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Howler Media has been publishing Costa Rica to the world for over 30 years. The premier digital interactive platform that can be translated into 12 languages. A variety of articles for you to read and share. Thank you to our partners for their support. Over 10 million unique readers since 2021.

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Social Media Reviews

Many potential visitors spend hours researching their destination, accommodations, adventures and dining events. Why does it matter?

In Costa Rica, a half-star can be the difference between a packed booking calendar and empty seats. This guide breaks down why TripAdvisor and Google reviews act like digital word-of-mouth, how AI can help you monitor, respond, and spot problems early, and what happens when businesses ignore the public story being written about them every day.

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Howler Real Escapes: March 2026 is a full-spectrum Costa Rica issue—part field guide, part mindset reset, part travel toolbox. We tackle why outrage follows expats across borders and how to build bipartisan, human community where you live. We show businesses how Google and TripAdvisor reviews shape bookings—and how AI can spot problems early and guide better replies. Then we go blue-water: Catalina Islands magic off Tamarindo, Route 245 road trip into Osa’s wild edge with Corcovado planning, and sunset cruises from both coasts and Lake Arenal. Surfers get March wind-and-tide strategy plus April river-mouth safety. Culture and style land too: ethical design shopping from Sarchí to Chorotega ceramics, hyper-local 2026 fiestas, and a sharp historical look at Robert Vesco. Add guides on death customs, positivity, affordable ALT skincare, curvy beach fashion, packing for microclimates, exports, real estate, moving here, pitahaya, seafood ordering, and wildlife—vultures, motmots, and sloths.

Don Rogelio in Cañas: the “leche dormida” stop Costa Ricans whisper about (and travellers brag about)

by Terry Carlile | February 28, 2026 | Dining & Recipes, Pura Vida | 0 Comments

Don Rogelio Café in Cañas is best known today as the humble little soda shop where a single, almost mythical drink—la leche dormida (sleeping milk)—turned a family recipe into a local legend and a small town stop into a must-visit waypoint on the Pan-American Highway....

Leaving Home Doesn’t Mean Bringing the Culture War: Why Expats Should Stop Exporting Political Hatred

by John Quam | February 28, 2026 | Editorials, UP FRONT | 0 Comments

Moving abroad is supposed to be a reset button, not a remote-control extension cord for yesterday’s arguments. And yet, plenty of people who’ve chosen a new life keep pumping political contempt back to their home country — or importing the same “us vs them” energy...

Playas del Coco: A Lively Coastal Town with Deep Roots and Modern Energy

by Sponsored by Tres Amigos Realty | February 28, 2026 | Real Estate, Travel & Adventure | 0 Comments

Part of the celebrated Papagayo beach corridor—alongside Playa Hermosa, Playa Panama, and Playa Ocotal—Playas del Coco sits just 20 minutes from Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR). Many consider it one of the most dynamic towns on Costa Rica’s Pacific...

Playa Hermosa, Guanacaste: Why the Gulf of Papagayo’s Calm Bay Has Become a Luxury Living Magnet

by Sponsored by Tres Amigos Realty | February 28, 2026 | Real Estate, Travel & Adventure | 0 Comments

Located along the shores of the renowned Gulf of Papagayo in northwestern Costa Rica, Playa Hermosa is widely regarded as one of the country’s most picturesque and livable beach communities. Positioned approximately 20 minutes from Daniel Oduber Quirós International...

Curvy Beach Style That Actually Works: Easy Outfit Wins for Plus-Size Women

by Patricia Sterman | February 28, 2026 | fashion | 0 Comments

. For years, curvy women were treated like an “afterthought” by mainstream fashion, and that’s finally changing. The shift didn’t happen because everyone suddenly became enlightened—it happened because women kept demanding better options, and brands realised the...

Diving In Tamarindo

by Terry Carlile | February 28, 2026 | Travel & Adventure | 0 Comments

Tamarindo’s Secret Neighbours: The Catalina Islands and the Wild World Beneath the Waves Tamarindo Beach is famous for its waves curling along the bay, making it a rare place where beginners can learn and experienced surfers can still find a challenge. What many...

Sails, Snacks, and a Sky on Fire: What to Expect on a Sunset Cruise Anywhere in Costa Rica

by Valarie K Taylor | February 28, 2026 | Travel & Adventure | 0 Comments

[vc_row full_width="full_width"][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text] A Costa Rica sunset cruise is the kind of “vacation staple” that somehow feels both effortless and legendary. You show up in flip-flops, step onto a boat that’s already in a good mood, and a few...

Pitahaya in Costa Rica: The Night-Blooming Cactus That Grows Dinner and Decor in One Plant

by Howlers Staff | February 28, 2026 | Dining & Recipes, Uncategorized | 0 Comments

Pitahaya (dragon fruit) is the kind of plant that feels like a friendly prank by nature: a cactus that behaves like a jungle climber, throws out aerial roots like grappling hooks, and saves its biggest floral performance for the middle of the night. In Costa...

Positivity That Actually Works in 2026: Six Small Habits to Lift Your Mood

by Joanna Blanco | February 28, 2026 | Pura Vida | 0 Comments

Positivity gets misunderstood as a personality type: the mate who’s permanently upbeat, even when the sky is falling. In real life, positivity is closer to a skill than a mood — something you practise, especially on the days you don’t feel like it. And in 2026, that...

Sarchí to Studio: Costa Rica’s New Design Wave (Fashion, Furniture, Ceramics, Sustainable Craft)

by Howlers Staff | February 28, 2026 | Arts Culture Entertainment | 0 Comments

Costa Rica has always been good at making things—clever, functional, beautiful things that fit the land and the climate. What’s new is the confidence: a generation of makers is taking heritage techniques (woodwork, clay, weaving, metalwork) and pairing them with...