Rion Explores: A Grand Tour of Costa Rica in a Week (pt.1)
This first edition of Rion Explores is a two-parter, sharing my fast-paced journey scaling from south to north tip of Costa Rica’s West half in 6 days. On average, each day my partner (the driver) and I (the passenger) drove for five to six hours on everything from major and toll highways, to dirt and gravel roads, as well as through a small but aggressively-flowing river.
Celebrating Virgen de Los Angeles Day: Costa Rica’s Revered National Holiday
Costa Rica comes alive every August 2nd for Virgen de Los Angeles Day. This deeply rooted religious and cultural celebration honors the Virgin of Los Angeles, the patron saint of Costa Rica. The holiday, one of the most significant in the country, draws over a million people to the city of Cartago in a remarkable display of faith, tradition, and community spirit.
What are Costa Rica’s Major Regions?
Only 9 degrees north of the equator, Costa Rica is a small country, sharing its borders to the north with Nicaragua and to the south with Panama. Despite its size, Costa Rica is lined by the Caribbean Coast to the east and the Pacific Coast to the west. Predominantly comprised of national parks, 25% of the country’s land mass is protected, boasting over 5% of the world’s biodiversity. Costa Rica has seven distinct provinces, each with its own climate zones, native biodiversity, and terrains.
