Costa rica information, letters
An Article by Liz Clark on S/V "Swell"
.....Golfito was almost a southern version of Puntarenas . Both towns were deep
in a gulf, and both served as the main centers of commerce for their
areas. Golfito was smaller, though, and the landscape more beautiful, as
the jungle cascaded down steep hillsides to the water all around the bay.
It had been a major banana exporting port from 1934 to 1985. The houses
built by the United Fruit Company make up a majority of the community. It
seems to be filling up with ‘For Sale’ and realty signs directed at
gringos looking to retire as is the case in most of Costa Rica. We
anchored off of Land and Sea Services, which is owned and run by Tim and
Katy, an amazing couple from Santa Barbara. They had sailed down 13 years
earlier, found their piece of paradise and never left. They now provide an
amazing facility for other boaters to land their dinghies, hang out,
shower, do laundry and get information on just about anything. Their place
was oozing with love and care. Not a plant went unwatered, nor was there a
single corner void of something fun to look at. And if that wasn’t enough
to make you feel at home, the rowdy herd of dogs and cats would melt you
with their incessant purrs and licks and paws. They graciously invited us
to their Thanksgiving smorgasbord, which we instantly accepted.
Click here to read the full article
Liz Clark Swell Voyage |
To:
Land Sea Services
Subject: Zancudo
Hi Katie,
Like I said if you know of any outside of town hillside with a view
properties we are interested in that as well. My wife and I want to try
and build down there in the next 3 years as we are close to selling our
assets here in the states and working in Costa Rica part time (
hopefully fishing lodge) for the rest of our working careers.
…There is
something infectious about Golfito the more time we spend the harder it
is to leave.
Thank you again for all your help and insight over the last year you
have definitely been very good to us and we are very grateful. Thanks
Kelly
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Hi Katie,
I checked my account online this morning and the money is there! You
did a great job and I thank you very much. No one else could have done
what you did. Please feel free to add me to your list of references. I
will be happy to help should the need arise. Thanks for your
patience. You knew what I was going through and continued to "talk me
down" when I was losing it. You are a true professional and others
would do well to follow the great example you set. I wish you continued
success in the future. You certainly deserve it!
Richard
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GENERAL INFORMATION COSTA RICA
Area: 51,100 sq km (19,730 sq miles).
Population: 3,810,179 (2000).
Population density: 75 per sq km.
Capital: San José.
Population capital: 309,672 (2000).
Language: Spanish is the official language.
English is widely spoken. Some French, German and Italian are also spoken.
Religion: Almost entirely Christian, with Roman Catholic majority.
Time: GMT - 6.
Electricity: 110/220 volts AC, 60Hz. Two-pin plugs are standard.
Currency: Costa Rican Colón (c) = 100 céntimos.
Country Code: + 506 ~
IDD Access Code: 00 ~
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Many of you have
written and asked about our CLIMATE:
In a word....TROPICAL!!!
The Southern Pacific region is spectacular with frequent, quick and
exhilarating downpours of warm tropical rain, year round sun and the
wonderful humidity that supports a dense and varied exotic vegetation – an
incredible bounty of flora like no other area in Costa Rica.
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| Environment:
Costa Rica is bordered to the north by Nicaragua and to the east by
Panama. It has both a Caribbean and a Pacific coast. A series of volcanic
mountain chains runs from the Nicaraguan border in the northwest to the
Panamanian border in the southeast, splitting the country in two. In the
center of these ranges is a high-altitude plain, with coastal lowlands on
either side. Over half the population lives on this plain, which has
fertile volcanic soils. The Caribbean coast is 212km (131mi) long and is
characterized by mangroves, swamps and sandy beaches. The Pacific coast is
much more rugged and rocky, and, thanks to a number of gulfs and
peninsulas, is a tortuous 1016km (630mi) long.
The country's biodiversity attracts nature lovers from all over the
world. The primary attraction for many visitors is the 850 recorded bird
species, which include the resplendent quetzal, indigo-capped
hummingbirds, macaws and toucans. Costa Rica's tropical forests have over
1400 tree species and provide a variety of habitats for the country's
fauna including four types of monkey, sloths, armadillos, jaguars and
tapirs. There are also a number of dazzling butterflies. National parks
cover almost 12% of the country, and forest reserves and Indian
reservations boost the protected land area to 27%.
Costa Rica is a tropical country and experiences only two seasons: wet
and dry. The dry season is generally between late December and April, and
the wet season lasts the rest of the year. The Caribbean coast tends to be
wet all year. Temperatures vary little between seasons; the main influence
on temperature is altitude. San José at 1150m (3772ft) has a climate that
the locals refer to as 'Eternal Spring': lows average 15°C (60°F); highs
average 26°C (79°F). The coasts are much hotter, with the Caribbean
averaging 21°C (70°F) at night and over 30°C (86°F) during the day; the
Pacific is a few degrees warmer still. The humidity at low altitudes can
be oppressive.
-Lonely Planet- |
Culture:
Costa Rica is noted more for its natural beauty and friendly people
than for its culture. The overwhelming European influence erased almost
all indigenous culture, and because Costa Rica was a country of
subsistence agriculturalists until the middle of the 19th century,
cultural activity has only begun to blossom in the last 100 years.
By some estimates, over 90% of the country is Roman Catholic, at least
in principle. In practice, most church attendance takes place at
christenings, funerals and marriages. Blacks on the Caribbean coast tend
to be Protestant, and there is a sprinkling of other denominations in San
José, including a small Jewish community. Spanish is the official
language, though English is understood in touristed areas. Many Caribbean
blacks speak a lively dialect of English, known as Creole. Indian
languages are spoken in isolated areas, primarily Bribri, which is
estimated to be understood by about 10,000 people.
No one goes to Costa Rica for the cuisine. Although traditional dishes
run to the South American staples of beef, chicken and fish dishes, with
rice, corn or beans and fresh fruit as supplements, most of this fare has
given way to the ubiquitous pizza and burger option. And even these can
only be included in 'cuisine' by stretching the definition to its breaking
point. Also be warned that ticos love to spice up European dishes with
salt - lots of it. We're talking lip-puckering, instant-dehydrating,
body-shuddering proportions. On the positive side, their coffee is
sublime. Even the coffee that accompanies the limp burger from the fast
food joint is a cut above your average North American cup of coffee.
-Lonely Planet-
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Answers to questions about living in Costa Rica by:
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Costa Rica
News Archives
Costa Rica Photos
Costa Rica Maps
Costa Rica Legal Information Service
Lonely Planet Online
Costa Rica Hankbook
Costa Rica Heritage and Culture
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Articles and Letters
| A
Dispatch From Down South Costa Rica ~
The End-Of-The-Road ~ by Allan Weisbecker - Out on the edge in
Pavones, Costa Rica. Allan ended up in Costa Rica after tracking down
a lost surfer mate from the U.S. He then turned the experience into a
book and has now settled down in Costa Rica. Make sure to check out
his website and find out all the extra details. |
|
Caretaking ~
How To
Live Overseas And Have The Place To Yourself ~ By Jeff And Karen
Hay - One way to move overseas would be to take care of somebody's
exclusive million dollar home. And there are a number of people who
become caretakers in places such as Costa Rica, New Zealand and
Mexico. Taking care of the house and living on a nice piece of real
estate might be the answer to your stationary blues. |
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Comfortable Costa Rica ...
it's
not all overpriced, overbuilt, and overrated - When we first
started writing about Costa Rica over a decade ago, it was just
emerging as one of the most attractive retirement havens in Central
America. But as more retirees settled there, cheap properties became
scarce. So we began to scout out less discovered destinations |
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Living in Costa Rica ~
Exploring The Beaches Of Costa Rica ~ By Vanessa Morson - Costa
Rica has for years been denouced as a bad place to invest or visit.
This is just not true. It's my favorite country in the region and the
people are nice and realistic. They know tourism and have been at it
for years so the quality of the service in Costa Rica is much higher
than in the other countries of Central America. And the weather is the
best as well as the beaches. If you want to visit a country where you
know you're going to have a good time try out Costa Rica. |
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Pure Life -
Traveling Through Costa Rica ~ by Dawnelle Salant - “Pura Vida”.
In Spanish it means “Pure Life” and is a phrase you’ll hear and see,
everywhere in Costa Rica. The locals live this expression to the
fullest and their love for life is evident on their smiling faces and
in their kind actions to strangers. Some of the happiest people I have
ever encountered were Costa Ricans. And why wouldn’t they be
constantly cheerful? – You would be too if you could call one of the
world’s most beautiful and exotic countries home. |
| The
advantages of Living Overseas: a new and refreshing way to look at
Offshore -
Investing
Overseas - Edmund J. Pankau writes about the broader meaning of
offshore, this time in terms of the real advantages to the ordinary
person seeking a lower cost of living, a better quality of life,
reasonable and fantastic real estate, lower taxes, and ground floor
business opportunities. "In recent years, Central America has become
the Florida, California and Arizona of the 1950’s. Remember when
you could buy beachfront property in Florida for a song? When prices
in California were dirt cheap? Well, those days are now in full
bloom just a little further south of the border. The slower
paced climate of Central American has awakened to the realization that
is can revitalize its economy by becoming the retirement center of the
western world. All of the things that made Florida and California boom
are now happening in Belize, Honduras and Costa Rica, as is starting
to emerge, Nicaragua, Panama, El Salvador and Guatemala." |
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Tropical Tableau In Costa Rica ~
Golfito ~ by Bill Moake - I remember a tropical tableau like
scenes from an old South Seas adventure movie. Sultry purple nights in
the open-air bar of a waterfront hotel, sipping rum with shady
characters, watching palm fronds sway in the moonlight and listening
to the raucous hoots of howler monkeys echo across the bay. Through
the smokey haze I see Houston Bill playing poker at a table strewn
with empty beer bottles. |
| Why
Costa Rica? -
Why Costa Rica? - In this edition of the newsletter Costa Rica
expert, Christopher Howard talks about Costa Rica. (In our
upcoming issue on Cuba, Chris will be back with an article on Cuba.)
No stranger to Costa Rica fans, Christopher Howard has written
extensively on the nation. He has lived in Costa Rica and Latin
America for the better part of the last thirty years. |
| A
Night At The Cantina ~
Pavones, Costa Rica ~ by Allan Weisbecker - For laid back mood,
beaches and fun, few countries can touch Costa Rica. Everyone takes
shots at the country - too expensive, too trampled on, too difficult
to live in. It's all crap. If you want to enjoy Costa Rica head south
to the border with Panama and sit back and enjoy what Las Pavones has
to offer. |
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 Tico
Times Classified Adds Online
Tico
Times Online
 Golfito
Weather
Weather Satellite
Costa Rica
Are You Prepared for Retirement?...articles by Adam Starchild
Costa Rica Events Calendar
Costa Rica |
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Land
Sea Services is proud of advances made in Golfito to further the
humane treatment of dogs and cats. Community groups such as ZAPPA
and McKee are reaching out to give low and no-cost care to 'under privileged'
and street critters, greatly reducing the population of homeless
animals in our area. Your contributions make possible the Low Cost
and Free Clinics being sponsored by area volunteers and veterinarians.
Each contribution of $10.00 sponsors a dog or cat that wouldn't
otherwise be able to receive vaccinations and spaying - and
wouldn't have been considered adoptable! Your generous
contribution of $200.00 will sponsor a neighborhood clinic with
free services to 20 needy animals. That's a potential
reduction of over 100 unwanted births in a neighborhood in the
first year alone. Do
the math?! It's a loving and needed investment. Please consider
supporting our "pet project" by bringing a donation to
our office when you visit Golfito. Receipts will be given along
with our THANKS! Volunteers for Clinic Days are always
welcome.