Blogs

What do a little black mare and the Virgin of Guadalupe have to do with Christmas traditions in Costa Rica?

One of the more interesting Christmastime festivals held in Costa Rica is the Festival of “La Yeguita” (the little mare) on December 12. Held annually on the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica, the celebration combines traditional native beliefs and Roman Catholic customs.

According to the University of Costa Rica, the indigenous legend tells about two brothers caught in a machete-fight over a

It seems nearly everyone has heard of Costa Rica and is intrigued about the little Central American country.

Besides being a peace-loving nation full of friendly people, Costa Rica fills its small territory with tremendous diversity. There is an incredibly large country-wide system of national parks, private reserves and wildlife refuges protecting exotic, unique nature. People come for the rainforest and nature, the beaches and volcanoes, and the widely varied tropical climate.

On top of all of

Planning your next vacation? You might be used to staying in hotels and resorts, but maybe you should consider vacation rentals. More independent travelers are choosing to rent private homes and apartments these days instead of hotels, using websites like Airbnb and VRBO.

Vacation rentals are often the most economic travel option for families and groups of friends, giving more space and amenities at better value than a hotel room. Living like the locals also helps to give that authentic travel e

You want to visit Santa Teresa, Costa Rica – named one of the most beautiful beaches in the world with some of the best surfing in Costa Rica. But where is it and how do you get there?

Santa Teresa Beach is located on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica on the southern Nicoya Peninsula. There are three ways to get to Santa Teresa, Costa Rica:  driving, domestic flight or boat taxi.

Hotel Tropico Latino is a Santa Teresa beachfront hotel at beautiful Playa Carmen. Hotel Tropico Latino specializes in 

Celebrate the sea turtles of Costa Rica every November at the Matapalo Sea Turtle Festival.

The annual sea turtle festival on Nov. 15 and 16 at Matapalo Beach, halfway between Manuel Antonio National Park and Dominical on Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Coast, celebrates the Matapalo Sea Turtle Conservation Project and hatching of baby sea turtles. This year’s festival celebrates the project’s 25^th anniversary.

Matapalo Beach is a main nesting area for three species of sea turtles in Costa Rica. Ev

The exciting Manuel Antonio Stand-Up Paddle Games 2014 will come to the Marina Pez Vela in Quepos, Costa Rica, in December.

At the Marina Pez Vela in Quepos, Costa Rica on Dec. 13 and 14, 2014, athletes will compete in four events in the popular sport of stand-up paddle boarding. There will be a 300-meter time-trial race, a 300-meter competitive race, an obstacle course, and distance racing in three events: 1.5, 4.5 or 9 kilometers. The competition is open to three categories: adults, teens and c

This time of year as chilly winter weather freezes the northern countries, heading into Christmas, you are not alone if you start to daydream about a tropical beach holiday.

Keep on dreaming because there is a 7-day Costa Rica beach vacation ready to turn your dreams into reality.

Horizontes travel agency has combined two outstanding Costa Rica beach destinations for their Quiet Ocean Gateway Costa Rica tropical beach holiday.

To start, you should fly into the Daniel Oduber International Airport

June 20-30, 2014 was my 10th trip to Hedonism and it was again a great experience for reasons related to the great service, food, drinks, ground and room renovation and remodeling and of course the relaxed, "no problem mon" ambiance and atmosphere.

I was there also for the 8th Annual Krewe de Krazy Life Group Rendezvous in Paradise and there were 5 other groups attending that week too plus the co-founders of the Krewe (John & MJ of www.krazykrewe.net/ ) and Pashur, world-famous Bodypainter
( www.c

For families, Costa Rica is a fun, safe and easy family vacation destination. Costa Rica was even voted this year’s most recommended travel hotspot!

Located in Central America, Costa Rica is easily accessible from North America and Europe with numerous daily flights to two international airports. It is one of the safest countries in the region, is affordable, focused on tourism, and English is widely spoken.

Costa Rica offers you sunny beaches, stunning rainforest, breathtaking volcanoes and mou

The impressive Arenal Volcano is at the top of everyone’s list of places to visit in Costa Rica. The spectacular rainforest around the live volcano, the area’s easy accessibility, and huge abundance of outdoor adventures make it a top place to visit in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica’s whitewater rafting fame includes the beautiful rivers of the Arenal area – the Balsa, Toro and Penas Blancas rivers. The best thing about whitewater rafting in Costa Rica is that you can do it all year long! In the dry sum

Tired of that heavy winter coat, snow boots and wet, dismal weather? We agree. As record-high levels of snow, ice and rain and record-low temperatures continue to grip North America and Europe, Costa Rica is looking better and better as a Spring Break 2014 destination.

It’s time for some sun, and Costa Rica has plenty of it. Costa Rica’s dry summer season continues to deliver endless tropical sunshine over most of the country – welcome news for beleaguered residents in the cold north.

If a Costa

Coming to Costa Rica soon on vacation?

Besides planning what you’re going to do, you’re probably already thinking about what to pack.

Here are some quick and easy trip tips on what to pack for your Costa Rica vacation. Of course, what you need depends on where you are going and what you will do (check with your travel provider or hotels), but these general guidelines will serve you well.

CLOTHING

• Quick-dry or similar outdoor clothing is the best for Costa Rica’s variable climates. Consider clothes

Chabil Mar Resort in Placencia, Belize announces the 2014 Jungle and Sea Belize Vacation Package Series. Choose from three premier jungle destination resorts, The Lodge at Chaa Creek, Ka'ana Boutique Resort or Amber Sunset Jungle Resort.

Each of these premier destinations offers a unique accommodation experience while nestled in the jungle of Cayo District of Belize. Enjoy, canoeing, horseback riding, zip lining, Maya excavation tours, cave swimming and tubing, jungle treks and the world's second

Escape this winter to the land of everlasting summer on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica.

Blue skies, golden sun, tropical breezes, warm surf and soft sand await you. Sounds pretty good if you’re looking out the window at freezing rain, ice, snow and a heavy gray sky, doesn’t it?

Stretching from the port town of Puntarenas to the surf town of Dominical, Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Coast is a transition zone from the dry tropical forest of the North Pacific to the wet rainforest of the Sout

Yoga and meditation are all about breathing deeply, relaxing, and reconnecting with your inner nature. What better setting for this practice than the pure oxygen-rich rainforest of Costa Rica.

Be in harmony with nature around you at a yoga and meditation retreat at Portasol Rainforest & Oceanview Living. The sustainable community on Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Coast will hold seven Rain/Sun Yoga and Meditation Retreats in 2013-2014. Retreats will focus on creating new energy for participants wit

Almost the end of the year – are you looking for a quick getaway vacation?

Before the holiday season gets going, escape for a week to sunny Costa Rica on a seven-day Tropical Paradise Vacation. This really good travel deal from Costa Rica Special Deals is priced at only $365 USD per person (based on double occupancy). You get three nights in the rainforest at majestic Arenal Volcano and three nights on the beach at gorgeous Manuel Antonio.

Impressive, towering Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica is alway

Explore the magical Temples of Angkor and the ecological wonder of the Tonle Sap Lake along with the frenetic capital of Phnom Penh. Give your family an ultimate Cambodian experience with a relaxing stay at one of the best accommodations. Travel with children is very popular in Cambodia and the country has a reputation of safe and interesting destination for families. The kingdom of Cambodia boasts some of the most spectacular sights on the planet. From massive ancient temples to varied wildlife

Costa Rica has become a popular, easy and fun destination for Friends’ Trips for travelers from North America.

This hot travel destination usually appeals to the adventurous, and certainly Costa Rica is foremost for adventure travel. Whether a bachelor or bachelorette party group, guys’ trip, girlfriend getaway, or simply a group of friends looking for an entertaining, easy yet exotic vacation, Costa Rica delivers all you want.

So, why not grab your best friend, and escape to Costa Rica?

Top 5 Adve

Just outside San Jose, Costa Rica is one of my favorite cloud forests. Drive an hour-and-a-half out of the Capital-metropolitan area and you’re in another world – a world of rolling green hills, black and white and brown dairy cows, rich rust red earth, plants with giant leaves, dripping ferns and shifting mist. It reminds me of England, with a decidedly tropical twist.

These are Costa Rica’s Central Highlands and the 2,000-acre Los Angeles Private Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, one of the coun