We stepped over the threshold, passing from quaint gift shop into a colorful outdoor oasis. The blue sky was speckled with clouds and a bright, shining sun – a harbinger of the beautiful day ahead. My parents, ardent nature lovers, were visiting from the States, and we had decided on a day at the Botanical Orchid Garden in La Garita, a suburb of Alajuela.
We began at the garden’s small aviary, which houses rescued birds. All but one, a sulfur-crested cockatoo, was native to Costa Rica – and most had been kept illegally as pets. Here …
It’s always a pleasure to discover something special in your own backyard. For me, it was the Ark Herb Farm, a 25-year old estate dedicated to permaculture, culinary and medicinal plant cultivation, and botanical research and education. Located in Santa Barbara de Heredia, Ark Herb Farm grows approximately 625 plant species on a rotating basis, from the familiar Genovese basil to the not-so-common toothache plant.
After walking into downtown Santa Barbara, I hailed a taxi for the remaining jaunt to the 17-acre farm. When I hopped out of the cab the first thought that popped into …
The Central Valley is one of my favorite regions in Costa Rica — the rolling hills are painted an almost impossible green and there is so much to see and do. A year ago, I decided to explore the area during a series of day trips, and the experience only served to make me love the region even more. Now, as the dry season rolls around, I’m itching for a chance to continue my adventures, but with so many options before me, it’s hard to choose where to start!
Because of its convenient location — smack …
