Mussurana: More Friend Than Foe, Except to Other Snakes

Mussurana: More Friend Than Foe, Except to Other Snakes

[ Costa Rica is sold to the world with images of surf breaks, volcano skylines, coffee farms and ceviche by the sea – but the same lush landscape that draws beach lovers, foodies, real estate hunters and business investors is also home to some seriously fascinating...

December in Costa Rica: Faith, Lights, Food, and Festive Streets

December in Costa Rica: Faith, Lights, Food, and Festive Streets

December in Costa Rica is pure celebration. From candlelit chapels and nativity scenes in family homes to illuminated parades and horse pageants, the month blends devotion and community fun. It’s also peak season for adventures, culture and entertainment, when...

The Complete and Utter Failure of COP30

The Complete and Utter Failure of COP30

By Captain Paul Watson For 30 years, the charade has played out—beginning with COP1 in 1995. In March 1995, 869 delegates from 160 nations and the European Union met in Berlin to acknowledge the urgency of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from human activities. The...

The Children of Costa Rica

The Children of Costa Rica

By Terry Carlile Sometimes lost in the midst of the beauty of Costa Rica… overlooked by some due to denial… and brushed over because they do not fit our “paradise” narrative… the children of Costa Rica. The condition of the child population in Costa Rica reveals a mix...

CST: Being Green Matters for Diamante Eco Adventure Park

CST: Being Green Matters for Diamante Eco Adventure Park

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Being Green Matters for Diamante Eco Adventure Park: We came to Diamante Eco Adventure Park on a somewhat unusual mission: to learn about Diamante’s efforts to be recognized by the Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST). This...

Simply Spanish – Visiting a Soda

Simply Spanish – Visiting a Soda

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Spanish Terms for Visiting a Soda Walking into a Costa Rican soda – those small, family-run diners dotted across towns and villages – is one of the easiest ways to step straight into real local life. Between volcano day trips, surf...

TOP 10 CHALLENGES FOR COSTA RICA IN 2026

TOP 10 CHALLENGES FOR COSTA RICA IN 2026

…POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS …HOW EXPATS CAN BE AN ASSET Costa Rica faces 10 major challenges heading into 2026, spanning security, economic, environmental, social, and institutional domains. Key issues include rising violent crime, slower economic growth, climate...

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...

Fashion Flash – 8 Style Tips for Holiday Party Season

Fashion Flash – 8 Style Tips for Holiday Party Season

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Fashion Flash - Style Tips for Holiday Party Season: If you're heading to any holiday parties at the beach this month, you're probably searching for the perfect thing to wear. Who, What, Wear Festive dresses are the best bet. White...

Ecotourism in Costa Rica: Sustainable Tourism

Ecotourism in Costa Rica: Sustainable Tourism

Ecotourism in Costa Rica is almost synonymous with sustainable tourism. Ecotourism: If only the subject were as pure and simple as this Merriam-Webster definition makes it sound. Inferences about ecotourism being synonymous with sustainable tourism can be misleading...

December Travel Trivia and Updates

December Travel Trivia and Updates

December Travel Trivia and Updates Deaths by motorcyclists increased 135% in the last 5 years Q COSTA RICA — Motorcycle deaths in Costa Rica continued their upward trend for the fifth consecutive year. Between 2020 and 2024, the number of deaths occurring at the scene...