Dear USA: You Don’t Own the Word ‘America

Dear USA: You Don’t Own the Word ‘America

By John Quam, Editor in Chief When I first moved to Costa Rica almost twelve years ago, I was stopped mid-sentence by something small but world-shifting. I’d casually said I was “American.” A Tico friend smiled and, with no hint of sarcasm, replied, “So am I.” It was...

Why We Keep Publishing Howler Magazine After 29 Years

Why We Keep Publishing Howler Magazine After 29 Years

Costa Rica is a land where jungle mountains meet rolling surf, where scarlet macaws glide across the sky, and where "Pura Vida" is more than a phrase—it's a way of life. Adventures abound, from white-water rafting to volcano hiking; culture thrives in music,...

Crime and Public Safety in Costa Rica: A Nation at a Crossroads

Crime and Public Safety in Costa Rica: A Nation at a Crossroads

Costa Rica’s government has allowed its once-pristine reputation to be dragged through the mud of lawlessness, corruption, and incompetence. The country that once stood as an oasis of peace in Central America is now a paradise lost to crime. And while Costa Ricans...