http://www.toursjacobeach.com/news/archive/ en gordon@adventuretourscostarica.com Copyright 2010 2010-03-07T19:07:00-06:00 http://www.adventuretourscostarica.com/news/archive/us_to_focus_on_women/ http://www.adventuretourscostarica.com/news/archive/us_to_focus_on_women/#When:19:07:00Z By Chrissie Long Tico Times Staff | clong@ticotimes.net Latin America has been absent from United States President Barack Obama’s foreign policy priorities since he took office in January 2009. Despite pledging to renew his country’s partnership with Latin America at the outset of his term, Obama’s energy has been focused on the Middle East and Asia. United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton talks business and regional cooperation Thursday during the Pathways to Prosperity in the Americas summit at the Intercontinental Hotel in Escazú. Ronald Reyes | Tico Times With U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to South and Central America this week, there came a new pledge to invest in the region. Through the Pathways to Prosperity in the Americas program introduced in 2008, Clinton said the United States would work to close economic gaps by targeting small businesses and women-driven enterprises. “Talent is present everywhere. You can visit any town or school from Alaska to Patagonia and you’ll see it but, unfortunately, opportunity is far from universal,” Clinton said at a meeting of foreign ministers at the Intercontinental Hotel in Escazú. “Too many people in too many places have never had the chance to realize their dreams of starting a business, pursuing an education, or lifting themselves and their families out of poverty. The U.S. will be focusing on several pathway initiatives to support entrepreneurs and create new opportunities across the Americas.” Clinton said the U.S. would focus on the creation of small business development centers to help new enterprises, support and mentoring of women entrepreneurs and the modernization of rules involving loans to new business owners. “We’re not just talking about micro interventions …We’re talking about assisting individuals and businesses by promoting broader change in order to realize the objectives we share,” she said. Foreign ministers from 17 countries in the region also agreed to pump up efforts to support small- and medium-sized businesses by connecting them with global markets and by making credit available to entrepreneurs, with a special focus on women. The ministers signed a five-page agreement in which they committed to the Pathways to Prosperity initiatives. Alfonso Quiñonez, executive secretary for integral development for the Organization of American States (OAS), committed his organization’s support. Clinton, who was welcomed by Costa Rican President Oscar Arias, right, joined the foreign ministers of 17 countries in the region in efforts to further cement commercial ties and regional harmony. Ronald Reyes | Tico Times “Latin America is not the poorest region in the world, but it is the region with the greatest inequality. The OAS is committed to reversing this,” he said. One of the best ways to accomplish a reduction in inequality is to “foster the economic power of the people …the people who are traditionally left out. Our aim is to empower those who are not on the road to prosperity as we want them to be.” Not only was there a thrust to invest in the economically disadvantaged, but the foreign ministers in attendance at the summit preached greater economic integration. “We need to realize our economies can complement each other and so can our markets,” said Colombian Foreign Minister Jaime Bermúdez Merizalde. “It is important to increase trade and develop relations. (Through better integration), we know we have the capacity (as a group) to be examples in the world.” To this point, Costa Rican President Oscar Arias said, “It is almost picturesque to hear our region discuss whether or not to favor an open market. As if it’s an option! Economic integration into the world can’t be chosen. It has to be accepted. It’s a force, not a decision.” And echoing the forceful speech he made to his colleagues at the Latin American and Caribbean Conference (CALC) in Mexico, Arias offered equally strong words at the summit, saying, “This is a region that has postponed its leap to development for centuries. It’s a region that always leaves everything for the next government, the next generation, the next Ice Age.” He added, “If we aspire to prosperity, we must not get off the train of free trade.” Clinton also committed the U.S. to two other causes in the region – continued support to stem drug trafficking and a restoration of aid to Honduras. “With respect to drug trafficking …We are well aware that Central American countries are bearing a greater burden in combating these criminal cartels today than they were in the past,” Clinton said. “We understand that the U.S. bears part of the responsibility for the challenges that governments are confronting… We will continue to do what we can in partnership with the governments throughout the region.” Regarding Honduras, Clinton said that support needs to be renewed to a country divided by the ouster of former President Manuel Zelaya. She said the recent Honduran elections were found to be free, fair and legitimate and that the country deserves international recognition and normalization of relations. “We share the condemnation of the coup that occurred, but we think it’s time to move forward and ensure that such disruptions of democracy do not and cannot happen in the future,” she said. http://www.ticotimes.net/topstoryarchive/2010_03/030510.htm 2010-03-07T19:07:00-06:00 http://www.adventuretourscostarica.com/news/archive/sailfish_mahimahi_action_on_pacific_caribbean_fishing_improves_with_weather/ http://www.adventuretourscostarica.com/news/archive/sailfish_mahimahi_action_on_pacific_caribbean_fishing_improves_with_weather/#When:17:46:00Z The weather has been nearly perfect throughout Costa Rica. The winds have died down on the northern Pacific coast, and the sun has been shining on the Caribbean side after heavy rains earlier this month. The fishing has been good all along the Pacific coast, with most boats averaging a handful of sailfish and a few mahimahi each day. The lucky ones have also been catching some marlin. The fishing on the Caribbean side is improving with the weather, and they are catching snook and tarpon. Northern Pacific Shimmering: A Pacific sailfish shows its colors. Photo courtesy of Jerry “Bubba” Hallstrom Capt. Skeet Warren on the Bushwacker in Flamingo took a group out for some offshore fishing. One couple caught their first sailfish. They also caught a handful of mahimahi for the grill and had a great time. Capt. Lee Keidel on the Kingpin in Tamarindo reports calm seas and a short run to the fishing grounds. Sailfish, mahimahi and wahoo are providing the most action, with a few marlin sightings. The near-shore fishing for snapper and grouper has been steady, but the roosterfish bite has been a bit slower than usual. The Gamefisher II and Capt. Richard Chellemi have been fishing in the Flamingo and Carrillo area, catching sailfish, mahimahi, wahoo and a few striped and blue marlin. The half-day inshore trips are getting some grouper, snapper, jack and more. Jim and Teri Webster, from the U.S. state of Oregon, fished two days out of Carrillo aboard the Flamingo II with Capt. Gene Watson. The first day, they caught four good mahimahi but had no billfish shots. They scored big the second day, releasing two blue marlin, one striped marlin and one sailfish – the first slam for the Flamingo II this year, and the Websters’ first marlin release. Central Pacific Congratulations to the captain and crew of the Cerveza out of Los Sueños Marina. They took first place is the 2010 Los Sueños Signature Billfish Series Tournament. The Big Oh finished in second place and The Hook finished third. Forty-two boats entered the three-day event and released 676 sailfish and 12 marlin. They also caught a load of mahimahi, but they don’t count in the tourney, so for these guys they were a nuisance. Capt. James Smith and the crew of the Dragin Fly have been working hard and averaging four to eight sailfish per day, a few mahimahi and even a few yellowfin tuna. They also caught a couple of marlin recently. Ocean Adventures and Capt. Dana Thomas report a steady bite, averaging five or six sailfish and a few mahimahi each day. They have also been doing some bottom fishing for grouper and snapper, and report a good bite for fish in the 10- to 25-pound range. Capt. Dave Mothershead on the Miss Behavin’ broke off a 400-pound blue marlin recently just 20 miles offshore, and ended the day with four sailfish and two mahimahi. The crew on the J-Barrilete in Bahía Herradura has been keeping busy, averaging two to five sailfish per day and a few mahimahi. They’ve also done some inshore fishing and report a below-average roosterfish bite. The folks from Bluewater Sportfishing in Quepos report some good fishing. The Blue Water II caught five sailfish and a 500-pound marlin recently, while the Blue Water III caught eight sailfish and a nice marlin with a group that fished a couple of full days offshore. The guys from JP Sportfishing have been fishing out of Quepos and Los Sueños on the Wild Lady and the Sea Lady. They’ve been catching anywhere from two to seven sailfish and mahimahi per day. They also picked up a marlin and a couple of roosterfish recently. Southern Pacific Bob Baker of Golfito Sportfishing reports some good action and flat seas in Zancudo. There have been good numbers of sailfish and mahimahi and even some yellowfin tuna offshore. The marlin have been popping up here and there but seem to have full bellies and are just curious. The inshore fishing for snapper has been good, and they’ve also been catching some roosterfish. Northern Region Lee Swidler took Joe Cambia of kayakfishingmagazine.net to the north-central waters for some inland light tackle fishing. They fished the Río Niño, catching a bunch of machaca, and then moved over to Caño Negro for some tarpon fishing. Philippe Tisseaux of San Carlos Sport Fishing welcomed some return guests for tarpon fishing on the Río San Juan in Nicaragua. They all caught and safely released tarpon between 80 and 150 pounds. They also fished the Solentiname Islands, catching average numbers of guapote and lots of mojarra. Caribbean Diann Sánchez of Río Colorado Lodge reports some great snook fishing recently. Return guest Wally Lebrun caught three snook over 10 pounds. With the weather and tarpon fishing improving, they hooked 22 tarpon in three days. Capt. Eddie Brown on the Bullshark in Tortuguero reports some beautiful weather and flat seas on the northern Caribbean coast. They’ve been catching good numbers of fat snook and hooking a handful of tarpon each day. Please send fishing reports, photos and comments to Jerry “Bubba” Hallstrom at fishreportCR@yahoo.com, or call 2778-7217 in Costa Rica or 1-800-9SAILFISH from the United States. To post reports and photos on The Tico Times’ online fishing forum, go to http://www.ticotimes.net/fishingforum. 2010-03-02T17:46:00-06:00 http://www.adventuretourscostarica.com/news/archive/is_costa_rica_a_developed_country/ http://www.adventuretourscostarica.com/news/archive/is_costa_rica_a_developed_country/#When:15:56:00Z By Adam Williams Tico Times Staff | awilliams@ticotimes.net In her victory speech on election night, President-elect Laura Chinchilla listed her administration’s many goals for the next four years. On the list were improving public education, bettering health care coverage and continuing the country’s push for environmental sustainability. Different Worlds: A jet loaded with passengers flies over as a family loads a truck with their worldly possessions and prepares to move from one precario (slum), near the Juan Santamaría International Airport, to another. Mónica Quesada | Tico Times And, she offered a lofty idea: “On the basis of our two biggest strengths – the intelligence of our people and the generosity of our environment – we will make Costa Rica the first developed country in Latin America.” This statement drew rousing cheers from her supporters, but the assertion that Costa Rica could soon become a “developed” country is an audacious one. While Costa Rica’s positive characteristics – including the lack of a military, the stable political climate and the region’s highest literacy rate (95 percent) – are often touted, a November 2009, National Statistics and Census Institute (INEC) report said 18.5 percent of the population, or nearly one in five residents, lives in poverty, earning less than $120 per month. Keeping these contrasts in mind, the follow-up question to Chinchilla’s pledge must be “If Costa Rica is to become a so-called ‘developed’ country, what must be done to achieve that status?” Who Says a Nation Is Developed? Upscale: A leading symbol of economic progress is Multiplaza in Escazú, west of San José. The mega-mall stands in stark contrast to Central Valley slums. Ronald Reyes | Tico Times Currently, there are two respected organizations whose opinions as to whether a country is developed or not receive wide acceptance. These are the 30-country Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the United Nations Development Program’s Human Development Index (HDI). Each uses a different set of criteria to make the distinction. The OECD, based in France, collects and analyzes economic and social data from countries worldwide and places nations into fiv e categorizes according to their gross national income (GNI) and the amount of economic financial aid they receive from the organization’s member states. On the lowest rung of the category ladder is the “Least Developed Countries,” which include the most strife-torn African nations and countries affected by war, such as Afghanistan. On the top rung are perched the 30 nations that are currently members of the OECD and are financially sound enough to provide aid to less-developed countries. Included in this group are the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain and Japan. Currently, the OECD places Costa Rica in the “Upper Middle Income Countries and Territories” category. Countries ranked here fall just short of OECD membership status. Among the countries that join Costa Rica in this category are Brazil, Mexico, Panama and South Africa. “Membership in the OECD means that you are a developed nation,” said Roberto Jiménez, leader of the environmental group CO2 Neutral 2021. “When you look at Latin America, you see countries in three groups. There are the least developed countries, includ ing Nicaragua, Bolivia and maybe Honduras. Then there is a different group that has moved on from least developed to a middle stage. Those are countries such as Brazil and Argentina. And then you have the developed countries, and the only (Latin American) country I have heard of being mentioned here is Chile … In that middle group there are several countries that are moving at a very fast developmental pace and I would say that, of that group, Costa Rica is one of them.” The HDI places Costa Rica ‘s development status in a similar range. According to the index, Costa Rica is the 54th “most developed” country in the world, one slot behind Mexico and six places above Panama. The HDI considers Chile to be the most developed Latin American country and ranks it 44th. The HDI differs from the OECD in that it deviates from the economics-heavy criteria of the latter, considering other factors when determining the development status of a country. “The components making up the HDI include health, as measured by life expectancy at birth; education, as measured by the adult literacy rate and the gross enrollment ratio in (formal) education; and a decent standard of living, as measured by gross domestic product (GDP) in U.S. dollars,” said a representative of the United Nations Human Development Report office in a statement to The Tico Times. “These are used to create three indexes – life expectancy, education and GDP – which are combined to create a single HDI.” Once these three criteria are averaged together, the HDI attributes a value to each country. On a scale with 1 being the highest achievable value, Costa Rica scored 0.854 on the 2009 HDI scale, boosted by the life expectancy of 77 years and a strong commitment to national health. The HDI considers all countries with a ranking over 0.9 to be “developed.” “As you see, in the 2009 HDI, Costa Rica is in the ‘High Human Development’ category and is, therefore, referred to as ‘developing’,” the statement said. Thirty-eight countries have an HDI rating of over 0.9, with Norway being considered the “most developed,” with a 0.971 score. A Nation of Contrasts Corporate Announcements Tica Bus Gives Back Costa Rican bus company Tica Bus is treating more than 200 underprivileged schoolchildren to a free trip… There is a multi-million-dollar mega-mall in Escazú, west of San José, which sports outlets of some of the world’s most exclusive stores. However, in October 2009, six people died when a rickety, wooden bridge in a rural area collapsed as a bus was crossing it. The giant international software company Intel exported more than $2 billion in microprocessors and chipsets from its Costa Rican plant in 2009. But, according to the State of the Nation report in November, at least 16,000 Costa Rican homes are “without basic services,” such as electricity and running water. Twenty-nine multinational companies made plans to enter or enhance operations in the country in 2009, accounting for more than $304 million in investment and crea ting more than 5,729 jobs. However, in April 2009, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a stand-by arrangement in which Costa Rica was offered as-needed access to a $730 million precautionary fund should the economic and financial crisis become too overwhelming. Costa Rica is among the world leaders in pineapple, coffee and banana exports. But, street signs and direct addresses remain a rarity. A constant feature of this disparity in the makeup of Costa Rica is that, while certain areas of the country are surging ahead, there are many areas in which the country is not keeping up or is, indeed, falling behind. “I think there are several Costa Rica ‘s,” says Roman Macaya, vice president of Agroquimica Industrial RIMAC. Macaya, who unsuccessfully sought the nomination last year of the Citizens Action Party in the recent presidential elections, said, “I think there is a developed Costa Rica, with segments of society in which people have very good jobs, high incomes, big houses, two cars and all the amenities that you would expect in the upper class of developed countries. Then there’s a poor Costa Rica, which is suffering quite a bit. You go into a poor residential area and you find every single problem there is … I wouldn’t even say those areas are developing. They have stagnated in a general despair.” The new administration faces the challenge of finding the appropriate mix of policies to assist and stimulate struggling sectors of the economy, while remaining supportive of those that are thriving. According to many, herein lies the challenge of raising Costa Rica from the uppercrust of the “developing” countries into the echelon of the “developed” ones. 2010-02-21T15:56:00-06:00 http://www.adventuretourscostarica.com/news/archive/employment_indicator_shows_job_gains/ http://www.adventuretourscostarica.com/news/archive/employment_indicator_shows_job_gains/#When:20:24:00Z The number of workers enrolled in the Social Security System’s (Caja) health insurance program showed an increase of 1.4 percent in December 2009, the daily La Nación reported. According to Caja reports, the increase in the number of ensured workers began to deteriorate at the beginning of 2008, and by mid-2009 the overall number of insured workers was dropping each month. The slight increase in the overall numbers of workers reported at year’s end was attributed by the Caja to gains in commerce and the agricultural sectors. The construction and industrial sectors, the areas of the Costa Rican economy most affected by the worldwide economic crisis, did not show employment increases, although the rate of job losses in these sectors slowed. Job losses in the economy’s most depressed area – the textile sector – did not decrease. According to La Nación, workers enrolled in the Caja’s health insurance program – employers are obligated to enlist full time workers – amount to 70% of the overall work force. The data reported by the Caja is an important indicator of the nation’s overall economic well being because it represents formal employment, which is also likely to be longer-term. – Tico Times 2010-02-15T20:24:00-06:00 http://www.adventuretourscostarica.com/news/archive/new_fair_to_attract_foreign_investment_set_for_april/ http://www.adventuretourscostarica.com/news/archive/new_fair_to_attract_foreign_investment_set_for_april/#When:23:37:00Z By Adam Williams Tico Times Staff | awilliams@ticotimes.net Foreign direct investment is a key contributor to the Costa Rican economic makeup. With that in mind, Foreign Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER) officials are trying to attract more foreign companies to invest here. To that end, PROCOMER will sponsor the “Costa Rica Investment World,” an international investment promotion fair on April 14 and 15 at the Hotel Ramada Plaza Herradura in San José. The fair will be the first of its kind in Central America. “This is the first of this type of event to be held in our region,” said Emmanuel Hess, general manager of PROCOMER. “It should boost investment in Costa Rica and, above all, it will assist us to promote the revised free-trade zone laws in the country. The new policies have given us the opportunity to promote the remote areas of the country.” In December, the Legislative Assembly approved a reform of the free-trade zone law to begin to provide incentives and lower tax rates to companies that establish operations in areas outside of the Central Valley, such as Puntarenas, Guanacaste, Limón and the southern part of the country. In response to the restructuring of the law, PROCOMER intends to promote the incentives to companies interested in establishing operations in Costa Rica. According to the promotions office, more than 100 foreign investors, 70 local suppliers and 23 multinational companies have committed to attend the event. “All the big multinational companies will be present at Costa Rica Investment World,” said Albán Sánchez, director of PROCOMER’s Provee Program. Sánchez said that Intel, Boston Scientific, Hewlett-Packard, Bridgestone and a host of other multinational companies with Costa Rican operations will be present at the fair. To promote Costa Rica as a destination for investment, PROCOMER will emphasize the advantages of creating operations in the country. These pluses include the country’s push for environmental sustainability, national efforts geared towards carbon neutrality, a stable political climate and the lush landscape, referred to as a “natural paradise”. “We hope that in the two days that the companies are here, they will learn the benefits of investing here and the strengths of the business community the country has established,” said Carola Medina, investment executive for PROCOMER. “We hope that foreign investors will realize why they should choose to invest in Costa Rica ahead of other destinations.” In 2009, the Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency (CINDE) announced that 29 foreign companies entered or enhanced operations in the country, accounting for more than $304 million in investment and creating 5,729 jobs.  2010-02-14T23:37:00-06:00 http://www.adventuretourscostarica.com/news/archive/womens_club_of_costa_rica/ http://www.adventuretourscostarica.com/news/archive/womens_club_of_costa_rica/#When:19:56:00Z Golden age: At 95, Norma Lenkowski, left, is the oldest member of the Women’s Club of Costa Rica. Twenty-nine-year-old Tina Roman is the club’s youngest. On Wednesday at San José’s Aurola Holiday Inn, the Women’s Club, one of the country’s longest running public service organizations, celebrated 70 years of giving to communities in need. 2010-02-11T19:56:00-06:00 http://www.adventuretourscostarica.com/news/archive/must_be_dreaming_president_oscar_arias_with_laura_chinchilla_his_former_vic/ http://www.adventuretourscostarica.com/news/archive/must_be_dreaming_president_oscar_arias_with_laura_chinchilla_his_former_vic/#When:17:42:00Z The election of Costa Rica’s first female president has been a cause for applause in the region, stirring some nations to wonder when they will be next. Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom said his country is ready for the milestone. “I think so, that there could be a woman president (here),” he told newswire AFP, adding that “Guatemala has changed a lot after its signing of the peace (in 1996)” that ended a 36-year civil war. Costa Rica’s neighbor to the north, Nicaragua, is among the Latin American nations that have already had female leaders, on a growing list that includes Argentina, Chile, Panama, and briefly, Bolivia and Ecuador. Nicaragua’s current vice president showed optimism that the Chinchilla win will improve relations between the two countries, which have sometimes cooled during the administration of Oscar Arias. “Without a doubt with the new president of Costa Rica relations with Nicaragua will harmonize much more,” Vice President Jaime Morales said, according to the newswire EFE. Morales said friction between Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and Arias have not been “rows, but rather conceptual differences of criteria and personality.” The vice president also took the opportunity to compliment the Tica president-elect’s character and her looks. “Laura is a disciple of president Arias, although she has her own trajectory…. She’s very competent, pleasant, frank, with a nice presence and pretty at that,” Morales said. The United States Embassy in Costa Rica said congratulations in a statement and said the recently arrived Ambassador Anne S. Andrew “hopes to forge a strong relationship with the president-elect, her cabinet and new members of the Legislative Assembly, with the goal of confronting our common challenges and advancing toward our shared interests.” A Colombian government communiqué extended Chinchilla “best wishes for a successful administration.” Spain congratulated Costa Rica, too. Its governing Spanish Socialist Workers Party issued a statement saying it is confident Chinchilla will continue the “social democratic policies” that will enable the country “to continue leading one of the soundest progressive projects of Central America,” Europa Press reported. Sunday’s elections process received good marks from international observers as well. “Citizens made their choice at the polls, participating actively from the opening until the closing of the voting stations,” María Emma Mejía, head of the mission sent by the Organization of American States, said in a statement. “ From the day I arrived, Costa Rica gave yet another piece of proof of civility and democratic responsibility.” –Tico Times and wire reports 2010-02-10T17:42:00-06:00 http://www.adventuretourscostarica.com/news/archive/costa_rica_elects_first_woman_president/ http://www.adventuretourscostarica.com/news/archive/costa_rica_elects_first_woman_president/#When:19:32:00Z By Alex Leff Tico Times Staff | aleff@ticotimes.net Costa Rica elected Laura Chinchilla to be the country’s first woman president Sunday in a festive election day that proved to be a major victory for the incumbent party of President Oscar Arias, of the centrist National Liberation Party (PLN). Chinchilla, 50, who had stepped down as Arias’ vice president last year to campaign for president, garnered nearly 47 percent of the vote, with 70 percent of the votes counted by 11 p.m. The result confounded most analysts’ expectations and surpassed Chinchilla’s ranking in the polls, which sank to 41.9 percent in a Unimer survey published last week in the daily La Nación. Ottón Solís, candidate of the center-left Citizen Action Party (PAC), earned just below 25 percent of the vote as of 11 p.m., while the right-wing Libertarian Movement’s (ML) Otto Guevara garnered 21 percent. After campaigning under the slogan “Laura: Firme y Honesta,” Chinchilla won all seven provinces, which is the first time in a quarter century this has happened. “Wives and working women continue overcoming barriers to make a greater Costa Rica,” Chinchilla said in her acceptance speech, as the poll results continued to come out. “All the women and also the men who have accompanied us have made it possible that a daughter of this country can today be president.” Chinchilla’s highest priority will be to guarantee the security and safety of Costa Ricans, she said, as well as to meet all of her campaign promises. She called on the PAC and the ML to join with her to solve the nation’s problems. The PLN, characterized by a blend of pro-business and social democratic policies, will also dominate the Legislative Assembly with as many as 24 – by Sunday night’s unfinished vote count – of the legislature’s 57 seats. The PAC won 10 seats and Libertarians won 10. The Social Christian Unity Party (Unidad) took six seats and, beyond all expectations, the Accessibility Without Exclusion Party earned four. “I consider this a great moment for our country, it can bring us continuity,” Damaris Leiva, a 51-year-old teacher, said Sunday at Chinchilla’s celebration party. 2010-02-08T19:32:00-06:00 http://www.adventuretourscostarica.com/news/archive/the_minivan_that_could_nicoya_driving/ http://www.adventuretourscostarica.com/news/archive/the_minivan_that_could_nicoya_driving/#When:02:23:00Z By Paul Brohaugh Special to The Tico Times | editorial@ticotimes.net Somewhere between the Pacific beaches of Manzanillo and Coyote is a dusty track, theoretically a road, that wades pebbled rivers and climbs into herds of white Brahman cows before plunging directly back to sea level. A driver could equally expect to round the corner into a beachy paradise or to face 50 meters of open river. Hence, the dilemma: Do you drive slowly into the water for better traction and less splashing, or open the throttle, close your eyes and hit the river at highway speed? We were touring the Nicoya Peninsula in a 1995 Mercury Villager minivan – two-wheel drive, bad clearance. We crossed 11 rivers, and went with choice “B” 11 times. Where No Minivan Has Gone Before: An intrepid Mercury Villager braves a river crossing on a remote stretch of northwestern Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula, where the map may lie and roadblocking streams abound. Jesse Olson | Tico Times It is quiet and beautiful here, and the farther you go, the harder it is to turn around. We were vaguely bound for Nosara, where my wife, Rebeccah, and I got married in 2004. Tamarack, 3, was born in San José, but this was the first time he and Raven, 1, had seen the ocean. We peeled ourselves and a couple of friends away from Minnesota’s ice, borrowed the Mercury and pointed her west from San José. We figured we’d cross the Gulf of Nicoya and make it to Montezuma, on the peninsula’s southern tip, by nightfall. We took the 3 p.m. ferry from the Central Pacific port city of Puntarenas, which dropped us an hour or so later in the village of Paquera. The price of this little cruise was $21 for four adults, two kids and a van. $21 is not a bad deal to blast out of Puntarenas in one shot. I’m sure the town has its attributes, but they’re hard to find when you’re trapped in a minivan in the stifling midday heat on that barely vegetated finger of concrete and asphalt leading to the ferry terminal. Also, the ferry ride was a good place for my oldest boy to begin his long-anticipated search for dolphins, whales and water ladies. We didn’t find any, but we saw some rocky islands, a floating log and about 50 seagulls named Gary. Sunset view from the coastal road south of Islita. Jesse Olson | Tico Times The road to Montezuma is mostly pavement with giant holes, and it’s fairly well marked – turn left at the sign with the missing arrow. Right away we noticed a few things: ₡ 560 doesn’t go as far as it used to, and it’s harder to party all night and laze around all day with little boys in tow. I never have figured out how to party all night, so that wasn’t much of a problem, although Tamarack was working on it from midnight until 2 a.m. our first night in Montezuma. He went backwards, mustering all the tears and agony of a dramatic party for an hour, then drawing dolphins and other sea animals, with narration, of course, and lights on. Fan off. Montezuma is hilly and goes right up to the curvy beach, which is nice for municipal ambience but makes the beach itself a bit townish. We didn’t find any dolphins, whales or water ladies here, either, so we took off pretty quick in the morning. Our boys got to see the real ocean, though, and Tamarack’s storybook fascination changed to terror with the first wave that crashed on his feet. Playa Guiones, near Nosara. Rebeccah Berry | Tico Times To get out of these seaside hamlets, you basically drive up a cliff to the inland trails, or drive the coastal trail, which also includes cliffs, and rivers. Crossing the southern tip of the peninsula, we went inland and back out to get to Malpaís and Santa Teresa. The towns there are a string of shops and lodges along a wide gravel road, with 100 meters or so of vegetation between the road and the beach. From there we decided to try the “three-and-a-half-hour” coastal drive to Nosara. This corner of the map shows a spiderweb of roads, but I think some of them are lies. If we dipped the paper in truth serum and shook it to the light, half the lines would fade right off, most of the rest would turn into faint markings, and one or two would appear out of nowhere. Lacking the knowledge of which roads are real, the foolhardy tourist can drive by a combination of intuition, or “feel,” and some friendly advice along the way. The general rule of interpreting distances and times is to multiply the hours by two-and-a-half and the number of river crossings by three. This was the most serene and isolated part of our trip, and I told Tamarack we’d come back on motorcycles when he’s 16, or maybe 12. The only time the minivan seemed truly scared was when she heard, “It’s only an hour if you drive on the beach – but go quickly, because the tide is coming in. Do you have four-wheel drive?” Playa Guiones, near Nosara. Rebeccah Berry | Tico Times “Chirp chirp chirp! (No, I don’t! I don’t have four-wheel drive!)” she said, breaking into a wailing moan until we could find the button to calm her. (I hope the bird that chirps for these universal car alarms here gets a lot of royalties; it must have done an hour’s worth of chirping on our trip alone.) Anyway, about six hours and four rivers into the three-and-a-half-hour, two-river drive, we found ourselves up a cliff without a Jeep. I’d gunned Li’l Merc halfway up a rutted hill and she skidded to a halt. The odds seemed equal that we’d roll off into the pasture, burn up the transmission or abandon the van and ride off on horses. But someone found a giant plank in the ditch, and two of us employed it as a lever behind the back bumper. The lightest person who could reach the gas pedal pushed it, and we cleared the hump in a couple of lurches and shot off into paradise (not that paradise). We roared through Coyote, Islita, Carrillo and Sámara and arrived in Nosara after dark, just in time for another wild party. This time it was reading about dolphins. 2010-02-06T02:23:00-06:00 http://www.adventuretourscostarica.com/news/archive/sailfish_mahimahi_action_on_pacific_caribbean_fishing_improves_with_weather/ http://www.adventuretourscostarica.com/news/archive/sailfish_mahimahi_action_on_pacific_caribbean_fishing_improves_with_weather/#When:01:18:01Z The weather has been nearly perfect throughout Costa Rica. The winds have died down on the northern Pacific coast, and the sun has been shining on the Caribbean side after heavy rains earlier this month. The fishing has been good all along the Pacific coast, with most boats averaging a handful of sailfish and a few mahimahi each day. The lucky ones have also been catching some marlin. The fishing on the Caribbean side is improving with the weather, and they are catching snook and tarpon. Northern Pacific Shimmering: A Pacific sailfish shows its colors. Photo courtesy of Jerry “Bubba” Hallstrom Capt. Skeet Warren on the Bushwacker in Flamingo took a group out for some offshore fishing. One couple caught their first sailfish. They also caught a handful of mahimahi for the grill and had a great time. Capt. Lee Keidel on the Kingpin in Tamarindo reports calm seas and a short run to the fishing grounds. Sailfish, mahimahi and wahoo are providing the most action, with a few marlin sightings. The near-shore fishing for snapper and grouper has been steady, but the roosterfish bite has been a bit slower than usual. The Gamefisher II and Capt. Richard Chellemi have been fishing in the Flamingo and Carrillo area, catching sailfish, mahimahi, wahoo and a few striped and blue marlin. The half-day inshore trips are getting some grouper, snapper, jack and more. Jim and Teri Webster, from the U.S. state of Oregon, fished two days out of Carrillo aboard the Flamingo II with Capt. Gene Watson. The first day, they caught four good mahimahi but had no billfish shots. They scored big the second day, releasing two blue marlin, one striped marlin and one sailfish – the first slam for the Flamingo II this year, and the Websters’ first marlin release. Central Pacific Congratulations to the captain and crew of the Cerveza out of Los Sueños Marina. They took first place is the 2010 Los Sueños Signature Billfish Series Tournament. The Big Oh finished in second place and The Hook finished third. Forty-two boats entered the three-day event and released 676 sailfish and 12 marlin. They also caught a load of mahimahi, but they don’t count in the tourney, so for these guys they were a nuisance. Capt. James Smith and the crew of the Dragin Fly have been working hard and averaging four to eight sailfish per day, a few mahimahi and even a few yellowfin tuna. They also caught a couple of marlin recently. Ocean Adventures and Capt. Dana Thomas report a steady bite, averaging five or six sailfish and a few mahimahi each day. They have also been doing some bottom fishing for grouper and snapper, and report a good bite for fish in the 10- to 25-pound range. Capt. Dave Mothershead on the Miss Behavin’ broke off a 400-pound blue marlin recently just 20 miles offshore, and ended the day with four sailfish and two mahimahi. The crew on the J-Barrilete in Bahía Herradura has been keeping busy, averaging two to five sailfish per day and a few mahimahi. They’ve also done some inshore fishing and report a below-average roosterfish bite. The folks from Bluewater Sportfishing in Quepos report some good fishing. The Blue Water II caught five sailfish and a 500-pound marlin recently, while the Blue Water III caught eight sailfish and a nice marlin with a group that fished a couple of full days offshore. The guys from JP Sportfishing have been fishing out of Quepos and Los Sueños on the Wild Lady and the Sea Lady. They’ve been catching anywhere from two to seven sailfish and mahimahi per day. They also picked up a marlin and a couple of roosterfish recently. Southern Pacific Bob Baker of Golfito Sportfishing reports some good action and flat seas in Zancudo. There have been good numbers of sailfish and mahimahi and even some yellowfin tuna offshore. The marlin have been popping up here and there but seem to have full bellies and are just curious. The inshore fishing for snapper has been good, and they’ve also been catching some roosterfish. Northern Region Lee Swidler took Joe Cambia of kayakfishingmagazine.net to the north-central waters for some inland light tackle fishing. They fished the Río Niño, catching a bunch of machaca, and then moved over to Caño Negro for some tarpon fishing. Philippe Tisseaux of San Carlos Sport Fishing welcomed some return guests for tarpon fishing on the Río San Juan in Nicaragua. They all caught and safely released tarpon between 80 and 150 pounds. They also fished the Solentiname Islands, catching average numbers of guapote and lots of mojarra. Caribbean Diann Sánchez of Río Colorado Lodge reports some great snook fishing recently. Return guest Wally Lebrun caught three snook over 10 pounds. With the weather and tarpon fishing improving, they hooked 22 tarpon in three days. Capt. Eddie Brown on the Bullshark in Tortuguero reports some beautiful weather and flat seas on the northern Caribbean coast. They’ve been catching good numbers of fat snook and hooking a handful of tarpon each day. 2010-02-06T01:18:01-06:00