A study by the ‘Research and Information Group on Peace and Security” (GRIP) an independent institution in Brussels has ranked Costa Rica #2 in the security index behind Iceland and #11 on a list of 150 countries in their role of maintaining world peace.

The University of Scranton in Pennsylvania has just concluded a study that has proclaimed coffee, one of Costa Rica’s top exports, as the #1 source of antioxidants.

Liberia Airport totals have surprised all who predicted the # of passengers that would be using the facilities.

Arenal Volcano, active since 1968 put on quite a show last month with a plume that rose 900 meters into the air and a flow down the western flank. Some 36 hotels, several hot springs, 2 resorts, numerous trails and lookouts are within 5.5 kilometer of the peak.

The National Science and Technology Fair held at the University of Costa Rica will send the top 3 winners to the International Science and Engineering Fair in the U.S. this May. 1st. place went to 3 students who presented a fungus that feeds off chemical components of compact discs. 2nd. place went to a project that featured a cheaper substitute for wood which is more fire and water resistant. And the 3rd. place winner was a student who taught himself computer programming and developed software to improve aspects of modern operating systems.

Commanders Palace in New Orleans, finds its sous-chef, Thomas Robey, at Hotel Alta’s, La Luz restaurant. Not wanting to sit around for what might have been 4 to 6 months while New Orleans recovered, he searched the internet and answered an ad looking for a sous-chef. So passport in hand and a keen interest in Costa Rica he spent 6 weeks sharing his style of cooking and recipes with the chef. He hopes to retire here and open his own restaurant.

Nosara has a naturopathic physician, Dr. Jon Dunn. His website is www.drjondunn.com

Gas prices in Costa Rica dropped by 9.1% for super and 5.8% for regular.

The Lapa Rios Ecolodge on the Osa Peninsula received the US State Department award for Corporate Excellence (ACE) in the small and medium enterprises (SME’s) category. They were selected for their environmental conservation efforts and work in the local community.

80 structures remain in the Municipality of Santa Cruz remain in the public maritime zone. By law the property owners who have encroached are responsible for the cost of the demolition and clean-up. The process to clean up and to put the beaches in compliance with the law is being closely watched by the Comptroller General’s Office in San Jose.

Work on the worst roads in Guanacaste has begun. Starting in Belen, the pavement is being totally removed all the way to Huacas. One hour delays are expected through January 2006 as this 2 lane road under goes a much welcome transformation.

Rapid development in several popular coastal towns is definitely changing the landscape. In Langosta, a project known as Naxo Towers, a 7 story, 27 unit condo project is due to be completed in January 2007. In Hermosa, on 14,000 sq. ft. of land a 54 unit condo project is being considered. In Flamingo, work has started on 3 condo towers, 5, 6 and 7 stories high with completion of the 1st. one in 2006.

In Costa Rica the term for a mortgage is a ‘hipotecaria’ and it is registered in the National Registry. Website www.registronacional.go.cr.

200,000 tourists from cruise ships will arrive at the Caribbean port city of Limon and the Pacific port city of Puntarenas over the next 5 months. 91 ships will arrive in Puntarenas with considerably more into Limon. Navigating the Caribbean is much easier than the pacific.

Since 1989, Playa Grande has become the most important nesting ground for the endangered Leatherback Turtle in the Americas. Last year only 52 females nested on Playa Grande, a decline from the previous year. This year numbers are up with 6 of the arrivals untagged. Non-profit conservation groups such as MarVista along with other groups operate hatcheries as well as other programs to combat poaching.

In its 13th. year the Ruta de los Conquistadores; a 3 day mountain bike race, was won for the 1st. time by a foreigner. Swisspower teams’ Thomas Frischknecht took the overall honors followed by 3 Costa Rican’s and in 5th. place an American.

In the search to map weather patterns above the tropics, NASA has teamed with Costa Rican scientists to gather atmospheric measurements and apply them to several projects underway in both countries. The balloon launches have uncovered several surprises and more mysteries for the scientists. In January 2006 the newest phase of balloon releases might shed light on some of the latest data as well as give scientists a deeper understanding of the process that governs worldwide weather patterns, such as hurricanes.

On February 5, 2007 Costa Ricans will go to the polls to elect their next president for the 2006 to 2010 term. The political platforms of the 2 front runners have some similarities.

Oscar Arias, the clear front runner from the Liberation Party, has called for Costa Rica to become the 1st. developed country in Latin America by 2021. His priorities are job creation, fighting corruption, improving education and infrastructure.

The Christian Party wants to provide financial incentives to companies that locate in rural areas, reduce poverty to 10%, re-locate doctors to community health clinics and provide low interest rate loans for 30 yr mortgages for young people.

Both candidates advocate the approval of C.A.F.T.A., low interest rate loans for small to medium size business’ as well as using concessions to improve the infrastructure.

Africa Mia is a new tourist attraction located in El Salto, 9 kilometers south of Liberia. This is a private wildlife reserve that occupies 100 Ha which will open to limited # of visitors per day in 2006. The first animals that visitors will see are giraffes, hippos and Rhinos. All of the residents of this reserve are allowed to roam the grounds freely. Visitors will be guided by waterfalls, lagoons and vast plains were they can observe these animals in a habit that is very close to that of Africa. The compound will also have a 5 star hotel, a water park and the largest butterfly conservatory in the world. To date, this project has taken 8 years and is the first of its kind in Central America. For information 661-8161.

The 2005-2006 ‘Circuito Nacional de Surf’ held its first event of the season at Hacineda Pinilla/Avellanes. The Pinilla Classic drew 195 surfers competing in 11 different divisions and to date was the largest single day event. Tamarindo’s, Vega, took top honors surprising the heavily rated favorites.

Rain total for the ‘Green Season’ which officially ended November 15th. was 98.38” here in Potrero. This represents an increase of 6.6% over last year.

GDS Galeria in Escazu is hosting an art exhibit by 2 US artists through January 2006. Visit their web site to learn more about the artists www.gdsgallery.com

The C.A.F.T.A. 5 volume document has now been published in the official government daily, La Gaceta, which means that it can now be discussed in the legislative assembly.

Price Smart now has 4 locations in the Central Valley.

Hotel Herradura, San Jose has joined the U.S. franchise, Ramada International and becomes the 1st. Ramada hotel in Central America.

The housing market in the San Jose area is plagued by 2 factors; over abundant supply and above market pricing. The average length of time for a house on the market is close to 1 year.

40 towns from Cartegena to Potrero will benefit from a regional aqueduct. This is the 1st. accord to manage the country’s subterranean water. Costs are anticipated to be borne by private developers and it could be built within 1 to 5 years.

Isla Plata, the 8.5Ha island just off North Flamingo has a proposal from a Costa Rican corporation that would turn approximately 1⁄2 of the island into a site for a low density hotel and single family home sites. The Municipality of Santa Cruz has given residents 8 days to appeal the plan.

On December 15th. Editus will perform at Hacienda Pinilla as the first in a series of summer night concerts.

Tamarindo has a new vegetarian restaurant ‘Arcoiris’ (and a few fish dishes) located in the front of the Hotel with the same name.

El Castillo, in Surfside is the site for a Farmers Market every Saturday and Sunday in December.

MIT is designing a laptop computer that will be solely distributed through the governments of developing nations and other selected non-governments organizations. This $100 laptop is expected to go into production by the end of 2006. Costa Rica has been selected to receive some of these computers and will know within 6 months how many they will be able to give out to school children around the nation.

Both Flamingo and Potrero are organizing groups of property owners to start to address some of the current issues such as water, density, trash road repairs and the feasibility of a master plan. The goal is to put people together to preserve the beauty of the area through communication and cooperation.

Wishing all a wonderful healthy and safe holiday season……….

Penelope Lent

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The Costa Rican National Soccer Team qualified for the 2006 World Cup by defeating the United States team 3-0. 17,000 plus fans endured a heavy downpour at Ricardo Saprissa Stadium in northern San Jose, to cheer on their team.

The Costa Rican Red Cross has sent volunteers, specialists and humanitarian aid to Guatemala and El Salvador which were devastated by tropical storm Stan.

The U.S. senate has confirmed Mark Langdale as the United States new ambassador to Costa Rica. The new ambassador co-founded CapRock Communications, was an attorney in Houston, Texas and is currently the president of POSADAS USA a subsidiary of Grupo Posadas, a Latin American hotel-management company.

The National Liberation Party, (PLN), candidate Oscar Arias, has chosen legislator, Laura Chincilla 46, who is a former Security Minister and police consultant as his first Vice President along with Kevin Casa, 37 who is a lawyer and an international consultant in political science who studied at Harvard.

Quepos has a ‘Latin Fusion’ restaurant, El Patio. The cooks are trained by a San Francisco chef with expertise in Nuevo Latino cuisine and the restaurant offers a fine selection of South American wines. www.cafemilagro.com 777-2306

Costa Rica will become the first Central American country to have a United World College. The 11th UWC will open in August 2006 in the suburb of Santa Ana, west of San Jose. Created in 1962 in Wales, the school’s mission is to educate students of different nationalities, in avoiding further world conflicts. When it opens, 150 students ages 16 to 19 yrs from 40 countries will reflect the global population with significant representation from Costa Rica. The goal is to host 192 students from 100 countries. Scholarships are key to a scholastically qualified student body. To learn more: www.cisos.org

Costa Rica has 4 public universities.

1. State University at a Distance (UNED) has a graduation rate of 13%
2. Technology Institute of Costa Rica (ITCR) has a 40.8% graduation rate.
3. University of Costa Rica (UCR) has a 34% graduation rate
4. University National (UNA) has a 29% graduation rate.

Of those who graduate 61% are women. 71,000 students are studying in public universities with an average cost of $3500.

20% of those who visited Costa Rica in 2004 came for the surf. This is up 100% from 2001.

The San Juan River that is Costa Rica’s northern border is the only border river of three in the world to belong to only one country, Nicaragua.

The Finance Minister is the 18th member to resign during President Pacheco’s term.

The 1st Bilingual Job Fair in Costa Rica will offer 7,000 jobs with 2000 needing to be filled by December. 17 multinational companies will have their representatives present to conduct interviews and collect résumé’s of the fair participants.

Rustic Pathways, offers 1 to 2 week programs, (12 in all) with titles such as “Soccer and Service in Costa Rica, “Turtle Conservation Project” and “Surf the Summer”. The organization leads young people on educational adventures around the world. Current operations are in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Thailand and Costa Rica. For information: www.rusticpathways.com

Confrerie de la Chaine des Rotisseurs has officially arrived in Costa Rica. The international gastronomic society, founded in 1248 and again revived in Paris in 1950, opened its first bailliage (chapter) in Flamingo in May this year. The 2nd chapter opened on Sept. 17th in San Jose.

The “Little Theatre Group’s” production of “The Good Body” written by Eve Ensler of “The Vagina Monologues” fame played to a sold out performances in Escazu, a suburb of San Jose.

Storing luggage during side trips in Costa Rica just got simpler. The Tourist Locker, located in Alajuela, near Juan Santamaria International Airport, offers 3 sizes of storage lockers. Small bags, large bags and surfboards. Call (011 506) 442-3671

ICE offers free directory assistance by dialing 113.

20 Country Day School students have earned the distinction of ‘AP Scholar’ by successfully passing the College Board AP Exams.

Costa Ricans consume more, bananas, potatoes and tomatoes than any other fruits or vegetables.

Ecofriendly wood or SmartWood-certified are terms used when wood suppliers meet the high standards of responsible forest management by Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Both Amatek wood products (011 506) 209-3400 or 551-0866 and El Buen Precio (001 506) 271-3636 or 272-1111 carry wood products. Other sites:

Forest Stewardship Council: www.fsc.org
Rainforest Alliance: www.rainforest-alliance.org
Smartwood: www.smartwood.org

CATSA, one of the 4 largest producers of sugar per year in Guanacaste (650,000 tons) on 12,350 acres must continue to reduce its total cane burn to none by 2015. Currently it has been reduced by 25% in 2005.

Costa Rica’s Jr. Surf team was eliminated in round 4 of the Quiksilver Jr. Championships in Huntington Beach, California. Their host, part-time Tamarindo resident, Robert August, did however show them a great time which was capped off by a team trip to Disneyland.

Camouflaged into a beach-side jungle location is the 25 tent lodge, Almonds and Coral. This unique ecotourism hideaway is located on the Caribbean coast in the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge. Visit them online: www.almondsandcorals.com

The Salvation Army is making it possible for those who live outside Costa Rica to make a difference in a ‘special’ child’s life this Christmas. A check from a US Bank maybe sent in US dollars payable to Salvation Army and mailed to:

The Tico Times SJO717
1601 NW 97th Ave. Unit C-101
P.O. Box 025216
Miami, FL 33102-5216

Indicate the age of the child (1 to 10) and girl or boy on a note with your check. A gift will be purchased in your name for that child.

The Sunshine Gallery is slated to open in the summer of 2006 in Caricari, northwest of San Jose. This will be a 21,500 s.f. facility housing an amphitheatre, outdoor sculpture area, streams and underground parking.

50 companies export 60% of Costa Rica’s exports while 1,728 business’ export the remaining 40%.

The Four Seasons Resort in Papagayo showed additional revenues of $400,000 in the 10 days following hurricane Wilma that hit Cozemel and Cancun. These were last minute reservations from clients who canceled their Mexican holidays.

Intel Components Costa Rica is the leading exporter followed by Abbott Hospitals of Costa Rica. Baxter (also medical equipment) is 3rd with Del Monte, the pineapple exporter at #4.

The Environmental and Animal Welfare School, provides Costa Rican students a new way to properly care for their four legged friends and to protect the environment. The free 3 hour seminars are offered as student field trips, where classes focus on a hands on approach.

The Liberia International Airport is expected to go over the 300,000 mark putting passengers up over 54% from 2003-2004 season.

United Airlines is scheduled to fly non-stop from Chicago to Liberia starting Dec 15th.

Raindrop Spa’s therapists hale from all over the world. This Asian inspired spa’s philosophy involves emotional healing through physical pampering. Located in Manuel Antonio on the central Pacific coast, this spa offers a wide variety of treatments. www.raindropspa.com

Greetings from Costa Rica,

Penelope Lent

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Santa Cruz has approved the Master Plan for the new marina in Flamingo. Once again, local action groups are challenging the legality of the new plan.

Mark Langdale is the nominee for the U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica. He is awaiting confirmation by the U.S. senate. If all goes smoothly, he will present his credentials by early November. The U.S. Embassy has been operating without an Ambassador since Danilovich was appointed to Brazil in February 2004.

Over 25” of rain has fallen in the past week, here in the Flamingo/Potrero area, due to a low pressure system that moved into the Pacific from the Caribbean. Local residents definitely felt some of Rita’s strength. Our rain total to date has now passed last years total for the season. The Green Season ends officially on Nov 15th.

President Pacheco is finally sending CAFTA to the Legislative Assembly. The agreement then will have to go to Congress, which may occur just after Pacheco is out of office.

The increasing use of sugar for fuel (ethanol) has driven up demand. Costa Rica’s sugar cane production has raw sugar prices at a seven year high as availability worldwide has dropped. Demand in the U.S. is expected to rise from $500 million to $3 billion over the next five years.

The newest hotel project slated for our area is a JW Marriott property, which will start construction in 2007 at Hacienda Pinilla. The first phase of this 180 room resort is slated for completion by 2007.

Guanacaste generates $1.7 million a week in tourism revenue.

Costa Rica is sending their junior surfing team to the Quiksilver International Surfing Association’s World junior Surfing Championship in California. The tournament, Oct 8th.-16th., is the Junior Olympics (18 and under) of surfing. One factor the team will have to overcome will be wearing wetsuits for the first time.

Tamarindo now has two fast food chain outposts: Burger King and Subway. Locals would rather not see their town look like ‘anywhere, USA’. But, for others, it’s a quick way to get lunch between sets.

Huacas has a new Kids Center, which provides workshops, activities and counseling, for local children ages (3 to 19) from Potrero to Tamarindo. Land has been donated for the permanent center and CEPIA is now focusing on funding.

The next two months will see hundreds of thousands of migratory birds as they fly southward along the Caribbean coastline. By March, the northward migration will be along the Pacific Coast, but not in such spectacular groups. Many birds stay in Costa Rica for the winter, while others continue by night to Columbia, Venezuela and Brazil.

Pfizer has donated $27,000 to Insituto Nacional de Biodiversidad (INBio) to aid biological control of dengue fever.

The Do It Foundation in Liberia, is waiting for their next container of wheel chair components from China. In just six months, this new charity has built and distributed 500 + lightweight wheel chairs. The wheel chairs cost $50 each and donations to the Do It Foundation are welcomed. Please contact them at: svillalobos@doithomecenter.com

Caldera, Costa Rica’s Central Pacific shipping port, is proving to be too small for the country’s growing needs. Plans to expand are slowly moving ahead, but critics feel it’s not comprehensive enough to handle future growth. Combined, the Pacific ports of Caldera, Puntarenas and Punta Morales ship 23% of the country’s imported and exported goods, while the Caribbean ports of Limon and Moin ship 77%.

In the Talamanca Mountains, off the Caribbean coast, 45 awapa, Bribri indigenous doctors and spiritual guides, serve 11,000 Bribri on their reserve. In a special meeting, 18 people from various countries, from San Jose to France, took part in an international movement designed to bridge the gap between Western and indigenous medicines. Slowly, respect for their ability to cure is growing. The ancient knowledge is learned over a 10-15 year training period and apprenticeship.

Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Hotel, located in the Los Angeles Cloud Forest private biological reserve, is only two hours from San Jose. This 300 acre property, with 34 luxury bungalows designed in the style of traditional ‘casitas,’ is more retreat than hotel. Each bungalow has a fireplace and is situated among the beautifully landscaped hillside grounds. The newly opened (Dec 2005) Villa Blanca is the newest addition to ‘Green Hotels of Costa Rica”. There is a full service Serenity Spa, and El Senedero, the hotel’s restaurant, serves versions of traditional Costa Rican fare, with samplings from Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Panama. Information: www.villablanca-costarica.com

The two fastest growing municipalities in Guanacaste are Santa Cruz and Carrillo, which are now close to doubling the number of approved building permits, from the previous 12 months.

Four Guanacaste beach communities are working hard to achieve the 90 out of 100 points necessary to be awarded the “Blue Flag”. Playas Tamarindo, Brasilito, Penca and Sugar Beach have formed committees to go after this honor. Of the 85 beaches vying for this distinction in 2004 only 50 were successful. Nineteen Guanacaste beaches have the flag.

San Jose has a new attraction, a Planetarium, the first in Costa Rica. The brainchild of a UCR Astrophysics Professor, this domed structure is staffed by the professors and science students of the university who are in a work-study program. Located next to the UCR campus, in the eastern suburb of San Pedro, the facility is open daily with programs for both children and adults that change every two months. Information: http://planetario.ucr.ac.cr.

Earth University, located 95 kilometers east of San Jose, has a team of engineers and scientists who have been cultivating a concoction of some 85 different microorganisms, that will clean your home, garden and keep you healthy, while reinforcing the harmony of nature. Known as ‘EM,’ this solution is in more than 130 countries worldwide and was created more than 25 years ago by the Japanese scientist, Dr. Teruo Higa. Information: 713-0067

Hotel 1492 Jade y Oro, a Spanish Colonial structure, located in downtown San Jose and originally built in 1947 as a private home, is a true experience in Costa Rican hospitality. Information: www.hotel1492.com

Pet’s Paradise is a dog hotel and training center located in the mountains of Heredia. Veterinarian Dr. Mary Marin and instructor Jory Freimann offer many choices from boarding to rigorous agility training. 24 hr supervision, along with many services in both Spanish and English, makes leaving your dog, while you enjoy a vacation here in Costa Rica, a lot easier.

Costa Rica is the number one exporter of fresh pineapples to the U.S. In 2004, the U.S. consumed almost 384,000 metric tons of Costa Rican pineapples.

The only way to tell a ripe pineapple is by its color; golden yellow from bottom to top.

Rafa Fernandez is Costa Rica’s premier artist and at 70, despite recent health problems, has not stopped painting. More than two dozen of the artists’ latest paintings were on display at the Galeria Kandinsky. For a complete guide of up coming exhibitions call the Galeria at 234-0478 or email: artkandinsky@yahoo.com

Bacute Mane Mane is an organic food restaurant located in San Pedro, east of San Jose.

El Truque fairgrounds, in the southern San Jose district of Paso Ancho, have an organic product fair every Saturday from 6 a.m. to noon.

An 11 week program is being offered at Gold Coast College, which is located at the Country Day School in Brasilitio. Classes are on Saturdays and evenings and geared primarily for adults. Information: www.goldcoastcollege.com or email reaton@coni.com

La Mansion Inn is an 18 room/suite hotel located on an acre cliff-side property in Manuel Antonio. This five year old inn has an award-winning restaurant that serves classic cuisine with tropical overtones. The suites at the Inn offer such features as a waterfall in the bathrooms and a selection of fine vodka and champagnes. The Presidential suite has a Jacuzzi with ocean and jungle views, a living room, elegant dining area, large balcony and a private staircase to the hotel’s infinity pool. Owner Harry Bodaan has worn many hats, from heading up the first independent press club in Russia, to being the general manager of the National Press Club in Washington D.C. Information: www.lamansion-inn.com or 777-0002

In Tibas construction has come to a halt on a PriceSmart warehouse, while archaeologists excavate two prehistoric grave sites. Over 140 artifacts have already been extracted. The two sites are different periods: Curridabat (330-800 A.D.) and Cartago (800-1500 A.D.), which ended as the first Spaniards arrived.

The 12th. International Guitar Festival took place in September at the national Theater in San Jose. Nineteen guitarists from seven different countries presented folk, classic, rock and blues performances. Performance Calendar: Information: www.teatronacional.go.cr.

Galeria El Pelicano, in Tamarindo, showcases Costa Rican artists whose talents exceed the standard pottery and jewelry usually seen in local beach towns.

Regards from Costa Rica,

Penelope

P.S. If you have a friend that would like to receive our monthly newsletter email us at penelope@lenteckhartproperties.com

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The Municipality of Santa Cruz is still receiving bids to operate the Flamingo Marina. At last count there were eight national and international consortiums who were interested in developing the marina. The mayor of To initiate the process of awarding a concession, Santa Cruz’s mayor has hired legal expert in maritime law to guide the municipality. With a master plan now in place, the process will move swiftly.

The Costa Rica Global Association of Real Estate (CRGAR) has been approved as a bi-lateral partner to the US-based National Association of Realtors (NAR). This is an important step for all CRGAR members as well as the global real estate industry.

The National Council of Roads and Highways has announced the first maintenance contracts for the repair and maintenance of Guanacaste’s main roads. The Guanacaste Chamber of Tourism has been lobbying to have Guanacaste’s main arteries placed high on the priority list. The agenda includes the Belen-Huacas, Huacas to Matapalo, Huacas to Villa Real and Huacas to Flamingo routes. The chamber is also petitioning for the mid-term upgrade of the unpaved roads between Flamingo and Potrero and Potrero to Nuevo Colon (the monkey trail). The last two routes are part of the “Ruta del Sol” project, which will establish a coastal highway that will shorten the travel time between the Liberia Airport and the various beach towns.

The 15th. International Music Festival’s final performance was on August 20th. For those of us who seized the opportunity to attend, it was a rare treat. Sitting by the sea at Hacienda Pinilla while watching the sun set and listening to classical music and sipping Argentinean wines was memorable.

The town of Santa Cruz has been officially designated as ‘Heritage Town’ and is the site of a large-scale cultural restoration project. The first phase involves massive architectural work on the town’s infrastructure. The project also calls for the creation of a museum that will have historical and photographical data about its origins, restaurants serving traditionally prepared food and shops with local handicrafts. Plans also call for evening dance exhibitions, where tourists not only watch, but learn traditional dances.

More cars can be spotted with bumper stickers in support of CAFTA. Many companies in Costa Rica feel investment and business opportunities will be lost if the treaty is not approved. El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and the US have approved the accord.

The view of the ocean across the soccer field in Brasilitio can now be seen as the municipality of Santa Cruz has made good on its promise to tear down all structures that have encroached into the 50 meter maritime zone in Brasilitio. The order came down from the Comptroller General’s Office.

Santa Cruz and Carrillo are two of Guanacaste’s fastest growing municipalities. The number of building permits issued in a 12 month period has more than doubled over the previous 12 months. The municipalities have reported an increase of 90,000m2 or 968,400 sq. ft. of construction, which is a 60% increase from 12 months ago and four times that of 2003.

Santa Cruz:	2003	2004	2005
# of Building Permits	631	689	644 (1st. 7 mos.)
Carrillo:
# of Building Permits	339	461	440 (1st. 7 mos.)

 

The Municipality of Carrillo is in the process of putting together a plan to build a multi-purpose dock at the southern end of Playas del Coco. The dock will be 50 ft long and consist of a jetty-like structure filled with rocks, that will run out from the reef until it reaches deep water, where a floating fiberglass dock would be attached.

Construction costs have been on the rise over the past year. Below are some recent facts:

Steel is up 50%
Cement is up 25%
Timber is up 20% to 30%

There are 68 hardwoods in this country.

Two New National Parks have been announced. The Pacuare River is located on the east coast, within an 8,000 Hectare size parcel, and is considered one of the five most beautiful rivers in the world, not to mention one of the best for white water rafting. Los Quetzales Park is located 70 kilometers southeast of San Jose and will join the 151 protected areas that cover 25% of the national territory of Costa Rica.

A recent poll show’s Dr. Arias (National Liberation Party) with 47% of the vote, placing him well in front of his nearest rival, Otton Solis (Citizen Action Party) with 18%.

San Jose will re-introduce a passenger train that will run twice a day between Pavas, west of San Jose, to the University of Costa Rica, east of San Jose. 500 people are expected to take advantage of the first stage of this commuter service.

Government officials in the capital of San Jose have begun in earnest to attract residential and commercial developers back to the city. Six institutions have agreed to complete various projects ranging, from improving the city’s sewage system, to constructing pedestrian blvds all to attract potential developers. The overall plan is to create a foundation on which the private sector can build and transform San Jose into a modern city. A new urban Master Plan went into effect which provides incentives for development in the 350 blocks that make up downtown San Jose.

Ruins of a large pre-Columbian home dating back to 1000 B.C. have been discovered by archaeologists from the Costa Rican National Museum. Located in the southern zone of the country in Palmar Sur, some 300 kilometers south of San Jose, the site spreads over 10 Hectares. The National Museum owns the land which is also home to the famous spheres. This site will be announced in 2006 as a World Heritage site.

Costa Rica has several regional and specialized museums that encourage visitors to look into the local history and traditions:

Dr. Rafael Angel Calderon Guardia Historical Museum
Located: 1 blk east & 1 blk north of Santa Teresita Church in Barrio Escalante in eastern San Jose.
Open: Monday-Saturday 9 to 5
Admission: Free; 255-1218

Costa Rica Electricity Institute Museum (ICE)
Located: behind ICE across from La Sabana Park
Open: Monday-Friday 8:30 to 4:30
Admission: Free; 290-2890

LICEO de Costa Rica
This little museum serves as a record of the countries public education.
Location: Ca 9, Av 18, San Jose
Open: Monday-Friday 8 to 2
Admission: Free; 233-6784

Postal Museum
Founded in1863, this museum houses some of the first stamps, telephones and telegraphs used in the country.
Location: Ca. Central, Av 1/3 San Jose
Open: Monday-Friday 8 to 5
Admission: Free; 223-6918

Joaquin Garcia Monge Museum
Built in 1824, this adobe was the first parish house located between the country’s old capital Cartago and San Jose. Monge was an educator, artist, writer and editor.
Location: north side of the church in Desamparados south of San Jose.
Open: Monday-Friday 12-4
Admission: Free; 259-9705

Juan Santamaria Museum
Built in 1880, this museum is dedicated to the campaign of 1856, that routed the invasion of US William Walker.
Location: 1 blk north of the main park in Alajuela, northwest of San Jose.
Open: Tuesday-Sunday 10-5
Admission: Free; 441-4775

Popular Culture Museum
Part of the Universidad Nacional and used as a teaching project in many fields. Built in 1885 with mud, manure, grass and bamboo. Many traditional crafts programs are offered.
Location: Santa Lucia de Barva de Heredia
Open: Monday-Friday 8 to 4
Sunday 10 to 5
Admission: $1.00; 260-1619 or 261-3462

Indio Kurieti Natural History Museum
This museum is dedicated to preserving the history of the Huetares and Cabecares who held the land before the Spanish settled.
Location: near Cartago
Open: Weekdays 9-3
Admission: $1.00; 573-7113

The International exchange program, American Field Service (AFS) founded in 1947, has allowed 3500 Costa Rican students to travel, live and study abroad in more than 50 countries. To celebrate its 50th anniversary special scholarships have been offered to allow students with limited financial resources to participate in the program. 15 full scholarships have been awarded. Seventy-five schools throughout the country proposed one outstanding student in the 15 to 18 age group. Several rounds of interviews and exams narrowed the candidates to 10 females and five males.

The Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) estimates that Costa Rica’s hotels will turn away 39,000 tourists during the upcoming 2005-2006 High Season. To prevent this, a web site is being created to guide potential investors through the process of getting permits and will also provide statistics on where hotel needs are greatest.

University of Costa Rica (UCR) has a community service program (TCU) unlike any of its kind. Now in its 30th. year, this program is a graduation requirement for every UCR student. Each student must complete 300 hours of community service in pre-approved areas of the most vulnerable sectors of Costa Rican society. To date, 14.6 million hours have been given by the students.

Beginning next school year, students graduating from public high schools will be required to pass an oral English exam as well as the written one now in place. The new test was implemented to meet the growing demands for future job seekers proficient in English.

Senior Citizens are getting a new bill to enforce the rights of senior citizens and to establish heavy sanctions against those who violate their rights.

Vida, a new Peruvian restaurant in Playas del Coco, is the creation of co-owners, Eddie Ortiz and Jonathan Fornaci. Both weary of the poor local fare, they have developed an eclectic mix of retro chairs, white table cloths, jazz, an outdoor patio and black-and-white photos to keep the locals coming back for their light, exciting menu. Open daily from 11 to 2:30 a.m.

Toku restaurant in Escazu and the Jazz Café in San Pedro are featuring exceptional local talent. Phone Toku at 228-4091 for their entertainment information.

Solar Power has reached Costa Rica. From solar-powered hot water heaters to large scale systems, the following companies are available to service your solar power needs:

Swissol - 438-1130 www.swissol.net
Interdinanica - 221-8333 www.interdinamic.com
Intitech S.A. - 735-5773 www.intitechsolar.com
Consenergy - 290-0668
UNA Dept. of Oceanography - 277-3594

The 7th. National Science Conference is under way in Heredia in association with the Brazilian Embassy as part of the World Year of Physics 2005. The Brazilian music group Uakti will give workshops on music engineering, acoustic physics and the evolution of instruments in modern music. Uakti will also perform its blend of jazz and new age music at the National Theater.

Crocodile Safari, located on the central Pacific Coast at the Tarcoles river, is a new, 45 minute adventurous ride on the banks of the river for thrill seekers. Open Saturdays and Sundays, from 10 to 4. www.crocodilesafari.com; 288-0208 or 392-2370

Le Petite Café is a wonderful little restaurant that is open Monday – Saturday, from 11 to 8 p.m. Located 500 meters south and 25 meters east of Higueron service station in Barrio La Granja, San Pedro de Montes de Oca, (San Jose). 283-3230 The owner studied in France and her various cooking diplomas grace the walls!

Costa Rica has just become the first country in the world to prohibit swimming and scuba diving with dolphins and whales (cetaceans), as well as their capture and captivity. Costa Rican waters are home to 29 species of cetaceans which makes up 35% of the total existing species on the planet.

The 2005 edition of the International Game Fish Association’s, World Record Game Fish, has Costa Rica holding 22 All-Tackle records, 18 Fly-Fishing records and 77 Line-Class records for a total of 117 for the year. This up from 2004’s 102 records.

Wishing you a prosperous September!

Penelope
Email: penelope@lenteckhartproperties.com

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Costa Rica will not participate in a proposed rapid-response regional military force, which is due to be unveiled at a summit meeting of the Central American presidents in Honduras. However, Cost Rica’s Foreign Minister did affirm his country’s continued collaboration in fighting against drug trafficking, terrorism and juvenile delinquency.

Costa Rica is once again tackling a very ambitious project, which will assign new street addresses to every house and commercial building in the country. The first such plan was abandoned in 2001. The goal is to finish the entire code assignment in the next three years.

Two Dentists (one an NYU graduate) are conducting free dental clinics for residents in one of the most under-served areas in the country, Talamanca. The dentists are hopping to expand to include medical and educational services. They can be reached at jopetar@ice.co.cr and welcome your queries.

Wal-Mart is now negotiating to buy into more than 350 Central America retail and grocery stores. They go by the names of Mas x Meno, HiperMas, Maxi Bodega and Costa Rica-based, La Union.

Construction quality will get a boost with the new collaboration between the Federated Association of Engineers and Architects (CFIA) and the Costa Rica Institute of Cement and Concrete. The two organizations have agreed to work together to evaluate and improve the country’s bridges, roads, sidewalks and other projects that use similar resources.

The maritime zone from Tamarindo to Brasilito has approximately 40 structures that have encroached into the 50 meter zone. These structures are all slated for demolition over the next two months. This ruling has been pending for over two years. Most of these structures are comprised of re-used tin, lumber and discarded building materials which have no architectural appeal.

Oscar Arias made a recent campaign swing through Guanacaste where he told voters, that “we can’t have tourists arriving at a five-star hotel on one-star roads”. He went on to state that the only solution for the abandoned infrastructure is private investment. His goal for the country is to triple and quadruple foreign investment in Costa Rica.

More than 22,300 passengers came through Liberia International Airport in the month of June—a 40% increase from the same period last year.

Continental Airlines has now returned to daily flights into Liberia, making the total number of direct flights from North America to Liberia, 42 per week.

Mark Langdale from Dallas Texas has been nominated to be the next Ambassador to Costa Rica. That position has been vacant since John Danilovich, left in February 2004 to take over that post in Brazil.

Nicaraguans make up about 12% of the Costa Rican population, with approximately 500,000 living in the country.

The 15th. International Music Festival will run for 2 weeks starting August 6th. Six concerts will be held at Tamarindo’s Villa Allegre and Hacienda Pinilla, Over 500 classical musicians from 36 countries have played in this series of concerts. For information 680-3000 Hacienda Pinilla and 653-0270 Villa Allegre.

The number of fatalities on Costa Rica’s roads and highways has decreased by 37% compared to three years ago.

The Spanish-Costa Rican company RITEVE, contracted by the government in 2002 to conduct mandatory vehicle inspections, has lowered gas emissions in the country by 47%.

The British Embassy, EBI and Futbol por la Vida (Soccer for Life) program, run by OIKOS Institute for Education, have joined together to give the children in an impoverished neighborhood, in the western outskirts of San Jose, new uniforms and a new soccer field.

100 scientists from NASA and NOAA have teamed up with Costa Rican scientists for the first time to do a five-week study on the origins of hurricanes. The US scientists came to Costa Rica, which is not threatened by this weather pattern, but does have close access, due to its unique geographical position, to where such system fronts develop.

Otton Solis was officially named the presidential candidate for the Citizen Action Party (PAC) in the February 2006 elections.

Ricardo Toledo is currently the only official presidential candidate for the Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC).

Rock climbing is a fast-growing sport in Costa Rica. The central valley has a handful of sites rated from beginner to advance. The official website is www.crclimbing.com

Studio Metallo, founded by architect and jeweler Damaris Ortuno, teaches century Old Italian jewelry making techniques in a neighborhood just east of San Jose. The class size is kept to 12, so that individual attention from the different instructors (4) is at a maximum. There are several levels of classes and more information is available on their web site www.studiometallo.com

The number of visitors to Costa Rica grew by 15% last year and is expected to reach 16% this year. Hotels in major tourism areas turned away up to 40% of tourists this past High Season for lack of available rooms.

The newly formed Costa Rica-United States Chamber of Commerce has opened in Miami and has already registered 43 members. The existence of a Costa Rican Chamber of Commerce in Florida will facilitate access to information on all of the opportunities offered by the country.

Hydroponics courses are being introduced by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cattle. Agricultural officials are also providing information about using natural plant-based herbicides and insecticides, instead of chemical substances. These classes are offered for free in the central valley town of Palmares.

The first private hospital in Guanacaste is slated to begin construction in January 2006. This modern complex will be comprised of a medical tower, 72 rooms, a holistic medicine clinic, a helicopter ambulance, equipped with the latest technology for patient transfers, 50 villas and a spa. The first phase is expected to be completed in 18 months.

Shark experts are tagging Hammerheads and Whale sharks, around the national park of Isla del Coco, with satellite tags to study the shark population. This project is expected to take over two years. In 1997, UNESCOL (U.N. Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization) declared Isla del Coco a World Heritage Site.

The first women’s boutique in Costa Rica to showcase designer clothes from Paris, Milan and London has opened in Escazu. Cosmo Fashions is owned by a Dutch mother and daughter team, Rita and Tiffany Smit. Located on the main street of San Rafael de Escazu across from McDonalds, 288-0952.

Hotel Luna Azul, located between San Juanillo and Ostional, boasts a gorgeous restaurant perched on a hill overlooking the Pacific. Open for just over a year, this small hotel has become very popular. Its blackboard menu changes daily with emphasis on wonderfully fresh fish. www.hotellunaazul.com

America Travels’ ‘Tren y Faenas a la Tica’ (Tico Train and Rodeos) takes visitors on a day trip to the Central American School of Animal Husbandry. The train leaves the San Jose station in the morning and arrives at 9 a.m. at Balsa. A rodeo, showcasing the talents of the students who attend the school, is the first event. Afterwards, visitors are treated to lunch, which is served in the main dining area. Afternoon tours of the 527 Ha property can be enjoyed by tractor, oxcart, horseback or on foot. A must-see is the school’s crocodile farm. The train then leaves at 3 p.m. for the return trip to San Jose. Many new tours are being planned. For more information email americatravel@ice.co.cr

Have a great August,

Penelope Lent

Please let me know if you would like others to receive our newsletter, penelope@lenteckhartproperties.com

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F.Y.I.

Juan Santamaria International Airport in San Jose has become the first Central American airport to offer free wireless Internet Services to its passengers.

The ban on importing cars 7 or more years old has been lifted.

Hybrid cars (those that function on both electricity and gas) have been given a duty tax exemption.

Guanacaste has just formed the newest chapter of Confrerie de la Chaine des Rotisseurs.

“Madame Butterfly” opens in July 29th. at the National Theater with nine performances.

The Juilliard Jazz Ensemble packed the Eugene O’Neill Theater in San Jose last month. On August the 25th., 25 Juilliard students will perform at the National Theater in downtown San Jose. Info 207-7571

The Croquet and Cricket Club of Costa Rica has just marked their first season as the official affiliate of the International Cricket Council (ICC). One of ten such affiliates in the Americas. Info trillingworth@yahoo.co.uk or 268-2903 / 381-8736

Published by Duke University Press www.dukeupress.edu is The Costa Rica Reader. This work traces the country’s history from its early days through the Civil War of 1948 into the 21st. century.

Country Day School in Brasilito has grown each year by 30 to 40 students. By the end of school next year the director expects to have 180 students.

The HIV Attention Clinic, at the National Children's Hospital, has been treating children with HIV for over 20 years. All medicines are free to children and volunteers are most welcome to help with the associations monthly activities. Info 225-8461

July 14 marks the 9th. Expo-Osa Tourism Exchange to be held at the Hotel Radisson in San Jose.

ICE has announced the launch of ADSL Broadband Internet.

The Guanacaste Chamber of Tourism has more than 50 business members compared to 12 just eight months ago.

Guanacaste’s melon growers have become the 4th. largest agricultural exporter after bananas, pineapple and coffee.

Purchasing Property In Costa Rica

In most cases your first contact when you decide to buy property in Costa Rica will be through a real estate agent. There are no laws that regulate real estate agents. As a buyer you should check all facts related to the property through your own legal representative. Any reputable real estate agents are happy to cooperate with your Attorney to verify all property and title information. You will also learn that there is no MLS (Multiple Listing Service) that shares property listings among realtors.

The next step to take once you have identified a particular piece of property that you are interested in is to do an initial title search. Your real estate agent will request the full name of the registered owner and the property title number (folio real). The search in the Public Registry will reveal the legally registered owner of the property as well as alert you as to any liens or encumbrances that may affect title to the property. Costa Rica follows the doctrine of first in time, first in right. This means that recorded instruments are given priority according to the date and time in which they are recorded. When real property is transferred, this means that any mortgages or liens, which are not recorded at the time that title is transferred, are invalid. The buyer should also check the records of the local municipal government where the property is located to ensure that all property tax liabilities are current.

The seller will also need to provide to the buyer a copy of the registered survey map for the property. All official survey maps must bear the stamp of the Catastro Nacional which must include their registration number. Property can not be transferred without the reference to a recorded survey map is indicated within the deed and its existence sworn to by the Notary Public that is preparing the deed. It is always best to have your Attorney and surveyor verify the authenticity of the survey map that is the basis of the property you wish to purchase.

The purchase offer will set forth the terms of the offer to the seller. Once accepted the buyer deposits with an independent party (the escrow holder) the deposit pursuant to the terms of the contract. At closing the formal procedures to transfer the property begin. In Costa Rica, property is transferred from seller to buyer by executing a transfer deed known as an Escritura de Traspaso, before a Notary Public. In Costa Rica the Notary Public must be an Attorney and has extensive powers to act on behalf of the state. At the buyers option the property can be purchased individually, jointly or in the name of a corporation.

At closing, the seller must provide proof that they are current with their property tax payments and municipal assessments. The property tax is .025% of the recorded value of the property. The value that is established in the transfer deed, if higher than the current tax basis, will establish the new valuation for your property. The same case applies if you take out a mortgage on the property and the amount of the mortgage is higher than the current tax basis of the property, then the value of the mortgage would become the value of the property for property tax purposes.

Closing costs are usually shared by the buyer and seller. The typical real estate closing will involve the following costs:

Real Estate Transfer Tax. The Impuesto de Traspaso which is equal to 1.5% of the registered value of the property. The Public Registry will not record a transfer deed unless the transfer taxes and documentary stamps have been paid.

Documentary Stamps. There are 5 different government required stamps that must be affixed to the deed. These stamps amount to 1.1% of the registered value of the property. The Public Registry also imposes its own tax of .05%.

Registration of the Transfer Deed is the most important step. Your Notary Public is obligated to ensure that the deed is presented (Anotado) and registered (Inscrito) in the Property Section of the Public Registry. This process can take anywhere from 45 to 60 days. It is important to keep in touch with the Notary Public to ensure registration.

A Quick Check List:

Request the title number (folio real)

Request the survey map (plano catastrado)

Title search (Estudio Registral)

Walk the boundaries with a surveyor and/or have the property re-surveyed.

Certify that all Municipal property taxes and assessments are paid.

Have a property inspection of the house.

Research the area in which your property is located to find out about future roads or developments that might affect your use.

Consult the Municipal government to find out any restrictions to future building on the property.

If purchasing a home request the building plans and permits.

If you purchase a home with domestic employees you are planning to keep, make sure that the seller has paid all outstanding taxes, severance benefits and/or vacation pay.

Always ask what the closing costs will be. This can vary depending on how you hold title, attorney fees and documents required. Your Attorney, Notary Public will be able to give you the different amounts.

Have a great July,

Penelope

Lent Eckhart Properties

www.lenteckhartproperties.com

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Northern Pacific Coast Real Estate

Real Estate activity for the first 5 months of 2005 from Papagayo to Pinilla.

Peninsula Papagayo is now selling residential lots around the Arnold Palmer Golf Course. The interior lots start at $750,000 for a little over a 1⁄4 acre to ocean front lots up to $6 million. Several developers are also buying in phase 3 where future hotels and the second golf course will be developed in 2006.

Rancho Manzanillo has just sold to a group from Texas. This 500 + ac property is a working ranch and has beach front access on Bahia Culebra. The developers will be parceling the hillside sites for single family homes, while the master plan is being drafted.

Several condo projects in Playa Panama and Playa Hermosa have just broken ground with all units sold before construction started. The prices ranged from $295,000 to $575,000.

Papagayo Golf and Country Club opened in May. Located in Libertad (6 miles south-east of Playas del Coco) this 9 hole of an 18-hole golf course is the newest golf course in Guanacaste. The full 18 holes will come online in Jan 2006. The 54 golf course lots in Phase 1 were sold in less than a year. A condo project is about to break ground (no pricing to date) and re-sales of some of the lots are seeing a 25% increase in a 6 month period. The development is located 15 minutes from the airport and 10 minutes from the beach. Phase 2 will have another 80 lots and be priced 30% higher than Phase 1.

Matapalo Properties, LLC is the holding company for an 800+ acre property located to the south of Ocotal. The Maryland group of investors is designing a very low density residential development with spacious lots all with ocean views to the north. This project is located on what is being called the “Ruta del Sol”.

Adjacent to the Matapalo Properties, LLC is another large parcel just purchased in May, by a group of investors out of Texas. This 950+ acre property has never been touched and includes approx. 600 meters of beach frontage (concession), a very large valley with towering trees and a mangrove. The owners are in the preliminary stages of drafting a master plan.

To the south is another exceptional property known as Guacamaya. This was recently sold to an American who has a master plan that stresses a very low profile, low density, environmentally sensitive project which will include a 5 star hotel, residential lots and possibly some condos.

The next large property to the south is called Zapotal and that beach is Playa Grande. This 1000 ac finca has a vast aquifer and was recently purchased by an American from California.

The property immediately to the south includes a small beach called Playa Las Playitas. Another American has just purchased this 50+ ac ocean front finca and intends to parcel it off into large residential lots for family and friends.

The next property to the south is a 150 acre parcel with a white sand beach called Playa Guachipelan. The American owner has renamed it Playa Carmel and Phase 1 will break ground, Jan. 2006. The initial hotel will have 30 two bedroom villas. The rest of the master plan calls for 20 estate lots and an additional extension to the hotel of another reception/restaurant area and another 50 casitas. This will be managed by an exclusive hotel operator.

The Catalinas is the 435 Ha property that surrounds Hotel Sugar Beach and also has 2 beaches, Playa Danta and Dantaitta. This property is being negotiated at this writing.

Located in Potrero is a 35 ac parcel for sale that is on Playa Prieta. Catalina’s Beach Resort is listed for $7 million with a master plan developed by a New York firm.

Moving south into Surfside is Castillo Flamingo, an oceanfront condo project due to start by the end of 2005. This will be a 2 story building with underground parking for 18 luxury two bedroom units and one penthouse. Pre-sales are underway with 6 already sold. $435,000

Surfside will have 2 more beach front condo projects which haven’t been fully developed and have no pricing at this time. There are also 2 beachfront lots (969m2 & 977m2) left each listed for $450,000 which is up 20% from the last sale 5 months ago. There are also 3 interior lots (500m2 to 600m2) listed from $60,000 to $100,000. This is up 66% from 2004.

Flamingo Park, is located on the beach in north Flamingo. Just purchased by an American this 32 unit condo project has 24 units available for sale. This is an existing structure that is going through extensive remodeling. The 2 bedroom 3 bath units will be offer from $875,000 to $995,000

South Flamingo is selling beachfront lots for $153.00 sq ft (only 6 left) and this is up 42% from 2004. The ocean view lots on south Flamingo have risen 45%. The 4 building condo project Flamingo Cove has Building #1 completed and sold out. Building #2 is under construction to be completed in 2006 with only 1 unit available at $463,500 (3 bedroom 3 bath). Building #3 has 10 units available out of 13 and Building #4 has 11 units out of 12 available and 2 penthouses ($1,500,000)

Reserva Conchal’s La Bahia Phase I & II Bougainvillea Condominiums, has only 2 re-sale condos available at $550,000 for a garden level 2 bedroom 2 bath furnished unit. This is up 67% from their initial sale 2 yrs ago. Phase III in La Bahia is in pre-construction sales. The initial offering was 27 condo units of 1, 3 and 4 bedrooms. Only 6 remain un-sold and are priced from $692,000 to $993,000. Of the 6 villas that are offer only 4 remain and they are all 3 bedroom 3.5 bath and priced from $1,320,000 to $1,550,000.

To the south are several large parcels which are in various stages of development. Lots are available from Pedregosa to Langosta and range in price from $150,000 up. The overall increase in price from 2004 is 30%.

Hacienda Pinilla’s Golf Course lots in Phase I & II number just 21 and they are up 14% from Feb. 05. In March 2005 there were 11 town homes available and now there is only 1 remaining in the first phase. The price increase for the last one is 10% from its list price just 2 months ago. The townhomes in Phase II are currently for sale and those prices are up 46% from the original pricing in Phase I in 2004. Re-sales on lots range from ocean front up 110% from 2004 to interior lots up 55%.

F.Y.I.

Liberia’s Daniel Oduber Airport’s #’s have increased 60% in just 12 months.

Nature Air has opened an office in Tamarindo. They have doubled their passenger count in the last 12 months.

More tourists are flying into Liberia which has translated into a 20% decline in tourism for the Central Valley.

The Green Season is here and arrived on May 16th. To date we have had 5 inches of rain and all is green.

1 in 5 tourists at local hotels ask about playing golf.

A round of golf at Hacienda Pinilla is $125. At Conchal it is $175.00 and at the Four Seasons where only hotel guests play it is $185.00. Papagayo Golf and Country Club charges $70.00

Wishing all a safe and happy summer,

Penelope

Let me know if you have someone who might like to receive our newsletter. Just email me at: penelope@lenteckhartproperties.com

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Flamingo

Marina Update: New legislation, passed this month, hopes to speed up the concession process for marinas by eliminating the environmental impact study, required by all bidders, by submitting the report after the bid has been granted. This will decrease the time and money each potential concessionaire would spend compiling reports for submission.

Much of the new legislation has been designed to encourage investment and expand the length of the term from 20 to 35 years.

Flamingo Marina’s concession process started in September 2003.

Los Suenos project started in 1993, but the Law of Marinas did not come out until 1998, and they did not start building until 2000 with the first slip operational in 2001.

The plan for the Pez Vela Marina in Quepos has taken four years, and only now is the concession agreement ready to be signed.

Papagayo Marina has taken over a year to plan with the first stage soon set to commence.

Liberia

Oscar Arias recently spoke to hundreds of Guanacastecans about the importance of foreign investment. As the National Liberation Party’s presidential candidate for the 2006 elections, he is out stating his goals for the country.

Arias expressed the need to sign the free trade agreement (CAFTA) with the U.S. Convinced that supporting foreign investment is best for the province, and the country’s development, Arias also pointed out that this plan was an investment in the youth of Costa Rica who must be able to compete globally.

Education is another major priority for the candidate. Arias has proposed an annual budget increase of 6% to 8%, and further wants to cut the divide between private and public schools. He also intends to improve the education of students in rural areas of Costa Rica.

As former president of Cost Rica, from 1990-1996, Arias is the first to run for re-election since the law was changed. Arias is also a Noble Peace Prize Laureate.

Papagayo

The new marina, which is the latest project in a long list for the Papagayo Peninsula, is due to start in June 2005 with the completion date set for the end of 2006.

Phase One will include the implementation of 160 slips, with an average size of 50 feet, and the ability to accommodate yachts up to 200 ft.

Phase Two will depend greatly on the market, but developers anticipate it could begin by 2008.

The marina will be located near Playa Manzanillo and west of the Occidential Allegro Papagayo Resort. This end of the bay location offers boats the most protection from ocean swells and the Papagayo winds.

The marina project is part of the 900 HA Eco-Desarollo Papagayo Project that encompasses the entire peninsula and includes the Four Seasons Hotel and golf course.

Slips will be around $25 to $30 per linear foot in conjunction with the Los Suenos marina located on the central Pacific Coast.

The marina is in the final stages of obtaining the necessary permits which will place commercial development planned below the 50 meter zone as allowed under the Marina Law to will serve the facility.

Cuajiniquil

This small fishing community, located in the northwestern province of Guanacaste, is being helped by a University of California program aimed at developing economic alternatives to fishing. Program projects include scuba diving instruction, a Mari culture project for raising red snapper in captivity, support for local women whose goal is to start their own micro-businesses and council for young people preparing for college.

Although still in the research stage, the Mari culture has been deemed the best method to raise the species organically without chemicals or antibiotics. The goal is to train and equip 45 fishermen to farm the snapper for market.

Up until this year, schools in the area only extended through 6th. grade. Now, two teachers staff a teleconferencing facility for 70 7th. graders in the town’s community center. Andrea Watson is helping these determined young teens learn the skills needed for scholastic success by helping them prepare for entrance exams, budgeting money and establishing successful study habits. Watson has also organized a work/study group for senior high school students, who travel many hours on public buses to Liberia, who call themselves ‘Jovenes Organizados Forjando su Futuro’ (Young People Organized to Create Their Future).

The students explained that this organization is teaching them how to be more responsible, work in group settings (a new experience for their culture), learn about conflict-resolution and effectively communicate. Both students and adults are deeply appreciative of all they have learned and experienced through this continuing program.

To contribute to any of these projects, email Andrea Watson at: aweevil@yahoo.com

Islita

The artists that were recently featured at an exhibit at the Costa Rican North American Cultural Center where the men, women and young adults from four communities immediately surrounding the Hotel Punta Islita, located in the north-western province of Guanacaste on the Pacific Coast.

The program began three years ago at “Encounter in Punta Islita” when a group of well known contemporary artists from San Jose were invited to the community of Islita to create works of art. The artists shared their artistic techniques and encouraged the locals to express their own creativity.

What started out as a one-time event has developed into three distinct groups who work in different mediums to create unique works of art. Now, the communities surrounding Hotel Punta Islita, have an Open Air Contemporary Museum. This wonderful idea has opened the eyes of local community members as well as their sense of creativity. The end result has created a new and different tourism that is based, not only on nature, but also culture and art.

Monteverde

Galleria Woods is an art gallery that offers a permanent exhibit of sculptures and paintings. Works by recognized national artists are displayed and single artist shows are planned through out the year.

To find out more email, Carlos Cruz at: solcontigo@hotmail.com

San Ramon

A hidden gem, located two hours outside of San Jose, is the Inn at Coyote Mountain. This is the third venture of three friends who have created culinary vacation havens in Canada, Spain and now Costa Rica.

Visit their web site to take a tour of their facilities and learn about this unique spot. www.cerrocoyote.com

Costa Rican Radio Project

Canadian, Bruce Callow, created the Costa Rican Radio Project in 2003 to share his love of music with the people in his adopted country. As a musician with first-hand knowledge about the difficulties in getting airplay in corporate-controlled mainstream radio, Callow sought alternatives. Through a friend, Callow made contact with a music director of a radio station who put him in touch with affiliate stations, in remote rural areas of the country. At first, Callow distributed CD’s of both his own original material and that of friends. Soon thereafter, the demand for CD’s had Callow asking friends of friends of fellow musicians to send CD’s that he could share with the stations. When an Internet ad for the program was posted, CD’s began pouring in. Word has now spread to other popular Internet sites with great success.

Callow writes to the artists whose CD’s he receives to let them know the names and locations of the radio stations. He also encourages the artists to record a special greeting, and some have sent biographies in Spanish so that they can be read on air. This has been enthusiastically received by listeners who are now requesting songs and CD’s. The project’s success has borne joint ventures between artists and affiliate stations.

At present, most of the stations are AM with plans to increase to FM, with a total number of 20 stations in the program.

San Jose

The first Recycling Symposium and Exposition in Costa Rica was held in San Jose last month. Costa Ricans did not consider the implementation of a national recycling program until 1992 when beer and soft drinks went from returnable glass bottles to aluminum cans. The non-profit organization, CEPRONA, which was formed 14 years ago to improve productivity and the quality of life in Costa Rica, has been at the forefront of recycling ever since. However, because the government has not extended any financial assistance towards the program, progress has remained slow.

Only 32 of Costa Rica’s 81 municipalities use landfills considered acceptable, while 57% of those municipalities do not dispose of garbage adequately. All conservation areas in Costa Rica have a recycling program.

The Japanese Embassy assisted in funding the Symposium in addition to providing a special 20 minute recycling educational video, implementing a web site and sponsoring 25 training programs. Japan is considered to have one of the world’s most comprehensive recycling programs

Cited as one of the strongest local communities for recycling, Escazu Municipality collaborated with the University of Texas in the development of their program.

Nationwide

Five U.S. pilots used a two-seated NASA plane, with a wingspan of 120 ft, to take 8,200 snapshots of Costa Rica. Mision Carta 2005 took six weeks to complete, but will yield volumes of data for University of Costa Rica scientists to study. From the many images gathered, a better understanding of where and why flooding and deforestation, was achieved. An inventory of the country’s water resources and an evaluation of the location and status of electrical and telecommunication infrastructure is also planned as a means to further improve urban planning.

Officials will overhaul the country’s National Property Registry and national Cadastre, which documents the ownership, size, location, value and map of properties.

The resulting data has spawned over 40 different projects. Some studies are using the images to search for evidence of pre-Colombian societies. The aerial documentation process also included close range images of active volcanoes, using special spectral sensors that create 3-D images, to show thermal behavior.

The project was funded by the Costa Rica government and the Costa Rica-United States Foundation for Cooperation (CR-USA)

2007 is slated for the next aerial updating of Costa Rica.

F.Y.I.

The 6th. Annual Robert August Surf & Turf took place from April 1st. to 8th. in Tamarindo, Avellanes and Pinilla raised a record $16,275 for two local causes: Villarreal Elementary School and Tamarindo Lifeguard Program.

April marked the 10th. Anniversary of the Public Education Ministry’s Indigenous Education Department. The country has 224 indigenous schools at both the primary and secondary levels.

The 35th. Anniversary of Earth Day was celebrated nationwide with several three-day events. Large banners displayed the saying “Committed to care for the Earth.”

The Osa Conservation Area, which takes in five parks, refuges and reserves, has 68 new Park Wardens. This will help stop the action of poachers against Jaguars and other animals which are on the brink of extinction in this area. This was made possible by the non-profit U.S. Moore Foundation, chaired by Gordon Moore, one of the co-founders of Intel.

The Virilla River basin, located in the central valley, covers 1,000 square kilometers, representing 2% of Costa Rica’s total land, and home to 43% of the country’s population.

Costa Rica’s tourism industry is responding positively to disabled tourists. Guides are making visitors’ experiences of the country’s many sites and attractions possible. For information and services for the disabled traveler please visit empowermentaccess.com

In 2004, the number of organic farmers was 4,000, with established crops on 22,477 acres. In the first quarter of 2005, the number increased to 6,000 farmers on 27,170 acres.

EUFORIA has plans for a multi-day race between coasts, starting July 23rd, and another between volcanoes, starting Sept. 23rd. For information visit www.euforiaexpeditions.com

Diversification and exports into Asian markets improved sales of pineapples, melons, mangos and ornamental plants. Exports to the U.S. (nearly 1⁄2 of C.R. exports) only rose 0.2% while exports to China jumped 121.8% from 2004. Exports to Hong Kong rose 184.4%. The principal exports were TV and Radio parts and other high-tech products.

Starbucks awarded the Beneficio La Candelilla Estate, in the southern town of Tarrazu, its ‘Black Apron Exclusives Award’ for exceptional coffee.

Rainforest Alliance, a New York based non-government organization, has a bi-monthly newsletter about sustainable tourism. Visit www.rainforestalliance.org

Procter & Gamble, Kimberly-Clark and Intel announced plans to expand their presence in the country by increasing the financial services offered here for offices, subsidiaries and clients in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Costa Rica plans to revive the railroad cargo service between the Paci