Ahhh, Costa Rica, the island of .....

Most of you know by now that Costa Rica is not an island, but situated in Central America between Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south…

However for the millions that have visited Costa Rica, or for the happy residents that live here, Costa Rica is indeed an island of peace and tranquility in the sea of Central American political turbulence and poverty. Plus the fact that it's so close to the U.S. helps to ensure interest in Costa Rica by North Americans forever and ever, no matter how bad the U.S. economy!

This “developing” nation has its reputation continually and romantically enhanced by:

• The inspirational example of a country that proudly lacks a military force.
• The evolving ecological consciousness and desire to be the leader in Eco-tourism; the large quantity of natural reserved & protected areas, and the popular carbon exchange programs. 
• The absolutely amazing amount of spectacular scenery (from its beautiful beaches, rainforests, volcanoes, to the endless variety of flora and fauna).
• The wealth of activities ranging from adventure sports both day and night, or the leisurely moments spent sipping sunrises during spectacular sunsets.
• The fact that all foreign property purchasers have the same legal rights as the Costa Ricans. (except for concession zone properties which we don't recommend for purchase!)
• But most of all, Costa Rica is a great place because of the incredibly friendly and warm-hearted people known as Ticos (males) and Ticas (females).

WHY THE CENTRAL PACIFIC AREA of Costa Rica?   

1.  The continued success of the luxurious Los Suenos  Marina & Golf Resort, generally acknowledged to be the most successful resort community in all of Central America and located only ten minutes to the north of Jaco. 
Their high end condos, homes and villas have set the standard for gated beachfront communities and lent credibility to investing in Costa Rica’s Central Pacific area, with condos priced from $389,000, villas over $4 million, and homes valued over $8 million. Los Suenos is internationally recognized as both a world class fishing destination as well as offering a unique and respected 18 hole golf course with an enchanting forested backdrop. The Marriott Los Suenos, located here, is very popular internationally.

2. The availability of fee-simple 100% fully titled Jaco and Playa Hermosa beachfront condos, homes, villas & ocean view lots-less expensive and safer than Mexico! Only 4% of Costa Rica’s beachfront is titled, and this area contains a high percentage of this land.

3. The year-round tropical lush green beauty of the Central Pacific with the best beach climate anywhere along the entire Central American Pacific coast!  No hurricanes, no tornados, no tsunamis, no droughts, just lovely beach weather, year ‘round.

4. The new highway from San Jose to the Jaco area has been enjoyed for over 2 years now, because the travel time on average is ONE hour 15 minutes to either the International Airport SJO or to the popular western suburbs of Santa Ana-Escazu  (featuring an IMAX movie theatre-only one in Central America; Cima Hospital-partnered with Baylor;  Multiplaza West-the biggest mall in C.A.; PriceSmart-like Costco;  major hotels, and dozens of excellent restaurants, including U.S. franchises.)  

5. Jaco Beach visitors are astounded at the positive changes over the past few years, beginning with paved roads, more stores, more police, more options for fun!

6. Many new eco-activities, from extreme sports to more family oriented nature tours- from zip-lining to butterfly & monkey exhibits; from birdwatching in the Dry Rainforest Park to visits to tropical Isla Tortuga, and of course, Costa Rica’s #1 National Park, Manuel Antonio, continues to be a “must see”, and is only one hour away.

WHY JACÓ?

 Jacó, (pronounced ha-CÓ) has always been one of the most popular beaches in Costa Rica due to its proximity to San Jose, vast amount of entertainment options and public services provided.  NOW with the new road, Jaco beach is more popular than ever..

Jaco is located in Garabito, the eleventh canton in the province of Puntarenas in Costa Rica. The canton covers an area of 189.7 sq.miles  (316.31 km²), and has a resident population of over 17,000, however during weekends or holidays the area swells to almost 30,000.

Garabito's capital city is Jacó, and therefore life is easier when requiring government services as they are almost all located in Jaco. 
The shape of Jaco Bay is unique and brings us cooler breezes and temperatures than either in the north or south Costa Rican beaches... 
Also note that there are 2 bilingual, international and fully accredited schools in the area for U.S. families. The Central Pacific Jaco area continues to offer more reasons for families to relocate here. 

    The New Freeway:  Having waited for more than 30 years for this miracle to take place, the new highway, (called officially Highway 27 or Ruta del Sol) was inaugurated by the President of Costa Rica, Oscar Arias on January 27, 2010.
The driving time has now been reduced to one hour ten minutes from the International Airport Juan Santamaria or from the shopping & dining mecca of Escazu. More importantly, the stress of driving to Jaco has been greatly reduced as one no longer has to deal with curvy mountainous terrain.  Hooray!             

Will this result in increased equity and interest to this area ?  
Things are selling again, so our answer is yes, now is the time to buy!           

Is this part of Costa Rica modern? 

Yes we have Cable and Satellite TV with all your favorites including CNN, Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, ESPN, HBO, Sony, WB, National Geo., Bloomberg, Disney, etc.... 
Yes we have high speed and wireless internet, and plenty of land lines and 3-G cellular phone services.    Yes we have modern grocery stores with the most incredible fresh produce and imported goods. Yes we have a Quiznos, Subway, Pizza Hut, KFC; there are 3 Sushi bars; lots of "typico" restaurants with full meals (casados) for under $4; gelato ice-cream & TCBY yogurt; & all types of restaurants serving the freshest fish caught in area waters, to satisfy almost all "foodies." 
As a former restaurant owner, I am thrilled at our eating options here in Jaco, or in Costa Rica generally.

Jaco has a Chamber of Commerce now in effect since 2009, called CENPAC which has really helped in the beautification and modernization of Jaco, and more is coming! Check out  www.jacochamber.com for new events and local businesses who support them. 

UPDATES FOR THE JACO AREA:

Dec, 23, 2012  Jaco Municipality Making Major upgrades: The Municipality of Garabito has begun the long-anticipated job of installing sidewalks on Jaco's busiest streets. The work is moving along at a very quick pace and on the Pop's Road which means in time for the start of high season.  The Municipality of Jaco is making improvements around town including road improvements, additional street lights and a stepped up police presence, which all contribute to a prettier, cleaner, improved tourist experience.

July 2012   A new Jaco stadium will be built on the northern end of Jaco Beach and will hold 6-7,000 people, a tremendous upgrade from the current facility in Jaco. The Jaco Rays are a newer professional team that has quickly become a big draw for soccer fans in the Central Pacific. The stadium is not just to house the Jaco Rays Soccer Team, it will maybe  stage the Women's World Cup Under-17 in 2014, and other events and be one of the magnets to attract new buyers of condominiums and homes to the area.

December 15th, 2011  The new Jaco conference center and playhouse, Teatro Jaco is officially opened and are successfully presenting  bilingual professional staged events, from plays to comedians.

June 25, 2011  The Jaco Cinema Complex is now open with 4 movie screens, with prices ranging from $4-$7. HOORAY!

April 1, 2011 Jaco's brand new central park is opened with its first Arts and Crafts fair.
The Johannes Dankers Park will offer several shaded areas to sit and relax,  nighttime lighting, and there is a children’s playground welcoming families and all residents.

HOW NICE TO LIVE IN A PLACE THAT RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL TOURIST AWARDS!

March 21st, 2013   Costa Rica is the safest country in Latin America according to a study by publisher-analyst, Latinvex. It uses the latest available data from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, The World Bank, Transparency International, Heritage Foundation and the World Economic Forum. 
March 10, 2013 Costa Rica has topped the charts for Traveler’s Choice 2013 on both TripAdvisor and Lonely Planet sites. Of the Top 10 Beaches in Central America on TripAdvisor, Costa Rica snagged eight spots, including # 1, with Manuel Antonio National Park on the central Pacific coast, only one hour from Jaco.
Top 20 destinations overall: Costa Rica, ninth, and the only Central American country in the top 20.  Adventure: Costa Rica came in second place in the adventure travel category, helped, no doubt, by loads of visitors zip-lining through its jungles.
Nature: The Americas dominated the top 10 for ‘nature’ with four countries gracing the list: Costa Rica, Ecuador, Brazil and Canada. Costa Rica takes the top spot. As one of our authors puts it, Costa Rica boasts a ‘Disney-like cast of creatures – ranging from howler monkeys to toucans, as well as jungle, active volcanoes and stunning coastlines.'

June 1, 2012 Costa Rica again tops “ The Happy Planet Index” 
The Happy Planet Index (HPI) is the leading global measure of sustainable well-being, long, happy, sustainable lives for the people that live in them. The 2012 HPI report ranks 178 countries based on their efficiency – the extent to which each nation produces long and happy lives per unit of environmental input. The 2012 Happy Planet Index (HPI)  has Costa Rica topping the list as the happiest country on Earth, as they did in 2009.

 Jan. 16, 2013   The “Top 100 Outsourcing Destinations Report 2013” places Costa Rica as the best country in Latin America for outsourcing operations and 13th worldwide, according to a private study released by global consulting and investment firm Tholons. 

October 24, 2012  COSTA RICA SWEEPS CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER’S 2012 READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS    The Costa Rica Tourism Board is thrilled to announce that Costa Rica was the most celebrated destination in Central America in the 2012 Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards released this week. The top honors went to the region’s favorite hotels and resorts, as voted by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler.

August 18, 2011: Costa Rica Ranks Best Country in Central America and the Caribbean for Foreign Direct Investment 2011-2012 .  Considering the country's  attraction of more than 227 new investment projects between 2003 and 2010, the Financial Times Group's FDI Intelligence unit has named Costa Rica the “Best Country of the Future for Foreign Direct Investment in Central America & the Caribbean” in its “FDI Countries of the Future” report.

Nov. 3, 2010  Costa Rica ranked number one value destination for winter 2010  by popular college student travel agencies: Smarter Travel, StudentUniverse, and STA in regards to great value locations for trips.

August 26, 2010: The magazine "Travel + Leisure" places Costa Rica at the top as the best country in the world for single travel,  taking into account several factors, among them basics for a foreigner to enjoy their stay in a country and security.

2009 Global Prosperty Index ranked Costa Rica #1 of Latin American nations out of 104 nations indexed.

May 25, 2009 Costa Rica is the safest country in Latin America for business and multinational companies, according to the latest Latin Security Index analyzed by FTO for the weekly publication Latin Business Chronicle, .

Prior Awards for Costa Rica:

2008   Costa Rica is the second best tourist destination in Latin America/Caribbean, by the
          World Economic Forum (WEF) 

2008   Readers’ Choice Award:  Best Destination for Ecotourism & Adventure.

2007   Travel Weekly voted CR:     Best Destination Latin America 

2006   Smarter Travel.com voted CR:  #3 Safest Destination for Women Travelers

2006   Magazine "Viajes y Turismo" granted Costa Rica the award "Best Nature Tourism"

2004   "Recommend"  (one of the top magazines for travel agencies),

           Readers’ Choice Award:  Best Destination for Ecotourism and Adventure.

           "Recommend" Readers’ Choice Award: Best Selling Destination for Latin America

2004   Modern Bride - Best Destination for Honeymoons (Culture)

2004   Travel Weekly - Best Destination for Latin America Travel Weekly -

           Best Destination for Tourism from the United States

2003   Recommend - Best Destination for Latin America.

CENTRAL PACIFIC JACO AREA AWARDS AND RECOGNITION:

1.   Billabong's 2009 International Surfing Association (ISA) World Surfing Games was in Playa Hermosa Jaco beach, Costa Rica, July 31 till Aug. 9, 2009, 35 countries participated. It was a big success with an estimated 70,000 people in attendance!  

2. The World Travel Awards announced (Feb. 2008), that Jaco, Costa Rica won "the Leading Beach in Central America."

3. Costa Rica Blue Flag Beach Awards: Oct. 2008 Jaco received its first Blue Flag beach designation for its attention to general cleanliness, clean tap water, and other things APRIL 16, 2011    The town of Jaco is very proud to have won its 4th Blue Flag thank to the joint efforts of the Municipality of Garabito, Central Pacific Chamber of Commerce,  and the community’s  Interinstitutional Environmental Commission of  Jaco , the only one in Costa Rica. In order to receive the Blue Flag award, the quality of water, the solid waste management systems, the signaling of roads, the environmental education and public safety are all evaluated. The city council, local businesses and members of the community all worked together to ensure that the requirements were met for this award.

4. March 24, 2012   Playa Hermosa of Jaco has again been awarded its Blue Flag beach designation. This award confirms what the area residents already know- that Playa
Hermosa is not only a world class surfing destination, but a wonderful beach to enjoy
for many non-surfers also: as a beachcombers’ delight, a sunset photographers’ dream, a couples’ romantic stroll; or a family day at the beach…..

5.  Oct. 25,  2008  A recent edition of Condé Nast Traveler magazine, mentions Central Pacific Costa Rican hotels among their Best Hotels of Central America awards. Hotels included in the listing are Lapa Ríos Ecolodge, ranking in 2nd place; and Villa Caletas, Herradura in seventh. 

6. Feb. 26, 2009   Rain Forest Aerial Tram of the Tarcoles, Jaco area receives award as the Best Tour for the 2007-2008 season by Princess Cruise Lines

JACO SHOWS GROWTH with NEW RESTAURANTS  

(updated March 1,  2013)

1. The Green Room: Gourmet burgers and Crab Eggs Benedict! Great new place! Recently moved from Hermosa to the old Rioasis site (Rioasis now in front of Best Western).

2. Burro Burrito: Owners are offering super burritos and want to franchise their great concept!

3. Caribeno: Offering jerk chicken and other Caribbean specialties

4. Eat!: Offering New York family style Italian

5. Paparazzi!  Authentic Italian restaurant offering old favorites

6. 2 New Costa Rican Typical Style Restaurants offering great food, $4-$5 complete meals.

7. Marisqueria: Large reasonably priced seafood Costa Rican family style

RESTAURANT INFO UPDATED  March, 2013

1. Lemonzest, Tsunami Sushi, I love Sushi, Los Amigos -(and now managing the Bohio Bar & Bubba's Grill); Taco Bar; Poseidon; Arigato; Big Ron's N.Y. Pizza (new management Pizza Shop), and Isaga are doing well. Too many more to name...

2. My personal favorite, "Graffiti" is now ranked #1 Jaco restaurant on Trip Advisor!

3. Lots of "typico" restaurants offering tasty buffet style, for breakfast, lunch or dinner
still for only $4.00- and most are doing quite well!

The Jaco, Central Pacific, Puntarenas, Costa Rica area is growing,
and now is the time to purchase your next home!

"LET'S GO SURFING NOW, 
EVERYBODY'S LEARNING HOW,
C'MON TO HERMOSA WITH ME"

CHECK OUT OUR NEW DAILY SURF-TIDE REPORTS
FROM PLAYA HERMOSA, ON OUR WEB PAGE

WEATHER-SURF-TIDES!

SURF SERIES 2013     EVERY SATURDAY BEACHFRONT OF THE BACKYARD BAR
AND HOTEL AT 4 p.m. IN PLAYA HERMOSA. 
It is an open surf contest in "expression session" format. No entry fee and cash prizes for the competitors. In the water you will see some most progressive surfing in Latin America from members of the Costa Rican national team. Everyone is welcome to come and compete. 5 pm we start with a great band and have a beachfront B.B.Q.! Organized by Cesar Vargas Producciones. Sponsors: La Joya Residences, Le Loft, Mango, Rovercam.com, Loma del Mar Surf Camp, Backyard Bar & Hotel
 ************   

Hermosa Break Description:

Powerful and consistent beachbreak that sticks out into the Pacific, assuring constant swell. You will rarely be surfing under head high here.

It can be perfect sometimes, delivering a nice barrel, but at other times you might see the barreling waves all over the place, but have trouble finding that perfect wave for yourself! 

Hermosa is actually a several miles long stretch of beach, and you can go surfing anywhere along beach. There are a few distinct areas people surf:

Cabinas: right behind the cabinas that line the beach, Cabinas Las Olas being an example.

The Gate: if you are coming from Jaco, right after you pass Cabinas Las Olas, turn right onto the dirt road.

The Tree: Drive down a little more past the gate, and you will see a huge tree on your right, probably with few surfer's cars parked underneath.

Tulin Rivermouth: Continue driving past The Tree for a while, and your surfing at Tulin. VERY powerfull rivermouth beachbreak, usually a little bigger than the rest of Hermosa. Park at the Minae offices, watch out for alligators and sting rays. 

Catching it Good

It closes out more at low tide, but can still produce a barrel. Better to go surfing Mid-high tide. Bigger during the rainy season (May-December).

Getting There

Take the paved road out of Jaco going south. After you pass Cabinas Loas olas, turn right onto the dirt road. Remember, CR Beach Investment Real Estate has some fantastic homes for sale in this area, including the Hermosa Bungalows, almost directly in front of The Tree. Prices start at $232,000 for a 1000 sq.ft, 2 bedroom, check our Home listings! I live there and its FANTASTIC!

Recommended Hotels/Surfcamps in the Area

Hermosa Beachfront Bungalows: www.hermosabeachbungalows.com or buy one!

Loma Mar Surfcamp: These guys have the entire area wired, and they run ROVERCAM.COM. They take you surfing everyday to the best breaks in the area (hint: not just Hermosa!), and then video your surf session! Very cool, 3 meals a day included, Highly Recommended!!!  

Famous Fabulous Fishing

is here in the Jaco, Central Pacific area of C.R.

                UPDATED 2013

Los Sueños Marina near Jaco Beach and the Quepos - Manuel Antonio area are the hot spots for Sport Fishing on the Central Pacific coast. Sailfish are the main targets for most anglers and they are seldom disappointed. Offshore fishing is normally done 12-20 miles out in blue water. Once in the blue water anglers catch Sailfish, Marlin, Tuna, Dorado and Wahoo. Inshore fishing is done around rocks, reefs, river mouths and estuaries. Anglers catch Roosterfish, Snapper, Jacks, Mackerel, Snook and more.

We are located in Jaco Beach on the Central Pacific Coast. The majority of our charter boats and vacation rentals are located in the Los Suenos Resort, Jaco Beach, Hermosa Beach, Quepos & Manuel Antonio areas. 

Give us a call or send us an e-mail if you have any questions about charter boats and vacation rentals or if you need a “live” fishing report.

Thanks for your time,

By Phone:

1-800-9SAILFISH toll free from the USA

2643-1620 cell in Costa Rica

By Email:

help@costaricafishingreport.com
martha@costaricafishingreport.com

Fishing Species And Seasons

The Sailfish bite is above average year round. When the fishing is good, boats can average 20-40 Sailfish a day. When the fishing is slow, boats can average 5-10 fish per day. The best months are normally December through April, but Sailfish are caught all year round. more..

September, October and November are normally the best months for Marlin. But, big Blue Marlin and Black Marlin are always around and the boats that target them usually have some success. You may need to go a little farther and fish a little harder, but Marlin fishermen are used to that. more...

Yellowfin Tuna are found throughout the year on the Pacific coast. It’s not uncommon to pick up a 100 plus pound Yellowfin when fishing for Sailfish. June through September are normally the best months for Big Tuna. My best Tuna day we caught 20 Yellowfin Tuna. One weighed 20 pounds, one weighed 200 pounds and all the rest were about 100 pounds each. more...

The Dorado fishing is above average year round. June, July, August and September are the best months for the 5-15 pounders that congregate on the 
weed and trash lines closer inshore. The rest of the year, the bigger Dorado are further offshore in the blue water with the bait and the Sailfish, 30 to 50 pound Dorado are very common when fishing for Sailfish.more...

Wahoo can be a pleasant surprise anytime of the year. Not many fisherman target the Wahoo, they are usually caught while fishing for something else. There are a few offshore rocks around Quepos that consistently hold big Wahoo all year long. more...

These hard hitting fish are one of my favorite. The Roosterfish and Jack bite is good year round with June through September normally being the best months. Fish live bait along the reefs and river mouths or cast poppers on the rocks and hold on because they hit like a freight train. Jaco and Quepos have excellent fishing for Roosterfish and Jack. more...

There are several different species of Snapper on the Pacific Coast. The Snapper bite is good year round. Cubera Snappers in the 50 to 80 pound range are not uncommon. Fish the rocks, reefs and rivers mouths with live bait or poppers. The Snapper fishing is good along the entire Pacific Coast. more...

Snook are usually caught trolling or casting near the many river mouths that run into the Pacific Ocean. The IGFA World Record Pacific Black Snook was caught just south of Quepos. There are a lot of 20 to 40 pound Snook caught every year. The locals have known about these big Snook for years, now a few of the smaller charter boats are targeting them. The best months are normally July through November, but some of the biggest fish are caught in December. more...

Map Of Central Pacific Costa Rica

by Tico Times: Jerry “Bubba” Hallstrom:

 Costa Rica lost one of it’s good guys this week with the passing of Jerry “Bubba” Halstrom, of a sudden heart attack. Born July 14th, 1965, Jerry was only 45 years old and was known around town as “Bubba” from his famous fish taco restaurant, Bubba’s Fish Tacos, but even more so for his friendly personality and his generosity in the Jaco community.
Jerry was an avid fisherman and wrote a weekly fishing column in the Tico Times. Jerry also facilitated fishing trips, vacation rentals and booked fishing charters out of Los Suenos.

As a very loyal supporter of McKee Project Jaco, Bubba was very generous, leaving donations in our donation box at the clinic every time he was there. Bubba never left an animal in need without help - his house was full of pets, all of which were rescued from the streets. At Bubba’s they found love and respect and a new and wonderful life they never had before.
His family decided to make McKee Project Jaco a beneficiary for his memorial fund. They were in Costa Rica the first week of January, and presented a check for $500. This so very generous donation will go towards our adoption program, which at this moment has the most needs of all our projects. 

North American Anglers Contribute $599 Million Annually to Costa Rican Economy July 6, 2010 Inside Costa Rica, 

Tourism is Costa Rica’s top industry and new research shows North Americans traveling there in 2008 to fish generated $599 million - or about two percent of Costa Rica’s gross domestic product.

The study, conducted in 2009 by The Billfish Foundation, Southwick Associates and the Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR), revealed 283,790 anglers visited Costa Rica and their economic impact even overshadowed commercial fishing. It was estimated 22 percent of those tourists visited the country for the exclusive purpose of fishing.

From that $599 million the study also showed sportfishing generated almost $78 million in tax revenues for Costa Rica and 63,000 jobs. In comparison, the effect of commercial fishing for the same species sought by anglers generated approximately $528 million to Costa Rica’s gross domestic product. Commercial fishing contributed $68.6 million in tax revenue and created 57,000 jobs.

“We have already had the opportunity to present the results of this study to the incoming vice president and minister of tourism,” said Ellen Peel, president of The Billfish Foundation. “And we will be making a formal presentation to a wider cross sector of government and business leaders this summer. The leadership in Costa Rica had no idea that their country receives more benefits from a sustainable recreational harvest than from the subsidized excessive effort in the commercial fishery.”

The comprehensive study included interviewing tourists at Costa Rica’s major airports to estimate the percentage who fished while visiting. The research focused on the expenditures and economic impacts of marlin, sailfish, yellowfin tuna, wahoo and dorado; species that are the most frequent targets of commercial fisherman and recreational anglers.

It was estimated the 283,790 North Americans visiting Costa Rica in 2008 spent a total of $467 million. The survey revealed $329 million was spent on travel including lodging ($119 million), restaurants ($15.6 million), flights and fishing guides ($88 million) and land transportation ($6 million). These dollars then change hands multiple times in Costa Rica, creating significant benefits for the nation’s gross domestic product. In addition, visitors spent approximately $105 million outside of Costa Rica prior to arrival for airfare or other travel expenses, though these dollars are not included in the economic analyses.

About 3,700 of those visiting Costa Rica have their own boats in the country, whether permanently or temporarily, and they spent approximately $138 million for items such as fuel ($45.6 million), maintenance and repairs ($25 million), furniture and accessories for their vessels ($48 million), staff and crews ($2.8 million), marina fees ($16.6 million), and taxes and insurance ($1.8 million).

“TBF believes that only when decision makers understand the economic importance of good fishing opportunities for tourist anglers will billfish conservation get on the radar screen of government leaders charged with economic development as well as fisheries management,“ said Dr. Russell Nelson chief scientist for TBF. “And now thanks to the dedication of TBF members and generous donors who have supported our socio-economic research, we are making the point.”

Additional work conducted in the U.S. by Southwick Associates, Inc. estimated 7.5 million Americans fished outside of their country in 2009 with 3.6 percent of them traveling to Costa Rica. Among anglers vacationing in Costa Rica, 40 percent said they would not have visited the country if they could not fish. Those anglers, who represent 116,000 visitors per year and about $135 million in tourism income for Costa Rica, said the main factor in determining their satisfaction is “quality of fishing” followed by “relative peace and quiet,” and “fishing services, boat and crew quality.” The majority of anglers reported they visited Costa Rica to catch billfish including sailfish, marlin along with dorado. Inshore species such as snook and tarpon were less frequent targets.

“This was the first study done in Central America that compares the economic contributions of recreational and commercial fishing for the same species,” said Rob Southwick, president of Southwick Associates, who coordinated design and methodology, management and monitoring of this research and generated information regarding U.S. anglers’ international travel activities. “We’ve completed similar work for Los Cabos, Mexico, and the results produced almost immediate benefits to fisheries management and conservation.”

That study found the Los Cabos area benefited by $1.1 billion to the economy. 

Based on the success of socio-economic research in Mexico and Costa Rica, TBF already has entered into discussions with the new administration in Panama to conduct similar studies in that country. 

Complete reports are available at: www.billfish.org

September and October are the height of rainy season in Costa Rica, as the recent weather has amply proven. Tropical storms at the end of September brought much of the country heavy rains and cloudy skies for more than a week.

We get these heavy rains every year, and the good news is that they mark the beginning of the end of rainy season. According to my records, the big rains last year came at the end of October, and in mid-October in 2008. Hopefully they came early this year, and it won’t be long before summer returns with sunny days, calm seas, cobalt-blue water and good fishing.

The heavy rains push the blue water and the bite farther offshore, and this can slow down the fishing. Before the recent downpours, the offshore fishing on the Pacific was good for marlin and yellowfin tuna, and the tarpon bite was good on the Caribbean coast.

 Central Pacific

The folks on the Macushla hauled in a big tuna.

The guys on the Macushla out of Los Sueños Marina fished offshore right before the rains and caught three blue marlin, two sailfish and a big yellowfin tuna.

Capt. James Smith and the crew of the Dragin Fly out of Los Sueños went out before and after the rains. Before the rain, they were doing well on blue marlin, sailfish and tuna. Afterward, they did well on sailfish, mahimahi and striped marlin.

The captain and crew of the J-Barrilete in Herradura Bay took a group of three anglers offshore for a full day of fishing, and they went seven for nine on sailfish and added a couple of small mahimahi for the dinner table.

Capt. Mitch Pearson on the Shotgun got in on some of the marlin action in front of Los Sueños, going two for four. He also caught a couple of sailfish and a handful of nice yellowfin tuna on a recent day offshore.

U.S. anglers Andre Mule from Florida and Chuck Pankow from Pennsylvania fished with the guys on the Good Day Too and caught three monster wahoo between 40 and 70 pounds.

Capt. Alex Holdin on the La Manta out of Quepos has had some good days down at a local hot spot called the 26 Rock, with a mix of wahoo, yellowfin tuna, small mahimahi, jack and snapper.

Capt. Chris Bernstel on the Kinembe II reports a good marlin and wahoo bite out in front of Quepos. The inshore fishing has been slow due to the heavy rains and dirty water, he reports.

COSTA RICAN CHARITIES WE BELIEVE IN!

 1.  In the early nineties I met a former Peace Corp worker who spoke of her involvement with many foundations and charitable groups. Finally in 1997, Gail Nystrom realized her dream with the founding of the              

Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation (CRHF)

(CRHF) works to improve the quality of life of the most vulnerable populations in Costa Rica and now manages more than fifty projects throughout the country, focusing on education, community development, primary and preventive health care, and extensive support services for women, at-risk youth and indigenous groups. All needs that the CHRF addresses are defined by the local populations, thus ensuring a high level of commitment to each of our programs.

The work of the CRHF is carried out by a diverse group of volunteers from all over the world. Through the friendship and support of our volunteer network, the people in the communities that we serve learn to believe in themselves as they search for lasting solutions to their daily problems. CRHF volunteers are involved in projects ranging from counseling abused women and children in the greater San Jose area to helping indigenous groups protect their cultural heritage in remote mountain villages. Individual volunteers and volunteer groups from Canada, Europe, and the United States are placed in homestay families and provided with cultural orientation, work support, training and background, and logistical support for their individual needs as they complete projects of their own design.

Executive Director Gail Nystrom founded the CRHF in 1997  and has guided the organization since its establishment. Although the CRHF continues to evolve and adapt, the original Core Values remain unchanged:

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

Our dream of creating an organization that works ethically and economically to solve real problems for real people has been developed with great care and made possible thanks to the sacrifices and dedication of many.  Over the years, we have been privileged to cause positive changes in the lives of thousands of people due to our combined efforts and creativity. Despite the many challenges that we have faced, we remain focused on our vision and committed to an unyielding standard of integrity and mutual respect. We have been strengthened by our work and are determined to continue growing and fulfilling our mandate. I would like to thank you for taking the time to learn more about our organization and express my heartfelt hope that you will join us.  Thank you for sharing our dream.  
Gail Nystrom, M.A. Ed. Founder and Executive DirectorPlease check out their website:    www.crhf.org    Telephone: (506) 8390-4192 or (506) 2282-6358    gnystrom@racsa.co.cr

2.  On the Caribbean side of Costa Rica Barry and his wife Nanci are doing really incredible things.!

The Bridge   http://www.elpuente-thebridge.org            

El Puente del Caribe, S. A., is a Costa Rican Corporation, with offices in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Costa Rica, and a mailing address in El Cajon, California, USA. The Microloan Program, School Program, and Food Program are operating units of El Puente del Caribe, S. A., managed as a non-profit by design. Cash raised by sales of greeting cards and prints is immediately used for each of its projects,

SCHOOL PROGRAM

Purpose:       Assist families in placing and keeping children in school

Cost:            Approximately $150 for startup and $10 per month per student

Currently:    Assisted 27 children in 2008, expecting small increase in 2009

Next Steps: Work with the schools we impact and determine what we can do to help.

                    Make sure that schools get additional supplies as they are donated.

FOOD PROGRAM

Purpose:    Provide hot meals three days a week in a "Community Kitchen" format; provide one bag of supplemental food each week for qualifying families on a work-for-food program.

Cost: Hot meals: Approximately $1.39 per bowl of soup one bag of supplemental food: $19.22 per bag, up from $15.64

Currently:    Providing hot meals for 100 people a week, more or less

                        Providing bags of supplemental food for 5 families

Our screened-in porch and temporary outdoor space now accommodates up to 80 people, cooking facilities have been "tuned" and stretched to capacity. Construction of outdoor bathrooms and storage is complete.

Next Steps: Purchase additional land where a larger Bridge facility will be constructed.

MICROLOAN PROGRAM

Purpose: Make Microloans to help individuals become self-sufficient.

Cost:        Technically, the cost is zero. The interest rate on the loans is set to cover expenses and to provide some growth in the program.

Currently: 29 loans have been made; 20 have been repaid, with another written off due to death of borrower ...

Next Steps:   Hire a manager for the microloan program. Implement new Grameen-based Guidelines as part of expansion. Resume fund raising for microloan program, and expand to 100 loans.

CULTURAL PRESERVATION

Purpose: Assist where possible in preserving Bribri culture and language.

Duplicate and distribute language materials as appropriate; Develop and present a workshop in which 2-3 Bribri Curanderos work with 10-12 MDs to bring the Bribri knowledge of medicinal plants to the medical community.

Cost: Duplication language and culture materials for distribution costs $5 per copy, and copies have been made for distribution to interested people. Language materials are available from the University of Costa Rica website.

Currently: 5 copies of materials have been made and distributed.

Next Steps:   Continue working with people who could be interested in teaching the Bribri language, and with Curanderos and MDs interested in working together

on medicinal plants..

OUTREACH

Purpose:   Continue learning how we can be of service by connecting with additional community leaders. 

 El Puente--The Bridge consists of:  

BARRY STEVENS is a co-founder and corporate officer, with extensive experience in business. He is an author (How To write A Successful Business Plan, Life Planning Workbook.) He has worked extensively with startups, and has assisted in raising millions of dollars in startup capital. 

NANCI WRIGHT is a co-founder and corporate officer, and is a world-class wildlife artist. Her work continues to be sold around the world, and her new Costa Rica Jungle Series is proving popular in selected galleries as well as through the Internet. All profits from sales of her art are being donated to The Bridge. 

NON-PROFIT SPONSOR: Our Non-Profit affiliation is with the United Centers for Spiritual Living, a 501 (c) (3) based in Golden, Colorado. To see more about this organization and its Global Heart Outreach program, visit www.religiousscience.org Barry & Nanci are Co-Directors of a Study Group for UCSL here in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Costa Rica.  

Sunday, October 18, 2009 

TO:                  Friends and Supporters of The Bridge
FROM:             Barry Stevens
RE:                   A  Report, and a Request – 

 First of all, Nanci and I want to say “Thank You!” to those of you who continue to support The Bridge. With your help, we continue to serve the mainly indigenous people who come here. Our subscription list is growing fast, and some of you may not have been in on earlier reports that were sent out, so very briefly:

• Education This year, we are assisting 38 children attend school who would not have been able to attend otherwise – many of these come here for assistance with homework, and the cash requested by the schools for copies of materials and food. For all, we continue to provide school supplies, backpacks and backpack repairs,.
• Food About 75 people a week come to the Community Kitchen for food and the community that has formed here – we continue to provide four families a week with a bag of food.
• Microloans We have made 29 microloans, and are working to restart the program.
• Other  We continue to meet emergency needs for support of this Community as they arise: helping people to the hospitals; standing up for the rights of the elderly and the abused; becoming involved with the community, primarily Bribri, and also Black, White, and Tico. .
  How do we spend the your donations? Come check us out here:

• People Served You can see an operating report for the first 6 months of this year by CLICKING HERE.
• Operating Budget See a report showing sources and uses of revenue by CLICKING HERE.     As you can see, we rely on donations to close the gap between our expenses and the revenue we receive. For the six years of our operation, we’ve been blessed with support from our donors who have made that possible. . Thank you again!

REALTORS'  SECTION :  

We like referrals! 

 CR Beach Commission/Purchaser Referral Policies:

Type 1:  Any non-realtor who walks in, calls or emails a referral to our sales office and that person purchases a property will receive:

A referral payment of 10% will be paid upon receipt of any or all of that particular commission by CR Beach. Referral payment will also be paid on any and all purchases made by that client with CR Beach Investment Real Estate up to one year from the date of introduction.  We always prefer to receive a factura timbrada from you to receive your part of the commission, however we can work this out.

Type 2:  A currently licensed realtor  living outside of Costa Rica:

  A referral payment of 25% of the total commission received by CR Beach will be paid for the notification that a specific client will walk in, call or email our office and subsequently that client purchases from CR Beach.

 Due to the new tax laws some Costa Rican realty agencies are deducting 13% off the paid referral commission if the other Agency does not have factura timbradas. If their client purchases more properties within a one year period, and the referring Agency remains in the U.S., a referral payment of 15% of the total commission will be paid to that Agency for those extra sales.
Just added March 1, 2009.  CR Beach will pay to a currently foreign licensed Broker or Realtor from 10% of our commission if they themselves purchase any property through our Agency. Please bring documentation!

Type 3:  Referral by another Real Estate Agency inside Costa Rica-(please note that we expect the exact same commissions paid for our Referrals!)

Co-broke: 50% commission will be paid on the total received commission to the realtor who physically walks the purchaser into our sales office and assists in communicating with the purchaser during the purchase process.

25% referral fee of the total received commission will be paid to a Costa Rican Realtor-Agent who sends clients to CR Beach by phone or email, with the same 13% caveat. In the case of splits, this will be discussed prior to closing!

A Realtor and/or Broker operating in Costa Rica must be able to provide one or more of the following for proof of real estate status:

* Business Cards stating that you work in real estate.

* Factura timbradas and/or current certification through the CCCBR/CRGAR.

* Physical real estate office in Costa Rica.

* Website intended for Costa Rican real estate sales

* Display ads and/or professionally made exterior signage.

The co-broke and referral commission payments are made upon receipt of the commission by CR Beach.  CR Beach prefers that the contract will specify that a separate check or deposit be made to the other Agency receiving the commission, because of the new law regarding possible 13% taxes, for “professional services.”

WE PROMISE TO PAY ALL COMMISSIONS WITHIN 24 HOURS!

  In the event of disputes, we will use the bylaws of the CCCBR or AMCHAM in a friendly setting to sort this out.  Possibly a third party independent arbitrator may be sought out in certain cases. 

 
According to CCCBR Moral & Professional Ethical Code, article 29: 
“When a real estate agent shows a property or presents a buyer to another agent, Developer, or Seller: they must respect the rights of the first agent for one year from the date they have last contact (personal, email, phone call)  with said buyer or agent. 
This refers to any and all business that originates from this initial introduction.
This rule of one year from the last contact, also applies to any property, or Seller introduced to one agent by another. "