Costa Rica

Story and photos by Geri Bain Reggae rhythms play at pastel-painted bars and small friendly boutiques sell Bob Marley tee-shirts and chic locally designed sundresses along the main drag in the small town of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. My favorite shop, Luna May, offers handmade,

by Geri Bain “Costa Rica is one of the world’s most biodiverse countries, and Sarapiquí has one quarter of the biodiversity of Costa Rica,” Johanna Arguello, president of the Sarapiquí Tourism Chamber told me during a recent visit. Being close to the capital (about 1.5 hours’ drive), the region can

by Geri Bain Stepping into the open-air, high-ceiling lobby at the SarapiquiS Rainforest Lodge, I got my first glimpse of Costa Rican wildlife before even checking in. Built in the circular architectural style of the pre-Columbian people of the area, the lobby is home to a few dozen small bats.

Story & photos by Chris “Chez” Chesak In the Costa Rican jungle, at the base of the zipline tower, she balked, refusing to go any further. With my family all geared up in harnesses, helmets and gloves and the guides egging her on, our 8-year old daughter was not only

What’s the Deal: John Connelly used to head up L.L. Bean’s Outdoor Discovery School. Then he started Adventurous Joe Coffee, importing fair trade coffees to the US. On this trip to Costa Rica, he combines both of  his passions. Details:  On this trip, participants will Jungle kayak on a placid

If you have plans to visit Costa Rica this winter and you want a luxurious retreat, consider staying in the Arenal region at the new Nayara Springs. Sister property to the Nayara Hotel, Spa & Gardens, Nayara Springs boasts a collection of 16 private villas. Built atop a mountain in the

Just as divers think of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef as that ultimate diving locale, bird watchers flock to Costa Rica. In a small country the size of West Virginia, you can find more than 850 species of birdlife. Take the entire United States and combine it with Canada and you

A mere 40 minutes north of Poas Volcano and you’ll reach the Sarapiqui Region of Costa Rica, another part of Costa Rica that’s mistakenly overlooked. Along the banks of the Sarapiqui River, you’ll find pockets of rainforest rich with birdlife and researchers studying the wildlife. On my last visit to

Once travelers touch down in San Jose, they’re often in a rush to drive to Arenal Volcano or Monteverde and the Cloud Forest. That’s unfortunate, because you’re missing one of my favorite parts of the country, the farmland on the backside of Poas Volcano, only an hour’s drive from the