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Reader’s Choice Dining: Grill Alvarito

Reader’s Choice Dining: Grill Alvarito

[vc_row][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text] Grill Alvarito Photo and contribution by Perry Thomas As you travel from Tamarindo to Huacas, before you get to town, you'll see smoke rising from the wood fire smokers at Grill Alvarito.  I've been eating here since I...

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Spanish: Typical Costa Rican Dishes

Spanish: Typical Costa Rican Dishes

[vc_row][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text]Learning Spanish opens up a delightful gateway to experiencing the rich culinary culture of Costa Rica firsthand. As you venture into local eateries, understanding the language allows you to navigate the menu and order...

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Tuna Salad and Recipes

Tuna Salad and Recipes

[vc_row][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text] History of Tuna Salad in Costa Rica Costa Rican tuna fish salad, otherwise known as atun con sodas is one of the most popular foods among Costa Ricans. And I can tell you from lots of experience that Costa Rican canned...

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Hundreds of Cans of Tuna and as Many Food Options

Hundreds of Cans of Tuna and as Many Food Options

[vc_row][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text]Canned tuna is a popular food item in Costa Rica because it is easy to prepare, affordable, and widely available. Canned tuna has a long shelf life and can be found in most grocery stores throughout the country. For many...

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Brewing in Guanacaste

Brewing in Guanacaste

[vc_row css=".vc_custom_1679513742189{background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0.48) !important;*background-color: rgb(255,255,255) !important;}"][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text] Three years after opening its doors as Costa Rica’s newest premier craft brewery,...

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Hundreds of Cans of Tuna and as Many Food Options

Hundreds of Cans of Tuna and as Many Food Options

[vc_row][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text]Canned tuna is a popular food item in Costa Rica because it is easy to prepare, affordable, and widely available. Canned tuna has a long shelf life and can be found in most grocery stores throughout the country. For many...

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The Health Benefits of Coffee

The Health Benefits of Coffee

[vc_row][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text]Coffee is a popular drink that is enjoyed by millions of people all over the world. It is the most widely consumed beverage after water, and is considered to be an important part of the daily routine for many individuals....

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The Magical Mojito

The Magical Mojito

[vc_row][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text]The mojito, a classic Cuban cocktail, is a refreshing and flavorful drink that has become a popular choice for parties and social gatherings. With its combination of sweet, sour and minty flavors, the mojito is a perfect...

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The Health RISKS of Coffee

The Health RISKS of Coffee

[vc_row][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text]Coffee, a common beverage choice, particularly in the morning, has become a staple in many people's daily routines. However, as much as coffee may be the perfect pick-me-up when feeling sluggish, it also carries health...

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Kicks from Costa Rican Coffee

Kicks from Costa Rican Coffee

[vc_row][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text]“No sweat … that’ll be easy,” said no writer ever who would know better undertaking an overview of coffee in Costa Rica. With so much information from a world of knowledgeable sources — including experts outside Costa...

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From the Kitchen: Plantain Fritters

From the Kitchen: Plantain Fritters

[vc_row][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text]Plantain fritters are a delicious and easy-to-make snack or side dish that is popular in many Latin American and Caribbean countries. Made from mashed plantains that are mixed with flour, eggs, and a few other simple...

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Recipe: Chickpea And Black Bean Salad

Recipe: Chickpea And Black Bean Salad

[vc_row][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text] A healthy and satisfying salad made with protein-packed chickpeas and black beans, mixed with fresh veggies and a zesty dressing. Thank you Sharon L. Jordan for sharing. From the Cooking In Costa Rica Facebook Group...

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Simply Spanish: Wining & Dining

Simply Spanish: Wining & Dining

[vc_row][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text]¿A qué horas abren? — What time do you open? ¿A qué horas cierran? — What time do you close? bien frío — really cold cerveza artesanal — craft beer ¿Cual es su número de teléfono? — What is your phone number?  ¿Cuándo es...

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Piña Colada (instead of Cocktails)

Piña Colada (instead of Cocktails)

The Pina Colada is one of the first things that comes to mind when people think of tropical drinks. Here in Costa Rica, it is made with native Pineapples that are very sweet. sit on the beach and enjoy the sunset with this lovely boat drink in your hands. You can even...

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Golden Garden Cocktail

Golden Garden Cocktail

Ingredients A delightful cocktail made with Don Julio Tequila. This cocktail has a beautiful presentation and is just delishious. You will want another when you're done... Serves 1 • 1 ½ oz. Don Julio Reposado tequila • ¾ oz. Cointreau • 1 oz. lemon juice • ½ oz....

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La Carniceria Gourmet

La Carniceria Gourmet

[vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text] La Carniceria Gourmet invites you to our store in Plaza Paseo del Mar, 2 km from the intersection of Huacas via Flamingo ... We have top-quality products such as premium meat and seafood, as well as first-class sausages...

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Simply Spanish – Food words: eat your vegetables

Simply Spanish – Food words: eat your vegetables

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Spanish food words - Eat Your Vegetables in Spanish – Comer las verduras: Here are a list of Spanish vegetable words.  aguacate — avocado ajo — garlic apio — celery ayote — pumpkin berenjena — eggplant camote — sweet potato cebolla —...

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Costa Rican Culture: A Rich Blend of Tradition, Family, and ‘Pura Vida’

Costa Rica, though small in size, boasts a culture that’s vibrant, warm, and deeply rooted in both indigenous heritage and Spanish colonial influence. Whether you’re strolling through a lively town during a festival or enjoying a home-cooked casado meal, Costa Rican...

American Crocodile

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] American Costa Rica Crocodile: Visitors in Costa Rica can view the American crocodile at one of several prime spots, about 50 miles (85 km) west of San José, on the Tarcoles River. Here, they can be seen in abundance from the...

What Circle Of Hell Is This?

[vc_row][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text The circle of life so lovingly narrated on nature documentaries plays out daily in Costa Rica. Toucans raid nests like feathered burglars. Iguanas—those smug, sunbathing “vegetarians”—will absolutely nibble the wrong...

The Tigrillo (oncilla) of Costa Rica: A Secretive Wild Cat You’ll Rarely See

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Costa Rica creature feature oncilla: Oncilla, often referred to as the little spotted cat, or in Costa Rica as the tigrillo. This Costa Rica cat is the smallest species of wildcat in this country. Living in the mountain forests at...

Costa Rica Whitewater Rafting Guide: Which River Should You Choose (and When)?

“During high water, the ‘Aye, mami!’ rapids become ‘Oh, crap!’ rapids,” my guide informed me — and honestly, that’s the most accurate river forecast you’ll ever get in Costa Rica. Whitewater rafting here is a beautiful contradiction. One minute you’re folded into the...

Protecting One Species at a Time

Protecting One Species at a Time.  The theme of Earth Day 2019 is “Protect our Species.” With over 500,000 wildlife species in Costa Rica, it is vital to keep the biodiversity alive and thriving in this Central American isthmus.  Thanks to the preservation efforts of...

What Brings People to Live In Costa Rica

Costa Rica living – what draws people to this country? Let’s look at just a few of the many things that make people decide Costa Rica is where they want to call home. 1. Sand and sea Because the country is so small, you’re never too terribly far from one of its...

Chasing Costa Rica’s Green Flash: The One-Second Sunset Secret

[vc_row][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text]   What is the green flash? The green flash is a brief burst of green light that can appear on the very top edge of the sun for roughly one to three seconds as it meets the horizon. It’s most often spotted at sunset over...

Costa Rica Cacao and Dark Chocolate: A Local Story With Global Flavour (and Real Health Perks)

Cacao in Costa Rica isn’t just “the ingredient before chocolate” — it’s a living thread that runs through rainforest ecology, Indigenous heritage, smallholder livelihoods, and the modern obsession with seriously good dark chocolate. If you’ve ever snapped a square of...

Stand-Up Paddle Surfing: From Ancient Watercraft to Modern Wave-Riding

...historically, humans have regarded paddling small watercraft while standing up as an efficient and ergonomic way to fish and travel in the ocean... Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) looks modern, but the idea is ancient: humans have been standing to paddle small craft...

Diamante Eco Adventure Park: Ziplining, Wildlife and 10% Off With Code HOWLER

Planning a trip to Guanacaste or staying near Liberia, Coco, Hermosa or the Riu hotels? Diamante Eco Adventure Park is the one place where you can tick off Costa Rica adrenaline, wildlife, beach time and proper food in a single day – and when you book directly or pay...

Torunes: Founded by Fatigue, Fueled by Coffee, Haunted by Excellence

(and Now Buzzing with Bees, Beans, and Global Bragging Rights) Let’s rewind to 1897, when a man named Jacinto Avila Araya decided to climb a hill in Palmares so steep even the local goats looked up and said, “Hard pass.” After dragging himself up from the...

Explore the digital magazine in full screen:

February’s Howler Real Escapes is Costa Rica as it’s actually lived: a “quick drive” that turns into a roadside saga near Liberia—smoke, standstills, single-lane bridges, and the choice to honk…or help. We walk Rohrmoser’s layered story from coffee fields to 1960s planning to today’s high-rise rhythm, then head to Palmares for Torunes Farms—volcanic Arabica, stubborn founders, and Melipona bees turning blossoms into liquid gold. Cacao takes the spotlight too, linking sacred traditions and Caribbean resilience to modern fine-flavour chocolate and smarter bar choices.

Adventure runs through every page: SUP history and beginner-proof tips, ziplining and wildlife at Diamante Eco Adventure Park (code HOWLER saves 10%), and rafting picks from Río Pacuare to Río Tenorio by region, season, and nerve. Surfers get plain-English swell angle, the Galápagos energy effect, and Papagayo winds that can polish waves—or steal your towel. Practical life guides cover ATM mishaps, verdurería shopping, packing kids, fiesta-season style, epiphanies, decluttering, and self-respect that doesn’t feel cheesy. Business and real estate get clarity on RTBF filing changes, who powers the economy, beachfront rules, and financing paths. Food and wildlife round it out: micheladas, mamón chino ceviche, special-diet travel, the elusive oncilla, American crocodiles, and conservation inside private reserves. Plus: brass coffee fichas, telenovelas, Lake Arenal Condos, organic shrimp, and the green flash

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