The twentieth Tourism Safety Congress was held by the National Chamber of Tourism (Canatur) and the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) in November 2018, bringing together over 700 representatives of the Costa Rican tourism sector from every region of the country for training on tourism safety. The invitees were the first ones to learn about the “Taking care of one another is in our nature” campaign, which has been designed to build capacity with respect to the importance of taking care of one anoth

If hiking is your thing, Manuel Antonio National Park has 6 different options for you to enjoy one of the country’s most visited parks. It is important to underline that, as of February of this year, it has an elevated metal boardwalk that is 2.42 meters wide, designed so as to avoid impeding the passage of animals who live in the surrounding habitat. It also has a railing designed for persons with disabilities, as well as children and seniors. In addition, the signage is also written in braill

Maybe when you were little you longed to be able to fly, to open your arms and feel the air on your face - this could cease to be a dream and become a reality. Paragliding makes you feel like a soaring bird and it could be the next adventure you’re looking for. Nemaclys opened their doors to us and gave us all the details you’ll need. This lookout point and restaurant are located in Puntarenas, exactly 2.5 km northeast of Puerto Caldera, where you can find a sign with its name on it. Benefits of

This time around, our curiosity to see more of our country brought us to one of the largest districts, one that covers 80% of the total area of the Heredia province – we’re talking about Sarapiquí. As soon as we were told about Don Leo Herra’s Hormigas Town, we didn’t hesitate to find out for ourselves why it captures the attention of tourists visiting the area. So we got ready for our adventure with a fresh change of clothes, sunblock, and a good hat. Leo, a 47-year-old father of three decided

For a lot of us, when we think about Grecia, what comes to mind are images of coffee production, sugarcane, its famous car sales and the temple of Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, which is a part of the architectural heritage of the country. But the truth is Grecia has much more to offer. We set off towards this region in Alajuela to discover more in their neck of the woods. We made a stop at a cafe downtown to have a delicious coffee accompanied by a gallo pinto that’s worth coming back for. Aft

If a visit San Juanillo is on your bucket list, youve made the right choice, but if it isnt, allow us to change your mind. We were touring the beautiful province of Guanacaste and we just had to see for ourselves why San Juanillo beach is so spectacular. Obviously, we went for a delicious smoothie in the Nosara quarter and visited other beaches but here we will focus on San Juanillo. We ate lunch at a restaurant that is about 600m from the beach. It was so delicious that we were licking our fing

Isla del Caño is a biological reserve located in the Pacific region of the country, about 16bkm northwest of the Osa Peninsula, Puntarenas. Isla del Caño covers 320 hectares of land and 5,800 hectares of sea. It has one of the most extensive and healthiest coral formations on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. In fact, the reserve contains five coral platforms that range from 0.8 to 4.2 hectares in size. Here you will find the ruins of stone spheres that were created by pre-Columbian civilization

If you think you know what an adrenaline rush feels like, just wait until you visit the Pacuare river. Are you brave enough to join us? We left from San José at 7 in the morning and headed towards Turrialba. We took this route because we had to pass through the entrance of a well-known cattle farm that is located on the border between the province of Cartago and Limón. When we arrived at the departure point for the tour an experienced guide known as “El Chino” welcomed us with a big smile. Rand

Sarapiquí is definitely full of surprises. We could not leave here without first visiting the Tirimbina Biological Reserve. Once you visit, you will never want to leave! If you want to escape from the monotony and really connect with nature, you have to visit Tirimbina. Our first activity was the Chocolate Tour, one of the most acclaimed attractions at the reserve. We learned so much about chocolate over the ninety-minute tour! We learned about the cacao plant, and the history and preparation of

We had been planning on going to check out Dota, located towards our country’s southern region. Finally, things were coming together! The summery climate was an invitation to pack our bags and begin the journey to the village of San Gerardo, a place bursting with natural beauty. We left downtown San José nice and early with our jackets in hand, bracing ourselves for the famously cold climate of Cerro de la Muerte, which we would pass on our way. As we progressed on the route, landscapes began t

Aryana AzariSure, you’ve heard the phrase “pura vida” thrown around in regards to Costa Rica, but you might not fully get it…yet. Translated directly from Spanish, it means “pure life,” but there’s a lot more contained in these two little words than that. Every Tico (aka, Costa Rican) you’ll meet will have a slightly different way of looking at it, but essentially “pura vida” represents a philosophy of enjoying life to its fullest — at a slow pace, so you can be present in every moment.The words

After a long week working, there’s nothing better than escaping the routine and enjoying some of the many awe-inspiring sights that our country has to offer. We took this opportunity to go to the Caribbean, a region of abundant natural beauty, incredible people and a great variety of tourist activities for visitors. Our journey began nice and early in downtown San José, with us heading towards Route 32.  In just a few minutes, we found ourselves surrounded by virgin rainforest and amazing vistas

Costa Rica is a country whose privileged location allows us to find an incredible diversity of flora and fauna, along with surprising landscapes that never fail to delight us.A hidden adventure in the forestCosta Rica is a country whose privileged location allows us to find an incredible diversity of flora and fauna, along with surprising landscapes that never fail to delight us. When we combine this natural backdrop with fun, excitement, adrenaline and adventure on one of the best rivers in the

It was one of those spectacular mornings: rays of sun on our faces and a blue sky.Since we knew that our legs would be put to the test, we first headed for a delicious gallo pinto in a traditional restaurant, or soda, in Barva de Heredia.After refueling ourselves, we filled up the car’s tank as well and were ready for a unique experience.Around 9 in the morning, we began to head up towards San José de la Montaña, after which we passed through Paso Llano and then the community of Sacramento, afte

We made our arrival in the land of surfing, yoga and good smoothies. Guanacaste is a true paradise!We made our first stop in Nosara, the 6th district of the Nicoya region. The weather was nice and hot, and before we went looking for Guiones beach, we wanted get to know the town and have some of the famous smoothies or milkshakes that we’d heard so much about. They come in every color and flavor, so you know where if go if you want to cool down with a refreshment.Guiones is the main beach in Nosa

By Tyler McCloskeyWHEN IT COMES to Costa Rica, you’ve probably heard about “pura vida.” You probably know the country’s biodiversity is off the charts, and maybe you even know that they got rid of their army long ago. But beyond this basic info, what do you really know about the land of the Ticos? Grab a cup of your favorite Costa Rican coffee — here are 11 facts that will totally surprise you.1. The national animal isn’t what you’d expect. Photo: SkeezeMonkeys are among the most common mammals

By Tyler McCloskeyYou may have heard travelers you know refer to Costa Rica as their little “corner of Eden.” If you’ve been here before, you get it, and if you haven’t, you will. This place is 100% real and as fresh as as it gets — even if you’re a veteran visitor, the next time you cross these borders you’ll meet new people, conquer new adventures, encounter new wildlife, and maybe come back more than a little renewed yourself.Though the list is always growing, check out these 10 surefire ways

If you have even a passing interest in travel, Costa Rica is most likely already on your radar. And for so many good reasons, not least of which are that it’s one of the most biodiverse places in the world and one of the most peaceful places on the planet, in more ways than one. It abolished its military in 1949, becoming one of the few sovereign nations without one.When you visit, you’ll find this diversity and peacefulness — combined with the country’s natural beauty — is unlike anywhere else

Rachel CavanaughCosta Rica isn’t hurting for visitors, and with all those fellow travelers on the road, you might expect it to be difficult to get off the beaten path. But consider this: Costa Rica is home to a full 6% of the world’s biodiversity, and counting, as scientists believe there are still thousands of endemic species yet to be discovered. If you can’t find hidden, undiscovered spots here, you’re doing something wrong.Many of Costa Rica’s dreamiest, most remote destinations are at the f

by Meg YamamotoIN JUST 19,729 SQUARE MILES, Costa Rica harbors a wealth of biodiversity, a stunning variety of landscapes and ecosystems(from tropical rainforest to mountains to offshore reefs) and some of the friendliest — and happiest — people on the planet. Uniquely Costa Rican experiences are clearly pretty easy to come by; here are just a few to get you started.1. Surfing two oceans in one dayCosta Rica’s size and geographic location on the narrow Central American isthmus mean you can surf