What makes plantains a staple in Costa Rican kitchens? Plantains are essential in Costa Rican cooking because they’re affordable, versatile, and can be transformed into sweet or savoury dishes depending on their ripeness. You’ll find them on almost every table, from...
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...
Rainforest to Recipe: Wild Flavours and Forgotten Foods of Costa Rica
What are Costa Rica’s hidden jungle ingredients? Costa Rica’s jungles hold a treasure chest of forgotten flavours that once nourished local communities long before supermarkets and modern menus. These include wild tubers, jungle fruits, native nuts, and herbs that...
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
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
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
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
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
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
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...
Paperwork in Paradise: What You Need to Know Before You Buy in Costa Rica
Buying a slice of paradise in Costa Rica sounds like the dream—and for many, it is. But before you pack your bags and wire your funds, there’s a less glamorous side to the process: paperwork. While Costa Rica is welcoming to foreign investors and property buyers, its...
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...