A First Person Account of a Recent Volunteer Trip to the Caribbean of Costa Rica.
Before going to Costa Rica, I was searching for a new life experience. I thought that maybe volunteering for people in need would help me to reach this objective. I couldn’t make up my mind right away and spent a lot of time thinking about the destination and what kind of volunteering I wanted to do. This is an important point to consider. You cannot decide any random volunteer abroad program online without having a …

The WSG2009 Will Be Hosted on the Volcanic Sands of Playa Hermosa.
There are a mere seven days and counting to the inauguration of the Billabong ISA World Surfing Games on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast. The entire country, and the area of Jaco and Playa Hermosa in particular, is preparing for the biggest surfing championship ever held on the shores of Central America. With the confirmed participation of more than 35 national teams, it will indeed be the largest surf event in the history of the sport. From July 31 to …

 
For those expats living here in Jaco and around Costa Rica Independance Day parties is a must event and a patriotic tradition. The roots of this celebration is all about our Independance from our mother country England. From those days in the 1700′s to the present the 4th of July has been a celebration topped off with elaborate fireworks displays. The American Colony Committee in Costa Rica invites you to enjoy the Spirit of 1776 this July 3rd at the Cerveceria de Costa Rica.  
Here is a brief vignette of what …

Every trip to Costa Rica cannot be complete without visiting the magnificent Arenal Volcano in La Fortuna, San Carlos.  Although the volcano is the main attraction, the local town offers visitors a variety of activities.
At La Fortuna there is a little something for the entire family.  From hiking to bungee jumping to relaxing in the invigorating hot spring pools, the entire family will certainly have a great time in the area.
Other great activities that can be enjoyed by the family as a whole are the tours offered by the Canoe Adventure …

Playa Jaco will host a sporting event on Sunday May 3rd, 2009 called DayStar Beach Festival which will be a combination of ocean kayaking, tag team surf competition, beach volleyball, and other beach games. The beach sports festival is open to the community and can participate in the kayak race, volleyball, and beach games.
The kayak race is the 7th annual race called The 2009 Bulo-DayStar Outrigger Canoe Competition, which is organized by Neil Kahn of Kayakjaco.com The tag team surf contest is a first for this festival and will have …

Bike Tours are increasing in popularity and Costa Rica is responding
The Costa Rican Ministry of Transportation is seeking to modify the country’s road culture by adding 5 designated bike paths in popular locations.  A bike path has already been added along the road to Puntarenas on the central Pacific coast. Guanacaste is supposed to inaugurate its bike path this month.
Puntarenas and Jaco is Costa Rica’s most rapidly developing region due to its booming tourism industry as well as real estate development. Bulding bike paths is a natural progression of offering …

Parrita is celebrating their XV annual Mule Festival. Come watch the mules race down a 1,200-meter strip…where the winner is not necessarily the fastest, but the most skillful rider!
Parrita is known for its agricultural background and the origins of this festival came from the farmers who used mules to haul and carry their produce. In honor of this “stubborn” creature, which is bred by a mare and a donkey, the festival was created.
The warmth of this central pacific town will host to this fabulous event and other activities and exhibitions …