News Paradise From Ojochal, PostCosta Rica and Beyond April 2019 Updates from the Osa Inside this issue: N June we will be exhibiting at the Updates from the Osa 1 IInternational Living “Fast Track Costa Rica event in San Jose, Costa Rica June Discovery Tour Dates 1 12 - 14. We’ll be offering tours both before developments. The plaza will also have 2 the event and after. (sign up below). a new grocery store as well as a new The Best Beaches in CR We are super excited about pharmacy. Lipstick Palm 3 our new ocean view lots in Vista Sin Fin. As always we’ll be running lots of Come see them before they are gone. The tours this summer for all those who want Artificial Thatch 4 Envision Fest just ended in Uvita, a holistic to come experience life in our wonderful gathering of both young and old interested International community. Birding in Costa Rica 4 in ways to improve both our lives and our We’ll also be offering a Costa influence on others and the planet we live Rica/Panama 10 day country and Property Welcome New Neighbors 5 on. Tickets are now on sale for next year’s tour July 5 - 15. At $1,800 per single (in 10 Day & CR Panama Tour 5 Envision Fest February 20 - 24. See the a single room) and $3,000 per couple, article on the festival for more information. most meals are included, as is all lodging, Biodiversity in Costa Rica 6 We are also thrilled to see the transportation and tours. We start in San new plaza recently opened in Ojochal Jose, CR and end in Panama City, Panama. Beach Front Lot for Sale 6 and new home to Citrus Restaurant. As one of the best restaurants in the entire Steve Linder Move In Ready Home 4 Sale 7 southern region, their new home is both [email protected] beautiful and conveniently located to our Discovery Property Tour Dates 4 day all inclusive $299 per person April 24 - 27 July 10 - 13 May 8 - 11 May 22 - 25 July 17 - 20 June 5 - 8 August 7 - 10 Citrus Restaurant and the New Plaza June 8 - 11 Aug 28 - Sept 2 June 15 - 18 (after the Intern- (Labor day weekend) ational Living Costa Rica conference) June 16 - 19 July 5 - 14 Ten Day Costa Rica & Panama Tour - Sign Up To sign up for the 4 Day Tour Click Here www.PacificLots.com The Best Beaches in Costa Rica Paradise Post osta Rica is famous for beautiful surfing waves, laid back lifestyle and beauti- spots, warm clear water, rocks pools at low tide Cbeaches. With coastlines on the Pacific ful landscapes, Dominical captures the es- for the snorkelers. and Caribbean, it’s home to some of the sence of an old Costa Rican beach town and best PLAYAS in the world. Golden sand continues to captivate the many visitors that 10. Playa Samara - The ocean here is shaded by palm trees and powdery white come every year. Dominical is one of the shallow, and the waves are present enough to sand surrounded by offshore corals. You top surfing beaches in Costa Rica, attracting learn to surf but unforgiving enough to enjoy can enjoy sublime sunrises and Pacific people from all over the world looking for a a day splashing around in them. After a day in beaches that glow with fiery sunsets! laid-back beach town to catch waves. the waves, there are sunset beach lounges with mellow music, creative cocktails and interna- I am going to list my top 11 choices for 5. Playa Tamarindo - Picture a tional cuisine. The magical sunsets during our the BEST beaches in Costa Rica: tropical paradise and you’re likely thinking stay turned the sky various shades of purple of somewhere that resembles Tamarindo. and pink, causing a wall of bikini-clad amateur 1. Manuel Antonio Beach - Every- You will be busy soaking in the bright sun- paparazzi to form, trying to capture the stunning thing people love about Costa Rica with shine and splashing around in the stunning scenery. spectacular beaches, calm turquoise water, turquoise water. Those looking to dive in the lush rainforest and abundant wildlife. water can just head to the beach with a towel 11. Ostional Wild Life Refuge -Turtle $16 per person if you are not a local to and have a day filled with fun swimming. Hatching- One of the two most important areas enter, allowing you to see the wildlife and Those that are more adventurous can rent in the world for nesting of the Olive Ridley visit the 3-4 beaches in Manuel Antonio scuba gear and spend the day exploring what turtle. This is the place for nearly guaranteed National Park. The park beaches are much is underneath the surface of the pristine Costa Rica turtle watching. Every year, mil- more tranquil than the free beaches in the water. lions of sea turtles lumber onto the beaches of area because there are no vendors and Ostional National Wildlife Refuge. Every year, much less populated due to the entrance 6. Playa Teresa - With stunning white millions of sea turtles are born on the beaches fee. If you leave your bag unattended on sand beaches, reliable surfing waves and a of Ostional Wildlife Refuge. And every year, the beach and have food in it, the monkeys laid-back vibe you will love this beach. The thousands of lucky visitors come to these beach- will come out of the forest, look through it, sun-warmed clear water ranges from knee- es to witness this spectacular event! and steal your food from you :) deep to about chest-deep and is filled with all kinds of interesting sea creatures that get 2. Playa Ventanas - Playa Ventanas trapped when the tide goes out. You can (Windows Beach) gets it’s name from the find sea anemones, sea stars, crabs, mus- beautiful sea caves that line the north and sels, hermit crabs and lots of little brightly south ends of the beach. The two caves on colored fish. Rocks and volcanic reef create the north end extend from the beach out to the structure around the tide pool. Since the the ocean, which is a distance of about 50 water is shallow and it’s right off the beach, meters. Absolutely spectacular! this is a perfect swimming and snorkeling site for everyone. 3. Playa Ballena - Bahia Ballena is 7. Malpais - offers rocky coves, white located just 15 minutes south of the more sand beaches, waterfalls, rainforests, surfing, well-known surf town, Dominical, and is and relaxation near a remote fishing village a breath of fresh air for travelers looking and Cabo Blanco National Park. The prime to enjoy the natural beauty of the South- attraction is surfing at beaches. There is ern Pacific region, as well as the laid-back fishing, boating, snorkeling, diving, hiking, charm of a small, authentic Tico town. horseback riding, biking, and 4-wheel drive Bahia Ballena, which literally means “Whale touring. A 4-wheel drive vehicle comes in Bay”, has its name for two reasons: handy for navigating unpaved roads in this still mostly wild area, particularly during the A. At low tide the sandbar on the rainy season. north end of the Ballena Marine National Park beach forms into what from above 8. Playa Hermosa - Hermosa, which looks like a giant whale’s tail, aka the means “beautiful” in Spanish, is an aptly Whale’s Tail. named gray-sand beach that perches between B. It provides the perfect place for whales two mountains. It is a fabulous getaway for from both the north and south to give those seeking quality relaxation. birth; for this reason, there are actually whale watching seasons in this lucky town. 9. Playa Blanca- Playa Blanca has pris- tine white sand and alluring water. This is a 4. Playa Dominical - With its great welcome oasis. Plenty of trees for shade, free www.PacificLots.com loungers (if you’re early); picnic and BBQ Lipstick Palm of Costa Paradise Post ho hasn’t lusted after this tropical it’s much easier and faster to remove and Wbeauty, with its scarlet crownshaft and replant suckers from the side of an estab- petioles, red as sealing wax. Frustratingly, they lished tree. If you’re adventurous and want grow like weeds in South-East Asia and Costa to try your hand at growing lipstick palm Rica, yet are so rarely available elsewhere. The from seeds, remove dry seedheads from a small seeds germinate rapidly, and the subse- plant, then remove the seeds and plant them quent seedlings show color from quite a young in a planting media with excellent moisture age. These palms require tropical conditions, retention. Germination generally takes at such as in Costa Rica, but will also grow hap- least two to four months, and seeds may not pily in the greenhouse or conservatory. sprout for up to nine months. Also known as red palm or red sealing wax palm, lipstick palm (Cyrtostachys renda) is ap- propriately named for its distinctive, bright red fronds and trunk. Lipstick palm is considered by many to be one of the world’s most beau- tiful and exotic palms. Lipstick palm grow- ing conditions includes partial shade while the plant is young. Otherwise, mature trees thrive in full sunlight. This warm climate tree prefers year round temperatures between 75 and 85 F. (24-29 C.). Red sealing wax palm doesn’t grow well in dry soil and isn’t tolerant of strong winds. It requires high humidity and even grows in swampy conditions or standing water, making this palm a useful pond plant.