Our Story
Celebrating 25+ years in Montezuma, Costa Rica
Ryan first visited Costa Rica in 2001 visiting his mother, Mary, who was studying Spanish medical terminology in hopes to work with doctors without borders. They fell in love with Costa Rica as a place and as a community. In 2003 Ryan returned to Costa Rica and enrolled in Spanish immersion school. During his time there, he visited Montezuma and felt at home in this remote corner of Costa Rica, finding it a fiercely independent, vibrant, and healing place.
In 2005 Ryan hiked up the famous Montezuma river to the waterfalls. He found a trail that led out of the upper waterfalls and emptied out to a house that was being built above Montezuma. The house was not only for sale, but the developer had intentions to build a butterfly garden. Ryan’s passion for insects and love of flora and fauna led him to instantly fall in love with the idea of building a butterfly garden. Having extensive experience working in the hospitality industry, he noticed that the house was perfect for a B&B as well.
After a year and a half of converting the property into a B&B and building the Butterfly Garden, he realized that he needed help and his brother Josh, came to the rescue. Together they would build an amazing butterfly garden, B&B and a work stay program that hosted 4 volunteers a month for more than 13 years. During that time, Josh would eventually meet his future wife, Pauline, who was a guest at the B&B, and Ryan would meet his future wife, Anna, who was a volunteer at the Butterfly garden.
Ryan and Josh lived and worked together on the property for more than 10 years, building out the original infrastructure and expanding it to create the brewery, Ryan’s passion project.
Pauline showed an aptitude and passion for the butterfly garden, building out a critical diversity and density of host plants for butterflies and local fauna. Ryan and Anna worked to create the Imago Gastropub, a restaurant serving original recipes, beers, and sodas from the brewery.
The kitchen and brewery are now run by three sisters: Becca, Fran, and Rode who elevate and beautifully execute the recipes Ryan developed. Rode is the head brewer trained by Ryan. She also is the bartender, mixing up cocktails that celebrate the beautiful garden her exquisite creations are consumed in. The fruits and herbs grown on our property are prominent in the recipes showcased in both the cuisine and seasonal cocktails.
Over the years this establishment has served many needs: a bed and breakfast, hosting travelers, interns, and students from around the world. For those lucky enough to visit the area, Montezuma Mariposario has been a way to meaningfully engage in the community and to experience the natural wonders that exist in one of the planet’s only blue zones.
