Rainy afternoon in Tamarindo Guanacaste Costa Rica

It’s now the Rainy Season in Costa Rica, which the locals charmingly call The Green Season (sometimes referred to as dry season and green season). The summer season in Costa Rica is November to April and the green season is from May to October, with the heaviest rains coming in October.

Our first trip to  Costa Rica a few years ago was in August and I have to admit that going to the tropics during rainy season had me a bit worried.  Much to my pleasure, I found that it was no worse than summer in Florida, where a heavy afternoon rain is typical, but surrounded by sunshine on both sides of the rain. The green season also has the appeal of lower rates and less crowded restaurants and attractions.  When it’s raining – think Pura Vida! and enjoy relaxing under cover while you listen to the captivating sound of the rain.

Ken Schaafsma does a great job of dispelling some myths in his blog posts. I liked his post yesterday about the Costa Rica rainy season. He also gave a few weather facts I wasn’t aware of:  1) the length of daylight hours in Costa Rica varies by only about 15 minutes from June to December; and 2) Costa Rica averages 13 hours of sunlight every day.

You may know that Costa Rica doesn’t play with Daylight Savings Time.  What is, is.  So, in December Costa Rica is one hour behind Florida time and in the summer Costa Rica is two hours behind Florida time.

Marina Pez Vela in Quepos Costa Rica has opened its first phase, with 100 slips including facility for large yachts. The fuel dock has opened as well.  Scott Cutter, my real estate colleague in the Manuel Antonio and Quepos area of Costa Rica, took this night shot of the marina. You can see several additional photos on the Marina Pez Vela site. The Pacific coast of Costa Rica is one of the best sports fishing areas in the world. This is probably an hour’s drive south of the marina at Los Suenos, and half an hour south of Del Pacifico.

A quiet moment in the cafeteria at Clinica Biblica San Jose Costa Rica

Medical tourism in Costa Rica is yet another reason to visit this wonderful country. International Living listed the top 10 destinations for medical tourism and of course Costa Rica was on their list.  Many people interested in buying real estate in Costa Rica ask about their medical care. Not only is it good, and much less expensive than in the US, people from all around the world are traveling there just for their medical treatments. Not just opthopedica, cardiovascular surgery and cosmetic surgery – many are traveling to Costa Rica for dental treatments, from crowns to implants. Why not enjoy a pleasant climate and wonderfully hospitable people while saving money on your medical and dental needs?

Costa Rica is much closer than India or Hungary; the beaches and resorts are great places for your recovery; and in Costa Rica medical care puts emphasis on the word “care”. When we toured one of the hospitals we found not only a first class facility, but lots of smiles and a great concern for patients. There are hundreds of board-certified doctors and dentists. Costa Rica is one of the top 5 destinations for Americans looking for medical care outside the US.

Great sports fishing in Costa Rica

Costa Rica has some of the best sport fishing in the world. On the Pacific coast of Costa Rica you can find excellent sailfish, marlin, tune, snapper, dorado, wahoo, mahi-mahi and roosterfish. Most marinas have many choices of charter boats and captains. Your hotel should be able to arrange a fishing trip for you, too. If you’re staying in your second home – ask your friends or stop at the local watering hole to ask around.

Many world records have been set in Costa Rica. In one year alone Costa Rica had a total of 117 world records for the year – 22 all-tackle records, 18 fly-fishing records and 77 line-class records. It has set more since then.

From Golfito and Puerto Jimenez on the south Pacific coast, Quepos and Los Suenos on the central Pacific Coast, and Tamarindo and Flamingo on the north Pacific coast to the many smaller spots in between, lots of sport fishing awaits you in Costa Rica.

A client’s perspective on Costa Rica sports fishing

Quepos marina

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.