Tortuguero is amazing. Everything about every visit makes us want return again and again. This time we were there for the turtles and timed our visit to coincide with the second half of the nesting season for the Atlantic Green Sea Turtle, Chelonia mydas mydas. October is perfect because the … [Read more...]
Tortuguero Village & Canals Photos
The community is built on the strip of land between the Caribbean Sea and Tortuguero Lagoon. It's only a couple of blocks wide at most and the main street stretches between guest houses, tourist shops, mini-supermarkets and restaurants. Along the lagoon side are docks where all the visitors and … [Read more...]
Guayabo National Monument
The archaeological digs at Guayabo National Monument are the largest in Costa Rica but have only uncovered an estimated 5% of the early community established by a civilization that spanned almost 2,500 years starting in 1000 BC. Discovered in the 1800's the site was mysteriously abandoned before … [Read more...]
San Gerardo de Dota National Park
In June of 2019 Costa Rica announced the intention to create 5 new national parks including one in the region of San Gerardo de Dota in the upper Savegre River valley. The Savegre river is one of the most pristine in Costa Rica and one day we plan to trek from its source high on the Macizo de … [Read more...]
Karen Mogensen Nature Reserve
The trail follows the stream through a shallow valley for about a kilometer before starting up the side of a rocky ravine to the wall where the bridal veil waterfall tumbles into a deep green pool. Two smaller falls drop into larger pools and the bottom one has a couple of great jumping rocks and a … [Read more...]
Lower Savegre & Rafiki
The Savegre is one of the most pristine rivers in Costa Rica rivaled only perhaps by the Pacuare in rafting circles as a perfect tropical adventure. Several protected areas checkerboard the lower Savegre valley and the Rey estuary where the river meets its neighbor, the Portalon and spreads … [Read more...]
Savegre National Park
In June of 2019 Costa Rica announced the intention to create 5 new national parks including one encompassing the Savegre Watershed and River valley. Some amazing hiking trails are already in place in the mountains above Trogon & Savegre Lodges. There's no funding for the park or … [Read more...]
Pacuare River Rafting Overnight
The Pacuare River is the wildest and most pristine remote river you can reach on Costa Rica's Caribbean side without a helicopter or a week of trekking. It's an unmatched experience and we've returned half a dozen times. There are many reasons that National Geographic ranks the Pacuare in … [Read more...]
Portalón Estero Rey National Wildlife Refuge
In the lowlands along the coast south of Manuel Antonio and north of Dominical the Ríos Naranjo, Savegre and Portalón empty into the Estero Negro and Estero Garita respectively, Between the two estuaries the water spreads into a shallow lake at Laguna Negraforral which is locally known as Estero … [Read more...]
Hacienda Barú National Wildlife Refuge Photos
It's hard to imagine that we first rolled into Reserva Nacional de Vida Silvestre Hacienda Barú on our bicycles over 25 years ago. Everything around is different, hotels have popped up, million dollar vacation homes line the ridge and the old teeth jarring, bone rattling, dusty 4WD road is now an … [Read more...]
Rainmaker Biological Reserve Photos
The Rainmaker Reserve is a fantastic alternative to some of the more popular attractions along the Central Pacific. Enjoy amazing birds and wildlife in rain forest habitats similar to Manuel Antonio National Park without waiting in line two hours at the entrance. Trade the crowded beaches for a … [Read more...]
Hills of Portalón Wildlife Refuge
Fila Brujo, Nubes and Mata de Café form a wall of mountains north of playa Matapalo creating a basin that catches rain to fill Quebrada Salto and the Río Portalón building them from trickling streams to tumbling rivers in just a few short kilometers. On the south side of the Coastal highway … [Read more...]
Funny, Quirky, Weird – Costa Rica Humor
Bahía Junquillal National Wildlife Refuge Photos
Bahía de Salinas, Playa Pochote, Isla Bolaños National Wildlife Refuge, Golfo Santa Elena, Playa Rajada, Playa Coyotera and Bahía Junquillal Beach and National Wildlife Refuge are the northern Pacific equivalent of Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula. Not as remote and not nearly as wet … [Read more...]
Playa Hermosa-Punta Mala National Wildlife Refuge Photos
After visiting it becomes obvious why the Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Playa Hermosa-Punta Mala has two distinctly different names - because it has two dramatically different halves. Divided by the Río Tulín which merges into the Río Tusubres before spilling across the beach at the mouth of … [Read more...]
La Cangreja National Park Photos
La Cangreja National Park is named after the rock formations in its center that have the shape of a giant crab. The main 6km hiking trail crosses several rivers and streams flowing through the canyons and over rocks forming dozens of small waterfalls. It's close to San José but the winding … [Read more...]
Pacuare Gilligan’s Island
The Pacuare river to the tune of the 'Gilligan's Island' theme song... You won't want this rafting trip to end with the sunset and by pausing in the middle for one or two nights at a riverside rustic camp you can turn it into one of Costa Rica's iconic adventures. … [Read more...]
Rincón de la Vieja – Hacienda Guachipelín Photos
Hacienda Guachipelín ranch and ecolodge is one of the highlights of Rincón de la Vieja with excellent food, romantic rooms, and more adventures than you could imagine - swim under tropical waterfalls, white water inner tube, ride horseback, rock climb, rapel and zipline then relax in the hot springs … [Read more...]
Quirky, Weird, Funny – Costa Rica Humor
Lankester Botanical Gardens Photos
The history of the gardens starts in 1917 with British botanist Charles Lankester West's collection of orchids. In 1973 the public gardens were created when the U.S. based American Orchid Society and U.K.'s Stanley Smith Foundation funded the transfer to the University of Costa Rica. Lankester … [Read more...]