Costa Rica & Nicaragua background

We've put together some useful reading and related links on Costa Rica & Nicaragua. Don't forget to browse our photos, blogs and videos and explore Costa Rica & Nicaragua for an insight into Raleigh life there.

Espanol por favor
Before joining an expedition in Costa Rica & Nicaragua it's important to try and learn some basic Spanish. A little Spanish can go a long way and you'll get more out of the experience if you can interact with the community in their mother tongue.

Why not enrol on a Spanish course before the expedition? We have links with Adventure Spanish School (AEC) language school near our field base in Turrialba. The school has branches in Dominical, Turrialba and Arenal and students can learn Spanish, live with families, visit the national parks, go white water rafting or learn to surf. If you're coming on an expedition you can get a discounted rate. For more information, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Useful reading
Costa Rica
The Ticos by Richard and Mavis Biesanz
Costa Rica in Focus - Latin American Bureau
The Sparrow & the Hawk: Costa Rica & the United States during the rise of Jose Figueres by Kyle Longley
What Happens: A Folk History of Costa Rica's Talamanca Coast by Paula Palmer 
Taking Care of Sibo's Gifts by Paula Palmer 
The Green Republic by Sterling Evans
La Loca Gandoca by Anacristina Rossi (in Spanish)

Nicaragua
Fire from the Mountain - the Making of a Sandinista by Omar Cabezas
The Jaguar Smile by Salman Rushdie
To Bury our Fathers by Sergio Ramirez
Wild Shore: Life and Death with Nicaragua's Last Shark Hunters by Edward Marriott
Sandinista: Carlos Fonseca and the Nicaraguan Revolution by Matilde Zimmermann
Nicaragua in Focus - Latin American Bureau

Online newspapers
Tico Times - English language Costa Rican newspaper 
Nacio - Spanish language Costa Rican newspaper
El Nuevo Diario - Spanish language Nicaraguan newspaper 
La Prensa - Spanish language Nicaraguan newspaper

Language learning
Language Schools - Berlitz, Cervantes Institute, Floodlight
Phrase books & dictionaries - Berlitz, Lonely Planet, Collins
Audio-tape courses - Linguaphone
Oneline - BBC and Open University online

Nature
A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica by Stiles & Skutch
A Neotropical Companion by Kircher
Costa Rica - The Ecotravellers' Wildlife Guide by Les Beletsky

Related links
Lonely Planet Guide to Central America
Wikipedia Information on Costa Rica
Wikipedia Information on Nicaragua