Taste the flavors of Costa Rican Tamales

Deep in the mountains near Turrialba, Costa Rica, Massi Devoto takes us to Mollejones Costa Rica. He takes on the challenge "how to make" Costa Rican Tamales!

Make sure to turn on your smell-a-vision!



Follow Gallo Pinto Talks for the best of Costa Rican culture! Guide, Massi Devoto will show you the best places to eat, dance, and play in the country. #gallopintotalks

Costa Rican Wildlife

A glimpse at Costa Rican wildlife from sloaths, iguanas, monkeys, birds, caymans, and many more.

These exotic animals can be seen through out Costa Rica, as the country reserves most of it's land as National Parks. Many unhibited places has some of the most beautiful animals, critters, insects and birds.

Some animals like iguanas, monkeys and birds have adapted living close to development from humans. 

When you come to Costa Rica, make sure to bring your hiking shoes, bug repellent, and good binoclulars! You don't want to miss a thing when immersed in nature.

Pura Vida!

Marimba in Costa Rica

Marimba, a national symbol of Costa Rica! On recent visit to one of our tourist spots, we were entertained by the great and talent artists; Salvatierra & Walker.


The marimba (/məˈrɪmbə/) is a percussion instrument consisting of a set of wooden bars struck with mallets to produce musical tones. Resonators suspended underneath the bars amplify their sound. The bars are arranged like the keys of a piano, with the groups of 2 and 3 accidentals raised vertically, overlapping the natural bars to aid the performer both visually and physically. This instrument is a type of idiophone, but with a more resonant and lower-pitched tessitura than the xylophone.

The marimba was developed in Central America by African slaves, and descended from its ancestral balafon instrument, which was also built by African slaves. Marimba is now the national instrument of Guatemala.

Modern uses of the marimba include solo performances, woodwind and brass ensembles, marimba concertos, jazz ensembles, marching band (front ensembles), drum and bugle corps, and orchestral compositions. Contemporary composers have used the unique sound of the marimba more and more in recent years. (See more from Wikipedia)

Ready, Set, Go!

Here we go! Get your daily does of Gallo Pinto Talks. I'm your guide, Massi Devoto. I'll show you the best of, Costa Rica! On today's event, La Ruta de los Conquistadores a difficult endurance race held in my country. The trail runs from coast to coast! Check back daily for more updates!

Every year, hundreds of the very best mountain bikers and endurance racers from around the world come to Central America to test themselves in this unique odyssey of distance, geography, climate and culture. La Ruta, the only bike race that traverses the American land mass from coast to coast — from Pacific to Atlantic —is no easy day at the beach. Between its sea-level start and finish, the 161-mile route crosses 5 mountain ranges that force you climb a cumulative 29,000 feet! (Read more)

More pics from todays race!

When there is a race, there is also fuel. On the menu - to help the racers they are served with Picadillo de Papa and burritos beans with cheese. Yummy!

Legendary, chef Memito, cooking up some killer meals for the riders!

Don't miss out your daily does of Gallo Pinto Talks, the best of Costa Rican culture and lifestyle! "Pura Vida! " - Massi

#rutadelosconquistadores #costarica

Meeting with First Lady of Costa Rica Mercedes Pena Domingo

Today was another jubilant day as I was able to speak in front of my country men and women with the government agencies, along with the first lady Costa Rica, Mercedes Pena Domingo. My proposal was for tourist development of, Cartago, Costa Rica and it was well accepted and ready to move forward!

I am a strong advocate of preserving our land to it's Eco-friendly resources, as well as creating enjoyable and memorable tours for our guest who visit my country. Cartago is a city in Costa Rica, about 25 km (16 mi) east of the capital, San José. It is at an elevation of about 1435 m (some 4,707 ft) above sea level, at the base of the Irazú Volcano. Cartago is the capital of Cartago province, and was the capital of Costa Rica from 1574 to 1824. The city covers an area of 152,68 km². It includes the districts of city downtown: Oriental, Occidental (known as the typical downtown area), San Nicolás (the main entrance to the city, at west), El Carmen (north), Dulce Nombre, San Francisco (at south, San Francisco is known commonly as Aguacaliente), and Guadalupe (Arenilla). The city is part, with the cities of San Rafael de Oreamuno and Tejar del Guarco, of a continuous urban area that, in 2008, had a population of 156,600 inhabitants, according to the Statistics and Census Institute of Costa Rica. (See wikipedia)

This has been another Gallo Pinto Talks, your daily dose of culture and lifestyle. I'm your guide, Massi Devoto!

Pura Vida!

Costa Rica in 25 Seconds

Here is a sample of what is to come in this blog! Get ready as we take you to the most exotic locations in Costa Rica. Get your dose of the culture and lifestyle from the country, hosted by, Massi Devoto.

Pura Vida!