Probably one of the best bathroom signs I have seen at Los Amigos. They sell t-shirts with this logo on it.
I had not been to Jaco in a while - with said, a while back I wrote about how wild Jaco is and how I predicted that the desire for tourist bucks will change it. Needless to say, I spend some time checking out the ‘new’ Jaco a few weeks ago.
Those that experienced Jaco years ago had warnings about the lawless of the town. Druggies, prostitution, pickpockets etc, pretty much ran it. I’m impress how Jaco has changed. The last time I was there, old men with their bellies protruding from Hawaiian shirts with hookers on their arms was a common occurrence. And high-rise cranes littered the sky in development. Not anymore.
However, Jaco still has it problems, last August the mayor was arrested for embezzlement, illicit enrichment, misrepresentation and fraud and there are still those undesirables that cruise the streets and beaches, harassing gringos to buy drugs and other illegal items. Jaco has also become sorta the “no-mans-zone” for drug traffickers. This has increased the on-foot police force – which is a good thing as it gives the tourist a sense of security. Read more...(950 words, 5 images, estimated 3:48 mins reading time)
Dominical used to be one of those Costa Rican coastal villages that was the talk of surfers and travelers that managed to disregard their GPS settings.
However, that started to change in the mid 2000s when private enterprises started to promote the kick-back town as Costa Rica’s newest and hottest tourist attraction.
Dominical is unique because it has mountains rising behind and around it, beaches to the front and sides, and beautiful jungle terrain making up much of the immediate surroundings – walk a 1/2 mile inland and one is in Tarzan country. The Río Barú (Barú River) empties into the Pacific Ocean at Dominical, and along the banks, you will find ecologists enjoying and studying the local species.
Even if Dominical is considered on Costa Rica’s Central Pacific coast, it is also the gateway to the Southern Pacific becoming the last outpost before heading south to places like Osa Peninsula, Puerto Jimenez, and the Golfito area. With Manuel Antonio National Park to the north, Dominical has become the town of choice for a centralized vacation spot.
Five reasons why Dominical has become one of thee places to visit. Read more...(682 words, 3 images, estimated 2:44 mins reading time)
In the 1600s pirates combed Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast in search of Indian gold and trading ship’s merchandise. However their greatest find is still undiscovered by many today. Its enchanting, uncrowded beaches, distinctive climate and charming, carefree culture make Costa Rica’s south Caribbean a true treasure yet to be known.
For nature lovers, Costa Rica’s Caribbean holds a treasure trove of possibilities. Not only can you swim, snorkel and dive in the crystal clear blue waters and walk for miles on virtually deserted beaches; you can also hike deep into the jungle, climbing to breathtaking mountain vistas. Among the areas prized attractions, The Jaguar Wild Animal Rescue Center is a real gem. Here you can see and learn about the diverse and fascinating Costa Rica wildlife. You can even go into the monkey house and play with baby monkeys.
The jungle vegetation provides a wealth of useful plants. On a medicinal plant tour with local guide Junior Palmer, you’ll smell the ylang ylang flower, used to make Chanel Number 5. Ginger, cilantro, vanilla and much more grow wild in the rain forest. Read more...(1337 words, 1 image, estimated 5:21 mins reading time)
A once was quiet remote town of Puerto Jimenez has grown to become the largest town on the Osa Peninsula today. Located in the southern part of the Puntarenas province, this kick-back town is one of the main gateways to the beautiful Corcovado National Park. With said, it has become one of the hot eco destinations in Costa Rica.
Many will take a plane, but those that like to see the country side, getting to Puerta Jimenez by vehicle can be a 6-8-10 hour drive from San Jose, and that is only if road conditions are good. When traveling during the rainy season ask the locals for information on whether the road has problems or is it ONLY passable with 4WD.
To really see Costa Rica, it requires you to drive out into the rural countryside. By far, the majority of roads in Costa Rica are dirt roads. Don’t even think of a gravel road – dirt roads are dirt, which becomes mud in the rainy season. And even the gravel and paved roads like Ruta (highway) 245, the turnoff from the Pam American Highway (Highway 2) getting to Jimenez can become one adventure and one huge obstacle course dodging mega pot holes, squeezing by 18-wheelers, landslides and one-way bridges that have the looks of rust and used as targets in aerial bombings. Read more...(552 words, 1 image, estimated 2:12 mins reading time)
Guanacaste has posted some great numbers in 2011 however things still seem to be slow in talking with many hoteliers, restaurateurs and retailers. Our real estate friends in Guanacaste are positive and things seem to be picking up a bit, but our friends in Atenas are talking about a slump. Their situations were completely reversed a year ago. Many other factors on the table are very positive for Guanacaste and we are predicting big things here in the next ten years instead of the up and down market in the last few years.
One very notable positive is that Costa Rica has returned to the top ten places to invest in Real Estate in the world, this by the highly respected International Living Magazine after an eleven year hiatus. The reason given for being taken off the list originally were exorbitant real estate prices. This has changed, and is great news for those people that were careful or lucky with their finances and are looking to invest in a way of life that is often not affordable in the United States or Canada anymore. Read more...(882 words, 2 images, estimated 3:32 mins reading time)
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