Traveling

Let’s Talk About Turrialba

An area of Costa Rica that certainly deserves more attention is the gorgeous Caribbean slope community known as Turrialba.

Getting There and Things to See Along the Way…

To get there you take the highway from San Jose to the historic city of Cartago, which was formerly the capital of Costa Rica. The city of Cartago was first established in 1563 by the Spanish conquistador Juan Vásquez de Coronado. Cartago is home to many historic sites such as the ruins of one of San Jose’s first churches, which was abandoned following the massive destruction caused by the Cartago quake of 1910. The ruins now form the centerpiece of a park in the middle of town. Just down the road is the Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels, an impressive Byzantine style church, which is the national religious shrine of Costa Rica. Every year thousands of devotees from across the country make a pilgrimage on foot to honor the Virgin Mary and to render homage for favors conceded. This pilgrimage coincides with the feast day of the Virgin of the Angels held on August 2nd to commemorate the miraculous appearance (and subsequent reappearance) of a small carved image of the virgin mother to a young native girl in 1635. The church was erected on the actual site and the rock on which the statue appeared can be seen in a crypt entered from the left-hand side of the church's altar.

Towering over the city is the massive Irazu Volcano. At 3,432 meters (11,260 feet) it is the highest volcano in the country. One of the most impressive sites is the lime green lake at the bottom of one of the volcano’s three craters. There have been at least 23 eruptions since 1723. The most recent was from 1963 to 1965. This eruption came the same day that President John F. Kennedy visited the country. The ensuing destruction caused at least 40 deaths and destroyed 400 houses and some area factories. Since this eruption the volcano has been dormant. From the top it is possible to see both the the Atlantic and Pacific on a clear day. The park has a nice gift shop and restaurant. There is an entrance fee, but it is minimal. Make sure to take a jacket because the summit can be very cold and windy.

Bustling Turrialba Town…

Following the highway almost due east you will have about a 45-minute drive to the town of Turrialba. Conveniently located between San Jose and the Caribbean Coast, you will find this lively town bustling with activity and surrounded by fertile farmland and green, mountain pastures. The world-renowned Pacuare River attracts many white-water rafters and kayakers. In 1998, teams from countries all over the world competed in the White Water Challenge on the Pacuare. Turrialba is also famous for its cheese, hand-sewn baseballs used in the World Series, and for open-air fruit and vegetable markets with some of the freshest, best-looking produce available in Costa Rica. It is also home to CATIE, the Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigacion y Enseñanza (Center for Tropical Agronomy Research and Teaching), which covers 2,000 acres (808 hectare), has more than 5,000 varieties of 335 species of crops with economic potential, and a number of research projects concerning the critical problems of environmental conservation like deforestation, overgrazing, and the sensitive ecology of river basins.

The Amazing Turrialba Volcano…

The most amazing site of this area is the colossal Turrialba Volcano. At 3,339 meters (11,018 feet) this is the second highest volcano in the country. The summit has three craters, one of which has fumaroles and sulfur pits. Turrialba Volcano is one of the few volcanos in Costa Rica where you can actually descend into one of the craters. There is no entrance fee or gift shops at the summit of this amazing volcano. It is just you and the volcano. This makes Turrialba Volcano one of my favorite places to visit. Like Irazu, it can be windy and cold at the top, so dress accordingly. The hike down into the crater takes about one hour, roundtrip. During the 19th century the volcano erupted explosively several times (1847?, 1853, 1855, 1861?, 1864-1865, 1866), producing pyroclastic flows. The last major eruption was in 1856. However, Turrialba has been in the news recently due to an increase in activity observed by locals in the area. Siesmologists have assured that there is no reason to expect a major eruption any time soon. The drive up can be made by car, but you will need a 4-wheel drive, especially during the rainy season. You can also do it via horseback or hike. The views are incredible. Just before you reach the last stretch of road to the summit (and the worst stretch I should add), there is a quaint little mountain village that even has a soda where you can get a hot cup of coffee and a typical Costa Rican meal. A trip to top of Turrialba should not be missed by the adventurous traveler who really wants to see Costa Rica’s natural wonders up close and personal. Really cool stuff!

A Great Place to Stay…

There are several nice rustic hotels in the area, but my personal favorite is Casa Turire. This gorgeous little hotel of only 16 rooms (and a proud member of Costa Rica’s Small and Distinctive Hotels group) is located one hour and forty-five minutes from San José and sits on the banks of the Angostura Lake in the heart of the Turrialba Valley. Casa Turire features 12 deluxe rooms and 4 suites. All rooms have direct-dial telephones, safe deposit boxes, hair-dryers, satellite TV, ceiling fans and private balconies. There is also a great restaurant and the grounds around the hotel are immaculately manicured and simply beautiful.

The area of Turrialba is one of those well-kept secrets of Costa Rica. Many of our visitors miss these areas, choosing the more travelled tourist paths such as La Fortuna, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio and the beaches of Guanacaste. However, Turrialba should not be missed as it offers some of the best of Costa Rica in its purest natural state.

We at The Costa Rica Zine and Package Costa Rica are dedicated to exposing to our readers the hidden gems that abound in Costa Rica.

Investment

Southern Pacific Zone Heating Up

It’s no secret any more that the Costa Rica real estate market is hot. Areas such as the “Gold Coast” of Guancaste and the Central Pacific beaches of Jaco and Quepos (or Manuel Antonio) have received the lion’s share of attention and, as a result, prices have been pushed to high levels. Although you can still get deals that are surprisingly low considering U.S. type prices for similar ocean view properties in areas that still don’t come close to the aesthetic appeal you can find here in Costa Rica. An up-and-coming area that I consider Costa Rica’s most beautiful stretch of coast is the Southern Pacific. Specifically, I am talking about the stretch of coast that begins south of Quepos and extends all the way down to the Osa Penninsula.

Worst Road in the Country…But Improving

Let’s start with the road that leads from the point just south of the Quepos airport to the popular southern pacific beach of Dominical. This road is notoriously known as being one of the worst, if not the worst, road in the country. It has always been a mystery to me why this 40-kilometer (or approximately 25 mile) stretch of road has remained unpaved. The road from Jaco to Quepos is a pretty good paved road (know as the Costanera Highway, which is the only true coastal highway in Costa Rica). Yes there are a few incredible bad bridges, which by the way are in the process of being fixed. However, as Costa Rica roads go, this stretch of highway is not too bad. Then just south of the aforementioned airport, you realize very quickly that you are in a third world country. During the rainy season this road is absolutely atrocious and what makes it even worse is that it is a continuation of the Costanera Highway and therefore receives a great deal of traffic. This makes the conditions even worse. Imagine convoys of tractor-trailers on a mushy rain drenched road. You can actually get lost in some of the potholes that are created in this mêlée. Ok enough about the road, now for the good news. Hats off to our current President, Don Oscar Arias. He is actually taking action to fix roads and bridges in this area! Last time I drove this road I saw trucks and workers engaged in an act that brought tears to my eyes. They were paving the road!!!!!!!! This is like thirty years in the making. Now, I would not hold my breath. More than likely, the section of the road from Quepos to Matapalo will be competed in the next “few” years. This is only about half of the road’s total 40 kilometers. The other half may never be paved and if it is certainly not for many many years into the foreseeable future. Yet there are many areas (take Guanacaste for instance) that have experienced dramatic development and astronomical increases in property values, despite horribly bad roads. This area should be one of them. It is already receiving some attention from big developers and I believe it will only grow more intense.

The Big Sur of Costa Rica

So what is the big draw of the Southern Pacific Zone? First of all you have the mountains that hug the coast in this region. Just behind this coastal range are the massive Talamancas, which boast the highest peak in the country, Cerro Chirripo (the 38th most prominent peak on the planet and one of the highest peaks in Central America). This coastal mountain range makes for some incredible ocean view properties that still remain at very affordable prices. While the road from Quepos to Dominical may be atrocious, once you arrive at Dominical you are greeted by what I consider one of the best and newest roads in the country. The road extends all the way down the coast and offers some of the best views. The small beach town of Dominical, popular destination for surfers, is fast becoming a hub of activity for the area. I predict that Dominical will one day be the next Jaco. Dominical is a hip little beach town with some great restaurants, a little nightlife (on the weekends the rocking place in Rocka Verde a few kilometers south of downtown central) and a few great hotels. One of our favorites is Villas Rio Mar. It is set on the banks of the Barú River, located 800 meters from the beach and surrounded by impressive tropical forests. Rooms are of the jungle bungalow variety and this place really makes you feel like you are in a tropical paradise (which, of course, you are). Another activity that is unique to this stretch of coastline is whale watching. This area boasts the longest migratory season for Humpback Whales in the world, as we get migrations from both North and South America. In all, over twenty-five species of dolphins and whales are either resident or pass through the area on migration.

Developments in the Area

Several new developments are under way in the Southern Zone.

In Dominical there is Punta Dominical is a 2000-acre development in Dominical. Being developed within the property is Kiana Resort Hotel, which will be the first five-star hotel in the Southern Zone. The hotel will include 26 fully furnished, two-bedroom, two-bathroom luxury villas. Amenities will include custom pools with lounge areas and shade cabanas, a full spa and an open-air dining area offering gourmet international cuisine. The villas start at $399,000 and are expected to open in fall 2007. Those who don’t plan to live in their properties year-round can earn revenue on them by renting them out through Kiana’s property management plan.

Near Punta Dominical is Canto del Mar, terraced villas set on a lush hillside. These two- and three-bedroom resort homes with two and a half baths start in the mid-$300,000 range. Like Kiana, Canto del Mar offers property management services to take care of rental and maintenance needs.

Prices in developments such as these have already been pushed to high “retail” levels. However, there are also several virgin tracks that have been acquired and subdivided and lots within these developments can be acquired at prices more on the wholesale level. Also, for those who are interested in doing some developing themselves, there are ample opportunities to acquire fincas of 100 hectares (250 acres) or more for much lower per square meter prices.

The chart** below gives you some ideas about “asking prices” of various types of properties in the Southern Pacific Zone.

Type of Property	Size (m2)	Asking Price	Price per m2
Condo	1,500	$300,000	$200
Detached House	2,300	$375,000	$163
Ocean View Lot	5,000	$200,000	$40
Raw Land	50,000	$150,000	$3

**These are not representative of actual listings, but averages from various listings observed by the author. This information is presented solely to give readers a frame of reference of value for properties in this region.

A Word of Caution Concerning Beachfront Property

Buying beachfront property is problematic in Costa Rica. It is the only area where there are restrictions on ownership by foreigners. This is due to the Coastal Maritime law that was adopted by the Costa Rican legislature in 1977. This law applies to the first 200 meters from the high tide mark. The government owns this property. The only exception is for certain titled property prior to enactment of the law, since the law cannot be applied retroactively. However, be cautious when approached by someone claiming to have for sale “titled beachfront property.” You have to do your homework and check to make sure that what is being claimed is actual fact. Anyway, the first 50 meters of this area is dedicated for public use and cannot be owned in any manner. The next 150 meters can only be granted by concession. A “concession” is basically a lease and generally is for twenty years. However, the lease cannot be granted to a foreigner nonresident or to a corporation that is less than 51% owned by a Costa Rican resident. The municipality that has jurisdiction over the location of the property grants concessions. Concession grants are only available if the municipality has adopted a zoning plan for the area where the property is located. Many municipalities do not have such zoning plans and therefore concessions are not available. Concessions are freely transferable.

With all this said, be vary cautious when dealing with ocean front properties in Costa Rica. Many have lost money trying to pursue these types of investments. A good lawyer is a must! In the Southern Pacific Zone it is possible to have a property with an incredible ocean view and only a short drive or walk to the beach and avoid the quagmire that “concession property” entails.

Real Estate Tour of the Southern Pacific Zone

We hope that this short article has been informing. If you are interested in knowing more about properties in the area please contact us. Our company, Package Costa Rica, can arrange a Real Estate Exploration Tour to this area. Are tours are customized to the desires of our clients. Please fill out of Online Real Estate Form to give us a clear picture of your buying objectives.

Give us a call today at our toll free number 1-866-424-6439 and start planning your trip!

Tico Style

It’s About “Tico” TIme

North Americans (those we down here lovingly call "Gringos"....yea I know I am still a gringo too) are often aghast at the Tico cultural attitudes about punctuality. It is said in Costa Rica that if you arrive on time to a scheduled meeting you are early, if you arrive thirty minutes late you are on time and only if you arrive MORE than thirty minutes late are you really, well, late. Now there are some practical reasons for this, which are especially true in San Jose. For one thing the traffic in San Jose at times is absolutely atrocious. Now, you are probably thinking yes but you have to take all that into account and leave early enough so as to anticipate traffic related delays and still arrive early. Here is my advice so listen well. If you are going to come down here with that sort of thinking, just stay home!!! We don't think that far ahead down here. We would rather burn our brain cells on other more important matters. Just look at my friend Mack in the picture above (no that is not me....I am much younger and better looking than that dope!). Does he look like he is worried about making it on time to his next scheduled meeting?? Of course not!! He is engaged in much more worthy pursuits like kicking back with a cold Imperial. Pura Vida!

An area where "Tico Time" is most evident is the never ending wait for the bill (or cuenta) when you complete your meal at virtually any restaurant in the country. Now we (you see I said "we") gringos are used to receiving the bill (or having it shoved down our throats) even before we have tasted the last morsel. Not here. If you are waiting to receive the bill get ready to wait a long long time. Why is this? Well you see in Costa Rica it is considered rude and socially unacceptable to bring the bill before officially asked. In Costa Rica culture all social problems are resolved by talking it through for hours after finishing the meal. Therefore, if you want the bill you have to say, repeat after me, "la cuenta por favor." Or better yet, "regaleme la cuente por favor." And please always say please, because the culture here is very polite. Please and thank yous are always expected and appreciated.

Just another little cultural tidbit from your "gringo" Costa Rica Expert.

Advice

Association of Residents of Costa Rica Seminar

Recently I attended the 2-day seminar given the last Thursday and Friday of each month (except December) by the Association of Residents of Costa Rica (ARCR). I have to say that I was very impressed with the quality of information and the presentation of information at the event. Lunch was also provided and it was excellent. The seminar is given at the Hotel Torremolinos in Paseo Colon. This is a very convenient location and easily accessible. The seminar is for folks who have an interest in retiring or relocating to Costa Rica. It provides information about a variety of topics such as real estate, medical and dental resources, insurance, banking, telecommunications, culture and language, just to name a few. The cost of the seminar is $50. If you join the ARCR before the event ends, they will take $25 off the price. The annual fee for ARCR membership is $100. If you are really serious about a move to Costa Rica, joining the ARCR is a must (and so is this seminar!).

Below is a detailed itinerary of the seminar…

First Day:

8:10 Welcome by Robert Miller President of the Association
8:20 Real Estate - Buying, Selling & Renting by Mercedes Castro or Les Nuñez (Remax Reality)
9:00 Questions about real estate
9:20 Costa Rican Laws & Regulations by Lic. José Carter
10:00 Questions about Costa Rican laws
10:30 BREAK FOR COFFEE
10:55 Moving and Customs by Charles Zeller (ABC Mudanzas)
11:35 Questions about Moving and customs
12:05 BREAK FOR LUNCH (included in tour)
1:00 Investing in Costa Rica and Abroad by Alan Weeks Marketing Consultant
1:35 Questions about funds
1:45 Residency by ARCR Legal Residence Advisors
2:10 Questions about residency
2:30 About the Association of Residents by Ryan Piercy (manager)
3:00 Questions about the Residents Association (ARCR)
3:10 The Move to Costa Rica by Jerry Ledin (ARCR member)
3:30 Questions about moving to Costa Rica
4:00 HAPPY HOUR!

Second Day:

8:10 Welcome by Robert Miller President of the Association
8:20 CCSS Public Health System in Costa Rica by Ryan Piercy (ARCR)
8:40 Questions about the CCSS (Public Health System)
8:50 Health Care Quality by Dr. C. Alpizar (Cima Hospital)
9:20 Questions about health care
9:35 BREAK FOR COFFEE
9:50 INS and Insurance in Costa Rica by Representative from Garrett and Associates
10:20 Questions about insurance
10:30 International Health Insurance by Brad Cook (Clínica Bíblica)
10:40 Questions about Insurance
10:50 Learning Spanish by Christopher Howard (Author and Guide)
11:10 Questions about learning Spanish
11:25 Internet and Communication by Tim Lytle
11:45 Questions about internet
12:00 BREAK FOR LUNCH (included in tour)
1:05 Investing from Costa Rica by Silvia Carmona (Popular Valores)
1:20 Questions about services
1:35 Banking by Marietta Herrera (Elca Bank)
2:05 Questions about banking
2:10 Culture of Costa Rica by Eric Liljenstolpe
2:30 Questions about Culture
2:40 Living in Costa Rica by Ryan Piercy (ARCR manager)
3:30 Closing Remarks for the two-day seminar

The seminar is a great way to get useful information to help you in your decision to move to Costa Rica and I highly recommend it. We can make it part of our customized Real Estate Exploration Tour if the timing of your trip allows (remember the seminar is only given the last Thursday and Friday of each month, except December). Nothing, however, takes the place of actually coming to Costa Rica and living for a month (or more, if possible) prior to taking the final leap. We at Package Costa Rica can help you with all matters concerning such a move to make Costa Rica your permanent or second home.

Pura Vida Mae!

Scott Bowers, Editor