Somerville, Mass – After much consternation about the future of Lonely Planet and the future of travel itself, here is my first post-pandemic Lonely Planet guidebook… Experience New England. “Experience” is a brand new series of guidebooks that Lonely Planet…
Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica – Along the northern stretch of the Nicoya peninsula, Playa Hermosa is a tiny little village with a gorgeous crescent of sand fronting the Pacific blue. Here, we spent our final days lounging on the beach,…
Miravalles, Costa Rica – We are hunkered down at Colinas del Miravalles Hotel, on the flanks of the steaming Miravalles Volcano. We are sucking down batidos and soaking in thermal pools. We are happy. This picture of contentment belies the…
Río Celeste, Costa Rica – We spent the first half of our week in the Río Celeste region, tucked into a valley between the Tenorio and Miravalles volcanoes. The region is famous for its namesake river – another true blue…
Bijagua, Costa Rica – A rare wildlife sighting! The elusive 12-year-old boy! (Two of them!) We debated about whether or not the twins should join me on this trip to Costa Rica. They did not have (much) time off from…
Curubandé de Liberia, Costa Rica – Many travelers pass through but few stop in Curubandé de Liberia, a little village in northwestern Costa Rica. This is the gateway to Rincón de la Vieja national park. Most visitors barrel right through, on…
Monteverde, Costa Rica – It’s such a joy to be back in Monteverde, one of my favorite places in Costa Rica. Monteverde always manage to thrill me with its misty mountain majesty, and impress me with its community dedication to…
Santa Elena, Costa Rica – I had an incredible dinner in the sky at the San Lucas Treetop Dining Experience. (That’s right, it’s not a restaurant, but a dining experience.) This set up! The menu changes seasonally, but my eating…
Tilarán, Costa Rica – Another day, another waterfall… Viento Fresco waterfalls is an ideal place to take a break on the drive between Monteverde and La Fortuna. It’s a short, steep walk down past three waterfalls, with a fourth beauty…
La Fortuna, Costa Rica – Monkey Park is a misnomer. This is not a park at all, but rather a family-owned forest preserve that occupies a corner of a flourishing farm. A 2.5-kilometer trail winds through the luscious primary forest.…