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Manuel Antonio National Park

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Earlier this month, my group from North Central College made the short trip over to Manuel Antonio National Park, known for its wildlife and beautiful beaches.  The park is certainly a popular destination with about a quarter-million people visiting every year.  We spent the first couple of hours led by a private tour guide and the rest of our time exploring the beaches and trails on our own. We were able to see some amazing wildlife (however, there was much more jungle that we did not have time to explore!)  Some creatures were very hard to spot with the naked eye so our tour guide pointed things out to us using his knowledge of where each species liked to hang out.  Take a look through our telescope: Basilisco "Jesus Cristo" (Basilisk) Rana Gladiadora (Gladiator Frog) Saltamonte Coloroso (Rainbow Grasshopper) Oso Perezoso (tres dedos) (Three-Toed Sloth) Kioro (Fiery-Billed Aracari) Rana Enmascarada (Maske...
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The Battle of Ochomogo

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      Ochomogo Hill, Costa Rica            Following New Spain’s defeat in the Mexican War of Independence, a Mexican council and representatives from the Kingdom of Guatemala (Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica) declared independence from Spain.   In the years that followed, the Costa Rican people were fiercely divided with respect to the political direction of their country and civil war ultimately broke out due to conflicting political visions.   Those from Cartago and Heredia as well as some Nicaraguans (imperialists collectively) tended to align with self-appointed emperor Agustín I and the newly established Mexican empire .   Those from San José and Alajuela (republicans) sought to join the vision of “The Liberator” Simon Bolívar and join the Republic of Colombia or “Gran Colombia” . Municipality of Heredia, Costa Rica    ...
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Don Bernabe's Speckled Rooster

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Speckled Rooster by Dory Coffee   Chifrijo           During my search for an authentic Costa Rican dish, I came across several delicious possibilities.   Costa Rican tamales , unlike Mexican tamales, go easy on the spice and are wrapped in banana leaves as opposed to cornhusks.   Chifrijo marries the flavors, smells, and textures of fried pork rinds (chicharrones) and beans (frijoles), combined with rice and pico de gallo or simply fresh tomatoes.   A popular item in the bar scene, matadornetwork.com contributor Tyler McCloskey describes chifrijo in a review of Costa Rican food as “a drunken rally brick and next-day booze mop all in one.”   Patacones are a simple appetizer consisting of flattened and fried plantains great for dipping.   When ordering Casado at a Costa Rican restaurant, expect a variety food types like rice, beans, salad, plantains, a type of meat, and fresh juice to drink. ...
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The Evolution of Costa Rica's Government

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           From as far back as 10,000 B.C.E. people who made their way across the frozen land bridge connecting Asia and North America and down the North American continent inhabited modern day Costa Rican land.   Without a significant unifying power imposing itself in the area for thousands of years, distinct cultural groups essentially governed themselves, led by tribal chiefs called “caciques” .     Tupac Amaru II, an Andean cacique who led a massive rebellion in 1781                        When the Spanish arrived on Costa Rican land in the early 16 th century, widespread disease and advanced, lethal weaponry enabled the Spaniards to force natives under the rule of the Captaincy General of Guatemala (or Kingdom of Guatemala), a province of New Spain that included the modern day countries of Nicaragua, Hon...
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