its volcanic soil, rich rainfall, and high-altitude farms set the stage for some of the smoothest, most complex coffee in the world. But in an era where a flat white is as...

Beyond the Beach: Real Estate Off the Tourist Trail in Costa Rica

Beyond the Beach: Real Estate Off the Tourist Trail in Costa Rica

Everyone’s heard about the beachfront villas and surfside condos—but Costa Rica’s inland real estate is the country’s best-kept secret. While coastal regions draw the spotlight, there’s a quieter, more authentic lifestyle waiting to be discovered just beyond the...