New Zealand's government announced Sunday that it would be making changes to its so-called "golden visa" in an attempt to lure more wealthy migrants to its shores.
28.01.2025 - 21:59 / lonelyplanet.com / Manuel Antonio
Jan 28, 2025 • 8 min read
Costa Rica is known as a destination for wildlife watching. It may barely reach the size of the US state of West Virginia, but it's believed to be home to almost half a million species – that's 5% of the world’s biodiversity in only 0.3% of its landmass.
Thanks to conservation laws established in the 1990s, Costa Rica seriously protects its wildlife using ethical wildlife tourism, a perfect way to get to know the country’s diverse ecosystems. From forests populated by sloths, anteaters, toucans and sly jaguars to the Pacific coastline, where migrating humpback whales and mega pods of dolphins swim past for most of the year, Costa Rica’s wildlife abounds in every element.
Whether you have a year or a week, remember that it will be impossible to see all the animals this country shelters, but our guide will help you get started while supporting ethical tour companies and national parks.
No other Costa Rican animal is more iconic than the sloth – the world's slowest animal – locally called oso perezoso. Their lethargy is a consequence of their entirely leaf-based diet, which takes up to two weeks to digest. As plants give very little energy, sloths adapted to be sluggish and consume as little as possible. Their slowness defies their strength: since birth, sloths can lift their entire body upwards using only one arm and are strong enough to withstand a jaguar's attack when these predators try to pull them from their branches. They are also much faster in the water than they are on land.
Where to see them: In Costa Rica, two- and three-fingered sloths are found across the country, but less so in the dry forests of Guanacaste. As they camouflage very well, it’s hard to see them without the trained eye of a guide. Two of the best places to see sloths in the wild are Manuel Antonio and Tortuguero National Parks, but remember, they can both get quite busy. Protected sanctuaries such as the Sloth Watching Trail in La Fortuna and the Jaguar Rescue Center in Puerto Viejo are good alternatives, as is the family-run reserve La Perica Sloth Garden in La Palma, Osa Peninsula.
Don't get too close to sloths, and never handle, feed or take photos with them. When taking a tour, avoid any that guarantee sloth sightings, and ensure your guide is certified.
Throughout most of the year, the Pacific waters of Costa Rica become the favorite breeding grounds for plenty of humpback whales from both hemispheres. From December to March, whales from the United States' northwestern coast swim to the tropical waters of Costa Rica to mate, give birth, and care for their babies, while from July to mid-November, it's the turn of whales coming from Antarctica and southern Chile.
While these mighty marine giants steal
New Zealand's government announced Sunday that it would be making changes to its so-called "golden visa" in an attempt to lure more wealthy migrants to its shores.
Planning a warm-weather vacation to beat winter’s chill? Star Clippers is launching three new offers on select Costa Rica and Panama sailings.
I never planned to quit my job as an airline pilot or homeschool our kids.
A European getaway just got cheaper.PLAY Airlines, a discount carrier based in Iceland, recently announced a 25 percent discount on flights from the United States to Europe, including Amsterdam, Berlin, Copenhagen, London, and Paris. Best of all, the tickets can be purchased now for travel throughout the spring, fall, and winter travel seasons. The discounted fares are available in PLAY Basic, and the discount only applies to airfare, and not taxes or fees.
Jan 30, 2025 • 7 min read
New Zealand is making it easier to plan an extended stay by relaxing visa requirements to allow digital nomads to work from the country remotely.
Working from home has become quite the privilege in the post-pandemic era. While some companies are rolling back working-from-home rules, others have enshrined them in their culture, actively encouraging workers to stay home and avoid the commute.
From skiing and surfing to hiking and stargazing, there’s no limit of things to do in the adventurer’s paradise that is New Zealand. And if we needed another reason to break free from the chains of our desks, New Zealand has just loosened its visa restrictions for remote workers.
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