The souls of Cabo Blanco Review by Luca Lombroso

The Souls of Cabo Blanco

Lola Pereira Varela
Italian edition translated by Dario Sonetti – Pandion Edizioni

Review by Luca Lombroso

The Costa Rica that the world admires today for its national parks, extraordinary biodiversity and ecotourism model did not come about by chance. Behind this success were people who, at a time when nature conservation was far from being a priority, were able to look further ahead than others, defending forests, wildlife and landscapes that might otherwise have disappeared.

For this reason, I would like to recommend and review The Souls of Cabo Blanco by Lola Pereira Varela, recently published in Italian in a translation by Prof. Dario Sonetti. More than a simple biography or historical account, the book offers readers an opportunity to understand the cultural and human roots of Costa Rica’s conservation movement through the story of Karen Mogensen and Nicolás Wessberg, now regarded as pioneers of nature conservation in the country.

I do not intend to reveal too much of the content, because I believe this is one of those books that deserves to be discovered directly by its readers. What I can say is that I found it very well written, with a smooth and engaging style that makes it both enjoyable and accessible. The Italian translation is also carefully crafted and succeeds in conveying the emotions, landscapes and atmosphere of the story.

I was already familiar with part of Karen and Nicolás’s story, but reading these pages made me realize how many details, often passed down through stories and oral accounts, are more complex and sometimes different from the way they are commonly remembered. It is a love story between two people, but also a love story about nature, forests and wildlife.

One of the aspects that impressed me most is the way the book portrays the challenges faced by those trying to raise environmental awareness and promote change. Today we are used to hearing about biodiversity, protected areas and conservation, but in the 1950s and 1960s these ideas often seemed incomprehensible, if not openly opposed. The story shows how difficult it is to change mindsets and engage people, while at the same time demonstrating how determination, consistency and the strength of convictions can truly change the course of events.

We owe a great deal to Karen Mogensen and Nicolás Wessberg. Their names may be little known outside Costa Rica and environmental circles, yet their legacy is immense. They helped plant seeds that continue to flourish today in nature conservation, environmental education and Costa Rica’s international reputation as a country committed to protecting its natural heritage.

For me, the book was especially engaging for a personal reason. Its pages describe places I have visited for many years and people I have had the opportunity to meet. While reading, I felt as though I were once again walking the trails toward Playa Grande, Cocalito and Colorada, or strolling through the Montezuma of decades ago, seeing it through the eyes of the protagonists and comparing it with the place I know today.

Among the many things readers will discover is the story behind the creation of the protected areas that still characterize this part of the Nicoya Peninsula. The book recounts the establishment of Costa Rica’s first Absolute Nature Reserve: Cabo Blanco, where visitors can still find a small monument dedicated to Karen and Nicolás at the entrance.

Those who walk the coastal trail between Montezuma and Playa Grande encounter the Nicolás Wessberg Absolute Nature Reserve; those who travel inland can visit the Karen Mogensen Reserve, which today also hosts the “Italy–Costa Rica” Biological and Meteoclimatic Station. Behind these names lie not merely two protected areas, but an extraordinary human story that helped shape the history of environmental conservation in Costa Rica.

There is much more that could be said about this book and its protagonists, but I believe it is best to leave room for curiosity. Some stories deserve to be discovered page by page.

My congratulations go to Lola Pereira Varela for transforming a historical story into such an intense and compelling narrative, and to Dario Sonetti for his careful translation work, which has allowed Italian readers to approach this important chapter of Costa Rican history.

Fifty years after the death of Nicolás Wessberg, The Spirits of Cabo Blanco represents not only an enjoyable read, but also a valuable contribution to preserving the memory of two people who left a profound mark on nature conservation and on the Costa Rica we know today.

🌳 For information and to receive a copy of the book while supporting the activities of Foreste per Sempre OdV and conservation projects in Costa Rica:

👉 https://www.forestepersempre.it/progetti/costa-rica/karen/gli-spiriti-di-cabo-blanco/

Enjoy the reading. And Pura Vida!