Three 2018 world-class sport fishing tournaments at Quepos' Marina Pez Vela - near Costa Rica's Manuel Antonio National Park - have just been announced. Sport fishing enthusiasts who like to plan ahead can start off the new year with a January 11 - 13 tournament: "The Rockstar! Offshore Tournament presented by PELAGIC is a team event with cash, prizes, and awards estimated to over $100,000. La...

There are just a few archaeological sites in Costa Rica, probably the most popular one is the Guayabo National Monument in Turrialba, Cartago; but there is another one, many times overlooked even by locals, this is Finca 6 In Palmar Sur de Osa, Puntarenas, also known as “Las Esferas del Diquis” (The Diquis Spheres). Finca 6 is the second archaeological site that is open to the public after Guay...

A Trapiche is a mill made of wooden rollers that are used to extract juice from sugar cane and the word is used in Costa Rica to refer to the area where the mill is located. The tour to El Trapiche takes you to a family business in Monteverde, if you are already in this area, you should certainly plan to take this tour. It’s a short 2 hour tour that takes you to a walk of the farm where you c...

Photo Credit: Facebook Los Jueguetes del Parqueo / illustration purposes only The movie Cars 3 was just released in theaters worldwide, and now in Costa Rica fans of this great movie can take pictures with their favorite character at the Children’s Museum in San José. Ten vehicles were transformed to look exactly like the characters in the move, Lightning McQueen, Mater, Luigi, Francesco, Gu...

The Costa Rica International Festival of the Arts – FIA 2017 kicks off tomorrow Thursday, June 29th and will fill the capital city with different art, music and theater shows. The Municipality of San José has confirmed all international and national events, the majority of which will be held indoors in 14 different sites, among them the National Theater, the Dance Theater, Theater 1887 and the Me...

Businesses in the former agricultural towns near the frequently touristed volcano by the same name in Poás, Alajuela are reporting up to 70 percent decreases in sales over recent weeks since the volcano entered a new, eruptive phase. Tourism has become a mainstay of this national park and surrounding area due to its proximity to the main international airport and to San José - making it a popul...

The Costa Rican Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR, its initials in Spanish) sent out a notice to canopy tour operators in the country this week regarding an apparent expiration of the canopy patent, but the relief appears to be short-lived. For weeks, uncertainty has reigned among the industry since Canadian national, Darren Hreniuk, began attempting to charge canopy tours royalties based on a recent...

From July 14 to 26, downtown Santa Ana, a small city located about 10 miles west of San José, will be transformed into a fairground and cultural festival, said event organizers. The traditional patron saint festivities, known as "fiestas patronales" in Spanish, are being augmented with participation by the Santa Ana Chamber of Tourism to include a wide offering of free and fun activities. Be...

The Guayabo National Monument, the archaeological site located in Cartago, close to the city of Turrialba, has a new 323-meter-long trail named Caragra which has three observation points. Funds collected in the campaign Historical Trails made this possible, the campaign was an initiative of the Association ProParques and Teletica (Channel 7), it also benefited the Santa Rosa National Park which...

The Offshore World Championship in Quepos, Costa Rica is the largest and most prestigious sport-fishing tournament in the world. The world-class event, held for the fifth consecutive year in Quepos, Puntarenas near Manuel Antonio National Park includes 55 of the world's best sport fishing teams. From April 24 - 28, at Marina Pez Vela, in Quepos, more than 300 people will compete to see who has ...

As we celebrate the Holy Week, we invite you to visit some of Costa Rica’s most beautiful churches, being for the most part a catholic country, you are sure to find a church in every community, but some are certainly worth visiting even if you are not a religious person, as their architecture makes them stand out. Basílica Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles: This is Costa Rica’s most popular chur...

This time we are not going to talk about the different beaches and already popular National Parks you can visit in Costa Rica; if you love the outdoor experiences this country offers you, we leave you three awesome places that not too many foreigners or expats know about: Cerro Yarcazú: This mountain peak in Puriscal is an awesome option to enjoy nature and wonderful scenic and panoramic views....

More than 15 teams from Costa Rica, Brazil, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, the United States and Slovakia will face off later this month in a sport fishing tournament at Quepos’ Pez Vela Marina. This round, from April 20 - 21 is designed as a competitive warm-up prior to the World Fishing Tournament, which will take place April 24 - 28 also at the marina in Quepos, near Manuel Antonio National Park...

Manuel Antonio National Park receives many visitors during the high season, attracted by the amazing flora and fauna found here and of course by the white sand beaches beaches which offer a piece of paradise on earth. There are five beaches in the Manuel Antonio area: Playa Espadilla: This is the public beach in Manuel Antonio, most tourists stay here since you don’t need to access the park ...

The Costa Rican nonprofit group, Asociación Mar a Mar (The Sea to Sea Association), is developing a unique outdoor experience that will allow hikers to traverse the country from the Atlantic to the Pacific Coast in two weeks. The trail is called El Camino de Costa Rica. “Our aim is to have every hiker in the world want to walk El Camino de Costa Rica, or part of it, at least once in their lifet...

All eyes have been set on the activity of the Turrialba Volcano for months; however, this week the National University’s Volcanology and Seismology Research Institute (OVSICORI) alerted of increased activity at the Poás Volcano. According to experts at OVSICORI, the monitoring of the volcano indicates that it has increased its seismic and fumarolic activity; in other words it is emanating more ...

This past March 31st, El Spot (The Spot) was inaugurated, this place is described as a “Center of Verticality and Outdoors”, the only one of its kind in Central America. The Spot is located in Guachipelin de Escazú, diagonal to the Distrito 4 shopping center, here, there are gyms and stores that focus in everything needed for the practice of adventure sports and outdoor physical activities such a...

The town of Cabuya is not a very popular touristic place in Costa Rica, but the few that venture to visit this corner of Costa Rica are usually pleasantly surprised. Cabuya is a small fishing community located on the Nicoya Península, very close (7km) to the touristic hot sports of Montezuma and Santa Teresa and is also the entrance point to Cablo Blanco Reserve. What ticos know as “Cabuya” is ...

The Costa Rican “Beliebers” are counting the days for the Canadian singer’s concert in the country, which is scheduled for April 24. The Purpose World Tour has made stops in five continents and the level of production in each one of the events has been incredible. Move Concerts, the production company in the country confirms Costa Rica will not be the exception, and they have already started wo...

You don't have to travel far this Saturday to experience cultures, food and celebrations from around the world. Tucked away right near downtown Santa Ana on the verdant campus of United World College Costa Rica or Colegio del Mundo Unido Costa Rica, the annual UWC Festival will have something for everyone to enjoy. From guitar and funk music, to food for sale, dances from all over the world,...

Costa Rican Alvarez & Marin Corporation had confirmed the acquiring of the franchise Chuck E. Cheese’s some years back, a restaurant and entertainment center for children between the ages of 2-12, now the firm has confirmed that the first location is scheduled to open in October this year in Plaza Bratsi, Heredia. A total of three sites will open between 2017 and 2019 in the metropolitan ar...

Finding the perfect wave has been called a mystic experience by surfers, many of whom comb the world’s beaches in search of unbeatable breaks. A recent study by Sydney University economist Sam Wills and Thomas McGregor of Oxford University, good waves are a valuable commodity. “We find that surfing waves contribute approximately US$50 billion to global economic activity each year,” said the res...

Costa Rica’s northwestern county of La Cruz in the province of Guanacaste inaugurated a new road connecting various coastal communities which is the result of a novel cooperation between local businesses and government institutions. The project is expected to open further economic development in the remote, underdeveloped region. The National Roadways Council (Conavi) teamed up with Hotel Dream...

If you have the opportunity to visit each and every corner of this magnificent country you should take it, hidden away where you least expect it you can be pleasantly surprised by the secrets of nature. This is the case with Rancho Humo Estancia and eco-boutique hotel located near Palo Verde National Park, in the Nicoya Peninsula, Rancho Humo provides adventure, wellness and relaxation all in t...

Costa Rica’s Short Film Festival invites local producers to submit their works from now until Saturday, March 25. Costa Rican nationals and residents alike are invited to submit their short films to the event which is quickly growing in popularity. The festival’s second edition will hold screenings from June 23-25 at the Costa Rican Journalists Association office across from Parque La Sabana an...

This time of the year Costa Rica gets particularly colorful, as trees such as Rosy Trumpet Tree (Roble Sabana-Tabebuia rosea), the Coral Tree (Erythrina poeppigiana), the Golden Trumpet Tree (Tabebuia ochracea) and the Jacaranda, bloom, offering a magnificent spectacle. For the sixth year in a row the contest “Capture the Magic” (Capturá la magia) invites everyone to participate with photograph...

More than often it is overlooked, perhaps because of the misconception that insecurity is higher in this province (San José is actually the province with highest crime rate); or maybe because there are no huge, luxury resorts; others don’t like the drive, as the road (Route 32) is considered dangerous; whatever the reasons may be, the fact is that Limón Province and the beaches in the Caribbean Co...

Starbucks Coffee Company announced that it will develop a visitor’s center at its coffee farm, Hacienda Alsacia, on the slopes of Poás volcano, about 30 minutes from the international airport in Alajuela, Costa Rica. The center will begin receiving tourists in 2018. Since the purchase of the 240-hectare farm in March 2013, Starbucks has run it as a typical coffee plantation, and in doing so, ha...

There is no doubt that Costa Rica is a land of contrasts, and few places demonstrate this more than the Central Pacific coast, where several mountain ranges meet the Pacific Ocean, creating some of the most spectacular landscapes one can imagine. Stretching from the southern tip of the city of Puntarenas all the way down to Punta Uvita, the region offers something for everyone; from busy beach ...

At Panama's principal zoo the exotic colors of tropical birds are lost in the dark of old, improvised cages, while lush vegetation adorns paths with no wildlife in sight. Summit Municipal Park is a 250-hectare (617-acre) oasis that has largely been neglected by Panama City, which, absorbed in its financial economy, for years seemed to have forgotten the lush tropical forest surrounding it and t...

If you love horses, but topes, the traditional Costa Rican horse parades, aren't your thing, you might enjoy the Spanish purebred horse fair starting Thursday, March 2 and lasting through the weekend. The event is free and open to the public, and will run daily from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m (see program here). It will feature equestrian exhibitions, special theme nights, children's entertainment...

Tegucigalpa, Feb. 25 — Honduras, Central America's leading coffee producer, is transforming the scenic farms where that crop is grown into a domestic and international tourist attraction. The Coffee Tourist Route, an initiative centered on several farms in the western provinces of La Paz, Intibuca, Lempira, Santa Barbara, Ocotepeque and Copan, is offering prospective tourists coffee tasting, ad...

Costa Rica is one of the preferred destinations for family vacation, miles of beautiful beaches, warm weather and variety of wildlife provide the perfect playground for kids, leave behind their play station and electronic toys, there are a plenty of places where the whole family can practice adventure tourism, but if your kids are too young for zip lining and white water rafting, there are additio...

If you live in the province of Heredia, Costa Rica, you may feel trapped sometimes by the difficult traffic situation of this area, which has gotten worse with the road work being done, so if you want to go out of your house and see some of Costa Rica but you don’t want to drive much, here are some places in Heredia that you may have not visited yet and that offer a great way to spend your day, th...

The Acosta Orchid Association will hold its 14th Annual Orchid Show this weekend, and invites all orchid enthusiasts to attend the internationally juried competition. This show, one of the country’s largest orchid displays, is open to viewers from Friday, February 17 - Sunday, February 19 from 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. in the gymnasium of the Desamparados Olympic Village. The association meets r...

By Wendy Anders Winds of up to 100 kph (over 60 mph) in Costa Rica’s northern region have forced the closure of two national parks today, Tuesday, Jan. 10 and tomorrow, Wednesday, Jan. 11, reported the country’s Teletica Channel 7 news station today. The Santa Rosa National Park (Parque Nacional Santa Rosa) and Rincón de la Vieja National Park are the two parks being slammed by heavy winds t...

By Wendy Anders Park guards at the highly visited Manuel Antonio National Park in the country's Central Pacific region are up in arms at having to take over charging entry fees, saying their work monitoring the park, especially during high season will be effected by the new duties. "We are very concerned about this issue that now, in addition to looking after the park, we have to charge tick...

Lima, Dec. 30 — This capital's La Pampilla beach has become the first in Peru and in Latin America with night-time lighting, an improvement the municipal government says aims to encourage the country's world-class surfers to extend their activity past sunset. Starting this week, 1,000-watt LED lights atop four posts 18 meters (59 ft) high will illuminate the shoreline in the Lima district of Mira...

With the beginning of a new year everyone should try to make the most out of each day, after all, if you live in Costa Rica there are a lot of different things you can do to enjoy your life to the fullest. Here are three options of adventure tourism high in adrenaline that you can do in Costa Rica: Paragliding: Paragliding in Costa Rica continues to increase in popularity, what better way to...

A new sports and entertainment theme park will open doors in May of 2017 in Alajuela, Costa Rica. Sport Land, hopes to provide kids and adults a space for the practice of different sports, games and different entertainment alternatives as an option for families and friends to have fun together and forget about electronic forms of entertainment for a while. 41,000 square meters will be divided i...