Cuba & Costa Rica Blog
About this blog
Written by Cuba and Costa Rica expert Christopher P. Baker, this blog will update readers on life in these two diverse and exciting countries.
Recent Posts
- Last blog post on Costa Rica and Cuba
- First-ever group motorcycle tours of Cuba successful
- Cuba’s Mariel port readying for Panama Canal expansion
- Musings on wildlife encounters on Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula
- Cuba’s Steam Trains puffing their last gasp
- My top five thrilling activities in Costa Rica
- Cuba’s fun February festivals include Harleys, Books, Cigars
- Five top volcano viewing experiences in Costa Rica
- New road along Costa Rica / Nicaraguan border mired
- Cuba’s Hotel Campoamor at Cojímar to be restored?
- Cuban revolutionary Celia Sánchez honored in new book
- Christmas challenge for Costa Rica’s sexually abused girls
- Costa Rica opens Chinatown in downtown San José
- David Soul films Hemingway’s car restoration in Cuba
- National Geographic Expeditions receives license for Cuba tours
Cuba’s Steam Trains puffing their last gasp
In 1996 while motorcycling through Cuba, I encountered three English train-spotters in pursuit of the sensual hiss of steam.
Back then it wasn’t hard to chance upon an antique tren to vapor in Cuba, its steam billowing sibilantly between giant piston rods.
In fact, in 1999 I rented a 1920 Baldwin—yes, an entire train, complete with crew—and careened ahead of it in my rental car to photograph it as it thundered, puffing mightily, down the narrow tracks, hauling carriages laden with fresh-cut sugarcane. more >>
My top five thrilling activities in Costa Rica
Twenty-odd years ago, when I first began researching Moon Handbook Costa Rica, the country was just beginning to boom as an ecotourism destination.
Hiking, horseback riding, and sportfishing were the principal activities. Surfers had just begun to tune in to Costa Rica in their search for the perfect wave. But other activities—from ATV tours to ziplining—were unknown.
Then Dr. Donald Perry parlayed his years researching the rainforest canopy into a mega-success story called the Rainforest Aerial Tram. more >>
Cuba’s fun February festivals include Harleys, Books, Cigars
On January 26 I fly into Cuba to lead the first-ever all-Cuba exploration by a U.S. motorcycle group.
The “people-to-people” educational exchange trips, offered through Texas-based MotoDiscovery, will immerse participants in one-on-one encounters with Cubans as we explore the island, from Havana to Guantánamo and beyond. more >>
Five top volcano viewing experiences in Costa Rica
Two days ago I arrived in Costa Rica to lead a National Geographic Expeditions 7-day “Volcanoes, Jungles & Wildlife” program, in association with Backroads (billed as ‘The World’s #1 Active Travel Company’).
This special family trip promises to be lots of fun.
We’ll begin today with a visit to Poás Volcano National Park. This being dry season, we stand a very good chance of arriving at a cloud-free summit (2,708 m)—a chance to gaze down from a mirador (lookout) over a still-active 1.5-km-wide crater, with simmering fumaroles and a sulphuric lake far below. Fantastic! more >>
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Moon Travel Guides make independent travel and outdoor exploration fun and accessible. With expert and adventurous travel writers delivering a mix of honest insight, first-rate strategic travel advice, insider travel tips and an essential dose of humor, Moon Travel Guides ensure that travelers have an uncommon and entirely satisfying experience. Each travel book is filled with unique trip ideas, easy-to-use maps, and detailed information on sights, restaurants, and accommodations. Moon Travel Guides not only point you in the right direction, they inspire new ideas and adventure. Whether you are seeking a relaxing beach trip to Hawaii, or an adventure travel trip to the rainforests of Costa Rica, Moon guidebooks—and Moon.com—are with you every step of the way. Founded in 1973, the Moon Travel Guides series includes Moon Handbooks, Moon Outdoors, Moon Metro, Moon Living Abroad and Moon Spotlight travel books. Moon is based in Berkeley, California and is a proud member of the Perseus Books Group.