Edwin Arce is a long-serving tour guide who has worked across Costa Rica’s many alternating terrains. He talks to us about his love of good coffee and his experiences witnessing whale calves, glowing lava flows, and the National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica—all while guiding tourists and photographers around this fantastic destination. Can you tell us a bit about yourself? My name is Edwin Gerardo Arce Salazar. Most of my experiences are related to guiding group trips, tours, and events programs for the last twenty years in and out of Costa Rica. How does a typical day start for you? A day in paradise starts with a cup of good hot coffee, a cold shower and a panoramic view of the sky and the surroundings just to have an idea about what to expect of the day, about the weather to take advantage of the already programmed activities to acheive my…
Visiting Costa Rica during the lush rainy season, also known as the “green season,” offers several unique advantages and experiences that can make your trip truly memorable. In this blog, we consider the many benefits of travelling from May to November, including a look at our own travel specialists trip there during the shoulder season of May. Rainbow After the Rain From May to November, a transformation in Costa Rica’s already beautiful landscapes occurs. The rain rejuvenates the flora, resulting in vibrant paradises of verdant forests and blossoming flowers. These forests come alive, especially at night, where wildlife is abundant during a Monteverde wildlife night walk. Go With the Flows Increased rainfall means that waterfalls are at their most spectacular, with powerful flows and stunning visuals. Rivers swell, offering better conditions for white-water rafting. And even when it does rain in the tropics, it’s usually warm enough to still be in t-shirts and shorts for activities! Glass Half Full Green…
…with Travel Specialist, Julia In the next instalment of Our Routes series, our travel specialist Julia Ross walks us through a fantastic trip through Costa Rica, focusing on her favourite area, Manuel Antonio, with its wildlife-abundant national park backing onto glorious sandy shores and a stunning array of quality hotels set in gorgeous grounds. WHERE DID YOU GO & WHY IS THIS PLACE ONE OF YOUR FAVOURITE DESTINATIONS IN COSTA RICA? Manuel Antonio is by far one of the most beautiful places in Costa Rica! This is due to its unique combination of stunning natural beauty, abundant wildlife, and a range of activities and attractions. The combination of pristine beaches, turquoise waters, and lush greenery creates a picturesque and scenic environment make Manuel Antonio a MUST in your itinerary. Whether you’re hiking through the rainforest, enjoying a sunset on the beach, or admiring the panoramic views from elevated viewpoints, the natural beauty…
…with Head of Trade Sales, Gaynor With its i-conical volcano, forest canopies, thundering waterfall, and thermal springs, Arenal was a true adventure for our team as they hiked through its pathways and crossed the lake by boat through the region. Our Head of Trade Sales Gaynor Atherton shared with us why this was her favourite part of the trip to Costa Rica. YOUR FAVOURITE DESTINATION IN COSTA RICA? Arenal – the hotels and town of La Fortuna, sit under the shadow of the majestic Arenal Volcano with stunning scenery all around this area and lots to see and do. We had a mix of wildlife which is in abundance in Costa Rica, so no area disappoints with this. It really is a beautiful area with lots of Hot Springs to choose from, stunning scenery, hikes and lots of amazing activities to suit the whole family with the added bonus of…
…with Lydia and Sarah, Senior Travel Specialists In the next instalment of Our Routes series dedicated to sharing travel experiences from our experts all over Latin America, we have a doubleheader treat of pura vida for you! Two of our senior travel specialists, Lydia Groom and Sarah Slocomb, both went to lush Costa Rica together but took different routes across the country to experience the great variation it has to offer. Read on to find out where they went and what really stood out for them there. YOUR MAIN DESTINATIONS? Lydia: Turrialba, San Gerado de Dota and Golfo Dulce in Costa Rica. Sarah: Tortuguero, Arenal and Monteverde in Costa Rica. HOW DID YOU GET THERE? Sarah: We overnighted in Madrid from Heathrow on the way out – it was easy enough to navigate through the airport to collect our bags and check back in the following morning. In Tortuguero when coming home, we…
Hailing from the lush lands of northern Costa Rica, Isaac Méndez Valerio is a professional tour guide for Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge in Golfo Dulce, near the Osa Peninsula. We found out what inspired him to be a guide and what he loves most about living out his passion in a remote part of this Central American wildlife wonderland. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what attracted you to work in this role? I have always been a curious person and always wanted to see more of the world around me, to understand more. I grew up near Juan Castro National Park surrounded by nature: from endless woods to rivers and waterfalls, and having family at the beach alongside friends who are farmers, provided me with a lot to learn, observe, and explore. There was not much of a surprise when at 19 years old I heard…
All four seasons (sometimes in one day!) can play their part in shaping your experience throughout Latin America, so let’s delve deeper into the rolling peak and shoulder seasons that dominate the sky, land, and sea on your next trip to this stunning big outdoors continent. Argentina High Season: November – February & July The Patagonia region in southern Argentina hits a peak from December to February with the best weather for pursuing outdoor activities. If you’re looking for a Christmas / mid-winter getaway, the beaches from late December through January are popular times along the Argentine coastline as well. For skiers, July is the best time to hit the big resorts of Mendoza and picturesque areas like Bariloche. Shoulder Seasons: September – November & March – May Buenos Aires enjoys ideal temperatures in shoulder seasons, and it’s also a good shout for seeing Patagonia with the beautiful Lake District…
Some of our favourite Latin Routes destinations – Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Ecuador and Costa Rica – are competing in this year’s winter World Cup, which starts this weekend when the Ecuadorians kick off the footballing festivities on Sunday against Qatar! We take a look at each country’s rich sporting history and some of the fútbol related things you can experience when visiting these football-mad nations. Legacy of Champions Fútbol – or futebol as it’s known in Brazil – represents one of the most popular cultural institutions in Latin America. Whether played in a 100,000-capacity stadium or in the streets of the barrio, it’s a sport that brings together millions of obsessed fans across the continent. This level of enthusiasm has often been transferred to their national team’s World Cup success rate over the eras, with Argentina (2), Uruguay (2), and Brazil (5) lifting the cup nine times in total combined. 20th-century legends such…
There are so many highlights in the land of Pura Vida, that it’s impossible to include them all in one trip. But for a varied experience taking in a snapshot of both the Pacific and Caribbean sides, these are our top highlights to include in your next trip to Costa Rica. Tortuguero National Park Tortuguero National Park consists of 19,000 hectares of protected land on the northern Caribbean coast of Costa Rica and includes beaches, canals and tropical lowland forest. The area is famous for its turtles and is a nesting ground for around seven species of sea turtles, including the endangered Green sea turtle. The park is best navigated by kayaks or canoes (known as cayucas or botes). This allows you to explore the park’s dense rainforest landscape, winding your way through lagoons, creeks, and freshwater passages. Keep an eye out for dozens of native species of tropical birds, monkeys, and caimans….
With increasing awareness and consciousness of the impact we have as a society on the natural environment, it is more important than ever that we consider the way that we see the world and the effect we have as travellers. Whilst the myriad of natural wonders and the diverse biodiversity of Latin America continues to amaze visitors, its protection is paramount for the future generations to come. Below we look at some of the key destinations that are setting the benchmark for sustainability. The Sacred Valley, Peru With 50% of the country covered in rainforest and the creditable protective efforts made in the Machu Picchu region to reduce the impact of tourism, there are multiple destinations in Peru worthy of a mention for sustainability. However, it is the Sacred Valley that makes the cut for its ecotourism. As well as being an unparalleled hub to experience the ancient traditions of…
