The children of Samara will soon have a new place where they can go to run, play and spend their pent-up energy. Parents of the students of Samara Pacific School are in the process of building a playground next to the school that will be open to the public. Although the public elementary school in Samara has a playground, it is only available to the school’s students during school hours, noted ...

Source: Santa Elena Project The late environmentalist Jairo Mora was certainly one of the most celebrated and important persons in Costa Rica in 2013. His commitment to the protection of sea turtles in the Caribbean coast ended up claiming his life and left many people wondering what makes the Caribbean region of Costa Rica so different from Playa Rajada and Playa Ostional in Guanacaste, two p...

For those of you still shopping around for holiday presents in Costa Rica, consider the following: You can pay a visit to a local Banco Lafise branch and spend no more than 10,000 colones (about $20) on a pretty cool stuffed toy and attractive Christmas cards lovingly designed by children. What is more important, however, is that these gifts are helping narrow the digital divide in Costa Rica. ...

Like the lion or the tiger, the jaguar is the “king of the jungle” in the Americas. It is the largest feline in the Americas and the third largest in the world, notes Wikipedia. With a range extending from Southwestern United States and Mexico across much of Central America and south to Paraguay and northern Argentina, there are only an estimated 15,000 jaguars left in the wild, according to the W...

Meet sloths, kinkajous, tayras, ocelots, peccaries and anteaters. Stand next to Scarlet Macaws feeding on almond trees. Watch white-faced monkeys swing and play next to you, and have your heart melt when a spider monkey comes to hold your hand. This isn’t some exotic zoo, but rather the Osa Wildlife Sanctuary on Golfo Dulce in the South Pacific of Costa Rica. The Costa Rica wildlife refuge help...

La Gran Vista, located just outside San Isidro de General in South Pacific Costa Rica, is an Environmental Conservation Project where students, volunteers, and visitors can learn how a tropical organic farm functions. We are an Educational Institute where individuals can learn how to milk a cow, harvest a mango tree, or use medicinal herbs. La Gran Vista gives everyone an opportunity to learn ab...

The La Esperanza Development Association is preparing to host fiestas in the community to raise funds for use in their own projects and to help the Nosara Red Cross. The festivities will be held from December 12 to 15 and will commemorate the 20th anniversary of the association. Rides, bulls, music and food sales are some of the highlights that those attending will enjoy. Carlos Villalobo...

The human-animal relationship is ancient, and dogs primarily have provided man with countless and invaluable physical and psychological benefits; however, far from paying them back in the same way, they have been treated as consumer goods, which often become - most of the time – a bother, that under circumstances such as lack of economic capacity, changes of residence, onset of allergies, a compul...

Today is Día del Niño (Children's Day) here in Costa Rica and I had the chance to celebrate with the kids, parents and teacher from the Escuela de Playa Hermosa Guanacaste in Carrillo. The Playa Hermosa School is a small school with 25 students in grades 1 through 7. It's quite literally a "one room schoolhouse" run tightly and passionately by it's headmaster (maestro) and teacher, Mr. Javier Rosa...

Travel can change the world. At least former U.S. President Bill Clinton thinks so. “The travel industry has the potential – and the responsibility – to spread peace and change the world,” Clinton told travel executives while speaking at the World Travel & Tourism Council's 13th annual Global Summit in Abu Dhabi in April 2013. Student travel organizations like EcoTeach and People to Peop...

The high school students of Home School Beach Academy (HSBA) in Nosara raised $900 to help electrocuted monkeys as part of a school project. After learning more about the problem, they decided to organize a Stop the Shocks race on Saturday morning, August 17 on Guiones Beach to raise funds for Nosara Wildlife Refuge and to raise awareness of the problem that monkeys face due to uninsulated powe...

On Sunday, August 11, the “Carrera por mi Parroquia” (Race for My Parish) will be held as part of an effort to raise funds to build a new Catholic church in Nosara since the church building had to be demolished due to damage sustained during the earthquake on September 5, 2012. Lorena Avila Alvarado, president of the Parish Events Committee, said they have been holding a series of athletic even...

When he can, Fernando Cordero Arguedas works at odd jobs, but lately caring for his 95-year-old mother has been a full time job since she had a stroke a few months ago. In addition, his 93-year-old uncle has heart problems, and his wife’s four nieces and nephews came to live with them a year ago when their mother lost custody of them. In all, there are 10 mouths to feed in their household in the S...

We set out down the beach under a leaden sky stuffed with clouds. It was 8:00 at night, and at first it was hard to see, with the nearly full moon sliding in and out of clouds; but soon our eyes adjusted to the dimness. A light mist began to dust us, and not a soul stirred nearby. We were on sea turtle patrol. Five of us were decked out in dark colors to blend with the night. Sea turtles don...

El Castillo, COSTA RICA – April 2013 – Rancho Margot, innovator and educator in sustainable community development, permaculture and self-sufficiency, announced enhanced Eco-Literacy Student Programs after years of experience educating students, guests, volunteers and employees at a 400-acre eco lodge near the Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica. Rancho Margot’s Eco-Literacy Student Program aims to...

Rosie Heindl, a volunteer working with the auction, says they have collected over one hundred donated items for the 5th Annual Save The Howlers Auction that will be held at the Harbor Reef Restaurant this Friday February 1st. “We have many practical items, from restaurant gift certificates to pool supplies,” said Heindl. “We also have massages, surf lessons, house rentals, art and jewelry, and ...

Help SASY! stop animal suffering by bidding high and bidding often at this year’s Annual Charity Auction. It is guaranteed to be a groovy party with over 200 items up for bid. Take part in our Live and Silent Auctions with hundreds of items in health, beauty, travel and much more! Don’t forget – all proceeds raised benefit the all-volunteer SASY! Organization working hard to end animal suf...

Welcome to the Amistad Art Prize 2012 offered for the best art piece inspired by the “Plight of the World’s Rainforests”. -Supporting 3 different environmental projects -The artist makes 40% of the bid received for the piece in the auction -Social responsibility and exposure The Problem Deforestation in Costa Rica has a serious impact on the environment and directly or indirectly co...

Tucked away somewhere in Río Segundo in Alajuela, behind veiled chain link fencing and sporting nearly no signs is The Ara Project. Between my unfamiliarity with the area and Tico-style directions it might have been easier just to roll down the window and listen. 200 macaws squawking carries a pretty long way... Chris Castle opens the gate and I finally meet what was had been just a voi...

National and international environmental policies have direct impacts on local conservation initiatives. Motivated individuals and groups of people have to lobby directly to governments in order to raise attention to vital issues with the goal of greater protection of natural resources and cultural heritage. This blog is about a positive event that happened recently that gives us hope for the...

More than 60 sensational chairs of art are being auctioned to raise funds for the scholarship and library programs of The Women’s Club of Costa Rica. A Night at the Museum & Sensational Chair Auction takes place Saturday, September 1, 2012, from 6 to 10 pm, in the National Gallery of the Children’s Museum in San José. Fifty-five artists from the Costa Rican and ex-patriot communities have ...

R.A.W. tours is excited to announce an updated line-up of 5 project options for volunteers to come participate in for the Fall / Winter sessions of 2012 and the beginning of 2013. R.A.W. Tours’ Operations Director, Kattya Lomel, states “We have received great feedback from both participating students and the communities in San Marcos de Tarrazu whom have been a part of our Fair Trade Coffee Pr...

Recently, Julia VanTieghem – New York-based coordinator for the Rainforest Alliance’s major gifts’ team – had an opportunity to travel with colleagues to Costa Rica to see firsthand the benefits of the Rainforest Alliance’s work on farms, forests and hotels. She writes… Our home base for the week was a hotel that has worked with the Rainforest Alliance to put good environmental and social prac...

When: Saturday, August 04, 2012 Where: Hotel Villa del Sueño, Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica Music: Los Piratas del Lago (The Pirates of the Lake) from 7PM - 10PM Cost: $10 per person; includes one free drink (beer, wine, well cocktail or soft drink) For tickets call Chip at 8702-8367 or Faith at 2672-4008 As you may know, the Playa Hermosa Association's Environmental Blue Flag Committ...

Important Note: This is an opinion article written in the Blog section of The Costa Rica Star, by writer James Marshall Black, PhD. Leave your comments below. Paul Watson has always been known as a “stand up” kind of guy who prefers direct action over words. For him, the end has always justified the means, with the result that he is adored by most and considered despicable by many. Fewer person...

The Community Action Alliance, a community group composed of both foreigners and Costa Ricans in the San Ramón area are organizing their second Gran Venta de Libros Usados, a used book sale fundraiser. The Book Sale will take place on Saturday, April 28 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at the Museo Regional de San Ramón and will benefit the Regional Museum and the Hogar Para Ancianos (senior center) de San...

The 5th Annual Atenas Chili Cookoff is February 12th and is created to help the Hogar de Vida (Homes of Life) for children in Costa Rica. Please join us. You can see more information about the chili event and activities by clicking here and visiting the official website. Here is a map to find the location. I Didn't Know Beans About Chili by Patricia Diekroger. Since I am on the committee f...