The Costa Rica Expert

My New Blog

2008-03-13T16:39:00.003-05:00

Please follow the link below to my new and improved Blog entitled 365 Reasons I Love Costa Rica......

Pura Vida!

Costarriñequizmos

2008-02-25T14:58:00.003-05:00

If you have ever visited Costa Rica you will be quick to notice that Ticos (or Ticas) use a lot of expressions that may not seem familiar to even someone knowledgeable in Spanish.

Here are more (some humorous) examples from an email a tico friend recently sent me…..

Face - jacha, tarro
Head - jupa, torre
Eyes - guachos
Nose - ñata
Mouth - jeta, trompa
Stomach - panza, timba, chiberre
Ass - nalgas, fondillo, trasero, bumper
Underarm - sobacos, aletas
Legs - canillas
Fingers - troles, jocotes
Feet – patas
Walk - trolea, caitea, va a pata
Lazy - achantado, esta de bagaces, se la tira rico
Stingy - agarrado, codo, pinche
Boring - se agüeva, se ostina, es un bostezo, tiene tigra
To get married - se ahorca, se suicida, se embarca
To owe money to someone - amarra el perro
Distracted – está detrás del palo
To sleep - rulea, plancha la oreja, está jetón, echa espuma, babea
To kiss - apreta, marca
To vomit - se rancha, llama a Hugo, se arroja
To be ashamed - se la pela, se pega un bañazo
To assume - batea
To fight - arma bochinche, se agarra
To be sociable - bombeta
To work – bretea, chambea
To be a suckup - brochazo, es un sopla guabas
To flirt with a woman - echa el cuento, está ligando
To cry - moquea, es una bomba de mocos, mariquea
To have a boyfriend – esta jala, tiene cabra, tiene guila
To have shoes - tiene cachos, caites
To bitch at someone - lo cagan
To take a piss - mea, le cambia el agua al pajarito
A child - carajillo, güila, mocoso, chiquito
To be without shame - carebarro, un montado, un cascarudo
To be careless - un tortero, un carne molida, un chapa, mete la pata
To be angry - se enchicha, se chivea, está de luna, se arranca, se encachimba
To be handsome – cito paolo, es un rico (a), un chicha, corrongo (a)
To go to the jail - lo enchorpan, lo engaletan, lo entaban
To have a house - tiene chante, choza
To have a car - tiene nave, chuzo o al contrario pichirilo, estornaco
To die - cuelga las tenis, patea el balde, estira la pata, se palma
To be stupid - es baboso, como las vacas, menso, sorompo, jetas
To be doing well - pura vida, puros dieces, con toda la pata, tuanis
To like something - le cuadra, está chiva, está fresa
To brag about yourself - pesado, un culazo, es un dolor de guevos, rajón
To cause damage - se queda hecho mierda o leña
To be hungry - tiene filo, tiene moncha
To be a bother - jode, friega, es majadero, 'seas tan necio'
To be ugly - furris, güeisoTo have good luck - guavero, lechero, chepero
To have a hangover - gomaTo be confused - se hace bolas
To be drunk - se juma, hasta la cara me duele, está tapis
To be in love - pepiado
To eat - jarta, jama
To be a liar – jetón, lengua larga
To be broke - anda limpio, lavado
To ignore someone - se hace el ruso, se hace el maje
To fail - se la pela
To play soccer - mejenguea, juega bola, patea bola
To have bad luck - miado, salado
To take advantage - se monta
To be a bookworm - es nerdo, verde, es pipa, tiene masa gris
To feel bad - paltigre, agüevado
To go to party - va de pelón, va de pachanga, va de rumba
To small bad - pateón
To make an effort – la pellejea, la pulsea, se pone las pilas
To have diarrea - tiene pringa pie, anda flojo, se le suelta el ruedo
To be nosey - sapazo chepo, vina
To be corrupt - es un choricero, trinquetero
To run - se pega un morón
To go or leave - se jala
To be sure or certain - al chile, fuera de vara

These are just a few of the commonly used slang terms that you might hear on the streets in Costa Rica. Of course, when using these terms be careful since they can be offensive to some people.

Pura Vida!

Viva Colombia!

2008-02-06T18:56:00.003-05:00

I recently had the privilege of visiting Medellín Colombia. I can tell you that this is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever experienced. Colombia has gotten a lot of bad press over the years and Medellín has borne the brunt of much of it. Admittedly, back in the days when Pablo Escobar and his band of sicarios were wreaking havoc on the city, Medellín was probably not the safest place for a gringo to visit. As a vestige of this period, today the law requires all motorcycles drivers to wear the license number on the back of a vest in order to never have the same terrible days where Pablo’s motorcycle-riding sicarios (hit men) would gun down intended targets. But those days are thankfully long gone. I was fortunate to have a wonderful guide during my visit, my beautiful Paisa girlfriend (who now lives in Costa Rica, but whose heart is still 100% in her pueblo natal, Medellín). Medellín is located in the department of Antioquia. It has an international airport (actually located about 1 hour outside the city). The population is around 2 million and the population of the entire department of Antioquia is 5 million (second largest in the country behind Bogotá).

Places worth visiting in Medellín would certainly include the National Museum, which features many pieces from Colombia’s most famous living artist, Botero. Medellín also has an incredible elevated train system that will take you almost anywhere you want to go (the pride of the paisas and very clean and safe). Also, they have a great Metro Cable as well that will take you over the city and offer you some great views. Of course, the night life is great too. The Mangos of South Beach is a carbon copy of Mangos in Medellín and will definitely offer a night to remember. Some of the pueblos you might want to visit include Poblado, Envigado (hometown of Pablo Escobar) and Sabaneta. These offer great little outside bars where everyone gathers to drink the famous Colombian guaro known as Agua Ardiente. Also, the malls are incredible, especially the grandest in the city, Mall Tesoro.

Outside of Medellín there are some really cool places to visit. One of those is the colonial capital of Colombia, Sante Fe de Antioquia. This is a beautiful and historic city with cobblestone streets and rows of pastel colored colonial homes and beautiful churches. It is like taking a step back into the colonial days when the Spanish first colonized the country. Another great place to go is Guatapé, where you will find the mysterious Piedra del Peñol, a massive rock of 200 meters in altitude. Also in this area are the beautiful lakes known as the Represas de Guatapé. This is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen and there are loads of activities and sightseeing in the area. There are great hotels too!

No Mas Farc!

Colombia has so much to offer that it is a shame that the FARC (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia) continues to terrorize the country with armed invasions of pueblos and kidnappings (despite the recent release of some high profile hostages at the behest of Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez, the FACR is estimated to be holding hostage some 700 persons). The FARC now enjoys very little support in Colombia (really only the narcos want them around to help guard their coca and marijuana fields). Recently there was a world-wide condemnation of the activities of the FARC, which took place in 125 cities around the world. I pray that the FACR would give up the fight for the good of Colombia and all its citizens as well as the people around the world that would like to visit safely and experience the magic of this incredible country.

D Scott Bowers
President
Costa Rica Zine

Costa Rica Scores Highest Marks for Environmental Protection

2008-01-24T17:07:00.000-05:00

According to the 2008 Environmental Peformance Index (EPI) Costa Rica is 5th among 149 countries of the world in protecting the environment. Moreover, Costa Rica was first among all American countries. Colombia was the only other country in the Americas to rank in the opt 10. It ranked 9. The EPI ranks 149 countries on 25 indicators tracked across six established policy categories: Environmental Health, Air Pollution, Water Resources, Biodiversity and Habitat, Productive Natural Resources, and Climate Change. The EPI identifies broadly-accepted targets for environmental performance and measures how close each country comes to these goals. As a quantitative gauge of pollution control and natural resource management results, the Index provides a powerful tool for improving policymaking and shifting environmental decision-making onto firmer analytic foundations.

Here is how Costa Rica fared in various categories (scale of 1 to 100):

EPI - 90.5
Environmental Health - 93.2
Ecosystem Vitality - 87.7
Environmental Burden of Disease - 1.0
Water (humans) - 92.8
Air Pollution (humans) - 83.8
Air Pollution (Ecosystem) - 99.3
Water (Ecosystem) - 78.5
Biodiversity & Habitat - 48.0
Productive Natural Resources - 97.1
Climate Change - 98.3
Forestry - 100.0
Fisheries - 99.1
Agriculture - 92.0
Adequate Sanitation - 90.6
Drinking Water - 94.9
Urban Particulates - 83.8
Indoor Air Pollution - 75.8
Local Ozone - 100.0
Regional Ozone - 100.0
Sulfur Dioxide Emissions - 98.6
Water Quality - 57.1
Water Stress - 100.0
Conservation Risk Index - 95.0
Effective Conservation - 15.9
Critical Habitat Protection - 75.0
Marine Protected Areas - 6.0

You can view the entire EPI rankings as well as statistics on Costa Rica and all other countries ranked at the EPI Website.

Also, Costa Rica’s own Cocos Island is a candidate for inclusion in the new list of the Natural Wonders of the World, which will be announced this year on July 7th at the Official Declaration Ceremony in Lisbon, Purtugal. You can place your vote for Cocos Island at the Natural Wonder Official Website. As of the last update on January 24th, Cocos Island was ranked 5th of 77 candidates.

Costa Rican Energy Potential

2008-01-11T13:53:00.000-05:00

I have been know to say often that one thing Costa Rica will never run out of is food, since almost anything will grow in the fertile soil that exists here. However, based on an interesting article the recently appeared in La Nación (the newspaper of major circulation in the country), it seems that Costa Rica will also never run out of energy. This comes as a surprise to those of us that suffered the rolling blackouts last year during the dry season when the reservoirs of some of our key dams dried up. Nevertheless I guess the facts speak for themselves. Speaking of facts, here are a few that appeared in the La Nación article.

Costa Rica has the potential to triple its capacity to generate electricity in clean form without the necessity of using the resources of the National Parks, which account for almost 30% of the entire territory of the country. This is according to the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) as set forth in its report of future expansion called Estado de la Nación.

The additional capacity is primarily from the rivers (4,445 MW) with the balance coming from wind (208 MW), volcanic gases (98 MW) and waste from sugar cane production (95 MW) for a total capacity of 4,846 MW. Identified capacity for the short term is 1,987 MW. As such, Costa Rica is in an enviable position in the long term of almost tripling its capacity and of producing over 80% of its total energy needs from clean and renewable resources. That is certainly enough to put a smile on Al Gore’s face.

According to Pedro Pablo Quirós, presidente of ICE, the country needs to double its capacity within the next 10 years in order to satisfy increasing demand. According to ICE this goal is achievable and there are already specific plans to increase capacity given that the economy of the country is expected to grow from 5.3% to 5.5% annually over this period.

Further the article points out that the growth potential provides significant opportunities for the private sector. Past legislation has granted this sector the right to produce up to 15% of the total capacity of the country.

Scott Bowers

Refugio Caño Negro

2008-01-10T12:09:00.000-05:00

I recently had the opportunity to do a boat tour of the Refugio Caño Negro located not far from the Nicaraguan border in Los Chiles. My agency, Package Costa Rica, has sent many customers on this tour, but I had never before experienced it myself. I can attest that if you are interested in Costa Rican Naturaleza this is one of the best places to visit in the country.

Getting There

The best way to do the tour is from La Fortuna with a package that includes the transportations. There are several companies that run such a tour. One of the best is Canoa Adventures, whose office is in La Fortuna. Canoe owns a nice little facility right on the banks of the Rio Frio about 20 minutes downriver from the tiny village of Caño Negro. The facility has a bar and restaurant and clean bathrooms and it is where they put the canoes in for the tour down the river.

Getting to this place yourself by car can be quite an adventure. You head due north from La Fortuna towards the Nicaraguan border. Near the town of Los Chiles you hang a left on a dirt roan that takes you to your final destination. The road is rocky, but not too bad. At least when I went it wasn’t too bad, but this was during the dry season too. You follow the road for about 45 minutes before you arrive at Caño Negro. There is a large bar by the docs and there you will find any number of guides that will take you on a covered boat tour for about $20 to $30 for a couple hours.

What you Can See

The wildlife in this area is truly spectacular, especially the birds. Caño Negro is one of the few places where, if you are lucky, you can catch a glimpse of the exotic Jabiru Stork, the tallest flying bird found in Central and South America. On our trip we saw tons of wood storks (but unfortunately not the rare Jabiru), cormorants and other varieties of birds, sloths, howler monkeys, and many caimans. The river is teeming with life at almost every turn. Other birds that can be found in the refuge include the glossy Ibis, black-necked stilt, neotropical cormorants, American anhinga, northern jacana, American widgeon, wood stork, white Ibis, black-bellied tree duck, cattle egret, northern shoveler, snail kite, green backed heron, Nicaraguan grackle, roseate spoonbill, and blue-winged teal. Also found in the park are spider, capuchin and howler monkeys, spectacled caimans, crocodiles, jaguars, cougars, tayras, ocelots, tapirs, white-tailed deer, jesus-christ lizards, black river turtles, and enormous orange iguanas.

Near Death Experience

While you can swim in the river at certain locations, with the caimans and crocodiles lurking about, do you really want to? For me I had no choice. My so-called “good-friend” and traveling companion (Yuri) pushed me into the river during a vulnerable moment. We had actually stocked a cooler-full of Nicaraguan beer back at the dock. Yuri is from Nicaragua and could not miss the opportunity. The place is so close to the border that the bar had one of the best (and very potent) Nicaraguan varieties readily available. Needless to say, I was a little wobbly on my feet on the boat and Yuri seized the opportunity to try to do me in once and for all. Fortunately (or not so fortunately for Yuri), I am still alive to tell the story.

If you are staying in the La Fortuna area, I would highly recommend a visit to Refugio Caño Negro. We can set you up with a tour. Just give us a call toll-free (from the U.S. or Canada) at 1-866-424-6439. Visit our travel web site for a full list of our packages and other useful information about Costa Rica.

Update re Caldera Highway

2008-01-10T12:00:00.000-05:00

After 30 years of delay, the long-awaited start of construction on the Caldera Highway will commence this month according to the CNC (Consejo Nacional de Concesiones). The section of the highway extending from Ciudad Cólon to Orotina is expected to be completed in thirty months, or by July 2010. The finance-related impasse was overcome the 21st of December when Autopistas del Sol reached an agreement with the BCIE (Banco Centroamerica de Integración Económica and the Caja de Madrid (a Spanish financial institution) to finance construction of the road, valued at $230 million.

The total route will cover 77 kilometers (48 miles) and will link the capital of San Jose with the country’s most important port of Caldera, running through the towns of Santa Ana, Ciudad Colón, Atenas and Orotina. The road will require a pretty hefty toll of about $2.70. However, it will reduce the drive time to Jaco by about 30 minutes, from the current 2 to 2.5 hours. The road will have two lanes on the uphill segments and one lane on the downhills. This will help faster cars avoid the slow moving tractor-trailers.

This road has been long-awaited by the investing community and will surely give rise to increases in property values in areas benefited by the new highway.

Change in $$ Exchange Rate Announced

2007-11-22T18:46:00.001-05:00

Today the Central Bank of Costa Rica announced a significant change in monetary policy, reported by the major newspaper, La Nacion. This change is a modification in the exchange rate that could lower the price of the dollar against the colon as much as 4%. Specifically, the Central Bank approved the establishment of the base exchange rate for interventions at 498.39 (colones per dollar), which was previously fixed this past January 27th at 519.16, a reduction of 20 colones, or 4%.

The clear winners will be those that hold credit in dollars since it will require less colones to make debt service payments. Also, coming out ahead are importers who will have to expend less colones to purchase imported goods. To the contrary the clear losers are exporters.

The primary reason cited by the Central Bank for this action is to control inflationary pressures and to re-establish the bands of exchange so as to prevent frequent interventions. However, the action came as a surprise to banks because previously the Central Bank announced it would attempt such controls through the means of raising interest rates.

For tourism the move means that your tourist dollars will not go as far as before. For the local economy it is a balance as a reduction in inflation will benefit consumers, but hurt businesses that are paid in dollars that have to be exchanged for colones (which is the case for Package Costa Rica, as it is for most tourism based businesses).

Stay posted to this Blog for further updates on this and all things Costa Rican!

Pura Vida!

New Highway from San Jose to Orotina

2007-11-20T17:33:00.000-05:00

Continuing along the line of my last blog concerning Costa Rica roads, today an article in La Nacion announced that construction will begin on the San Jose – Caldera Highway in January of 2008. Here are highlights from the Article (follow the link to read the entire article (in Spanish)…….

-La Contraloria has ordered construction to commence in January 2008
-The idea for the Highway was borne 30 years ago and has suffered many starts and delays
-The total contract of construction (awarded to Autopistas del Sol) is valued at $230 millions, which is $72 million more than estimated in 2001 (the increase due to rise in cost of materials)
-The total length of the highway will be 77 kilometers (or about 48 miles)
-The term of construction is 30 months and completion is scheduled for July 2010
-There will be three sections: San Jose to Ciuded Colon, Cuidad Colon to Orotina and Orotina to Caldera
-The drive time from San Jose to Puntarenas will decrease from two hours to 45 minutes
-Drivers will pay a toll $2.70 (or 1,400 colones) to complete the entire route

This road will be a major boom to real estate prices in these areas. In fact, prices will inevitably rise long before the road is completed. Please stay tuned to My Blog and The Costa Rica Zine for more announcements as news develops. However, there have been been many rumors of this road becomming reality and as of yet, it has been much ado about nothing. This time, who knows?

Pura Vida

Road Improvement in Costa Rica

2007-11-16T17:25:00.000-05:00

It cannot be ignored these days that almost everywhere you look there is road construction in Costa Rica. And not just in San Jose, but all over the country. President Arias made improving the infrastructure of Costa Rica a major campaign pledge. And unlike most campaign pledges, this one is actually being fulfilled. Let’s examine some of the areas where construction could have a significant impact on real estate prices.

Construction in General

Tourism has become the biggest economic factor in Costa Rica. And for good reason as this country offers some of the most incredible natural beauty of any on earth. Tourism industry growth generally leads growth in development and increases in real estate prices. This phenomenon is certainly taking place in Costa Rica this very moment. As the infrastructure improves, drive times between tourist locations, as well as safety, will improve as well. This can only leads to greater increases in the tourism market, which already is one of the fastest growing international markets in the world. With increases in tourism, which have no foreseeable end in sight, increases in development of tourism related real estate will also increase leading to higher prices. Moreover, the trend of tourists returning to buy and even live in Costa Rica will also increase. These factors should keep the real estate market strong in Costa Rica for years to come.

Let’s look at some specific examples of improvement…….

The Costanera Highway

The highway I am referring to is the one that extends from Jaco all the way south to Parmer Norte. It is the only real costal highway we have. The road has been traditionally well-maintained from Jaco to Manuel Antonio with the exception of two atrocious bridges on either side of the little town of Parrita, about 15 minutes north of Quepos. However, those bridges as we speak are being changed for better and bigger ones! Upon completion it will make the trip from Jaco to Quepos much quicker and also be a boost to the many developments going on in the area and to property values in general. One example is the Del Pacifico development in Esterillos. Upon completion this development will also include an 18-hole golf course (Billy Casper design) and a commercial center.

Possibly the worst stretch of road in the entire country is the dirt road that leads from Quepos to Dominical. Anyone who has ever had the good fortune of driving this road at night in the green season knows the horror. It is probably the busiest stretch of non-paved road in the country. Driving at night enveloped in a cloud of dust on this bumpy road is a teeth chattering experience that can lead the most patient and calm among us to loose their cool. Well this road is under construction as well. I like to divide (at least mentally) this nightmarish road into two distinct sections. The first is the section from Quepos to Matapalo (a charming little beach village halfway between Quepos and Dominical). This section of the road seems to be getting the most focus and may indeed be completely improved in the next couple years. There are many developments along this road that could benefit nicely. One that is mentionable is Hills of Portalon, which offers single family lots with nice views of the Pacific on one side and mountains on the other. Most lots are a couple hectareas in size (or about 5 acres) and range in price form $200,000 to $300,000. The other part of this road that extends from Matapalo to Dominical is another story and in my opinion it will not be improved extensively for the next five years. With all that said, it is only a matter of time before this 40 kilometer stretch of unimproved road will be completely paved and therefore now is the time to take advantage of what will surely be a boom in real estate prices over the next five to ten years in this area.

One reason I believe that it is only a matter of time is because once you reach Dominical, the balance of the Costanera is probably the newest, best marked and smoothest rides in all the country. It simply defies logic that 40 out of the some 200 kilometers of the Costanera would remain unpaved forever, especially in light of the current administration’s emphasis on attracting foreign investment into Costa Rica. The recent adoption of the CAFTA (what we call here the TLC) lends even more weight to that prediction. The fact that Costa Rica is attracting big money from the U.S. and other developed countries will only put more pressure on the government to act.

Caldera Highway

The long-awaited Caldera Highway may finally be in the works. However, on this one I would not hold my breath. Yes property values in the areas around this highway as well as its destination would get a benefit were this road to ever become a reality. But the reality of that ever happening, well who knows? Below are excerpts from an article that appeared in insidecostarica.com on August 30, 2007.

San José-Caldera Continues Stalled

The construction of the San José-Caldera will continue stalled as representatives of the banks financing the project and the construction company have yet to reach an agreement and as such the government is extending the start of construction date while the two parties continues negotiations.The project has been in the works for the last two decades and recent starts were stalled or halted as the government and various constructions awarded the contracted came to a stalemate. The latest round of stalls is just another in a long list of stalls and stopped work.Karla González, the current minister heading the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT), assures that the work will commence before the year is over. Notwithstanding, the minister, said that the government has to respect the process and the requests made by the creditors of the construction company.The San José - Caldera project is only 77 kilometers from an idea that began three decades ago to build a highway that connects capital with the Pacific port town of Caldera.The road weaves through Santa Ana, Cuidad Colon, Atenas and Orotina and would cut travel between San José and Caldera to less than one hour from the current almost two hours.
The completion of the San José-Caldera will also greatly reduce travel to Jacó and Quepos/Manuel Antonio, as the highway intersects with the Jacó exit at Orotina, reducing San José - Jacó travel to less than 45 minutes rather than 90 plus minutes it takes now.

The Bottom Line

The above mentioned projects are only a few of those that are underway in Costa Rica. The bottom line is that Costa Rica’s roads are improving rapidly and real estate prices climbing as a result. Better to get in before the dust clears from all the road building equipment that is currently making driving in Costa Rica as miserable as ever!

Happy Driving and Investing and as always, Pura Vida!

Finally Corcovado!

2007-11-14T17:02:00.000-05:00

After being in Costa Rica for the last seven years I finally had the experience of going to the wonderful area known as the Osa Peninsula, specifically Corcovado National Park. I had heard such amazing things about this place. Located along the Pacific Coast of the famed Osa Peninsula, the Corcovado National Park has been dubbed by National Geographic as “the most biologically diverse location on earth.” From my experience, I would not want to argue the point……..

Getting There

There are two basic ways to get to Corcovado, either by car or by plane. I chose car, probably because I like to do things the hard way. If you are driving from San Jose, I suggest you spend one night in Dominical to break the trip up a bit. It is about four hours from San Jose to Dominical (either by way of Quepos or by way of San Isidro General). We did spend a night in Dominical. The next day the sun was shining and we set off for adventure. The road all the way from Dominical to Palmer Sur is one of the best in the country, so you can make pretty good time. From there things get a bit more interesting. Your final destination will be Puerto Jiminez, a little town on the Golfo Dulce. By the way make sure to stop at one of the scenic points overlooking the Golfo Dulce, because it is truly magnifcent. You will have to pass over some pretty rough roads to get to Puerto Jiminez. Just take your time and enjoy the scenery (maybe that will take your attention away from your sore @#$). You can also choose to take a direct flight from San Jose to Puerto Jiminez. The flight on Sansa runs about $100 (with taxes and fees included). Remember, however, there is a pretty stringent weight requirement and you will pay dearly if you have too much luggage or equipment.

Puerto Jiminez

Puerto Jiminez is the most happening place in the area. There are restaurants, some shops, a disco, internet cafes, a bank (with cash machine) and many great places to stay (I address accommodations below). The place is on the water and has a very nice vibe to it. The people down here are very inviting and I did notice that the women are quite pretty (hey, I can notice things like that. I’m not married!). While there we took a boat across the gulf to Pavones. The boat ride took about an hour and costs us $200. The drive would have taken us 6 hours. Pavones is famous for surfers and boasts the longest left breaking wave in the world. The day we went there was not much there, but it can get quite big. Anyway, the boat ride over was stunning and we saw some beautiful coastline and several schools of dolphins.

Places to Stay

There are many hotels that range from hostels to really nice resorts. Two that stand out are Yellow Coco and Lapas Rios. Yellow Coco is located on the beach about 15 minutes from Puerto Jiminez. It boasts a beach house that sleeps nine as well as two bungalows that each sleep 3 to 4 persons. Yellow Coco does not have a restaurant or a pool. Meals will be on your own, i.e., you can bring groceries in to cook (each accommodation has a fully equipped kitchen) or go to any of the many local restaurants (the ones we tried were excellent, by the way). Lapas Rios is a little farther away and about half way to the entrance of the Corcovado Park. It is about a 45 minute drive from central Puerto Jiminez. The Lapas Rios resort is beautiful beyond description. The resort has won several awards for sustainable tourism. They actually run programs out of the resort to teach rain forest conservation. The rates run about $295 double and include the round trip transportation from Puero Jiminez and all meals and non-alcoholic drinks. I have heard that the food at Lapas Rios is out of this world delicious. The resort also offers several packages that include a variety of tours.

Corcovado National Park

The highlight of any visit to the Osa Penninsula is Corcovado National Park. It is one of the most biologically intense locations on earth and houses an astonishing variety of plants, insects, birds and large mammals. It is one of the only places in Costa Rica where you can still find Jaguars (although experts estimate there are only about 100 left in the park) and it is the only place where you can find all four species of monkeys native to Costa Rica (which are the spider, squirrel, howler and white face). On my trip I did not get to see the elusive big cat, but did see a Danta (Tapir) and almost ran over a Sloth crossing the dirt road. We actually drove into the park and had to cross many rivers (one of which was deep enough that the water covered the hood of the SUV). One of the most amazing sights I saw was a tree full of Scarlet Macaws.

You Need to Go There

Over the last four years we have brought about 1,000 tourists to Costa Rica. However, only a few have experienced this magical place called Corcovado and the Osa Peninsula. Places like Arenal and Manuel Antonio have put Costa Rica on the world tourism map. Yet people are missing out on places that are more remote like Corcovado. We currently have a great package that even includes a flight into the Serena Station deep in the park with a naturalist tour guide. This is called our Eco-Tourism package and I would highly encourage you to consider it.

Pura Vida!

Costa Rica Economy Red Hot!

2007-10-31T17:20:00.000-05:00

Recently La Nacion printed a story with the headline, Family Consumption in 2007 is the Highest in the Last Ten Years." Here are some of the facts as reported:

1. Consumer Imports (cars, pharmaceutical products, domestice appliances, etc.) were up 29% in the first nine months of 2007;

2. The Central Bank estimates that household expenses will increase by 6% in 2007, the largest increase in the last decade;

3. Interest rates have fallen to almost half the levels of last year;

4. In August consumer debt reached 920 millions in local currency (colones), an increase of 25% over last year;

5. Purchase of cars increased 25% over the same period last year;

6. Reasons cited for the above include higher employment, higher household incomes, low rates of interest, easier access to consumer debt and high consumer confidence.

There is fear that the high increases in consumer debt may cause trouble for households if interest rates creep back up in the future. Inflation is also lower due, among other things, to the change in Central Bank monetary policy adopted last year.

The bottom line is that Costa Rica's stock is rising. Isn't it about time you took closer look? Call us anytime for more information on visiting or investing in Costa Rica. 1-866-424-6439

A Little More About Package Costa Rica

2007-10-26T12:29:00.001-05:00

In my blogs I often refer to "my travel company" and I wanted to give those who are fortunate enough to read my drivel a little more information. The idea for Package Costa Rica was born in 2004 while I was in the midst of trying to complete a deal whereby a family owned private university I was representing for sale was acquired by a large international educational company. Actually at the time PCR was conceived I was in La Fortuna in a hot tub and the deal was about to fall apart. My thinking was that (1) I need to capitalize on the growing tourism market and (2) I better figure some way to make money in the country or it may be the last time I ever see it!. I spent the next morning furiously writing a business plan on whatever pieces of paper I could find (still have it by the way). A that time I had the idea that there would not be much competition. Well, of course, I was wrong about that. We made our first sale in April of 2004 and since then I estimate that we have brought about 1,000 tourists to Costa Rica. Many have been families, many honeymooners and others that have wanted to come for any number of reasons.

Our office is in a commercial center not too far from downtown San Jose and right next to the Hotel Best Western Irazu (one of the largest hotels in the country). We have a small staff of only three since most of our work is outsourced. They are Mario (aka "the Package Guru") who builds the itineraries, Alessandro (aka "El Che" since he is Italian and lived in Argentina for a while) who takes care of managing the office and yours truly (I have no nickname and no real job assignment). We try to have a lot of fun while we work and to our advantage there is a bar right across the hall where we can run for Imperials, usually around 5:30 PM.

The picture to the left is of a painting I had done by an artist from Atenas. On my many trips to Jaco or Manuel Antonio I kept noticing that someone was painting beautiful murals on the rocks along the mountain roadside. I also noticed a phone number on one of the rocks. I called it and the rest as "they say" is history. The ornately painted counter in the form of a traditional Costa Rican Carreta (or oxcart) is complements of the Chaverri Oxcart Factory in Sarchi.

Most of our business comes from our Package Costa Rica website, but we also get some walk-in business from the hotel next door. If you are here in the neighborhood, please stop by and meet us. If you are still in the planning phases, please give us a call at 866-424-6439 or fill out our Package Inquiry Form. Either way, we would like to meet you and show you our beautiful country.

Pura Vida from Package Costa Rica!

Hurricanes in Costa Rica?

2007-10-09T15:00:00.000-05:00

Many of our customers at Package Costa Rica wrongfully assume that the Atlantic hurricane season poses a major threat to Costa Rica. Actually, while we do sometimes get excessive rain from storms that pass through the Caribbean Sea, usually on their way to the Yucatan or Gulf Coast of Mexico, we very rarely get any direct impacts. Let’s take a look at what history shows us.

Two storms that had an impact on Costa Rica were Hurricane Gert (a category 2 storm when it impacted this country) and Hurricane Cesar (a category 1 storm).

Hurricane Gert (1993)

As a forming tropical storm, Gert brought torrential rainfall to Central America

, leaving 100,000 people homeless from its heavy flooding. Mudslides were reported in mountainous areas, causing considerable damage, especially to roads. Excluding Honduras, 13 people died across the region. Costa Rica only experienced 1 fatality due to the storm.

Hurricane Cesar (1996)

Costa Rica received heavy rainfall from Cesar, leading to mudslides and widespread flooding. River flooding damaged 51 houses and washed away 213. Contaminating drinking water across the country led to outbreaks of malaria and cholera. 72 bridges were destroyed from the flooding, and a disruption to the road network was damaged across the country. Damage amounted to $10 million (1996 USD) and 34 people were killed. Costa Rica requested international aid subsequent to the storm. Hurricane Cesar later became Hurricane Douglas, a category 4 storm in the Pacific.

So while history shows us that it is possible for Costa Rica to have direct impact, it is very rare and unlikely. Storms generally make their turn northward long before they reach our shores. The bad news is that if there is a storm in the Caribbean that gets close enough to mix with our already wet weather, it can lead to lead to landslides, flash floods (cabezas de agua) and major road damage. This is because such storms are likely to occur at the peak of our rainy season (September and October) and therefore any major increase in rainfall can lead to problems. Investors and those interested in moving or traveling to Costa Rica should not be overly concerned with these storms affecting this country. There is much less of a risk here than you have with the Gulf and Southern Atlantic coasts.

Pura Vida!

The TLC: A Gringo’s Viewpoint

2007-10-05T08:34:00.000-05:00

October 7 will be a momentous day for Ticos. This is the day of the national referendum for the TLC, the trade agreement with the United States. Costa Rica is the only country in Central America that has not signed onto the agreement. The latest polls show that public sentiment in almost equally divided between the Si’s and the No’s. There are many good (and bad) arguments on both sides of the issue. The agreement will, among other things, eliminate the tariffs on goods and services that Costa Rica exports to the U.S., as well as providing the same favorable treatment for goods and services imported by the U.S. into Costa Rica. A good source of information (in Spanish…but the effort to translate is worth it) is the pamphlet by Comex (Ministerio de Commercio Exterior de Costa Rica) entitled, “Lo Mas Importante sorbre el TLC.” The pamphlet can be downloaded at the Comex web site.

To be honest I am a little divided. Actually, not being a naturalized citizen, I really have no right to express an opinion, but I will anyway (at least to the readers of my blog and The Costa Rica Zine). I believe the TLC is important for potential investors because, among other things, it can have an affect on the regulation of land use in Costa Rica. There in lies part of the problem for me. Although I am a fan of foreign investment in Costa Rica, much of which has come (and will continue to come) in the form of property development, I am more of a fan of preserving its rich natural resources. Costa Rica is an environmental crown jewel and it must be protected. As I read about certain aspects of the agreement (or treaty) I am concerned that Costa Rica may be giving up some of its sovereign right to enact and enforce laws that protect its environment in order to foster more open foreign investment. It is an undeniable fact that there is a delicate balance between the benefit foreign investment can bring to the economy of Costa Rica and the detriment unregulated property development can wreak on the environment. It concerns me that the TLC, an agreement not written specifically with Costa Rica in mind, might cede some power to regulate away from Costa Rica and to some international tribunal or arbitration panel. That being said, however, I do have confidence in our president, Oscar Arias. I don’t want to be so naïve as to simply say, “well, if Oscar Arias supports it, then so do I,” but it does calm my fears that he has been such a staunch supporter of this agreement. Other provisions of the agreement, such as those that open up competition in areas like telecommunications, I am completely in favor of.

One thing is for sure, the method by which Costa Rica has decided to decide is one that should make every Costa Rican proud. The referendum that will take place Sunday, October 7, will be a great example for the world of true democracy in action. Costa Rica has been a shining star amongst its neighbors of this fact for many decades and I am sure for many more to come.

Pura Vida!

Rappeling Down a 400 Foot Waterfall!

2007-07-19T09:41:00.000-05:00

In Costa Rica adventures never cease! Most recently I had the opportunity of rappelling beside the raging waters of the 400 foot Catarata del Toro waterfall. I was playing tour guide that day to a family from Puerto Rico who were visiting by means of a Package Costa Rica arranged vacation. Actually, they had purchase the Pure Adrenaline package and on this day they were definitely in for some adrenaline pumping action. The tour is run by my good friends Donais and Will. The have the only means of gaining entrance to the waterfall and their property includes a restaurant (best "gallo pinto" in Costa Rica) and three cabins with numerous hiking trails and lookouts (see Catarata del Toro website). The tour is certified by ICT (Costa Rican Tourism Ministry) and is completely safe. Will started us out by providing instruction and they have a place where you can practice the technique before taking the tour. Safety is further supported by the fact that they use two ropes to apply "brakes" on your descent from below and above. If they see that you are in any kind of trouble they can immediately stop your descent.

The scariest part of the whole deal is taking that initial step off the platform. It will definitely get your adrenaline pumping. However, once you take that initial step and you find yourself hanging just to the side of the thunderous waterfall, it is an exhilarating experience. It is best to take your time on the way down. The guides can control your descent as well, but if you signal to them they will give you more rope and allow you to descend more rapidly. The normal time to get to the bottom is about 15 minutes. You can also stop (you have to signal to them to brake you) and take a photo. However, don't look down if you are afraid of heights! The family I was with that day included two young boys, both of whom had nerves of steel with no fear whatsoever. I am afraid that the dad was a little scared of the whole idea when he saw his youngest teetering on the edge of the platform. Once we were all safely at the bottom we felt very good about the whole experience. I actually kind of wanted to go again. Like the canopy, once you have done it, the fear melts away and you are ready to repeat the experience maybe this time with less "sweaty palms" and more courage to really take in the experience (as opposed to just get in over with!).

Catarata del Toro is in my opinion one of the most beautiful locations in the country. Just ask Mel Gibson. Our new famous Costa Rica resident made a surprise visit one day. After the rappel, enjoy a delicious lunch at the restaurant and a cold Imperial.

Pura Vida!

On Top of the World, In Costa Rica

2007-06-22T19:34:00.000-05:00

I want to share with you one of the most incredible experiences I have had in my lifetime. And the great thing is that I was fortunate enough to have it with my daughter who recently came to visit me in Costa Rica. Her name is Michelle and she is eighteen and just graduated and will be off to college very soon. This was our Chirripo adventure.

We set off from San Jose to Perez Zeledon on Wednesday. The plan was to spend the night at a hotel near the trail head so we could get an early start the next day. We arrived in San Gerardo after dark and it was raining. It took us about three hours from San Jose with a couple stops along the way. I had heard about a hotel called Pelicano and sure enough we found it. When we arrived at the gate it opened for us, but there was no one around. We saw a house with the lights on so I went and knocked. An elderly man came to the door and told me in Spanish that someone was on the way to check us in. Sure enough a young fellow named Omar showed up shortly thereafter who spoke good English. He asked if we were making the hike the next day and we told him yes. He checked us into our cabin asking when we would like to have breakfast the next day. We told him 5:30 and he said OK.

The next morning we arose very early and packed our gear. We went down for breakfast. The typical Costa Rican breakfast was excellent and Omar told us that our car would be safe at the hotel. He also offered to drive us to the trailhead and also check us in at the park office. The breakfast was excellent. Also the restaurant is a museum for the woodwork of Omar’s father (the elderly gentlemen who had greeted us the night before). We jumped into Omar’s truck and took off. It was about a two mile drive to the trailhead. By the way Omar also picked us up when we returned the next day and let us use the hotel to shower up before the drive home (now that is Costa Rican hospitality). The cabin cost around $40 for the night and was very comfortable.

The hike to the summit of Chirripo is about 20 kilometers (or a little over 12 miles). The trail is difficult and uphill most of the way. The trail itself is full of rocks and mud (especially during the rainy season). It is definitely an endurance test. You have to prepare for it. The first stop along the way was Llano Bonito (about 7 kilometers from the trailhead). There you can refill your canteens and take a little rest. You will probably meet other hikers and can share your pain. There are also toilets, but of the “outhouse” variety. For the hike you need to bring clothes that will keep you warm at Base Crestones (where you will spend the night). It can get very cold there and sometimes even below freezing (the months of Verano….January to April….are the coldest and often vegetation will be iced over in the early mornings). You need to bring food, water and toilet paper. And by all means wear good hiking shoes and bring rain gear.

After refreshing ourselves at Llano Bonito we set off for Base Crestones. The hike from Llano Bonito to Base Crestones is the most difficult with an unrelenting uphill climb. It is 7 kilometers from Llano to Base and then another 5 to 6 to the summit of Chirripo. The hike is amazing in that you pass through so many different tropical environments. At the beginning you are in some pretty dense jungle. After Llano Bonito the vegetation begins to change and you see trees and rocks with all varieties of musgos or mosses. One of the most interesting areas is called Barba del Viejo because the trees have this reddish brown hanging moss that resembles an old man’s bead. As you keep on heading up you finally get to the point where everything changes. It is if you have past from jungle to desert. Actually I have learned that this area is known as the Paramo.

We finally arrive at Base Crestones completely exhausted but feeling very triumphant to have made it this far. When we walked in there was the ranger sitting there with an elderly couple from Germany. They applauded us and that made us feel very welcome and good. Base Crestones would be our home for the night. It is a building with dorm rooms that have two bunk beds. There is a place to cook and many indoor bathrooms. It is pretty barren but comfortable and believe me after the 14 kilometer hike you will be glad you are there. It was too late in the day to try to make the summit that day and the rain started just as we arrived. So we just settled in for the night. It got pretty darn cold that night, but you can rent sleeping bags and blankets there so we were comfortable. I recommend renting the sleeping bags and blankets as opposed to bringing your own in order to keep your load light. The way you will normally want to do this to avoid rain and actually survive is to start the hike to Base Crestones early in the morning (which means you will have to spend the night before at a hotel in San Gerardo…and I highly recommend Pelicano, although there are other options). If you start early chances are you will make it to Base before the rain. Then you will spend one or two nights there and make the ascent to the summit early the next morning, again to avoid rain and see the spectacular views unobstructed by clouds.

Early the next morning (around 6:00 Am) we began the ascent to the summit of Chirripo (3820 meters, or about 12,500 feet). There are actually several peaks in the area that you can climb. After all the pain we endured to get to this point I can tell you that both of us felt that it had all been worth it. I do not have words to describe the beauty and majesty of the scenes we saw that morning. I came to Chirripo on somewhat of a spiritual mission and I sure felt closer to God being in this incredible place. It is a good idea to spend two nights at Base Crestones so you will have time to really explore the area and also not be so exhausted for the descent.

One of the most interesting things we saw were the lakes that actually give birth to two rivers. Rio Chirripo Atlantico and Rio Chirripo Pacifico both get their start from these lakes. After about an hour and a half of hiking we got our first glimpse of the summit of Chirripo. We had been told that the last 400 to 500 metes of the hike were straight up, but when we saw it I have to admit I was a bit intimidated but awestruck as well. Michelle flatly told me, Dad I am NOT going to go up there! I told her that we had come too far to “chicken-out” and after some motivating she finally got up the nerve to make the final ascent to the summit.

Finally we reached the summit and the view was breathtaking. You are indeed on top of the world in Costa Rica. They say on a really clear day that you can actually see both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans from up there. Looking out to the west I could get a glimpse of the Pacific coastline, but there were too many clouds looking to the east to actually see the ocean. Nevertheless I was completely amazed at what I saw.

For anyone who is adventurous and really wants to see the awesome natural beauty that Costa Rica possesses I highly recommend you give Chirripo a try. I caution that this hike is not for smokers (they don’t even allow it anywhere on the trail) and you need to be in pretty good shape to do it. But the gain is well worth the pain. The sense of accomplishment and the incredible beauty you will experience make every meter climbed well worth the effort. I will soon be starting a ministry known as Moment on the Mountain that will be for men who are seeking spiritual renewal and the hike up to the summit of Chirripo will be the climatic event of the week-long adventure. Stay tuned for future blogs and articles from The Costa Rica Zine about this opportunity.

Pura Vida!

Ticos and Dancing

2007-06-11T08:29:00.001-05:00

One of the great joys of this culture for me is Latin music and dance. Ticos are incredible dancers. I have been to neighboring countries of Nicaragua and Panama and, no offense to the incredible people of those places; they just don’t have the natural talent for dancing that the Ticos possess, in my humble opinion.

There are three basic dance forms that you will generally find in Costa Rica. They are Salsa, Merengue and Cumbia. Salsa is my favorite. For me it is the sexiest and most fluid of the other dances. However, it is more difficult to learn than Merengue. Merengue is the easiest because basically your lower body is always moving the same way when you dance. If you can learn that (and even most “Gringos” can) then you can dance Merengue. Cumbia is the most difficult of the three dance forms. What makes it even more difficult is the way that Ticos dance Cumbia. No where in Latin America do Latinos dance Cumbia like Ticos. It involves what appears to be a lot of hopping around, which really is more kicking when you actually learn the steps. Also, the spins and other fancy maneuvers in Cumbia make this dance incredible exercise and a joy to watch. Once I was in Dominical at a little place called Roca Verde, which is actually a restaurant that turns into the most happening disco in the area on Saturday nights. I spied this beautiful young Latin lady and was about to ask her to dance when a Tico guy beat me to the punch (the story of my life). Well I was lucky. Because for the next thirty minutes or so I sat mesmerized watching the two of them perform the most incredible display of Cumbia dancing that I had ever seen. It was almost like gymnastics. I don’t believe my Cumbia would have been quite up to the par for this young lady.

Anyway, Latin dancing is a great joy and if you visit the country you should partake. There is a great chain of dance schools called Merecumbe where you can take private classes (about $20 for an hour’s instruction) or group classes. There are schools all over San Jose. My favorite disco in San Jose is Castro’s Bar located in Bario Mexico. They play all the great Latin music and if you don’t feel up to dancing just sit back and watch. They have some incredible dancers there and it is a joy just to sit and observe. The service is excellent too and upstairs in the best Karaoke bar in San Jose (another great Latin cultural pleasure).

If you are interested in setting up dance classes while you are here or getting recommendations or directions to a great disco, please give me a call at Package Costa Rica. Our toll free number (from U.S. or Canada) is 1-866-424-6439.

Pura Vida!

Things That Really Matter

2007-05-17T08:23:00.000-05:00

I enjoy using this blog space to bring humrous stories and anecdotes about life in Costa Rica. This morning I sat down to write, but nothing immediately came to mind. Then a thought hit me. Since I have spent the last hour or so thinking about God, I am motivated to write something about that subject. I don't know where you might be personally on this issue. But I can tell you that living here in Costa Rica can bring you closer to the Creator and Sustainer of all this incredible beauty. That is, of course, if one were predisposed to focus on such matters. The grandeur and majesty of the mountains that face me each morning when I step out onto the balcony of my apartment. The incredible sunsets and brilliant colors that fill the sky up each evening. The many varieties of birds that are singing outside my window and distracting me as I try to write this. The smiling faces of ticos (well except when they are behind the wheels of their vehicles.....then they look more like demons). All of these things bring me closer in my relationship with the man upstairs. All this beauty can't just be by accident, can it? There must be some intelligence behind this incedible work of art that is Costa Rica. It takes less "faith" for me to accept and believe that, than to choose to believe that it is all the result of some cosmic explosion and that this incredible lanscape teaming with every description of life, well, just evolved randomly. Come on. I wasn't born yesterday. Don't worry I am not going to preach to you. Just want to maybe shift your perspective. I don't know where you might be, physically or spiritually. But take a moment to reflect on the beauty that is all around you. The majesty. God is the author of it all. And what is even more fantastic and amazing is that the Supreme Being made you too and loves you more than you can imagine. I hope these blogs about Costa Rica inspire you to one day make a venture here. If you do please look me up. I would love to share more along these lines. And at the same time show off the country that I love and demonstrate to you why it has been said that Costa Rica is....The Last Country God Made!

Pura Vida!

Scott

Costa Rican "Smart" Dogs

2007-05-03T08:16:00.000-05:00

One can easily see right away upon visiting Costa Rica that Ticos love their dogs. Driving through the countryside you will see dogs of all breeds and generally in well-fed and healthy condition. The exception is San Jose where like most big cities you can see dogs living in less than sanitary environs. Now cats are another thing. I am not sure why, but cats are virtually non-existent in this country. Having never been a great cat lover, this is another in the long list of reasons why I call Costa Rica home. The dog to the left belongs to the owner of one my my favorite hotels in the country, La Mansion Inn, in Manuel Antonio. At La Mansion you always feel right at home, and this feeling is enhanced by Harry's (the owner) dogs having free access to roam the hotel, and that even includes your room.

Now more on the title of this incredible useful and informative blog. Why do I say that Costa Rican dogs are smart, you ask? Well I am from the southern part of the U.S. Down south it is very difficult to drive 5 miles down the road without coming across what we southerners refer to as "roadkill." This could be a possum, or a deer, but more often it is a dog. One of the things that struck me long ago driving through the beautiful back roads of Costa Rica is the absence of roadkill. You just don't see it. This initial observation motivated me to become a student of the behavior of domestic animals that I encountered along the highways and byways in the course of my meanderings. Dogs in this country, my friend, simply possess a much higher degree of intelligence that their counterparts in the southern U.S. (or at least in South Carolina....as I don't want to offend any of you dog-lovers from, say, Alabama). Maybe it is just the fact that our dogs back in the states lead more sheltered lives. I don't know. But here dogs learn from an early age to "get out of the way" of oncoming traffic. When you visit Costa Rica be observant. Whenever you see a dog in the road, watch their reaction as the vehicle draws close. They will rather nonchalantly just get up and move out of the way so as not to disparage the pristine back roads with their dead rotting carcass. It is a wonderful thing. Maybe ICT (the tourism ministry in Costa Rica) has some sort of program underway to educate the dogs so as not to have roadkill littering the highways from Tamarindo to Jaco. Whatever the real reason for this phenomenon, I will continue to believe that dogs in Costa Rica are just smart.

From Your Costa Rica Expert

Pura Vida!

It's About "Tico" Time

2007-04-19T10:14:00.000-05:00

North Americans (those we down here lovingly call "Gringos"....yea I know I am still a gringo too) are often aghast at the Tico cultural attitudes about punctuality. It is said in Costa Rica that if you arrive on time to a scheduled meeting you are early, if you arrive thirty minutes late you are on time and only if you arrive MORE than thirty minutes late are you really, well, late. Now there are some practical reasons for this, which are especially true in San Jose. For one thing the traffic in San Jose at times is absolutely atrocious. Now, you are probably thinking yes but you have to take all that into account and leave early enough so as to anticipate traffic related delays and still be punctual. Here is my advice so listen well. If you are going to come down here with that sort of thinking, just stay home!!! We don't think that far ahead down here. We would rather burn our brain cells on other more important matters. Just look at my friend Mack in the picture to the left (no that is not me....I am much younger and better looking than that dope!). Does he look like he is worried about making it on time to his next scheduled meeting?? Of course not!! He is engaged in much more worthy pursuits like kicking back with a cold Imperial. Pura Vida!

An area where "Tico Time" is most evident is the never ending wait for the bill (or cuenta) when you complete your meal at virtually any restaurant in the country. Now we (you see I said "we") gringos are used to receiving the bill (or having it shoved down our throats) even before we have tasted the last morsel. Not here. If you are waiting to receive the bill get ready to wait a long long time. Why is this? Well you see in Costa Rica it is considered rude and socially unacceptable to bring the bill before officially asked. In Costa Rica culture all social problems are resolved by talking it through for hours after finishing the meal. Therefore, if you want the bill you have to say, repeat after me, "la cuenta por favor." Or better yet, "regaleme la cuente por favor." And please always say please, because the culture here is very polite. Please and thank yous are always expected and appreciated.

Just another little cultural tidbit from your ""gringo" Costa Rica Expert.

Pura Vida Mae!

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2007-04-15T08:23:00.001-05:00

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Pescado Entero: And Other Costa Rican Delicacies

2007-04-12T07:45:00.000-05:00

Being in the travel business I often get questions about Costa Rica food. What do people eat in Costa Rica? My standard answer is that in Costa Rica we have lots of food. One thing Costa Rica will likely never run short of is food. It is literally a place where if you spit a seed on the ground it will grow right there. It is a place where fences are made by simply planting sticks in the ground that then take root and make a solid immovable fence post. It is a place where every fruit imaginable grows. It is a place where there are thousands upon thousands of acres of pasture land with big fat healthy cattle grazing. It is a place with two oceans teaming with fish and other critters just waiting to be caught and eaten (sorry if that offends any PETA people who might read this). So what do Costa Ricans eat? Well the title of this Blog, Pescado Entero and other Costa Rican Delicacies provides a hint. Yes Costa Ricans love their fish. "Pescado Entero" is my personal favorite. It is a whole fried fish, head, tail and all. It is usually of the Corvina variety, which is a Sea Bass. It is usually served with "patacones", which are green plaintains that have been mashed and pan fried. You might also get a small salad. You can get pescado entero at most "sodas", which are small typical restaurants that you can find almost everywhere. Around the coastal towns, the pescado entero is of course the best. At these sodas the typical meal that a Costa Rican might order is called a "casado", which is the Spanish word for marriage. I am not sure why they call it a casado, but I guess it is a marriage of food or something like that. Anyway, a casado will always feature a meat of either "pollo" (chicken), "chuleta" (pork chop), "carne" or "bistek" (red meat), or "pescado" (fish). It will also have a small salad, rice and black beans and usually some sort of casserole (generally made of potatoes or yuca). My favorite Costa Rican meal, however, is breakfast. One of the most authentic Costa Rican dishes is "gallo pinto." This is a rice and beans dish, flavored with all sorts of spices and it is delicious. You can get it a little different depending on what part of the country your in. For instance in most parts it is fried in vegetable oil, but in the province of Limon, generally it is cooked in coconut oil. The typical Costa Rica breakfast will always feature gallo pinto and will offer your choice of "juevos" (eggs) either "fritos" (fried) or "revueltos" (scrambled) and "salchicha" or "chorizo" (different types of sausage) or tocineta (bacon). It will usually also feature "platanos maduros", which is a plaintain that is fried in oil and made sweet with something like brown sugar. The breakfasts in Costa Rica are simply delicious. Well this gives you an idea of what we eat down here. Always fruits are fantastic. Natural fruit juices ("jugos naturales") are to die for. One of my favorites is "guanabana." Costa Rica may not be known for its food like some other destinations (Mexico and Italy for example), but I have not received too many complaints about food here. Oh and the water is completely safe to drink anywhere in the country. So come on down and enjoy some great Costa Rican food.

Pura Vida!

Bajos del Toro: A Well-Kept Secret that is Getting Out

2007-03-22T07:35:00.000-05:00

From time to time I will be posting about areas of Costa Rica that are up and coming. Bajos del Toro is definitely one of those. The location is in the shadows of the Poas Volcano. To get there you take a right turn in front of the famous oxcart factory in Sarchi. At this point you pretty much leave civilization. You will drive through a protected zone of the the Rio Toro. The road is very narrow at times and the shoulder drops to oblivion. But the views are fantastic. You will climb the mountains to about 6,000 feet and then start descending to the little village of Toro Amarillo. Word is that the folks that brought us the Punta Islita resort in Guanacaste are building a five star hotel right there in this tiny little farming village. If they do anything as nice as Punta Islita, this place will be booming. This little valley is also called Valle de Truchas because there are many places where you can fish for trout from the Rio Toro and have someone cook them for you right there on the spot. One of these places is Nene's. Nene also has cabins where you can stay very cheaply and a nice little restaurant where they will cook you all the trout you can catch and/or eat. I am very excited about this area from a real estate standpoint. If the five star hotel goes in you are going to see prices in the area skyrocket. Right now you can buy land for anywhere from $5 to $10 per square meter, but once the hotel is in, land will likely go for as much as $20. It is also only about a 20 to 30 minuite drive from Sarchi, a bustling medium sized town (which by the way is the furniture capitol of Costa Rica) and only about 1.5 hours from San Jose. We are probably 2 years out from seeing this jump in prices, so now is a good time to get in. It is a charming and peaceful area full of beauty and ecological diversity.

Now to the most amazing attraction of the area. Costa Rica is known for its amazing rivers and waterfalls. But the most spectacular in my opinion is right here in the Bajos del Toro. It is known as Cataratas del Toro. My friends, Donais and Will have the only way you can gain entrance to the falls. They own about 100 hectares around the area of the falls. They have done some amazing work to make the falls accessible by building a walkway all the way down to the base. Once you descend down you will see something truly amazing. The water from the Rio Toro has a high acid content because it flows directly from the Poas Volcano. In this are called the cloud forest you will see many of the giant plants that we call Sombrillas, or umbrella plants. At the base of the falls you will notice that the Sombrillas look as if they have been torched. I mean charred as if by a flame. How can that be in an area that stays completely wet 365 days of the year? It is because of the spray from the waterfall contacting with the plants and the acid content burns them in this way. I have never seen anything like this anywhere else. Also, Donais and Will run a rappel tour right down the rock face beside the thundering waterfall. It is a 400 foot adrenaline pumping experience. They also have a gorgeous little restaurant where you can get the best arroz con pollo in the country, as well as other great dishes. They have three cozy little cabins in case you decide to stay for a while. Trails around their property will lead you through the cloud forest where you can see a great variety of birds and Donais has even reported seeing Pumas on her property. The place is truly amazing.

Very few know about this great location. Tourist buses don't go through here, although in my opinion it is the most beautiful and fastest route to La Fortuna and the Arenal Volcano. Also, once you hit the highway if you go the other way you will end up in Varra Blanca, which is also a great place full of beauty. Also close by is the Sarapiqui River, one of the best for rafting in the country. It only takes about one hour to get from Cataratas del Toro to Arenal and the roads are quite good. Although, once you hit the highway you will quickly notice that it is a major truck route, which can make for some hairy night time driving. I am quite sure that the word will get out about this place. Will and Donais are certainly trying to make sure of that. Please take a look at their web site, Cataratas del Toro. We are now taking all of our customers in route to the Arenal Volcano through this wonderful place and to date everyone has been extremely thankful for it.

For more information about how to get there or even to set up a tour to the area please visit our Travel Website or give us a call toll free at 1-866-424-6439. We also do Real Estate Exploration Tours and would be glad to show you opportunities in this or other areas.

Pura Vida!

Costa Rica's Roads: Are They Really That Bad?

2007-03-21T07:25:00.000-05:00

The answer is yes and no. Let's start with driving in San Jose. San Jose is the capitol of the country and by far its largest city. The entire metropolitan area (or GAM) consists of not just San Jose, but also Alajuela, Heredia and Cartago. Half the population of the entire country lives in this area. As you can imagine driving in San Jose is far different than what you might be used to. The city is a web of unmarked one way streets. Traffic signals are in Spanish (duh!). There are traffic lights, but they are not in sync and change very rapidly. Running red lights is a sport here in San Jose (everybody does it). It is virtually impossible to give someone directions because none of the streets are marked and often you have to go around your elbow to get to your $%^#@! because of all the one way streets. Do I sound like I am complaining? Listen, the truth is I love my city, San Jose. The weather is perfect, there are more restaurants and great places to go dancing and have a good time than you can count and so many beautiful ladies everywhere, BUT the one complaint I do have is the traffic. During rush hours I sometimes want to end it all right there. It drives me crazy. And if there has been an accident here is how it works in Costa Rica. The cars cannot be moved one inch until the guy from INS (the national insurance company) shows up to assess damage. These guys drive mopeds and it usually takes them about two hours to show up at the scene. Meanwhile the cars just sit there holding up traffic to infinity (and beyond). Yes I am complaining. Now that I have had my rant about San Jose's traffic, let's switch gears to the more tranquil country driving..........

Mountain roads. Here is where you can experience some of Costa Rica's most breathtaking scenery. Generally these roads are paved (of course there are exceptions). One of the most incredible is the road that goes from San Jose to San Isidro and crosses Cerro de la Muerte. This is one of Costa Rica's highest peaks at an elevation of 3,491 meters (over 11,000 feet). The road goes right over the top and if it is clear you can see forever. Often, however, you are shrouded in dense fog and this road can be quite dangerous as it is also a major truck route. The road leads on after San Isidro (which by the way is a charming little town) to Dominical on the Pacific Coast. The road from Dominical down the Southern Pacific Coast is one of the best in the country. There are many other spectacular mountains roads. These roads can be very narrow with many hairpin turns so you really have to keep your whits about you, which is hard considering all the incredible scenery that your passengers will be oohing and aaahing about. Rule number one is to always keep your wheels in the road because Costa Rica roads generally have no shoulders and if you run off the road more than likely you either go over a cliff (worse) or bottom out to your axles (better). And if you hit a fog bank don't panic, just try to keep your eyes on where the edge of the road is so you don't run off it and over a cliff (remember stay in the road!).

Coastal Roads. These roads can often be pot hole infested and many are not even paved. Guanacaste roads are famously bad despite the tremendous development that is going on there. During the green season, when we get afternoon showers almost every day, these roads are much worse. The municipalities are in charge with maintaining them and during the green season (May to November) it is a losing battle so they pretty much just let them go. While driving down one of these infamously bad roads, like the road from Quepos to Dominical (remember you can also get there via San Isidro on a much better road), you just have to keep reminding yourself that you are in paradise. If it gets too bad you can stop at one of the multitude of little bars that seem to pop up about every five kilometers. One thing we will never run out of in Costa Rica is Imperial and the bars that serve it.

A few pointers about driving the roads. First the conversion from kilometers to miles is very easy, just multiply by .60 and you are close enough (that's right Scarlet, 100 kilometers is about 60 miles). Bridges are almost always one lane and one side or the other (have never figured out if there is any rhyme or reason as to which side gets the yield) must yield to the other side. The yield sign is an inverted triangle with the words Ceda. Also, when driving through a small town be on the lookout for unpainted and unmarked speed bumps. And always be on the lookout for pot holes that can flatten a tire in a heartbeat. If you do have trouble on the road, like needing a tire plugged, almost every little town will have a mechanic (called a Taller) and you can generally stop and get your problem fixed for next to nothing. One of the worst roads in the country is the dirt road that leads to Monteverde, a little mountain town about 8,000 feet up. The locals have historically kept this road horrible either to discourage tourism (that hasn't worked because it is one of the most visited locations in the country for tourists) or to add to the mystique and adventure of going to Monteverde (when you arrive you can buy a t-shirt that reads, "I survived the road to Monteverde."). Anyway, once I drove there and when I arrived I noticed the strong smell of gasoline. Upon arriving at the hotel I took a look under the car and noticed gas pouring out from a hole where a rock had punctured the tank. The hotel made me park about a mile away so as not to blow the place up. The next day I was able to get the tank permanently repaired for about 15,000 colones (about $30). And I have had no problems to this day with that repair job.

All that said, our current president (Oscar Arias) is trying to put his campaign rhetoric into action by fixing the roads around the country. There is more roadwork going on now than I have ever seen. They are even working on the road from Quepos to Dominical, which once paved will make property values in that area skyrocket since this in my opinion is our most beautiful stretch of coastline, but a bit remote considering that this road is only 40 kilometers long, but during the green season can take up to 2.5 hours to traverse. The roads in Guanacaste are getting major improvements as well. I just hope the roads never get too good. After all this is Costa Rica and we are proud of our crappy roads. Happy driving!

Listen, if you ever need assistance with driving Costa Rica's roads you can always contact me. Go to my Travel Website for more information or call me directly at the toll free number: 1-866-424-6439.

Pura Vida!

Where is Costa Rica?

2007-03-14T09:20:00.000-05:00

I was working as a mergers and acquisitions consultant for my own firm and on a prospecting trip to Greensboro, North Carolina. I stopped to see an attorney who I had a hunch might have a deal for me. She told me about a guy in Costa Rica who owned a university. My first reaction was, where the hell is Costa Rica? She informed me that it was in Central America and so my second reaction was, isn't it dangerous down there? She assured me that it was safe and I asked for the contact information for this gentleman. The next thing I know I am on a plane to this mysterious place. I had never traveled to Latin America and knew virtually no Spanish whatsoever. However, being a pretty good salesman I landed the deal and after two years of very intense work, sold the university to an American company then known as Sylvan. Little did I know that that fateful meeting in Greensboro, North Carolina would change the course of my life forever!

Being by nature a curious person, I was immediately overwhelmed by Costa Rica. Driving through San Jose that fateful day of my first Costa Rica experience I was taken by the beauty of the mountains that surround the city. The smells, the people who seem to be everywhere, the architecture, which was so different from what I was use to, and, of course, the beautiful ladies, oh my God, the beautiful ladies........All of these things drew me in and ultimately I became another Costa Rica addict.

If you are intrigued by the idea of traveling to Costa Rica, I will give you my top ten reasons why you should go ahead and get on the plane and experience it for yourself. Don't get me wrong, it is probably not for everyone. If you prefer the whitewashed streets and two car garages and manicured lawns and sidewalks and streets that are empty because all the people are inside watching their large screen home entertainment centers. If you prefer a society that is more into living to work rather than working to live, then you might not like Costa Rica that much. Yes it is very different down here. A different pace of life. A different outlook. Different values. Different language. Different food. Different everything. So if you want to be different, here are ten good reason to come to Costa Rica, in random order:

Something to do all the time....most of it outdoors.
A topography that is as varied as the U.S., but in a space the size of West Virginia.
As much biological diversity as the entire continent of Africa in a country, yes, the size of West Virginia.
A place where you can find almost perfect weather somewhere.
Beaches that are uncrowded and waves of all sizes.
People who are as warm and friendly as you will find anywhere.
A culture that is rich and inviting, with good food, great music and dance and a live and let live spirit.
The most beautiful women on the planet (didn't I already mention that?)
A place where you can live on a portion of what you live on in the states and like a king!
A place where you can take a Sunday drive into the country and understand why this is The Last Country the Gods Made!

Intrigued? This blog is dedicated to exposing my experiences, thoughts, knowledge and probably a little bullshit about the country I have come to know and love, Costa Rica. I hope you enjoy it. By the way, if you are interested in traveling to Costa Rica, check out my travel site, Package Costa Rica.