Costa Rica was the first country to realize the value of its biodiversity for the planet, and its economy has been converted into a green economy, promoting eco-tourism. As such, the butterfly garden of Monteverde aims at educating the public about the fascinating world of insects before admiring butterflies in four different gardens representing different climates.
Try to take this short quiz and discover some fascinating fact about creepy crawlers! Keep reading
Leafcutter ants are endemic to South and Central America, and are ever-present in nature there. There is not only one type of leafcutter ants, but Keep reading
You can hear them hovering past your ear, maneuvering acrobatically into all directions and when you spot them they are already on the next flower: the hummingbird is one of a kind.
All over Central America these beautiful birds can be seen, feeding themselves on the nectar of flowers with their characteristic long beak and tongue. Close to the entrance of the Monte Verde cloud forest of Costa Rica, one can observe these colibris more closely in the hummingbird garden.
Seated with a drink and taking in the scenery on the Barú volcano from the terrace at the Lost and Found Hostel, set in the mountains of Panama, I contemplate the beauty of nature, when I get distracted by something approaching through the treetops…
Guatemala is a mountainous country with a tropical climate, tempered by the altitude. It offers almost two dozens different ecosystems, making it a very varied country to explore. Keep reading
The white-fronted parrot, known scientifically as the Amazona albifrons is a noisy bird which can imitate Continue reading
It is still dark and Deyanira is already cooking the first tortillas of the day: they are an important part of the daily diet in Central America and must be ready by breakfast. She started by curing corn in limewater to easily peel off the skin of the corn kernels she will later feed her chickens with. By the time I woke up, Keep reading
Central America is a big playground for travelers: stunning and varied landscapes, rich ancient history, beautiful ruins, good food, kind people, and often more affordable than western countries. The other side of the coin is the recent history of most countries, between political instabilities, civil wars, military coups, revolutions, corruption, drug trafficking, gangs, and refugees. Keep reading
About 84,000 years ago, a massive volcanic eruption called los chocoyos ejected 270 cubic meters of ashes that can be found in rock strata as far as Florida and Panama. Locally, it formed a gigantic caldera which was later partially filled by water: and lake Atitlan was created. Keep reading
“Whose idea was this, again?” I barely hear the question over the loud flapping of the freezing cold 200km/h wind against the sleeping bag I am tucked into, fully dressed in the multiple layers of the warmest clothes I have. Indeed, after the life-threatening Daikiretto in the Japanese Alps, the Grand Traverse of the Daisetzusan in Hokkaido, the mosquito-infested 5-day Mirador trek, thrilling skiing itineraries in the French Alps, caving in the Cayo destrict of Belize and playing the Robinson’s on a lost and remote island, etc, I have to admit this was again one of my ideas… It didn’t sound that bad at first: a 7-kilometer hike up the Acatenango volcano to observe the active Fuego volcano at sunrise. Keep reading
