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

"Say Hello to my Little Friend"

We came across very cute and slow friend, a sloth.

While hiking in one of the trails, we came across this nice sloth who happen to wave, "hi" to us.  Traveling in Costa Rica, one can easily come across these cute animals. Many have been spotted crossing powerlines and going from tree to tree. There are even videos of them crossing the road.

Here is a funny look at a life of a Sloth in Zootopia. 

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!

Pejibaye - Fermented Palm Fruit

The Pejibaye fruit has been adapted to Costa Rican culture for many years. The fruits grow in the wild, and when picked, sold, it's then fermented to be eaten. Some have made soup out of the fruits. You can find street vendors or outdoor farm markets selling them.

When you come to Costa Rica, make sure to give them a try.

This has been another Gallo Pinto Talks experience! I'm your guide, Massi Devoto.

@gallopintotalk | #GalloPintoTalks

Good Thing this Wonderful Place is not Listed in Air B and B

This beautiful location is definitely one to see and live in. Image your window is a powerful waterfall gushing down from the top. The cool water breeze keeps the atmoshpere temperature just right. There is even delivery service which is hauled by the local cowboys to bring up the basic amenities. The make-shift kitchen allows you to be able to cook up locally grown foods or foods found in the wild.

We got to experience this amazing location called, Diyamante Falls. This isolated place can only be reached by 4x4 vehicles, then, on horses to climb upwards to steep mountains, and to arrive on foot by hiking. Once you've reached your destination, you can appreciate the challenges it took to get to this wonderful, secluded place.

The view is not only thing you can see, there are other hikes you can reach further up to smaller waterfalls. There are even cliffs that overlook the valley from the area. Swimming is a must, after sweating off half of your fluids in your body - to cool off. Complete this experience by repelling off the cliff, next to the waterall.

It's a good thing Air B&B does not list this place. It's nice to know it's not easily accessible to everyone, which can make the experience less desireable. But in our networks and association we are able to bring this story and information to our Gallo Pinto Talks audience.

 Driving at the base of the mountain with 4x4 vehicles.

 Looking at the waterfall at the base.

 Group photo before trekking into the jungles, to get to the waterfall.

 Local teen cowboy, working in the fields.

 Getting on the horses as we ascend into the mountain.

Arriving at the waterfalls, the beauty is remarkable!

Arriving at the entrance of Diyamante Falls

The view underneath the waterfall.

More views under the waterfall.

Under the waterfall, there is a bed (more like a cushion sitting on top of rocks)

This your view everytime.

 Meals underneath the waterfall. j

More smaller waterfalls located above Diyamante Falls. 

 Views over the cliff

 Once you're done hiking, take steps to try the repelling off the waterfall.

 Don't look down, it's a long way!

 Still going down...

Still going down...

To find out more information about this place contact us at Explornatura.com Ask for Massi Devoto, I'm your guide!

Blog by: Russo Mutuc

Patacones - Fried Green Plantains

Patacones which consist of fried green plantains, is very popular in the Latin cutures. Many countries might have their own specific name to it, but in the end it's just simply, fried plantain.

You need [to]:
- Oil
- Peel the green plantains
-Cut the plantains in small circle pieces possibly about 4-6 pieces
- Flatten them up with wood mortar
- Fry them into the pre-heated oil and remove when brown in color.

This a very popular appetizer in Costa Rica.

This has been another Gallo Pinto Talks experience! Follow us @gallopintotalk | #gallopintotalks

Horseback Riding in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a playground for all things nature. There are so many things to see and do in the country. One of the many experiences travelers can try is horseback riding.

There are plenty of places that offer these tours, especially, in the beach. If you come across ridding in less populated beaches, the experience is twice as exciting!

We took a tour from a local guide just an hour South from Dominical Beach. What we experience was breathetaking! The private beach during the sunset was one of those rare experiences. It fells like you discovered a whole new country, literally. 

This has been another Gallo Pinto Talks experience! I'm your guide, Massi Devoto. Make sure to follow us @gallopintotalks | #gallopintotalks 

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)

River Rafting the Pacuare River with Manuel Obregon & Carlos Hiller

On a recent rafting and overnight trip, guided by, Explornatura we were blessed with two talented artists; Manuel Obregon (Costa Rican pianist, composer and producer) & Carlos Hiller (painter of jungle landscapes)
The crew and some of the other clients enjoyed beautiful music and painting from the artists, along with the energy and soul of the Pacuare River - the experience was even more exciting! Truly an honor to have both of them be part of this whole experience!

This has been another #GalloPintoTalks experience!



Find out more info: 
http://imaginaeng.weebly.com/biograph...
http://www.carloshiller.com/info.html

Follow us at @gallopintotalks | #gallopintotalks
http://gallopintotalks.blogspot.com/
https://www.explornatura.com/en/
http://www.costaricagreenpath.com/

Digital Media by Russo Mutuc 

Taste the Flavors of Costa Rican Caribbean

Massi Devoto recently showed us another part of his culture - sharing the meals he prepares for his family and guest. He cooked a taste of the Costa Rican Caribbean. On the menu was "Macarela."

Some of the ingredients to make the dish was:
Macarel, salt, black pepper, lemon, onion, garlic, spice oil, bell pepper and soy sauce...

Watch the video and see the dish being made. "Pura Vida!"


This has been another Gallo Pinto Talks experience! #gallopintotalks

In 16 Seconds Want to Know how it Feels to Jump Into the Pacuare River?

The Pacuare River, or the Río Pacuare,and flows approximately 108 km to the Caribbean. It is a popular location for white water rafting, whitewater kayaking and riverboarding. The rainforests that surround the river are home to exotic animal species such as jaguars, monkeys, ocelots, and a very large number of birds. Also it was considered one of the 5 nicest rivers to practice rafting. [Read more ] 

In 16 seconds...Want to know how it feels to jump into the Pacuare River? Hold your breath...


Follow us at @gallopintotalks | #gallopintotalks
http://gallopintotalks.blogspot.com/
https://www.explornatura.com/en/
http://www.costaricagreenpath.com/

A Trip to the Open Air Farmers Market in Costa Rica

We took a recent trip to the farmers market, and showed my daughter her culture and foods we plan to eat for the week.

In Turrialba, Costa Rica we have the open air farmers market - where a lot of the foods sold are locally grown. Many are even organic. Yum!

This is a great time for me to bond with my daughter at the same time teach her about the foods available to us. This experience is one of my favorite to do, as I also catch up with a lot of the vendors I've grown to know in the years I have lived in Turrialba, Costa Rica. Some I've even visited their farms and had invited me to their homes.

Our community is a mid-sized town and many of the locals here know each other.

If you ever come to Costa Rica, make sure to try and experience shopping at the local farmers market. You can taste the difference!

How would you like your eggs? These our my happy people of Costa Rica!