Rob made an interesting observation on our recent Costa Rica trip – he saw no homeless people sleeping on the streets or in parks, and we didn’t see a panhandler during our entire visit. Yes, people were selling wares and yes, people were selling services, but no one had their hand out looking for something for nothing.  Does Costa Rica have poverty and poor people? Of course. We need to remember, though, that money and happiness aren’t necessarily synonymous. People can have few materials goods and lead a happy life. We love the Ticos and celebrate with them  Pura Vida!

Manuel Antonio beach Costa Rica

The Costa Rica weather beckons us to Go South, especially this week when frost is delaying planes at Tampa International Airport. With Tampa temperatures this morning dipping to 27 degrees, compare these:

Papagayo Gulf in Guanacaste: high of 83°, low of 63°

Esterillos:  high of 83°, low of 61°

Manuel Antonio: high of 82°, low of 72°

You can check Costa Rica weather online – just use the drop down menu to choose your Costa Rica location and see the forecast for the next 15 days.

Barry and Volcano enjoying the Costa Rica beach by del Pacifico

Costa Rica is a wonderful country for horses as well as people. Horses are an important part of the lifestyle at del Pacifico on the central Pacific coast of Costa Rica, by Esterillos – there’s a stable inside the gated development of del Pacifico with places you can ride for hours – including the beach.  I couldn’t resist sharing this photo from Barry Strudwick’s facebook page (click on the photo to go there).
If you want to taste the lifestyle at del Pacifico at one of their weekend Gatherings, contact The Simms Team for more information. Gatherings are scheduled for November 5-9, January 14-18 and February 11-15. Lots, condos and single family homes are available at del Pacifico – not just in drawings, but in reality. You can see and touch the finished homes and judge the quality yourself.

Sport fishing on the central Pacific coast of Costa Rica

Marina Pez Vela...Construction is going full force at Marina Pez Vela in Quepos. The 40 acre new marina is set to open in the autumn with its inital 100 slips along the perimeter. Eventually there will be 300 wet slips, 120- dry storage units and a repair yard. This will be the only full service marine facility in 1,000 miles of coastline, according to the developers. We were there in late June (on a rainy day, so no good photos) and saw the breakwater and the start of the floating docks. It’s planned to have a minimum depth at low tide of 12 feet and to accomodate up to a 200 foot boat. Here are Photos of ongoing construction and the Marina’s Summer 2009 newsletter. Some of the real estate gatherings at del Pacifico offer fishing trips – such as this one we attended last August.

Billabong World Surf Games Costa Rica

Surfing is great along the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Generally you have far more surf than people, but this week Playa Hermosa (the one in Puntarenas, not the one in Guanacaste) is the site of the ISA Billabong World Surf Games and there are 5-10,000 people watching.  Stacey Murray & Stephanie Green of Del Pacifico have been reporting each day, and took the photo posted here. If you’re interested in buying a property near a beach where you can surf every day, perhaps you should look at del Pacifico, which offers completed condos and homes as well as lots in their gated community. Their next weekend Gathering, where you can experience life in Costa Rica, is in August. And yes, you can surf while you’re there, whether you’re an expert or a beginner. Contact The Simms Team at ALVA International for more information.

Gulf of Papagayo sunset from Costa Blanca

Friends told us to watch the sunset at Costa Blanca, a hotel overlooking the Gulf of Papagayo in Costa Rica, and to have dinner in their excellent restaurant. Not fans of night driving, it really was an easy drive from our hotel on Playa Hermosa. Several couples were already there, some with cameras, some engrossed in each other. There was a wide viewing area outside the huge tiki hut that held the restaurant. It was one gorgeous sunset shot after another, and we watched a few sailboats drift by in the dusk. The food was excellent – just mouthwatering – and the service was friendly. Another evening of Pura Vida in Costa Rica.

Monkey finds Costa Rica a land of plenty

Costa Rica has over 100 types of mammals and over 800 species of birds. 25% of the entire country is conversation area and protected territories.

Tami particularly likes the monkeys there. You often don’t see them (it took Tami 3 trips and a dedicated search with a pro to find a few) but you frequently hear them. They like to sleep during the day and start coming out about 5 p.m.

When you read the flyers on Costa Rica real estate, you’ll often find mentioned the animal and bird sounds you’ll hear, and sightings you may see daily. You’ll also want to check out possible environmental restrictions if you’re buying a lot and planning to build – some trees are protected, for example. Just one more reason it’s wise to use a Costa Rica real estate professional. Call the Simms Team for assistance in finding the right one.

Horseback riding on the beach in Costa Rica

One of the things that Tami most enjoys in Costa Rica is horseback riding – not in a ring or on a trail, but through the fields, up the hills, and most of all – along the beach. Costa Rica has a long history of caballeros and vaqueros and there are lots of equestrian options throughout Costa Rica. The community you choose for your condo or house purchase may have its own stable facilities, like del Pacifico in Esterillos Este, or you may be content to have stables outside the property but within a 15 minute drive.

Catching a sailfish in Costa Rica

This morning one of our clients stopped in to our office, and we started talking about Costa Rica. Robin loved the two vacations she spent in Costa Rica at Crocodile Bay Resort at Puerto Jimenez on the Osa Peninsula on the southwest Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Here’s their story of great sport fishing in Costa Rica.

They caught sailfish, mahi mahi, blue marlin, roosters, snapper, jack crevelle and king mackerel. Perhaps equally exciting was seeing a Humpback Whale that did a full breach right beside them.

There are many locations along the Pacific Coast in Costa Rica where there is great sports fishing.

If you’d like to buy a vacation home in Costa Rica to enjoy sports fishing on a regular basis, contact The Simms Team.