I started to look for a job in the area of Guanacaste and I found a position in a hotel around the Papagayo area. I told my girlfriend that we will move to a hotter place but without that many people and cars and she was happy about it, who doesn´t want to live at the beach?

Before we moved, we started to think about our budget and how much the cost of living is in Guanacaste. It is very common to hear that living in touristic areas is more expensive than to live in the city and I am going to share my thoughts about it.

View from Hotel Vista Azul Playas del Coco

Let´s start with rent. In our case we were looking for an apartment with 1 or 2 rooms, nothing too big since it is just the two of us. In San José I was paying almost $400 for a 1 room unfurnished apartment including cable and water about 20 minutes from the city. This price is average for San José, you can even find houses to rent around $400 to $500 a month depending on the location and size of the house.

In Playas del Coco, I found different prices because of the different ways of living. There were luxury condos in Playa Hermosa for $1500 a month, very nice condos in Coco for $800, or a simple humble house in local neighborhoods at $290 a month. Many apartments are on average $500 a month with 2 bedrooms and $300 for a very small studio. In our case, we found a nice 2 bedroom apartment for $400 a month (1 year contract) including water, security and 7 different pools. It took us a fair amount of time to find a place that fit our needs because we were looking at the beginning of high season when all the rates are higher. It is always important to do some research because many complexes have multiple property managers and therefore their own pricing, but if you can find a way to contact the owner directly you have a higher chance of getting a better deal.

Another important point is that it depends on whether it is high or low season because in high season most of the apartments are rented and they will charge a higher rate since they know that there are tourists who will pay that higher price. In rainy season when many of the tourists have left, they need to fill those apartments and will offer it at a lower price.

Therefore, in regards to renting and finding a place to live, there is not a huge difference between the beach and the city. It just depends on what kind of living standards you have and how much you are willing to pay for it.

Something that goes along with the cost of living is your salary and in this aspect I have to say that for every job available in the beach areas, there are ten times more in the cities. Most of the jobs at the beach are related to tourism or the fishing industry and due to the fact that business goes by seasons, jobs are not available year round. Some places close for low season or cut their employment because there is just not enough business throughout the rainy months. City wins all the way in this aspect. You can make more money in the city and it is easier to find a job than in beach towns.

I have to say that food and house supplies are 5% to 10% more expensive than San José and that includes meat, fruit, vegetables, and household basics. Here in Playas del Coco you can go to Automercado and find a lot of imported products because there are some tourists that prefer to buy the same things they find at home than to buy local brands. This makes the prices increase significantly because the market knows there will always be tourists that will pay that price.

There are some local farmer’s markets around where you can get fruit and vegetables at good quality but it is not that much cheaper than going to the supermarket. To compare, at the farmer’s market at San Isidro (about 20 minutes from San José), you can buy 6 kilos of tomatoes for 2000 colones ($4) but that is impossible here in Guanacaste.

Automercado Playas del Coco

I have noticed significant differences between supermarkets in Guanacaste however. An Imperial beer in Automercado cost 715 colones and if you cross the street to the Super Luperon, you get the same beer for 645 colones. Many of the items at the supermarket are around the same price but sometimes you will find that certain items are significantly more expensive at one market than others. When I need to buy basic supplies I prefer to go to Maxi Palí in Sardinal. Although they don’t have too much selection, their prices are much cheaper.

Restaurants in tourist parts of Guancaste are also more expensive than the city. In San José my favorite gallo pinto place costs about $4 for a big plate of pinto and meat and in Coco, one plate of pinto and meat costs about $6 dollars depending on if you go to a soda or a restaurant. Prices for eating out greatly reflect the tourism industry, no matter what the average salary of a worker is.

If you have kids and want to send them to private school (elementary to high school), the starting rate is around $350 per child per month and rates change depending on how many children you send and their age. This is the same for the beach and the city.

When it comes to electronics, the price in Coco are significantly greater, about 10% to 20% more than San José. There is just one computer shop in Playas del Coco and they do have a decent selection but if you can’t find what you need, you will have to check Liberia or sometimes even San José.

Overall, I will say that the general cost of living in the touristic areas in Guanacaste are a bit higher but on the other hand, you don´t spend the same amount of money that you would in the city. There are less stores and shopping malls here and once you become a local, you don´t spend money on tours or at least pay for any tourist activity at full price.

In the end, it depends on your standard of living and spending habits but despite the slightly higher prices, living at the beach comes with many benefits: lots of nature and an easy going life.

The Costa Rican group Purdy Motor Company will be responsible for marketing the brand of Lexus vehicles in the country; with an investment of more than $1 million dollars in inventory and remodeling of galleries.

This investment seeks to attract to the Costa Rican public, and represents the second stage of the brand in the country, so it clarifies Allan Sime, Lexus representative for Costa Rica.

“For the second stage of the brand, we are going to expand to a showroom with an extension of 1900 square meters, which will be located in the future Lexus Tower, also in Avenida Escazu,” said Sime to Revista Summa.

Inventory of Lexus in Costa Rica has been defined by the importance of the protection of the environment, this means that customers with environmentally friendly and hybrid vehicle options.

“People like the hybrid theme and is more aware of the impact and the problems of pollution, that is willing to pay the difference between a normal car and one hybrid vehicle. This difference in the price ranges between 10% and 15%, said Amadeo Quiros, Marketing Director of Purdy Motor.

The expectation of the brand is to achieve sales of about 105 vehicles during the first year, starting from the month of March 2013.

The strategy of managers of Lexus in Costa Rica, seeks to establish an idea of quality and excellent service to the customer, one of the measures that have been used to achieve this has been to change their conventional care centers, into living rooms where clients are treated in a more comfortable environment.

“What we want is to have a 100% satisfaction with Lexus Costa Rica. We are focusing on the customer who come, who may buy a car or not buy, saying that they had a good experience, so we have a room style lounge, not a table of business which is very formal or very strict. We want our customers to have a good time with their experience,” said Quiros.

Quiros also pointed out that there is an exclusive portfolio of the brand, distinctive aspects of service, given the conditions of service to customer; their marketing is located in an upscale Mall, and not a Toyota Purdy Motor Agency, as it is located in La Uruca, San José.

In Costa Rica, Lexus vehicles are available with prices that range from $55,000 to $163,000; which also includes available financing plans.

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Playas del Coco is one of the more well known beach towns in the country for both locals and tourists. Although it is one of the smaller beaches in the Guanacaste region, it is still full of nightlife and activities to do such as scuba diving, sport fishing, and snorkeling along with many bars and restaurants.

During the main holidays such as New Year and Easter, Playas del Coco becomes packed with Ticos (nickname for Costa Ricans) from the city, getting away for the weekend. Located in the Golfo de Papagayo, visitors can see whales, dolphins, stingrays,and turtles and equally as much wildlife on land. The beach is full of fish that you can see jumping from shore, a good indicator of a healthy ocean. It is a small beach town with good roads close to other places, the next beach is just a mere five minute drive away.

Many tourists use Coco as their anchor location as lodging is cheaper and it is still in relatively close proximity to all the attractions and then venture off to explore the rest of Guanacaste. In the past decade, Playas del Coco has become a radically popular place for expatriates or retirees of the United States and Canada as it offers a relaxed and easy living style with highly agreeable weather year round. Coco beach is a great place for all kinds of people looking to kick back and have a fun time.

Want to know how Playas del Coco looks like, check out this video

Playas del Coco location

Playas del Coco is located on the pacific side of Costa Rica in the Guanacaste region. Guanacaste is the northwestern province of the country bordering Nicaragua.

View Larger Map

How to get to Playas del Coco

The closest airport to Playas del Coco is the Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport in Liberia, about a thirty minute drive. There are plenty of taxis you can take from the airport to Coco which costs about $40 each way. There is a bus called Pulmitan de Liberia that runs from Liberia to Coco multiple times a day which costs 550 colones one way, (a little more than 1 dollar) and takes about one hour. The local bus from Liberia will stop in the airport instead of the main road and costs about the same.

But if one is coming from Juan Santamaría International Airport in San Jose, it’s about a 4 hour drive. The Pulmitan buses also service to Playas del Coco from San Jose daily. The cost of a one way ticket from San Jose to Playas del Coco is around $8 dollars or 4,095 colones and takes around 5 hours.

You can book a local shuttle companies such as Interbus or Grayline that can pick you up from the airport and bring you to the airport which costs around $42 one way.

Playas del Coco weather

In Costa Rica, there are no seasons like fall or winter. Being so close to the equator, the country is classified as tropical and experiences rainy and dry season with sun all year round. Dry season is from December to April and rainy (green) season is from May to November generally speaking. Sunrise and sunset stays the same, around 6AM and 6PM everyday. In Playas del Coco on the north pacific side of the country, the weather is dry with lots of tropical dry forests in the area. During dry season, the sun is quite strong and intense and it is the time of the year when most of the tourists and snowbirds come. It can consistently stay at 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) and above for weeks. The months of rainy season make the air very humid as it can rain all day and very hard accompanied with thunder and lightning storms. The rainiest months are September and October and it is not uncommon for it to rain for two or three weeks straight. The temperature can go down to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius) during the day and cools off at night. Compared to San Jose which lies in a valley that has an average temperature of 72 degrees Fahrenheit (26 degrees Celsius), Playas del Coco is quite a bit hotter.

Here is a short video of when it rains in Playas del Coco

Playas del Coco Local People

The people from Playas del Coco are very friendly like any other Costa Rican. They are very proud to be Gunacastecos (residents of the Guanacaste province) and they call themself “coqueños” (from Coco). They are normally dark skinned and very strong workers but due to the increased immigration lately you can see a white blue eyed person and she or he might be a Playas del Coco local.

The locals love to hangout at the beach, especially the park where they usually all meet up. Normally on the weekends you can see families enjoying the sun, having lunch on the beach, or walking with their kids.

Most of the locals work in the tourism industry since there are many hotels around the area or in the fishing industry because the ocean is very healthy and is easy to catch good quality fish to sell or trade.

Restaurants in Playas del Coco

There are plenty of restaurants in Coco so you’ll never go hungry in this small beach town. Many bars double as restaurants that serve typical bar food – burgers, nachos, fried chicken, taquitos and enchiladas but you can find many typical restaurants and sodas in Coco as well. If you’re looking for to try some traditional Costa Rican food, the list below depicts the main places that sell local food in Playas del Coco.

Traditional Costa Rican food consists of a lot of rice, beans, and meat and they are very adamant about using only fresh and local ingredients which is easy to do as their vegetables and fruit are readily available and incredibly tasty!

Sodas are very common in Costa Rica. They are like a mini-restaurant that sells traditional food and usually have outside seating.

You can find all these sodas except the last one along the main strip of Coco.

1. Soda Los Pelones

2. Soda La Teresita

3. Restuarante Mar y Tierra

4. Soda Papagayo

5. Jardin Tropical

6. Astillero

Specials sign from El Astillero, we love this place, cheap and great hot sauce !

Some examples of traditional food are gallo pinto (rice and beans), casado (variation of rice, beans, meat, plantains, and salad), and arroz con pollo (rice with chicken).

For more yummy pictures of Costa Rican food, check out our food post here!

All these other restaurants sell food other than typical Costa Rican food. They have Italian, pizza, mexican and barbecue but if you’re looking for authentic Indian, Asian, or any other exotic foods, you’re a little out of luck in Playas del Coco. However, if you go to San Jose, it’s incredibly easy to find much more authentic international cuisine.

The list below depicts the most popular places to find international food.

1. Villa Italia - Italian

2. AsiaTica – Asian fusion

3. Taste of Texas - barbecue

4. Holy Guacamole - Mexican

5. La Caveja – Italian

6. Cafe de Playa- International

7. Hotel Coco Palms and Restaurant - International + sushi

8. Claudio y Gloria - International

9. Papagayo Steak and Seafood - steak and seafood

10. Pollo Crispy- fried chicken

11. Las Olas - seafood and steak

12. Luna de Plata - French

13. Andre’s Beach Bar and Pizzeria - Pizza

Additionally, there is a bakery called Tico’s bakery which makes delicious empanadas and tasty treats. A few smoothie places: Cosechas, Juice House and Mandarin. On the beach there are lots of vendors selling copos (shaved ice with syrup and condensed milk) and pipa fria (coconut milk). Delivery is almost non-existent here except for a few private vendors. Subway is the only fast food restaurant in the town.

Some restaurants in Playas del Coco may not look the nicest from the outside or you might have to drive onto some unpaved roads, but they do have some very good places to please your taste buds. Many businesses open and close quickly in Coco so if you know one restaurant has been around for awhile, that one is open for a reason – good quality tasty food!

Lodging in Playas del Coco

In Playas del Coco specifically, there are no big resorts or luxury hotel chains. All the hotels consist of locally owned businesses but still have respectable accommodations to fit your needs. It ranges from hostels to cabinas to condos to hotels, from prices as low as $20 a night up to $150 depending on the season. One will find that most hotels are smaller in quantity of rooms and include simple living quarters but still offer comfortable lodging and excellent hospitality. Many people that come for a longer vacation period rent a vacation home or a condo since there are quite a number of them in Coco, is more private and would be cheaper than to stay in a hotel. Backpackers might feel frustrated with the lack of hostels since hostels aren’t as common in Coco as Playa Tamarindo. However, the price difference between a hostel and budget hotel is not that drastic, so those who prefer hostels will have limited options.

Many of the snowbirds (mostly Canadians) own a condo and stay there for the dry season when it is winter in their home country and go back during rainy season when it is summer up there. Timeshares are also available and a good option for those looking to have a place but just stay just a week or two.

Here is a list of the main hotels in Coco

Hotel Coco Palms: restaurant, a bar and a 24 hour mini market.

Hotel La Puerta del Sol

Laura’s House Bed and breakfast

Toro Blanco

Coco Dreams Hotel: restaurant and bar.

Coco Beach Hotel and Casino: casino and restaurant.

Hotel M&M: beachfront

Rancho Armadillo

Hotel Vista Azul

Hotel Villa Casa Blanca

Hotel Pato Loco Inn

Hotel La Flor de Itabo

For those looking for long term rentals, there are quite a few choices that offer condos, apartments or cabinas to provide comfortable and secure accommodations.

Las Palmas, east of the main road and a ten minute walk from Coco beach, is one of the biggest complexes that houses hundreds of retirees every year. Within Las Palmas are multiple different types of condos, apartments and studios welcoming both foreigners and locals. Most complexes contains 8-15 units with their own pool, private parking, and laundry along with a security guard and the neighborhood also has houses, restaurants, and a Realtor’s office to help you find your perfect vacation home. Plenty of units are for sale or rent, long term from 6 months to a year and short term, by weekly or monthly basis.

Pacifico is another beautiful complex, newer than Las Palmas but further from Coco beach. It is situated inside a locked gate with guard so you must be a resident to enter the property. These are more for vacationers with heavier pockets as these condos are two story and equipped with very modern furniture and amenities. These are considered luxury condos but they offer many extra features such as airport transportation, limo/car service, and complimentary high speed internet and cable.

Activities and tours in Playas del Coco

In Playas del Coco there are plenty of things to do for all kinds of tourists. You can find activities for those seeking adventure and thrills and ones for families with kids and seniors. You can enjoy motor sport activities such as jet skiing and snorkeling, you can go hiking in national parks, take boat trips around the gulf, go zip lining, horsback riding, ride atvs, enjoy natural hot springs, go kayaking/canoeing, and that’s just a taste of the abundance of fun activities to do in Coco. Coco is well known for excellent scuba diving and sport fishing and there are many places in town that offers these activities with equipment and transportation included. Additionally, there are many boat tours in Coco that offer morning snorkeling or a sunset cruise and they take you around the gulf and show you different beaches such as Hermosa and Panama. Playa Hermosa, Playa Buena and Playa Panama, a few popular and lovely beaches are only a fifteen minute drive away. You can try your hand at surfing at Playa Tamarindo and marvel at the shells instead of sand beach, Playa Conchal, both about an hour drive away. When tourists come to Coco, they usually explore town and enjoy Coco beach for a day and the other days, go on tours. Playas del Coco is in very close proximity to many landmarks such as Palo Verde, Rincon de la Vieja, and Volcan Tenorio, even Nicaragua!

There are many local travel agencies such as Shaman tours that offer over twenty different tours in Guanacaste ranging from white water rafting to bird watching to visiting Nicaragua. International companies exist here as well such as Swiss travel that can help you quench your adventurous thirst. If you book with a tour company, they offer transportation if you don’t have a car and when needed, a tour guide. Most hotels work with the local tour companies so you can easily book your your through them. Tours are either half day or full day and some are only offered during dry season.

Oops … She caught me slacking!

Bars and nightlife in Playas del Coco

The three biggest bars are located on the main street of El Coco: Lizard Lounge, Coconutz and Zi Lounge.

Lizard Lounge is the bar where most of the locals hang out, it also has the loudest music and a dance floor. Most young people like to come here to dance and watch the soccer games. Zi Lounge displays a modest look, with a small stage for DJ’s and live musicians and offers free Wi-Fi. You can find a mix of locals, families and tourists of all ages there. Coconutz is usually filled with older gringos and if you are missing your Monday night football, don’t worry! As a sports bar, Coconutz usually plays American football games on their big screen. Each bar offers a different entertainment or feature every night such as live music on Wednesday nights, ladies night on Thursday, karaoke on Tuesday nights and more.

All the bars are open with counter seating along the perimeter so you can have a drink, eat, and people watch to your heart’s content.

Andre’s beach bar and pizzeria is also on the main street of El Coco and they offer free Wi-Fi and free calls to the US and Canada.

For those wanting to relax on the beach and have a drink, there is one bar called La Vida Loca where you have to walk across a small bridge near the basketball court to get there. This bar has live music, hosts events and like Coconutz, is usually filled with gringos. Another bar near the entrance of the beach is a popular local hangout spot and they sell local food and play lots of salsa music with a sand volleyball court right in front.

The nightlife in Coco is limited to the main street as it is where the majority of the restaurants and bars are. There is a small park and boardwalk by the beach where one can sit and watch the stars, listen to live music or the crashing waves and enjoy a drink.

On the main street there is one casino, part of the Coco Beach Hotel and Casino if you are feeling up for a little gambling. It is a small casino with the first room filled with slot machines and one roulette table. The next room has three tables for poker and blackjack but they are not always open as it depends on how many people are playing and they have tournaments on some nights.

One common thing to see is locals hanging out in the street, sometimes drinking and sitting by their cars. Ticos love spending time with their friends and family and they’re pleasantly satisfied with just sitting outside, enjoying the night.

The diversity is incredible in Playas del Coco, especially during dry season. You can find people from every continent in the world on this one street in El Coco and everyone is very friendly. The food is delectable, happy hour is most of the day and drinks are not that expensive, but the fun atmosphere is the reason why people love to hangout at downtown Coco.

Playas del Coco Beach

Coco beach lies within the Golfo de Papagayo and stretches 3 kilometers from point to point. The sands are more of a dark grey-brown and the water is not quite as blue one normally sees in other beaches in Guanacaste and it seems more blue-grey than blue-green. The tide is not suited for surfing since it has a low tide but does house many different species of fish which makes it an excellent fishing spot. Swimming and bathing are perfectly suitable for Coco waters and the waters are very kid and adult friendly. Three islands can be seen from shore where many divers go to swim with sharks, octopus, turtles and stingrays. Many hills and cliffs surround the horseshoe shaped beach and it is a beautiful view to see with green mountains and hills and striking blue water.

Playas del Coco, Guancaste Costa Rica

Living in Playas del Coco

Costa Rica is known for its laid back living style and that is certainly proven in Playas del Coco. Living at the beach, one has to have an easy going attitude about life and leave the stress behind, completely opposite of other places in the world who are used to a go go go fast paced lifestyle. An important concept one has to get used to in order to adapt to life in Costa Rica is learning how to deal with Tico time, they aren’t exactly the most punctual people. They don’t like to rush and instead, take their time to get things done, even at work. However, life is not necessarily easy in Coco, jobs are limited and cost of living is high compared to the rest of the country but Ticos care more about quality time than materialistic things to make them happy. Driving down the street, you see locals hanging out in front of their houses and in the streets, riding their bikes or chatting with neighbors. It is normal to visit someone’s house without calling first and popping by on a whim.

Some downsides to life in Playas del Coco is that it is a small town and if one is looking for a particular item, a trip to Liberia must be made. Something simple like bed sheets do not exist on the store shelves in Coco and the closest place is a 25 minute drive to the home department center. A law exists in Costa Rica that a gas station cannot stand within a certain distance from the water so the nearest and only gas station is in Sardinal, a community about 20 minutes away and the cost of gas is considerably more expensive (about $5 a liter). Since there are so many foreign tourists that come to Coco, the cost of living is considerably higher than the city. Prices are very similar, if not more, to the states and rent is high as well. Many foreigners come to Coco with the intention of opening a business such as a bar or hotel, but they find that business is very difficult in a small tourist town and many places close soon after they open.

The cost of electronics and cars is also very high, especially when you compare it to the cost of living and the average monthly salary. Laptops are almost twice as much than the states and cars are astoundingly more expensive. Costa Rica is very environmentally friendly, they care more about how much gas the car emits, gas mileage, and a smaller engine size to protect the environment than a big engine and fast cars. Every year, each car has to go to Reteve which is a government sponsored company that checks and inspects your car and your car must pass all inspections to be allowed on the road. One example of the tests they do is checking your car’s gas emissions: carbon monoxide has to be less than .30%.

Meanwhile, cleanliness in Coco has improved but there is still much to be done. Trash can be seen on the streets and in rivers but this is due to their system. It is not normal to see trash cans on the road, but they do a great job taking care of their beach. If you get caught driving your vehicle on the beach, you can receive a huge ticket of at least a few hundred dollars. Recycling is not a common practice either but some places are starting to sort out between trash, glass and cans.

But if you are a nature lover, look no further! That is what makes Costa Rica the amazing country it is. Nature lovers flourish here, there is much to be seen and done in Coco. You can go offshore fishing, hiking, snorkeling, scuba diving, watch monkeys, run on the beach and much more. Wake up in the morning to several different types of birds chirping and congo monkeys howling and go to sleep with cicadas humming and more monkeys howling. You can see many types of vibrant birds and giant colorful butterflies everywhere and the flora is a treat for the eyes. Lime, mango and coconut trees grow like weeds providing the freshest and most luscious fruit. There is a reason why so many people move down here post-retirement as it is perfect for someone looking for a relaxed and slower paced life embedded in nature. It’s an attractive place to get away from the cold or for someone who needs to leave their stresses of life behind. Costa Rica has been named as the happiest country in the world and has been in the top ten happiest countries for many years and that’s why so many people migrate to this country- to live a full, happy, and enriched life.

Health & Security in Playas del Coco

Playas del Coco has a public clinic run by the government called Ebais that anyone can go to. It doesn’t matter where you are from, whether you live in Costa Rica or are a tourist, they have to take care of you. There is a law that even if you have no money or insurance, the doctor must attend to you (what a great healthcare system!). They provide attentive care and are open Mon – Fri, 7AM to 4PM. My brother is the head doctor of the Ebais clinic in Coco and he gives excellent care and his staff is very helpful. On busy days, you might have to wait in line but for those who cannot afford private care, this clinic helps them in many ways and gives them options that they otherwise wouldn’t have. If there is an emergency during the night or weekends, there is a private clinic called Coco medical clinic you can call and of course there is also 911. If you end up needing to go to the hospital, they will take you to the nearest hospital in Filadelfia, about twenty minutes away.

There is a police station right in front of the beach and they always have cops watching the town. They know that Coco is a touristic town so they make sure to keep it safe. You will see security guards at the hotels, restaurants, and even the supermarket. Costa Rica has no army so they rely heavily on their police force to keep the country safe.

Since Coco has such great weather and so many activities to do, you can find many facilities for sports and working out. There is a local gym, Coco gym that offers evaluations and free trainers, open seven days a week. There is a club called The Club at Coco Bay that also has a gym, a pool, a sauna and tennis courts to enjoy.

Coco is a very family oriented town so it is incredibly safe, not much crime happens but being a very touristic town, tourists just need to be smart and use their common sense. Everybody is there for the same reason, to have an awesome vacation and relax!

Shopping in Playas del Coco

Shopping in Playas del Coco consists mainly of small businesses as the nearest mall is in Liberia but there are plenty of souvenir shops and boutiques if you’re looking for gifts to bring back home or a little something for yourself.

Souvenir shops line the main street of Coco and near the entrance of the beach. The shops boast a huge stock of handmade wood-carved sculptures, jewelry, handbags, clothes, hammocks, and a plethora of trinkets. You can find traditional coffee makers and clothing, Pura Vida signs and all sorts of animal statues.

There are a couple boutique shops, Keep it Classy and Ciao Bella for the women looking for cute clothes, swimsuits or accessories. All the jewelry is handmade by local artisans which range from simple beautiful teardrop or chandelier earrings to seashell bracelets, made from local materials straight from the beach.

The Congo Arts and Crafts Cafe in Pacifico is part cafe part boutique where shoppers can find more high end pieces and sophisticated art.

If you’re interested in buying snorkeling gear, beach wear or surf equipment, you can find them at the dive shops. Rich Coast Diving has snorkeling gear such as fins, masks and breathing tubes and additional scuba diving equipment. For those wanting to browse a surf shop, go to Arenas next to the Auto Mercado. This store has sunglasses, board shorts, swimsuits and flip flops for those who forgot their beach necessities. If you compare the prices of the clothes, you’ll notice that it is more expensive than buying the same brands in the states, however they have a vast selection of popular brands such as Roxy, O’Neil, and Billabong.

Need to buy snacks or shampoo? Coco has got you covered. Four major supermarkets reside in this small town, all within a few miles of each other (two are across the street from each other). Megasuper, Super Luperon, Auto Mercado and Super Compro have all the food and goods you need. Megasuper is tucked away inside a plaza off the main street and it’s a bit smaller than the rest but they have good sales every month and good quality meat. Super Luperon has a flower shop and a gift/book store on the second level. Auto Mercado has the best produce and Super Compro has a small deli inside. Each market displays similar prices, there is not one market that has all their inventory cheaper than another.

You’ll never have trouble finding that perfect souvenir to take home to friends or hang on your wall to remind you of your fabulous vacation to Playas del Coco.

Souvenir stores Playas del Coco

If you have any more questions about Playas del Coco or if you would like us to add another section, please leave them in the comments below and we will get back to you as soon as possible! For more information about Costa Rica, check out my post about the country through my perspective as a Tico.

 Guest post by mytanfeet.com

About Mytanfeet: Blog created by a couple living in Costa Rica. They provide information about the country, beaches, cities, life in Costa Rica, other countries in Central america and more. For more information check out their website.

Canadian Ambassador Wendy Drukier will attend to officially open the event and cut the birthday cake.

Much anticipated picnic fare for purchase will include famed Canadian Bacon on a Bun, Tourtiere pies, Butter Tarts and Nanaimo Bars, as well as traditional hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken and a Cash Bar.

Activities include swimming, children’s games, dancing, live music and a Tug-O-War featuring the Atenas Firefighters!

A Silent Auction, 50/50 Draw and Buy It Now table will all raise funds for the Asociación Caritativa Canadiense, the outreach arm of the Canadian Club that has for many years assisted schools and teaching programs in Costa Rica. Vendors & local artisans will feature their works.

Children Age 10 and Under are admitted FREE!

Advance Sales for Admission Tickets (¢1,500) or a Reserved Table for 8 (¢12,000) are available at the offices of ARCR (The Association of Residents of Costa Rica) 2233-8068 or 2221-2053 or info@arcr.net . Deadline for advance purchase is June 24th.

Admission Tickets at the Door of Quinta Roma Vista will be ¢2,000.

The Canadian Club of Costa Rica dates back to the 1970s as both a social club for the ex-pat community and a resource for charitable activities.

More information can be found at www.canadianclubcr.com

Media Contact:
Joan Dewar
dewar@casadewar.com
2444-8796

The picture above is an artistic rendering of the Casino-resort pool area.

A ground breaking is scheduled June 20 in Jacó for a 17-story casino resort.

The business, to be known as Croc’s Casino Resort, is expected to be in operation by December 2014. The building will be on the north side of the central Pacific community of Jaco.

Owners are Dag and Jennifer Hascall. He is the owner of a Michigan steel company and other businesses there. His cousin, Rory Hascall, identified as a long-time Las Vegas executive, will operate and manage the business.

A press release said that Dag Hascall owned the property but did not have a solid development plan. That is when Rory Hascall came into the picture. The management team has been spending the last year assembling permits.

Croc’s Casino Resort represents an investment of at least $30 million, according to informal sources, and the plan is to hire 300 employees. The release said that this would make the casino the biggest employer in the region.

The firm is planning 152 hotel rooms and 44 condominium residences, it said. The project is being called a Las Vega-style casino with a beachfront pool, restaurants, a disco, a spa, retail shopping and convention facilities.

In keeping with the name, also planned is a habitat for crocodiles. A spokesperson said that the casino operators will be very aware of the health of the reptiles and that veterinarian facilities will be maintained nearby. Approval for this still is pending.

The Jacó area is known for its crocodiles. A major tourist attraction is the overlook on the Costenera bridge over the Río Grande de Tárcoles where crocodiles always are lounging on the mud flats below. Surfers are probably not aware that genetic tests show that male crocodiles at least travel in the ocean from one river mouth to the other.

With the crocodile habitat, tourists will be able to get a much closer look.

Dag Hascall is president of Hascall Steel Co. in Grandville, Michigan. But he is no stranger to overseas projects. A biography provided by the company said that he moved to Katmandu, Nepal, where he operated a firm that manufactured, exported and imported jewelry and handicrafts.

The Costa Rican firm PM Arquitectos designed the structure. Renderings show a three-tone building with bridges connecting some of the upper floors to span an area open to the ocean breezes. The firm has established a Web site and is pre-selling the condos.

Article by AMCostaRica.com.

The team’s success goes hand-in-hand with a parallel and ongoing technology development to store hydrogen affordably – previous methods have been costly. The teams also designed a reliable process to mix and control hydrogen and biogas, and use together as an efficient energy source. These achievements could have long-term positive impacts especially in the developing world where energy resources are more scarce and less affordable.

“This is a tremendous achievement in terms of the science and engineering as well as the environmental benefits associated with the use of hydrogen and biogas,” said Franklin Chang Díaz, CEO, Ad Astra. “The teams from Ad Astra, Cummins and EARTH University came together and used their combined talents and creativity to achieve this key milestone. I am looking forward to the next phase of this program.”

“We are pleased to be part of this incredible achievement,” said Tony Satterthwaite, President, Cummins Power Generation and Vice President, Cummins Inc. “This is innovation at its finest and innovation is one of our Company’s core values. Further, at Cummins, part of our mission demands that everything we do creates a cleaner, healthier and safer environment and exploring, and investing in new and diverse fuel alternatives helps us meet that important mission.”

The electrical generator designed and manufactured by Cummins is part of an experimental 7.5 kW renewable energy system being studied for potential commercialization by a combined team from Ad Astra Rocket Company, Cummins Inc. and EARTH University in Costa Rica.

Other components of this system include an Ad Astra designed solar and wind-based hydrogen production and storage system. Ad Astra is developing this system in collaboration with Costa Rica’s state-owned oil refinery, RECOPE. In addition, biogas production from biodigestors is being studied by EARTH University.

Friday’s commissioning tests are the result of careful preparation and safety reviews conducted by the engineering team. A full battery of experiments will follow to complete full system characterization and optimization. The Friday tests were conducted with hydrogen-propane mixtures in preparation for the first methane deliveries, which will follow the commissioning demonstration.

The collaborative project was initiated in July of 2011 as part of an integrated renewable energy concept being studied by Ad Astra with application to distributed power architectures and other derivative uses worldwide.

Ad Astra Rocket will conduct the experimental characterization of the system and the production of hydrogen gas, while EARTH University will manage the production and delivery of methane gas, generated in bio-digesters from organic waste.

ABOUT AD ASTRA

Established in 2005, Ad Astra Rocket Company is the developer of the VASIMR® engine, an advanced plasma space propulsion system aimed at the emerging in-space transportation market. Ad Astra also owns and operates Ad Astra Servicios Energéticos y Ambientales (AASEA) and Ad Astra Rocket Company, Costa Rica, respectively research and development subsidiaries in the US and Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Through its subsidiaries, the company also develops earthbound high technology applications in renewable energy, advanced manufacturing and applied physics. Located near the NASA Johnson Space Center, Ad Astra has its main laboratory and corporate headquarters at 141 W. Bay Area Boulevard in Webster, Texas, USA. Press releases can be found on the Web at http://www.adastrarocket.com/aarc/.

ABOUT CUMMINS

Cummins Inc., a global power leader, is a corporation of complementary business units that design, manufacture, distribute and service diesel and natural gas engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission solutions and electrical power generation systems. Headquartered in Columbus, Indiana, (USA) Cummins currently employs approximately 46,000 people worldwide and serves customers in approximately 190 countries and territories through a network of approximately 600 company- owned and independent distributor locations and approximately 6,500 dealer locations. Cummins earned $1.66 billion on sales of $17.3 billion in 2012. Press releases can be found on the Web at www.cummins.com.

Source: Ad Astra Rocket Press Release (PDF)

Announcing the construction starting June 20, 2013 of Croc’s Casino Resort, the Central Pacific’s Newest Address.

Change is in the air as Jaco is soon to be home to one of the country’s best resorts. The ground will officially be broken Thursday, June 20, 2013 at 4pm with a celebratory pool party rich with dignitaries, celebrities, local influencers, media and sports figures from Costa Rica and abroad.

Owner, Dag Hascall, and his wife Jennifer could not be happier that Croc’s Casino Resort is finally a reality.

“The years of planning and permitting have been a great season to get to know Costa Rica, the culture and the warm people, but getting to build this impressive resort is what it is all about” says an elated Dag.

Croc’s Casino Resort is a welcome change for Jaco. All will be greeted with gracious hospitality and experience a vast array of resort offerings. Slated to open in December of 2014, Croc’s Casino Resort will be hiring over 300 new team members, again changing Jaco. Soon to be the biggest employer in the region, a destination in and of itself for tourists and locals alike and without a doubt, the most dramatic design and architectural wonder on the Central Pacific Coast.

Stay tuned as Croc’s Casino Resort continues through the construction process and is pleased to call Costa Rica home.

Croc’s Casino Resort is a richly diverse hotel-casino-resort in Jaco, Costa Rica. It is located in the exclusive north end.

Croc’s Casino Resort is poised to be the predominant casino resort in Costa Rica and will change the landscape of Jaco and the Costa Rica’s Pacific coast forever. A soaring 17 stories, Croc’s Casino Resort will feature 152 hotel rooms, 44 luxurious condominium residences, a beachfront resort pool, restaurants, disco, spa, the “Croc Habitat”, retail shopping and meeting and convention facilities.

Impeccable service advancing the guest experience will be provided at Croc’s Casino Resort and will surely elevate the standard of service expected on the Coast of Riches, Costa Rica.

Operated and managed by a highly professional team of Las Vegas Executives, Croc’s Casino Resort is your best bet in Costa Rica.

For More Information please contact:

Esteban Martinez-Publicist
Croc’s Casino Resort
www.crocscasinoresort.com
(506) 6006-9021
estaban@crocscasinoresort.com

Meet & Greet Networking Event
May 23rd in Barrio Escalante.

This evening of networking, cocktails, and food is open to anyone. It will be a great opportunity to meet women from a variety of industries, and make new friends – bring your business cards!

Registration Required (see link below) – Space Limited
Beginner English speakers welcome.

When:
Thursday May 23rd 2013
6:00 to 8:30 PM

Where:
Sofía Restaurante Mediterraneo
Barrio Escalante, across from Intensa language school
Website: http://sofiamediterraneo.com
Phone: 2224-5050
Street parking available

Registration & Entry Fee:
All participants must register at: http://pwg52013.eventbrite.com/

Entry Fees are:
¢2.000 for WCCR members
¢3.000 for WCCR non-members
Payable in cash at entrance

Food & Drink (Optional):

Special menu for ¢ 6,500 (tax not included) includes:

1 Sofia cocktail or sangria and 9 appetizers:
• Goat cheese with tomato, basil and spices.
• Haydari: Special yogurt with spices.
• Grilled bell pepper with spices, olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
• Hummus: Purée of chick-peas with tahini (sesame oil).
• Babaganuchi: Purée of smoked eggplant with tahini.
• Kizartma: eggplant, pepper and zuchinni roasted with natural tomato sauce.
• Kisir: Ground wheat salad with tomato, scallion, parsley, olive oil and spices.
• Olives marinated in oil and spices.
• Ezme: Dip of tomatoes, cucumber, onion, parsley with tomato paste.

A la carte menu also available.

Contact:
Professional Women’s Group PWG: WCCR
Phylliss Crist for the Planning Committee of PWG
pwg.wccr@gmail.com
2268-6130

Stay In Touch with the PWG!

PWG Website link: http://wccr.org/professional-womens-group/
PWG Twitter link: https://twitter.com/PWNWCCR
PWG Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Professional-Womens-Network-Womens-Club-of-Costa-Rica/134514626592466

With participation in over 70 exhibitions throughout Costa Rica, Spain, Italy, Austria, Hong Kong, Mexico, Columbia, and the U.S., Camacho has received more than 20 awards, including: 2012 Premio “Aquileo J. Echeverría,” in fine arts Ministerio de Cultura y Juventud Asociación, (Costa Rican watercolorists), San José; 2006 Premio VII Bienal Internacional in watercolors, Museo Alfredo Guati-Rojo D.F. México; and as far back as 1980 Primer Lugar en Acuarela, Certamen efectuado en el Colegio Técnico Profesional Don Bosco San José, Costa Rica.

“I have no specific preference for any kind of art or style,” says Camacho, “and I like having artistic authenticity, expression and impact. I am inspired by the simple act of painting for painting’s sake, and have the feeling to be free with the simple stroke of a brush.” When asked about his favorite artist, Camacho recognizes the talents of many artists, but in particular American-born Andrew Wyeth for his great skill in the use of space, the peculiarities of his compositions, his mastery of various techniques, and the boldness of his brush strokes.

Having an intense background in architecture, Camacho stresses that the two disciplines of art and architecture are mixed, always present, and compliments the other. “Most of my paintings have been done in watercolor technique, which I consider a technique of great dignity, allowing unlimited spontaneity, but involving risk and no room for error. For me, that is the big challenge,” he tells us.

Over time Camacho has adapted an ability to identify, read, and feel the reason or subject for painting, whether it is the intense play of light and shadow, the drama of a landscape, or perhaps the unnoticed detail. In the end, he shows us the possibilities are endless, and he finds it of upmost importance to organize and study every goal in a subject, one at a time, to create a series.

Join us for the opening of “Tiempos,” on Saturday, May 4th, from 10 am to 4 pm at the Hidden Garden Art Gallery, located 5 kms west of the Daniel Oduber Airport.

For more information, contact 2667-0592, 8386-6872, or hiddengarden@thevanstonegroup.com.

Over the past few weeks we have enjoyed sharing pictures from people on Flickr on our Facebook page as well as natural remedies for day to day things that effect your life around the home here in Costa Rica.

Recently we shared an easy to do make at home Mosquito repellent and one of our readers commented on the picture to let us know of another amazing remedy widely available in Costa Rica.

This one comes in the form of something you ingest and happens to be one of the most popular fruits in Latin America: Papaya seeds.

After doing some light research online and asking locals who use this method, we found that taking Papaya seeds a few times per week in your breakfast smoothie can eliminate the possibility of contracting Dengue fever (obviously there is no way to substantiate this with hard science and facts from credible sources, but worse case scenario you get more fiber for regular bowel movements. We trust the locals, and the leaves of the Papaya tree have been known to help with Dengue fever).

With the meteoric rise of Dengue fever in Costa Rica over the past few months, it is important to take these natural remedies into consideration, especially if you have small children around your home.

This is not a hard thing to do, simply take some of the seeds from your Papaya and throw them into a blender with other fruit, blend it up and enjoy.

UPDATE, more great benefits: Papaya seeds also have antibacterial properties and are effective against E.coli, Salmonella and Staphylococcus infections, may protect the kidneys from toxin-induced kidney failure, can eliminate intestinal parasites and help detoxify the liver.

Thank you to our readers for leaving comments on Facebook and for inspiring the publishing of this article for others to enjoy.

More information about Dengue fever:

Dengue fever, also known as breakbone fever, is an infectious tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash that is similar to measles. In a small proportion of cases the disease develops into the life-threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever, resulting in bleeding, low levels of blood platelets and blood plasma leakage, or into dengue shock syndrome, where dangerously low blood pressure occurs.

Dengue is transmitted by several species of mosquito within the genus Aedes, principally A. aegypti. The virus has four different types; infection with one type usually gives lifelong immunity to that type, but only short-term immunity to the others. Subsequent infection with a different type increases the risk of severe complications. As there is no commercially available vaccine, prevention is sought by reducing the habitat and the number of mosquitoes and limiting exposure to bites.

Source: NIH.gov

Introduction to The McKee Project Methodology

Over the past 12 years, The McKee Project has developed and taught spay and neuter techniques to 650 plus veterinarians in 8 Latin American countries. The reason McKee believes this teaching is critical is that the majority of veterinary schools in Latin America do not teach how to spay and neuter companion animals, as they do not believe it is a commercially viable practice and more importantly, a humane strategy to control overpopulation. Traditionally veterinarians in Latin America are trained for agricultural animals or for food supply safety. Veterinary care for dogs and cats is not even a consideration.

The McKee spay neuter technique takes minutes, utilizing a spay hook, and makes an incision of about one inch – this is a less invasive procedure, quicker, less traumatic to the animal, and approximately 60% more cost-effective. This quicker and less invasive technique allows countries to provide service to the thousands or millions of animals on the street much more efficiently.

The result of McKee Project’s training has in fact created a cultural shift where veterinarians are shown that spay and neuter of companion animals can be commercially viable by the creation of a new client base of dog and cat owners, as well as creating a new relationship between owners and their healthier pets.

Besides spay neuter training for vets and their communities, McKee believes that pet “owners” need to be trained to invest in their animals as well. There is a cost associated with spay and neuter of companion animals, based on each veterinarians cost and owner’s ability to pay. Initially assessed by owner resources, the cost is minimal.

When spay neuter is first introduced to a community Mckee finds that 10% of the companion animals from the area take advantage of the low cost service. Over time, neighborhood animals are seen to be healthier and thrive without multiple litters. Slowly but surely more and more owners seek spay neuter.

Statistics show that 70% or more of the companion animals in each area must be sterilized in order to have a marked effect/control breeding of unwanted and uncared for dogs and cats.

Thus Mckee has a big job if we are to make a difference. Through your donations (go to McKeeProject.org and click on the donate menu item) we can ensure this slow and culturally altering educational and training process happens in volume across Latin America, that it impacts the suffering of animals that are abandoned and abused from lack of housing, food, water, and companionship of humans.

If you want to get involved with The McKee Project please send us an email at info@mckeeproject.org, we have veterinarian training and community spay neuter programs happening regularly in Costa Rica and around Latin America. Together we can make a difference, one day at a time.

“Ranked as one of the best country’s for small business with a vibrant local culture, Costa Rica is an ideal Holaofertas market,” said Carl Tremblay, president and chief operating officer of Holaofertas. “Holaofertas will offer residents unbeatable deals on the best that Costa Rica has to offer, while driving new customers to area merchants.”

Using the principles of collective buying, Holaofertas negotiates unprecedented discounts with popular businesses. Holaofertas subscribers get free daily emails alerting them to the deals. The deals are activated only when a minimum number of people agree to buy, encouraging subscribers to share the promotion with family and friends. By guaranteeing a large number of new customers, Holaofertas is created a powerful new marketing vehicle for local merchants. This innovative approach to e-commerce is the first in English in Costa Rica, with a total of 7 languages to choose from. Holaofertas is giving the chance for everyone in the country to shop online in the comfort of their home or with their mobile device.

“Holaofertas brings buyers and sellers together in a fun and collaborative way,” said Tremblay. “We offer the consumer a great deal they can’t get anywhere else and deliver the sales directly to the merchant.”

During its first week in Costa Rica, Holaofertas featured deals included Fajitas, Aztec soup, Pork chops etc. Upcoming deals include Wine classes, Spa treatments, Hotel vacations, and many more.

About Holaofertas

Holaofertas, launched in April 2013 in Costa Rica, features a daily deal on the best stuff to do, eat, see and buy in Costa Rica. Holaofertas uses collective buying power to offer unbeatable prices and provide a win-win for businesses and consumers. For more information, visit www.holaofertas.com.

To get Holaofertas daily free email for the best in your city, subscribe at www.holaofertas.com or LIKE us on www.facebook.com/holaofertas.

To learn more on how to become a featured business on Holaofertas, email us at info@holaofertas.com.

Contact
Holaofertas
Carl Tremblay
506-8608-4708
carl@holaofertas.com

Over 160 companies will exhibit products and services for the gastronomy, hospitality and related industries.

San José, April 11th, 2013 – The Hotels and Restaurants Expo, Exphore Costa Rica is the business center where national and international providers exhibit there products and services for the sector. The fair counts with the participation of almost 4,000 professionals that come from different zones of Costa Rica and America.

Exphore 2013 is going to take place from June 18th to the 20th from 11:00 a.m to 8:00 p.m, at the Eventos Pedregal Center, Heredia, Costa Rica and is going to bring the opportunity to visitors to find new products and services for there business through demonstrations organized by the expositors, also they are going to be able to visit many suppliers in just one place and participate of events with interesting themes related to there business.

Exphore in it´s 13th edition is organized by Apetito Magazine, which is a magazine specialized in the hotel and restaurant industry and has as objective that visitors find more products and business opportunities, this is the reason why it´s a great opportunity for suppliers to exhibit and for professionals in the business to assist. One more time Exphore 2013 is going to be the venue of important activities such as the Barista Challenge, the Hotels Design Competition, XHR Price and the Culinary Cup of the America´s, which is organized overall with the Costa Rica National Association of Chefs and is part of the Continental Culinary Cup, which was declare by
 UNESCO as “human interest”, because it reaches to stand out the gastronomy values of the different countries as a cultural act.

In this competition the talent and creativity of the chefs from all American Continent are measured. The chefs associations participate by doing in each country, there own eliminations to get to the great final, next year is going to be the third consecutive year that it´s done in Exphore.

Also the entry is free for professionals in the gastronomy, hospitality and tourism industry, they have to register in www.exphore.com/registro to get there entry.

For more information:

Guillermo Rodríguez
Email: guillermo.rodriguez@eka.net
Phone: (506) 8997-1651

Apetito Magazine. An EKA Consultores Internacional production.

Post office box:
11406-1000

San José, Costa Rica.

Phone: (506) 2231-6722
Email: revistaapetito@ekaconsultores.com

Web: www.exphore.com

Facebook: Facebook.com/Exphore

Expo Vino Costa Rica will be going on from Wednesday, October 23rd to Friday, October 25th, 2013 from 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm at the Real Intercontinental & Club Tower Costa Rica. Wednesday 23rd will be reserved for the Hotel, Restaurant industry executives and special guests (press, government). Thursday 24th and Friday 25th the event will be open to the general public.

The exhibitors are importers and distributors of wines from the different regions, also gourmet foods related with the wine industry such as cheese, delicatessen and crystal.

Exhibiting at Expo Vino Costa Rica gives businesses the opportunity to promote the wine culture, participate on strategic business transactions with the agents of the wine sector (restaurants, hotels, wine bars, liquor stores) and the opportunity to introduce products. The main objective of the event is to promote the culture, the knowledge and the potential business of wine and to give wine distributors and producers the opportunity to strengthen, renovate, and create new bonds with actual and potential buyers.

Expo Vino 2013 4th edition is organized by Apetito, a magazine specialized on the hotel and restaurant business. This is a perfect place to meet with the main distributors of the wine business in the region. There be different activities such as wine tastings, samplings, master classes, where the principal stars will be all the wine brands participating in the fair. This event captures the attention of all wine consumers by offering attractive activities such as expert oenologists and cellar representatives tutor wine tastings.

For more information contact our Event Executive,
Katherine Ferreto
Phone: (506) 2231-6722 ext. 144
Email: katherine@ekaconsultores

Apetito Magazine. An EKA Consultores International production. 


PBX11406-1000

San José, Costa Rica


Phone number: (506) 2231-6722

E-mail: revistaapetito@ekaconsultores.com

Web: www.expovinocr.com 


Registration Required (link below) – Space Limited
Beginner English speakers welcome!

When:
Saturday, April 13th
9:30am – 12:30pm: Workshop
12:30pm: Optional buffet lunch (additional cost)

Where:
Tin Jo Restaurant
San Jose
Calle 11, Av. 6-8.
De la Casa del Tornillo, 100 oeste,125 norte
http://www.tinjo.com

Event & Lunch Cost:
Event entry for PWG: WCCR Member – ¢2000
Event entry for PWG: WCCR Non-Member – ¢3000
Coffee and tea service during the event: ¢1000
We recommend staying for lunch after the workshop to network with members.
Optional Lunch Buffet – ¢7000

Payable in cash at entrance.

Registration & Contact:
Register at: http://pwg42013.eventbrite.com/#

Event Contact:
Professional Women’s Group PWG:WCCR
Phylliss Crist for the Planning Committee of PWG
pwg.wccr@gmail.com
2268-6130

Workshop Agenda:
9:30 – 10:00: Registration
10:00 – 10:30: Networking and PWG Announcements
10:30 – 11:30: Presentation by Marilyn Batista
11:30 – 12:00: Questions and answers from participants
12:00 – 12:30: Sharing business experiences
12:30: Optional buffet lunch and Networking (lunch at additional cost)

About Marylin Batista

Marylin Batista is the President of Batista Communications. Her other professional roles and accomplishments include:

-Professor of Journalism at the University of Costa Rica
-Central America Director of “Panorama Internacional” magazine
-Executive Director of Puerto Rico Commercial Office in Costa Rica
-International speaker on Strategic Communication topics in Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Panama and Suriname.
-Columnist at national newspapers and specialized magazines in Costa Rica and Spain.
-Author, “Cuentos de Petra”
-Director, Costa Rica Chamber of Commerce
-Chair, Woman Entrepreneur Program of the Costa Rica Chamber of Commerce
-Founding member and Secretary, Costa Rican Association of Business and Strategic Communications Businesses and Consultants (ACECCE)

Buffet Lunch Details:

Registration for the optional buffet lunch closes at 9:00 AM, April 11th. Please remember that if you reserve the optional buffet lunch, you must pay for it (or cancel it by 9:00 AM, April 11th).

The buffet includes:

-Thai noodle vegetarian salad
-Indian samosas with tamarind chutney (vegetarian)
-Stirfried kung pao chicken with jasmine rice or Indian vegetarian curry
-Dessert: Tres leches
-Drinks: Ginger lemongrass lemonade or Tamarind with mint

A La Carte menu also available at participant’s expense.

A unique experience. 23 hectares of lush tropical forest landscaping designed to make your dreams come true. A destination like no other located in the North Pacific coast of Costa Rica, unique in its exclusive design.

Lomas del Sol is immerse in the middle of the forest, sea, sun and sand combined with an incredible variety of wildlife that lives in harmony with nature. We invite you to enjoy the incredible experience of living in paradise.

Lomas del Sol is a condominium located in Marbella. It is develop at only 900 meters from the beach; with an altitude of 80 m above the sea level, with awesome ocean and North Pacific mountain views. Marbella Beach is only 30-45 minutes from Playa Negra, Avel¬lanas, Tamarindo and Playa Grande.

At only 35 minutes from Santa Cruz, principal city and a business center of the zone it is also located at just one hour from Liberia´s International Airport. With all the basic services for the residences of Santa Cruz, with a time travel from San Jose of approximately of 3.5 hours.

Lomas del Sol has a social area with swimming pool, bronzing areas, gardens, a Beach Club by the Sea, private access with 24/7 vigilance, subterranean services. It is located in a zone with excellent weather all year long. A beautiful beach were you can practice surf, scuba diving, mountain walks, riding horses, mountain biking, and safe places where you can run.

The infrastructure construction will start in March, it is estimated to finish the construction in 12 or 18 months.

General Information:

-Total area of the condominium: 232.080,73 m2
-24/7 security in the access points.
-Total of lots: 214 lots
-Lot Size: from 500 m2 to 1.662 m2
-Street meter lineal: 3569 m
-Street wide: 10 – 16 m
-Subterranean public services
-Building Structure: Tropical Architecture
-Design Restrictions: High maximum 7,5 m x, Retirement from the sides 2 m, retirement from back side 3 m
-Social Area with swimming pool, garden areas, walking trails
-Ocean and mountain views and tropical dry forest unique in Latin America
-Beach Club beach front, with swimming pool, restaurant, baths and more
-Distance from Marbella: 2,5 km
-Distance to the ocean: 900 m
-Its only at 35 minutes from Santa Cruz
-Time from San José 3.5 hours
-Altitude: 80m above sea level

So take a chance to know a little bit more about us, and start living the wonderful experience in paradise.

For further information contact Alexandra: alevega71@yahoo.es
DBio Developers, Escazu
Visit us on Facebook.com