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
Big push to end Cuba travel restrictions
As I've written before, momentum is building in Washington to rescind the ban on travel to Cuba by U.S. citizens. On Monday, the White House fulfilled a campaign promise to lift all restrictions for Cuban-American travel. Tremendous, and long overdue. See my comments on ABC News Channel 3 in response.
And you can listen in to my live interview on KGO Newstalk with Travels with John Hamilton , Saturday, April 18.
The White House statement also announced that U.S. telecommunications companies will be allowed to operate in Cuba, and that Cuba will henceforth have access to a broad band fiber optic cable. I might soon be able to use my BlackBerry in Cuba. more >>
Costa Rica's Certification for Sustainable Tourism points the way
It took a few years to gain traction, but Costa Rica's Certification for Sustainable Tourism has finally firmly rooted among the nation's tourism providers and is now the standard by which to compare hotels (and other tourism entities) according to rational criterion.
The CST seeks to categorize and certify hotels and tour companies according to the degree to which each comply to a model of sustainability. Each entity is graded according to environmental, socio-economic, and other attributes, with 150 variables judged by independent investigators on a level of one to five. They are then awarded one to five "leafs" according to the total score, in much the same way that hotels worldwide are categorized by the well-known "stars" system. more >>
Obama to end all travel restrictions to Cuba for Cuban-Americans
First, Congress eased back travel restrictions to Cuba for Cuban-Americans. Now, President Obama will lift all restrictions for Cubans with family in Cuba, according to a senior administration official quoted in The Wall Street Journal (April 4).
The move, which is expected to be formally announced ahead of this month's Summit of the Americas, fulfills a campaign promise. "It's time to let Cuban-Americans see their mothers and their fathers, their sisters and their brothers. It's time to let Cuban-American money make their families less dependent on the Castro regime," Obama said during a campaign speech in Miami.
Does this mean the rest of us will soon enjoy our full constitutional right to freedom of travel?
Well, as I've written before, Obama can loosen restrictions, but power to actually rescind the restrictions on travel to Cuba for all U.S. citizens resides with Congress.
Here's where you come in, dear reader. more >>
Tune in to my latest radio interview about Costa Rica and Cuba...
I always enjoy speaking with Deborah Howell on her wonderful show, "Destination with Deborah Howells," on Nexttrip Travel Radio. This morning we cut two live interviews, on Colombia and Costa Rica.
On the Costa Rica segment (click the link to listen in) I discuss my favorite places, including my love for Manuel Antonio National Park, and Arenal volcano... Plus I tell anecdotes about plunging my 4WD vehicle irretrievably thigh-deep in mud while researching the Moon Costa Rica guidebook... talk about hotels and restaurants... and review the cruise-tours of Costa Rica and Panama for which I act as expert on behalf of National Geographic Expeditions. more >>
Buy Moon Travel Guides
Search
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.