Birds of Costa Rica
BY RICHARD ARGHIRIS It is true, the early bird gets the worm and the earlier you get up, the more species you’ll see. Toucans and the smaller toucanets are widespread throughout…
Best Surf Breaks in Costa Rica
BY RICHARD ARGHIRIS Surfing is popular on the Pacific and southern Caribbean beaches of Costa Rica, attracting professionals who follow storm surges along the coast. Beginners can take classes in some…
Climbing the Chirripó Peak
BY RICHARD ARGHIRIS The early-morning climb to the summit of Cerro Chirripó, Costa Rica’s highest mountain (3820 m), is a refreshing trek after the relative comforts often encountered in Costa Rica. …
Mammals of Costa Rica
BY RICHARD ARGHIRIS In Central America mammals tend to be secretive, indeed the majority are nocturnal; hence the need for night walks if you are serious about finding them, though, even…
Things to do (and to not do) in Costa Rica
BY SARAH WHITE When I graduated high school, I took a gap year and spent six months working for a Costa Rican nonprofit. As a barely-eighteen-year-old completely new to the world…
Music and Dance in Costa Rica
BY RICHARD ARGHIRIS Costa Rica is the southernmost in the string of ‘marimba culture’ countries. The guitar is also a popular instrument for accompanying folk dances, while the chirimía and quijongo, already encountered further…
Shopping in Ecuador
BY ROBERT & DAISY KUNSTAETTER Almost everyone who visits Ecuador will end up buying a souvenir of some sort from the vast array of arts and crafts (artesanías) on offer. The…
Whales of Ecuador
BY ROBERT & DAISY KUNSTAETTER Whale watching is a major tourist attraction along Ecuador’s coast. A prime site to see these massive mammals is around Isla de la Plata but whales…
Monkeys of Misahuallí
BY ROBERT & DAISY KUNSTAETTER Misahuallí, a charming Ecuadorean riverside village, was introduced to the white-fronted capuchin monkey (Cebus albifrons) in the 1980s. At the time, the story goes, a pet male…
Galápagos wildlife: what to see when
BY BEN BOX & SARAH CAMERON Planning a trip to the ‘Enchanted Isles’? There’s never a bad time to visit – but our handy calendar reveals what to expect to see…
Scuba Diving in the Galápagos
BY ROBERT & DAISY KUNSTAETTER The Galápagos are among the most desirable scuba diving destinations in the world. So what’s the big attraction? Marine Life There is a profusion and variety…
Best of Ecuador
BY BEN BOX & SARAH CAMERON Our round-up of the top things to do and see in Ecuador 1 Colonial Quito and around The capital’s treasure trove of religious art and…