Russell Maddicks is a travel journalist who has spent the last twenty years exploring the countries of Latin America. Originally from the UK and fluent in Spanish, Russell has authored a number of acclaimed travel guides to a host of Latin American countries including Cuba, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Nicaragua. Jane Koutnik is a teacher, translator, writer, and craft jeweler who has lived in Costa Rica for more than thirty years. After graduating in Philosophy and English from the University of California at San Diego, she traveled to Costa Rica, fell in love with the country, and decided to make it home. She has worked for mutual English-Spanish understanding in her local rural community, and has contributed to several guidebooks and tourist magazines. Her passion for the environment has also led her to devote time and energy to conservation, working with the government, the local community, and environmental groups.