The cook shooed the iguana from the dining room but he would always return, lumbering along like a golem in search of a lettuce leaf. She must do this every day, because when we were there, she had HAD IT so she chased him with a broom scolding him all the way out the door. That’s just an ordinary lunch on the Nicoya peninsula on the northwest coast of Costa Rica. A “Blue Zone” noted for its healthy living, Nicoya is becoming a popular destination. The beach near Mal Pais on

We could hear the Arenal volcano cracking and thundering as we lowered ourselves into the hot springs at Baldi Hot Springs Resort ( $285/night shoulder season https://www.baldihotsprings.cr/) near La Fortuna, a small town, often referred to as the gateway to Arenal volcano. The day pass crowds had retreated and the sun had set leaving the pools empty for the resort guests to enjoy in the night air. Arenal volcano We had chosen Costa Rica for our kid's first international trip