Basseterre, St Kitts – I made up a driving tour through St Kitts history. The tour skirts the northern perimeter of island, taking in the most interesting historical sights. The first stop is the ruins of the Wingfield Estate, a…
Highlights from St Kitts
Basseterre, St Kitts – This is the view from my apartment in St Kitts. So begins a three-week tour around some of the Leeward islands, updating the Lonely Planet guide to the Caribbean. Without twins, sadly. But I’m not going…
7 Best Hikes in Costa Rica
Want to discover the best hikes in Costa Rica? From popular jaunts through the coastal rainforest to arduous climbs to mountain peaks, Costa Rica has vibrant and varied landscapes that offer endless opportunities for hiking. Indeed, sometimes there’s no other way to…
16 Best Things to Do in Costa Rica
Come to Costa Rica to discover magnificent landscapes, endless outdoor activities and creatures great and small. This smallish Central American country offers a world of adventure, from water sports to mountain hikes, from rainforest wildlife watching to cloud-forest birding. And when you’re…
Playa Hermosa
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 Volcano
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
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…
Rare Wildlife Sighting
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
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…
Misty Mountain Majesty
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…