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nagsale · 5 years

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13 Coolest International Destinations You Can Visit Without a Passport

YOU DON'T NEED A STAMP TO EXPLORE THESE SURPRISING GETAWAYS.

When it involves traveling overseas, there's one essential thing you usually got to bring: a passport. But did you recognize that you simply can attend areas outside of the mainland us without a blue book? (And we're not talking Hawaii or Alaska!) From a tropical paradise in Central America to family-friendly islands across the Caribbean, there are a couple of secret places you'll visit without a passport—and we're here to inform you exactly the way to get there. So, read on, and determine where you'll skip the stamp on your next international vacation.

1 Montego Bay, Jamaica

Montego Bay is possibly the foremost popular tourist destination in Jamaica and a serious cruise liner port. Hit the "Hip Strip," formally referred to as Gloucester Avenue, for shops, art galleries, and colorful cafés. But, of course, you're in Jamaica, so do not forget the beach! Doctor's Cave Beach is that the hottest choice because of its turquoise water perfect for snorkeling. and every one these wonderful Jamaican attractions are often visited without a passport if you're traveling by water. If you're on a cruise that begins and ends within the states, all you would like maybe an occident Travel Initiative-approved document, sort of a certificate and government-issued ID, or an enhanced driver's license.

2 Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Cabo San Lucas is found below the state of California, down on the southern tip of the Lower California peninsula in Mexico. This beautiful beach resort destination is understood as a favorite amongst the celebs for its proximity to Hollywood. you'll go there year-round and possibly see celebrities like George Clooney, Jennifer Aniston, or maybe Justin Bieber himself. Hit The Spa at Las Ventanas if you would like to urge a Jennifer Lopez-approved glow, and eat fresh at Flora Farms like Adam Levine. and fortunately, consistent with the Los Cabos Airport Immigration regulations, Americans don't need a passport to go to this beautiful destination. Instead, you'll use a certificate, voter registration card, citizenship card, or certificate of naturalization alongside a legitimate photo ID.

3 Puerto Limon, Costa Rica

You may think there is no way you're stepping into Costa Rica without a passport, seeing as it is a country in Central America—but re-evaluate. Many Miami- or San Diego-based cruises sail bent Puerto Limon, one among the most important cities on the coast of Costa Rica. Here, you'll explore the city's untouched nature by taking an open-air tram ride through the Veragua Rainforest or taking a pontoon boat through the Tortuguero Canal. And as a crop-heavy area, don't leave on faith out an area Costa Rican plantation, where you'll see how items like bananas, chocolates, or cacao beans are selected, harvested, and packed for export.

4 Belize City, Belize

You better believe you'll love Belize, even without a passport. This city in Belize (just like its Costa Rican cousin Puerto Limon) is accessible through cruises out of the states, from cities like New Orleans and Miami. And while Belize isn't known for its beaches, per se, here you'll explore the Belize coral reef, which hosts diverse, exotic marine life. But what you absolutely cannot afford to miss in Belize is that the Mayan ruins. the foremost popular is Altun Ha, located just 3o miles northwest of Belize City. For thousands of years, the Mayans occupied this space, and core structures were restored so that today, tours could take visitors to the present historic landmark.

5 Roatán, Honduras

Located off the coast of Honduras, Roatán is an island called in the Caribbean. But unlike other Caribbean destinations, this one offers paradise without the high tag. Around 30 miles long, this small island may be a popular retirement destination thanks to its exotic, yet laid-back tropical nature. And its best secret? it is a hot spot for skin diving. The island is surrounded by the Mesoamerican Reef, a subculture of coral reefs, mangroves, and magnificently unique marine life. While you will need a passport to urge there by plane, countries like Honduras are "waiving the need for cruise passengers unless those passengers start or end their voyage there." So as long as you're on a closed-loop cruise that starts and ends within the states, you're liberal to explore paradise sans passport.

6 Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands

The Northern Mariana Islands have the simplest of both worlds: Scenic oceans and mountainous landscapes. As a commonwealth of the U.S., the 14 islands that structure the Northern Mariana Islands are located within the northwestern Pacific on the brink of Guam, another unincorporated territory. Most of the population lives on Saipan, the most important island. you'll either visit one among its breathtaking beaches like Micro Beach or experience an off-road adventure to the rocky Forbidden Island. But the pièce de résistance is that the Banzai Cliff, a historic war II area on the northern tip of the island. As an area for both reflection and paying respects, the scenery off this cliff is breathtakingly beautiful. And a bit like Guam, per the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Carrier Information Guide, U.S. citizens who travel directly between the states and one among the territories "without touching a far off port or place," aren't required to present a passport.

7 Hamilton, Bermuda

Nestled within the middle of Bermuda is Hamilton, the island's capital. the town is understood for its pastel-colored buildings that line the harbor and house beach-chic boutiques and native restaurants. Visit the town Hall and humanities Centre for a few fascinating 17th- and 18th-century European paintings or the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute if you are looking for marine exhibits and ocean artifacts. But if you would like to travel to the simplest a part of Bermuda, you will have to travel across the town to Horseshoe Bay Beach—one of the world's most Instagrammable beaches, with blush pink sand and crystalline water. to urge here without a passport, take a closed-loop Royal Caribbean cruise from Cape Liberty, New Jersey.

8 Tumon, Guam

As an unincorporated U.S. territory, Guam is probably the furthest American-based place you'll visit, nestled within the Philippine Sea near Australia and South Asia. Tumon is found on the northwest coast of the territory, referred to as the middle of Guam tourism. There you'll visit UnderWater World, one among the most important tunnel aquariums within the world. or maybe take a visit to Punta Dos Amantes, a clifftop destination with scenic ocean views. And while having a passport is suggested for anyone traveling to Guam, there are some loopholes for U.S. citizens where they'll be ready to get out of it. Videos say Americans can visit the world passport-free if traveling directly from the mainland, Alaska, or Hawaii, and that they have any proof of citizenship sort of a certificate or certificate of naturalization.

9St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

Located within the Caribbean, St. John is that the smallest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, but it is the perfect destination for anyone who loves natural beauty. Nearly two-thirds of the island is haunted by Mary Islands park, which shelters forests filled with many colorful birds from cuckoos to warblers and hummingbirds. But when you are not getting your forest fill, visit the gorgeous Trunk Bay beach, which has sugar soft sand and a treasured underwater snorkeling trail. Like most U.S. territories, you do not need a passport to travel here, but the U.S. Virgin Islands tourist center recommends carrying a raised-seal certificate or government-issued photo ID as you would possibly get to "show evidence of citizenship."

10 Montreal, Canada

Contrary to popular belief, as long as you're traveling by land or sea—so as an example, in your car—you aren't required to point out a U.S. passport thanks to the occident Travel Initiative. Instead, you ought to carry along proof of your citizenship and a legitimate photo ID. But if that creates you nervous, there are closed-loop cruises that begin from various New England cities and sail to Montreal. This French-speaking Canadian city is as close as you'll get to Europe without a passport. Here, you'll enjoy French pastries like macarons or visit historic landmarks that rival those in Paris, just like the Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal.

11 Nassau, Bahamas

The Bahamas is one of the foremost popular cruise destinations from the states, and like many who've gone known, you do not need a passport. because the capital of the Bahamas, Nassau is found off the shore of the mainland on its island. One feature that draws tourists is the pastel-colored Colonial buildings, just like the Government House which may be a bright shade of pink. But Nassau, of course, is not just about the buildings—it's about the beach retreats. Within the past few years, a mega-resorts opened in Nassau called Baha Mar. The 1,000-acre, $4.2 billion property is comprised of three hotels: the Grand Hyatt, SLS Baha Mar, and Rosewood Baha Mar. And when hunger strikes, breeze by The Cove at Atlantis for fresh seafood at Fish by chef José Andrés.

12 Vieques, Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is perhaps the foremost well-known U.S. territory, so there is no got to stress over getting a passport before visiting. As long as you're directly traveling from the states or another territory, it isn't necessary. So while you're there, you ought to visit Vieques, a little Caribbean Island off the territory's eastern coast. This area offers secluded beaches, beautiful blue-green waters, and therefore the best part? Wild horses that just roam the countryside. But if that does not roll in the hay for you, visit Mosquito Bay, a bioluminescent bay that gives other-worldly views that can't be missed.

13 San Juan, Puerto Rico

Don't recoil from the mainland of Puerto Rico, however. San Juan, the capital and largest city, sits beautifully on its northern coast. If you are looking for a wild tropical trip, visit the Isla Verde resort strip, filled with buzzing bars, nightclubs, and casinos. need a more calm, historic vacation? Take a visit to Old San Juan, the center of colorful Spanish colonial buildings and historic landmarks like La Fortaleza, where the governor resides, or El Morro, a Spanish fort that dates back to the 1500s.

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laurafruitfairy · 6 years

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(Anzeige) #Jackfruit series part 2: Sushi sandwiches 🍙 with tofu, sriracha jackfruit from @naturescharm , beetroot, carrot, coriander, yellow bell pepper and a sticky peanut sauce. 🥜 Sprinkled with black cumin (looks like sesame but it has a totally different taste and huge health benefits). 🖤 #Onigirazu has become one of my all-time favourite foods. Have you had a chance to try it yet? 😊 For the peanut sauce 🥜 simply mix: 3 Tbs crunchy peanut butter 1 Tbs lime juice 1 Tbs rice vinegar 1.5 Tbs coconut blossom syrup 1/2 tsp cayenne 1 Tbs soy sauce 3-6 Tbs water (until you reach your desired consistency) This peanut sauce also works well as a dip for summer rolls or veggies or as a salad dressing. 😋 🌴 TRAVEL UPDATE: 🌴 Right after @envisionfestival we drove up to the mountains where we are currently staying in a conscious retreat in the middle of the Costa Rican jungle. At the festival we experienced, saw, felt, learned and evolved so much that the invitation to this beautiful retreat came like a gift from heaven. We are taking time to disconnect from the hectic outside and focus on what’s going on inside of us. We are a diverse group of about 10 people with different skills, talents and passions. It already feels like home. We sleep in tents with jungle noises delighting our ears 24/7 and temperatures ranging from 21-29 C. We started the day with yoga, free dance and watermelon. 🍉 Our plan for the day is bathing in the river, an organic lunch made from locally farmed plants and a cacao fermentation workshop. I feel blessed to be here. ♥️ You can find the place on Tripadvisor as “Buenaventura Rainforest Retreat”. We have WiFi here so I’ll upload some stories from the festival and the retreat here today. ♥️ I hope you’re having a great day. 🤗 (at Costa Rica) https://www.instagram.com/laurafruitfairy/p/Buo2-iZA2v1/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1quh42fyy5tb4

#jackfruit #onigirazu

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bulgarianmermaid · 6 years

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Twice named “Happiest Country in the World” and identified as the greenest country on the planet, Costa Rica is the global leader in eco travel and adventure tourism. Costa Rica is half the size of Nicaragua and half the population yet there is so much to see in this tiny country that even a month is not enough. It is the most visited nation in Central America with 2.9 million foreign visitors in 2016 and one of the few countries that focus on preservation of nature and renewable energy. Around 25% of the country’s area is in national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, the largest percentage of protected areas in the world. Costa Rica also possesses the greatest density of wildlife species.

Map of all the National Parks, Wildlife Refuges, and Protected Areas in Costa Rica

By 2016, 98.1% of the country’s electricity was generated from green sources (hydro, solar, geothermal and biomass) and by Aug 2018 the country was running completely on renewable energy and exporting green energy to its neighbors. Costa Rica does not cut trees for paper and has successfully managed to diminish deforestation from some of the worst rates in 1973- 1989 to almost zero by 2005.

Costa Rica also ranks high on longevity. Nicoya Peninsula in Guanacaste province (where Rapture Surfcamp is located) is one of 7 “Blue Zones” in the world where people live healthiest and longest. According to research, the main factors that contribute to such longevity are: staying close to nature, climate, family, faith, and farming.

Where is the beauty of not being rich in mineral resources you may wonder? For Costa Rica it was the opportunity to avoid colonization 🙂 Lack of resources such as gold and silver made Costa Rica into an isolated and sparsely-inhabited region within the Spanish Empire. Costa Rica was described as “the most miserable Spanish colony in all America”. Another important factor behind Costa Rica’s poverty was the lack of a significant indigenous population available for slave labor, which meant most of the Costa Rican settlers had to work their own land and couldn’t establish large plantations.

Unappreciated and overlooked by the Spanish Crown and left to develop on its own, it was not long before the early settlers turned to the hills, where they found rich volcanic soil and a milder climate than the lowlands. Costa Rica became a “rural democracy” with no oppressed mestizo or indigenous class and abolished the army in 1949.

When you think of Costa Rica you may imagine endless beaches fringed by palm trees and while that is exactly the scenery on both coasts, in between there are numerous national parks, volcanos, cloud forests, wildlife reserves, waterfalls, and hot springs. So unless you spend at least a week in the middle of the country, you can’t really say you’ve seen Costa Rica. There are 14 known volcanoes in Costa Rica (compare that to 50 in Nicaragua), and 6 of them have been active in the last 75 years. I visited 2 – Rincon de la Vieja and Arenal – both active.

Rincon de la Vieja National Park is one of the driest in Costa Rica with one of the most endangered ecosystems. The active 1900m volcano is like a small Yellowstone with mud pots, boiling hot springs and other geothermal and volcanic features to be observed. If planning to hike a waterfall, choose La Cangreja for its sparkly blue lagoon where you can go for a swim. It is a 6km one way hike, so give it at least half a day and remember it gets dark early in the jungle.

Hacienda Guachipellin has the most amazing hot springs I’ve EVER been to! Experience the hot, hot, hot water (up to 120F) in a secluded natural setting alongside the river. Yes it burns, it also cleanses your pores and disinfects your wounds (comes handy for injured surfers 🙂 ) Try volcanic mud face mask and body painting, refresh yourself with a cold dip in the river ❤ To reach the hot springs you will drive for a while in the middle of nowhere. Don’t be discouraged, there are hot springs at the end of the forrest tunnel 🙂

Arenal Volcano last erupted in 1968 and formed hot springs at its base. The geothermal water, the volcanos (you can hike the Chato crater) and the proximity to the airport have turned the area in an overcrowded tourist attraction. If you decide to head that way, I recommend staying in Arenal (outside of La Fortuna). Hike a volcano or take a horseback ride around it, dip in the hot springs, see the waterfall, swim in the magma heated river, maybe do an outdoor adventure, THEN get out of there. 2 nights are enough 😉

On your way between Rincon de la Vieja and Arenal or from Arenal to Monteverde, stop by Rio Celeste for a day. The drive is long but it is a spectacular, once-in-a-lifetime sight.

Monteverde is my favorite part of inland Costa Rica. Stay 3-4 nights and plan to be busy with every type of nature and adventure tour you have heard of (and even some I couldn’t imagine before – orchid garden anyone?! or observing nature at night (fluorescent frogs 🙂 ), making your own molasses out of sugarcane, riding a cacao-grinding bicycle ?!) To book your tours, stop by Ro at Monteverde Downtown Hostel (even if you are not staying there) and follow his advice. He was SO spot on I was able to see half of the local attractions with the most authentic vendors in 2 days.

Monteverde is the only place in the world where you can still observe an unspoiled cloud forrest – you have 3 public parks to choose from and a number of private reserves. Named after the clouds that travels east to west from the Caribbean to the Pacific and stop in the treetops of Monteverde, the cloud forrest produces water instead of using it.

The Continental Divide that dissects Costa Rica north to south also passes through Monteverde. Since I visited the Divide in Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, and Colorado, it was time to see it in Central America too. The Continental Divide splits the watershed into rivers that flow into the Atlantic and the Pacific.

Two incredible species I learned about in the cloud forrest were ferns older than dinosaurs and bigger than a human that protect the soil from erosion and trees that grow from top to bottom giving its host a tight hug with its roots until they reach the ground 🙂 🙂 🙂 #welcometothejungle My hopes to kiss a frog and find my prince in Costa Rica were shattered when I found out the golden toad has become extinct in Monteverde since 1989 🙂 🙂 🙂

A tour of the Orchid Museum was another highlight of my visit. I got to learn so much about these incredible flowers (jungle weeds to be exact) and I also stopped appreciating or buying the “supermarket variety”. While the orchid flower in nature lasts only a few days, the supermarket type can last for months. It is a hybrid which needs fertilizer once a week to once a month. The original color is actually white and the blue, pink, or purple hues are achieved with food coloring in the roots. First flowering is bright color, next one is color and white and the last one is completely white. PLEASE don’t buy them 😦

There are 30000 different orchids in nature and 1500 of them grow in Costa Rica. Ecuador has the largest number of species in the world in a single country (5000) while Monteverde has the most species per square mile. Guaria Morada is the national flower of Costa Rica. Orchids need indirect sunlight and water. Lower elevation orchids need water once a week, the mountain species need water every day.

The second largest sector of the Costa Rican economy is agriculture with bananas, plantains, pineapple, coffee, sugarcane, and exotic fruits being the main exports. Costa Rica is the 2nd largest pineapple producer in the world with >50% of the international market.

Sugarcane is non-native to America (Columbus first brought it to the Caribbean) but it grows really well in hot, humid climates. “El Trapiche” means sugar cane mill. While it is not typical in Costa Rica any more for small family plants to process the harvested sugarcane, it used to provide livelihood to many early settlers. Since harvesting the sugarcane is not only very laborious but can also be quite dangerous process (sharp leaves, snakes, insects) other countries burn the sugarcane plantations first and then harvest them. The stem contains all the sugarcane juice so it doesn’t burn but the fire takes care of the dangers on the ground.

Growing coffee is very popular in Central America with Costa Rica being one of the most famous producers in the world for single-origin high-quality coffee. All Costa Rican coffee is of the Arabica kind grown at over 1000m elevation. Take a tour of a coffee plantation in Monteverde to learn more about coffee growing and roasting processes!

Since going to the beach is an essential part of your visit in Costa Rica, here is a quick run down of the coast in the Guanacaste region. If you plan on surfing, add an extra week to your vacation, better yet add 2 weeks to properly enjoy the beach and learn new tricks 🙂 And go visit Rapture Surfcamps in Playa Avellanas! (The surf camp with the most amazing sunsets 🙂 )

Tamarindo is the party capital of the Guanacaste region. The local population of 500 swells up to 5000 with tourists in high season. My favorite night in Tamarindo was the Thursday Night Market (part of Rapture Surfcamps weekly activity schedule :-)) Another place I love in town is El Chiringuito Restaurant between Playa Tamarindo and Playa Langosta. Lunch, drinks, and sunset views are to die for! If you in the area during the day, take a tour of Las Baulas Natural Marine Park to see turtles, crocodiles, monkeys, birds, and other wildlife. Boats leave twice a day with exact time depending on the tides and it costs $25 p/p for group tours.

Playa Flamingo is one of Costa Rica’s most famous beaches for it crystal clear waters and pink skies at sunset. When visiting, have a meal at Loco Coco, it is absolutely delicious! Other famous beaches in the area are Playa Negra (filming spot of Endless Summer II), Playa Conchal (not sand but tiny shell pieces), Playa Hermosa (black volcanic sand), Playa Coco (great scuba diving and snorkeling spot), Playa Grande.

What I didn’t have the time to see but came highly recommended was Manuel Antonio National Park, Corcovado National Park, the village of Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean coast, Tortuguero National Park, Montezuma, Malpais, and Santa Teresa on the tip of the Nicoya peninsula and riding the ferry from Punta Arenas to Paquera (closed due to a strike when I was visiting).

You tell me now how a 2 weeks vacation is enough for Costa Rica? I suggest you take a month off, explore the country and send me info on everything I have missed!

PC: @rapturecamps

2 Weeks Around Costa Rica Twice named "Happiest Country in the World" and identified as the greenest country on the planet, Costa Rica is the global leader in eco travel and adventure tourism. 1,989 more words

#america #beach #central america #costa rica #explore #hike #hiking #national park #nicaragua #road trip #Roadtrip #Surf #surfing #Travel #volcano #wildlife

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jennymanrique · 2 years

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‘Hay política en la comida’: chefs, investigadores y escritores opinan sobre la creciente popularidad de la comida étnica

Cuando la chef Silvana Salcido Esparza comenzó a ayudar a su padre inmigrante mexicano en la panadería familiar, pronto se dio cuenta de que no solo vendería pan. A los 10 años notó que los clientes que acudían a su tiendita en el Valle de San Joaquín, Merced, California, también necesitaban su ayuda para traducir formularios y completar solicitudes de trabajo.

“Nuestra pequeña tienda se convirtió en el centro de nuestra cultura”, dijo. Hija de un predicador, Salcido Esparza solía ir a predicar a los campamentos de migrantes los sábados, mientras que entre semana se dedicaba a vender pan en la camioneta de su padre donde el intercambio de alimentos se daba genuinamente entre los campesinos que desde hace siglos están alimentando al mundo.

“La panadería de mi tío se utilizó para el inicio de la UFW (United Farm Workers)”, recordó. “Mi abuelo llegó a principios de 1900 a Santa Bárbara, trayendo algunos chiles y pimientos de Durango, plantando algunas semillas y comiéndose el resto porque como migrantes se trasladaban de un lugar a otro. Así fue como se desarrolló la salsa roja en Estados Unidos”.

Salcido Esparza habló sobre el legado de su familia y los ‘regalos’ que México le ha dado al mundo -maíz, masa, tomates, chiles, frijoles, cacao, carnitas- durante una rueda de prensa organizada por Ethnic Media Services y Feet in 2 World. Pero su mensaje fue más allá de la exquisita cocina mexicana. Dijo que “hay mucha política en la comida”.La chef Silvana Salcido Esparza, aclamada a nivel nacional y autoproclamada “Chingona”, ha dedicado su carrera culinaria al avance y la promoción de la cocina y la cultura mexicanas.

“Me han amenazado antes como chef, diciéndome: cállate y cocina. Básicamente (me han ordenado) ser la mujercita en la cocina y estar callada. “Solo aliméntanos de cosas buenas”. Pero Salcido Esparza, quien se autodenomina una “guerrera cultural”, nunca se calló. Hace 20 años, creó la empresa Barrio Cafe en Arizona, donde su cocina única quiere elevar la cultura mexicana.

“La comida mexicana en Estados Unidos no es realmente comida mexicana. Es más alimento de necesidad. Es una salsa roja y queso amarillo en todo… La gente todavía come sus tacos crujientes y va a Taco Bell (pensando que es) la comida mexicana número uno de Estados Unidos. Pero es la discriminación y el capitalismo lo que nos ha dado esos alimentos”.

Afirma que la “supremacía blanca” se ha apoderado de la cocina étnica, “blanqueando” las comidas que traen los oaxaqueños a Los Ángeles, o de Puebla a Nueva York, “porque son populares y ricas”.

“Una cosa que decimos en mi cultura es que quieren el taco pero no quieren al taquero… Creo que es una responsabilidad de la comunidad en general, especialmente de la comunidad étnica, saber dónde se gasta su dinero”.

¿Qué es tradicional?

El debate sobre lo que es tradicional y/o auténtico en nuestra comida, cobra relevancia al mirar las mesas de picnic durante las celebraciones del 4 de julio: los postres tailandeses o los dulces indios se sirven junto con el pastel americano y cada comunidad inmigrante ha traído un sabor de su hogar al tejido de este país.

“Los alimentos de los inmigrantes se convirtieron no solo en parte del ambiente y el tapiz de los EE. UU., sino que también se adaptan y cambian para satisfacer diferentes gustos”, dijo Quincy Surasmith, editor gerente de Feet in 2 Worlds y productor de los podcasts: ¿Una vida mejor? y Americana Asiática. Puso los ejemplos del Chop Suey que se sirve en los restaurantes chino-americanos, a pesar de no ser un plato tradicional en China; el California roll que no es japonés, pero que fue inventado a principios de los 70 por los estadounidenses de origen japonés en Los Ángeles, o el cangrejo de río vietnamita creado por las comunidades estadounidenses de origen vietnamita en la costa del Golfo.

“Todo es real y todo es auténtico, lo auténtico es diferente a lo tradicional. Tratamos de empaquetarlo porque queremos proteger nuestras propias historias y cultura”, dijo Surasmith, quien alentó a las personas a pensar en quién hace la comida y para quién está hecha.

“¿Quién se beneficia de hacer ese tipo de comida, quién tiene éxito y recibe premios?… ¿Quién hace versiones caras de nuestra comida y quién hace versiones baratas? ¿Qué alimentos desaparecen cuando cambian las tendencias?”, cuestionó. A medida que las comunidades de inmigrantes se mudaron, también cambió el abastecimiento de alimentos e incluso la legislación de importación y licencias de alimentos en los EE. UU. tiene una fuerte influencia en la forma en que comemos, señaló.

Para Kayla Stewert, galardonada escritora gastronómica y de viajes, actual columnista de The Bittman Project, la comida “puede ser algo tan alegre y maravilloso”, y también una oportunidad para hablar sobre los “problemas muy reales” que aún existen en nuestro país: historia y política, raza, género y derechos de la mujer.

“Muchas personas asumen que la comida afroamericana son macarrones con queso, col rizada y pollo frito, pero de ninguna manera son los únicos alimentos que comemos”, dijo Stewert, nativa de Houston con raíces familiares en Louisiana y Mississippi. “Muchas veces esos platos en particular se usan como formas de insultarnos o transmitir estereotipos que han existido durante siglos en este país”.

El pastel de camote, la okra y los frijoles caritas, explicó Stewert, son platos que fueron traídos por esclavos de África o por estadounidenses negros a través de sus conexiones con los pueblos indígenas. La barbacoa tejana tiene sus raíces en la comida sureña y Nueva Orleans es el hogar de la cocina criolla y cajún, “que simplemente no existiría sin los negros”.

“(Los chefs negros) han sido oprimidos en la industria de restaurantes y alimentos, y sus ideas no han recibido todo el crédito. Los chefs blancos son los que cocinan comida negra y los que reciben premios y luego se les dice que ellos son los que están detrás de esta cocina”.

Hizo hincapié en la importancia de permitir que las personas de color puedan explorar su cocina “de la manera que quieran” porque incluso los restaurantes familiares auténticos, “van a aprender cosas nuevas y adaptarse con los nuevos ingredientes a los que han estado expuestos”. Confesó que estaba muy en contra de la cocina fusión hasta que se dio cuenta de que “la mayoría de las cocinas son fusión”.

John Rudolph, fundador y director de Feet in 2 Worlds, dijo que aún si los alimentos son capaces de “cerrar brechas culinarias entre culturas”, ese no es el caso para las brechas políticas.

“No creo que se pueda crear una especie de nueva cocina estadounidense. Hay varias influencias para contrarrestar la tendencia al fascismo en nuestro país, y creo que es un momento de transición, de reflexión, y de agitación. Estas conversaciones son buenas”, concluyó.

Originalmente publicado aquí

#Enespañol #Cocina étnica #hispanos #afroamericanos #comida fusión #comida mexicana #chef mexicana #sabores

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deepartnature · 3 years

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Coffee and Climate Have a Complicated Relationship

A cupping session at Los Papales, a coffee farm in Jinotega, Nicaragua.

“Wilston Vilchez, a third-generation coffee farmer in the mountains of Nicaragua, has witnessed drastic climatic changes on his 25-acre coffee and cacao farm for years, but when two hurricanes hit within 15 days last year, many other farmers he knows realized they needed to be part of the solution. ... Mr. Vilchez, who also manages an agricultural cooperative of about 300 farmers, said that the effects of climate change — rising temperatures, less predictable rainfall, wild swings from drought to flooding, new pests and more — were making it more and more difficult to earn a living from coffee, an experience felt by farmers around the world. ...”

NY Times

2010 September: Espresso, 2013 April: The History of Coffee and How It Transformed Our World, 2013 May: Coffeehouse, 2015 June: Barista, 2015 August: Coffee Connections at Peddler in SoHo, 2015 November: The Case for Bad Coffee, 2016 January: 101 Places to Find Great Coffee in New York (2014), 2017 June: How Cold Brew Changed the Coffee Business, 2017 September: Our 7 Favorite Literary Coffee Shops, 2017 October: Clever Literary Coffee Poster, 2017 October: Coffee as Existential Statement: A Crisis in Every Cup on Valencia Street, 2018 February: The Trencherman: A Tale of Two Coffee Shops, 2020 April: Unfair trade, April 2020: A (Very) Brief History of NYC Espresso, 2020 May: The Islamic History of Coffee, 2021 January: The Life Cycle of a Cup of Coffee: The Journey from Coffee Bean, to Coffee Cup, 2021 June: Philosophers Drinking Coffee: The Excessive Habits of Kant, Voltaire & Kierkegaard, 2021 July: The invisible addiction: is it time to give up caffeine?, August 2021: The Birth of Espresso: How the Coffee Shots The Fuel Our Modern Life Were Invented, 2021 October: Brew: A Brief History of Coffee

Sacks of coffee in the Zona de los Santos area of Costa Rica.

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ralphvelasco · 3 years

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Visiting a Cacao Farm in Costa Rica In this video, we’ll be visiting Rancho Raices, a Cacao Farm in Costa Rica. The farm is located on the Osa Peninsula and was created by Don Germán. We did a chocolate tour and learned lots about fruit and medicinal plants like shampoo ginger on this tour, as well. Costa Rica is known for its high quality production of locally grown and organic chocolate.

#CacaoFarm #CostaRica #ChocolateTour #RalphVelasco #ContinentalDRIFTER

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costaricafarm · 3 years

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farms for sale Costa Rica

This farm for sale Costa Rica covers a vast area of about 99 acres. The property is located on the grounds of Finca Divina. It's a luxury home and cacao and herb farm on the top of a beautiful mountain. The ocean views make it more scenic visit now ;https://buymyfarm.co/

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tamarindorentals · 4 years

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(via Guanacaste National Parks) Guanacaste National Parksby admin | Jan 1, 2021 | national parks, Travel | 0 commentsNote: As of Dec 1, 2020 the following parks and reserves are open with restrictions – Arenal, Barra Honda, Ballena, Las Baulas, Braulio Carrillo, Cabo Blanco, Cahuita, Camaronal, Carara, Cipanci, Corcovado, Diriá, Gandoca-Manzanillo, Grecia, Guayabo, Iguanita, Irazú, Isla del Coco, Manuel Antonio, Monte Alto, Monteverde, Ostional, Poás, Los Quetzales, Rincón de la Vieja, Santa Rosa, Tapantí, Tenorio, Tortuguero, Turrialba.Map of Costa Rica’s Protected Areas

Leaders in ConservationCosta Rica’s National Parks and other protected areas serve as a model of sustainable conservation.The world owes Costa Rica a debt for the social conscience, political will, original economics, and plain old hard work that have led to the protection of a larger percentage of the land as natural habitat than in any other country.The incredible ecological diversity is recognized as an irreplaceable treasure by the people and government of Costa Rica and international organizations including the World Wildlife Fund, Conservation International, The Rainforest Alliance, Worldwatch Institute, Organization for Tropical Studies, MacArthur Foundation and the Nature Conservancy.Other countries including the United States, Canada, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, and Panama have also contributed much to the growth and protection of the wilds of Costa Rica with debt for nature swaps, grants, and scientific, economic and political expertise.National Parks DayEvery August 24th is Costa Rican National Parks day and entry into all parks is free for residents and international visitors!Palo Verde National ParkPalo Verde National Park has a unique dichotomous character. It’s simultaneously a spectacular wetlands and one of the best examples of tropical dry forests remaining anywhere in the world. This dual nature is a result of the Río Tempisque flooding over land located in a relatively arid climate region.The park, like many in Costa Rica’s system consists largely of reclaimed pastureland. Fortunately, in the case of Palo Verde, the haciendas that preceded the park were somewhat different than the clear-cut ranches of the volcanic highlands. The underlying limestone, and the drier climate of the region gave rise to native forests where trees were sparser and there was more grass and forage in the natural ecosystem. Clear-cutting was not always necessary to ranching, and the park escaped it’s tenure as pasture with less damage than most.Birds Dry Season and RainyBirds are the biggest attraction at Palo Verde National Park. In the wet season the floodwaters of the Río Tempisque spread to form extensive marshes that welcome migrant birds from the Americas at the onset of winter. As the December through May dry season (called summer in Costa Rica) progresses the marshes shrink to isolated patches and pools, and the migrants depart for their summer nesting grounds in temperate climates.Many of the resident tropical bird species nest on a small mangrove island in the Río Tempisque. Isla de Pajaros (bird island), as it is known provides a safe place for Cattle Egrets, Roseate Spoonbills, Wood Storks, Green-backed Herons, Anhingas, Great Egrets, and Black-crowned Night-Herons to breed. Other birds you can expect to see in the park include White Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Black-necked Stilt, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Snail Kite, American Widgeon, Northern Shoveler, and Blue-winged Teal.In the dry season, many of the trees have dropped their leaves, and the wildlife is concentrated around the ever-shrinking water sources. One of the best strategies for spotting the many species of mammals that Palo Verde National Park protects is to sit quietly near a water source. You may spot Variegated Squirrels, Howler Monkeys, White-nosed Coatis, White-tailed Deer, White-throated Capuchin Monkeys, and Collared Peccaries.Cycling Across the ParkPalo Verde National Park is one of our favorites. When we first visited, there was a little known and unused back entrance to the park, across the Bebedero river. We rode and carried our bicycles across the whole park to the campground near the ranger station (Read about Biking Palo Verde Park).The entrance and the trails it serves are now closed except for official research, but you can rent mountain bikes from the Organization for Tropical Studies station to explore other parts of the park.Getting to Palo VerdeAlthough the back door from Bebedero has been effectively closed, there is another very interesting way to enter the Park. On the Nicoya side of the Río Tempisque, you can hire a boat at the dock in the pueblo of Puerto Humo and power your way upriver to the Park. Arrange with your boatman ahead of time to get a close-up look at the Isla de Pajaros (Bird Island), and perhaps continue upriver past the park where the vegetation closes in and you are sure to see crocodiles.Best Time to VisitPalo Verde is located in one of the driest regions of Costa Rica but when it does rain here the roads can be impassable. Birdwatching is also better in the dry season because there are many migrants who arrive from up north to escape the snow in December through May.Stay in the Park – OTS Lodge and CampingThere are a few parks and reserves in Costa Rica where it’s possible to spend the night in relative comfort and thanks to the Organization for Tropical Studies, Palo Verde is one of them. Lodging, meals and guide services are all available by reservation (See details – OTS Palo Verde Lodge).If you’ve got the gear, camping is also an option. The campground near the ranger station provides access to potable water, showers and restrooms.Guanacaste National ParkMother with infant spider monkeys in the Murcielago sector of Santa Rosa National park on the trail to Bahia/Playa Hachal. Geoffroy’s Spider Monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) are called mono aranya in Spanish and are also known as Black-handed Spider MonkeyGuanacaste National Park was created in 1989 to connect Santa Rosa National Park with the high elevation cloud forest of Orosi and Cacao volcanoes and across the continental divide to the Caribbean rainforest of Northern Costa Rica. The hope is that together these two parks protect enough land to ensure sufficiently large habitats for wide-ranging species such as jaguars and mountain lions, while simultaneously creating a biological corridor for birds and insects to make local seasonal migrations between the dry forest and the evergreen cloud and rain forests.The park owes its existence in large part to Dr. Daniel Janzen. He successfully raised donations telling international contributors he would show the world “how to grow a National Park.” He launched his campaign when international beef prices were low, and many of the ranch owners were eager to sell their degraded grazing lands. His goals of recreating more of the severely threatened tropical dry forest habitat from cattle pasture, as well as forming a biological corridor are now coming to fruition. Happily, biologists have commented that the habitat is regenerating more quickly than they had hoped.Janzen was also aware that the changes in the land that would benefit the wildlife would leave many ranch hands without work and have a major impact on local communities. His foresight ensured that one of the goals of the park is to encourage local participation in environmental programs, and train and employ locals as park personnel. This attitude is important, because although the National Parks of Costa Rica are part of the world’s heritage, they are also an important part of Tico’s everyday lives.Hiking, Nature Walks and BirdwatchingThe main attraction of Guanacaste National Park is a good brisk walk or a leisurely stroll. The large range of elevations result in trails that cross several ecosystems as you climb from the dry Pacific forests near the border with Santa Rosa National Park to the high elevation cloud forests near the peaks of Orosi and Cacao volcanoes. You can cross the continental divide and climb down to rainforest typical of the Caribbean side of Northern Costa Rica.Among the dry forest inhabitants are Collared Peccaries, Howler Monkeys, White-nosed Coatis, White-tailed Deer, and Variegated Squirrels, Long-tongued Bats, and Capuchin Monkeys. You will almost certainly spot dozens of birds in a hour or two of walking including White-throated Magpie Jays, Orange-Fronted Parakeets, and Crested Caracara (roadside hawks). At higher elevations you may spot Squirrel Cuckoos, Tanagers and Groove-billed Anis.rainfall and weatherThis is one of the hotter drier areas of Costa Rica, and the whole Guanacaste region has more predictable seasons than the rest of Costa Rica. The chance of rain is much less during the dry season from December to April, but the higher you climb, the more likely you are to get wet… any time of the year.Although it is fairly likely that it will rain on any given day during the rainy season (AKA the green season), it is also fairly likely that it will be a short shower in mid-afternoon. The rainy season which lasts from May until November is also usually interrupted by a two or three week dry spell in late July or August called the Veranillo de San Juan (Saint Joseph’s little summer).Quick Facts Guanacaste National ParkGuanacaste is a large park that protects 32,512 hectares where elevations range from 300 to 1659 meters (984 to 5443 feet). The habitats represented here are cloud forest, pasture/farm, and regenerating tropical dry forest.Santa Rosa National ParkTropical Dry ForestSanta Rosa National Park protects some of the last remaining tropical dry forest in the world. The small patch of oak forest near the entrance to the Comelco Ranch is probably representative of the original habitat of much of the park. Ranchers burned most of the plateau region, and African pasture grass (Hyparrenia rufa) and the fire resistant Bignoniaceae trees define the current landscape. Nearer the beaches the habitat becomes more native-like.Guanacaste National Park was created in 1989 to connect Santa Rosa National Park with the high elevation cloud forest of Orosi and Cacao volcanoes and across the continental divide to the Caribbean rainforest of Northern Costa Rica. The hope is that together these two parks protect enough land to ensure sufficiently large habitats for wide-ranging species such as jaguars and mountain lions while simultaneously creating a biological corridor for birds and insects to make local seasonal migrations between the dry forest and the evergreen cloud and rain forests.Beaches-Turtles, Scuba and SurfingThere are two important sea turtle nesting beaches in Santa Rosa, Naranjo and Nancite. The latter is one of two beaches in Costa Rica (the other is Ostional) where Pacific Ridley Sea Turtles come ashore each year in large arribadas to lay their eggs.These mass arrivals can include thousands of individuals in a single night, usually on a new moon in late summer.The beach at Naranjo is also famous for surfing, and the area near witch’s rock was a filming location for the cult surfing classic ‘Endless Summer II.’ There is a campground at Naranjo beach.From outside the park you can arrange scuba-diving trips to Islas Murciélago, (the Bat Islands), off the Santa Elena Peninsula.Hiking Trails and MapsThere are a number of excellent trails in Santa Rosa National Park for day or overnight trips.1:50,000 Topographical maps are available online from Omni Maps (sheets CR50 3048 I, and CR50 3048 IV cover most of the park, but CR50 3048 II, and CR50 3048 III are required for the southern edges)When to VisitThis is one of the hotter drier areas of Costa Rica, and the whole Guanacaste region has more predictable seasons than the rest of Costa Rica. The chance of rain is much less during the dry season from December to April.Although it is fairly likely that it will rain on any given day during the rainy season (AKA the green season), it is also fairly likely that it will be a short shower in mid-afternoon. The rainy season which lasts from May until November is also usually interrupted by a two or three week dry spell in late July or August called the veranillo de San Juan (little summer).Getting ThereLocation – Santa Rosa National Park is located at the northwestern tip of Costa Rica 118 miles (190 km) northwest of San José (136 miles, 219 km by road). Nearest towns Liberia & La Cruz.Driving directions – From San José, take the Interamerican Highway (1) north 136 miles (219 km) passing through San Ramon, Cañas, and Liberia to the signed left turn at the entrance road. Bus – Unfortunately there is not a direct way to reach the Santa Rosa Ranger Station by bus. Buses from San José or Liberia to La Cruz and the Nicaraguan border will drop you at the turnoff from the PanAmerican Highway and you’ll have to walk or hitch-hike the 4miles (7 km) to La Casona. Air – The nearest airport is LIR outside Liberia.Quick Facts Santa Rosa National ParkOne of Costa Rica’s larger parks, Santa Rosa covers 49,515 hectares with a wide range of habitats including beach, mangrove estuary, marine, pasture/farm, and tropical dry forest.History at Santa Rosa National ParkSanta Rosa may owe its early designation as a National Park to an attempted invasion by U.S. troops. The battle that occurred here is a source of great pride in Costa Rica, and the historical significance of the park helped win its protection by executive decrees in 1970 and 1977.William Walker was an American lawyer who had designs on an empire. In June of 1855 he arrived in Nicaragua, propped up a failing regime, and set him self up as Commander-in-Chief. With this tenuous authority, he planned to convert all of Central America into slaving territory and use the slaves to build a canal from Lake Nicaragua to the Pacific (the San Juan River is navigable from Lake Nicaragua to the Caribbean so this canal would have linked the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans as the Panama Canal does today).With the financial backing of the Confederate Union of the southern United States, Walker sent an international army of mercenaries into Costa Rica. When word of the invasion reached the capital, President Juan Rafael Mora organized 9,000 civilians to march to Guanacaste. At the hacienda of Santa Rosa on March 20, 1856, the mercenaries were routed in a 14 minute battle. The victorious Ticos pushed Walker’s forces across the border into Nicaragua where they made another stand in a wooden fort in Rivas. On April 11, 1856 a drummer boy named Juan Santamaría, from Alajuela volunteered to set the fort afire, and although he successfully flushed the mercenaries he lost his life in the battle. He is remembered as a hero.Walker returned to the United States, where he practiced law for a while before returning to Central America in another takeover attempt. In 1860, he was captured by the Honduran government, found guilty of treason and shot. Interestingly, another central figure in this history met a similar fate. President Mora lost political favor and his job after the battle. When he tried to regain control of the country in a military coup, he was captured, tried for treason and died in front of a firing squad the same year as Walker.Amazingly, this single incident encompasses much of the military history of Costa Rica. While Ticos are proud of their war heroes, and established Santa Rosa National Park in part to protect La Casona and the other buildings where the victory occurred, they are even prouder of their remarkably peaceful history.La Casona Hacienda was the site of the most famous battle in Costa Rican history. Now it’s a museum and part of Santa Rosa National Park. This historic building was the site of the ‘epic’ Battle of Santa Rosa in 1856 and has been preserved as a monument. There are displays of military paraphernalia and everyday life at a Tico Hacienda in the mid 1800’s. Keep an eye out for the Long-tongued Bats that roost in the eves of the buildings.Diria National ParkOne of Guanacaste’s Least-Known Attractions. Northern Guanacaste and the Nicoya Peninsula have several well known national parks: the history-rich Santa Rosa, the caves of Barra Honda, the marine preserve and turtle nesting grounds of Las Baulas and the wetlands of Palo Verde — now one of the top birding destinations in the world. But few know about or have visited the wonderful Diria National Park near Santa Cruz. It is the least visited locale in Costa Rica’s national park system, with even fewer tourists than the rarely visited La Cangreja Park, which was featured in the December 2018 Howler issue.The 5,500-hectare park (over 10,000 acres) was created only recently, in 2004. A key objective was to protect more than 380 species of trees that forest the area — many original old growth saved from the deforestation of the mid-20th century — as well as several rivers flowing out of the mountains creating the Santa Cruz region’s water supply. Diria National Park is also the home of rare and endangered bromeliads and cacti, along with a special group of orchids that can survive the extreme dry season conditions.For anyone visiting the northern Nicoya area, a day trip to Diria can give you a totally different Costa Rica experience.When to goIf you’re seeking a great place to hike or mountain bike, see lots of birds and animals along with rare and endangered plants or even just cool off from the heat, you will enjoy Diria. The park has two major areas: the lowland tropical dry forest around the casona (park ranger station) and the tropical humid forests covering much more mountainous terrain, rising to 1,800 meters (almost 6,000 feet) above sea level.The casona vicinity has three hiking trails that follow the rivers through the dry forest. The longest trail leads to beautiful Brazil Falls, requiring a demanding hike through rugged conditions. The park’s main facilities are located at the casona, accessible only by fording a river. Many opt not to drive through, especially in rainy season. The casona has restrooms and is equipped for overnight stays and meals if booked in advance, especially for groups.The rest of the park site can be reached by driving, or more recently, using a system of bike trails extending upward … and further up. You can drive to the crest of the Nicoya Peninsula’s highest mountain ridge, looking back to the mainland and even sighting Palo Verde National Park.

Animals and birds abound throughout Diria and change with the elevation. Howler monkeys, iguanas, anteaters and deer can be seen. Birding is also great here, with more than 140 species that include pale-billed woodpecker, barred antshrikes and long-tailed manakins. All are easily seen in the park, as well as the beautiful elegant trogon, which is found only in the northern Nicoya Peninsula.How to get thereFirst drive to Santa Cruz, from the west taking route 152/route 160 east, or from the east taking route 21. From there, take the road south to Arado; drive around the Arado soccer field and you will see a sign to Diria National Park. The road becomes gravel for the final 6 kilometers. Follow signs to Diria National Park (a 4WD vehicle is recommended). Signs to the park casona take you to the lowland trails (remember you must cross a river) and those marked Los Angeles lead up the mountain. When you reach the ranger station, don’t be surprised if it’s unoccupied; the park has few rangers and those on duty are likely out patrolling, especially when there’s a risk of forest fires during dry season. Many park visitors leave their admission fee on the desk.For anyone visiting the northern Nicoya area, staying in Tamarindo or other beach spots, a day trip to Diria can give you a totally different Costa Rica experience. It can even cool you off a bit, as a bonus for enjoying some real wilderness.When to visitAs applies to most places in Costa Rica, the best time for visiting Diria is between December to April. However, visiting in the rainy season can be a treat if you visit Brazil Falls, which quickly dries out in summer. The downside is that rainy season conditions can be difficult for getting around and the roads might be impassable.Rincón de la Vieja National Park, Guanacaste18 / 41Waterfall inside Rincon de la Vieja National ParkEcological diversity abounds at Rincón de la Vieja National Park, one of the parks in the Guanacaste Conservation Area.This park is a must-visit destination when you are in the Guanacaste Province.Best Hotels in Rincón de la Vieja National ParkPriceHotel Hacienda Guachipelin$$Check PriceAt over 34,000 acres, Rincón de la Vieja has room for two volcanoes, 32 rivers and streams, and an incredible variety of flora and fauna.A number of activities can be enjoyed at the park such as hiking, horseback riding, enjoying hot springs, swimming, picnicking, and camping. Rincón de la Vieja National Park VideoPlayUnmuteLoaded: 10.73%Remaining Time –2:53FullscreenGuachipelin Adventure Combo PassThe best all day adventure combo that includes ziplining, horseback riding, white water river tubing, full buffet lunch, hot springs & volcanic mud bath.Get Your PassRincón de la Vieja is approximately 15 miles northeast of the city of Liberia, which is the capital of the Guanacaste Province.Explore Both SidesWith its location and sheer size, this national park allows you to experience both the Caribbean and Pacific sides of the Cordillera de Guanacaste.The west side of the park on the slope of the volcano that fronts the Pacific Ocean is more arid than the eastern Caribbean-facing side, which means that it has a dry season from February through April.The dry season on the west side allows for great hiking conditions for those that want to hike the slope of the volcano. Atlantic trade winds on the eastern side of the park provide it with an average of 200 inches of rain per year, keeping vegetation lush and growing all the time.There is no distinct dry season on the east, so the tropical ecosystems on that side continually stay damp.The park is serviced by two ranger stations, one in the Santa Maria sector, and the other in the Las Pailas sector.Hiking and horseback riding trails fan out from the Santa Maria ranger station and traverse 5,000 feet in vertical elevation. Picnic areas are also available to rest and rejuvenate before hitting the trails again.Next to Las Pailas ranger station, campground facilities allow you to spend the night in the park.Rincón de la Vieja National ParkWhere to StayView HotelsSee Incredible Flora and FaunaRincón de la Vieja hosts a wide variety of tropical forests, including dwarf cloud and montane ecosystems.Exotic and rare flora and fauna find refuge here including kinkajous, pumas, a variety of monkeys, sloths, tapirs, and jaguars.Rare emerald toucanets and blue-crowned motmots glow in the sunlight along with vibrant fuschia and purple Guaria Morada orchids. Laurel and Guanacaste trees form canopies for birds and mammals to live in.Sightsee and SwimVarious water features are major attractions at the park and include a freshwater lagoon, waterfalls, hot springs, and boiling mud pits.Barra Honda Caverns National ParkThe area of the Tempisque Basin where the Nicoya Peninsula joins the mainland has a foundation of relatively soft limestone. Water has cut extensive caves through Cerro Barra Honda and the other small mountains creating the best know feature of this National Park. However, the park also has well maintained hiking trails. The protected tropical dry forest (though mostly secondary) within its borders is some of the last in the world, and very different from the rain and cloud forests that attract many ecological tourists to Costa Rica.The CavernsThe soda straws, pearls, roses, needles, cave grapes, curtains, terraces, stalactites, stalagmites and other calcareous formations of the more than 40 limestone caverns are the main attraction at Barra Honda National Park.The caves are all in relatively good condition because their vertical entrances are difficult to negotiate. This is also why you need climbing gear, a guide, and permission from the Parks service in advance to enter them.The caves range from a few feet to over 780 feet (240 meters) deep. Pozo Hediondo (Fetid Pit) Cave was named for the aroma of the guano deposited by thousands of resident bats.Until the caverns were discovered and explored in the late sixties, many believed that Cerro Barra Honda was a volcano because of the roaring sounds made by the bats as they departed the caverns en masse, and the fumes from the caves they occupied.Hiking at Barra HondaThe network of hiking trails used to access the caverns are great for exploring one of the rarest habitats on earth, tropical dry forest. The juxtaposition of capuchin monkeys and cactus seems odd, and some of the trees flower only after they’ve dropped all their leaves. Any time of year you can hope to see howler monkeys, deer, racoons, peccaries, kinkajous, agoutis, and anteaters.Maps are available at the ranger station. The main trail is an undriveable continuation of the entrance road that leads through mostly secondary forest to cerro Barra Honda (1,450 feet, 442 meters) where you are rewarded with spectacular views of the Tempisque valley.When to Visit and Where to Stay at Barra HondaThe caves are not open in the wet season because of the danger of flooding by the torrential rains that carved them from the stone. If you are a spelunker the dry season is your best bet.Cabinas and Camping – If you are traveling on a budget, spend the night. It’s one of the few places you can get a bed and a roof inside a National Park. At the ranger station a few minutes up a good gravel road from the entrance (closed from about dusk until 8:00 am) there are four rustic cabinas with bunks for six or eight each.These provide an excellent opportunity for travelers who don’t have either camping equipment, or the money for a lodge or ecocamp, to spend the night in the forest. When we stayed we had the place to ourselves and were on a hiking trail by around 5:15 am (about 15 minutes before sunrise) in order to catch the increased activity of the forest’s residents. We also felt comfortable walking on the broad main trail after dark, when you hear and see a whole new group of birds, insects and animals.There is a camping area next to the ranger station, across the road from the cabinas.If you don’t stay in the park, Nicoya is the closest alternative with lodging options in most price categories (nothing on the top end however).Getting ThereDriving directions From San José, take the Interamerican Highway (1) north just past the turn for Las Juntas de Abangares. Turn left on 18 towards San Joaquín and then follow the signs for the spur to the new Tempisque bridge. Once you rejoin the main road, continue southwest about 10 km then turn right towards the villages of Barra Honda and (also known as Nacaome) Santa Ana, and follow signs for the park entrance. The park headquarters is through the gate (closed at dusk) less than a mile up a good gravel road (4WD not required) on the left.Bus Unfortunately there is not a direct way to reach Barra Honda by bus. You can get a bus from San José to Nicoya, then there is one bus a day (12:30 p.m.) from Nicoya to Santa Ana which is about a 30 minute walk from the entrance.Daily departures from San José, Terminal Alfaro at 6:30 a.m., 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m., 156 km, 6 hours, $5.20, Alfaro Bus, telephone (506) 2222-2666Quick Facts about Barra Honda National ParkThe protected area is 5,600 acres (2,300 hectares, 8.75 square miles, 7 times the size of central park NYC) with elevations ranging from 20 to 442 meters (66 to 1450 feet). The habitats represented here are margin/edge and regenerating tropical dry forest.Hours The gate is open from 8:00 a.m. until dusk, if you are staying in the park, the rangers leave the station door open until they go to bed around 8:30 p.m.Hiking trails Maps are available at the ranger station. The main trail is an undriveable continuation of the entrance road that leads through mostly secondary forest to cerro Barra Honda (1,450 feet, 442 meters) where you are rewarded with spectacular views of the Tempisque valley.Habitats Tropical lowland dry forest, pasture, limestone caves.Tenorio Volcano National ParkQuite possibly our favorite national park. I know, I know, they can’t all be our favorite, but…Tenorio has everything you could want in a tropical forest natural area and every time we visit we find something new to love. Hiking to the sky blue Celeste waterfall is a highlight, but the hanging bridges in the rainforest and trail to Lago Danta through the cloud forest from the Heliconias entrance are equally amazing.For decades the area was nearly undiscovered but in 2018 twelve years of bridging river fords and improving roads culminated in the completion of the asphalt all the way to the park entrance. Visits exploded and by April of 2019 the park service was forced to impose quotas on the number of hikers and birdwatchers allowed on the trail.Celeste WaterfallAt a glance these are what puts the region around Bijagua on the list of the best places in Costa Rica. From ranger station at the west entrance of Tenorio National Park (El Pilón) to the azure tinted cataract a couple of kilometers to the south.You can make a loop out of the trail by continuing south to the teñiderios (Teñi de rios – dyeing of the rivers) then west along the other bank of the river to the hot springs and out to the road at the west entrance near Catarata Celeste Lodge. The road leads north to the new car bridge over the river and back to the ranger station.Hiking TrailsThe “Crater Hike” is only available with special permission along with an indigenous guide but well worth the extra effort.Main Park Entrance (El Pilón)The best way to experience the area, in fact the only way to see much of it, is on foot. You don’t have to be a Sherpa to visit the azure blue catarata río Celeste in Tenorio National park or the rainforest shrouded slopes of Miravalles volcano but you do have to walk because they’re only accessible by trail. Anywhere you walk in the area you’re likely to see birds and other wildlife (even in or near town).The hiking trail to Celeste waterfall and the other attractions around the main entrance is described above.Heliconias & Lago DantaThere is a little known entrance to the park at Heliconias Ecolodge Community Project. They have a network of excellent trails leading through their private protected forest to a series of hanging bridges through the rainforest canopy. On our last visit we went on the bridges trail under the stars and it was Awesome.Starting at the top end of the Canopy Bridges trail there is a 3 km spur that climbs up to the national park boundary and on to Lago Danta (Tapir Lake). We’ve never seen tapirs here but we’ve seen fresh tracks and they are more common here than nearly anywhere else in Costa Rica outside Corcovado National Park.There are also many abandoned or nearly abandoned roads where you can walk or mountain bike around Heliconias, Bijagua or any of the remote lodges and Miravalles National Park is literally right across the street.Natural Hot SpringsNOTE: In 2017 the park service closed the east entrance and the trail to the hot springs due to overcrowding.The hotsprings here really are natural. Commercial operations in the region have started the inevitable process of taming the geothermal mineral waters for spas and some of the pools in the National Park are off limits due to dangerously high temperatures, but there are still places along the lower Río Celeste where you can relax your tired muscles in completely natural hot springs (see map at bottom of page).For your own safety please respect all closures, warnings, and regulations posted by the park administration.BirdwatchingWe considered adding an extra star to the rating system just for this region because five out of five doesn’t really do it justice.Costa Rica is know for its incredible diversity of micro-climates, ecological zones and habitats and this valley between two volcanoes is a perfect example.The continental divide follows the slopes of volcán Miravalles down to the southeast to a point where Tenorio starts rising just outside Bijagua (in front of the Tenorio Lodge in fact). It’s not dramatic geographically and you won’t notice it as you’re driving or walking because the valley is quite broad here, but this dip in the continental divide is a mountain pass from the Caribbean slope to the Pacific.This creates a natural flyway from Lago de Nicaragua, Caño Negro and the other wetlands in the northern Caribbean lowlands to the Pacific coast and Palo Verde wetlands along the Río Tempisque. It seems unusual at first to see a flock of Roseate Spoonbills juxtaposed against the mountains but once you look a the geography it’s not surprising that this area hosts species from a wide range of habitats.Getting There and When to VisitNOTE: On April 11 2019 the National Park announced on its official facebook page that limits would be imposed on the number of visitors to reduce overcrowding. No more than 500 people will be allowed in the park at one time and no more than 1,000 per day.The map that’s linked above includes a zoomed out view showing the main ways to arrive in the area along with driving directions from Arenal volcano and the Pacific beaches.Bijagua is right on the continental divide and Tenorio National Park is split by it but tends to have more wet Caribbean/Atlantic climatic association than dry Guanacaste. It’s always possible it’ll rain but pretty unlikely it’ll be drenching downpours for extended periods.Tickets & Hours for Tenorio National Park/Celeste Waterfall Pilón EntranceThe Park is open every day (including weekends and holidays) from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. The last entry is at 2:00 p.m.Citizens and Residents ¢800 ($1.20) Non-Residents $US12 Children under 12 are freeThere is no online ticketing or reservation system for Tenorio or the Celeste waterfall trail. Arrive early or join a tour group (agencies have access to advance purchase to guarantee entry).The town of Bijagua and the Tenorio region were directly in the path of Hurricane Otto on Thanksgiving Day 2016. Ten people were killed and couple of tiny communities in northern Costa Rica were devastated by the impact.The area is well on the way to a full recovery and one of the best things you can do to contribute to the local economy is visit and spend money! The Crater “Trail”The top of Tenorio Volcano and the trails leading to it are closed to the public. We entered by special permission with an authorized guide and a baquiano (indigenous guide) who knew the route across the wandering maze of tunnels through the elfin cloud forest at the top.If you have a chance to climb to the steep walled crater to the volcanically heated warm water lake at the top we highly recommend it. There is one trail that begins near the teñiderios west of the main entrance. It is clearly marked as off limits, nearly unused, and peters out into a maze of game trails after a few hundred meters.We entered through private property on the south side of the volcano and went by horseback for the first few kilometers across pasture. Once we entered the forest we tethered the horses and continued the ascent on foot.Because so few people are allowed into the area we were not surprised by the abundance of wildlife – even endangered and shy squirrel monkeys were calmly watching us from the tree tops.You can soak in a sulfuric hot spring a little under two miles down the trail and then enjoy a refreshing dip in a nearby waterfall or stream.Waterfalls with swimming opportunities are frequent along hiking trails. More evidence of geothermal activity in the area are the bubbling mud pools along the trail.Map of the Area

Click to enlarge map – Map of the AreaWitness Volcanic ActivityThe ancient Rincón de la Vieja volcano last erupted in 1983, with a minor ash and lava emission in 1991.Today, adventurous visitors can take a day-long hike to the top of the summit via a six-mile trail that originates at Las Pailas. The journey along the trail will reveal several different ecosystems. You will see Von Seebach, the main crater of the volcano, periodically spew steam as evidence of its geothermal activity.Those completing the hike will be rewarded with views of the Nicoya Peninsula and the Lago de Nicaragua.If the skies are exceptionally clear, you will be able to see Los Jilgueros Lake and almost all of Costa Rica. If you are considering taking the hike, be sure to bring adequate water to stay hydrated, and a warm water-resistant outer layer of clothing.In a country of national parks and wildlife preserves, the Rincón de la Vieja National Park is like no other in Costa Rica.You will long remember the wild flora and fauna in this premier park in the Guanacaste Province.CABO BLANCO ABSOLUTE NATURAL RESERVECabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve is located on the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. This was the first national protected area in Costa Rica. It was created in 1963 prior to the national park system, which still carries on to this day. The reserve was created to protect the area from deforestation, mainly due to the efforts of the late Olof Wessberg, who collected funding from several European countries to enable the protection project. The closest towns to the reserve are Montezuma and Mal Pais.Create Your Perfect VacationAdventureAll-InclusiveRomanceBeach TimeSurfingNature & WildlifeOr call toll-free1-866-853-9426The Cabo Blanco Reserve protects 3,070 hectares or 7,586 acres of land. The elevation of the reserve ranges from sea level to 5 meters or 0 – 16 feet. It protects rainforest, beach, mangrove, and river habitats. There are several groomed hiking trails.The isolated reserve is home to plenty of wildlife. There are three species of large felines including margays, jaguarundis, and ocelots. Capuchin and howler monkeys represent the primates. In addition there are anteaters, armadillos, raccoons, kinkajous, pizotes, and deer. There are many reptiles including black and green iguanas, whip-tailed lizards, and boa constrictors. Many species of birds have been identified in the reserve such as scarlett macaws, crested caracaras, magpie-jays, long-tailed manakins, and elegant trogons. Along the shore, there are brown pelicans, sandpipers, frigate birds, brown boobies, and laughing gulls.Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve is government managed. The reserve is open from 8 AM – 4 PM, Wednesday through Sunday (closed on Mondays and Tuesdays). It has a ranger station that is equipped with basic amenities including public restrooms. The entrance fee to the reserve is $12 per person. There are no overnight facilities. Most visitors stay at hotels in Mal Pais or Montezuma.MORE ABOUT THE CABO BLANCO RESERVEThe reserve is in an ideal location for trees to flourish as it is located between tropical dry and wet forests. The park is home to over 140 different species of trees, including the wild plum, trumpet tree, lance wood, and the sapoditta – famous for producing the material that is used to make chewing gum.The reserve is famous for the white cape; a group of rocks located at the southern tip of the reserve that serves as a dwelling ground for a plethora of bird species. The two beaches of Cabo Blanco, Playa Cabo Blanco and Playa Balsitas are excellent locations to witness hundreds of pelicans as they soar while scouring for fish.There is a beach at the southern tip that has rocks with large fossilized oysters and other ancient marine shellfish. While these are quite a sight, you are not permitted to remove them.AT A GLANCERegion: Southern Nicoya Peninsula Closest town: Montezuma and mal Pais Size in hectares: 3,070 (7,586 acres) Year established: 1963 Elevation in meters: 0 – 5 (0 – 16 feet) Private managed: no Government managed: yes Rangers station: yes Overnight facilities: no Public restrooms: yes Entrance fee: $12pp Days: Wednesday – Sunday (closed Mondays and Tuesdays) Hours: 08:00 – 16:00 Hiking trails: yes Boat tours: no Average temperature range in Fahrenheit: 70 – 90 Average yearly precipitation in millimeters: 2,800 (110 inches) Habitat: mangrove, rainforest, beach, riverHOW TO GET THEREFrom San Jose, take Rt. 27 west to the Puntarenas exit. Take this exit, Rt. 17 west to Puntarenas and follow all the way to the ferry. Cross the Gulf of Nicoya on the ferry to Paquera. From Paquera, take Rt. 160 south to Cobano. Turn left on Rt. 624 and follow to Montezuma. From Montezuma, continue south on the dirt road passing through Cabuya and eventually to the reserve entrance. A four wheel drive vehicle is necessary on this road.WEATHER AND PACKING LISTThe reserve is located in a transitional area from rainforest to tropical dry forest. Day time temperatures regularly reach the low 90s and night time temps are usually in the upper 70s. The reserve receives an average of 2,800 mm or 110 inches of precipitation each year. The driest months are December through April and July.Visitors to Cabo Blanco should pack a bathing suit, towel, shorts, tee shirts, appropriate shoes, rain gear, sun block, and insect repellent. Visit our packing list for more ideas.Fun Fact: The blanco part of the name Cabo Blanco is a result of a section of cliffs and rocks which are permanently colored white due to bird droppings.Las Baulas National ParkToursLeatherbacks are the main draw for most visitors to Las Baulas National Park. Guides offer tours of Las Baulas National Park during leatherback nesting season (October 20 – February 15). Tours to see nesting leatherback turtles are always at night but actual times vary according to high tides. The total number of visitors is restricted to 30 persons per turtles (in groups of up to 15 persons each) and unregistered visitors are not allowed. To make a reservation, visit the Las Baulas National Park headquarters at Playa Grande or call (+506) 2653-0470, ext. 101 up to 8 days before the desired tour date to make a reservation. If you are unable to make a reservation prior to your arrival in country, we recommend visiting the Las Baulas National Park headquarters upon arrival to make your tour reservation in person. Please note that The Leatherback Trust is unable to make reservations for third-parties with Las Baulas National Park. We sincerely regret any inconvenience.Plan your visit around the typical nesting and hatching of each type of sea turtle.Visitors may be asked to wait at the park headquarters until scientists or park guards spot a turtle on the beach. The maximum waiting time can be up to 6 hours. Books, board games and snacks are great ways to pass the time. On some occasions, turtles may not appear on the beach and visitors may be sent home. Visitors are not charged unless turtle sightings are confirmed.© Kip Evans Photography | Mission BlueTo protect the turtles, visitors are reminded to always follow instructions from park guides and guards. Remember to keep a safe distance from nesting turtles and speak in low voices only when necessary. Flashlights and flash photography are restricted on the beach and visitors are asked to stay out of the turtle’s field of vision. Nesting turtles enter a trance as they lay eggs and visitors may see biologists measuring the length of the turtle’s carapace, checking for identification and counting the eggs. Scientists are unable to answer questions during this time, so visitors should direct questions to their local guide or wait until the tour is over. As soon as the nesting turtle begins to cover her nest with her front flippers, visitors are asked to retreat to allow her a full range of motion to camouflage the nest and return to sea.© Andrea Gingerich | Andipantz.comHelp HatchlingsVisitors can help protect turtles by following the rules and spreading the message of conservation. If you see turtle hatchlings on the beach, please keep dogs or other potential predators away and call a ranger at Las Baulas National Park headquarters at (+506) 2563-0470, ext. 101 or The Leatherback Trust’s team of biologists at Goldring-Gund Marine Biology Station at (+506) 2653-0635.© Andrea Gingerich | Andipantz.comOther ActivitiesApart from turtle tours, visitors are invited to surf, swim and enjoy the beautiful beaches of Playa Grande, Playa Ventanas, Playa Carbón and Playa Langosta. Many visitors enjoy snorkeling at Playa Carbón and kayaking in the bays. Please note that the beaches are closed at night to protect turtles during nesting season.© Andrea Gingerich | Andipantz.comThere is also excellent birdwatching in Ventanas Estuary or Tamarindo Wetland. Local guides spot crocodiles and monkeys on tours of the Tamarindo Wetland. Visitors can also schedule a wetland tour by calling Las Baulas National Park at (+506) 2653-0470, ext. 101.←12345678910→Take an Estuary TourVentanas estuary provides critical habitat for American crocodiles. Herons and roseate spoonbills nest in the Tamarindo estuary. Howler monkeys call as night falls.Images by C. Díaz-Chuquisengo 2014Share:Email thisTweet thisShare thisSee alsoConservationWe conserve the world’s most imperiled populations of sea turtles through research, habitat protection, education and advocacy.ThreatsLeatherbacks face different threats specific to each stage of their lives and the habitats they occupy during those stages. To save the leatherback, we must reduce threats in all habitats turtles occupy across their entire life cycle.Get InvolvedJoin us as a volunteer in Costa Rica or through our interactive exhibits online. Support our work by buying Leatherback Trust gear or making a donation today.The Leatherback Trust Inc. is a US 501(c)3 non profit organization – EIN 22-3741033Follow UsAdsenseLatest ListingsEl Castillo HostelHotel Paraiso del CocodriloCampamento Carey AsvoHotel Flying CrocodileFrank’s Secret Beer GardenChef RodolfoLocosCocos CevicheriaSand Dollar CoveJon Sandvik CabinCosta de OroWorld Reach SEO & Digital MarketingRandom ListingsEl Castillo HostelBoutique Hotel AnaYLas CatalinasOcean Course at Peninsula PapagayoVista Bahía Beach ResortHuetares Hotel & VillasWyndham TamarindoRipJack InnSharky’s Sports BarFeatured ListingsWorldReach SEOPlantacion Properties Tamarindo – Christie’s International Real EstateLa Locanda Ristorante PizzeriaTamarindo Luxury VillasJoin our newsletter!Full of tips, must-see spots, and things to do on your trip.JOINSubmit a CommentLogged in as admin. Log out?

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