IMMACULATE HOME WITH PRIVATE
POOL IN THE VILLAGE OF OJOCHAL
$295,000 US
ID 079-00702
NEW MODERN LUXURY
VILLA FOR SALE 1.3
HECTARES 3.21 ACRES
$515,000 US
ID 079-00752
NEW HOME WITH
STUNNING OCEAN VIEW
$550,000 US
ID 079-00684
BRAND NEW TWO BEDROOM HOME
WITH AN INFINITY EDGE POOL AND
THAT MILLION DOLLAR VIEW!
$415,000 US
ID 079-00518
AWARD WINNING BEACH
FRONT HOME ON GOLFO DULCE
$1,600,000 US
ID 079-00794
EXQUISITE BALINESE
HOME WITH TRILEVEL
WATERFALL
$1,550,000 US
ID 079-00589
TROPICAL RAINFOREST LAND
FOR SALE WITH STUNNING
VIEWS OF THE GOLFO DULCE
$300,000 US
ID 079-00631
GORGEOUS 2 BEDROOM
HOME & POOL ON A LARGE 2
ACRE LOT
$395,000 US
ID 079-00420
BEAUTIFUL 2 BEDROOM, 2 BATHROOM
& 1 BEDROOM GUESTHOUSE, SWIMMING
POOL ON A LARGE 4.45 ACRE LOT
$425,000 US
ID 079-00788
FABULOUS, FIVE BEDROOM
OCEAN VIEW HOME WITH
GUEST VILLA
$499,000 US
ID 079-00567
BEAUTIFUL OCEAN AND VALLEY
VIEWS, INFINITY POOL, 3 BEDROOMS,
LOFT, 3200 SQ FT, IN PHASE 9 IN
OJOCHAL
$560,000 US
ID 079-00493
BEAUTIFUL FIVE BEDROOM
HACIENDA WITH A POOL
$319,000 US
ID 079-00761
Ballena Properties
+(506) 2786 5801
IMMACULATE HOME WITH PRIVATE
POOL IN THE VILLAGE OF OJOCHAL
$295,000 US
ID 079-00702
NEW MODERN LUXURY
VILLA FOR SALE 1.3
HECTARES 3.21 ACRES
$515,000 US
ID 079-00752
NEW HOME WITH
STUNNING OCEAN VIEW
$550,000 US
ID 079-00684
BRAND NEW TWO BEDROOM HOME
WITH AN INFINITY EDGE POOL AND
THAT MILLION DOLLAR VIEW!
$415,000 US
ID 079-00518
AWARD WINNING BEACH
FRONT HOME ON GOLFO DULCE
$1,600,000 US
ID 079-00794
EXQUISITE BALINESE
HOME WITH TRILEVEL
WATERFALL
$1,550,000 US
ID 079-00589
TROPICAL RAINFOREST LAND
FOR SALE WITH STUNNING
VIEWS OF THE GOLFO DULCE
$300,000 US
ID 079-00631
GORGEOUS 2 BEDROOM
HOME & POOL ON A LARGE 2
ACRE LOT
$395,000 US
ID 079-00420
BEAUTIFUL 2 BEDROOM, 2 BATHROOM
& 1 BEDROOM GUESTHOUSE, SWIMMING
POOL ON A LARGE 4.45 ACRE LOT
$425,000 US
ID 079-00788
FABULOUS, FIVE BEDROOM
OCEAN VIEW HOME WITH
GUEST VILLA
$499,000 US
ID 079-00567
BEAUTIFUL OCEAN AND VALLEY
VIEWS, INFINITY POOL, 3 BEDROOMS,
LOFT, 3200 SQ FT, IN PHASE 9 IN
OJOCHAL
$560,000 US
ID 079-00493
BEAUTIFUL FIVE BEDROOM
HACIENDA WITH A POOL
$319,000 US
ID 079-00761
Ballena Homes is a company that specializes in "Custom Home Construction". Included in our
competitive pricing are the services of specialist in home design, architectural adaptation of the chosen
design, non-compromising engineering to current code and a team of dedicated construction managers.
The key of our success is quite simply, our Team. When you build with Ballena Homes you gain the
benefit of
years of Costa Rica construction experience.
Guaranteed quality materials - Guaranteed quality Construction -
Guaranteed Pricing
Ballena Homes
EFFICIENT
- EXPERIENCED - PROFESSIONAL
/ Phone: 2786-5801Web Site: BallenaHomes.com / Email: Innovation@BallenaHomes.com
CUSTOM HOME CONSTRUCTION
LODGING
1. Hacienda Barú
2. Hotel Cuna del Angel
RESTAURANTS
3. Pizza La Casita (Take-out Service)
4. Hacienda Barú
ACTIVITIES
5. Reptilandia
6. Hacienda Barú
7. Happy Feet Ballet
SERVICES
8. AAA Accounting
9. House of the Artist
10. Feria Orgánica Tinamaste
11. Camino Real Eco Feria
12. Costa Rica Real Estate Service
13. Dra. Mónica Alfaro
LODGING
50. Tangara Azul Boutique Hotel
51. Hotel Diquis del Sur
52. Three Sixty Boutique Hotel
RESTAURANTS
53. Pancito Café
54. Citrus Restaurant & Wine Bar
55. Los Gatos Locos
56. The Bamboo Room
ACTIVITIES
57. Reserva Tortuga
58. Lalo Tours Horseback Riding
SERVICES
59. Ballena Legal Team
60. Centro de Pinturas Ojochal
61. Plaza Ventanas
62. Century 21 & Ballena Properties
63. Ballena Homes
64. Remax / We Sell Paradise
65. L´Épiceríe Super & Deli
66. Farmacia & Macrobiotics Ibarra
67. Osa Tropical Properties
DOMINICAL
OJOCHAL
LODGING
14. Vista Ballena
15. Cristal Ballena
16. Rancho Remo
17. Bungalows Ballena
RESTAURANTS
18. El Gusto (Rancho Remo)
19. Beehive
20. Café Sibu
21. Gelato
22. Retro Café y Bar
23. The Dome
24. Five Maes
25. Ginger House
26. Ballena Bistro
27. Pura Vida (Cristal Ballena)
28. Villas Leonor
ACTIVITIES
29. Jungle ATV Tours
SERVICES
30. Ópticas del Sol
31. Discount Liquor Wine & Cigars
32. Cortinas Krisa
33. Osa Property Management
34. Iglesia La Costa
35. Ropa Americana Buena Voluntad
36. Uvita Information Center
37. Correo de Uvita
38. Alamo
UVITA
39. Imprenta Brother´s
40. Rincón de Uvita
41. Royal Palm
42. Mora & Valdéz
43. Farmacia Ibarra
44. RVA Engineer Roger Valverde
45. Uvita Law Firm
46. Costatika Language School
47. Centro Llantero
48. Sherwin Williams Costa Ballena
49. Pointing Market & Ballena Tales
DIRECTORY
BUSINESS
PHONE DIRECTORY
POLICE STATIONS
Police Emergencia: 911
Transit : 2537 0631
Dominical: 2787 0406
Uvita: 2743 8538
Ojochal: 2786 5661
Cortés: 2788 8030
HOSPITALS & HEALTH
Hospital Tomás Casas (Cortés): 2786 8148
Hospital Escalante Pradilla (Pérez Zeledón): 2785 0700
Servicios Médicos Bahía-Ballena: 2743 8595
Farmacia Ibarra: 2743 8558
EBAIS: 2743 8170
Ópticas del Sol: 2102 0122
ICE
Information: 1113
International Operator: 1116
Breakdown: 1119
OTHERS
VETERINARIO COSTA BALLENA: 8730 8282
MINAE: 2786 5392
ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLAINTS: 1192
TAXIS
DOMINICAL
Erick 8602 3394
Guiligan 8847 0231
Ricardo (minibús 4x4) 8605 0801
Daniel (pick-up) 8920 2322
UVITA
Alex (freight) 8989 2298
Carlos (freight) 8308 2695
Geovanni (minibús) 8870 6040
Greivin 8791 5680
Hermes (minibús) 8855 3830
Lusbín 8576 7606
Mario 8839 8484
Rodolfo (freight) 5711 6868
.com
8
WW
CONTENT #74
MAP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Content . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Coffee Under Sail: An Alternative Shipping
Option -
Shani Meintjes
. . . . . . . . .
Title Story
Lizeth Quirós
, Ballena Bistro´s Smile
Dagmar Reinhard
. . . . . . . . . . .
4
07
08
09
10
26
04 PacicoSur
4
13
17
18
21
23
MAP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Globalised Digitalized Economy
Chema Medina
. . . . . . . . . . .
Longing to Hear the Humpback´s Song
Susana García
. . . . . . . . . . .
Tiger Ratsnakes – Pufng but not Blufng
Roel de Plecker
. . . . . . . . . .
The Strange Behavior of Teenage Monkey
Jack Ewing
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Taking Refuge in the Tranquil Costa Ballena
Alexandra Luty
. . . . . . . . . . . .
13 PérezZeledón
4
24
27
29
31
33
35
MAP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mareas - Tide Charts . . . . . . . . .
AAA Accounting: Catalog of Goods and
Services –
Mauro Esquivel
. . . . . . .
Aprisco La Hortensia: A Goat Tale
Dagmar Reinhard
. . . . . . . . . .
Why You Should not Surf Alone
Greg Gordon
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Rejuvenation of the Contour of Mouth and
Lips –
Dra. Mónica Alfaro
. . . . . . . .
Sustainable Finance: A New Approach
Pedro Pérez Manrique
. . . . . . . . .
24 Dominical
4
63
64
65
67
71
72
75
77
MAP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Where does your Hardwood come from?. . .
Restaurant List . . . . . . . . . .
The Slow Cooker making Life Easier
Tara Tiedemann
. . . . . . . . . .
Was that a Thunderquake? /
Beth Sylver
. . .
Beaches and Natural Healing / Nyle Seabright
The Legacy of the Banana Company
Dagmar Reinhard
. . . . . . . . .
.The Diquis Stone Spheres – Archeologica Site
Finca 6 /
Carlos M. Barrantes
. . . . . . .
Hello From Beautiful Drake Bay - Sportshing
Capt. Willy Atencio
. . . . . . . . . .
76 OjochalandSurroundings
4
36
39
40
43
45
47
49
51
53
55
57
60
67
MAP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Restaurant List . . . . . . . . . . . . .
And Love Passes through the Stomach
Nicole Voss
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Lizeth Quirós, Ballena Bistro`s Smile
Dagmar Reinhard
. . . . . . . . . . .
Refractive Defects / Ópticas del Sol
Dra. Flora Hernández
. . . . . . . . .
How to Help our Community - Osa Property
Management -
Nick Halverson
. . . . . . .
Miguel, The Herbalist –
Dagmar Reinhard
. . .
ASADA Uvita and Bahía –
Miguel Ríos
. . . .
Ginger is a Wonderful Addition to your Garden
J.S.P
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
What has DAWG been doing –
Susan Strong
Farmacia Ibarra: A Family Legend
Phar. Jeimmy García
. . . . . . . . .
Moisture affects your Construction Costa
Ballena Centro de Pinturas
Julio Fernández Agüero
. . . . . . . .
The Crystal Floor - INNOCEANA
Laura Vanopdenbosch
. . . . . . . .
Was that a Thunderquake? /
Beth Sylver
. . .
42 Uvita
18
60
29 72
9
WW
DAGMAR REINHARD
Editor in Chief
(506) 8914 1568 / 2743 8778
ballenatales@gmail.com
Art & Design
POINTING MARKET
DIGITAL COORDINATOR
CarlosLeón
carlos@ballenatales.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:
AlexandraLuty
BethSylver
Cap.WillyAtencio
CarlosHumbertoMorales
ChemaMedina
DagmarReinhard
Dra.MónicaAlfaro
Dra.FloraHernández
GregGordon
JackEwing
JulioFernándezAgüero
LauraVanopdenbosch
MauroEsquivel
NicoleJoss
RoeldePlecker
ShaniMeintjes
SusanaGarcía
SusanStrong
TaraTiedemann
PHOTOGRAPHY
BallenaTalesPhotography
BethSylver
CarlosHumbertoMorales
GregGordon
JackEwing
NicoleJoss
OsaTropicalProperties
RoeldePlecker
SusanaGarcia
SusanStrong
WeSellParadise
COVER PHOTO:
Ballena Tales Photography
NEXT EDITION/
PRÓXIMA EDICION
Noviembre/November 15, 2020
Cierre/Deadline Octubre 10, 2020
www.ballenatales.com
EDITORIAL
Dearreader
World Tourism Day 2020 will celebrate Rural Development -
September 27
This year’s hosts belong to the Mercosur Bloc, which exemplies the spirit of
international solidarity. And for the rst time, tourism is focused on providing
opportunities outside of the big cities, thus preserving the cultural and natural
heritage. This change in perspective comes at a critical moment, functioning
as a virtual impulse to attract visitors to southern Costa Rica with its unspoiled
landscapes and friendly people.
It will empower rural communities, providing them with jobs and opportunities,
allowing them to care for their cultural heritage and unique traditions while
protecting habitat and endangered species.
Rural communities are often less prepared to deal with the short and medium-
term impacts of a crisis due to lack of opportunities, lower income levels, and the
“digital divide.” Tourist activity offers a solution to all these challenges. Tourism is a
lifeline that allows rural youth to earn a living without traveling within their country
or migrating abroad.
For the rst time - Tourism Day 2020 in the South Pacic of Costa Rica – Puerto
Cortés
In less than six months, the tiny town of Puerto Cortés has reinvented itself
thanks to an incentive from the Chamber of Tourism (CATUOSA). With a titanic
effort, neighbors, business people, and friends collaborated with the Municipality
of Osa, Judesur, the Corcovado Foundation, and the Free of Single-Use Plastic
organization. They created the rst phase of a more signicant project that will
benet rural areas, such as Puerto Cortés, Sierpe, and Puerto Jiménez.
On September 27, Puerto Cortés will inaugurate the Historic Walk to the “El
Embarcadero” Pier. Be sure to follow the event on Facebook.
Costa Rica has positioned itself as a destination that mainly attracts tourists with a
high educational level, stable employment, and economic situation, who value the
country for its nature, human well-being, and the locals’ friendly welcome.
For Ballena Tales, the crisis represents a unique opportunity to make strategic
changes to face a completely different world. We much appreciate our clients and
writers who brilliantly describe what happens in our paradise. They have been with
us, overcoming difculties as they arise, always with their positive contributions
and the conviction to overcome these challenging times together.
We live in a historical moment that offers us the unique opportunity to reinvent
ourselves to be the way we want to be.
Lots of love
How does the delicacy of Costa Rican coffee reach its
international destinations of export? What if that coffee we
know and love is grown sustainably, but once it is shipped, it
has cost the environment in a myriad of ways?
What if there was an alternative for companies who already
practice responsible methods of production to ship their
products without contributing to air pollution, oil spills, or the
release of invasive species through ballast water? Instead,
if you could ship 100% emission-free while simultaneously
supporting communities through education, tree-planting,
and income opportunities, only by choosing an alternative
transport option.
In Punta Morales, a tiny village on the Pacic Coast, nestled
amidst vibrant mangroves lining the edge of the Gulf of
Nicoya, a 45m wooden ship is being built to meet exactly that
requirement. You may have already heard of Ceiba, a cargo
schooner destined to change the way we recognize modern
shipping by being the nal missing link in otherwise already
sustainable supply chains.
She will have 250 tonnes of carrying capacity to freight
sustainably-sourced goods to Hawai’i, Canada, and mainland
USA, before sailing home southwards, making a stop in
Mexico en route. Also, due to available days outside of the
biannual PAX route, there are proposed extensions: the Gold
Lines could take Ceiba as far north as Alaska and as far south
as Peru to fully use those extra days. The cargo team is hard
at work, making all the necessary preparations.
Meanwhile, the build of the 3-masted tall-ship is on the
eve of the next phase of construction: Framing hands
gradually over to deck-beam construction and planking.
The sternpost has been hoisted, the deadwood is
complete, and the last frames are waiting, eager to be
raised. Over a year of structural framing is coming to
a close, giving way to planking the hull with primarily
Cedro Amargo (Cedrela odorata) timbers.
August brought a second wave of rain, the almost
exponential growth of vegetables in the new Huerta,
and the successful closure of this year’s tree-planting
program - TREES for SEAS. Astillero Verde harvests the
rst lettuce and cucumbers, and the planting of various
fruiting tree species continues alongside the evolution
of Ceiba.
Designed with ecological intention, the company behind
the agship of Costa Rica - SAILCARGO INC. - aims
to not only build ships and sail cargo but inuence the
surrounding community at home and each port of call
positively. It is providing educational courses in fading
traditional skills, employment in areas that have limited
opportunities, and regenerating degraded land through
practicing agroforestry and supporting producers who
also believe in doing business responsibly.
The result is an interconnected, increasingly self-
sufcient community composed of a diverse group of
people from all corners of the globe, working together
with the same objective: bringing shipping back to
people. Diversifying a crucial industry, connecting
many small-scale, ethical producers with conscious
consumers, all through several emission-free shipping
lines - creating a robust and resilient trade network.
‘COFFEE UNDER SAIL: AN ALTERNATIVE
SHIPPING OPTION’
AUTHOR: SHANI MEINTJES
INITIATIVE - COSTA BALLENA Y ALREDEDORES
11
One should be very attentive to the reunion of
the Economic World Forum in Davos, Switzerland,
in January of 2021, where the economy’s future
and globalized humanity would presumably be
determined.
A solution for the “globalists” and apparently
part of their agenda, is the implementation of a
society managed by Articial Intelligence and
industrialized by robotics, resulting in the vanishing
of the middle and working-class. It would also give
more of a possibility for sustainable development,
where consumerism, as a signicant factor in the
economy, would be restricted only to an elite.
This way, there would be no need to require
programmed obsolescence, therefore minimizing
the abuse of natural resources and its consequent
pollution. That economy would be digitalized with
cryptocurrency.
This ‘pandemic’ is very ‘convenient’ to take a
determining step towards the implementation of
this plan. The proper technology is already here,
so it is just a question of globalizing it.
There would always be the question of what
would happen to the middle and working classes,
the majority of the population. Perhaps here is
where depopulation would be justied. It would
seem to be a science-ction story if it weren’t
already living it.
Indeed, I feel so much for the naive that still believes
that things would go back to ‘normal.’ They don’t
realize that we have reached a critical point in
human history and that there are many effects from
so many causes that will be dened in our planet,
inclusive in humanity.
But there is still a chance to give a turn to this
possible destiny. Primarily, parting from this critical
situation, a brief period of ‘tipping points’ will be
established, implying that causes and their effects
would be transcended, and a singularity principle
presented.
This entails that we know nothing of what could
happen, nor the consequences of this entropy that
we are living. The only thing is that we must be
attentive, avoid the trivial, and be ready to implement
practices towards a new paradigm.
GLOBALISED DIGITALIZED ECONOMY WITH
CRITPTO-CURRENCY
AUTHOR: CHEMA MEDINA
+(506) 8387 8229
INITIATIVE - COSTA BALLENA Y ALREDEDORES
13
We attract the same situation into our lives over
and over again. Recognizing and accepting it will
take us to a new place in consciousness.
From this new space, we can manifest our future
without recreating our past. However, as poetic as
it sounds, how do we ensure that the path is clear
of obstacles?
The family tree is a living being that houses the
entire family system’s information, just as we host
the information on this whole system. This is why
we often see ourselves repeating situations or
patterns of overwhelming behavior.
What are Family Constellations?
The goal of the constellations family is awakening
our potential and nd treasures within ourselves.
To achieve this, we must put an order in our
relationships and family ties. Our system is always
in search of balance and at the service of the
natural order.
How do Family Constellations work?
According to Bert Hellinger, known as the father of
this therapy, each constellation movement is based
on the “orders of love”: belonging, the hierarchical
order of birth, and the balance between giving
and receiving. When we respect these orders and
give them their place in our family, we will also
allow harmony to ow in our lives.
Thus, the enigma solution is always love, work,
and the path itself is progressive. Compassion with
ourselves is the only requirement to start ordering
our relations. The most signicant inuence on us
on a psychic level is that of dad and mother. They
represent abundance and the force with which we
attract energy to our life.
I do my work through cards representing the universal
archetypes of the human psyche. They encompass
both the process of Family constellations, and much
of what I learned on my spiritual path.
THE SOLUTION TO THE ENIGMA IS LOVE
FAMILY CONSTELLATIONS
AUTHOR: MICHELLE MACLUF VARGAS
+(506) 8695 6663
BODY MIND SOUL - COSTA BALLENA Y ALREDEDORES
15
In 2010, I began with the rst marine environmental education
courses at the Flor de Bahía School, with the collaboration of
volunteers and students, as well as some tourism companies
in Costa Ballena. In the following year,
I guided tourists at Finca Tres Hermanas, to observe birds and
offer nature walks.
Years later, these educational programs have allowed Bahia
boys to have their rst contact with marine and underwater
fauna, so much so that some of them today, ten years later,
have become naturalist tour guides.
Later came the years of the project Protect the Animals of
the Costanera Sur (PRASCOSUR), which monitored 42 km
of road for a year, from Hacienda Barú to the Manglar de
Térraba Sierpe (Punta Mala) in which they collaborated with
numerous institutions such as the Tortuga Beach Reserve.
We were able to demonstrate the Hacienda Barú wildlife
underpasses’ efciency, and we promoted awareness of this
problem, such as the electrocution of wildlife on electrical
cables. We rescued monkeys, coatis, sloths, limpets, turtles,
and many anteaters were sent to the best-prepared rescue
centers to receive them.
ICE insulated cables and poles in high-trafc areas for monkey
species, reducing electrocution accidents. Later, trafc signs
were installed to indicate the passage of wildlife.
It was a pleasure to carry out the non-formal education
program Forjando Alas, in Uvita, where many children from
the community received their rst fundamentals in English,
art, ecology, citizenship, resilience, and prevention of risk
situations.
They did know how to enjoy birds and nature! Many of
those boys and girls, now teenagers, surely remember the
excursions on horseback, boat, waterfalls, or even to the
wildlife rescue centers where the animals run over on the
road would stop.
After the Huén Tebec biological station’s closure, I took on
the challenge of promoting sustainability and avitourism at
the Hotel Cristal Ballena, where I was very grateful to work
for its founder and bird lover, Don Waldemar Steiner.
An unexpected turn in the footsteps of a famous
ornithologist placed me in Pérez Zeledón. From this place,
I continued working in bird tourism: guiding, organizing
groups and events, or as an Ornithology and Ecotourism
instructor for different organizations such as the Neotrópica
Foundation, the Costa Rican Ornithological Association,
Uvita Tropical Studies Institute, as well as associations
of the Alexander Biological Corridors. Skutch, Paso de la
Danta, and Río Cañas.
I am proud to have provided an environmental management
plan for the La FINCA Training and Recreation Center,
a Municipality project of Pérez Zeledón, thanks to its
Environmental Promotion and Disclosure ofce. More than
ten years have passed since I settled in this paradise that
is the South Pacic of Costa Rica, and it is time to return
to my Castilian-Leon roots, where birds are different, but
also beautiful.
I will always be longing to hear the call of the toucan again,
the roar of the waves and the Congos of Playa Ballena,
and under its waters, the humpbacks’ songs.
Pura vida, Costa Rica!
LONGING TO HEAR THE HUMPBACK`S SONG
AUTHOR: SUSANA GARCÍA
ENVIRONMENT - COSTA BALLENA Y ALREDEDORES
17
CULTURE -
+(506) 2787 0343
TIGER RATSNAKES:
PUFFING BUT NOT BLUFFING
Fast and agile are the two words for describing the beautiful
tiger rat snakes (Spilotes pullatus). This name refers to their
distinctive black and yellow tiger-like pattern. Although some
adult individuals are almost entirely black, others from dry
forests, are seemingly more yellow, this to blend in more to
their environment.
They have a wide distribution, from southern Mexico to
Argentina, in Costa Rica on the Caribbean versant and the
Pacic side. They are sometimes seen in gardens, in lowland
rainforests, lowland dry forests, forest edges, in savannas,
even in swamps or simply crossing roads, and when disturbed,
they move at high speed showing only a glimpse of them. But
once in a while, you can observe them basking in the morning
sunlight hanging out on branches and the treetops.
These diurnal species like to chase their prey, this being mostly
mammals but also lizards, birds, and bats are on its menu. They
are a non-venomous species. Instead of constricting its prey,
they mainly crush it to death by pushing it against rocks or
branches. Sometimes, they swallow their prey alive, head rst,
and grab them with their powerful bites. Like most snakes,
they will rather ee when disturbed.
When cornered, these animals become impressive opponents!
First of all, they will inate their throats and front part of their
body, exposing the black skin between the scales, which
makes the dark body markings even bigger caused by lateral
compression of the body.
ENVIRONMENT - PÉREZ ZELEDÓN Y ALREDEDORES
18
TIGER RATSNAKES:
PUFFING BUT NOT BLUFFING
AUTHOR: ROEL DE PLECKER
They will move their tongue slowly in and out of their mouth
while vibrating their tail strongly. If this doesn’t help back
you off, they will puff themselves more up, lift their front
body from the ground (or branch), and repeatedly strike.
Some individuals reach a length of 2.5 meters. Another
species from South America, the Amazon pufng snake
(Spilotes sulphureus) can even reach a length close to 3
meters. Both snake species are oviparous, meaning they
lay eggs. Clutches can have up to 10 eggs laid in the
dry season and the young hatch at the start of the rainy
season. Hatchlings have a more banded pattern, and this
fades when they get older. Neonates of tiger rat snakes
measure approximately 50 cm in total length.
The Amazon pufng snakes have a more yellowish to
creamy coloration. The lower part of the body and tail are
greyish brown like their name reveals they have the same
impressive defensive display as our native pufng tiger rat
snakes.
Interestingly, a study showed that the species from
South America does have a venom gland and enlarged
teeth at the back of its mouth, proving this snake being
a rear-fanged species. This adaptation allows the animal
to kill and consume larger prey. You can admire both of
these species at Parque Reptilandia in totally remodeled
enclosures!
19
ENVIRONMENT - PÉREZ ZELEDÓN Y ALREDEDORES
-
Leave the city without
leaving your social bubble ...
Book Now!
I once saw a show on the Discovery Channel about a
game reserve in South Africa where poachers had killed
all of the mature bull elephants.
A group of adolescent bulls was wreaking havoc,
harassing, and attacking other animals in the park. They
were much like a teenage gang. Finally, the reserve
owners brought in some older bulls from another reserve,
and the young elephants settled down. When I think
about a strange experience, I once had with a group of
young White-fronted Capuchin Monkeys this situation
comes to mind.
They looked like a bunch of teenagers goong around,
teasing each other and just hanging out. There were six
of them altogether. Most were up in the trees relaxing
on branches with arms and legs dangling over the sides,
or sitting, munching on something. A couple of them
would occasionally go to the ground, venture out a few
meters from the tree’s base, and quickly scamper back
up. None of the monkeys were very large-bodied. From
their demeanor, I imagined that they were a group of
adolescents off by themselves, temporarily separated
from the adults in the main troop. I had never seen or
heard of a similar case before.
Something got their attention. Leisure activity ceased,
and all looked in the same direction. A big sow raccoon
with two small cubs in tow came into view after a minute,
snifng around and scratching in the leaf litter on the
forest oor.
The monkeys watched them for a minute, chattered
among themselves, descended to the ground,
gathered at the base of a giant strangler g, and again
appeared to be in some sort of discussion.
They lined up, side by side, standing upright.
Somewhat hesitantly, this wall of primates moved
toward the mother raccoon. At rst, she ignored them,
but at some point, the monkeys crossed an invisible
red line, and the big sow’s behavior changed from
measured disinterest to full attention.
Still not alarmed, she checked to make sure that the
cubs were behind her, turned to face the monkeys’
line, raised slightly on her haunches, bared her teeth,
and hissed at them. I could almost imagine her saying
to them: “You want to try it, boys? Come right ahead!
Who’s rst?”
But none stepped forward. The whole gang of
monkeys turned tail, ran for the g tree, scufed for a
position, and ascended to the crown. Once safe from
the mother raccoon, they seemed to lose interest in
her, like a person trying to forget an embarrassing
incident and pretending it never happened.
The monkeys returned to their vagrant behavior, and
mama continued about her business with her cubs at
her side.
None of us at Hacienda Barú has witnessed another
incident similar to this one. Mother Nature is constantly
coming up with surprises.
THE STRANGE BEHAVIOR OF
A GANG OF TEENAGE MONKEYS
AUTHOR: JACK EWING
ANIMAL - PÉREZ ZELEDÓN Y ALREDEDORES
21
TAKING REFUGE IN THE TRANQUIL COSTA BALLENA
AUTHOR: KEVIN CHAMPAGNE
Many changes are taking place in our world today. Those
of us who have the drive to make the most of our lives
are thinking about where and how we want to spend our
hard-earned time. Though borders are temporarily highly
restricted to tourism in Costa Rica, our ofce has received
many calls and emails from people who want to prepare
to move here as soon as they are free to travel.
Each day, we eld calls from people worldwide, wondering
if they can make their lives work for them in South Pacic
Costa Rica. Questions come up like: Is the internet fast
enough? Where can families send their kids to school?
How do investors go about using an IRA to purchase? We
cover these topics and many more with those who want
to take a chance and try something new, somewhere that
few people have yet to nd and is full of vibrant life. The
answers we offer can mean the difference between them
making the decision of a lifetime or not.
Our tranquil yet robust Costa Ballena communities cover
the many essentials needed for everyday life. Anything
you want to accomplish can be done in an environment
that will have you feeling energized and enthralled.
You don’t have to wait for the holidays to have exciting
experiences amid the wonders of nature. Wellness is a
prominent part of our daily lives, whether it be bathing
in natural mineral waters, scrubbing down with locally
sourced blue clay, or eating organic chocolate grown and
made in our neighborhood. Life in the South Pacic is
naturally infused with delightful scents and sensations.
Most people who come to Costa Rica ock to the
developed coastal regions on the North Pacic coast.
But those who venture south never look back on those
barren lands that pale compared to the verdant green
and wild landscape of our coastal mountains. Although
this region is named for the iconic marine life that
visits annually, this land’s most notable distinguishing
feature is the pristine and rugged environment that
draws us in as though we have nally come home.
Colorful life greets us at every twist and turn of our dirt
road communities, which are also home to humans’
diverse population. Techies, artisans, and retirees
alike, among many others, have chosen to make
this amazing place their home, and we are proud to
welcome them, knowing that each new addition only
adds to the avor of this heavenly space.
Those who want to change what people here have
grown to love — the slow, tranquil pace and the
favoring of nature — will nd an immense pushback
from a population who do not want to see progress at
the cost of paradise. Instead, we prefer to tend to our
garden with a gentle hand, leaving room for nature to
take its course. We’re just here, going along for the
wild and enjoyable ride.
+(506) 2786-5500
REAL ESTATE - COSTA BALLENA
23
DIA / DAY BAJA / LOW ALTA / HIGH BAJA / LOW ALTA / HIGH
TUE 15 00:40 / 7.72 ft 06:40 / 1.39 ft 12:59 / 8.29 ft 19:09 / 0.71 ft
WED 16 01:29 / 8.52 ft 07:33 / 0.62 ft 13:50 / 8.91 ft 19:57 / 0.05 ft
THU 17 02:16 / 9.31 ft 08:22 / -0.13 ft 14:37 / 9.47 ft 20:42 / -0.53 ft
FRI 18 03:01 / 9.99 ft 09:09 / -0.73 ft 15:23 / 9.87 ft 21:27 / -0.93 ft
SAT 19 03:46 / 10.45 ft 09:55 / -1.11 ft 16:09 / 10.04 ft 22:12 / -1.09 ft
SUN 20 04:31 / 10.64 ft 10:41 / -1.20 ft 16:55 / 9.95 ft 22:58 / -0.97 ft
MON 21 05:17 / 10.52 ft 11:29 / -1.00 ft 17:44 / 9.61 ft 23:45 / -0.58 ft
TUE 22 06:06 / 10.11 ft 12:19 / -0.55 ft 18:35 / 9.07 ft
WED 23 00:35 / 0.03 ft 06:58 / 9.49 ft 13:13 / 0.07 ft 19:31 / 8.43 ft
THU 24 01:31 / 0.74 ft 07:56 / 8.77 ft 14:13 / 0.72 ft 20:35 / 7.83 ft
FRI 25 02:35 / 1.42 ft 09:02 / 8.13 ft 15:21 / 1.25 ft 21:48 / 7.46 ft
SAT 26 03:50 / 1.87 ft 10:15 / 7.72 ft 16:36 / 1.49 ft 23:02 / 7.41 ft
SUN 27 05:09 / 1.96 ft 11:27 / 7.63 ft 17:47 / 1.44 ft
MON 28 00:08 / 7.65 ft 06:18 / 1.75 ft 12:30 / 7.78 ft 18:46 / 1.21 ft
TUE 29 01:03 / 8.01 ft 07:13 / 1.40 ft 13:22 / 8.03 ft 19:33 / 0.94 ft
WED 30 01:48 / 8.39 ft 07:58 / 1.02 ft 14:06 / 8.29 ft 20:13 / 0.70 ft
FULL MOON FIRST QUARTER LAST QUARTERNEW MOON
MAREAS - TIDES
SEPTIEMBRE / SEPTEMBER 15-30, 2020
FASES LUNARES / MOON PHASES
RESTAURANTS
Smoothies-Cakes
Coffee-IceCoffee
Take-Away
11 AM - 10 PM CALLE SESAMO - 50
Seafood, meat, pasta y snacks
To Go y Express.
11am - 9pm. Tuesday Closed
DOMINICALITOBEACH,NEXTTOTHECOASTAL
HIGHWAY(BEFORESODALAMACHA)
NUEVO
2101 4431
2787 0347
MAP
DOMINICAL Y ALREDEDORES
24
DIA / DAY BAJA / LOW ALTA / HIGH
THU 1 02:28 / 8.71 ft 08:37 / 0.69 ft 14:45 / 8.50 ft 20:48 / 0.51 ft
FRI 2 03:04 / 8.96 ft 09:11 / 0.43 ft 15:21 / 8.62 ft 21:22 / 0.41 ft
SAT 3 03:37 / 9.10 ft 09:45 / 0.27 ft 15:56 / 8.64 ft 21:54 / 0.42 ft
SUN 4 04:10 / 9.12 ft 10:18 / 0.23 ft 16:30 / 8.53 ft 22:26 / 0.55 ft
MON 5 04:43 / 9.01 ft 10:51 / 0.32 ft 17:05 / 8.30 ft 22:59 / 0.79 ft
TUE 6 05:17 / 8.78 ft 11:26 / 0.54 ft 17:41 / 7.97 ft 23:34 / 1.12 ft
WED 7 05:52 / 8.44 ft 12:03 / 0.86 ft 18:19 / 7.58 ft
THU 8 00:11 / 1.50 ft 06:30 / 8.04 ft
12:44 / 1.23 ft 19:02 / 7.19 ft
FRI 9 00:54 / 1.89 ft 07:14 / 7.63 ft
13:31 / 1.60 ft 19:52 / 6.88 ft
SAT 10 01:45 / 2.22 ft 08:09 / 7.27 ft
14:26 / 1.88 ft 20:54 / 6.74 ft
SUN 11 02:48 / 2.39 ft 09:15 / 7.09 ft 15:31 / 1.96 ft 22:03 / 6.89 ft
MON 12 04:01 / 2.27 ft 10:27 / 7.20 ft 16:39 / 1.75 ft 23:09 / 7.37 ft
TUE 13 05:12 / 1.80 ft 11:34 / 7.61 ft 17:41 / 1.28 ft
WED 14 00:07 / 8.08 ft 06:14 / 1.09 ft 12:32 / 8.21 ft 18:37 / 0.65 ft
THU 15 00:59 / 8.89 ft 07:08 / 0.28 ft 13:24 / 8.86 ft 19:27 / 0.00 ft
FRI 16 01:47 / 9.68 ft 07:58 / -0.48 ft 14:13 / 9.44 ft 20:15 / -0.56 ft
SAT 17 02:34 / 10.32 ft 08:46 / -1.06 ft 15:00 / 9.85 ft 21:02 / -0.92 ft
SUN 18 03:20 / 10.71 ft 09:33 / -1.39 ft 15:47 / 10.03 ft 21:48 / -1.03 ft
MON 19 04:07 / 10.79 ft 10:20 / -1.41 ft 16:35 / 9.94 ft
22:36 / -0.85 ft
TUE 20 04:54 / 10.55 ft 11:08 / -1.14 ft 17:24 / 9.61 ft
23:25 / -0.41 ft
WED 21 05:44 / 10.03 ft 11:58 / -0.63 ft 18:16 / 9.09 ft
THU 22 00:16 / 0.23 ft 06:37 / 9.32 ft
12:51 / 0.04 ft 19:13 / 8.49 ft
FRI 23 01:14 / 0.94 ft 07:35 / 8.55 ft
13:51 / 0.73 ft 20:17 / 7.94 ft
SAT 24 02:19 / 1.58 ft 08:41 / 7.87 ft 14:57 / 1.29 ft 21:27 / 7.60 ft
SUN 25 03:34 / 1.98 ft 09:53 / 7.45 ft 16:09 / 1.59 ft 22:38 / 7.55 ft
MON 26 04:50 / 2.03 ft 11:03 / 7.33 ft 17:17 / 1.63 ft 23:41 / 7.73 ft
TUE 27
05:56 / 1.81 ft
12:05 / 7.45 ft 18:14 / 1.50 ft
WED 28
00:34 / 8.02 ft 06:49 / 1.47 ft
12:56 / 7.68 ft 19:01 / 1.30 ft
THU 29
01:18 / 8.34 ft 07:32 / 1.11 ft
13:39 / 7.94 ft 19:41 / 1.09 ft
FRI 30
01:56 / 8.64 ft 08:09 / 0.77 ft
14:18 / 8.17 ft 20:16 / 0.92 ft
SAT 31
02:32 / 8.88 ft 08:43 / 0.48 ft
14:54 / 8.34 ft 20:50 / 0.80 ft
FULL MOON FIRST QUARTER LAST QUARTERNEW MOON
FASES LUNARES / MOON PHASES
MAREAS - TIDES
OCTUBRE/ OCTOBER 1-31, 2020
MAP
DOMINICAL Y ALREDEDORES
25
DIA / DAY BAJA / LOW ALTA / HIGH BAJA / LOW ALTA / HIGH
SUN 1 03:05 / 9.04 ft 09:17 / 0.28 ft 15:30 / 8.42 ft 21:24 / 0.77 ft
MON 2 03:39 / 9.09 ft 09:50 / 0.19 ft 16:05 / 8.40 ft 21:57 / 0.83 ft
TUE 3 04:13 / 9.02 ft 10:25 / 0.24 ft 16:40 / 8.26 ft 22:32 / 0.99 ft
WED 4 04:48 / 8.83 ft 11:00 / 0.41 ft 17:17 / 8.04 ft 23:08 / 1.23 ft
THU 5 05:24 / 8.54 ft 11:38 / 0.67 ft 17:56 / 7.78 ft 23:48 / 1.51 ft
FRI 6 06:04 / 8.17 ft 12:18 / 1.00 ft 18:39 / 7.52 ft
SAT 7 00:32 / 1.79 ft 06:49 / 7.79 ft 13:04 / 1.32 ft 19:28 / 7.33 ft
SUN 8 01:25 / 2.02 ft 07:43 / 7.45 ft 13:57 / 1.57 ft 20:26 / 7.29 ft
MON 9 02:26 / 2.11 ft 08:47 / 7.26 ft 14:57 / 1.67 ft 21:30 / 7.46 ft
TUE 10 03:36 / 1.96 ft 09:56 / 7.31 ft 16:02 / 1.55 ft 22:34 / 7.88 ft
WED 11 04:44 / 1.53 ft 11:03 / 7.63 ft 17:05 / 1.21 ft 23:34 / 8.50 ft
THU 12 05:47 / 0.90 ft 12:03 / 8.13 ft 18:04 / 0.71 ft
FRI 13 00:29 / 9.19 ft 06:43 / 0.19 ft 12:58 / 8.70 ft 18:58 / 0.18 ft
SAT 14 01:20 / 9.85 ft 07:35 / -0.47 ft 13:50 / 9.23 ft 19:49 / -0.27 ft
FULL MOON FIRST QUARTER LAST QUARTERNEW MOON
FASES LUNARES / MOON PHASES
NOVIEMBRE / NOVEMBER 1-14, 2020
MAREAS - TIDES
MAP
DOMINICAL Y ALREDEDORES
26
The Tax Control department as detailed in the document
called “Annexes and Structures V 4.3” of the electronic
receipts dated March 22, 2019, indicates that as of December
1, 2020, the Catalog of Goods and Services (Cabys) are
mandatory for all taxpayers who carry out transactions in the
national territory.
WhatisCabys?
It is an ofcial list of codes for mandatory use in electronic
receipts to standardize the details of the goods and services
traded.
The goods and services in this Catalog are identied with a
unique code of up to 13 digits, allowing their individualization,
starting from 10 general categories, expanding to more than
20,000 products.
Catalogstructure
Cabys groups goods and services into hierarchical categories
and assigns a code to each one: it starts with ten general
categories, expanding to more than 20,000 products. The
code of the general categories is made up of 1 digit, the
following by 2 digits, and so on until reaching products
identied by 13 digits.
The rst ve categories, except for clothing, drugs and
health interventions, respond to the international classier
called Central Product Classication (CPC) published by
the United Nations (UN), with the support of international
organizations such as Eurostat and the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The CPC
maintains a correspondence with the International Standard
Industrial Classication of all economic activities (ISIC) and
the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System,
based on the Central American Tariff System (SAC).
How were the codes for the CABYS openings created?
-Through international classiers.
-Lists of goods with differentiated tax.
-List of medicines from the Ministry of Health.
-Export and import amounts.
-BCCR economic indicators.
-Work sessions with experts.
On this site you can also access:
• Guide using the web browser.
• Frequent questions.
• Means of contact for additional questions.
• Lists of goods and services that have a reduced rate of
the Value Added Tax.
HowwillCABYSbenet?
• Identify goods and services with differentiated taxes.
• Facilitate inventory control.
• Basis for the development of facilities for taxpayers.
• Consistency of the information declared by taxpayers.
• Group goods and services into categories that facilitate
traceability.
• Exercise more control over commercial transactions.
Our next article will show you how to validate the coding
of services and goods in CABYS.
WherecanIndtheCatalog?
This Catalog can be consulted through any web browser
and downloaded from the BCCR website through the
following link:
CATALOG OF GOODS AND
SERVICES (CABYS)
AUTHOR: MAURO ESQUIVEL
PROFESSIONAL ADVICE - DOMINICAL Y ALREDEDORES
27
THURSDAY
Feria de San Isidro
SPICY CARROT DIP • KEFIR • HERB CHEESE
YOGURT WITH PITAHAYA
Each Friday: Deliveries
Dominical – Uvita – Ojochal
At the farm of Mrs. Gina Morales and family, at the top of the
coastal range in the small village of Mollejones de Platanares,
we met six of the 60 recognized breeds of goats in the world.
The Morales keep the Saanen, Alpine, Nubian, American Spot,
Toggenburg, and Boer dairy breeds. To distinguish them, look
at the color of the body and face, extremities, the size and
inclination of the ears, the coat, and horns.
During the year’s driest season, the goats live in a kind of
hotel with several bedrooms and areas where the little ones
can play, and the adults practice their jumps and rub their
horns. They eat grass all day, and a delicacy for them is green
bananas; it shows they are happy. Their owners have named
almost all of them and emphasize that the goats are only for
milk production. There is a separate milking area, which is
very clean and well ventilated.
Mrs. Morales obtained her degree in Cheese and Yogurt
with INA (National Learning Institute: “I feel the passion for
developing a new product.” Everyone in the family collaborates
with the care of the animals. They descend twice a week
from the mountain to sell their merchandise: exquisite fresh
and mature cheese, cream cheese with spices, and milk, and
yogurt. On Thursday, Daniela is always present at the Feria in
San Isidro, and delivery day along the Coastal Highway from
Dominical – Uvita – Ojochal is Friday.
Mrs. Gina tells us about the benets of goat’s milk: It has a lower
casein content and is hypo-allergenic milk. When it reaches the large
intestine, it helps in the development of the probiotic ora. Thanks
to its high content of essential fatty acids, it can decrease
the total cholesterol and triglycerides levels, reduce elevated
transaminases (GOT and GPT), and prevent cardiovascular
diseases.
It is a good quality protein because it provides practically
all the variety of essential amino acids to our body (3.3
grams per 100 grams of milk).
It is an excellent source of vitamin D and calcium and
is ideal for people with anemia and osteoporosis since
vitamin D is necessary to absorb calcium properly. On
the other hand, goat milk can regenerate hemoglobin
(in the case of anemia). It also provides reasonable
amounts of vitamin A, B2, and minerals such as calcium,
potassium, and magnesium.
The fat content is a bit higher than in cow’s milk; however,
thanks to its high amount of coenzyme Q, anti-cancer
properties are attributed.
Indulge in these healthy specialties!
APRISCO LA HORTENSIA - A GOAT TALE
AUTHOR: DAGMAR REINHARD
HEALTH - DOMINICAL Y ALREDEDORES
29
In almost 25 years of surng in Costa Rica I have had many
solo surf sessions. In fact, one of my favorite things to do is to
stay out in the lineup until after the sun has set and everyone
else had paddled in. I can see the sets glimmering by the light
of the moon and keep my bearing using the bonres on the
beach. But I’ve always known that surng by myself is a big
mistake.
My rst lesson took place all the way back in October of 1998.
I was taking Spanish classes by the beach in Dominical and
waking up at dawn to catch some waves before breakfast.
Back during this time in my life I was also smoking cigarettes
so my underwater breathing skills were not at their peak.
I paddled out by myself on a big day super early and quickly
was pulled out by the rip. The sets were coming in packs of 8
with only a few minutes between them. The waves were 2-3
feet overhead with some double overhead monsters.
I was sitting way outside so I would not be caught on the
inside, but I went to paddle for the rst wave of the set and
missed it. (This is called the ‘bait wave’ for a reason). The
next waves were even bigger and each duck dive was more
difcult as I was running out of energy.
Of course the biggest, nastiest looking wave of the day
appeared and It was going to break right on my head. I did
not have the strength to get under it so I ditched my board
and swam for the bottom to grab sand.
The explosion of the lip cracked my board in two pieces,
but somehow my leash did not break. I was dragged
underwater for about 15 seconds and right when I was
swimming to the surface I saw another set wave about
to crash on me.
That tossed and tumbled me forever, to the point I
wasn’t sure where the bottom or the surface was. I was
exhausted, but luckily the set passed and I was able to
use the back half of the surfboard to ride to the beach. I
crawled up the sand like a sea turtle and laid there until
I felt the sun burning my skin. After all of that time, I
didn’t see one person on the beach. I could have easily
drowned.
This was well before the lifeguard program had started
in Dominical. Luckily, now on almost every day of the
year there are lifeguards on duty there and in Playa
Hermosa. They have saved hundreds of lives and I’m
always grateful that they are keeping an eye on us
surfers. If you want to support them, visit the website -
http://www.lifeguardscostaballena.com/
WHY YOU SHOULD NOT SURF
ALONE
Octoberof1998.
AUTHOR: GREG GORDON
SPORTS - DOMINICAL Y ALREDEDORES
31
Chronic conditions
Hypertension
Diabetes
EKG
Skin check
Bloodwork
PAP Smear
Minor surgery
Spider vein sclerotherapy
Botulinum toxin
Dermal fillers
Fat grafting
Plasmage non surgical
eye lid rejuvenation
Micro needling - Dermapen
PRP - Patlelet rich plasma
Chemical Peels
Fractional Dermabrasion
PROVIDING YOU WITH THE QUALITY
HEALTHCARE YOU ARE LOOKING FOR
General Practice
Medical Aesthetics
Dra. Monica Alfaro
Hotel Cuna del Angel
dralfaro@bahiaballenadoctors.com
+(506)88336431
Chronic conditions
Hypertension
Diabetes
EKG
Skin check
Bloodwork
PAP Smear
Minor surgery
Spider vein sclerotherapy
Botulinum toxin
Dermal fillers
Fat grafting
Plasmage non surgical
eye lid rejuvenation
Micro needling - Dermapen
PRP - Patlelet rich plasma
Chemical Peels
Fractional Dermabrasion
PROVIDING YOU WITH THE QUALITY
HEALTHCARE YOU ARE LOOKING FOR
General Practice
Medical Aesthetics
Dra. Monica Alfaro
Hotel Cuna del Angel
dralfaro@bahiaballenadoctors.com
Voluminous lips are traditionally a sign of youth and
beauty. The characteristics of the lips change with age. They
lose volume, but usually, maintain the proportion with the
lower lip being larger. The part of the skin over the upper
lip becomes longer. General aging, sun exposure, smoking,
the consumption of liquids directly from the bottle, and bone
resorption at the jaw level produce changes in the face’s
appearance, which affects the way the lips are appreciated.
As a result, the lips thin, the cupid’s bow is at, the corners
of the mouth curve downwards, marking the beginning of
the puppet lines, and wrinkles are found around the mouth’s
contour.
There are different treatment options to combat aging around
the mouth and lips. These include rejuvenating the area with
botulinum toxin type A, implants, dermal llers, microneedles,
Plasmage, fat injection, and platelet-rich plasma.
The use of different techniques is an art. There is not a single
indication for all patients. A natural appearance results from
a delicate balance obtained only with the proper knowledge,
experience, and detail when applying the treatment.
It is necessary to listen to the patient with particular attention
to what they want to improve. Sometimes they request a
product that another person has applied without necessarily
being indicated in their case. Most patients go to the doctor
already with information about the treatment or product
they want, although not always with a clear understanding.
Botulinum toxin type A, for example, will help to relax
the muscles so that wrinkles from the smoker’s barcode
or lips are not produced or disguised, smoothing out
marionette lines. Hyaluronic acid llers can minimize
whole area wrinkles, smoker lip wrinkles, marionette
lines or nasolabial folds, plump the lips, and slightly lift
the mouth’s angle.
There are several types of dermal llers available on the
market. The most appropriate are those that produce a
temporary effect.
The most recommended for this area are hyaluronic
acid and the patient’s fat. How llers work varies, some
have molecules that attract water to the injected area
and produce signicant hydration; others stimulate the
body to produce Collagen.
The duration of the effect of these temporary llers
varies between 4 months to 12 months. Selecting the
most appropriate product with your doctor will give you
peace of mind during the process.
Other treatments that also give good results in the
rejuvenation of the lip contour are fractional dermabrasion
or radiofrequency, microneedles, the use of plasma or
Plasmage energy, or PDO threads. All of these stimulate
the production of Collagen and rejuvenate the skin.
REJUVENATION OF
THE CONTOUR OF
MOUTH AND LIPS
AUTHOR: DRA. MÓNICA ALFARO E.
WELLNESS - DOMINICAL Y ALREDEDORES
33
Today, faced with the environmental challenge, the interests
of citizens, consumers, businesses, and Finance seem to be
aligning in an unprecedented way.
¿Can Finance be an ally of sustainable development?
Despite being associated by denition, with short-term
bank loans while sustainable development issues are being
addressed, there are now many signs pointing to an evolution
in the nancial sector from a longer-term perspective.
This sector has not given up on prots. Still, now the “Financial
Stakeholders” recognize that companies that put sustainable
problems at the center of their business models tend to be
healthier economically since companies that act responsibly
and guarantee good practices minimize risks.
These statements can be summarized as:
1- Ecological regulations are adding conditions to the
license of industries to operate. States and governments are
increasingly refusing to take control of the adverse effects of
industrial activity.
2- Companies committed to supplying sustainable products
and solutions, which are also produced responsibly, improve
their competitiveness, generate more prots, and create long-
term value. For example, when we invest in new generation
green plants, we reduce the volume of raw materials used
and improve productivity.
3- The third aspect highlights a change in the current
labor market. Future generations reject employers
who have not embraced the green imperative as their
primary concern. The message is simple: “If you deprive
us of our environmental capital, we deprive you of your
human capital.”
These are aspects of great importance when addressing
the sustainability of our production systems; our values
cannot be left at home when we go to work every
morning. This ctitious separation between personal
and professional life must be a thing of the past.
In this way, the interest of Finance in supporting
sustainable transition companies is growing. In this
way, the nancial sector can become a crucial ally in
the radical ecological transformation that we must all
implement to face these novel challenges.
SUSTAINABLE FINANCE:
A NEW APPROACH
AUTHOR: PEDRO PÉREZ MANRIQUE
INITIATIVE - DOMINICAL Y ALREDEDORES
35
RESTAURANTES UVITA - BAHÍA
MediterraneanRestaurant
BarandBoutique
Great Food • Great Friends • Great Fun
Monday - Friday - 12 - 9 pm
Saturday & Sunday - 12- 7 pm
300m North of the Gas Station
Pulseándolabonito
EVERY DAY 7:00 AM onwards
HOME DELIVERY
200m west of Iguana Verde
THE
DOME
& SPORTS BAR
RESTAURANT
JML MARKETING & GRAPHIC DESIGN
CLIENT: The Dome Restaurant
LOGO REDESIGN
C: 50
M: 0
Y: 100
K: 0
C: 100
M: 100
Y: 30
K: 0
FONT: FFX TIMES ENGRAVED
NorthAmericanBreakfast,
Lunch•EarlyDinner
OPEN 8 AM – 3 PM
CLOSED ON SUNDAY DOME PLAZA
OPEN
OPEN
OPEN
Delicious Homemade Italian
Food With A Wonderful View
Lunch • Sunset appetizers and dinner
5 KM NORTH OF UVITA
OPEN
GASTRONOMY - UVITA Y ALREDEDORES
36
2100 1825 8448 3571
4702 3939
8936 6789
2743 8506
RESTAURANTS
100%GlutenFreeRestaurant.
Gourmet seafood and meat menues
Monday–Friday11AM–10PM
Saturday&Sundayclosed.PlazaPacicPools
RESERVATIONS
Breakfast • Lunch• Dinner
Organic Costa Rican Coffee Specialties
MON-SUN 7:00 AM-9:00 PM
Next to Uvita Information Center
Deliciousartesanalgelato,banana
split,milkshakes,bananas,wafe
bowls
MON-SUN 11:00 AM- 8:00 PM
Next to Uvita Information Center
Chinese-American Food
Take Out Option
Lunch • Sunset appetizers and dinner
11 AM - 10 PM
5 KM NORTH OF UVITA
OPEN
OPEN
OPEN
OPEN
GASTRONOMY - UVITA Y ALREDEDORES
37
2743 8674 8308 6604
2743 8674 8308 6604
8507 4949
27438182
RESTAURANTS
International Food with Austrian
Touch Breakfast buffet, Lunch &
Dinner Cocktail-Bar
Open every 7 AM-5 PM - Pls Reserve for Dinner
KM 169 HOTEL CRISTAL BALLENA
Fresh Fusion Dishes
Vegan and Gluten Free Options
Tuesday to Saturday 11 AM - 4 PM
6 KM SOUTH OF UVITA NEXT TO BALLENA BEACH
We are Baking
Monday-Wednesday-Friday
Please order today!
Home delivery Uvita - Bahía
Wholemeal Bread w/Species Seeds- Chocolate- Carrot
OPEN
OPEN
OPEN
Seafood,Mariscos
Casados,Pastas&FreshTuna
Please contact us for current days and hours
PLAYA BALLENA
BETWEEN UVITA & OJOCHAL KM 170
OPEN
8341 1730
2786 5354
2786 5407
8390 0130
GASTRONOMY - UVITA Y ALREDEDORES
38
Gallo Pinto is rice, cooked, and seasoned with black beans
(beans). The “spotted rooster” is even vegan! The mixture
of rice and beans, especially red, is visually reminiscent of
a spotted rooster’s plumage.
A “Gallo Pinto” is the traditional and popular breakfast
in Costa Rica. It is served with fried or fried plantains,
tortillas (corn cakes), or tostadas. The non-vegan starter
may enjoy a fried or scrambled egg with custard (sour
cream), a spicy sausage, or ham.
Little is known about the history and origins of the
Gallo Pinto. Many Central American countries claim for
themselves to be the cradle of this special dish.
In Central and South America, there are different versions
with many other names. It is often called “Rice and Beans”
in Limón, on the Caribbean coast. Rice and beans are
traditionally cooked there with coconut milk.
Which culture mixed these two ingredients rst? It seems
highly likely that this nutritious combination of beans
and rice was created, mixed, and cooked naturally and
spontaneously in individual cultures.
Here in Costa Rica, the “Gallo pinto” has been known
since colonial times, also known as “dirty rice”, as the dish
is called in San Sebastián, south of San José. As a “snack,”
it nurtures the community outside the home, especially at
festivals and popular celebrations.
What Costa Rica can undoubtedly claim for itself as an
author is
the funny name!
Enjoy your meal!
One of the earliest mentions of this quote, perhaps the initial
one, can be found in a 1928 etiquette book “The Completed
Adam”. It was written by tennis player, writer, and author
Paula von Reznicek (1895-1976) and her husband Burghard,
Baron of Reznicek. In it, they mention: “And love passes
through the stomach”! Wherever the quote comes from, we
agree that love for Costa Rica runs through the stomach!
Have you already enjoyed one of the traditional Costa Rican
dishes?
The typical Costa Rican dish, the famous Casado is the main
dish of the Ticos. Each local soda and restaurant prepares its
individual Casado.
As a tourist in beautiful Costa Rica, you may wonder why the
Ticos call their famous main dish “Casado.”
There are several explanations of terms, the most beautiful
is probably that a married man symbolizes the rst course of
the newlyweds. When two people meet, they still don’t know
what the other likes and dislikes.
Since a Casado is the composition of many different
ingredients and can be cooked to your taste, it was given this
original name. Future husbands should be as well combined
as the ingredients in this popular main dish. Thus, the Casado
is a symbol of a happy and varied marriage.
The ingredients of the promising Casado:
Spiced rice, black beans, a few banana slices, the picadillo, a
nely chopped vegetable and some hot chili peppers.
Depending on your taste, you can choose between chicken,
beef, pork, or sh to accompany your Casado.
And a Gallo pinto?
It will be a “spotted rooster”, which doesn’t sound so tasty.
“AND LOVE PASSES THROUGH
THE STOMACH”!
AUTHOR: NICOLE VOSS
OJOCHAL - SWITZERLAND
GASTRONOMY - UVITA Y ALREDEDORES
39
GASTRONOMY - UVITA Y ALREDEDORES
40
We asked Liz what her biggest challenge was when
she started managing the Bistro. “English,” he answers
immediately. Luckily Liz’s eyes speak, and her smile invites
you to practice your Spanish skills. “And if all else fails,
there is the telephone,” she adds. “The clients like that we
speak to them in Spanish.” The diners are a colorful mix of
Costa Ricans, North Americans, and Canadians.
Liz greatly appreciates the support of her clients! Two
couples always come for lunch. They say they love going
to Ballena Bistro because they allow them to change the
menu. “We gladly accommodate our visitors’ wishes and
make them feel at home,” says Liz.
Only sometimes, you will happen to see a rabbit hopping
around the restaurant. It’s Luka, Liz’s pet, who usually
sleeps during the day. With its nose, it seeks attention,
and if ignored, it kicks at the door with its hind legs. Jenga
is also part of the Ballena Bistro family. He is an amiable
dog and a good host.
You see, you are going to feel at home, enjoy it and bon
appétit!
Liz (originally from Pérez Zeledón) used to run a coffee-ice
cream parlor in Buenos Aires before coming to Ojochal in
2012. Liz is a sportswoman who loves to run, and her rst
concern when she arrived was if there was a women’s soccer
team. She found the Playa Hermosa Futbol Sala team that
used to meet at the “Cancha Sintética” in Uvita.
In 2014 she started working at the Ballena Bistro as the right
hand of the owner and chef Anja Sonnenberg.
When Anja decided to seek other horizons, in April 2018, Liz
grasped the opportunity to take over the restaurant. With her
innate friendliness and splendid customer service, she has
demonstrated being an extraordinary host and a good leader
of her small operations team.
Liz strives to maintain a varied menu that includes vegan
and gluten-free options, with always fresh ingredients. Chef
Priscila surprises with fusion dishes such as sh soup with
coconut milk, Fish Burgers, chicken in an almond crust, or
trout in passion fruit sauce.
The desserts like the basil and blackberry ice cream made with
coconut milk, the chocolate and banana cakes are exquisite.
To get in tune for your order, try a ginger Margarita, or a
delicious Hibiscus mojito.
LIZETH QUIRÓS,
BALLENA BISTRO´S SMILE
AUTHOR: DAGMAR REINHARD
+(506) 2786 5407
GASTRONOMY - UVITA Y ALREDEDORES
41
Optometry: Dra. Luana Vargas
Glasses with graduation
Contact lenses
Ophthalmology: Dra. Flora Hernández
Cataracts
Pterygium
Diabetic Retinopathy
WE ARE A FEMALE ENTREPRENEUR TEAM
SPECIALIZED PROFESSIONALS:
Professionals
taking care of
your Visual
Health
Opening Hours
Monday to Friday
8 AM – 4.30 PM
Saturdays
9.30 AM – 2 PM
100 m North of Uvita's
Gas Station
2102 0122
8828 2530
The human eye works similar to a camera. Thus, through
a lens system (the cornea and the lens), it focuses the
light coming from the objects on the retina (which would
be equivalent to photographic lm).
A refractive defect (or ametropia) is an ocular alteration
that causes the image not to focus precisely on the retina,
producing blurred vision that can usually be corrected by
placing a lens in the light path.
The variations in the eye’s length, the shape of the
cornea, or the lens’s transparency can cause refractive
errors.
Types of refractive defects. Depending on where the
light is focused inside the eye, we talk about:
Myopia: when light is focused before reaching the retina
(because the eye is too long, or the cornea or lens is too
powerful). Distant objects are blurry, although up close, it is
usually good.
Farsightedness: the image is focused behind the retina. It
usually manifests itself by poor near vision, although vision
can be blurry both far and near in high hyperopia.
Young people can have good vision but associated
with headaches or visual fatigue
Astigmatism: in this case, more than one distance
point is formed. Small degrees of astigmatism
associated with myopia or hyperopia is widespread.
In high astigmatism cases, the images may be
elongated or slanted when corrected with glasses,
and the use of contact lenses is necessary.
Presbyopia or eyestrain is a natural condition that
manifests itself after 40 years due to the loss of the
lens’s elasticity and makes it difcult to focus on
nearby objects.
Correction of refractive errors
Interposing a lens will bring the focus of light to the
retina (glasses, contact lenses (soft or semi-rigid),
or refractive surgery.)
To nd out if you have any of these problems, do
not hesitate to have an eye exam. At Ópticas del
Sol, we can help you with the best option to correct
your problem.
REFRACTIVE DEFECTS
MYOPIA, HYPEROPIA AND ASTIGMATISM
AUTHOR: DRA. FLORA HERNÁNDEZ
HEALTH - UVITA Y ALREDEDORES
43
HOW YOU CAN HELP THE LOCAL
COMMUNITY
AUTHOR: NICK HALVERSON
Costa Rica is mainly dependent on tourism for its economy,
and the drastic restrictions have impacted especially brutal on
nationals. The country currently has the highest unemployment
rate ever recorded at 25%. That is the published rate, and with
most unemployment numbers, I would suggest it is higher. When
including the real rate plus adding in the under-employed rate,
it is probably closer to 35%-40% nationally, and higher in the
immediate region.
Indeed, most of the Costa Ballena region is dependent on tourism.
Given that as the background, we hear from our homeowners,
clients, and the social media channels: “What can we do to help
with the local economy?”
On the one hand, it has been great to see the incredible outpouring
of people looking to support and to help everyone, as we are all in
this together. On the other hand, Costa Rica is slowly reopening
its borders, but fresh tourists’ trickle won’t make an economic
dent in the recovery. It will be months (hopefully not years) before
a new nancial and physical ‘healthy normal’ returns.
Here are recommendations to help:
1. Hire Local:
Try and hire as local as possible. If there is someone in your
immediate community or neighborhood, consider hiring that
person or purchasing from them. The Costa Ballena region has
plenty of service providers that live throughout the area.
2. Hire Legal:
There are plenty of businesses operating in the region that have
all permits in place and are paying insurance for their workers
and taxes to Hacienda.
If you are unsure, ask to see copies of the Hacienda and the
Municapolity permits. By law, they must be hung on the wall of
the ofce. If a service provider company doesn’t have an ofce,
they will likely operate illegally in Costa Rica.
3. Be generous
Please consider hiring an extra home cleaning or an additional
landscaping service for the month if your budget allows. Order
take-out from a restaurant once or twice a week. If you are friends
with people in need, invite them over for a BBQ or a meal. Buy some
extra groceries (bags of rice, beans, vegetables, meat, etc.) for your
neighbor in need.
Sometimes there are opportunities to work, but transportation is
a signicant obstacle in the Costa Ballena region, especially now
with the limited bus schedules. Offer to provide transportation to
someone who may need it (while at the same time respecting the
driving restrictions).
4. Be smart
If you would like a list of recommended non-prots, government
programs, or other places to donate to, please contact us. We can
send you the contact information. If you would like to add your
non-prot to the list, please send us a note. The local government
has been delivering meals to those who can’t travel, and they are
always looking for additional resources.
All of us at Osa Property Management are working together, helping
the community, and supporting the Costa Ballena region.
www.osapropertymanagement.com
POTHO: OSA PROPERTY
INITIATIVE - UVITA Y ALREDEDORES
45
Turn-key Property Management
WE HAVE MOVED!
• Full-service vacation Rental / Landscaping / Repairs
Pool Cleaning / Taxes / Billpay
• New Construction – Project Management
Uvita – Ed. Perla del Pacífico
Local #1
(next to Servicentro Bahìa Ballena)
Saturday: 8 am – 12 mMonday to Friday: 7 am – 4 pm
:(506) 7100 1006
: info@osapropertymanagement.com
: Osapropertymanagement.com
Osa
Property
Management
www
Hatillo – Dominical – Uvita – Ojochal – Coronado - San Buenas
Non-profit project of the Open Arms Foundation,
We accept donations of good, used clothing
Ropa de alta calidad a precios buenos para
mujeres, hombres
y niños: camisas, shorts,
trajes de baño, jeans, vestidos
(506) 2201-5962
La Cancha Sintética, Centro de Uvita
Facebook: Buena Voluntad Tienda Americana
THRIFT STORE
UVITA Y ALREDEDORES
46
It also gives excellent results as natural pest control in the
garden and biological control in an organic garden.
Neem has been used to disinfect factory and home areas.
There it is applied to ght insects and in the care of pets.
Cosmetics, soaps, toothpaste, and others are handcrafted.
Miguel has some Neem trees in his garden. He extracts
oil from their seeds used on the skin, or according to the
circumstances to fumigate.
You have just discovered one of nature’s most prodigious
gifts: Natural medicine, an option to save our earth
without using chemicals that cause so much damage to
the atmosphere and waters.
We met Miguel, the herbalist, two years ago at the Uvita
Fair. He used to have his booth to exhibit a wide range of
herbs, leaves, and roots. He pulverizes them to prepare
tinctures and oils.
Miguel is from China Kichá, a town in the Talamanca mountains
heights belonging to the Pérez Zeledón canton.
Miguel grows neem, noni, and moringa, all of which are native
to India. They say that these three trees are the most healing
on the planet with scientically studied properties.
Neem (neem) is the most used, and it has anti-inammatory,
-viral, -parasitic, -hemorrhoidal, -diabetic,
-hypertensive and many more antis.
You can also use it to treat skin conditions such as hives, fungi,
pimples, eczema, lice, mites, ulcers, and varicose veins. It is
useful as a repellent and acts as a spermicide.
Its leaves’ infusions are excellent for diabetes, control
cholesterol, and purify toxins’ blood from the body. It is an
anticancer and acts as a vaccine against many other diseases.
Neem powder can go a long way in reducing hair loss and
regaining abundant balance. See Miguel in the recent photo
(as John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever).
For this, you can prepare a paste of neem powder and water.
You can add Aloe Vera or a little coconut oil to it if you want.
Apply this paste to the scalp/root twice a week and leave on
20-30 minutes before bathing. Be consistent, have a little
patience, and you will see.
MIGUEL, THE HERBALIST
AUTHOR: DAGMAR REINHARD
+(506) 6183 9562
ONE YEAR LATERBEFORE THE NEEM TREATMENT
INITIATIVE - UVITA Y ALREDEDORES
47
For 2018, ASADA set its commitment to offer a
continuous, constant, and quality service, adapting
the Aqueduct work structure to all the guidelines
established by law for its operation.
We are thriving every day to become an Institution,
formal, serious, and with the economic and scientic
strength necessary to cover our community’s
development without affecting our natural resources.
Due to their way of working in the 2019 period,
ASADA returns to the Sanitary Quality Seal program.
This time we managed to incorporate four white stars
of potability into our award.
This award’s achievement was thanks to obtaining
100% of the points in the Sanitary Quality Seal
program. This program qualies the following
parameters:
Protection program for water sources - Maintenance
and cleaning program for tanks and networks -
Program of disinfection - Environmental education
and information on quality - Operational control
-Compliance with the Regulation for water quality -
Evaluation of sanitary risk.
In the mid-eighties, the community of Uvita organized
and began the construction of an aqueduct. It was not
until October 2, 1996, that our ASADA was constituted
through an Ordinary General Assembly, and on February
24, 2003, recognized by the A and A as an aqueduct.
The ofcialization took place on March 18 of the same
year, once it was published in the ofcial newspaper of
our country La Gaceta No.72.
Due to the community’s growth in the coming years,
the development soon exceeded the capacities of
the Aqueduct. During this period, the water capacity
was very scarce. Between 2006 and 2009, a one-
star award was received from the Sanitary quality seal
program of the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and
Sewers. Despite the lack of water resources and some
deciencies in the ASADA’s operating system, we could
guarantee its water quality.
During 2012 and as a result of a restructuring of the
Board of Directors, changes arise in the administration
and operation of our Aqueduct. It began with new
improvement projects such as the capture of 6 new
springs, which made it possible to increase our system’s
water capacity injecting a ow of 20.83 l in the summer
of 2015.
The construction of a vitried steel tank with a capacity
of 500 M³ in 2017 represented an increase in our storage
capacity by 90%, the change in water resources and
economism was notorious.
ASADA UVITA - BAHÍA OBTAINS
THE SANITARY QUALITY SEAL
AUTHOR: MIGUEL RIOS
+(506) 8736 7004
INITIATIVE - UVITA Y ALREDEDORES
49
GINGER IS A WONDERFUL ADDITION TO
YOUR GARDEN
AUTHOR: J.S.P.
There are more than 1,000 species of owering ginger families
belonging to some 47 genera. The more common genus names
you are likely to see are Alpinia, Costus, Hedychium, and Zingiber
(the latter is the ginger we use for culinary purposes). Ginger
roots are utilized as both spice and medicine.
The “Zingiberaceae family” also comprises turmeric, cardamom,
and galangal. It originated in South East Asia and is one of the rst
spices to have been transported from Asia to Europe. The ancient
Greeks and Romans used it in the kitchen and as a remedy for
endless illnesses.
The distant relative Wild ginger (Asarum) has a similar taste.
All of the different kinds of ginger are owering perennials plants.
Some have long stems and leaves, while others have large wide
and tropical leaves.
Ornamental gingers are amazing tropical and subtropical plants
with brightly colored owers. They are the fancier relatives of the
edible ginger or the bananas, and turmeric.
You can grow your own ginger at home!
You can experiment with ginger that you buy at a store or an
online Farmers Market. Make sure you select a spot where the
plants get plenty of light but no direct sun and protect it from the
wind.
Cu0t or break up the rhizomes with a couple of buds growing (or
you can plant the whole thing). Plant the ginger root 10 cm (2-4”)
deep, with the growing buds facing up.
The soil should never dry out, and it loves humidity. It is a slow-
growing plant, so be patient! Harvest edible ginger before the plant
produces owers.
Ornamental ginger is planted in the same way; it just is never
harvested. Some ornamental gingers to consider for your garden
include Red, Malay, Buttery, Torch, Shell, and Oxblood.
Whatever you choose, ginger is a beautiful addition to any garden!
BOTANY - UVITA Y ALREDEDORES
51
DAWG (Domestic Animal Welfare Group) has some
exciting news! We applied for non-prot status in
the United States, so people can benet from a tax
deduction when they donate through our US non-
prot organization. It also will allow us to apply for
grant money in the US. We are happy to announce
that we received approval as a 501(c)3 non-prot
organization in August.
This is perfect timing, as, in the past, most of our
donations came from local fundraising events. Due
to the restrictions, we have not been able to do any
of these types of events. Another exciting thing that
DAWG has been doing is holding spay and neuter
clinics on a small scale: no more than 25 pets and
having clinics where there is lots of space for social
distancing.
Presently we are holding 2 to 3 clinics per month,
primarily in outlying areas where people usually
would not take their pets to a veterinarian. Since
DAWG’s inception, over 3000 pets have been spayed
or neutered. DAWG continues to be committed to
providing this service to the community to reduce
abandoned or unwanted dogs and cats.
Why is Spay and Neuter so important?
Did you know that dogs can have 2-3 litters per year,
and cats can have 3-4 litters per year in a tropical
climate?
In just six years, one female dog and her offspring can
produce up to 67,000 puppies!
In only 7 years, one female cat and her offspring can
produce over 370,000 kittens!
DAWG Needs Your Help?
DAWG wants to continue doing these clinics, but we are
getting low on funds. You can make a donation using our
US PayPal account, and since DAWG also has non-prot
status as a 501(c)3 in the US, your donations through
this account are tax-deductible. Here is the direct link to
our donate page
DAWG
PayPal Link
Footnote: Asociación D.A.W.G. Grupo Bienestar de Los
Animales Domésticos Costa Rica, doing business as
DAWG, Domestic Animal Welfare Group, is a non-prot
organization focused on animal advocacy in the Costa
Ballena region of Costa Rica for 12 years.
WHAT HAS DAWG BEEN DOING
DURING THE RESTRICTIONS?
AUTHOR: SUSAN STRONG
D.A.W.G.
ANIMAL HEALTH - UVITA Y ALREDEDORES
53
Our grandfather had a medical dispensary in Pejibaye de Pérez
Zeledón for many years.
Jason and I grew up in Heredia in a small house, with dreams
and illusions of achieving great things. My parents Olga and
Guillermo decided to take us to the United States when I was 15
years old. They, among other tasks, worked in cleaning, living the
“American dream.”
Listening to God’s inner voice, this experience became the
necessary impulse to know that we wanted something better
for our lives. This desire to improve fueled a constant struggle in
the right direction, and as part of this experience, we completed
the learning of the English language.
Meanwhile, my older brothers Michael and Mauricio stayed
in Costa Rica, working and studying, going through difcult
times without a doubt. Mauricio decided to keep working and
help Michael nish his studies. After completing his career as a
pharmacist, the adventure began. Our mother, Olga, already with
signicant experience in pharmacies, at the age of 24, decided to
open the Ibarra Pharmacy in Palmar Norte, accompanied by my
brother and colleague, Dr. Michael (pharmacist).
Michael helped us nish our studies, and we mobilized the other
brothers with this same impulse. We migrated to the Southern
Zone of Costa Rica. Mauricio in Ciudad Cortés, Jason in Sierpe
(and currently in Ojochal), and myself, Jeimmy in Uvita, we
opened branches to form the Ibarra Pharmacy and Macrobiotic
Chain.
For several years working separately due to different difculties
we faced, in 2016, we decided to merge the pharmacies to work
together. The process has not been easy; we have all learned
a lot and work as a team. We recognize that the weakness of
one is the strength of the other. We have gone through difcult
times, and we have not stopped having faith that we are in the
Southern Zone with a purpose.
The values that we learned as children, teamwork, faith in God,
the struggle despite economic problems, health, and any other
circumstance give us the conviction that this will be temporary
while focusing on our goals and dreams.
After the branch in Cortés suffered a ood and many losses, we
decided to build our own store in Cuatro Esquinas, located next
to the supermarket. At Farmacias Ibarra, you will feel safe, with
attentive staff, ready to serve you and attend to your concerns.
More than products and medicines, we want to be your friends,
answer your questions and take care of your health and that of
your family.
Our satisfaction is knowing that we are a blessing for this town,
often giving a word of encouragement, guiding our patients,
caring for them, and transmitting health in every way. At
Farmacias Ibarra, we have dedicated many years to improve our
service and care. When you enter our pharmacies, you will know
that the pharmacist will always be available for you; you can ask
the questions you want, have your medications reviewed, and
receive instructions for the proper use.
We currently have an extensive list of medications with promotions.
On request, you can get one free after purchasing two or three of it.
We have a wide variety of cosmetics, natural products, essential
oils, dermatological products, and orthopedics line.
If we do not have the product you are looking for, we try to give you
a solution as soon as possible. On the second oor of the Alfaro
Building located in Palmar Norte, we have periodic visits from
specialists, and we want to carry out the same project in Uvita.
We still have many other projects, with God’s help and these
beautiful people, we want to serve you for many more years, provide
you with the best service, the same prices, and always make you
feel like in a family.
Farmacias y Macrobióticas Ibarra - your Trusted Pharmacies!
FARMACIAS IBARRA
A FAMILY LEGACY
AUTHOR: PHAR. JEIMMY GARCIA
UVITA Y ALREDEDORES
55
MOISTURE
AFFECTS
YOUR
CONSTRUCTION
AUTHOR:
JULIO FERNÁNDEZ AGÜERO
At this time of year, we have the most signicant
amount of rain in our country, which could cause
humidity problems. Due to this, the constructive
structures are more affected by the aesthetic
point of view by the appearance of fungi, algae,
and other microorganisms.
They can cause dark brown, black, orange, and
red stains. If we do not act in time to treat this
condition of nature, we could not only lose
aesthetics, but we can also put the integrity of
the structures at risk, and it could even affect
our health. Uncontrolled humidity in a conned
space could cause allergies and even respiratory
problems. To prevent or correct this condition on
the market, we nd various types of paint that
help us control the humidity effects both indoors
and outdoors.
Various products are used to control the humidity
outside, but the known ones are waterproong
agents and 100% acrylic resin paints with the
latest technology in a matte nish.
Waterproong agents such as “Sherwin
Williams Aqualock 8000” is a product used to
waterproof concrete slabs, exterior walls, roof
surfaces, among others. This product has a self-
crosslinking technology that allows the paint
to bind the molecules better and achieve a better
waterproong. It also provides more exibility and
better elongation. As if that were not enough, this
paint is also heat insulating. It manages to reduce
the substrate’s temperature by up to fteen degrees
Celsius.
On the other hand, in our store in Uvita, you will
nd the paint “Excello Extreme Climate by Sherwin
Williams.” This is a paint designed for exterior
walls in severe environmental conditions such as
structures facing the sea, in the middle of the forest,
outdoors, among others.
This matte nish paint allows the walls to breathe
moisture that has been absorbed by capillary action,
avoiding blistering of the paint and subsequent
damage to repellants or masonry. Also, this paint
has encapsulated fungicides that achieve protection
against fungi, algae, mold. We can prepare it in more
than 8000 colors. I will be happy to advise you.
(506) 2215-2077 (506) 8874-4798
INITIATIVE - UVITA Y ALREDEDORES
57
MARINE ENVIRONMENT - UVITA Y ALREDEDORES
60
Caño Island, a beautiful biological reserve 20
km off of the South Pacic coast of Costa Rica,
is a biodiversity hotspot. Hosting the highest
diversity of corals of the Pacic of Costa Rica, this
island is also located in a sea current. It brings
many large mammals to the area throughout
the year and various sharks and rays. These
are among the reasons why Innoceana started
marine conservation projects there three years
ago and continues to learn, share, and protect
this vibrant ecosystem today.
Amongst many conservation projects,
Innoceana has always focused on Coral Reefs.
Indeed, we have already lost 32% of the planet’s
coral reefs, and the scientic community agrees
that we could lose another 35% in the next 10
to 40 years. Coral reefs are essential in many
ways:
They protect coastlines from storms and
erosion.
They are an essential food source because they
provide habitat and nursery grounds for many
sh and other invertebrate species.
They are a source of new medicines and
hotspots of marine biodiversity.
Coral species are threatened and face extinction
due to climate change and human activity. It’s
difcult to visualize these effects because the
Ocean does not change or reect this damage
from the surface. However, coral colonies
are slowly dying, and with them, ocean life.
Studying the corals, their evolution, and their
threats is as imperative as protecting them.
This is why Innoceana created a new project called The
Crystal Floor. It uses 3D models of the coral reefs to show
us a glimpse of the Ocean’s future through the crystal water.
Using an existing low-cost technology of photogrammetry,
Innoceana creates visual 3D models of coral colonies,
providing valuable information on their health and recording
the reef’s changes and evolution over time. Moreover,
The Crystal Floor brings the Ocean to the public through visual
and interactive models. Many don’t have the opportunity to
observe coral reefs in their natural environment and don’t
understand the threats corals face. Educating locals, children,
and tourists on what a coral is, its role and importance for
the whole ecosystem is primordial.
Last year, local guides discussed a strange underwater
sphere around Caño Island that could be a pre-Columbian
stone sphere of the Díquis. The Innoceana team decided to
create a 3D model of this sphere to observe and analyze it
in depth.
They realized that they had previously seen this sphere in the
magazine National Geographic in an article about women in
the industry. It was an old buoy from the industrial era and
is now part of the underwater scenery as coral colonies are
growing over it. This discovery proves that the protocol used
for The Crystal Floor project works not only for coral reefs,
but could also be used for archaeological studies and more.
THE CRYSTAL FLOOR: DISCOVERING
UNDERWATER WONDERS
AUTHOR: LAURA VANOPDENBUSCH
UVITA Y ALREDEDORES
61
WHERE DOES YOUR HARDWOOD
COME FROM?
AUTHOR: ANDREA JOHNSON, M.E.SC.
Cedro, nazareno, níspero, manglillo, corteza. Wood is a
gorgeous, renewable resource, more climate-friendly than
concrete or steel.
Most of the construction on the Costa Ballena and Osa Peninsula
is done by hotels and second-home builders drawn by the lush
rainforest. Native timber feels like an obvious choice: who doesn’t
love a hand-crafted Cristobal door’s luxury? The rustic vibe of
Cara de Tigre porch pillars? The durability of Manú negro posts?
But do we know where the wood is coming from? Or are we
inadvertently supporting forest crimes? A friend in Uvita recently
told me about a 300-year-old Cristobal tree that was cut down
and stolen from his farm. Even the stump was taken! And,
soon after that, beautiful new Cristobal doors appeared on his
neighbors’ houses.
Sadly, many home builders and hotel owners are unwitting
accomplices to illegal logging and timber laundering. At least
three sawmills within just 15 minutes of my house in Osa sell
native species lumber. Yet throughout southern Costa Rica,
MINAE has granted only a few permits for logging in natural
forests. So, where does all the raw material come from?
It’s an open secret that some mill owners buy both authorized and
unauthorized timber, and use this mix to launder stolen trees into
their “legal” supply. Unfortunately, it costs more time and money
to do things right for both workers and healthy ecosystems.
You may ask: is it a big deal to cut down one or two big old trees
without permits or plans? But it’s not just “one or two” trees – the
Director of the Golfo Dulce Forest Reserve reports that MINAE
conscated over US$20,000 of illegal timber in just the rst three
months of 2020 – only a fraction of the full picture.
And that Cristobal robbed from my friend’s farm? It’s a species
that only exists between the Nicoya and the Osa Peninsula. Once
we lose those giant old trees that illegal loggers target, they are
gone for centuries, and maybe forever, if the remaining population
is too small to reproduce.
The legal penalties can be severe if you’re caught with illegal
wood. According to Costa Rica’s Forestry Law #7575, any person
who acquires or processes forest products without complying
with the law can be sentenced to three years in prison. Your
wood will be taken away at a minimum, and you will pay hefty
nes and waste months on lawyers and legal procedures.
The good news is that it’s easy to do better. Here are ve alternatives
to using that “no questions asked” Cristobal:
1. Ask for and use local plantation timber or bamboo: Teak,
melina and bamboo are excellent eco-friendly building materials.
Teak is beautiful, durable, and oversupply around here.
2. Check with Minae for reputable sources, sawmills, and
builders: Go to your local Minae ofce and ask who has permits to
sell their timber in your area. Deal directly with the farm owner. Buy
salvage timber (madera caída). Ask which sawmills are registered
and in good legal standing.
3. Ask lots of questions: An invoice (factura) from the sawmill
is no guarantee. Ask the mill owner to provide you with the transport
permit (guía) and the logging permit (resolución) for any wood you
buy. Check for valid dates and origin.
4. Put clauses into your contracts: Make sure that your builder’s
contract contains clauses that require legal timber, veriable with
invoices, transports, and logging permits.
5. Tell your friends and neighbors: Contribute to creating a
legality culture by bragging about your efforts to use ethical green
building materials!
UVITA Y ALREDEDORES
63
RESTAURANTS
OJOCHAL
OPEN
Breakfast and Lunch Vegan and
Vegetarian option
Mon. to Sat. 7AM to 4PM - Sunday Closed
ENTRADA DE OJOCHAL
Breakfast lunch dinner
Thursday & Friday - 12 - 8 pm
Saturday & Sunday - 9 am - 6 pm
NEXT TO HOTEL EL MONO FELIZ
CALLE DEL JARDIN
OPEN
Creative Cuisine
Monday - Saturday 12AM - 9 PM
Sunday Closed
PLAZA TANGARA
OPEN
Belgian Beer Bar
CLOSED FOR VACATIONS
THE SLOW COOKER MAKING LIFE EASIER
8729 4115
2786 5059
2786 5157
8583 6988
UVITA Y ALREDEDORES
64
OJOCHAL
THE SLOW COOKER MAKING LIFE EASIER
Life has changed quite drastically for pretty much
everyone in the past few months.
If you’re like me, you might be looking for ways to
save money by not eating out as much. Yet all that
cooking at home is adding quite a bit of extra work
in food preparation and cleaning up.
I found myself spending hours every day in the
kitchen, making multiple trips to the grocery store
each week, and getting exhausted from all the
extra work on top of routine work while trying
to squeeze in some ocean time and have a bit of
social life on top of it.
Enter the idea of food prep and a slow cooker. This
contraption is a game-changer in my life. Instead
of just throwing together a peanut butter and
jelly sandwich and a banana and calling it lunch,
I am eating heartier, more satisfying meals now. I
am spending so much less time at the stove and
cleaning up after. I make large portions at a time
and freeze whatever I don’t eat.
The internet has tons of great recipe options, and
you can enter the internet search for whatever your
particular food preference may be. For example,
non-dairy Indian butter chicken – check – in the
slow cooker.
A great plan that has worked for me is the
following:
1. Browse the internet once a week for 2-3
big slow cooker meals to make.
2. Write down everything you need to buy on
a list and take it to the grocery store and make one
big shopping trip per week.
3. Choose your slow cooker days – for
example, Monday, Wednesday, Friday – and do
the food prep in the morning and get that slow
cooker cooking with enough quantity that you
surely have leftovers.
4. Enjoy a hearty lunch and dinner, and put
whatever you don’t eat in the freezer.
I have also learned that you can use slow cookers
to make yogurts and jams. It will be fun to
experiment, and I love having good food at home
that doesn’t involve hours of preparation and clean
up each day.
Happy prepping!
AUTHOR: TARA TIEDEMANN
GASTRONOMY - UVITA Y ALREDEDORES
65
We experienced an immense amount of rain
before the beginning of the real rainy season, usually
August-November. A few of the storms back in late
July were especially intense.
I remember during one storm, the thunder and
lightning were very nearby. The lightning was so
bright, and the thunder rumbled with such force it
shook our house. I thought we might be experiencing
a small earthquake, but we weren’t. What I felt
is known as a thunder quake. A thunder quake is
when a thunderstorm is so severe that the rumbling
seems like an earthquake. Wow, I just love nature!
Now, with the rainier season upon us, here are some
helpful tips and recommendations!
It’s an excellent time to check out your vehicle.
Make sure your windshield wipers are working well.
Check the tread and air pressure on your tires and
your spare tire. Check your emergency ashers, and
all lights. Please make sure you have everything you
need for your Emergency Vehicle Kit: 2 reective
triangles, one reective vest, a spare tire, and tools
to replace it, battery cables, and a re extinguisher.
Leave extra time for driving and slow down. Try to be
more patient and be ready for anything. If you see water
owing across the road, think twice before crossing it. If
you come to a river crossing and the river is light brown,
stay far away from the edge. Please do not cross if the
river is owing quickly.
There is likely to be a lot of water coming down at
once from the mountain. It is best to sit tight and wait
it out. Also, the rivers and small creeks can be higher,
depending on the tides and the moon.
Get yourself set up with things you like to do at home.
Borrow a few extra books from the Uvita Community
Library, get engaged in a new hobby, take an online
class (there is so much offered for free), or start a
vegetable garden! Make great use of the extra indoor
time by spending quality time with your family, friends,
and pets!
Help your furry friends who get frightened during the
scary thunder and lightning storms. There are remedies
you can purchase at our local vet such as Bach Rescue
Night, a natural remedy, which I hear works great!
It is a good time to check the supplies in your house. Make
sure you are stocked up on candles, matches or lighters,
batteries, jugs of water, extra medical prescriptions, and
necessities.
The most important thing to do right now is to embrace
and welcome the rainiest time of the year! Remember,
this is why we live in such a lush, vibrant, and green
environment. Plus, when rain and sun meet in the sky,
we get rainbows!
WAS THAT A
THUNDERQUAKE?
AUTHOR: BETH SYLVER
ICE (24/7):
2771-5126
INTERNET:
1119
EMERGENCIA / EMERGENCY:
911
OJOCHAL Y ALREDEDORES
67
AN IDEAL AND SAFE ESCAPE TO
VACATION IN OJOCHAL, OSA.
NOTES ON BEACHES AND NATURAL
HEALING
In April of 2020, the US Department of Homeland
Security released ndings from their study of anti-viral
effects of sunlight. Their research demonstrated that
viruses are destroyed entirely by 90 seconds or less
exposure to outdoor sunlight. Other research indicates
that possibly less than 10 seconds is the norm in bright
sunlit environments.
Viruses are destroyed by a PH of 8 (mildly alkaline),
only slightly above the average human body’s PH of
7.28. Any hand soap has sufcient alkalinity to pass
PH 8, which dissolves the virus’s fatty envelope. PH
is an electrochemical property that can be expressed
in millivolts of electron energy (negative ions). It is well
known that air over a beach is lled with negative ions,
which may reach the millivoltage equivalent of PH 8.
The single most crucial immune booster in viral
resistance is vitamin D, formed naturally in the skin on
exposure to sunlight. Early-stage symptoms of virus
infection correspond almost precisely to vitamin D
deciency.
Discomfort, lack of energy and low resistance to
infections, are attributed, among others, to insufcient
vitamin D formation due to sedentary daytime living
patterns indoors. About ½ hour of sun exposure per
day is enough to keep the liver’s vitamin D battery
charged (3-month capacity). The light that bounces off
the water and sand on the beach can create enough
vitamin D in just a few minutes.
Another essential product of skin exposed to sunlight
is a molecule called cholesterol sulfate. Research
currently in process by a team led by Dr. Stephanie
Seneff at MIT has found that cholesterol sulfate has
vital blood circulation benets within capillaries. Loss
of such circulation is often part of the fatal nal stage
of virus infection.
Cholesterol sulfate is also protective of joints (arthritis
resistance) and acts as an energy transport medium for
cellular mitochondria. Such energy is key to optimum
immune processes.
The work of Dr. Gerald Pollack on cellular water indicates
that cells convert long-wave infrared light, which
penetrates deep into body tissues, to electrical energy
that has a positive impact on the different body systems,
including the immune system. It is common knowledge
that long wave infrared is abundant on beaches.
Illness, in general, viral disease in particular, increase
inammation, which may be the most critical factor in
the loss of health. Antioxidants, like vitamin C, work by
supplying electrons that neutralize charged molecules
that cause inammation. Air and sand at a beach carry
a negative ion charge that enters the body through the
skin or lungs, with notable anti-inammatory effects.
Undoubtedly, during daylight hours for some effects and
at night for others, beaches are a natural healing force of
some consequence.
Costa Rica is blessed with magnicent beaches that
provide healing resources, the foundation for the well-
being and vitality of its inhabitants.
AUTHOR: NYLE SEABRIGHT
THIS ARTICLE IS PART OF A
RESEARCH PROPOSAL,
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
THE AUTHOR.
HEALTH / WELLNESS
71
PALMAR Y ALREDEDORES
72
THE LEGACY OF THE BANANA
COMPANY IN PALMAR SUR
AUTHOR: DAGMAR REINHARD
To forge a new future working with United Fruit
Company, in 1975, Jaqueline Matarrita Gómez’s
family moved from Guanacaste to Finca 8 in Palmar
Sur. “The days began very early in the settlements”,
Jaqueline recalls, “already at 4.30 in the morning there
was light in the houses, it smelled of food that the
women prepared on the stoves and ranchero music
resounded from the portable radios”. At 5 am, the
different squads’ work in charge of cutting or stripping
the bananas and taking them to the conveyor belts
began.
The big train was the center of attention: it took the
harvest from Palmar Sur to the port of Golto and
brought the mail, the newspaper, ice, and kerosene.
There were also passenger cars with ambulances.
The town was built around the park. There was a
school, church, hospital, stadium, a hotel for architects
and engineers, and a cemetery. At the Social Center,
the workers’ families enjoyed their free time, while the
managers retired to their club in the American Zone.
Before completing the bridge over the Térraba River
in 1958, all merchandise had to be shipped in boats
through the murky waters. It was built in collaboration
between the banana company and the Government of
Costa Rica.
During the earthworks carried out by the Company’s
workers on the farms, they discovered the rst
spheres. You can admire some of them at the Parque
de Palmar Sur, in the Fincas, and the Museum on Site
of Finca 6, which exhibits many of these perfectly round
and enigmatic works of art in their original position.
Doña Jaqueline is the president of the Integral
Development Association (ADI) of Palmar Sur. She
comments that the quiet city’s identity on the banks of
the great Térraba River originates from the legacy of the
Banana Company that left the South zone of Costa Rica
in 1984.
Jaqueline and her ADI team work on various committees
to raise funds, maintain and restore inheritances. Also,
part of the great treasure of the Park of the Spheres
are the ancient trees such as the beautiful Cannonball
(Couroupita guianensis Aubl), which originated in India
where it is intrinsically linked to the history of Buddhism.
Likewise, the Cuipo (Cavallinesa platanifolia), a gray and
pot-bellied giant, amazes with its corpulence.
Taking care of the Park facilities is Ruben González alias
“Barón,” a dedicated gardener paid by the Municipality
of Osa.
Thanks to a contest that the Park Committee won with
UNESCO, they were able to label these impressive
specimens and the archaeological sites around Palmar.
Recently, the ADI acquired a wagon that soon, attached
to the great locomotive, will be a museum with photos
from the Banana plantation days.
It is worth knowing the legacy of the Banana Company.
HISTORY - PALMAR Y ALREDEDORES
73
The stone spheres are a representative sculptural
element of the chiefdom societies of the Diquís delta.
These artifacts were used as symbolic, ritual, socio-
political objects, and possibly as chronological, status,
and power markers. Its manufacture constituted an
extended tradition, approximately between 300-400
BC. until 1500 A.D. During this period, its production
and use reached its maximum development.
Through them, people, communities, and societies
transmitted spiritual, social, and cultural values, which
is why they were located in privileged places within
the main settlements, on the entrances of important
people’s homes, and in public spaces, even forming
alignments.In the archaeological sites Finca 6,
Batambal, El Silencio, and Grijalba 2, stone spheres
were used in strategic spaces, highlighting their
ideological, political, and ceremonial character.
At present, the stone spheres have been incorporated
into some regions of the social and cultural community
life of the region’s populations, mainly as a symbol of
identity. Some contemporary artisans have dedicated
themselves to making objects of this type inspired by
their ancestral stone spheres.
A MUSEUM THAT EXALTS THE CULTURE OF THE
AREA
The Finca 6 Site Museum Visitor Center has the exhibition
“Diquís, a singular region” with bulk sculptures and spike
sculptures, which, together with the stone spheres, are
representative and particular sculptural manifestations
of the Pacic South of Costa Rica.
Objects of this nature have been found in the
archaeological sites Finca 6, Batambal, El Silencio, and
Grijalba 2. Also, in the center, visitors will be able to see
ceramic objects representing the region that are part of
this exhibition.
When you enter the archaeological site, you will be able
to observe spheres preserved in their original site. They
are associated with circular structures (mounds) and
public or communal used spaces, where it is possible to
identify two sets of aligned spheres. Due to the action of
sedimentation in the area, they are semi-buried. Thanks
to their large size, it is possible to observe a part of the
piece that protrudes from the surface and is known as
the crown.
This sector constitutes one of the most attractive spaces
for visitors. During April and the month of August, three
spheres are aligned with the sun during the solar zenith
period. This phenomenon has been studied by expert
archaeologists and the staff of the National Museum of
Costa Rica’s archeology department.
The visitor center is located in the community of Finca
6-11. The temporary schedule is from Tuesday to
Sunday from 8 am to 2 pm, and until further notice,
admission is free. The visit is safe, all hygienic measures
are taken, following the Ministry of Health’s protocols.
Come and know part of our history!
THE DIQUIS STONE
SPHERES
AUTHOR:
CARLOS HUMBERTO MORALES BARRANTES
MUSEONACIONALDECOSTARICA
CULTURE - PALMAR Y ALREDEDORES
75
When you come to our amazing country, you have
many diverse locations and activities to choose from.
If your primary objective is to experience nature and
wildlife, the Southern Pacic coast is the place to be. More
specically, Drake Bay has world-class sport shing,
snorkeling, scuba diving, and hiking in an unspoiled
pristine setting.
In the village of Drake Bay, you don’t even need a
car. Everything you will need, including restaurants,
supermarkets, hiking trails, and the beach are only steps
away. Drake offers accommodations from basic to luxury.
My favorite activity is, of course, sport shing. We are
blessed to have incredible shing grounds right in our
backyard. We offer both inshore and offshore trips
on our two boats, the Reel Escape and the Reel Time.
Because we are so close to Cano Island, we don’t have
to go far to catch sh. The vast reef system surrounding
the island holds lots of Snapper, Grouper, Amberjack,
Dorado, Wahoo, Roostersh, Pompano, and Tuna.
A little further offshore in the deeper, blue water is where
the really big ones live. We sh for Blue and Black Marlin,
Sailsh, big Yellow-n Tuna, and big Mahi. Not too many
years ago, one angler from the US caught and released
a 550 lb. Black Marlin after an epic 4 hour battle on the
Reel Escape.
Whether you want to sh inshore or offshore or even
a combination trip, make sure to bring your cooler. My
mates and I will expertly let your sh and put them on
ice. Clients often take home a month’s worth of sh in a
single day.
Probably one of the most fabulous sport sh anywhere is
the magnicent Roostersh. Roosters are a bucket list sh
primarily for the beauty and incredible hard ght. The only
place in the world these sh are found is from the Baja to
Peru. Over many years, I have perfected the best methods
to catch the big ones. Just outside Drake Bay are some of the
world’s best spots for “catch and release”.
For “sport” sh such as Sailsh, Marlin, and Roosters, we
practice catch and release. I have been releasing sh well
before this practice became popular. Releasing sh has
many benets, including making sure we have a healthy sh
population in Costa Rica. Tourists from all over the world
will continue to travel here and stimulate the economy. Most
importantly, our kids and grandkids will have the opportunity
to enjoy these waters as much as we do.
At the time of writing this article, we are open for business
with absolute hygiene and social distancing requirements.
Please note that we will take your temperature before you
board the boat to keep everyone safe. We are offering a
15% discount for trips booked directly for 2020!
Until Next Time…Tight Lines!
HELLO FROM BEAUTIFUL DRAKE BAY,
COSTA RICA
AUTHOR: CAPTAIN WILLY ATENCIO
SPORT / ACTIVITIES - OJOCHAL Y ALREDEDORES
77
ZBIGNIEW (BEN) BODZAK
(506) 8723 0795
HEATHER MANN
(506) 8723 2323
www.we-sell-paradise.com
info@we-sell-paradise.com
(506) 4702 1307
www.we-sell-paradise.
com
info@we-sell-paradise.
com
(506) 4702 1307
One World. One Search.
Drone photographer: Zbigniew (Ben) Bodzak.
Ocean view from Calle Perezoso, Ojochal.
August 2020.
Drone photographer: Zbigniew (Ben) Bodzak.
Ocean view from Calle Perezoso, Ojochal.
August 2020.
WHERE
your dreams
FIND A HOME.
(506) 8451 4590
DINIA OTAROLA
MAGALY AVALOS
(506) 8411 4245
CHRIS SCHAUER
(506) 8705 7239
(506) 8709 1469
CHRISTIAN MENA
100 METERS NORTH FROM MAIN
ENTRANCE TO OJOCHAL DE OSA
OCEAN VIEW PROPERTY VS. MOUNTAIN
AND JUNGLE VIEW PROPERTY
Many clients I work with automatically assume they
want a property with an expansive ocean view. Many
ex-pats who have lived here a while aren’t quite so
sure. My wife and I had the default ocean view/beach
property assumption ourselves on our rst visit to
Costa Rica.
Once we got here, we quickly found that beach
proximity and ocean views weren’t the only choices.
All it took was one visit to the Arenal Volcano area to
open our eyes. I nd that many potential home buyers,
particularly retirees, start to consider more options
once they see the area’s incredible natural beauty.
Ocean views are great, don’t get me wrong! I love them
myself, and some of my favorite houses have them.
I encourage you to keep an open mind and consider
alternatives. All other things being equal, an ocean
view home will typically garner a higher value than a
non-ocean view property. Of course, this means they
will typically cost more, and you will usually also get a
higher resale value when you sell.
Reasons to Consider Non-Ocean View Properties in
Costa Rica
· Lower price – Typically, all other things being
equal, a home with a mountain, valley, and jungle view
will cost less than an ocean view property.
· Interesting scenery – Staring off at the ocean is
one of my favorite pastimes, but watching the ever-
changing jungle can keep me entertained for hours.
· Wildlife – Have you ever sat and watched a
monkey, bird, sloth, or other wildlife community
members for hours?
I have, and it is awesome.
· Protection from elements – Depending on the
layout, some homes will nd some protection measures
from the elements when located among the trees.
Examples of Other-than-Ocean-View Properties
· A friend of mine has a mini river valley in the jungle
behind his house.
· I viewed a property near Lagunas that had a river valley
view that rivaled national parks in the US, and the 2+
acre property was around $70k.
· A home in my neighborhood backs up to a “monkey
trail” with howler monkeys waking me up nearly every
morning.
· Many of the homes in the middle of Ojochal have a view
of a jungled mountain that sprouts dozens of waterfalls
overnight in the green season.
· The location of a friend’s house is on a medium-size
hill that is right at the level of the treetops around him.
When the breeze blows through the trees, they sway
at a leisurely rate, and the effect is truly unique and
inspiring.
Want to see jungle view and mountain view properties
that will make you reconsider your ocean view preference
while saving a bundle?
AUTHOR: CHRIS SCHAUER
REAL ESTATE - OJOCHAL Y ALREDEDORES
79
ZBIGNIEW (BEN) BODZAK
(506) 8723 0795
HEATHER MANN
(506) 8723 2323
www.we-sell-paradise.com
info@we-sell-paradise.com
(506) 4702 1307
www.we-sell-paradise.com
info@we-sell-paradise.com
(506) 4702 1307
One World. One Search.
Drone photographer: Zbigniew (Ben) Bodzak.
Ocean view from Calle Perezoso, Ojochal.
August 2020.
Drone photographer: Zbigniew (Ben) Bodzak.
Ocean view from Calle Perezoso, Ojochal.
August 2020.
WHERE
your dreams
FIND A HOME.
(506) 8451 4590
DINIA OTAROLA MAGALY AVALOS
(506) 8411 4245
CHRIS SCHAUER
(506) 8705 7239 (506) 8709 1469
CHRISTIAN MENA100 METERS NORTH FROM MAIN
ENTRANCE TO OJOCHAL DE OSA
