Top 10 Costa Rica

Situated along the spectacular coastline of Quepos, Costa Rica with direct access to some of the world’s best sport fishing, development of Costa Rica’s newest premier destination and world class marina is underway. Marina Pez Vela scheduled to open late 2008, is the vision of sport fishing enthusiast and Costa Rica local Harold Lovelady. Harold and colleague John Kane have teamed up with world renowned marina contractor Bellingham Marine to deliver a state-of-the art modern marina. The new marina will open up thousands of miles of ocean to anglers and trans-oceanic travelers and is positioned to be the region’s premier destination marina.

Quepos has long been regarded as a fishing haven; however, access to the region’s fishing grounds is nearly impossible. Boating facilities and services in the region are extremely limited. Marina Pez Vela will provide a safe haven and fully staffed maintenance facility for boaters. “We are confident Marina Pez Vela will satisfy the tremendous demand for marina services in the region, which have gone largely unmet until now and will provide access to Costa Rica’s tranquil, rich waters and stunning coastline,” commented John Kane, partner in the project.

The 300-slip marina will feature extra wide modern concrete floating docks to allow easy access by golf carts, safe loading of passengers and equipment, and secure moorage. The first phase of construction includes 100-slips accommodating yachts up to 200 feet in length. Slip side services include telephone, cable, high speed internet, fresh water and electrical hook ups. High speed fuel pumps, septic pump-out and dockside concierge services will also be available on site. The marina will be built with an emphasis toward environmental protection and will meet full American and Costa Rican building codes and standards.

Marina Pez Vela is slated to be a world class waterfront development. Upon completion, the development will include a full service 300-slip marina, a drystack for boats up to 40 feet, maintenance facilities with a 200-ton travel lift, an upscale boutique hotel, residential units, restaurants, upscale shopping and a retail center including tackle shop, marine supplies, deli and grocery store.

As the world’s leading marina design/build construction company, Bellingham Marine produces Unifloat saltwater systems, Unideck freshwater systems and Unistack dry storage systems for marinas worldwide.

Some have criticized the government here in Costa Rica for being to lax when it comes to petty thieving and minor offenses in the community, but now the government wants to crack down harder on these types of crime and more as they aim to pass a new bill through the Legislative Assembly.

Laura Chinchilla, Vice President of Costa Rica, has stated that crime has started to venture out of more industrial and commercial areas of Costa Rica and is finding its way to Residential spots, therefore making these legal reforms important to increase the safety and security of the people who lived in such areas.

Crimes on motorbikes have also increased, especially in connection with ‘hired killings. The proposed law changes hope to implement that motorcyclists in Costa Rica would have to start wearing vests that correctly display their license number for all to see, including cameras, which would hopefully decrease this number. A similar practice is being used in Colombia.

Chinchilla has admitted though that some of the laws proposals may not be fool proof and some could be flawed, but without trial and error they will never know. There will always be the opportunity to amend the laws if it is believed that can be changed to be made more efficient in the future.

The proposal also covers other topics such as more protection for witnesses and victims of crimes, further regulation of firing weapons, installation of more neighbourhood check points and probably toughest of all, increase the Judicial Police’s budget in order to combat the increases in crime here.

At $16 a person, The Real Coffee Tour is not the principle bread winner for the Vargas family, which has run the Doka Estate coffee plantation through generations and almost 80 years. But for owner Don Rodrigo Vargas, it is one of his greatest sources of delight.

Educating people about the process of making coffee from the initial planting process to the cup has become a vocation for Mr. Vargas, who helped to implement the Coffee Tour 11 years ago. Today, the Estate, which is located in San Luis de Sabanilla de Alajuela, in route to the Poas volcano, might see upwards of 100 visitors a day.

Soon Vargas will be able to educate even more people thanks to Doka’s invitation to set up an interactive station dedicated to the making of coffee at the newly opened agricultural theme park Panaca, also located in Alajuela. The company will conduct a show called “The Wonderful World of Coffee”, provide samples of their products and have guides walk guests through the traditional process of growing and making gourmet coffee.

The Real Coffee Tour

To see the real process in action, tourists should make a trip to the actual Doka Estate. The fertile volcanic soil, cool climate and 4,500 foot altitude provides optimal growing conditions for the family’s 32 farms of Arabic coffee plants, and a refreshing day-trip from San José.

The estate has an open policy, allowing tour groups or even make-shift guides like taxi drivers, full access to their main farm and historic wet mill processing plant to show guests around. The company guides are still the most knowledgeable resources and will easily fill up an hour with unrehearsed information about the sustainable farming methods used to create their gourmet coffee.

In Costa Rica, the Coffee Institute (Icafé) has strict standards to ensure a high quality brand for Costa Rican coffee. Since 1989, they have only allowed the production of Arabic coffee beans, which are considered the best in the world. However, the plants tend to produce a lower quantity.

After the 4-year maturation period and cutting plants back to be more fruitful, each plant will only produce coffee for a total of about 16 years, to make about 20 pounds of coffee.

During each harvest from November to February, 3,000 workers are needed to comb the plants three separate times to pick the cherries that ripen at different rates. As this is seasonal work, it is difficult to fill the ranks to bring in an entire harvest, leaving many cherries unpicked.

Hand picked and completely natural

Doka Estate sticks to a strictly sustainable process. They limit pesticide use by planting fruit trees that are more attractive to predator animals and bugs. Bean shells are reused to make paper, fertilizer for the plants and to serve as fuel to help dry the new beans.

They use a century-old water mill, called a “benificio humedo”, to sort the high-quality beans from the lesser quality ones, remove the shells and sugars, transport the beans and finally to dry them. The mill is now considered to be a National Heritage Site and cannot be altered from its original state.

The coffee beans are left to dry in the sun, where workers methodically rotate them every 30 minutes before they are transported to a low-temperature oven, heated by bean shells, to finish off the process.

The Final Product

Of the highest quality beans, 70% is exported to the United States, 15% to Japan, 5% to Europe. The majority of the exports to the United States are sold to Starbucks where they are toasted and sold under the company’s name. . The remaining 10% stays in Costa Rica to be toasted and sold in tourist destinations with the Doka “Tres Generaciones” name.

Guests on The Coffee Tour and to Panaca receive free samples of the Doka’s eight specific coffee varieties including: French Roast, European Roast, Organic, House Blend and Peaberry, a favorite among guests for its sweet flavor. Peaberry coffee is actually the result of a genetic mutation that results in the bean looking more like a pea than a coffee bean.

Another way to get a taste of Doka traditions, coffee and other products is to stop by one of the five coffee houses that are set up in the Central Valley and Puntarenas. They can be found in San Ramon, San Isidro de Alajuela, San Pedro de Poas, Downtown Alajuela, and Tarcoles in Puntarenas

The Doka Estate Website offers all of their high-quality coffees online with low shipping costs to the United States and Canada. Try their current Valentine’s Day promotion: the best way to show your favorite coffee lover how much you love them.

It was confirmed today by Scientists that they have found yet another volcano in Costa Rica.  Costa Rica had before confirmed only 249 volcanoes throughout the country however the addition of the 250th was a mystery as Scientists had been sitting on this news for over 2 years.The volcano is situated near San Carlos (the other side of the active Arenal Volcano to La Fortuna).  Costa Rica’s volcanoes exit due to the so called Rim of Fire that runs near the country.  Currently Costa Rica has 7 active volcanoes of which the Arenal Volcano is the most active in Costa Rica and 3rd most active in the world. The Poas volcano has the 2nd largest crater diameter in the world, over 1.5KM and also has a blue lagoon that sits in this crater.  You  can visit the crater and look at the blue lagoon as it appears and disappears through the clouds.  Irazu Volcano is the highest in Costa Rica over 3432 meters high.In the 1950’s the Costa Rican Government decided to Nationalise the  area around the volcanoes into National Parks.  Therefore you can visit the Arenal National Park and Rincon de Vieja National Park.

Costa Rica has always been associated with volcanoes as it was the back bone of the countries agricultural production.  Typically the famous Costa Rican Coffee was always grown on fertile volcanic land and hence the fabulous and delicious taste that the coffee offers.

The newest release from the organizers of the Imperial Festival 2008 confirmed that Babasonicos, Seal, Zoé and Café Tacvba will be playing at the two-day event on April 19 and 20. They join Duran Duran, Incubus, the Smashing Pumpkins and Enrique Iglesias.

This all-star international lineup is brought to you by the organizers of the event, La Cervezeria, brewers of Costa Rica’s favorite beer Imperial, and distributor of Heineken and Imperial to the country.

Tickets for the two days are being sold separately, starting at $20 per day up to $60 for VIP. The organizers claim that more than half of the 22,000 available tickets have already been purchased, so get your tickets soon! They are available online at specialticket.net.

On Saturday, the concert will open with Mexican group Café Tacuba, followed by Costa Ricans LePop, Argentinians Babasonicos, Incubus and Smashing Pumpkins.

Sunday night will see Mexican alternative rock group Zoé, followed by Costa Ricans Porpartes, british singer Seal, Enrique Iglesias and Duran Duran.

The marketing manager of the Cervecería explained that they are trying to appeal to all music fans with a diverse lineup ranging from pop to alternative rock. However, some fans think that the concert should remain principally a rock event and have started a petition to remove Enrique Iglesias from the lineup.

Costa Rica’s changing demographics are demanding higher quality goods and services. Among these is the basic food we eat and many Ticos are starting to do what they can to lead a healthier lifestyle.

Most Ticos buy their fruits and vegetables at the local grocery store and this has obvious benefits like convenience, strict quality control standards, sanitary regulations, a safe environment, etc. For those looking for a little something extra, there are alternative places to buy your produce. One such option is to buy local.

‘La Feria’
La Feria del Agricultor is Costa Rica’s version of a Farmer’s Market. Just about every small town has one and it’s usually held on Saturday or Sunday. Most Ferias are held close to the town center or on one of the side streets that runs along the local church or soccer field. The Feria is an open-air market where you can find all sorts of fresh produce and sometimes you even buy directly from the farmer who harvested it that same day. Be sure to shop around as prices for the same product could vary significantly from one stand to the next. Negotiating a lower price, or haggling, is acceptable and is often a fun part of the experience. Some Ferias enhance the already lively atmosphere and take it to another level by having live marimba music or offering traditional breakfast foods you can eat as you walk.

Even though Ferias start very early in the morning, you’ll probably only find a few people at 5 am, but things can quickly get busy. If you’re going primarily for the shopping, be there early (6-ish) to get your pick from the day’s selection. If you’re going mainly for the fun of it, 9-10 am is probably the best as it’s still not too early (for those who like to sleep in a bit) and it’s not so late that the noon sun scorches your skin.

Costa Rica will hook up with a third undersea international data cable in July, said the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad.

The cable will be by Global Crossing, and it will be in the Pacific. The country now is connected to the world with two undersea cables, the Maya 1 and the Arcos, and both are in the Caribbean.

The cable will come ashore at Esterillos de Parrita, Puntarenas, and a facility is being constructed there. From that point the cable will be connected
to the nation’s data distribution system that carries, among other signals, international Internet.  The telecommunications monopoly said it was investing $30 million in the project, which was described as being on time. When the company announced the project in May 2006, it said the cable would be hooked up by late 2007.

The U.S.-based Global Crossing has an undersea cable that runs from Panamá to Los Angeles.

The increased bandwidth provided by the additional cable is critical to the Internet development of the country for voice-over-Internet telephone calls and Internet television and teleconferencing, and the telecommunications monopoly said that the addition of the Pacific cable would increase the nation’s competitivity.

Costa Rica has quickly becoming one of the hot destinations to go to for a fantastic holiday and is continually being internationally recognized for its high levels of tourism. No more so than that of the World Economic Forum.

The world economics forum ranks Costa Rica as the most impressive nation out of all the Latin American nations in terms of tourism. This has been the second successive year that Costa Rica has come out on top out of all their neighbouring nations.

The Travel & Tourism Index ranked Costa Rica 44th out of the 130 nations that were analysed with neighbouring nations Nicaragua and Panama being ranked 99th and 50th respectively. The United Kingdom were ranked 6th with Untied States just behind in 7th whilst central European nations Switzerland, Austria and Germany held the top 3 spots in that order (Switzerland top).

The forum’s recent report, Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2008, reviewed the 130 countries world wide and analysed them based on this years report theme – Balancing Economy Development and Environmental Sustainability. The report includes the analysis of the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index.

Bearers of a Canadian visa will be admitted to Costa Rica. This applies to citizens of any country that has diplomatic ties with Costa Rica and who have been granted the Canadian visa, which demands strict controls. Immigration Service boss Mario Zamora said that decision was prompted by the success with bearers of U.S. and European Union visas.

Costa Rican carrier Nature Air has proclaimed itself the world’s first carbon neutral airline. One-hundred percent of its carbon emissions is offset through the reforestation and protection of tropical forests in the country’s Osa Peninsula. The airline started its carbon-neutral program in 2004, and has also improved its flight plans to be more fuel efficient.

Now, maybe it’s a little disingenuous to claim carbon neutrality, since planes—all planes—really do belch the stuff. But Nature Air is in a much better position than most to own the niche. For one, the planes are smaller and don’t fly at high altitudes, which I’ve read results in fewer emissions and less overall damage. And the airline is keeping its reforestation and protection efforts in Costa Rica, which makes the offset loop something that locals and visitors benefit from firsthand.

And here’s a heads-up for adventuring families: Nature Air has started discounting tickets for kids. Children ages two through 11 are eligible for a 25 percent discount off regular fares.

Simply put, Tortugas Rock is the classic rock cover band in Costa Rica. Formed in 1990, Tortugas’ exceptional talent is reknowned throughout the country. This recognition has taken them to center stage of many large festivals such as the Puntarenas Carnaval on the beach, playing for thousands of sun-drenched followers.

Their favorites include acts like Pink Floyd, Santana, the Beatles, Creedence, and other greats of classic rock from the 60s, 70s and 80s. Their agenda takes them to some of the best venues to enjoy live music in Costa Rica, such as Jazz Cafe in San Pedro, Latin Rock Cafe in downtown San Jose, and Grappa Live in Santa Ana.
Check out their website at www.tortugasrock.com

click here to see where they are playing next www.tortugasrock.com/agenda.php

Spanish-American pop-star Enrique Iglesias is the latest big name act to sign up for the Festival Imperial.

Tickets are now on sale for the event, to be held at La Guacima de Alajuela on Saturday and Sunday April 19-20.

The son of legendary Spanish singer Julio Iglesias, the singer has sold more than 40 million albums worldwide. He is also currently at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart with the single “ Dónde Están Corazón,” from his latest album, “Insomniac.” Talking of the album, the star said, “ I gave myself completely into the making of this one record – heart and soul.”

The concert will also coincide with the release of a new greatest hits CD, which will go on sale on March 25.

Iglesias will headline the second day of the festival, along with British 1980s pop icons Duran Duran. Tico group Porpartes are also on the bill for Sunday.

American alternative rock groups The Smashing Pumpkins and Incubus are confirmed to play on the first day of the festival along with homegrown band Le*Pop.

“We are absolutely delighted to have a lineup of absolutely top international bands, really iconic groups,” Carlos Cañas, CEO of Imperial, told The Tico Times.

In addition to Iglesias, a spokeswoman confirmed, two other international acts will be added to the bill, with an announcement expected soon.

Tickets for the festival are on sale through selected Mas X Menos, Hipermás and Maxibodegas supermarkets, at Vértigo stores and branches of Aval-Banco Uno. Alternatively, buy online through www.specialticket.net and www.festivalimperial.co.cr or call 206-7896.

Tickets cost ¢10,000 ($20) for the general area, ¢18,000 ($36) for the preferential section near the stage, ¢30,000 ($60) for the gallery and ¢18,000 ($36) for the stands.

Eighties pop icons Duran Duran and ‘90s alternative rockers Incubus will make their Costa Rican debut at a rock festival (Festival Imperial) here in April.

The bands will join other confirmed acts including Costa Rican groups LePop and Porpartes for the 2008 Festival Imperial, scheduled for April 19 and 20 in La Guácima, a town in the Alajuela province (northwest of San José), the newswire ACAN-EFE reported.

Best known for early-career hits “ Rio ” and “Hungry Like the Wolf,” new-wave fav’s Duran Duran came out with a fresh release in November, “Red Carpet Massacre,” their first album since 2004’s “Astronaut.” The CD sees the boys from Birmingham, England, outfitted with spruced up beats and rapping bits by hip hop producer Timbaland, plus intermittent vocals by Justin Timberlake. But despite the contemporary veneer, hints of the classic Duran Duran style – labeled “new romantic” – still show through.

Incubus, by contrast, creates a harder, more guitar-driven sound. Although, like Duran Duran, the California band fronted by singer Brandon Boyd features vocals front and center. This can be heard in the ballad “Love Hurts” and other tracks on the November 2006 album “Light Grenades.”

Harder still was Incubus’ 1995 disc “Fungus Amungus,” with the thrashing first single, “Take Me To Your Leader.”

For a taste of the latest material by the bands, visit their MySpace profiles at www.myspace.com/duranduran and www.myspace.com/incubus.

To follow Festival Imperial as its lineup gets pieced together or for ticket information, check out the event’s Web site: www.festivalimperial.com.

Starting this weekend through March 9th, the capital of Guanacaste will play host to its own series of “fiestas civicas” or civic parties. The parties are put on by the Comite de Fiestas Civicas de Liberia the final week of February each year on fair grounds just West of the city center, and feature Guanacaste culture at its best.

This year, the parties will kick off tonight at 5pm with a large parade. At 9pm “bombetas”, which sound like noisy fireworks, will be set off and bands will play typical music in the central park. The majority of the town, including most government offices, has Friday off, thus increasing Thursday night’s party atmosphere. A tope, or horse parade will be held daily, the most important of which generally takes place on Sundays.

Parades also include mascarades, bands on the back of trucks, high school marching bands and other displays of typical Guanacaste culture, including typical dancers. There is also a special children’s parade.

Every morning at 5am throughout the week a street procession called La Diana, which consists of a car and loud speakers, goes around blasting noise to remind people that its time to party. The car is often followed by a small parade of drunken partiers on the weekends who have yet to go home from the night before.

Once people have re-grouped for the following day, most find their way to the largest bull ring in Guanacaste where the traditional Tico-style bullfight takes place. This consists of a worked-up bull being set free on a ring of hundreds of male Costa Ricans, who have usually liquored up in preparation for the adrenaline rush. Injuries are not uncommon, and deaths have been known to occur. The Health Ministry has been working to turn younger children away from the tradition, and the Red Cross ends up attending thousands of victims at each venue at the end of a long week of parties.

The bull ring or “redondel” has plenty of seating room, with entrance fees around $5 a person to view the bull fights, which take place on the weekends at 3pm and then again at 9pm. However, if you just want to catch a glimpse, the Liberia bull ring is open beneath the bleachers allowing anyone to pop in for free viewing between the wooden planks. If you choose to do so, beware that this is also where the improvised bullfighters jump up to save their behinds from sharp bull horns, so beware of getting your fingers stomped on through the fence.

The festival grounds are filled with rows of food and alcohol vendors and a few stages where national and international acts are scheduled to perform. This Sunday evening (March 2nd), the Puerto Rican bachata group Aventura is scheduled to play, with tickets starting around $20 that can be purchased at specialticket.net. There is also an 11am soccer match between Saprissa and Liberia, so hotel rooms are sure to be scarce. The last weekend, Puerto Rican meringue group Hermanos Rosarios will hold a free concert.

Some budget accommodations refuse to accept reservations throughout the week, and wait for the best deal or sure business to come along. Anywhere that does accept reservations are probably booked for the weekend by now, but the second weekend is just as popular if not more.

The dress for the parties is anything cowboy. Hats, boots, jeans and collared shirts are all the rage in Guanacaste, and those from Chepe (San Jose) like to get into the mood of the occasion as well. At night, the town filters into several “megabars” that are built just for the occasion. Dancers, DJs and performers fill the stages after 11pm and the crowd dances on through the night.

If you can’t make it out to the celebrations, you don’t have to wait until next year. Liberia goes all out again the week of July 25th to celebrate the annexation of Guanacaste from Nicaragua.

The highway overpass in San Sebastian is now open, and plans are under way for similar constructions at Paso Ancho and Alajuelita. The overpasses replace the rotundas or traffic circles that have made the Circunvalación a mess for motorists. Each overpass carrying the highway over the intersecting roadway costs about $3.5 million.

Traffic officials also are planning to build a metal pedestrian bridge at San Sebastian and have it ready in three months, they said Friday.

The Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes said that when the jobs are done, motorist will save 55 percent of their time in going through the highway, which is the southern bypass for the city. Some 70,000 cars use the highway each day.

Story By the A.M. Costa Rica staff