Seeing Forests for the Trees

Half a Dozen Types in Costa Rica The biodiversity of Costa Rica never ceases to astound even those with significant botanical knowledge. As a relatively small country, it is home to six different forest categories, each with particular nuances and habitats. The three...

The Day a Bird Named “Captain Crunch” Came Into Our Lives

I have been self-isolating with my family in the Costa Rica jungle for weeks now. The sun is just starting to peek its head over the mountain as I enjoy my first sip of hot Costa Rican coffee. Beaches have been closed for what seems like forever. The normal sounds of...

Howler Mourns a Heartbreaking Loss

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] RIP Nikki April 27 was a very sad day when we learned that Nikki Durling, a dear member of the Howler family, had passed away after a long illness. Our shock and sense of loss were profound. Nikki was a joy to work with and be...

Dr. Andrea March 15, 2020

Dr. Andrea March 15, 2020

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] FACEBOOK PAGE (VIDEOS/INFO) 3/17/20: At Beach Side Clinic we understand how stressful these days of self-quarantine and social distancing can be. That’s why we created the BSC WhatsApp 24-Hour Hotline, giving you direct access to...

Skybound: Flying Costa Rica’s Airstrips

Skybound: Flying Costa Rica’s Airstrips

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Photo above: Co-piloting this recent flight departure from Liberia was Kyle Berger, a Costa Rican native now working with Air Canada in Toronto. Photo: Luis Felipe Murillo Castillo Options for air travel to, from and around Costa...

Family Photo Fashion Tips

Family Photo Fashion Tips

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] It’s a fact that family photos are a must! Whether the backdrop is a beautiful Guanacaste sunset or somewhere else in your area, you can likely find many talented photographers who are famous for capturing distinctive family...

Monkey Rescue: Owen’s Recovery Miracle

Monkey Rescue: Owen’s Recovery Miracle

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] More than 70% of the howler monkeys rescued at Refuge for Wildlife are injured due to unsafe power distribution equipment. It is a very sad fact that most cannot survive the gruesome wounds caused by electrocution. Almost half are...

Help Barbara’s Animal Rescue Center

Help Barbara’s Animal Rescue Center

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Twenty-five years ago, Barbara Deppe came to Costa Rica from Germany with a passion for animals and the purpose of starting an animal rescue center. She set out to help the many homeless, sick and forgotten animals in her area and...

Walking: The Anti-Aging Medicine

Walking: The Anti-Aging Medicine

For many excellent reasons, walking is one of the most common favorite exercises. It is the easiest and least expensive form of exercise and requires no special skills or equipment. It can be done nearly anytime, anywhere. People of almost any age in almost any...

Surfing Witch’s Rock With Robert August

Surfing Witch’s Rock With Robert August

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Robert August’s jokes are pretty corny. Yet, it’s a privilege hearing them told by someone who happens to be a surfing legend. At age 18, the Huntington Beach, California native starred with pal Mike Hynson in the 1966 global...

Turning Sea Turtle Poachers into Protectors

Turning Sea Turtle Poachers into Protectors

Photo above: Volunteer biologist Nancy Tankersley reaches into a fresh turtle nest to scoop out the eggs before poachers do. Photo: Nancy Tankersley. Poachers got to the nest in Playa Lagartillo first. Where there should have been dozens of sea turtle eggs buried in the beach, there was just a hole. The eggs had been stolen by human hands, to be sold on the black market as aphrodisiacs (a myth).

Bus Trip Tips: Ten Pointers for a Smoother Ride

Bus Trip Tips: Ten Pointers for a Smoother Ride

When traveling around Costa Rica on a budget, public transportation is definitely the best option. But there are certain things you simply would not know or could not possibly guess when trying to catch buses from one place to the next in this country, especially if they are not popular tourist destinations.