Ticos are known by their neighbors for their greeting Pura Vida. This expression, meaning pure life, sums up Costa Rican culture. Ticos are laid-back, friendly and hospitable people who just want to enjoy life.
Costa Rica has a little over 4 million inhabitants, most of which are white and mestizo. Most people are Catholic but don’t attend church regularly. However, Catholic traditions do influence their life. Many holidays, celebrations and festivals are linked to religion and often in honor of a saint or the virgin Mary. These festivals also feature a different aspect of their culture, Folk music and dancing. Dancers in their typical clothing perform to the music of a large xylophone played by two or three Read more
Enter a Costa Rican restaurant and you will find that in addition to serving the the usual coffee, sodas and beer comes a long list of fruit drinks called Frescos. Most of which you may have never heard of or seen before. This list changes according to season and summertime brings the most variety in these.
Common and easily recognizable frescos may include papaya, mango, banana, pia (pineapple), manzana (apple), limon (lime), fresa (strawberry), melon (cantaloupe),zanahoria(carrot) and even kiwi. Others are not so common or easily recognizable. Here are some.
Located in Manuel Antonio, Gaia Hotel and Reserve has been awarded the World Travel Award for Mexico and Central America’s Leading Boutique Hotel 2 years in a row(2009 and 2010) and is currently nominated for the 2011 awards in that same category. In 2007 and 2008 this Hotel was also named Costa Rica’s Leading Boutique Hotel.
Evidently Gaia Hotel and Reserve has achieved an unmatched level of excellence on the Manuel Antonio coastline. The beach at Manuel Antonio is a blue flag beach. Blue Flag is a Costa Rican program by which the water and sewer institute monitors the water yearly to make sure the water is clean and safe. This 5-star hotel specializes in creating delicate balance Read more
Costa Rica is located right on the Pacific Ring of Fire. This means earthquakes are not uncommon. Many of us have come from parts of the world where earthquakes are not common, and may be unprepared to face such an event. The Costa Rican seismology institute OVSICORI reports that so far in the month of March 2011 there have been six earthquakes, all below 5 on the Richter scale. Most recently following the tragic 8.9 earthquake in Japan, a tsunami warning was issued for the Costa Rican Pacific Coast as well as many other countries. It is evident that while living in a country where earthquakes are so common, prevention and preparedness are key to the safety Read more
Costa Rica is well known for ecotourism and the general beauty of its landscapes and vast biodiversity. People from far and wide come to Costa Rica to enjoy this beauty through the usual hiking through a national park, zip-lining in the rainforest, soaking in the hot springs and laying at the beach. Though some of these activities may be adventurous, there are other adventures yet unexplored by most.
Ultralight tours gives you the chance to see Costa Rica as never before. Seated in a small open cabin ultralight aircraft accompanied by a certified ultralight pilot you will embark in a wondrous journey. Soaring in the skies like a bird you’ll see some the country’s most breathtaking landscapes. Tours Read more
As you savor the rich sweetness and layers of flavor, it’s obvious this is a Spoon torta chilena. There is none other like it. Whether it’s pastries, coffee or their specialty dishes everything at Spoon is of the best quality.
Spoon was born in the heart of San Jose. It started as a small family business which later evolved into the great chain that it is now. There are now 22 different locations spread throughout the Central Valley. Though now a large chain, Spoon has not lost their connections to their humble roots. They have taken Costa Rican classics and added their own flair. Using only the freshest and best ingredients, the chefs at Spoon are creative and Read more
In the province of Limón, 43 km south of the capital city Puerto Limón lies one of Costa Rica’s most popular tourist and relocation destinations. Cahuita is a small laid-back each town. The black sand at Playa Negra, the howling of monkeys and the sound of huge crashing waves makes for a relaxed, care-free atmosphere.
In this tranquil atmosphere the Afro-Carib cuisine shines through full of spice and decadence. Local classics like rice and beans, jerk chicken in coconut milk, rondon and local seafood raise the dinning experience to whole new level. Also on Saturdays Caribbean favorites like spicy beef or chicken patty and pan bon are sold by the locals.
The day is finally here! The Estadio Nacional (National Stadium) in Costa Rica is a historic landmark that has undergone an incredible makeover during the past 2 years. The new stadium, currently the most modern in Central America, was donated by China as a gesture of friendship between the two countries. The original stadium was first built in 1924 and demolished in July 2008 preserving only the original main entrance. The huge project was diligently carried out by the Anhui Foreign Economic Construction company and has been officially finished and handed over to Costa Rica.
The inauguration will be week-long event offering a wide variety of entertainment, featuring national and international talent.
It’s night time and a crowd of people is anxiously waiting for one singular event. The turtles have been waiting close to the shore as more of them gather together and then as if by some secret signal they start coming to shore. They drag their large bodies on the sand and dig holes to lay their eggs in. The crowd of people are there for many reasons. Some are there to watch, some are locals there to protect the turtles and some are foreign volunteers.
This sight is most common during the rainy season or winter, but also occurs several times during the summer months. The turtles gather in huge groups or flotillas of thousands or even hundreds Read more
Dengue. The word inspires d read in most, and it’s a common worry for those who live in Costa Rica. As of January 18, 2011 the CDC (Center for Disease Control) reports that there has been unusually high dengue activity in Costa Rica and several neighboring countries. This is no reason to panic, but it is reason to take precautions.
Dengue fever was first detected in Costa Rica in 1993, since then The Costa Rican Ministry of Health has reported a total of 203, 313 cases of dengue, 812 hemorrhagic dengue cases and 19 fatalities in the last 18 years. Dengue is carried by the Aedes aegypti, which breeds in water deposits.
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