CARATE, Puntarenas — By national highway, Carate is the farthest you can get from San José and still be in Costa Rica. It is a rural hamlet…

MANUEL ANTONIO, Puntarenas — The first tourists to lay eyes on Manuel Antonio were apparently the crewmen of the Spanish explorer Hernán Ponce de León, who sailed…

As the names of places sometimes do, Rincón de la Vieja had been calling me. The translation of that name to English is tricky, which is perhaps…

Toucans and falcons soar above the lush rain forest neighboring the Braulio Carrillo National Park as a patch of fog settles in the distance. The birds' mating…

IRAZÚ VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK, Cartago — Here at the top of Costa Rica’s tallest volcano, the main crater looks like it was struck by a gigantic meteorite…

CORCOVADO NATIONAL PARK, Puntarenas — “That’s extremely rare!” said our guide, beside himself with excitement. “That’s extremely, extremely rare! I’ve been guiding hikes here for 23 years,…

As I dig my fork into the warm omelet con hongos, I get the distinct feeling I am not alone. Ever since waking to gray morning light…