The first time I went to Puerto Jimenez was back in the mid 1970, and it took us about three days traveling on very pot-hole ridden, one-lane dirt road. And thinking back, I think we were heading to Panama or Golfito, made a right instead of going straight at Chacarita, and ended in this very remote town. About the only Gringos we saw were surfers who were headed to Cabo Matapalo, a small town … [Read more...]
Archives for 2010
Costa Rica’s 2010 Sportfishing Season Ends
12/24/2010 by Leave a Comment
"The anglers were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of roosterfish danced in their heads". Apologies to Clement Clarke Moore, who wrote 'Twas the Night before Christmas' almost 200 years ago, for this bit of poetic license. Of course, had he been a fisherman — and we can't rule that out — he would surely understand. There was more than roosterfish on the mind of Steve Hanna and … [Read more...]
Carbon Neutrality for Costa Rica By 2030?
12/20/2010 by 2 Comments
Little did we all know but that tiny Costa Rica is one of only four countries in the world that has set a concrete goal of Carbon neutrality by the year 2030. Former Environment Minister Roberto Dobles said the tiny, jungle-cloaked Central American nation would clean up its fossil fuel-fired power plants, promote hybrid vehicles and increase tree planting to balance its emissions. "The goal … [Read more...]
Costa Rica Private Investigator – Hiring, Wages, Free Trade
12/14/2010 by 2 Comments
If you think being a Private Investigator is how Hollywood has glorified it, think again. Most PIs will tell you, nowadays it's more leg work and lonely surveillance. The days of the Sam Spades and Philip Marlows may be over in the US, but not necessary in Costa Rica. With the industry now growing at a rapid rate, and the need for corporations and legal firms to use private investigators, the … [Read more...]
Decreasing Carbon Footprints: Building Green in Costa Rica
11/28/2010 by 1 Comment
“Green’ Construction or decreasing "Carbon Footprints" in the beach areas of Costa Rica is a doubly demanding task as the weather conditions reach two extremes for a considerable period of time depending on what part of the country you are in. In the dry tropical rain forest in the Province of Guanacaste the rainy season and the dry season are on full throttle roughly half the year. The green … [Read more...]
Eco-friendly Architecture and Home in Costa Rica
11/22/2010 by Leave a Comment
The beauty of Eco-friendly architecture is that you are tapping into and amplifying the peace and exhilaration of nature. Since graduating from Santa Clara University with a double major in environmental studies and anthropology I have remodeled and landscaped our family vacation home into a luxury villa which is now available to rent by night, week or month. When I first walked the hill above … [Read more...]
Costa Rica’s Non Smoking Policies and Laws
11/13/2010 by 3 Comments
If you smoke, you may have problems in Costa Rica. Back in May, 2009 the government imposed a tax hike on cigarettes which pretty much outraged smokers when the price jumped about 30%, then it followed with a year later the countries first international say “No” To Smoking Day. A few days later thousands of school children in Cartago gathered to unite against smoking at “Fello” Meza Stadium – … [Read more...]
Road Conditions in Costa Rica – Mudslides, Construction, Closed Bridges
11/11/2010 by Leave a Comment
When you vacation in Costa Rica, you will most likely rent a car when you arrive in San Jose. The highway system in the capital city of San Jose is comprised of modern multi-lane freeways that look very much like freeways in other large cities around the world. Road conditions in Costa Rica can change very quickly during heavy rains, etc especially in the rural countryside. During Tropical … [Read more...]
Tropical Storm Tomas Pounds Costa Rica – Roads Closed Bridges Out
11/06/2010 by Leave a Comment
Tropical Storm Tomas pounded Costa Rica with strong winds and heavy rains that triggered hundreds of landslides, power outages, and road closers all over Costa Rica. The storm hit the Quepos area very hard. The country’s National Emergency Commission said in an e-mailed statement, torrential rains have left Costa Rica in emergency status; mudslide in Escazu (suburb of San Jose) killed 20 people … [Read more...]
Ups and Downs on Costa Rica Real Estate – Guanacaste
10/28/2010 by 6 Comments
Costa Rica Real Estate has seen a lot of downs and ups and downs in my 7 years in Guanacaste. A prime example are the surf side lots in Potrero. When I arrived they were giving the things away for as low as $7,000 dollars apiece. About a year or so in to my sojourn here the lots started a fantastic spiral along with all of the tourism and vacation style property in the area. Fueled by the equity … [Read more...]
Stupid, Bizarre and Lack of Common Sense Questions on Costa Rica
10/24/2010 by 13 Comments
We get a lot of questions asked about Costa Rica everyday and some are very good and well others … well, let me put it this way, we wonder about the brain cells of some of the teachers that are teaching schools nowadays. So in the last year, we have collected a bunch of questions that users have asked at Yahoo answers, Frommers, and other chat or forum or travel websites and thought we would … [Read more...]
Stalking in Costa Rica – Stop Violent Predators Against Women
Recently we received the above video that was on a website, Stalking in Costa Rica. The video was very disturbing in parts. The sender asked us for our help in spreading the word on this violent crime on women, and cyber awareness to this one particular grave situation in a hope to bring justice against this violent predator who was first talked about in Rip Off Report a few years … [Read more...]