Travel with Ann Experiential

Wild Babies: Costa Rica's wildlife returns to the spotlight in new Netflix show The latest headlines and information from Costa Rica including breaking news, weather, travel, events, sports and more.

Reclaiming culture on a plate: the roots and producers of Costa Rica's traditional cuisine - El Colectivo 506 Do you think you’re pretty familiar with traditional Costa Rican food? If so, Pablo Bonilla has some questions for you. What does “traditional” really mean? What about “Costa Rican”? Are you ready to reconsider everything you thought you knew? Despite centuries of active dismantling of the...

Feliz fin de semana!!

Morpho Butterfly: A New National Symbol for Costa Rica The latest headlines and information from Costa Rica including breaking news, weather, travel, events, sports and more.

How can travelers choose an ethical wildlife sanctuary in Costa Rica? - El Colectivo 506 Biologists from Costa Rica's two globally accredited wildlife sanctuaries share how travelers can avoid centers that mistreat wildlife.

Right-wing Chaves wins Costa Rica presidency as Figueres concedes The latest headlines and information from Costa Rica including breaking news, weather, travel, events, sports and more.

It is the International Day of Forests. I thought this would be an appropriate post…

How Maori Stepped In to Save a Towering Tree Crucial to Their Identity Tāne Mahuta, an ancient tree named after the god of forests in Māori mythology, is threatened by the slow creep of an incurable disease.

Tourism in indigenous communities in Costa Rica: Boruca and Caribbean Bribri - El Colectivo 506 The Bribri territories in Talamanca de Limón, and Boruca territories in southern Puntarenas, are arguably the Costa Rican indigenous lands with the longest-running and most active tourism operations. That experience means that they have similar stories, challenges and successes. Those successes hav...

"In the coming weeks, in the Travel and Living section of El Colectivo 506, we’ll be sharing information about various options for travelers who want to meet, share and support the indigenous communities of Costa Rica. But first, here’s some general information about the reality of these communities and the impact that tourism has had on their lives."

Can I get to know indigenous cultures during my visit to Costa Rica? - El Colectivo 506 Short answer:yes. Many of the indigenous territories of Costa Rica offer tourist services and activities, some for more than 30 years. In Costa Rica, according to the 2011 census by the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC), more than 104,000 people identify themselves as indigenous— ...

I saw this extraordinary rock art on my recent trip to Colombia. What one can see in these photos is a small piece of what one can see in person.

While this article focuses on the on-going research to determine the "ages" (and implications) of these paintings, I also want to draw attention to the fact that Cerro Azul, the nearby small town, has developed a wonderful community led tourism initiative to guide people very responsibly to visit and learn about this rock art.

All the guides are from the community, and many families host visitors for a home-cooked meal after the hike to visit the rock art. There is an agreed upon system and schedule so that everyone takes turns in actively protecting this historical art and the land on which it is located and deriving economic benefit from responsible tourism.

Thanks to Vive Guaviare and Impulse Travel for organizing our visit.

Does This Amazon Rock Art Depict Extinct Ice Age Mammals? The animals painted in ocher in Colombia may include giant ground sloths and other creatures that vanished from the Americas. But some researchers say the art has a more recent origin.

Congratulations to Casitas Tenorio B&B for earning the official carbon neutral certification!

How you continue to be a sustainable leader, others will continue to learn and follow. 💚💚💚

En route to and from Guaviare’s Laguna Negra in Colombia last week.

Great spotting and photos, Marcel and Yurany!

Thank you Vive Guaviare and Impulse Travel!

A chance to reunite: intergenerational travel in Costa Rica - El Colectivo 506 Intergenerational travel in Costa Rica offers a chance to reunite for families separated by geography—or the pandemic. A few tips.

Five questions to ask before you volunteer in Costa Rica - El Colectivo 506 Think of a volunteer in Costa Rica, and an image of a young student or intrepid backpacker might come to mind—but the reality is that today, volunteering is an essential part of the travel experience for many travelers of all ages and walks of life. Engaging with local communities and ecosystems t...

Chicago has myriad coffee shops, but none that boast the credentials of Anticonquista Café!

Thanks Chicago Reader for sharing this compelling "origin" story.

Anticonquista Café roasts the only farm-to-cup coffee in Chicago - Chicago Reader The owners of Anticonquista Café grow and harvest the beans in the mountains on the Guatemala-Honduras border, then roast them in Chicago.

The art and handicrafts in our home are a warm reminder of many wonderful travel memories from different parts of the world. Beyond that, these pieces help me recall the master carver who created the mask, the woman who designed and sewed the mola, the couple who created a jewelry business from remnants of tropical fruits. I find much joy in knowing that the purchases I have made help generate revenue for an artist, a small business, a community.

Read this El Colectivo 506 article for great tips on how to purchase souvenirs for positive impact!

Tips 506: How to buy souvenirs that benefit small businesses and communities - El Colectivo 506 When buying a souvenir from Costa Rica, it is important to look for authentic work, by doing so the benefits to the country will be more than economic.

It's been almost two years since the travel and tourism sector "shut down" almost overnight. Whether by choice or not, many individuals no longer work in the industry, and businesses have closed their doors. Reopenings have frequently been "in fits and starts" in some parts of the world. In other parts of the world, reopening remains an aspiration, not a current reality.

Yet for many in travel and tourism, the past 18 plus months have been a time of reflection, reexamination of priorities, and innovation. In Travel Past 50 author, Kristin Henning's, article below, she gives us a glimpse into the creativity and commitment of an array of companies and destinations committed to centering local people and host communities; engaging and elevating more diverse voices; and actively protecting our natural environments.

Like Kristin, I attended the Adventure Travel Trade Association's AdventureELEVATE in Sedona, Arizona in November and met representatives of many of the companies and destinations featured in this article. Their stories and actions, as well as those of many other attendees, continue to inspire and motivate me. I hope they will do the same for you.

Hello BirdsChile (Rafa); Urban Outdoors (Kay); Global Family Travels (Jennifer); Mosaic Earth Travel (Pam); Untours (Jonathan): Congratulations! Great to see you featured here!

Reviving Travel: 20 Stories of Innovation from Destinations and Tour Companies 20 travel stories about reviving travel after the long impact of the pandemic. New travel ideas from destinations and tour providers.

If you're considering traveling this year, I urge you to think beyond the obvious. By that, I don't mean the "where". I mean the "how". El Colectivo 506's article below is a great place to begin.

It's full of bite-size tips about asking questions and making choices that will have a positive impact on local people, community, the planet, and you, the traveler. No matter in which direction you may be heading, you'll find practical advice of value.

Tips 506: How to plan a trip to Costa Rica with a positive impact - El Colectivo 506 The new year has arrived, and with it, new possibilities. One of those could be a visit to Costa Rica, a country that in recent months has resonated in all corners of the world of tourism as one of the most sought-after destinations for 2022. Do you have your eyes on a trip to Costa […]

The Ugalde/Boza Osa Marine Reserve: A Call to Honor Costa Rica’s Leading Conservationists The latest headlines and information from Costa Rica including breaking news, weather, travel, events, sports and more.

Costa Rica's exciting forward progress in creating a network of electric vehicle charging stations in rural areas!

Costa Rica's answer to range anxiety Thanks to a grassroots scheme, you can now reach a large number of remote tourist spots around the Costa Rican town of Monteverde in an electric vehicle.

One of my favorite pictures from Corcovado National Park almost a decade ago: a blue morpho butterfly trapped in the web of a golden orb spider.

The circle of life—

Photo Friday: Corcovado National Park This week’s Photo Friday comes from Ann Becker of Travel with Ann: Costa Rica Experiential Adventures. Here, she captures a Blue Morpho butterfly caught in the web of a Golden Orb Spider in Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica. Earlier this year, Ann wrote about how she turned her travel passion in...

Patacones- Yum!

I love them as an appetizer, side dish or occasionally as the main course dipped in black beans or guacamole.

Thanks Two Weeks in Costa Rica for sharing your “fry only once” recipe!

Patacones (Fried Plantains) Recipe - Two Weeks in Costa Rica With all the plantains growing in our yard, we've been making patacones a lot. Check out our simple recipe for making Costa Rican-style patacones.

Very big and very exciting news!

Ecuador expands Galapagos reserve, hopes to partner with Costa Rica The latest headlines and information from Costa Rica including breaking news, weather, travel, events, sports and more.

Costa Rica will run on nearly 100% renewable electricity for 7th-straight year The Costa Rican government expects the country will generate more than 98% of its electric energy from renewable resources in 2021. That means Costa Rica will have run on more than 98% clean energy over seven consecutive years, according to data from the National Center for Energy Control (CENCE).

Sea turtles come to Costa Rican shore in October arribada The latest headlines and information from Costa Rica including breaking news, weather, travel, events, sports and more.

Another marvelous sounding experience in China with my friends from Local Purse and WildChina Travel!

These experiences are a masterful blend of a locally guided tour, meeting local artisans and learning about their work. If you see a product or two that you like (holiday gifts??), you can purchase them right then and there through the Local Purse portal.

The effects of the pandemic are far from over especially in more remote regions of the world. with Local Purse and its partners is one way to listen and learn safely about a community and its people that may be otherwise "out of reach" right now. Can you imagine a better way than this to step up and support local guides, artisans, and small businesses? I can't!

Details about the Oct 23 & 24 experiences are below. All you need to do is register and join from your computer. No plane tickets or suitcase needed. Enjoy!

"For the seven countries affected, the items were an 'inseparable part of their social and cultural identity,' the ambassadors said."

Costa Rica, others, seek to halt artefacts auction in Germany The latest headlines and information from Costa Rica including breaking news, weather, travel, events, sports and more.

Tonight, the eve of Costa Rica’s 200th year of Independence!

Costa Rica Olympians will light independence cauldron The latest headlines and information from Costa Rica including breaking news, weather, travel, events, sports and more.

In memory of Costa Rican rafting legend Rafael Gallo, who made an everlasting imprint on whitewater rafting and sustainability around the world--

International Whitewater Hall of Fame and IRF Honor RAFA The World River Centre and International Whitewater Hall of Fame (IWHOF), the International Rafting Federation and Rivers and Forests Alliance (RAFA) have announced a campaign to further the work and passion of Rafael “Rafa” Gallo, IRF Honorary President, conservationist, and adventure tourism i...

Travel may be slowly opening back up again, but the pandemic’s devastating effects are far from over. Especially in some of the most remote regions across the globe. That's one of many reasons why I love the experiences offered by Local Purse. It's a perfect blend of a locally guided tour coupled with meeting local artisans, seeing their products, and live shopping opportunity.

On Sunday, August 29 at 10am CET, join me in the latest Local Purse happening-- an unforgettable hour exploring the D**g minority village of Dali in Guizhou province, southwestern China, meeting the local textile weavers and artisans as well as live shopping to support their work! Looking forward to seeing you there!

Experience a D**g minority village in southwestern China - Local Purse A rare opportunity to spend an unforgettable hour exploring the D**g minority village of Dali in Guizhou province, southwestern China.