25 Highlights of Travels in Central America

25 Highlights of Travels in Central America I just completed my extensive, 15-month explorations of Central America! Yes, in mid July, 2018, I flew out of Costa Rica to Phoenix, Arizona for a big family gathering, thus ending the final leg of my long, long jaunt through the 7-country isthmus that connects the North and …

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8 Things Distinctive to Panama

  8 Things Distinctive to Panama Unlike Costa Rica, where I couldn’t see anything distinctively Costa Rican for weeks and weeks after my arrival, in Panama I started seeing clear differences immediately. As soon as I crossed the border into Panama and took my first bus, the differences emerged. That bus driver was driving like …

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I’ve Just Reached 20 Years of Solo World Travels !

I’ve Just Reached 20 Years of Solo World Travels ! Hip, hip hooray! I have been traveling the world for 20 whole years! I haven’t mentioned it until now because I’ve been so dag busy reviewing luxury hotels that I haven’t had time to write about this milestone, but… 2018 marks 20 whole years of …

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Costs of Budget Travel in Costa Rica in 2018

Costs of Budget Travel in Costa Rica in 2018 I think every traveler has heard that Costa Rica is a very expensive country, probably the most expensive country in Central America. I certainly heard that over and over again by other travelers who had just visited or were about to visit. I read the same …

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My 15 Favorite Experiences in Costa Rica

My 15 Favorite Experiences in Costa Rica I just spent more than 4 months traveling around Costa Rica. I actually never intended to stay so long, but I was assigned to review 80 luxury and boutique hotels all over the country. (oh, poor me!) And that took me more than 4 months to complete. My …

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Four Months of Traveling in Costa Rica

Four Months of Traveling in Costa Rica My Travel Route & What I Learned About Costa Rica This is my last week in beautiful Costa Rica. I can hardly believe I ended up traveling around this tiny country for more than four whole months! But it’s true. Even so, I haven’t seen the entire country. …

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Visiting Nicaragua’s far Southeast Corner

Visiting Nicaragua’s far Southeast Corner Not many travelers explore Nicaragua’s remote southeastern corner where the Rio San Juan meanders its way through dense jungles from massive Lake Nicaragua all the way to the Caribbean Sea, and where the vast tropical nature reserves Punta Gorda and Indio Maiz are situated. This is also where the remote …

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9 Things Distinctly Costa Rican

9 Things Distinctly Costa Rican When I first arrived in Costa Rica in early 2018, I explored the country for well over one month without being able to identify anything distinctly Costa Rican, despite my best efforts to find anything. No history, historical architecture, daily customs, art or handicrafts. Nada. I even spoke about this …

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Border Run at Los Chiles, Costa Rica – San Carlos, Nicaragua

Border Run at Los Chiles, Costa Rica – San Carlos, Nicaragua The main border crossing between Costa Rica and Nicaragua is in the west of both countries, close to the Pacific Coast. At that border, the closest town in Nicaragua is Rivas, 30 minutes away by frequent bus. On the Costa Rican side, the border …

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La Paz Waterfall Gardens – Costa Rica

La Paz Waterfall Gardens – Costa Rica One of my best experiences in four months of travels around Costa Rica was a full day trip to La Paz (Peace) Waterfall Gardens. I had discovered the Waterfall Gardens because of my hotel assignment to visit Peace Lodge, the property’s luxurious boutique, cabin-style hotel located on a …

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