“The Carbonero”
Carlos Salazar Herrera has a second story published in Costa Rica: A Traveler’s Literary Companion. “The Carbonero,” originally published in De amor, celos, y muerte: tres cuentos is translated by James Hoggard, who also translated “The Bongo.” Hoggard is the author of eight books and seven produced plays, and his translations have been widely published. […]
Carlos Salazar Herrera
Carlos Salazar Herrera is the author of two stories in Costa Rica: A Traveler’s Literary Companion. He was an art professor at the Unversidad de Costa Rica; the author of many stories, poems, and plays; and the 1964 winner of Costa Rica’s Premio Nacional de Cultura Magón. Originally published as “El Bongo” in Cuentos de […]
Uriel Quesada
For ten years, I haven’t been to the sea. I want to see it so badly that this morning I begged my mother until I made her break down in tears. I remember the sea, despite how long it’s been and how small I was then. I can almost make out its rhythmic motion, its […]
Julieta Pinto
Julieta Pinto is the author of many books, including Tierra de espejismos, La estación que sigue al verano, and Los marginados, the latter two of which received the Premio Nacional Aquileo J. Echeverría. Her translated work appears in When New Flowers Bloomed, alongside Carmen Naranjo. “The Blue Fish” is a story of a child’s fascination […]
Postcard From Nosara
A turtle hatchling makes its way to the sea at Playa Ostional. A series of moments captured by New York data scientist and friend of the Harmony Hotel, Burton DeWilde, during a week spent in Nosara with his boyfriend Nick.
Postcard From Nosara
Staredown with a Howler. A series of moments captured by New York data scientist and friend of the Harmony Hotel, Burton DeWilde, during a week spent in Nosara with his boyfriend Nick.
Postcard From Nosara
Fungus and flowers spotted during a walk through the forest near Lagarta Lodge. A series of moments captured by New York data scientist and friend of the Harmony Hotel, Burton DeWilde, during a week spent in Nosara with his boyfriend Nick.
Postcard From Nosara
A dramatic sunset lights up the sea and sky at Playa Guiones A series of moments captured by New York data scientist and friend of the Harmony Hotel, Burton DeWilde, during a week spent in Nosara with his boyfriend Nick.
Carmen Naranjo
Like Pastor in Carmen Lyra’s “Pastor’s Ten Little Old Men,” don Fulminante, also known as the Fulminating Fib, is a storyteller. Carmen Naranjo’s tale about this character, “Believe it or Not,” is the opening story in Costa Rica: A Traveler’s Literary Companion. Don Fulminante, who tells his stories in La Fortuna, begins each tale with, […]
Carmen Lyra
Carmen Lyra’s “Pastor’s Ten Little Old Men” is a story about the power of storytelling. When Soledad meets Pastor, he is talking to the “old men,” his ten toes. He tells Soledad the stories of these old men, from their days turtle fishing at Tortuguero to their days pearl diving in the Gulf of Papagayo […]
Guiones Surf Photo of the Week
We’re not always trying to catch only waves in the surf zone, the ordered chaos of tumbling rollers rushing toward shore. It is a cauldron of energy, boiling with nutrients and marine life. Here, the work of throwing the cast net becomes Art. For the net to elegantly “spread” when thrown, it must first be […]
The Halloween Crab
A not so scary story: The first time I walked down the sandy path through the trees leading from the Harmony Hotel to the beach, it was fast approaching sunset. We were visiting during green season, and the first small stretch of the trail was quite dim as we walked under a rich canopy of […]
The Two-Toed Sloth
Sporting a longer snout than the three-toed sloth, as well as a larger stature and one less intimidatingly large curved claw on its front foot, the two-toed sloth spends most of its life in the trees and is most active at night. Active is a relative term here, as the sloth moves in relation to […]
Dormilona
Closing up shop when the sun goes down, the Dormilona has the interesting ability to fold up its leaves when night falls. Loosely translated to “sleepy-head”, this plant will also quickly tuck itself in when touched or shaken, providing a rather entertaining distraction for kids and adults alike. Native to Central and South America, the […]
The Brown Pelican
A common sight while studying the waves from Playa Guiones, the Brown Pelican glides easily with its friends in a straight line or v-formation, elegantly skimming the surface of the ocean, mimicking the rise and fall of the water. Basically unchanged from ancient pelican fossils, this unique bird has had 30-40 million years to perfect […]
The Bastard Cedar
The bastard cedar, scientifically known as Guazuma ulmifolia, is a total sun worshiper. It finds itself happiest providing shade in open pastures and recolonizing disturbed forests where there are fewer tall neighbors to block the rays. This tree, normally growing to a height of 30 meters and proudly wearing oblong, finely saw-toothed leaves, small whitish […]
The Tamandua
The most common of Costa Rica’s three species of anteater, the tamandua tears open the nests of ants and termites using its strong forearms and remarkable claws. These talons are so large and sharp that it has to walk on the sides of its feet to avoid injuring its own palms. Once the targeted nest has been […]
Hoja Santa
With a name like Holy Leaf, one would naturally expect this plant to bring a few special qualities to the table. In Costa Rica, it is more often known as anisillo, and its large velvety leaves are commonly applied directly to the forehead to treat headaches. Further north in Mexico, these leaves are instead applied […]
The Philodendron
The heart-shaped leaves of Philodendron scandens have earned it the rather cutesy name of ‘the sweetheart plant’, and thanks to its tolerance of low light and general neglect, it is well-loved by those with a not-so-green thumb. A natural climber, the name of this hearty tropical plant is Greek for ‘tree loving’, and it will […]
The Raccoon
With its ringed tail and bandit mask, the Raccoon is one of the most interesting and easily identifiable characters in the animal kingdom. This could explain its popularity as a cartoon mascot for everything from car rental companies to real estate developments. Scientifically, that famous mask is thought to reduce glare that may interfere with […]
Blue Porterweed
Like many plants that grow around Nosara and the Harmony Hotel, Blue Porterweed is a multi-tasker. Known as Stachytarpheta jamaicensis to the more scientifically minded, it is resistant to pests and never very thirsty, and offers excellent low maintenance ground cover in gardens and along walkways. It also makes a welcome addition to butterfly gardens, […]
The Black-headed Trogon
The striking Black-headed Trogon doesn’t take its yellow belly too seriously, thrusting it forward courageously as its dark eyes, ringed by pale blue, peer about for its next meal. Its iridescent black feathers shimmer in the sunlight as it takes wing and grabs a piece of hanging fruit, or deftly snatches a dragonfly right out of […]
Agua4Change, Recycle Water Bottles into Roof Tiles
Donald Thomson, a Canadian designer and entrepreneur who has been living in Costa Rica since 1990, has created a company that recycles its water bottles into housing materials for low-income families. Having lived in Costa Rica since 1990, he and his wife were so struck by the amount of plastic waste rolling up onto the […]
The Kinkajou
Rarely setting its little feet on the ground, the Kinkajou is well suited to its nocturnal life in the treetops. Also known as the honey bear because of its thick golden fur and insatiable sweet tooth, the Kinkajou uses its sharp claws and long tail to maneuver quickly and easily among the branches it calls […]
