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Reinvent Your Life
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Sustainable Wellness
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EDITORIAL
Are YOU ID? Inclusive Means Action, Not Just Acceptance A very common human response is to ignore problems and think that by not addressing them they will heal themselves or just go away. Throughout time, we have ignored the pleas of marginalized people and are now facing the consequences of our complacency. We have been faced with these issues for generations, as mere baby steps forward are counteracted by events that push things back.
W
hen Howler readers were introduced to our new WE are ID section last month, I explained that the “I” stands for inclusion, and of course, “D” stands for diversity. Watching what has transpired in the north during recent weeks has added a lot more perspective on the ways people are treated and included. Listening to so many interviews I’ve heard the word “integration” used exclusively. Integration needs to happen. Yet it’s sad that integration must be sought after. For integrationseeking protest groups to now encompass the globe demonstrates how vitally important the issue is worldwide. As a sensitive topic, integration needs to be carefully broached. First, we must listen to what is being said. We then need to seek understanding and acknowledgment before making progressive, meaningful changes. Yes COVID-19 has certainly caused changes. For better or worse, it has affected all of us in various ways. We can either adjust and be productive as we venture out once again, or remain the same as the changed world passes us by.
Acceptance of diversity in itself is not enough. We all know that action needs to be taken. People of color are not always protected under the same laws that are supposed to protect human rights equally. Women in the workplace are being treated unfairly and paid unequally. Accommodations for people with disabilities are being overlooked and members of LGBTQ populations shunned. We do see many promising examples of significant changes that occur when organizations take stances to be integrative and inclusive of diversity. Some will be featured in this magazine. But these kinds of changes need to be much more wide-sweeping and made more quickly. So in Howler’s WE are ID section, we also ask this question: Are YOU ID? As a white straight male, I am less vulnerable than others when going out in public to being targeted by demeaning or harmful actions. Not having to look over my shoulders and hear hurtful comments or see glances of disgust is the norm for me. It is the norm that I grew up in. But that is not the case for many of my friends.
Being subjected to exclusive treatment does not go away just because you received an education. I have witnessed many instances of ill treatment towards other for ignorant and unjustified reasons. With sadness, I recall losing track of a friend I had grown up with. It was not for lack of trying but because of a long-held secret he did not want to confide. Then one day he called, and with a shaking voice, said there was something he needed to tell me: he was gay. When I asked why he didn’t tell me this before, he said he had thought I would not be his friend. I laughed and assured him, “Hey, I have known all along that you were gay and that has not stopped me from being your friend.” Then my friend proceeded to tell me he had AIDS. I, of course, was very sad that he had waited more than eight years to discuss this with me. He passed away a couple of years later. But to this day I consider him one of my closest and dearest friends. I look back with regret about the time wasted by him not calling me sooner. We need to get the hatred out of our lives and accept the world for what it offers. It is a beautiful world that can be better for all. I want changes to make it so.
John B. Quam
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Cover Story When Costa Rica Reopens its Doors
SURF The Engaged Eye of Tony Roberts Welcome Back to Witch's Rock Hurricanes in Costa Rica?
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Just Seven Days? San José Says You Can Only One Week? Liberia Lets You Do It
Page 14 PURA VIDA Stomach and Intestinal Illness Four Women in One Facial Harmonization Cadasana: The Mountain Pose Adopt Mango Troop! Chicken Fingers! | Page 92| 8
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ACE The Art of Alejandra Acuña Pedro Golobios
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COVID-19 Calls on Workforce to Turn Up the Volume on Lifelong Learning Soft Skills: For Work and That's Not All
Five Articles in Spanish!
Costa Rica Announces Municipal Tax Breaks Due to COVID-19 Time for a Half-Year Check-up
online
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WE are ID From Bradley's World
Adventure & Travel
Costa Rica's Coral Reefs
Good Practices of Organizational Inclusion Marriott Hotels
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If You Hear Thunder
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Features!
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Real Estate For Sale By Owner Vacation Rentals
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Howler Troop For This Issue Howler is excited to introduce the talented young San José artist Alejandra Acuña in the Arts Culture Entertainment (ACE) section of our July E-magazine. Just the few samples we are able to share from her diverse collection are sure to delight you for the same reasons their intensely vivid colors caught the attention of our Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, John Quam, while browsing social media one day recently. Alejandra, a native of Cartago, began painting in her teens before pursuing art professionally just a few years later. Her acrylic artworks typically take form on large canvases, where animal and marine life is captured with the same passion she exhibits toward human subjects. In every instance, the connection between artist and painting is deeply personal.
WRITERS Joanna Blanco. Integrative nutritional health coach who helps clients embrace wellness in five inter-connected areas of life: relationships, livelihood, physical activity, spiritual awareness and diet.
Jim Parisi. Former owner of Jaime Peligro Bookstore, now called "Bookstore of the Waves". Tamarindo resident for 16 years. jaimepeligro123@hotmail.com
Bradley Brown. Musician, also passionate about sports, whose music can be heard on the Bradley's World YouTube channel. Follow his musings on wide-ranging arts and humanities topics are shared on the Facebook blog @bradleysworldshow
Zasha Pérez Gallardo. Area Director, Public Relations for Marriott International, Central America & North South America.
Alei Burns. The Bookstore of the Waves owner, New York-raised librarian, passionate book and surf lover. Mary Byerly. HIghly certified yoga instructor. Guiding others to live vibrantly, creating positive change one person at a time. panaceacr@ gmail.com
Rosalind Stewart. Canadian chef who has lived in Costa Rica for 18 years and has a cooking show on a San José TV station. Dalia Vargas. Doctor in Dental Surgery and owner of Guanacaste Dental, with postgraduate training in cosmetic dentistry from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (Colombia). Former member, Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) and member, Costa Rican Board of Dentistry.
Terry Carlile. Served as a U. S. Navy journalist for eight years, and is also a workshop trainer and keynote speaker.
Ryan Waldron. BS Atmospheric Science and surfer living in Tamarindo.
Fabiola Domínguez Aguilar. Journalist with over 11 years of experience, currently working as Executive of Communications & Marketing at CINDE.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Miguel Flores. Senior Consultant with Deloitte Costa Rica. Has a Master's degree in industrial and organizational psychology, extensive work experience in human capital/organizational development and change management, and research expertise in quality of work life . Ivan Granados. Managing Partner at GM Attorneys. He specializes in real estate and corporate law. igranados@gmattorneyscr.com Kate Hanley. Freelance writer, teacher, surfer and owner of Pura Vida Board Gear in Jacó. Also a dedicated volunteer and advocate for community service, education and environmental protection. Follow her on instagram @puravidaboardgear Malcolm Hill. Australian expat living in Playas Del Coco, where he is manager of Surf Papagayo at Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica. Visit www.surfpapagayo.com or instagram.com/ surfpapagayo E-mail: info@surfpapagayo.com Laura Méndez. Founder of Pura Vida Vibrations. Offering sound journeys, breath work experiences, cacao ceremonies & other activities. hello@puravidavibrations.com Kelly Norris. Writer, photographer, and marketing specialist. Avid surfer, nature lover and certified yoga instructor combining her love for Costa Rica and personal passions with business.
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Jonathan Agüero. Jacó photographer and father of junior Costa Rican surf champion Rachel Agüero. Dedicated to surf photography and dabbles in lifestyle sessions, enjoying the ability to capture many feelings and relive them through images. Instagram and Facebook @ jonathanagu_photos. Contact: 7157 6409 or jonathanaguphotos@gmail. com Alfredo Barquero. Surf photographer for Federación de Surf Costa Rica, whose work appears extensively in online publications and collections, including @FedeSurfCR Perry Carlile. Pastor of Beachside Community Church and freelance photographer. John Durán. Colombian photographer now living in Costa Rica, with extensive commercial experience including as a photojournalist with La Nación newspaper and Profile fashion magazine. Specialist in underwater and photography. Contact: 6059-6431 or jhone. duran@gmail.com. Instagram @johnduran_photography. Facebook @ johnduranfotografia Maureen Durán. Surf photographer for 10 years. Manages Playa Hermosa Surf Report page, striving to help promote surfers with quality photos to achieve their goals. Also a personal trainer specializing in surf training. Instagram: @momasurfphotos. Facebook: @ playahermosasurfreport
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Agustin Muñoz. Native of Argentina pursuing a dual passion for the ocean and photography in Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica, since 2001. Surf photography talents have taken him all over the globe, working for Red Bull, Rip Curl, Volcom and Adidas and Fujifilm. See his work at agus.work or Instagram@agustinmunoz Email: agustinoup@gmail.com Tony Roberts. Lifelong surfer, skater, artist, musician, photographer and filmmaker. Go-to guy for tourist surfers in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Panama and the Caribbean with his company Real Surf Trips. Visit tonyrobertsphoto.com or realsurftrips.com Jorge A. Russell. Professional photographer from Chile, now based in Jacó. Diverse expertise in both outdoor and studio settings. 8836-6475. Visit jorgerussellphotographer Fabián Sánchez. Playa Tamarindo surf photographer for over 12 years, including five years for Federación de Surf Costa Rica, and producer of Surfing Nation Magazine. WhatsApp: 7271-6292. Instagram @ fabiansanchez_images and @surfingnationmag
Contact John Quam headmonkey@howlermag.com Editor editor@howlermag.com Advertising info@howlermag.com CR Office: (506) 4701-5942 US Office: (303)952-0337 (leave message) The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors in this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Howler organization or its advertisers. The Howler Magazine does not assume responsibility for the content of its advertisements.
July 2020 Vol. 25 No. 5 Publisher / Editor-in-Chief John B. Quam Creative Director Terry Carlile Graphic Design Cover Design: Terry Carlile Editorial Staff Debbie Bride - Editorial Coordinator Laurie Quam - Copy Editor Marketing Terry Carlile Victoria Price Kelly Norris Mary Fernández
Images not credited are acquired from stock photography services. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests write to: info@howlermag.com. Copyright © 2020 The Howler Gold Coast CR S.A. Copyright © 2020 Howler Media Holding, Inc. Panama
Spanish Translation CPI Flamingo HOWLER (™) 2017
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When Costa Rica Reopens Its Door
A Week is All? We’ve G
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Got You Covered
By Jim Parisi & Alei Burns
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UP FRONT
Costa Rica has adopted the slogan
#dontcancelpostpone
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o matter where we are in the world right now, unprecedented circumstances are being experienced in our own ways. Life has never been like this before and we’re uncertain what the future looks like. But that cannot, nor should not, stop anyone from dreaming of traveling again.
COVER STORY
As a country whose economy is significantly dependent on tourism, Costa Rica has adopted the slogan #dontcancelpostpone. And it’s a message with the sincerest of intentions. When the time is right, Costa Rica will be waiting with open arms for the arrival of tourists eager to explore what this wonderful country has to offer. Let's begin imagining and planning your excursions!
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Naturally, the more time you are able to spend in Costa Rica, the better. When it comes to infinite possibilities for enjoying your visit here, never be deceived by the relatively small size of this country on the world map. You will never run out of places to go or things to do during a stay lasting from two weeks to two months or longer. If a shorter trip is all you can manage, 10 days may be preferable on the minimum end of the scale.
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However, dont rule out the opportunity to get a great taste of Costa Rica if limited to just a week. There are more possibilities than you might think. Whether your international flight lands and takes off from San José or Liberia, either Costa Rican hub has you covered for an unforgettable seven-day vacation. With a limitless variety and number of choices, we’re giving you a sense of some popular places that are no more than three hours away from each home base. All are easy to research online, including at howlermag.com. Take advantage of the time you have now to check them out. Hope to see you soon!
Discover More We’ve Covered Before This E-magazine cover story only touches on some of the most popular tourist attractions that could be sampled during a seven-day trip plan based out of San José or Liberia. Links to online Howler articles are provided in quite a few instances. Below, we’ve listed more howlermag.com links for discovering places you might also consider visiting in the regions closest to one or the other city. Specific locales are grouped by regional location near San José or Liberia, First are three recent article links describing alternate transportation modes: adventure connections, domestic air travel and public buses.
Go to www.howlermag.com and search your interests, cities, adventures and discover hundreds of articles!
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COVER STORY
UP FRONT Getting Around Adventure Connections Skybound: Flying Costa Rica’s Airstrips Bus Trip Tips: Ten Pointers for a Smoother Ride
San José
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The Jade Museum: A Voyage of Art Through History 1 Museos Del Banco Central de Costa Rica (Pre-Columbian Gold and Numismatic) Chepe Cletas: Stroll, Cycle, See Learn and Enjoy Your Way Carpe Chepe: A Local’s Tour of San José Hop On La Carreta with Carpe Chepe
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Art City Tour El Mercado Central de San José: The Heart of the City 2
Central Valley San Juan Santamaria Historical Cultural Museum Tapanti: Remote and Reachable Day Hike from San José 3
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On the Road to Shambahla: Providencia and San Geraldo de Dota Costa Rica's Shangri-La: Los Quetzales National Park
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Central Pacifi
La Iglesia de San Painting the Tow Cruising In Styl Magical Manuel Santa Teresa Tim Around the Gulf Hell Hotel: San L 18
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n Blas: The Oldest Church in Costa Rica 5 wn Jacó: A Surf City that Became an Art Gallery 6 le to Isla Tortuga: Luxury-Infused Adventure l Antonio: Seven Reasons to Love This Area me: Just While Away Your Day 7 f: Puntarenas to Nicoya Peninsula 4 Lucas Island Prison
Nine Unusually Cool Things to Do in Costa Rica Where the Rivers Meet the Sea Rainforest Tram Trip: Short Ride from San José Towards Caribbean or in Jacó Rainforest Adventures' Sky Bridge Tour Adrenalin Rush and Surrounded by Nature 8 Military Makeovers Honor Culture of Peace HM HOWLER MAGAZINE | 19
COVER STORY
UP FRONT
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Don’t cancel, postpone.
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Just Seven Days? San José Says You Can When Borders Reopen
By Jim Parisi & Alei Burns
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tarting and ending your visit to Costa Rica from the country’s busiest arrival and departure point, Juan Santamaría International Airport is about 20 minutes from the heart of the capital city, San José.
Do not be in any hurry to leave San José without immersing yourself in its bustling urban landscape for a day or two. Tradition and culture are yours to enjoy at every street corner. With no less than 20 museums, San José will captivate visitors of all ages with an interest in Costa Rica’s rich heritage. Here are just a few popular examples.
National Museum of Costa Rica Although no longer the country's largest museum, it still offers the widest diversity of exhibits. The floor plan for artifact collections has been meticulously detailed to represent a timeline from pre-Columbian history through the colonial and industrial eras, and into the 20th and 21st centuries. The museum also features a splendid terrace view of the entire city.
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COVER STORY
UP FRONT Children's Museum of Costa Rica This remarkably transformed former prison facility is now a happy and welcoming place for kids and adults alike to enjoy spending hours. Galleries and hands-on exhibits engage visitors in learning about science, technology, history, literature and culture. There is even a funhouse with an earthquake simulator. Peace Museum This relatively new museum is run by the Arias Foundation for Peace and Human Progress, showcasing Costa Rica’s achievements in promoting social change throughout Central America. It was established in 1992 through the foundation’s monetary proceeds from the Nobel Peace Prize awarded five years earlier to Costa Rica’s long-time President Oscar Arias. We also urge you not to miss these San José attractions.
National Theater of Costa Rica Even if your schedule doesn’t allow you to take in a performance of live theater, music or dance, the museum and cafe alone are worth the visit to one of Costa Rica’s most prominent architectural treasures. The resplendent baroque landmark, inaugurated in 1897, is located next to the Plaza de la Cultura. San Isidro of Coronado Church Prepare to be awestruck by this neoGothic architectural wonder, almost 140 years old. Your jaunt to Coronado, on the outskirts of San José, is one you will not regret for the chance to behold a church that ranks high on the most-beautiful-in-Costa Rica lists.
San Isidro of Coronado Church 22
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Nature not far away For a change of pace, your seven-day itinerary must include some nature-infused experiences. Fortunately, these can be found reasonable distances away from San José in different compass point directions. That includes distinctly different options for volcano enthusiasts, all easy day trips about 90 minutes away. About 50 kilometers northwest of the capital is Poás Volcano National Park, housing one of the
world’s largest geyser craters in a breathtaking cloud forest setting. The view overlooking the crater can still be described as otherworldly, despite drastic landscape transformations caused by a significant volcanic eruption in April 2017. To compare what visitors could view and experience before that event and after the national park was deemed safe to reopen 18 months later, click this Howler article link: Poás Revisited: Two Trips, 10 Years Apart La Paz Waterfall Gardens is a rewarding destination for tourists whose travel schedule is too compressed for sightseeing throughout many regions of the country. It’s an ideal day trip from San José, either on its own or in combination with a visit to Poás Volcano National Park. The oft-described magical excursion encompasses five stunning waterfalls, bromeliad and hummingbird gardens and a magnificent wildlife sanctuary incorporating the world’s largest butterfly observatory, a serpentarium and a frog pond.
The waterfalls La Paz
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UP FRONT
Irazu, Costa Rica’s tallest volcano, is 55 kilometers east of San José. Two of the four craters are visible to national park visitors, including the main crater, whose brilliant blue lake started reappearing in 2016 after being dry for several years. En route to Irazu, just 18 kilometers southwest of the volcano, is Sanatorio Durán, an abandoned hospital that tourists now find irresistible in being Costa Rica’s most haunted building. Valley of variety Because it does not take long to tour the Irazu volcano site, day trips from San José are often combined with an Orosi Valley excursion to Cartago. Highlights include Lankester Botanical Garden and the famous Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels. More than two million travelers from all corners of the country make an annual 22-kilometer pilgrimage to this church on foot every August 2, commemorating Costa Rica’s patron saint, the Virgin of los Ángeles. Click for details: Pilgrimage or Fiesta? Romería de la Virgen de los Ángeles. The quaint town of Orosi is the perfect place to savor fresh mountain air and the aroma of locally grown coffee you can sip at your leisure, perhaps with a view of Irazu volcano in the distance on a clear day. Orosi: A World Away, So Close describes how time seems to have stood still in this idyllic spot.
COVER STORY
Other relaxed urban tourism hubs, where visitors appreciate blends of cultural authenticity and modern amenities, can be found in Costa Rica’s Central Valley, short distances from San José.
The ancient ruins at Guayabo
Three notable examples are Escazú, Atenas and Grecia. Cangreja is closer than any other national park to the Central Valley, just a short drive from San José. Extensive, well-kept trails cover everything from a hike to the 1,300 meter summit of La Cangreja itself, to walks along the Río Negro with natural swimming holes and waterfalls. 24
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The view overlooking the crater c still be described as otherworldly.
Poás Volcano Nationa howlermag.com
Although less well known than many of Costa Rica’s national parks, Heredia’s Sarapiquí canton has become an increasingly popular day trip or weekend excursion for visitors or locals in the Central Valley. Bordered by Nicaragua in the north, it appeals to families and thrill seekers alike, including whitewater rafters, and all manner of nature lovers. Also in the Central Valley just over an hour’s drive east of San José is the small town of Turrialba. Besides being a favorite spot for white water rafting adventures on the Pacuare and Reventazón Rivers, it’s ideally located for visiting the nearby Turrialba Volcano National Park. Strolling around the preColumbian ruins described in the Howler article Guayabo: History of a Mystery is also recommended.
Sarapiquí
Caribbean dreamscapes Heading east from San José leads to Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, from Tortuguero National Park in the north, to Cahuita and Puerto Viejo in the south towards the Panama border. Lush tropical wonderlands delight you at every turn, from rainforest adventures to surfing and snorkeling in places unlike anything in your wildest dreams. An overview is provided in the article Seeing the Other Side: A Wildlife Infused Getaway on the Caribbean Coast.
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UP FRONT
Cute three-toed sloth on the ground of tropical shore iat Cahuita National Park
Tortuguero, named for the turtle nesting ground lining its 22-mile long stretch of protected beaches, is one of the country’s most popular national parks, but can only be reached by airplane or boat. The park site encompasses 11 different coastal habitats, including rainforest, mangroves, swamps and lagoons.
Cahuita and Puerto Viejo are not only known for their exotic natural landscapes, but as the jewels of the Caribe “hammock” culture, with a Calypso soundtrack. Afro-Caribbean influences have shaped traditions around food, language and customs as well as song and dance.
COVER STORY
Cahuita National Park offers the most glorious and leisurely kind of walk on the wild side you will ever experience in a jungle by the sea.
Wild Caribbean beach of Manzanillo at Puerto Viejo 26
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Central Pacific palette San José’s central, landlocked location in Costa Rica makes for short trips to Central Pacific hotspots as well. That includes the booming beachtown of Jacó, having undergone an image makeover from surf and party playground to an artistic, fun and family-friendly community with burgeoning civic pride.
World Surf League Tournament, Jacó Beach
With your trek from San José to Jacó taking only about 90 minutes, allow yourself time to stop at Carara National Park en route to the beach destination. You’ll know you’re close to the park when you cross the famous Tarcoles crocodile bridge. A riverboat trip will give you a much closer and more personal encounter with likely the largest size and greatest number of these creatures you could possibly imagine. HM HOWLER MAGAZINE | 27
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Driving about 75 minutes south from Jacó, and still less than 2.5 hours west of San José, brings you to the small but busy port town of Quepos. Besides being a popular sport fishing spot, Quepos is known for being the gateway to Manuel Antonio National Park. Not only is Manuel Antonio one of the easiest park sites in the country to access, it’s the crown jewel for visitors wanting to capture as much diversity of landscape and wildlife interactions in the same place in the same short space of time.
Observation deck in National Park Manuel Antonio
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WHAT WE’VE BEE
PRIVATE 2 DAY RIGHT N
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N UP TO LATELY
- 2 WEEK TRIPS NOW!
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UP FRONT
COVER STORY
Photo: www.gcmap.com
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Only One Week? Liberia Lets You Do It When Borders Reopen
By Jim Parisi & Alei Burns
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lanning a trip to the western side of Costa Rica? After landing at Liberia’s Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport, there is no shortage of variety for those seeking relaxation, adventure and every preference in between. Careful planning enables you to cover a lot of ground in the space of a week.
Costa Rica’s northernmost Pacific coast is bordered by Santa Rosa National Park, just a short drive north of Liberia. It is one of the world’s most important protected tropical dry forest habitats and also a storied battleground site. Not far northeast of Santa Rosa is Guanacaste National Park, within the same protected dry forest and wildlife corridor connecting with Rincón de la Vieja National Park to the southeast. Getting to the latter park northbound from Liberia takes about 35 minutes. Volcano vistas Volcano views are on offer in this region of the country too, including Rincón de la Vieja, which recently let off a little steam. In the same national park vicinity, you can choose favorite activity packages from bathing in waterfall pools or thermal hot springs with mud pots, to hiking, and ziplining, horseback riding, to whitewater rafting and tubing. Learn more in the Howler article Rincón de la Vieja: Really Hot Attractions.
About 90 minutes northeast of Liberia is Tenorio Volcano National Park, not surprisingly on many bucket lists of tourists seeking firsthand proof that the iridescent blue waters of Río Celeste could possibly be as stunning as they appear in photos. Not far from the park is the town of Bijagua, where the privately owned Bijagua Ranas wildlife haven enchants visitors with an astonishing array and density of wildlife species encounters, including sloths. Further east, about 2.5 hours from Liberia (or almost the same distance from San José in the opposite direction), is the town of La Fortuna, the gateway to Arenal Volcano National Park. Although spontaneous options for sightseeing and adventure are indeed available, it’s advisable to map out your stay ahead of time in Costa Rica’s largest natural playground. Arenal excursion combo packages are available to fit most schedules. From canyoning down waterfalls and river cruises to fishing, kayaking and stand up paddle, the watersport choices alone are staggering in number and location. By some counts, Arenal visitors can find no less than 150 different types of activities in Arenal to satisfy everyone. An overview is provided in the Howler article Arenal: Choose Your Adventure. HM HOWLER MAGAZINE | 35
UP FRONT Vibrant Playas del Coco has grown comfortable with its ever-eclectic appeal to locals and visitors. The allure of this crescent-shaped cove to folks of widely disparate ages and backgrounds is described in the Howler article Loco for Coco: Beachfront Bliss. Nearby pristine beaches include Playa Panama and Playa Hermosa to the north and Playa Ocotal to the south. Year round moisture contributes to the misty fairy tale ambience of Monteverde Cloud Forest and its claim to biodiversity fame. Birding and wildlife buffs never leave disappointed, while the proliferation of exotic ferns, mosses and more than 500 orchid species layering the treetop vistas is like wandering through a skyhigh greenhouse. The canyon views from hanging bridges slung up to 200 feet above the ground are breathtaking. Guanacaste is home to several inland national parks east and south of Liberia. Palo Verde National Park thrills countless boatloads of visitors daily on trips down the country’s thirdlargest river, the Tempisque, emptying into the northernmost Gulf of Nicoya waters. Barra Honda, just east of Nicoya, is known for Costa Rica’s most spectacular cave, Terciopelo. Diria National Park, south of Santa Cruz, is one of Guanacaste’s best kept secrets as a protected ecosystem for more than 380 tree species as well as rare and endangered bromeliads, cacti and orchids. With urban tourism having a special Guanacaste flair in this region, the Howler’s online day tripper’s guide can help you enjoy highlights of Liberia itself, along with Nicoya and Santa Cruz, the artisan village of Guatil, Filadelfia’s giant lizards and coastal Playas del Coco.
COVER STORY
Pure Gold Coast And from there down the entire Pacific coastline, Costa Rica offers an incomparable selection of beaches within close proximity to each other; but with none being exactly like any other. The caverns at Barra Honda 36
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Perched high on a mountaintop at Playa Matapalo is Diamante Eco-Adventure Park, a leading pioneer in the growing business of ecoadventure tourism. If the panoramic seascape views aren’t breathtaking enough, imagine soaring overhead along one of the world’s most exhilarating ziplines, Superman-style. High standards of care and knowledgeable staff put Diamante’s animal sanctuary in a class of its own. You can also get a taste of Costa Rica’s chocolate and coffee traditions during a delicious cultural learning experience. Continuing further down the so-called Gold Coast, Playa Potrero, Playa Flamingo, Playa Brasilito, Playa Conchal and Playa Grande are all popular get-away beaches with good reason, but just enough off the beaten path to maintain their charm. Playa Tamarindo and Playa Langosta are the focal point of this beach parade. Thrust onto the map seemingly overnight in the 1990s by surf celebrities like Robert August, Tamarindo morphed from a little-known fishing village into Costa Rica’s second largest (non-port) beach community. In addition to the concentration of tourist-driven storefronts, resorts, eateries, nightlife and commercial activities, easy access to attractions such as ziplines, horseback tours and of course, surf breaks, have contributed to the community’s vibe.
Arenal excursion combo packages are available to fit most schedules. Nature, solitude and wellness Barely 30 minutes away is Playa Avellanas, where surfers, foodies and farmers converge with beachgoers preferring uncrowded stretches of sand and playful waves. Another favorite coastal antidote to hustle and bustle just a bit further south are the sleepy Nandamojo Valley beach towns of Playa Negra and Playa Junquillal. Both are small, but markedly international communities of nature lovers and solitude seekers. HM HOWLER MAGAZINE | 37
COVER STORY
UP FRONT
Besides being considered the quintessential Pacific surf town, Nosara is a health and wellness mecca where juice bars are as much a defining feature as yoga studios and retreats. Located in Nicoya’s world-renowned Blue Zone, one of just five such regions in the world where longevity past age 100 is not unusual, “Nosara” actually encompasses the whole area between Playa Nosara to the north, the small inland town of Nosara, and Playa Guiones to the south. 38
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See you soon!
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Fresh • Local Award-Winning Craft Beer
Photo courtesy of sylivaguardia.com
Made in Liberia FIND US
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TRAVEL & ADVENTURE
Costa Rica’s Coral Reefs The Ocean's Rainforest
By Jim Parisi & Alei Burns
ECO-FEATURE
T
o paraphrase an old adage, "As go the coral reefs, so goes the planet." Although they represent only about one ten-thousandth of the ocean floor (0.01%), coral reefs are essential for the existence of about one-quarter of sea life. Algae and other unique plant life grow there, providing food for a variety of species. Used as protection for vulnerable marine life, as well as hunting grounds for their oceanic predators, coral reefs thus become a spawning site for all participants in this Darwinian interaction. The number of microbial species dwelling in, and dependent on, these reefs reaches into the tens of thousands, and are still being discovered and studied.
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Coral are sea animals with exoskeletal systems. They belong to the Anthozoa family, along with sea anemones and jellyfish, which ironically, have no skeletal system. Each coral animal, called a polyp, continually clones itself to form a coral colony, which creates the calcium carbonate skeleton. Valid analogy Indeed, coral reefs have become a litmus test for life on the planet. The "the ocean's rainforest" analogy is quite valid. In Costa Rica, these reefs thrive along both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. On the western shores, there are diverse and bountiful reefs around Playa Sรกmara, Dominical, Isla del Coco and Corcovado National Park. On the Caribbean side, coral reefs are most plentiful around the 600acre Cahuita National Park, where elkhorn, yellow stag and blue staghorn coral reside. Barracuda, stingray, angelfish and blue parrotfish also inhabit this area.
A delicate environmental balance allows these hotbeds of life to survive and propagate. Coral reefs thrive in warm, clean, shallow breeding grounds. Although they prefer warm water, they become stressed when watersbecome warmer than what they are accustomed to. The temperature, to a tenth of a degree, is critical; hence their preference for more southern climates nearer the equator. Coral is highly susceptible to the acidity level of the ocean as well. For example, recent studies of these fragile ecosystems reveal the havoc wreaked on them by sunscreen products. Costa Rica's coral reefs are relative infants, having begun their formation a "mere" 5,000 years ago. Earth's oceans have contained these reef's forefathers for an estimated 500 million years.
Photos courtesy of Raising Coral Costa Rica HM HOWLER MAGAZINE | 45
TRAVEL & ADVENTURE
ECO-FEATURE
Photos: Tatiana Villalobos David Garcia Joanie Kleypas
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Essential Sponors: University of Costa Rica Fundecooperaciรณn
Osa Conservation Playa Papagayo Amigos of Costa Rica
GIZ Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge Pelagos HM HOWLER MAGAZINE | 47
TRAVEL & ADVENTURE Raising Coral Costa Rica
ECO-FEATURE
For the past three decades, Costa Rica’s coral reefs have been ravaged by El Niño, climate change and human invasion. In 2016, an organization called Raising Coral Costa Rica partnered with Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología (CIMAR ) to undertake vitally important work. Operating as a University of Costa Rica team, group members are striving to help replenish (or “reforest”) the country's coral reefs. They extract fragments from a donor colony — typically one or two centimeters in length — then propagate them in underwater nurseries.
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A successful new colony takes six to 10 months to grow to the point where it can be safely returned to the reef. This delicate process is already beginning to show signs of success, with new life reappearing in places where El Niño decimated coral reefs in 1982-83, 1987-88, and 2016. Raising Coral Costa Rica understands the symbiosis between humans and the ocean. As the coral reefs disappear, so does other life on the planet. For more information, visit Raising Coral Costa Rica or Facebook @ Raising Coral Costa Rica.
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Small, but Mighty! June Updates...
The UN recently stated “Costa Rica is winning plaudits for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.” We are a small, but mighty country. It’s so hard not to share the beauty with you right now, but we appreciate your patience as we work together as a global community for the wellbeing of all. One way Horizon Pacific has been able support our Horizon family, with the help of our owners, is to ensure all of our employees have what they need to weather this storm. We have provided bi-weekly bags of food and supplies to all 30 of our local employees and their families. If you’ve ever stayed at one of our properties or visited the office, you know how wonderful our employees are. If you would like to help us support the local community in this way, please contact us through our website or social media.
Vacation Rentals • Property Management • HOA Management 888-795-7373 (US & Canada) • (011) 506-2653-0390 • HorizonPacificVacations.com
HM HOWLER MAGAZINE | 49
TRAVEL & ADVENTURE
If You Hear
Thunder By Jim Parisi & Alei Burns
L
ightning and thunder are consistent elements of any tropical environment. Situated between 8 and 12 degrees north of the equator, Costa Rica is a premier stage for nature’s light shows and sonic displays. In fact, the country now ranks high among those with the most lightning strikes on the planet, a category dominated by locales in Venezuela and the Congo. Within Costa Rica, Guanacaste province is considered the lightning capital. Now that Guanacaste’s rainy season is well underway, it’s time for some thunder and lightning fun facts. By way of introduction, lightning occurs as an electronic equalizer between vast pools of positively and negatively charged areas inside a thunderstorm, basically depolarizing this ionic battlefield.
COOL PLACES
• Lightning and thunder occur at the same time. But we see the lightning first because light travels much faster than sound. • In the right conditions, thunder can be heard from a distance as far as 16 kilometers away. The deep, booming sound is caused by the rapid expansion of air surrounding the path of a lightning bolt. Rolling thunder occurs when lightning fragments into branches (tendrils) and when, on occasion, the main bolt returns to its cloud of origin after making contact with the ground. 50
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• Eighty percent of all lightning bolts occur within cloud formations and do not touch ground. That is most often the case with lightning charges during daylight hours, which cannot be detected by the human eye. • Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) established the Atmospheric Discharges Detection Network in 2006. Since then, the most electrically-charged day on record was April 27, 2012, when more than 20,000 separate occurrences were detected in Costa Rica. More than 6,000 of these were recorded in Guanacaste. • At the point of contact, a lightning bolt has a circumference slightly larger than that of a pencil. The core of air inside a vein of lightning has been estimated to be 30,000 degrees Celsius (54,000 degrees Fahrenheit) — about six times hotter than the surface of the sun. howlermag.com
•
The months of May, August and September account for more than half of the thunderstorms in Costa Rica.
•
The primary forms of lightning discharges are cloud-to-cloud, cloud-to-air and cloudto-ground. Only about 20% of the lightning bolts in Costa Rica touch ground.
•
When seeking shelter during an electrical storm, do NOT go under a tree or into a doorway. These two locations are favored destinations for lightning to touch down. If possible, get inside a car because the rubber wheels make the vehicle grounded and neutral, and therefore not vulnerable to a lightning strike.
Only about 20% of the lightning bolts in Costa Rica touch the ground.
•
Surfers out on the ocean are open targets for a lightning bolt. Contrary to popular folklore, lightning DOES strike the ocean, radiating horizontally across the surface. The best precaution is to get out of the water, stay as low on the beach as you can and seek overhead protection as quickly as possible.
The microclimates in Guanacaste produce amazing events on nature's palette, both visually and aurally. It is possible to stand in direct sunlight in Tamarindo and simultaneously be in the audience of lightning and thunder, while actually hearing the downpour in Villarreal, a scant five kilometers away. Thunderstorms over the Pacific Ocean at sunset are some of the most stunning and memorable one can see anywhere on the earth. It serves to remind us that there is something much bigger than the human race on this planet. She does whatever she wants.
Photos: Perry Carlile View from Potrero towards Flamingo peninsula.
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Photo: Perry Carlile HM HOWLER MAGAZINE | 53
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SURFIN G COSTA RICA
Real Surf Trips with Tony
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Surfing now more than ever can save you from a life of stress! With lifestyles becoming more complicated and calendar pages seemingly flying by, it is necessary now more than ever to take some time out. Book a flight, contact us, come surf and relax. With some long days under your belt and some good waves in the tank, you will be surprised how productive you will be in all aspects of life!
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Live Surf Cam courtesy of The Surfers View
July Tide Chart Date Day
High
Low
High
Low
High
Time/Height
Time/Height
Time/Height
Time/Height
Time/Height
04:39 / 1.10 ft
11:09 / 9.07 ft
17:29 / 0.79 ft
23:45 / 8.05 ft
1 Wed
05:42 / 1.07 ft
12:09 / 9.23 ft
18:30 / 0.53 ft
3 Fri
2 Thu 00:46 / 8.28 ft
06:43 / 0.96 ft
13:06 / 9.41 ft
19:26 / 0.25 ft
4 Sat
01:43 / 8.57 ft
07:40 / 0.82 ft
14:00 / 9.55 ft
20:19 / 0.01 ft
5 Sun
02:36 / 8.83 ft
08:34 / 0.70 ft
14:50 / 9.61 ft
21:08 / -0.14 ft
6 Mon
03:26 / 9.03 ft
09:24 / 0.65 ft
15:39 / 9.55 ft
21:54 / -0.17 ft
7 Tue
04:13 / 9.12 ft
10:13 / 0.69 ft
16:25 / 9.37 ft
22:39 / -0.07 ft
8 Wed
04:59 / 9.10 ft
10:59 / 0.82 ft
17:11 / 9.08 ft
23:22 / 0.16 ft
Highest wave you’ve surfed this year in Costa Rica?
9 Thu
05:44 / 8.97 ft
11:44 / 1.04 ft
17:56 / 8.71 ft 06:28 / 8.75 ft
12:30 / 1.31 ft
18:40 / 8.27 ft
04:48 / 2.40 ft
17 Fri
Where’s the first place you’re going to surf all day?
00:04 / 0.48 ft
05:44 / 2.33 ft
18 Sat
00:51 / 7.23 ft
06:38 / 2.11 ft
13:02 / 8.30 ft
19:21 / 1.20 ft
19 Sun
01:40 / 7.63 ft
07:29 / 1.76 ft
13:50 / 8.65 ft
20:07 / 0.78 ft
20 Mon
02:25 / 8.09 ft
08:17 / 1.35 ft
14:36 / 8.99 ft
20:50 / 0.37 ft
21 Tue
03:09 / 8.56 ft
09:04 / 0.93 ft
15:20 / 9.27 ft
21:33 / 0.03 ft
22 Wed
03:53 / 9.00 ft
09:50 / 0.57 ft
16:05 / 9.46 ft
22:16 / -0.21 ft
23 Thu
04:36 / 9.35 ft
10:37 / 0.30 ft
16:50 / 9.51 ft
22:59 / -0.31 ft
24 Fri
05:20 / 9.58 ft
11:24 / 0.17 ft
17:37 / 9.41 ft
23:44 / -0.26 ft
25 Sat
06:06 / 9.66 ft
12:12 / 0.19 ft
18:25 / 9.16 ft
26 Sun
Email your answers to: admin@ howlermag. com
10 Fri 11 Sat 12 Sun 13 Mon 14 Tue 15 Wed 16 Thu
27 Mon 28 Tue 29 Wed 30 Thu 31 Fri
00:46 / 0.87 ft
07:12 / 8.49 ft
13:16 / 1.60 ft
19:26 / 7.82 ft
01:29 / 1.30 ft
07:58 / 8.21 ft
14:04 / 1.86 ft
20:15 / 7.40 ft
02:13 / 1.70 ft
08:45 / 7.97 ft
14:54 / 2.06 ft
21:07 / 7.06 ft
03:01 / 2.05 ft
09:35 / 7.80 ft
15:49 / 2.15 ft
22:03 / 6.85 ft
03:53 / 2.30 ft
10:27 / 7.74 ft
16:45 / 2.10 ft
23:02 / 6.80 ft
11:20 / 7.81 ft
17:40 / 1.91 ft
23:58 / 6.94 ft
12:12 / 8.01 ft
18:33 / 1.60 ft
Send us your best picture!
00:30 / -0.07 ft
06:55 / 9.59 ft
13:04 / 0.35 ft
19:17 / 8.80 ft
01:20 / 0.26 ft
07:46 / 9.40 ft
13:59 / 0.60 ft
20:13 / 8.38 ft
02:14 / 0.67 ft
08:43 / 9.14 ft
14:59 / 0.86 ft
21:14 / 8.01 ft
03:13 / 1.07 ft
09:44 / 8.90 ft
16:03 / 1.05 ft
22:20 / 7.77 ft
04:18 / 1.38 ft
10:48 / 8.74 ft
17:10 / 1.09 ft
23:29 / 7.74 ft
05:25 / 1.51 ft
11:53 / 8.72 ft
18:15 / 0.96 ft
HM HOWLER MAGAZINE | 59
SURFING COSTA RICA I love Rachel Presti's body language in this shot, showing perfect symmetry and balance with the wave.
By Howler Staff Photos: Tony Roberts
SURF PHOTOGRAPHER
www.tonyrobertsphoto.com
He was named one of the top six water photographers of all time by surfimages.com 60
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The Engaged Eye of TR
T
ony Roberts — otherwise known as “TR” — is a lifelong surfer, skater, artist and musician, whose passions manifest in his body of work as a photographer and filmmaker. He specializes in product photography, interior and exterior settings, portraiture and framed prints, but is perhaps known mostly for his water sports action work.
I wanted to capture a Waikiki vibe for Guanacaste's most popular tourist beach Tamarindo. I crossed the river just before sunset on this shoot with “Wingnut” [of Endless Summer surf movie fame] for a different perspective.
HM HOWLER MAGAZINE | 61
SURFING COSTA RICA TR’s photo and video angles are of an engaged nature, always capturing peak moment action from a unique perspective. This comes from the decades he has spent adapting to commercial, editorial and creative prerequisites. Roberts brought the wide-angle, skate-style surf action watershot to the world in the late 1980s and early 1990s. This was accomplished during his time as a staff photographer for Surfing magazine, supported by his native Santa Cruz, California crew. He was named one of the top six water photographers of all time by surfimages.com Tony has over 20 full-length video titles to his credit, including classics O’Neill “O’Zone” and Santa Cruz “Speed Freaks.” He continues producing cutting edge content for his own YouTube channel, “Real Surf Stories.” There you can enjoy constantly updated TR treasures, from classic movies of yesteryear to fresh videos he and his team are perpetually producing. Having lived for three decades in Central America and the Caribbean, TR is the go-to guy for locations, and also logistics for industry company shoots and events coverage. As owner
and founder of Real Surf Trips, he organizes private surf/shoot packages with surfers from all over the globe. This thriving business is the culmination of Tony’s lifetime of traveling, surfing and shooting the globe. His talents reflect decades of full-time knowledge and experience with the formulas to capture the best waves on earth. He is known for being notoriously hard-working with a unique regimen for photography and video creation and production. TR’s deep friendships with local families and communities at the best surf spots in Latin America and the Caribbean are another success factor. Those working with him as guides and hosts at all Real Surf Trips locations offer surfers of all levels a rare and valuable opportunity to experience these amazing destinations in an intimately special way. Participants go home with their trip memories captured in magazine-quality photos and HD video for customizing as an edited movie.
SURF PHOTOGRAPHER
I was photo editor of several magazines and am very critical about what makes an excellent image. If one of the dozen criteria is not met, it cannot be considered excellent in my opinion. This sunrise image of Chris Del Moro at Avellanas checked all the boxes.
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Amazing portraiture is capturing a subject's true essence in its element. A lot of the photographer's personality will come out in the final product. It requires a lot of trust to get people to be natural. Often when people pose for a portrait they change their body language for the camera. Usually a great portrait requires a lot of forethought, but this one was quite spontaneous. Sam and Tommy August and I were chatting between sets and I could not help but notice what a timeless moment this was. I said, “Hey guys, I'm gonna shoot a portrait." I lifted the camera and bang! I get asked why it is that my images look so unique, even at the most photographed spots. Many ask, “what do you shoot with?”, thinking it’s the camera. I do use the best equipment out there but I always respond, “It’s not the arrow— it’s the indian.” I believe that most photographers just capture images as they pass by. My approach is the opposite. I like to imagine it in my mind first, then create it. I have been producing every day non-stop for over four decades. I have more practice, experience and results. Combine that with my way of seeing things and that will set my images apart.
What Others Say About Tony “Having the freedom and perspective of traveling, of not conforming to everything that’s going on around you is really important, and I think Tony’s got that.” — Jeff Hornbaker “On a day to day basis TR can go out there and smoke you. That’s what’s so cool, he really cares about our job as pro surfers, and his dedication to his job as photographer.” — Flea Virostko “He is always there in the moment. Tony is super keen. He’s got that feel for that crazy little moment. Just always there … so sharp.” — Tom Carroll
HM HOWLER MAGAZINE | 63
The contrast of the raw ocean power with Autumn Hayes' delicate duck dive captures one of those rare and amazing balances of opposites.
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I consider myself more of an artist than a reporter, which is actually a valuable attribute for commercial photography. When someone wants that engaged element they call me due to my involvement and technical prowess in the topics I shoot, be it surfing, music, portraiture or even products. I want to tell the story in a way that makes the viewer feel involved. This was a shoot for Roxy with Sony recording artist Debi Nova during a sunset paddle out to the island off Tamarindo.
HM HOWLER MAGAZINE | 65
SURFING COSTA RICA
Welcome Back to Witch’s Rock
A Long-Awaited Return By Malcolm Hill
C
osta Rica’s beaches were finally open again after being off limits for 10 weeks. No one had surfed the iconic Witch’s Rock, or any other waves, since the government closed all beaches and national parks in March as a COVID-19 quarantine measure.
For those of us accustomed to surfing Witch’s Rock multiple times per week, news that beaches could reopen on a restricted basis was more than welcome. To say we were excited is an understatement. At 6:00 a.m. we departed by panga boat from Playas del Coco and began the 45-minute journey into the remote Santa Rosa National Park in search of waves. When we arrived, we were greeted by beautiful head-high, peaky conditions. It was two hours after low tide, with a push-up of about two feet per hour. High tide would be 7.8 feet. For most of the evening, the winds had been light over the nearby ocean surfaces, so conditions were clean. Despite the wind turning onshore at about 9:00 a.m. we couldn't complain. After all,
it was only us and a handful of local surfers out there. What did make this surf session a little challenging for all of us was the short period of swell — nine to 10 seconds at five feet. That means the waves break relentlessly. It gives the surfer around seven to eight second to duckdive, get a breath, do some quick paddles and then duckdive again. This process is repeated until the takeoff spot is reached to catch another wave. It’s called paddling back out. This can quickly become exhausting even for experienced surfers, let alone those who have not surfed for months. Lost strength in lockdown Furthermore, as the tide rises the length of each ride increases. This is great for the mileage you get from riding each wave, but does make for a longer paddle back to the lineup.
SURF TREK
There were multiple times when it took each of us more than 10 minutes to paddle back out after catching a wave. We were quickly confronted with how much paddle strength we had lost during all those weeks of lockdown. You can imagine how short of breath and jellyarmed we all felt by the end of our 150-minute session. 66
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How much paddle strength we had lost during all those weeks of lockdown. The bumpy boat ride home, due to onshore winds, found all of us seasick to some extent after not being on a boat for months. After making the Witch’s Rock trek myself more than 400 times in 3.5 years, this was the first time my breakfast came up. Regardless of our tired arms and nauseated bellies, it was a bittersweet moment when we stepped off the boat at Playas del Coco at 11:00 a.m. We’d had our fill of waves and remembered once again that Witch’s Rock is an untouched place, where the majority of waves go unridden.
Until next time, Witch’s Rock! Photos source and for more information: www.surfpapagayo.com/surfbreaks
HM HOWLER MAGAZINE | 67
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SURFING COSTA RICA
Hurricanes in Costa Rica? Not QuiteYet By Ryan Waldron
O
n September 18, 2017, six separate tropical systems were spinning somewhere within the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Pacific basins. Not to mention the powerhouse Category-5 Hurricane Irma left a devastating path from the Leeward Islands to the entire state of Florida. Although events like this are unfortunate for many, it makes sense from a climatological standpoint as September is the official peak of hurricane season in the Northern Hemisphere.
With all this tropical activity, how is it possible that Costa Rica is continually spared from the direct impacts of major hurricanes? Many of us remember the (almost) historic Hurricane Otto in November 2016, which brought heavy rains and winds across Costa Rica’s northern region. But if you remember correctly, Otto officially made
landfall — the location where the eye of the storm first strikes land — along the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua, not Costa Rica. Doing your homework on the subject, you will find that a true hurricane, defined as a tropical cyclone with winds over 74 mph, has never actually made direct landfall on Costa Rican territory. Rotation phenomenon
SURF SCIENCE
How is this possible? The answer lies within the realm of the Coriolis effect. This phenomena is a bit difficult to verbalize, so I suggest doing further research yourself. It's important to understand that the speed of earth's rotation varies depending on your location. At the equator, the earth is rotating at 1,018 mph, while at 30 degrees north latitude (roughly the Florida/Georgia border), it’s rotating at 882 mph. Imagine this: A plane takes off in Miami heading true north to New York City. Because the earth is rotating faster at the equator and slower towards the poles, the plane will actually be deflected from 70
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its course if the Coriolis effect is not taken into account before takeoff. In the Northern Hemisphere, objects are deflected to the right while in the Southern Hemisphere, they’re deflected to the left. So how does this relate to hurricanes? Well, a hurricane is just a center of very deep low pressure that high pressure around it is trying to fill in the form of wind. As the wind travels above the earth’s surface towards the core of the hurricane (the eye), the wind is always being slightly deflected, giving the storm its signature spin. Sitting comfortably at about 8 degrees north latitude, Costa Rica is too close to the equator for the Coriolis effect to come into play. In fact, between 10 degrees south latitude and 10 degrees north latitude, hurricanes are practically unheard of. The earth is simply too flat for the wind to be deflected from its destination and create the spin. And with our northernmost border sitting at 9.55 degrees north latitude, Costa Rica has been graciously spared from every recorded land-falling hurricane.
A true hurricane has never actually made direct landfall on Costa Rican territory.
Recorded hurricane paths, all missing Costa Rica — 1980 to 2005 Photo: NASA
HM HOWLER MAGAZINE | 71
SURFING COSTA RICA But you can never be certain. As our climate spirals out of control and "black swan" weather events are becoming more common, the possibility of Costa Rica being directly impacted by a hurricane is not out of the question. The best solution is to always stay informed and have a plan.
Satellite images of Coriolis force Photo: Naval Research Lab
SURF SCIENCE
Infrared satellite image of Hurricane Otto in 2016 Photo: public domain
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HM HOWLER MAGAZINE | 73
THE COAST IS CLEAR
H e y C o s ta R i c a , We are Sailing a n d h av e b e e n ! Come Join Us, S e e t h e C oast ! •
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PURA VIDA
Page 94
WE are ID From Bradley's World
Four Women in One
Facial Harmonization Cadasana: The Mountain Pose
Stomach and Intestinal Illness
Adopt Mango Troop! Chicken Fingers!
Good Practices of Organizational Inclusion
CR BIZ COVID-19 Calls on Workforce to Turn Up the Volume on Lifelong Learning
Soft Skills: For Work and That's Not All
Costa Rica Announces Municipal Tax Breaks Due to COVID-19 Time for a Half-Year Check-up
Page 110
Jacรณ
Feature! Page 144
Dining Page 162
Marriott Hotels
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Real Estate For Sale By Owner Vacation Rentals
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ARTS CULTURE ENTERTAINMENT
The Art of Alejandra Acuña Passion, Refuge, Strength and Drea ms
A SAN JOSÉ ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
lejandra Acuña’s art caught my eye one day as I was working on social media. As I went through her picture they had such a great form and colors that just came alive. The Koi fish and the colored waves really intrigued me, you can just feel the motion. I made contact and asked her to showcase her art this month as a San Jose Featured Artist. It is obvious that she really enjoys her chosen career. I hope you enjoy her art as much as I do.
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ARTS CULTURE ENTERTAINMENT
About Alejandra in Her Own Words M
y name is Alejandra Acuña. I was born on August 23, 1993, in the city of Cartago, the neighborhood of the canton of León Cortes. I have painted since I was 16 years old, but professionally since I was 20. I am professionally dedicated to paint with acrylic paints, usually in large formats of 50 x 60 centimeters. I usually paint pictures of animals and people and marine subjects. Art for me is my passion, my refuge, and a source of dreams and strength. You will find a little bit of me in each of my works and a little bit of them in me! To learn more or ask questions, contact me at 8419 0893 or email: aleaf1993@gmail. com
Mi nombre es Alejandra Acuña nací el día 23 de agosto de 1993 en la cuidad de Cartago, vecina del cantón de León Cortes. Tengo 26 años y me dedico profesionalmente a elaborar pinturas en acrílico, por lo general formatos grandes de 50x60 cm, por lo general pinto cuadros de animales y personas , pinturas marinas, el arte para mi es mi pasion, mi refugio, una fuente de sueños y de fuerza. Un poquito de mi en cada una de mis obras y un poco de ellas en mi!
SAN JOSÉ ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
You can view some of my pictures on Facebook or Instagram as Alejandra Acuña, @ art.tica, @ale__acu. El arte de Alejandra Acuña me llamó la atención un día mientras trabajaba en las redes sociales. Cuando vi sus fotos, noté que tenían una forma y colores tan geniales que parecían que cobraban vida. El pez Koi y las olas de colores realmente me intrigaron, casi puedes sentir el movimiento al verlo. Me contacté inmediatamente con ella y le pedí que exhibiera su arte como artista destacado de San José de este mes. Es obvio que ella realmente disfruta de lo que hace. Espero que puedas disfrutar su arte tanto como yo. 80
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He pintado desde los 16 pero profesionalmente desde los 20 años, para cualquier consulta o información que necesiten me pueden contactar al número: 84190893 o al correo aleaf1993@gmail.com En caso de que gusten ver mi trabajo pueden ver algunos de mis cuadros en Facebook o en mi Instagram como Alejandra Acuña, @ art.tica, @ ale__acu.
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SAN JOSÉ ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
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ARTS CULTURE ENTERTAINMENT
English & Spanish
Pedro Golobios
Monster Among Musicians
By Jim Parisi & Alei Burns
P ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
edro Golobios is a monster! Don’t worry, though: in the language of musicians, that is a compliment of the highest degree. It means he is huge, versatile, accomplished. He is truly a musician’s musician.
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For more than a decade, Pedro has been the bassist, songwriter and vocalist in The Leatherbacks, one of the most popular local bands in the Guanacaste area, with a huge fan base in Playa Flamingo, Playas del Coco and Playa Tamarindo. howlermag.com
Golobios is also a member of Ensamble Santa Esperanza, which formed in 2006. Based in Santa Cruz, this band plays music indigenous to the area, a genre that has recently been coined “modern folkloric.” And Pedro is so much more than simply a member of the group. He not only sings and plays guitar, keyboards, marimbas and percussion, but now also manages the band as well. Its 2007 debut album, “Guanacaste Lindo Mi Pais,” is still very popular more than a dozen years after its release. In a recent interview with The Howler, Pedro revealed that Santa Esperanza’s second album is very nearly complete: “We are currently looking at ways to market it in this age of social networks and digital recordings.”
Cultural influences Pedro’s childhood and upbringing were immersed in local culture. His mother, Alicia, is a teacher who has focused on Guanacastecan dance, folklore and popular music. His father, Don Pedro Golobios, was a member of the popular band Union Cartagena for more than three decades. Curiously, Pedro’s first musical instrument was the French horn, which, he explains, “is where I learned to develop the F clef, used a lot in the interpretation of the bass guitar.” He majored in music theory at The University of Costa Rica in Santa Cruz under the tutelage of Don Ulpiano Duarte, Sacramento Villegas and Isidoro Guadamuz de la O. While acknowledging them as “pillars for theory, reading and musical performance for me,” Golobios also recognizes that he was self-taught in many ways, finding his own niche. A musician’s musician.
Pedro’s childhood and upbringing were immersed in local culture. HM HOWLER MAGAZINE | 85
ARTS CULTURE ENTERTAINMENT
P
edro Golobios is a monster! Don’t worry, though: in the language of musicians, that is a compliment of the highest degree. It means he is huge, versatile, accomplished. He is truly a musician’s musician.
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
For more than a decade, Pedro has been the bassist, songwriter and vocalist in The Leatherbacks, one of the most popular local bands in the Guanacaste area, with a huge fan base in Playa Flamingo, Playas del Coco and Playa Tamarindo. Golobios is also a member of Ensamble Santa Esperanza, which formed in 2006. Based in Santa Cruz, this band plays music indigenous to the area, a genre that has recently been coined “modern folkloric.” And Pedro is so much more than simply a member of the group. He not only sings and plays guitar, keyboards, marimbas and percussion, but now also manages the band as well. Its 2007 debut album, “Guanacaste Lindo Mi Pais,” is still very popular more than a dozen years after its release.
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¡Pedro Golobios es una bestia!
P
ero no se preocupe, en el lenguaje de los músicos, esto es un cumplido del grado más alto. Esto significa que es grande, versátil y realizado. Él es verdaderamente un músico de los músicos.
Durante más de una década, Pedro ha sido bajista, compositor y vocalista en The Leatherbacks, una de las bandas locales más populares en el área de Guanacaste, con una gran base de fanáticos en playa Flamingo, playas del Coco y playa Tamarindo. Golobios también es miembro del grupo Santa Esperanza, que se formó en 2006. Con sede en Santa Cruz, esta banda toca música indígena de la zona, un género que recientemente se ha acuñado como "folclórico moderno". Pedro es mucho más que simplemente un miembro del grupo.
No solo canta y toca guitarra, teclados, marimbas y percusión, sino que ahora también administra la banda. Su álbum debut de 2007, "Guanacaste, lindo mi país", sigue siendo muy popular una docena de años después de su lanzamiento. En una entrevista reciente con The Howler, Pedro reveló que el segundo álbum de Santa Esperanza está casi completo: "Actualmente estamos buscando formas de comercializarlo en esta era de redes sociales y grabaciones digitales." Influencias culturales La infancia y la educación de Pedro estaban inmersas en la cultura local. Su madre Alicia, es una maestra que se ha centrado en la danza guanacasteca, el folclor y la música popular. Su padre, Don Pedro Golobios, fue miembro de la popular banda Unión Cartagena durante más de tres décadas. Curiosamente, el primer instrumento musical de Pedro fue la trompa, que, según explica, "es donde aprendí a desarrollar la clave fa, que utilicé mucho en la interpretación del bajo.
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ARTS CULTURE ENTERTAINMENT Bajo la tutela de Don Ulpiano Duarte, Sacramento Villegas e Isidoro Guadamuz de la O, se licenció en Teoría Musical por la Universidad de Costa Rica, sede de Santa Cruz. A ellos los reconoce como "los pilares de la teoría, la lectura y la actuación musical." Golobios, el músico de los músicos, también reconoce que él de muchas maneras fue autodidacta, fue así como encontró su propio nicho.
piano, la guitarra, el ukelele, el bajo y la voz (con el canto). Sus estudiantes muestran sus talentos en el campus durante The Coffee House (para estudiantes de secundaria) y The Juice Box (para estudiantes de primaria).
Compromiso con los músicos jóvenes
Más que un músico, Pedro Golobios es miembro de la comunidad de Guanacaste.
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
Lo primero en su lista y que hemos guardado para el final, es la participación de Pedro en La Paz Community School. Él ha estado trabajando allí con los estudiantes durante casi ocho años, enseñando teoría y práctica musical. Conociendo y recordando las frustraciones de aprender a tocar un instrumento musical cuando era joven, Golobios se enfoca en ser paciente y desarrollar a los estudiantes de forma individual, a su propio nivel de comodidad y con ritmo natural. Actualmente en La Paz enseña el xilófono, el
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Pedro explica con orgullo: “No hago músicos. Hago seres humanos, cultivando una inteligencia social para ellos y el futuro de Guanacaste."
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Huacas
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Stem cells are being used to treat:
Contact the experts at the Stem Cells Transplant Institute to learn more about stem cell therapy!
∙ Diabetes. ∙ Orthopedic injuries and chronic conditions. ∙ Wounds. ∙ Spinal cord injuries and spinal stenosis. ∙ Traumatic brain injury. ∙ Cardiovascular disease. ∙ Erectile dysfunction. ∙ Some neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis.
THE BENEFITS OF STEM CELL THERAPY Stem cells have the ability to grow, repair and regenerate any type of human cell or tissue. Stem cell therapy is a medical procedure that uses stem cells to repair damaged tissue from certain diseases or physical injuries. Stem cell therapy can offer relief to patients suffering from chronic pain, difficult-to-heal injuries, and certain chronic conditions.
info@stemcellstransplantinstitute.com
Tel US: +1 305 506 6405 / CR: +506 2208 8618
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PURA / VIDA LIVING COSTA RICA
Stomach and Intestinal Illness
N
Dr. Herbert Weinman
othing — well, almost nothing — can spoil a vacation more than a gastrointestinal (GI) illness. These illnesses are more severe in the very young and elderly. Prolonged symptoms can be fatal in these age groups. Prevention is often easier than the cure.
THE DOCTOR IS IN
For most GI symptoms, avoiding dehydration is the key. When vomiting is present avoid ANY food for at least four hours after the vomiting ceases, but start treatment with small amounts (1-2 oz.) of an electrolyte solution every 30 minutes. A great electrolyte solution is Coca-Cola and PepsiCola (NOT the diet type) mixed 50:50. Plain water upsets an empty stomach.
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Physicians used to advise avoiding food when just diarrhea is present but we now know that small amounts of bland food frequently is better. Although there are many over-the-counter preparations for diarrhea, it is best to allow the intestines to empty naturally than to try to stop the diarrhea with medication.
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Food-borne The highest-risk foods include custards, mousses, potato salads, hollandaise sauce, mayonnaise, seafood, salads, raw vegetables (especially leafy vegetables and sprouts, which are hard to wash), strawberries, and raspberries. Be smart and make good judgment calls. If, upon walking into an eatery or food retailer that looks dirty or smells bad, it’s best to walk out. Even though purchasing food from a street vendor might seem like a cultural experience worth trying, you may want to think twice. Inadequate refrigeration or cooking may lead to stomach cramps, vomiting, or diarrhea from bacterial contamination. Water-borne Water in Costa Rica is treated and tested by government authorities. Nevertheless, when untreated water is used to wash or prepare food, the food can become contaminated with diseasecausing organisms. Water-borne diarrheal illness usually results from the ingestion of viruses and parasites in water contaminated by human or agricultural fecal waste. During rainy season in Costa Rica, and especially in underdeveloped beach areas, it is highly recommended to drink bottled water. Sometimes salt water from the ocean can contaminate the fresh water tanks due to heavy rains and waves.
Traveler’s diarrhea Traveler’s diarrhea is the most common medical problem affecting travelers to Costa Rica and other developing countries. This is an intestinal infection caused by bacteria (usually e.coli), parasites, or viruses transmitted primarily from contaminated food or water. In Costa Rica the main source is from salmonella bacteria in food. The symptoms of this illness are nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting, and of course diarrhea. Episodes of traveler’s diarrhea can begin abruptly, either during travel or soon after returning home. This illness is avoidable. The risk of illness will depend on the quality and purity of the food and water consumed, and the use of good personal hygiene practices. Click this online Howler article link for information on a related topic: Intestinal Parasites: Invisible Trouble Makers
For most GI symptoms, avoiding dehydration is the key.
If a person does get sick, especially with prolonged diarrhea, it is VITAL that they stay as hydrated as possible. Becoming very dehydrated from these illnesses can lead to debilitation and even death if proper care is not provided. The first sign of mild dehydration is thirst. Anyone whose condition does not improve will need to go to the hospital for an IV.
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PURA VIDA
English/Spanish
Four Women in One By Laura Méndez
M
ost of you don't know about the four women that live inside one woman´s body. Let's say that again. In the body of a woman, there are four different women living inside!
Four Energy Archetypes These four different energies are called archetypes. Each one of them has specific characteristics that are quite different — almost like four different personalities.
WELLNESS
Our ancestors knew this very well and wrote stories about it. But somehow over time, when human and family relationships changed, this wisdom was kind of lost. The stories remained but the interpretation was misunderstood. Fortunately for us today, some cultures and grandmothers kept the knowledge to keep passing it on to future generations. 94
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Familiar parable So I share with you a famous story that I´m sure you´ve heard at one time or another. Remember that the stories use a lot of elements and symbols to make a point, so try to discover other clues and formulate your own conclusions. Once upon a time there was this beautiful, loving young girl called Blancanieves — Snow White. She was filled with the joy of spring and often went to the forest to sing with the birds, dance, run and enjoy the beauty of nature. Snow White was lovely and fresh. She felt on the top of the world! howlermag.com
1. Maiden This is the first archetype: the maiden. It corresponds to the preovulatory phase of a woman’s menstrual cycle, and has the energy of spring. During this time of the cycle, we just got out of the menstrual phase and we have a renewed energy. We are ready to take on any challenges!
It is important to be aware of what is bothering us during the transition of this archetype, when it will all become obvious. So if those dirty socks are still on the bathroom floor after you politely ask that they be placed in the laundry basket, everyone in your household had better beware. There is going to be an explosion of energy, when no one can possibly not know where those socks need to be placed!
Let’s continue with our story. One day Blancanieves gets lost in one of her trips to the 4. Crone forest. She wanders alone for hours Some cultures and Next, the sexy, strong and and hours until she finds a little hut in the middle of the forest. The hut is grandmothers kept fierce queen decides to use an enchantment to transform herself empty, but seems cozy and safe so she the knowledge to into this innocent old lady of the decides to spend the night there and falls asleep. When the dwarves arrive keep passing it on. forest. She carries a red apple to give to Blancanieves. The red apple they find Snow White in their hut. represents menstruation and the old She eventually becomes part of their lady is the archetype of the crone. family. She cleans the hut for the dwarves, keeps everything tidy and cooks for them. She is happy This energy of the crone represents winter, being so handy. darkness and the time to rest during the menstrual phase. As the story points out, it is a time to slow 2. Mother down, to sleep more, to go into the darkness. This stage corresponds to the archetype of the Everything can die here that no longer serves you. mother. It is the ovulatory phase, that time of the month where a woman enjoys taking care of other Any extra effort we make during this phase will living beings. It also corresponds to the energies unbalance these energies, bringing up pain and of summer, a time when we are nurturing, selfless discomfort, so you can finally take rest. and caring. So the story continues. One day the evil queen realises that Blancanieves is the most beautiful women in the kingdom. The queen cannot tolerate that, so she decides to come up with a plan to basically kill Snow White. This queen is fierce, she is strong and sensual and she does not tolerate any misbehavior. She is not somebody you want to mess with.
So now the story is complete, covering all four of the archetypes, the four women and the four energies that rule our moon cycle.
3. Enchantress This archetype corresponds to the enchantress — the great powerful queen of the kingdom. Her energy is related to autumn, to the beginning of darkness. It is the pre-menstrual phase of a woman’s cycle.
Want to know more? Find me on social media. Send me a message or leave a comment about your insights.
Knowing how this works and understanding the wisdom of a woman’s body, and the cyclic rhythms of nature, we can know ourselves better and use all of these energies to our advantage.
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PURA VIDA
Cuatro mujeres en uno
¿
La mayoría de ustedes saben acerca de las cuatro mujeres que viven dentro del cuerpo de una sola mujer? Voy a repetirlo… en el cuerpo de una mujer ¡hay cuatro mujeres diferentes viviendo dentro!
Había una vez una hermosa y cariñosa jovencita llamada Blancanieves. ¡Estaba llena de la alegría de la primavera y a menudo iba al bosque a cantar con los pájaros, bailar, correr y disfrutar de la belleza de la naturaleza!
Estas cuatro energías diferentes las llamamos arquetipos y cada una de ellas tiene características específicas que son bastante diferentes. Casi como cuatro personalidades distintas.
Ella era encantadora y fresca y se sentía en la cima del mundo.
Nuestras ancestras lo sabían muy bien. Escribieron historias sobre esto, pero de alguna manera cuando cambiaron las relaciones entre seres humanos y la familia esta sabiduría se perdió un poco ... las historias permanecieron pero la interpretación fue malentendida.
WELLNESS
Afortunadamente para nosotros, algunas culturas y abuelas conservaron el conocimiento para transmitirlo a las generaciones futuras. Así que les comparto una historia famosa que estoy seguro de que han escuchado en algún momento. Recuerden que las historias usan muchos elementos y símbolos para denotar algo particular, así que trate de descubrir otras pistas y formule sus propias conclusiones. ¡Empecemos! 96
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Este es el primer arquetipo: La Doncella. Esto corresponde a la Fase Pre-ovulatoria de nuestro ciclo menstrual, correspondiente a la energía de la primavera. Durante este tiempo del ciclo, acabamos de salir de la Fase Menstrual y tenemos una energía renovada. ¡Estamos listas para enfrentar cualquier desafío! Continuemos con nuestra historia ... Un día Blancanieves se pierde en uno de sus viajes al bosque. Camina sola durante horas y horas hasta que encuentra una pequeña cabaña en medio del bosque. La cabaña parece ser acogedora y segura, por lo que decide pasar la noche allí (la cabaña está vacía en el momento en que ella llega). Cuando llegan los enanos la encuentran dormida en su cabaña. Eventualmente ella se convierte en parte de su familia. Ella limpia la cabaña para ellos y mantiene todo ordenado, cocina para ellos y está feliz de ser tan útil. howlermag.com
Esta etapa corresponde al Arquetipo de La Madre. Esta es la Fase Ovulatoria, y es esa época del mes donde disfrutamos cuidando a otros seres vivos. También corresponde a las energías del verano y este es el momento en que nos encanta cuidar a otros, somos dadivosas y afectuosas. Continuemos ... entonces un día la reina malvada se da cuenta de que Blancanieves es la mujer más bella del reino. Ella no puede tolerar eso, por lo que decide idear un plan para matarla básicamente. Esta reina es feroz, es fuerte y sensual, no tolera ningún mal comportamiento y no es alguien con quien nadie quiera meterse. Este arquetipo corresponde a La Hechicera. La gran reina poderosa del reino. Esta energía está relacionada con el otoño, con el comienzo de la oscuridad. Esta es la Fase Premenstrual del ciclo. Durante estos tiempos es importante estar al tanto de lo que nos molesta porque durante la transición de este arquetipo todo esto se volverá obvio. Entonces, si esas medias sucias todavía están en el piso del baño después de pedir amablemente que deben colocarse en el cesto de la ropa sucia, durante esta fase habrá una explosión de energía que hará que todos en el hogar sepan dónde necesitan estar esas medias.
Volvamos al cuento… la reina sexy, fuerte y feroz decide usar un encantamiento para transformarse en esta inocente anciana del bosque. La anciana lleva la manzana roja para dar a Blancanieves. La manzana roja representa la menstruación y la anciana es el arquetipo de La Crone. Esta energía de la Anciana representa el invierno, la oscuridad, el tiempo de descanso. Esta es la Fase Menstrual y, como señala la historia, es un momento para reducir la velocidad, dormir más, e ir a la oscuridad para que todo lo que ya no te sirva pueda morir aquí. Cualquier esfuerzo adicional que hagamos durante esta fase desequilibrará estas energías y provocará dolor e incomodidad para que finalmente podamos descansar. Así que esta es la finalización de la historia, considerando los 4 arquetipos, las 4 mujeres, las 4 energías que rigen nuestro ciclo lunar. Al saber cómo funciona esto y comprender la sabiduría de nuestros cuerpos y los ritmos cíclicos de la naturaleza, podemos conocernos mejor y utilizar todas estas energías para nuestro beneficio. ¿Quieres saber más? Búscame en las redes sociales y envíame un mensaje o deja un comentario sobre tus ideas.
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PURA VIDA
Facial Harmonization Botox and Dermal Fillers
c
By: Dr. Dalia Vargas
W
hat happens to the facial areas around the mouth as people age? If dentists do an amazing job of giving people young, healthy and beautiful looking teeth while ignoring the bigger picture, we would be limiting our esthetic potential. The bigger picture is to extend our work from an intraoral perspective to a connection with facial esthetics. Dentists are more familiar with this connection than any other healthcare practitioner.
Botox and dermal fillers are commonly used to soften the perioral areas and other parts of the face, giving them a fresher, more juvenile look. They provide a perfect harmonization with esthetic dentistry and can help make that smile shine more. Botulinum toxin
REASON TO SMILE
Botox (trade name) is injected into the facial muscle, affecting and blocking only the neurotransmitters between the motor nerves that innervate the muscle. That means there is no loss of sensory feeling while paralyzing the muscle’s ability to contract the dynamic motion that causes wrinkles and pathological muscle movements.
The most common areas for soothing wrinkles are forehead, between the eyes or glabellar region, around the corners of the eyes — “crow’s feet” — and radial lip lines. Botox is a minimally invasive procedure that has also shown medically therapeutic uses in muscle-generated dental diseases such as temporomandibular disorders (TMD), pathological clenching, masseter hypertrophy, bruxism (teeth grinding), difficulties adjusting to dentures, high lip line or “gummy smile” and orthodontic cases where facial muscle retraining is necessary. TMD can be treated with intraoral appliances, occlusal adjustments, dental restoration, or surgery. All are invasive, irreversible and expensive procedures, making Botox a common treatment due to its benefits and costs. For some esthetic procedures, conservative restorations may not withstand parafunctional forces such as clenching or grinding being continually applied. So unless the parafunction can be eliminated, they are considered inadvisable for patients with bruxism or pathological clenching.
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Since botulinum toxin can reduce the muscles’ parafunction enough to reduce the bruxing without affecting normal chewing, it’s an esthetic procedures available to patients with these conditions. One of the most challenging esthetic problems is known as “black triangles,” caused by food particles accumulating in the spaces between teeth. Botulinum toxin can be applied to the papills closing the interdental space. This treatment lasts about eight months or longer before having to be reapplied. Woman getting cosmetic injection of botox near the eyes
Young woman getting an injection of botox in her lips
Dermal fillers Hyaluronic acid (trade names Restylane® and Juvéderm®) and calcium hydroxylapatite fillers (Radiese®) are used as dermal fillers. They plump up or add volume in facial areas that have lost collagen and fat, such as deep nasolabial folds (laugh lines), oral commissures (sagging skin around the mouth), lips and marionette lines.
Dentists are more familiar with this connection than any other health care practitioner.
Wrinkles under the eye before and after botox treatment
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PURA VIDA / LIVING CR
Tadasana:
The Mountain Pose
By Mary Byerly
T
his article was inspired by my return home from a wonderful vacation several years ago. For 10 weeks before leaving, I was commuting to San José four days a week. Before that, I had spent a month in the United States doing workshops on breath and being. It had been four months since I put my toothpaste back on the bathroom shelf instead of back in my travel bag. As much as I enjoyed all that I had been doing and where I have traveled, it felt so nice to be back home. This homecoming delight is exactly what I feel within the practice of yoga, especially tadasana, known as the mountain pose. It’s a foundational pose, excellent for grounding, centering, and balancing. One of my teachers, Lillah Schwartz, challenged me in my first teacher training to find this foundation, the essence of tadasana, in all postures.
When I can find the essence of tadasana in other postures, I know that I have found ease and effort balanced in my physical body. I have found the clarity of a one-pointed mind, and, given time in the pose, will turn more and more inward, connecting with wisdom. So although tadasana can look like simply standing in place, doing this pose well and finding its essence is the foundation for grounding, centering and balance in the rest of your practice.
YOGA WISDOM
The mountain pose form is well known. Stand with the inner edges of your feet together, or slightly separated (up to hip width apart) if that feels more aligned for your body. The middle of your knees and your middle toes will be in line, and there should be a feeling of comfort where your thigh bone joins the hip socket. The balance of stability and spaciousness there is mirrored in all the joints of your body, including those of the spine and shoulders. Play with small movements in any areas that might not quite feel that good — maybe small movements of the arms, small back-and-forth movements in the spine, hips or other joints — until it feels like everything is just right. Let your feet reach down to meet the earth. Yet, also lift earth energy up through the inner and outer arches of your feet. It’s as though you are lifting this energy from your feet, through your spine, up and through the crown of your head, grounding and lifting in balance. 100
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Close your eyes and explore how this balance feels. Invite all your senses inside for this exploration, first feeling what the underside of your skin feels like. Then go deeper to muscles, then bones, then eventually organs. Then simply watch your mind itself. In a few minutes of stillness, see how still the mind can also become. Welcome home!
Sense of ease, comfort in own body and space, “coming home�
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Adopt Mango Troop! From as little as 20¢ per day you can make a difference to all of the monkeys in our care. Every year hundreds of howler monkeys are electrocuted on uninsulated power lines and transformers. The babies are often left orphaned and need round-the-clock care from our vets. Your support will make a real difference – please adopt today. Refuge for Wildlife relies entirely on public donations to carry out our vital work, and adopting Mango Troop is an easy and rewarding way to support these beautiful monkeys. Click the button below to be directed to our partner organization’s website where you can adopt Mango Troop!
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Source: Refuge for Wildlife Monkey Adoption Information
ADOPT MANGO TROOP
We have two types of pack that you can choose from: A. Digital Adoption Pack A digital adoption is perfect for an instant gift! You (or your gift recipient) will receive a personalized certificate in recognition of your adoption, a photo for you to print out if you wish, a fact sheet about the troop, and regular updates throughout the year about the animal. It’s the perfect environmentally friendly gift!
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B. Postal Adoption Pack The postal pack allows you to choose whether or not to include a cuddly toy of the animal you adopt. It makes a lovely present for birthdays and Christmas, with a permanent reminder of the way you are helping us rescue and protect animals. You will also receive a personalized certificate in recognition of your adoption, a photograph,
a fact sheet about the troop, an International Animal Rescue window sticker, a pack of International Animal Rescue stickers, an information leaflet about our work, and regular updates throughout the year about Mango Troop! Click this Howler article link to learn more about the Mango Troop’s heartwarming story.
Treating difficult spots ULTRAFREEZE Coolsculpting 4 Areas $280
Contact us! medicallasercr@gmail.com WhatsApp 506 7075 1911 Phone (506) 4700-0341
Two Locations: Tamarindo Plaza Garden Automercado Commercial (front area for kid's play) 104 | #searchfindhowl | online Solárium Liberia, Across from Airport, near Hilton Garden Inn
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Rosalind Stewart is a self taught chef from Canada with a 2 time award winning barbecue sauce and a mother of two beautiful children. She and her family have traveled around the globe experiencing their culinary delights. This has led her to be a special judge in many cooking competitions and has been invited to do guest appearances on different food networks. Rosalind cooks International cuisine from around the world. Her passion is cooking and making people happy.
Ingredients
Chicken Fingers
(Serves 2)
2 large ziplock bags 1 cup flour Dried spices (divided): 2 tbsp dried tarragon 4 tsp celery salt 2 tbsp garlic powder 2 tbsp cayenne pepper 2 tsp paprika 2 tbsp black pepper 2 tsp sea salt 1 cup bread crumbs 2 chicken breasts cut into strips 1⁄2 cup milk 1 egg 2 cups vegetable oil or shortening
Method of Preparation 1. Place the flour in one ziplock bag with half the dry spices: 1 tbsp tarragon, 2 tsp celery salt, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp cayenne pepper, 1 tsp paprika, 1 tbsp black pepper and 1 tsp sea salt. Shake well. 2. Place the bread crumbs in the other ziplock back and repeat with step 1 with dry spices. 3. Combine milk and egg in a wide shallow bowl and mix well. 4. Dip chicken strips into egg and milk mixture, coating well. 5. Place strips into flour mixture and shake well. 6. Dip floured strips back into egg mixture. 7. Place strips into bread crumb mixture and shake well. 8. In a frying pan or deep fryer, heat oil or shortening. 9. Gently place breaded chicken strips into the oil. Fry, flipping once, for a maximum of 3 minutes until the strips start to float in oil and are golden brown. 10. Remove from oil and place on paper towels or a brown paper bag to absorb excess oil. Serve with dipping sauce and enjoy. HM HOWLER MAGAZINE | 105
OFFSHORE HEALTH BENEFITS ASSISTING EXPATRIATES SINCE 2002
Licensed and Bonded for $1 Million Per Medical Claim
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offshorehealthbenefits.com
512-296-4976
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US 512-296-4976
Can you reach your Expat Insurance Agent by Call or Text 7 Days a Week by Whatsapp or Skype? Find us at WhatsApp at 512-295-4976, we would love to chat and learn about you! Just ask around, chances are your friends know of us. Are you working with an Agent who is only offering One or Two Insurance Plans? A reputable Expat Insurance Agent should have years of experience and offer more than one insurance option. There is no such thing “as one size fits all” with international medical insurance. Is your agent offering a global health plan which forces a new member to wait 60-90 days before actually offering medical coverage? This is simply not feasible and rather insulting. Does your agent charge an application or agent fee? Offshore Health Benefits, Ltd has never charged an agent or application fee and the rates listed by the insurance carriers online, are the same rates we pass on to our clients. We are Third Party Advocate working on your behalf.
Does your agent provide a list of Medical Global Insurance companies who perform poorly and should not be sold on the open market? We do, and we are happy to send over a list of such companies which should not be allowed to sell anywhere in the world. Does your Agent have a specific plan if a claim is denied? What is that plan? Call our team, we will explain many options in the appeal process.
"At Offshore Health Benefits, we do things a little different and have thousands of clients throughout Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama, and the Caribbean. Let's talk, it may be time." HM HOWLER MAGAZINE | 107 ~ Robert, Licensed Team Member Serving Latin America & Caribbean
What type of experience does your agent have in international medical insurance planning ? And is your Agent Licensed & Bonded for your protection? Offshore Health Benefits, Ltd offers years of experience from the following companies: Aetna International, Aetna US Healthcare, Generali, Medex, Magellan Health, Tilloglobe and more. If an agent is going to consult with individuals & families living and working abroad, he/she should be familiar with both sides of the international health insurance industry. This is achieved through years of experience. Experience is everything.We are licensed and bonded up to $1 million per claim, you may want to ask your agent if he or she is. In summary, Global Health Insurance rates are on the rise at a record speed, in some cases, they are slowly catching up with many domestic plan premiums. You do have options, and we are here to strategize. Not every Expatriate should consider purchasing an international health plan, this is fact. However, so many people who are relying on an expensive US plan may be surprised at the premiums we can save them while increasing overall coverage.
Since 2002, Offshore Health Benefits, Ltd. has assisted thousands of Expatriates Worldwide and have seen just about everything with regards to Medical Claims, Air Ambulance, Local Emergencies, and Overall Global Healthcare. From Working with Expatriates of USAID in Nicaragua, to helping Teachers with Eco-Green Schooling in Bali, to assisting Retirees in Mexico with Top Rated Hospital admissions, we are here to help. Check us out at https://offshorehealthbenefits.com/contact-our-team. We offer Six Major Expatriate Medical Insurance Carriers, from Smaller Budget Plans to the Larger Global Plan options. If we can’t help you, we will point you in the right direction at no charge. At Offshore Health Benefits, we do things a little different. Let's talk, it may be time.
Contact us today!
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Your market is online... are you?
HOWLER MEDIA PLATFORM Assisting our clients in their marketing investment to keep intersecting their audience. Proactive engagements with dynamic presentations to people who already have a vested interest in Costa Rica. DISCOVER THE IMPACT
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CR BIZ
COVID-19 Calls on Workforce to Turn Up the Volume on Lifelong Learning By Fabiola Domínguez Aguilar
R
eady or not, life implies change. Many of us have reflected on this over the last four months, since COVID-19 arrived in Costa Rica. Our world is now marked by a distinct before and after.
The labor market has also come to this conclusion, amid adjustments to a more virtualized world and physical distancing among employees. "Inertia is not our best companion, at this time," commented Vanessa Gibson, Director of Investment Climate at the Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency (CINDE). Together with the non-profit organization, Gibson has helped the more than 320 multinational companies established in Costa Rica to best adapt to the changes generated by COVID-19.
CR BIZ FEATURE
The world labor market has been hit so hard that the International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates that 6.7% of the world's work hours will disappear in the year’s second quarter — a figure that represents 195 million full-time workers. However, these changes to professional life were already in evidence, thanks to what is known as the fourth industrial revolution, or Industry 4.0. In January, the United Nations reminded the world that Industry 4.0 would involve the retraining or “reskilling” of one billion people, between now and 2030. 110
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These adaptations are further reinforced by the "new reality" that we’re living. Today, more than ever, we are staring down an accelerator that pushes us to adapt more quickly to new skills. “The skills that the job market today most requires may be very different tomorrow,” Gibson noted.” For this reason, lifelong learning is not only a solution, but a necessity to keep up in our jobs.” Solutions Since April, Coursera, an international online learning platform, has enabled a program for those unemployed due to the pandemic. This effort has been carried out in various countries, with the intention that their governments take advantage of the opportunity to reskill their human talent. In mid-June, Costa Rica joined this initiative, which will grant scholarships to 50,000 unemployed workers. This will allow them to train and readjust their professional profile to find more job opportunities, in light of the labor market’s evolving needs. howlermag.com
The Coursera program is a joint initiative between CINDE and Costa Rica’s Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Foreign Trade, and the Presidency of the Republic. After a diagnostic test, scholarship recipients will undertake courses from prestigious universities, recognized worldwide, so that they may fill those gaps in their professional profiles that currently prevent them from qualifying for more positions. Jeff Maggioncalda, CEO of Coursera, explained during his video announcement of the initiative in Costa Rica: "Citizens will have access to courses from the best universities in the world, as well as programs such as Google's IT Support Professional Certificate, which quickly trains people lacking in technical expertise for jobs in information technology."
This is just one of many solutions. In April, CINDE also enabled a recruitment platform for those unemployed in the tourism sector, as well as other industries. Those interested can learn more at covid.cinde.org/talento. We face many challenges, without a doubt. The pandemic reminds us how important it is to increase our volume to reskilling and to lifelong learning as the knowledge economy calls for awareness. The more we level up in our knowledge, innovate, learn more languages, and reinforce our skills, the more professional opportunities will reveal themselves.
Lifelong learning is not only a solution, but a necessity.
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CR BIZ
Soft Skills: For Work and That’s Not All
From buzz words to application By Terry Carlile
M
ost employers can readily identify certain key attributes that they hope their staff members possess. We often interview job candidates based on what they can do, known as hard skills. But we should never overlook the kind of underlying skills considered as “soft.” Soft skills can be described as those that enhance a person’s interactions and job performance.
COMMUNITY FEATURE
My research and experience training workforce and education professionals have consistently reinforced that this topic is one of the most commonly requested and well received. It addresses this question: what are employers looking for in hiring new staff and developing their existing staff ?
In the United States, certain “skill gaps” have been recognized by employers who are adamant about bridging them. In Costa Rica, additional struggles may relate to cultural differences, language interpretation, accepted standards and differences in expectations. For example, “pura vida” does not mean, “I don’t care.”
Typically, these soft skills will be included near the top of the list: communication, enthusiasm, attitude, teamwork, problem solving, critical thinking and professionalism. In thinking about some of your employees, do you see check marks or “needs improvement” for those skills? Soft skills originate from various “shapers” in an individual’s life, such as culture, upbringing and values. Those skills remain transferable from job title to title and from one employer to the next. 112
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At the top in bold letters was the heading “CHORES.” Employers can recognize such soft skill gaps and begin to train their staff accordingly. It’s a process that takes time and effort. The payoff is having a solid workforce committed to the job and dedicated to providing quality customer service. Soft skills are visible to the public when interacting with your staff, so it’s an issue worth reckoning with for optimal results. What about school kids? Working with educators, I used a different approach for soft skills training. I asked teachers what disciplines are required for students to obtain a good education? In an open workshop forum with hundreds of participants, they began yelling out responses as I frantically wrote them on a large board up front. I listed their answers in a column centered between two others in the middle. Then I uncovered the third column beside it with the heading “Employer’s Top 10.” As the workshop participants watched, I connected the words on their list to the employer’s list with a marker. The teachers were in awe. The very same soft skills required by employers were mirrored by the list for students in school!
We then worked on ways for teachers to assist their students in recognizing and developing those soft skills. Most importantly, we agreed how important it is to help students understand that these skills are required in today’s business world. Roots of soft skills Up to this point in these educator workshops, my first column on the board remained covered. Ultimately I asked, “where do soft skills begin?” In every workshop, the participants pondered that question but very few words were spoken. Then I would uncover the first column on the board. At the top in bold letters was the heading “CHORES.” This was when participants realized the crucial birth stage of soft skills begins in the home. With parents proactively engaging with their children in this diminishing task, key soft skills are developed that kids will utilize for the rest of their lives. I would then provide information with links to age-appropriate home chores that teachers could suggest in their letters to parents. The introductory wording would be: “Do you want to develop your child’s soft skills to obtain a better education and be a good employee?” Now, what parents would not want that for their children? HM HOWLER MAGAZINE | 113
CR BIZ
Think about it As you think back on your own life, consider these questions. What chores did you do? What did they teach you? How did they transfer to school? How are you using today those skills that were fashioned from childhood on?
COMMUNITY FEATURE
When it comes to soft skills, I’m always happy to provide information links for parents, educators and employers alike. It’s a vast subject with so many factors. So parents — start shaping your children early on about responsibility, finishing tasks as assigned, working together and commitment. Your kids’ teachers will appreciate it! Educators — identify and help your students develop their soft skills. Employers — the same concept applies. Identify, develop and set the standard with training for your employees to achieve. 114
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Click the article and read online. Comments are welcome! howlermag.com
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CR BIZ
Costa Rica Announces Municipal Tax Breaks Due to COVID-19 Law 9848 provides much needed tax relief for business owners. By Ivan Granados
G
overnments around the world are challenged with finding ways to help their citizens, business owners and local municipalities survive the financial impact of income loss due to COVID-19 quarantine measures. Globally, for a significant amount of time, non-essential businesses were ordered to shut down and domestic and international travel restrictions were put in place. Costa Rica was no exception.
LEGALEASE
The good news is that Costa Rica is recognized as a world leader in acting early to reduce the curve of Coronavirus spread. Furthermore, Costa Rica has also put into place numerous laws to provide financial relief. One such law is 9848, the “Law to Support the Local Taxpayer and Strengthen the Financial Management of Municipalities in the Face of the National Emergency due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Law 9848 took effect on May 22, 2020. It established measures to support taxpayers, and also to reinforce and expedite the financial management of local municipalities facing pandemic-induced economic hardship. 116
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These four measures assist taxpayers. 1. Moratorium on municipal commercial license (“patente”) payments Article 12 of the new law authorizes municipalities to give businesses a moratorium on the payment of taxes on their “patente” for up to nine months. The business owners must show a decrease in their gross income of no less than 20% compared to the same tax period in 2019. Additionally, the business must be current with its obligations corresponding to the tax periods prior to the emergency declaration. howlermag.com
2. Temporary operation permit suspension
4. Payment arrangements
During the emergency, law 9848 allows business owners to temporarily suspend their business for a period of up to 12 months. The business will not generate economic obligations to the municipality during the suspension period.
Article 16 enables municipalities to grant taxpayers payment arrangements lasting up to 24 months for municipal fees, licenses, municipal services, taxes and concession fees.
3. Moratorium on obligations Article 13 allows municipalities to grant taxpayers a moratorium on obligations such as fees (for example, garbage collection), payments for public services, municipal taxes, construction, licenses and others for up to nine months. Each municipality can establish which of these obligations are applicable to the moratorium, and its term. Applicants must prove a decrease of at least 20% in their 2020 VAT tax forms or a reduction in workday hours, suspension of labor contracts or job layoffs.
Law 9848 states that as of June 12, 2020, municipalities and municipal councils must create and approve a moratorium and fee reduction plan. Once a financial study has been completed, in case of a moratorium (Article 13), the plan must also determine which specific fees, municipal services, municipal taxes and concession fees the benefit will be applied to. Furthermore, this fee reduction plan must establish these terms and conditions: moratorium period for each type of moratorium and fee reduction, and the method and application period that interested parties will have.
Like the other positive actions Costa Rica has taken to support the country during this time, law 9848 provides much needed tax relief for business owners. Additional explanation may be needed to cover all the important details. We are here to answer your questions and provide support during this challenging time. Please feel free to contact us at info@gmattorneyscr.com
HM HOWLER MAGAZINE | 117
Designing in Paradise, from a Distance
C
lients often look at distance as a roadblock, but it doesn’t have to be. Designing in Paradise does not need to be hard, it all depends on who you’re working with. Let’s talk about Rudy, Casa Magayon, and… some pretty umbrellas. Rudy is one of our most esteemed clients. Casa Magayon took a total of 3 years to design and build. Still, the process went very smoothly, resulting in the paradise that Rudy and his family come to enjoy time and time again. Rudy chose Costa Rica, a land of rugged coasts, lush jungle forests, and friendly people.
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Being on the same page with our clients Our online, customizable web platform lets us create private workspaces for each project – allowing clients to log in from their computer, iPad, or phone. Compartmentalized containers organize meetings, selections, design, and change orders. For example, to make decisions on plumbing fixtures, you click to see it, review options, discuss issues, make selections, and… “Approved, perfecto, thank you!” We avoid hundreds of emails back and forth. With a repository of all the discussions, it’s easy to find everything. Easy and effective communication is one of the core elements of our SARCO System®. How did Rudy feel about this? One time, we were discussing the selection of high-end umbrellas to create a shade for the terrace of the house. They are exceptional umbrellas, made in New Zealand, designed to stay open in 95-mph winds. These umbrellas have a swivel base and rotate so that wind won’t blow them over. We had an online discussion about the color – they need to match the custom tile we specified for the swimming pool. We considered, what color would the water be? What color of fabric do we want for an excellent complement? howlermag.com
What makes this so interesting? This discussion about umbrellas happened when it was around midnight for me. Rudy was on a transcontinental flight, and his son was in London. Here we were all chiming in at once on the decision-making… live and in a completely unplanned manner. Within 10-15 minutes, we had a decision and were good to go. The umbrellas would be turquoise, square, and perfect to complement the pool. When they weren’t in use, they could be folded and put in their custom protective sleeves. We decided this live and far away from each other — very cool! The "Going with someone local" mentality Most people, especially Americans, gravitate to an architect nearby to the project site. For example, in California, if an architect works in Sacramento, they are not going to look to him for a house in San Diego. The U.S. is so big that people are used to working with someone local. Small countries work entirely differently. Even though you will find local design firms in beach areas, these are often not at the level that you would expect. The horror stories begin or poor communication, frustration with not being satisfied with the work and clients questioning the local capability. There are a few good locals, but not necessarily good on an international level.
Internationally recognized award winnersI We work at a level of international firms, we just happen to be from Costa Rica. We just happen to be an eight-time international design award-winning architectural firm from Costa Rica. In that context, we’ve found that the secret to designing in paradise and working with our clients from a distance is to develop a system tailored to work remotely with international clients. Part of that system is to work with a process that incorporates client communication and interaction that is seamless and easy to use. The SARCO System® allows us to do just that and create your ultimate luxury sanctuary in paradise, no matter where you are. Designing in Paradise is no longer just a dream. We are here to make it a reality.
SARCO Architects Costa Rica www.sarcoarchitects.com projects@sarco-cr.com Tel: USA: +1.646.712.9299 / CR: +506.2283.4107
HM HOWLER MAGAZINE | 119
CR BIZ
By Joanna Blanco
Time for a Half-Year Check-Up Assess the Wellness of Your Business, Mind and Body
C
ongratulations! You made it halfway through this year. How do you feel about this milestone? Are you anxious, excited or relieved? Sorry to start with these blunt questions, but this is an important time of year to stop for a moment and make an in-depth analysis of your business status.
Whether your revenue numbers are red, green, blue, or no color at all, it is essential to do a checkup in all of your business areas. Since I am going to be doing this myself, let me guide you through some major actions. It can help with planning your next steps and have some peace of mind. Business Mission
ENTREPRENEUR COSTA RICA
What is your intention? Are you thinking about changing your target market? Do you feel like taking another direction? These answers are important if you are going to stick with your existing business plan or recreate it. Finances The mission referred to above was the romantic part. But finances are where the facts are found about the status of your business. In my new year’s Howler article about money and wellness in 2020, I covered income under point 2, stating: "It feels good to keep an eye on your earnings!" 120
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So, now that you’ve gone through the first 182 days of 2020, it is essential to know your income and expenses, as of today. If your business numbers are positive, congratulations! This is also an excellent time to make sure you have savings to pay your annual tax amount. If you already know what percentage of your total year’s revenue will be taxable at the beginning of 2021, make sure you save the corresponding amount monthly. It will take some weight off your shoulders, and you will be thanking yourself later. Marketing The business face you show in the marketplace needs a makeover from time to time. Review all of your marketing content, including photos, formats, templates and more. Plan to refresh them as needed. Be sure to give your Facebook and Instagram pages a half-year check-up as well. Make an action plan to upgrade them with new content and a new look for photos, themes and graphics. Get creative. The sky is the limit! howlermag.com
English/Spanish
Associates If you have people working with you or for you, make time and space to ask how they are doing. For your business to have a positive ambience, it is essential to know what is going on in the lives of the people that surround you. People with a positive mindset will provide better results. You
You need to check in with yourself every day.
After asking all those questions about your business, now it’s time to hold up a mirror. How are you? Be sincere with yourself. Maybe you feel like you need a break, so take a few days off. Perhaps you think you are ready for more. Get dressed, go out there and look for new clients. But remember this is not the kind of check-up you only conduct twice a year. You need to check in with yourself every day. Try to make sure you eat balanced meals, stay hydrated and move your body. Give yourself some time to relax and connect with others. Your main missions include wellness of body and mind, success in your business and enjoyment of life! As an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and a business owner, I strive to connect with people who would love to grow and mature their business. I would be pleased to hear from you, with questions or any reason to consult. Visit me on Facebook and Instagram: Movimiento Sattva or email: joannablanco@ vivesattva.com
Health and business coach
Here to • Support your business and health goals • Improve your productivity • Create marketing and social media plans to grow your business
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CR BIZ
By Joanna Blanco
Tiempo para una revisión de medio año Para su negocio, mente y cuerpo
F
elicidades! Tu negocio ha logrado pasar la mitad de este año. Como te sientes con esta noticia? Te sientes ansioso o te sienes entusiasmado con este hecho? Disculpa que comencé con esa pregunta, pero es crucial pararnos por un momento y hacer un análisis profundo del estatus de tu negocio. No importa si los números de tu negocio estén en rojo, azul o cualquier color, es esencial hacer una revisión de todas las áreas de tu negocio ahora. Como igualmente lo tengo que hacer, te guiare sobre algunas acciones importantes para que puedas planificar los siguientes pasos para tu negocio, y así conseguir tu paz mental.
ENTREPRENEUR COSTA RICA
La mision de tu negicio Cuál es la intensión principal de tu negocio? Estas pensando en cambiar tu mercado meta? Sientes que tienes que tomar otra dirección? Es buenos saber si vas a llevar a cabo tu plan de negocio inicial o si lo quieres rehacer. Finanzas La parte de misión de negocio, es la parte romántica (por decirlo así.) Los números son los que te muestran la realidad del estatus de tu negocio. In mi artículo https://howlermag.com/ money-and-wellness-in-2020 122
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En el punto 2 escribí: Ingresos ¨Es bueno tener los ojos puestos en tus ganancias!¨ Entonces, como ya hemos pasado los primeros 182 días del 2020, es esencial saber cuales son tus ingresos y tus gastos al día de hoy. Si los números de tu negocio son positivos, te felicito! También es un momento excelente para estar seguros de ahorrar para pagar los impuestos sobre la renta de año en curso. Si ya sabes cuál es el porcentaje del impuesto sobre la renta que tu negocio pagará a principios del año 2021, ahorra ese porcentaje de tus ganancias mensualmente. Te aseguro que esto te quietará un peso sobre tus hombros, y tu mente te lo agradecerá luego. Marketing La manera que expones tu negocio necesita un refrescamiento de vez en cuando. Haz una revisión de tu contenido de marketing: fotos, formatos, plantillas de promoción, etc., y planifica darles un nuevo diseño, hacerles un cambio positivo y llamativo. howlermag.com
Estoy segura que tiene páginas de Facebook e Instagram, igualmente necesitan su debida revisión y refrescamiento con el nuevo material que vas a preparar. Se creativo. El cielo es el límite! Asociados Si trabajas con más personas sean compañeros o empleados, asegúrate de hacer un tiempo para preguntarles como están. Estoy seguro que querrás tener un ambiente positivo en tu negocio. Para esto es esencial saber que pasa en las vidas de las personas que te rodean. Las personas que tienen una mentalidad positivas, suelen proveer buenos resultados. Tu
Tienes que hacer una revisión de tu bienestar todos los días; trata de comer balanceado, hidratarte, haz alguna actividad física para mover tu cuerpo, ten tiempo de relajación, y conéctate con tu familia, tus amigos. Que tus misiones principales sean tener una buena salud física y mental, tener éxito en tu negocio, y disfrutar la vida! Como Coach de salud y Nutrición Integral y dueña de negocio, me complace atender a las personas que quieren hacer crecer y madurar sus negocios. Me gustaría saber si tienes alguna consulta. Visita mi página de Instagram: Movimiento Sattva o escríbeme a joannablanco@ vivesattva.com
Después de hacer todas las preguntas anteriores: Como estás tú? Se sincero contigo mismo. De repente sientes que necesitas un descanso; tomate unos días libres. Quizás te sientes preparado para más, vístete, y sal a buscar nuevos clientes.
Have you ever had a business meeting like this?
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From Bradley’s World
Colors Blurred by Sports and Entertainment Editorial and photo courtesy of Bradley Brown
J
ust a thought. In my experience it has been sports and entertainment that blur the color barriers in society. I mean, I can applaud the genius of Kurt Cobain and at the same time applaud the genius of Michael Jordan. I can revere the risk-taking courage of Jimi Hendrix and at the same time respect the skill level of Peyton Manning. In these times I've seen people drawing lines in the sand. I've seen hatred and intolerance, division. I've seen friends delete each other from Facebook. I've probably been deleted by a few people. Peter Tosh said, "You never miss your water until your well runs dry." Well me personally, I miss the live entertainment. I miss concerts. I miss sports too. I think anyone who knows me, knows my love for Bob Marley. I hold his words near and dear to my heart and I take them seriously. I am what society calls Black. And my life matters. My life doesn't matter more than yours. It doesn't matter more than his or hers. It just matters. I love myself enough to love others. I will continue to honor the human rights of every person born on this planet, as I continue to honor my own. One love.
PERSPECTIVE
I love y'all.
I love myself enough to love others. HM HOWLER MAGAZINE | 127
E n j oy t h e a d v e n t u r e o f t h e Green Coast of Costa Rica.
¡ R E S E R V E NOW! www.marriott.com/sjols l (506) 2630-9000 Los128 Sueños Ocean & Golf Resort l Herradura bay, Costa Rica | #sMarriott earchfindhowl | online
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Marriott Hotels
A look towards a greener and supportive future
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arriott hotels in Costa Rica innovate towards increasingly pleasant stays for travelers, framed in a social and environmental sustainability strategy called 360 Serve. This allows them to extend the benefits of their operation to the communities in which they are located. As part of this commitment in 2020, Costa Rica Marriott Hacienda Belén in Heredia and Los Sueños Marriott Ocean and Golf Resort in Playa Herradura have the goal of achieving 10 hours of volunteer time per associate. This can be accomplished through educational support projects or cultural, environmental and health activities. Results of such hotel initiatives in recent years include more than 2,800 trees planted on the Pacific coast, support for employability programs, donations to organizations that help vulnerable populations, and support for entrepreneurs in the area. “We are committed to offering our guests memorable experiences and, at the same time, contributing to the development of our communities and their people,” said Dennis Whitelaw, Country Manager Marriott Costa Rica. “If our operation, efforts, and the talent of our associates can positively impact, let's do it.”
The 360 S erve plan is aligned with the Marriott International Goals to 2025 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It is divided into four areas as follows. 1. Nurture The hotels have collaborated with Chepe se Baña — an organization that provides care to the homeless — by donating cleaning supplies and participating in promotional campaigns. They have also worked with Hogar Bíblico Roblealto, an agency providing shelter and social support to children, in giving educational talks about environmental and cultural topics.
Costa Rica Marriott Hacienda Belén
2. Empower HM HOWLER MAGAZINE | 129
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If our operation, efforts, and the talent of our associates can positively impact, let's do it.’ 2. Empower The hotels hav e an alliance with Aldeas Infantiles SOS for its Youth Career Initiative program. It encourages young people from the ages of 15 to 24, with limited resources, to learn life and work skills. "This program allows young people to increase their employability as well as improve their long-term socio-economic opportunities," added Whitelaw. In alliance with other companies, more than 100 adolescents have graduated from the program and more than 90 young people got a job.
• Challenge Golf, since 2005, has been bringing together people with disabilities to develop new motor skills through this sport. 3. Sustain In the sustainability area of the 360 Serve plan, Marriott has an alliance with Costas Verdes to plant endemic species of trees and clean Hermosa and Herradura beaches.
COMMUNITY FEATURE
In addition, the hotels participate in three other empowerment-related programs: • Me Integro provides hotel training to people with disabilities. As a result, 31 people with different types of disabilities have been trained. • Girasoles has trained teenagers from the Garabito community in hotel tasks and facilitated internships at the Herradura property. 130 | #searchfindhowl | online
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“Since 2018, Los Sueños Marriott Ocean and Golf Resort is the main sponsor of the organization, donating $1 for each resort fee,” said Whitelaw. “This alliance has allowed us to plant more than 2,850 trees through volunteers”. 4. Welcome As a longstanding hotel brand with industry distinction, Marriott embraces inclusion and maintains a strong commitment to making its guests and visitors feel welcome. For that reason, both hotels signed the San José Declaration in 2018 and every year renew a commitment to promote human rights and equality for LGBTIQl + people. As well, they create safe work spaces and carry out awareness and education actions in this topic.
Also year after year, all associates receive a training in human trafficking prevention. "Companies play an increasingly critical role in addressing the country's social, environmental and economic problems. This is why we have a unique responsibility and opportunity to create a positive impact and execute a sustainable model where we do business," Whitelaw concluded. By 2025, some of Marriott International's goals as a global company are to add 15 million volunteer hours, donate at least $5 million to social programs and ensure all of its employees worldwide are trained in human rights.
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Hoteles Marriott
una mirada hacia un futuro más verde y solidario
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os hoteles Marriott en Costa Rica innovan hacia estancias cada vez más placenteras para los viajeros, enmarcadas en una estrategia de sostenibilidad social y ambiental llamada 360 Serve, que les permite extender los beneficios de su operación a las comunidades en las que se ubican. Como parte de este compromiso, este año Costa Rica Marriott Hacienda Belén en Heredia y Los Sueños Marriott Ocean and Golf Resort en Playa Herradura tienen la meta de lograr 10 horas de voluntariado por asociado, ya sea en proyectos de apoyo educativo, actividades culturales, ambientales o de salud.
La colaboración con Chepe se Baña -una organización que brinda atención integral a habitantes en condición de calle- mediante la donación de artículos de limpieza, voluntariado y en la logística de campañas; así como con el albergue para niños en riego social Hogar Bíblico Roblealto, en el acompañamiento de temas ambientales, culturales y el apoyo en el desarrollo de temas educativos, son las iniciativas que han ejecutados los hoteles bajo el primer eje.
La siembra de más de 2.800 árboles en la costa del Pacífico, el respaldo a programas de empleabilidad, donaciones a organizaciones que ayudan a población vulnerable y apoyo a los empresarios de la zona, son algunos frutos de las iniciativas que han desarrollado los hoteles en los últimos años. “Estamos comprometidos con ofrecer a nuestros huéspedes experiencias memorables y al mismo tiempo, contribuir con el desarrollo de nuestras comunidades y sus habitantes. Si nuestra operación, esfuerzos y el talento de nuestros asociados pueden impactar de forma positiva, hagámoslo”, dijo Dennis Whitelaw, gerente país de Marriott en Costa Rica. El plan 360 Serve está alineado con los Objetivos de Marriott International a 2025 y los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible de las Naciones Unidas, y dividido en cuatro ejes: Cultivar a nuestro mundo, Empoderar a las personas, Mantener operaciones responsables y Todos son bienvenidos.
En términos de empoderamiento, destaca la alianza con Aldeas Infantiles S.O.S. en el desarrollo del programa Youth Career Initiative, dirigido a jóvenes con edades de 15 a 24 años de escasos recursos, a través del cual se les enseña habilidades para la vida y para el trabajo. “Esto les permite incrementar su empleabilidad, así como mejorar sus oportunidades socio económicas a largo plazo”, agregó Whitelaw. En alianza con otras empresas se han logrado graduar del programa más de 100 adolescentes y contratar más de 90 jóvenes. HM HOWLER MAGAZINE | 133
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WE are ID Otros programas en los que los hoteles participan son: Me Integro, Programa Girasoles y Challenge Golf . El primero brinda formación hotelera a personas con discapacidad. Como resultado, se ha logrado capacitar a 31 personas con distintos tipos de discapacidad en edades entre los 16 y los 58 años.
Es por esto que los dos hoteles firmaron la Declaración de San José en 2018 y renuevan cada año un compromiso para promover los derechos humanos y la igualdad de personas LGBTIQl +, así como crear espacios de trabajo seguros y realizar acciones de sensibilización y educación en este tema.
Por su parte, Girasoles ha formado a adolescentes de la comunidad de Garabito en tareas hoteleras y les facilitado pasantías en la propiedad de Herradura; mientras que Chellenge Golf reúne a personas con discapacidad desde 2005 para que a través de este deporte puedan desarrollar nuevas habilidades motoras.
Paralelo, año a año, todos los asociados se capacitan en prevención del tráfico humano.
En términos ambientales, la alianza de Marriott con Costas Verdes se traducen en la siembra de especies endémicas y más de 100 limpiezas anuales en las playas Hermosa y Herradura. “Desde el 2018 Los Sueños Marriott Ocean and Golf Resort es el principal patrocinador de la organización, donando $1 por cada resort fee; esta alianza nos ha permitido sembrar por medio de voluntariados con clientes, comunidad, estudiantes y asociados, más de 2850 árboles”, puntualizó Whitelaw.
“Las empresas juegan un papel cada vez más crítico en enfrentar los problemas sociales, ambientales y económicos del país. Es por esto que, tenemos una responsabilidad y una oportunidad única crear un impacto positivo y ejecutar un modelo sostenible donde hacemos negocios”, finalizó Whitelaw. Para 2025 algunas de las metas de Marriott International como compañía global son sumar 15 millones de horas de voluntariado, donar al menos $5 millones a programas sociales y que el total de sus empleados en todo el mundo estén capacitados en derechos humanos.
Marriott como marca hotelera con larga trayectoria y distinción de la industria, abraza la inclusión y mantiene un sólido compromiso con hacer sentir bienvenidos a sus huéspedes y visitantes.
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Good Practices of Organizational Inclusion Inclusion is profitable and also encourages professionals By Miguel Flores to work with a focus on excellence.
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iversity has many faces, among them: nationality or ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age groups and religious beliefs. The common denominator between each of these examples is the principle of equality between people, regardless of the qualities that make them unique.
DOING BUSINESS RIGHT
After incorporating inclusive policies, organizations have seen how the probability of reaching or exceeding their financial performance indicators has doubled, while the performance levels of their collaborators have improved at least three times. These outcomes were reported in the article we published for Deloitte Review in 2018 entitled “The diversity and inclusion revolution: eight powerful truths.” In addition, companies have reported up to a six-fold increase in creativity and innovation in their service lines, as well as an 800% increase in the generation of business results with clients.
Profitable focus on excellence Inclusion is profitable and also encourages professionals to work with a focus on excellence. Companies that enhance equity achieve a more lasting corporate identity with their collaborators. At the same time, the employing brand is invigorated, since there will be higher retention of talent. Their members will be "full-time ambassadors" through social networks (LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram, among others), meetings between colleagues/friends, academic sectors and other avenues for proudly sponsoring the company name.
Miguel Flores is Senior Consultant with Deloitte Costa Rica. Photo courtesy of Deloitte Costa Rica 138
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A motivating environment that offers the same opportunities to all without distinction also depends on people being represented by reliable model leaders. They channel the aspirations of collective recognition (sense of justice), transcending good intentions to become concrete acts as a clear reflection of the ideals that characterize a free society. Active involvement of leaders in their organization was reported by 66% of participants in the Deloitte Maturity and Diversity Study, conducted in late 2019 in Costa Rica under the auspices of the Costa RicanAmerican Chamber of Commerce (AmCham). The study sample consisted of 381 people belonging to 81 organizations, representing both the public and private sectors.
Inclusion as an organizational culture The effective boost of inclusion initiatives brings — apart from a solid commitment by those in leadership positions — a series of catalytic factors. These not only guide actions with a purpose of sustainability and a tactical approach for the company, but also promote day-to-day workforce adoption through multi-level communication. Practical, easily replicated measures gradually pave the way for deeper modifications within the business gear.
Six features of inclusive leadership In an article published in 2020 for the Harvard Business Review, through Deloitte Australia, we highlighted six traits that describe inclusive leaders, who stand out for their: 1. visible commitment to defending diversity, challenging the prevailing status quo in favor of making disruptive but viable adjustments; 2. humbleness to transparently acknowledge their mistakes and show modesty about their individual abilities; 3. awareness of the need to mitigate the biases or deficiencies of corporate ecosystems through meritocracy; 4. both open and empathetic mentality to inquire with curiosity about what happens to others while seeking to understand their life circumstances; 5. receptive attitude to individual experiences based on an acute cultural intelligence adaptable to varied environments; and finally, 6. interest in empowering those around them, focusing on cementing team cohesion through effective collaboration, addressing diversity of thought and psychological comfort.
Deloitte Global's 2019 State of Inclusion Survey report is entitled “The bias barrier: Allyships, inclusion and everyday behaviors.” It proposes, among other aspects, to prepare a list of inclusive behaviors to evidence the positive patterns expected. It also recommends defining the role of allies — key reference figures — in each organization, who will be the agents of change promoting the shared values.
Companies have reported an _____% increase in the generation of business results with clients:
a. 200% b. 400% c. 800% d. 900%
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Beautifying Jacó One Light Post At A Time I
By Kate Hanley
f you have visited Jacó anytime after September 2019, you might have noticed some unusual activity throughout the busy, picturesque town. Perhaps you saw small groups of people huddled around the numerous light posts along the main strip of Avenida Pastor Diaz from Jacó Walk to Calle Ancha. What was going on? The community beautification project was largely facilitated by Hanna Rico Fletcher, a local business owner and leader of Ocean’s Edge Ministries, and her husband, Shawn Fletcher. The couple lives in Jacó with their two children, McKayla and Davin. Hannah is also the principal artist behind most of the light post images painted in vibrant red, blue, green, yellow, orange, purple
COMMUNITY FEATURE
Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds were embellishing the light posts with paintings of tropical Costa Rica flora and fauna. With close to 50 participating businesses supporting this initiative, that is also the approximate number of completed posts.
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Project facilitator Hanna Rico Fletcher was also the principal artistic designer. Photos: Jorge Russell
and brown colors. Showcased on long stretches of the streetway you’ll find sea turtles, scarlet macaws, hibiscus flowers, palm trees and waves, just to name a few of her specialties. Highlights of my recent conversation with Fletcher are as follows. How did the Jacó light post project come to fruition? It was a project that Ocean’s Edge Ministries really wanted to undertake, while the Jacó Chamber of Commerce had the same idea on its own. When the project idea was brought up, my husband and I, who belong to the Chamber, became the members who organized the project through our business. Juan Carlos from the Chamber, and also Maria from Hielo Jacoo, were a big help in getting the permission we needed. The light posts are the property of Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE). We started rallying the community and businesses for support. You could sponsor a pole for the small cost of cleaning it, which helped provide employment for street workers in Jacó. The paint was all donated, along with the brushes.
How was the work carried out? Mostly it was Ocean’s Edge missions team members who were out there doing most of the painting, along with volunteer residents of the community. They all worked together, often under a hot sun, putting in long hours to get the poles done. We also had volunteers from Horizon Church, including many kids who are part of the church’s youth group. Some of the businesses that sponsored light posts are found on the We Are 611 Facebook page. I created the We Are 611 hashtag to represent who we are as the community of Jacó.
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The Job of Saving Lives Marvin Pérez and the Jacó Lifeguards
By Kelly Norris
Photo: John Durán
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t’s no secret that Costa Rica has some of the most sought-after beaches in the world for surfing and fun in the sun! Jacó Beach, one of Costa Rica’s most developed beach towns, is also one of the most popular destinations for both national and international tourism. Playa Jacó and the neighboring Playa Hermosa are well-liked for their sandy beaches, as well as their incredible wave action. But often visitors and locals alike are ill-prepared for the strong tides and rip currents that come with that.
SURF SAFETY
Unlike some other beaches in Costa Rica, Jacó is one of the more fortunate in having an official team of lifeguards supported by the local municipality’s department of lifeguards. The team is led by Chief Lifeguard, Marvin Pérez, affectionately known as “Mar Chen.” The well-liked Jacó native has devoted his life to tirelessly helping protect the beaches and people of this town. When the recent pandemic affected Costa Rica, as it did the rest of the world, the role of lifeguards in Jacó shifted and evolved to adapt to the times. Pérez recently told me about his experience as a lifeguard from an early age and throughout these last few months. Below are highlights from my interview with him the second week of June.
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Tell Howler readers a little about yourself My nickname “Mar Chen the lifeguard” is thanks to the diminutive that my grandmother used to call me: “Mar,” like the immense ocean.
From an early age I knew that the sea would be my companion. The connection I had with water was one of my most marked characteristics growing up. I also became interested in water rescue from a very young age. That passion for being near the water — surfing and serving others — were my best virtues.
An anecdote that I like to remember from childhood is about recess time every day at school. Instead of running and playing like other children, I sat in front of the sea to observe every detail and every movement. I learned to read its tides and currents, which unquestionably created a connection that is difficult to explain. howlermag.com
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Photo courtesy of Marvin PĂŠrez
The future of our beaches is in our hands. Since then, I have been serving my community for more than 20 years saving human lives. Although it is difficult to define the exact number, I have counted thousands of water rescues and warnings involving people from all over the world. Tell us about the department of lifeguards and your team In 2010, our local government implemented the municipal lifeguard department. Since then we have been at the service of the community watching over and protecting the beach. We are currently a team of three lifeguards who monitor the different beaches of the canton. That includes Playa Hermosa, which is recognized for having the best surfing waves in the country.
How long have you been a lifeguard? Altogether, I have spent more than 20 years working as a lifeguard. At the age of 13, I started as a lifeguard providing service to different hotels in Playa JacĂł. Then 11 years ago I was hired as a public employee to become head of the municipal lifeguard department. Describe the response from your team and the community when the pandemic started Our team is always willing to attend to any type of help requested. However, the arrival of this pandemic was somewhat unexpected. After working with a beach full of thousands of national and foreign tourists, we suddenly found ourselves on a beach that was completely empty. It has been one of the most striking images in our minds in recent years.
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REGIONAL - JACÓ The community response has been very good. People have collaborated in following the new norms and rules established by our government. However, the levels of stress and anxiety from having to spend so much time without being able to enter the sea were noticeable.
How does the future of beaches look in Jacó and Costa Rica? The future of our beaches is in our hands. We know that opening protocols are being prepared at the national level. If we follow the regulations correctly, everything will be positive.
How has the community responded since the beaches have started opening again? To be clear, the beach is not fully open yet. Costa Rica’s Ministry of Health has permitted access exclusively from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. These current restrictions are being extended through July 11.
We have received many teachings during this time that must be transformed into positive outcomes to help us grow as a tourist destination.
Luckily, the community has been responsible and have respected the rules established by our government. Have you had the support of local surfers in your efforts to adhere to the new protocol for the beaches here? Fortunately, we have always had support from the surfing community, since many of them are qualified as excellent lifeguards.
Tell us about any other initiatives or events you have coming up. At the moment I am waiting for permission to continue with various projects that we have been working on for several years. They consist of training boys and girls of all ages in water rescue issues. I also plan to continue with the project of volunteer lifeguards, doing work through sustainability programs, teaching values and helping the youth of our town avoid falling into situations that put them at social risk. For this, we are always looking for support from different sponsors since the budget we have is minimal.
SURF SAFETY
For more information about upcoming training programs and more, follow the lifeguards of Jacó on instagram @guardavidasmunicipalesplayaJacó
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Eternal Optimism of Youth Jacó Junior Surfers On Fire By Kate Hanley
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SURF PROFILE
ince the middle of March, competitive surfers around the world have been coping with pandemic containment measures including beach closings, restrictions and cancellations of major contest events. This is true for the World Surf League and International Surf Association (ISA), as well as our National Surfing Circuit (Circuito Nacional de Surf ) here at home in Costa Rica. Adults are often surprised by the eternal optimism of youth in the face of a crisis or challenge. Jacó Beach Junior surfers are no exception. Junior competitors Aaron Ramírez, Darshan Antequerra, Leonardo Apreda and Rachel Aguero took time to answer some questions. All four surfers consistently competed in three categories in last year’s National Surfing Circuit. Remarkably, they were also chosen to represent the Junior National Surf Team at the ISA Junior World Surfing Championship in Huntington Beach, California. In the face of the pandemic, these youth remain not only optimistic but in surfer lingo “stoked” to keep training. Here are some excerpts from our Q and A round with the local shredders. 150 | #searchfindhowl | online
Aaron Ramírez Aaron Ramírez finished in the top 10 for Open Men as a 16-year-old, runner up for Junior Men and third in the Boys Category last year on the National Surfing Circuit. Describe a typical day with the restrictions at the beaches from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. during the week. I wake up at 4:30 in the morning, have breakfast and go surfing from 5 to 8. After the surf I eat some more — ha ha ha — then have lunch, work out, eat dinner and go to sleep.
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Aaron Ramírez — second competition date of the National Surfing Circuit 2020. Playa Cocles. Photo: Alfredo Barquero/Federación de Surf Costa Rica
Where do you usually surf and who takes you? I surf most of the time in Hermosa and my dad drives me there. How do you spend your time when you can’t surf? I help my mom with things in the house and go biking every time I can. We usually go as a family. What is a goal you have for this year apart from surfing? My main goal for 2020 that is not about surfing or competition would be to go to the college or university of my choice.
“I love being part of the Jacó community of surfers because there is a lot of support and friends to surf with. I think a lot of good surfers come from Jacó and Hermosa because it has a lot of variety of waves so you can practice all types of conditions.” — Aaron Ramírez, National Surfer HM HOWLER MAGAZINE | 151
REGIONAL - JACÓ Darshan Antequera — fins out and ready to launch. Playa Hermosa. Photo: Agustin Muñoz.
Darshan Antequera Darshan Antequera finished second in Boys last year for the National Circuit but his best performance was winning the Roca Loca Pro run by La Asociación Costarricense de Surf (ACOS) in both the Junior and Open divisions. Roca Loca is a rocky right point break that you’ll find south of Jacó before hitting Hermosa. It gets downright scary in big swells. The annual event is held when the waves are usually over 10 feet.
SURF PROFILE
Are you surfing every day during the week? How do you stay motivated to get up early? Yeah, I’m trying to surf every day. What keeps me motivated to wake up so early is that we only get three hours to surf per day, so I’d better make the best out of it no matter what the conditions are.
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What is your goal for this year if there are no more competitions? Since all competition seems to be over for the year, my goal is to keep improving my surfing with my coach Diego, stay fit and healthy, so when competitions are back on I can be ready to give my best. What do you like the most about the waves in Jacó? The unpredictability of the waves. It could be slow and fun and the next wave is big and fast. It challenges me every time and makes me become a better surfer. “I miss competition a lot but thankfully I live in a town with great surfers so my competitive energy is still there. I want to be the best surfer in the water always and for that I have to work really hard since there are amazing surfers out there.” — Darshan Antequera howlermag.com
These youth remain not only optimistic but in surfer lingo “stoked” to keep training. Leonardo Apreda Leonardo Apreda is the youngest of the four Jacó surfers who went to California for the ISA Junior World Surfing Championship last year. He turned 13 last October and lived in Italy for five years before his family made Jacó their permanent home. What is your favorite surf memory from last year? My best memory of surfing is when I went to the ISA Junior World Surfing Championship in California. It was very exciting to be able to compete there. I had a lot of adrenaline. It was my first time in an international competition and there were so many emotions sharing the event with the rest of the team. I gained more experience competing with guys who all have a very good level of surfing.
Is it hard for you to get up early because of the restrictions? Actually, it’s not hard for me to wake up, I just set my alarm clock and I get up quickly. What is your favorite break to surf and why? I like to surf the break at Bowie’s Point in Hermosa because the wave is more hollow and better for doing airs and getting barrelled.
Leonardo Apreda — Air time at Bowies Point. Photo: Maureen Durán, Playa Hermosa Surf Report
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Rachel Agüero In 2017, Rachel Aguero came to live in Jacó with her family, who is originally from Alajuela, Costa Rica. She has been both surfing and competing for three years and had her best competition results last year.
What is a goal that you have for this year if you can’t compete? If there aren’t any more competitions this year, I will keep on training to the maximum and be ready to go into next year “con todo.”
Why do you like the waves of Jacó? Is it your favorite break?
What have you learned from the pandemic that you’d like to share?
I like Jacó because the wave is not too strong or soft but in between. My favorite break is actually Playa Marbella [in Guanacaste].
What I’ve learned is that you have to surf in every kind of surf conditions. Not just when there are good waves, but in all kinds because we don’t know what can happen in the next months. They could close the beaches again, another virus can come, so I’ve learned to enjoy the waves even if they are bad ones.
What are two of your favorite surfing memories from 2019? My favorite memory of surfing was the last date of the Circuito Nacional in Playa Hermosa. I won the Girls category. I also have a great memory of surfing waves in Marbella that was just an incredible session.
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Rachel Aguero — Setting up the bottom turn in Playa Hermosa. Photo: Jonathan Aguero
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A Breath of Fresh Air Danny Herrara and Artify Jacรณ
By Kelly Norris
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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
orn in the Caribbean province of Limรณn, Costa Rican artist Danny Alexander Herrera Batista lived his early years in the countryside. From the time he began painting at age 15, he has devoted himself to creating landscapes and animals. Using mostly acrylic paints, Danny enjoys using many different techniques and surfaces, from canvases to bird feathers and murals.
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Having grown up surrounded by nature, Danny has always been motivated to paint what is around him. With exceptional powers of observation and recall, he has cultivated an incredible talent for painting everything from memory, never using photographs or any other images to complete his beautiful artwork. Every piece is translated and recreated from pictures and sensations recorded in his mind. Currently residing in Quebrada Amarilla, a small rural town near Jacó, Herrara has created 20 murals during his artistic career. Six can be found throughout Jacó, including projects for private properties.
The artist’s love for the color blue will be noticeable if you have the pleasure of viewing any of his paintings around Jacó, or in Tico Pod Art House & Gifts in the town center. The hummingbird mural he recently finished for the Artify Jacó 2020 project is a notable example. Second-time Artify Jacó muralist Early into the COVID-19 pandemic, Danny was invited back for a second time as a muralist for the Artify Jacó, launched in September 2016 as a civic pride movement in the central Pacific coastal city. Contemporary street art and related community initiatives reflect the common theme of “Art. Love. Nature.” Photo: Kelly Norris
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Herrara’s initial contribution to Artify Jacó was through the widely known “Find Your Wings” project. After he painted the community’s first pair of macaw wings on the red wall beside Wishbone restaurant, many more artistic depictions of wings quickly appeared on other murals around town.
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
During a recent conversation with Stewart Invierno, co-founder of Artify Jacó, he told me, “With the goal of large scale murals in mind, we wanted to get a quick start and introduce art into the community, so we started the #findyourwings #buscatusalas project”.
When asked about the inspiration behind #buscatusalas, Invierno replied, “We wanted to do something that involved art. We believed in the power of public art to build a stronger community and we wanted to encourage more of that in Jacó. We chose the ‘Art. Love. Nature.’ theme, believing that nature has the ability to inspire, heal, and bond us.” Most people who live in or visit Jacó seem to have an affinity for nature, Stewart noted. “Our art installations are a reminder of the majesty that surrounds us, and a reminder for people to take care of it. On a higher level, our natural environment is something we all share in Jacó. It can and does create culture and community. We want to celebrate that and encourage it.”
Photos this page: Mario Molina Salazar & Maria Laura Charles
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Beauty and hope As for Danny Herrara’s involvement, Invierno added, “It was an idea whose objective, apart from beautifying Jacó, was to generate hope.” Jacó has been very supportive of the murals as they pop up around town, Stewart said. “Two of the largest painted walls are outside the main supermarket, which means we all get to enjoy a bit of art in our life on a regular basis! As we are a nonprofit volunteer group, and we rely on donations from local businesses and private citizens to fund these walls.” From the beginning, Invierno’s local business, Tico Pod Art House & Gifts, has been donating time, employees and some funds to keep Artify Jacó growing. Tico Pod recently sold prints of the iconic “Fragil” mural by Antonio Segura Dona (known by the name Dulk), depicting a real-life toucan whose reconstructed prosthetic beak made global news headlines, with partial proceeds going to fund the Artify Jacó 2020 mural Herrara was commissioned to paint.
In addition, local Jacó resident Lisle Head and his Vacasa office staff have been constant supporters of the project since its inception. Co-sponsorship of Danny’s wall, together with Tico Pod & Vacasa, has covered the artist’s costs for labor and all materials. This sets an ideal example of a community supporting community betterment. Nature freeing the mind Having taken a short break after installing four new murals in 2019, Artify Jacó rose to the challenge of responding optimistically to the COVID-19 pandemic, Invierno stated. “With the effects of COVID on everyone’s mind, we wanted to offer some forward momentum in Jacó — some hope on the streets and some money in the pockets of local artists.”
Danny Herrara working on his newest mural for Artify Jacó 2020. Photo courtesy of Tico Pod Art House & Gifts.
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REGIONAL - JACÓ Herrera affirmed, "The idea is to deliver a positive message in the midst of this COVID-19 global pandemic and to reflect peace. I came up with a hummingbird because hummingbirds are known as bearers of good news. It also carries a message, a text on its beak.”
Connect with Jacó art
To discover what the hummingbird’s message says, the artist invites visitors to view the mural, located next to the Banco Popular in front of the main street of Jacó Beach.
You can view all the other wall murals around town in a single day by following the Jacó Art Tour route. Learn more by clicking this Howler article link: Painting the Town Jacó
A look to the future
For more information about Artify Jacó or to make a donation, visit artifyjaco.com or on Facebook. Email: artifyjaco@gmail.com or phone: 506 6001-1277
Fellow local artist Delphine Raveau is working on a second Artify Jacó 2020 wall mural. A third participating artist will be announced soon.
If you are interested in bringing some art into your home or business by the talented local painter Danny Herrara, contact him at WhatsApp: 506 6440-0971.
Both Danny and Delphine wanted to paint something that offered a special message of hope in these tough times. While Herrara’s hummingbird inspires a song of unity, Raveau’s wall is based on one of her best-loved paintings, entitled “Esperanza”.
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
Photo: Kelly Norris
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Herrara’s macaw wings mural is a popular Jacó tourist attraction. Photo courtesy of Tico Pod Art House & Gifts.
‘We believed in the power of public art to build a stronger community.’ Photo: Mario Molina Salazar & Maria Laura Charles
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200 m. west of the Brasilito/Huacas crossroads
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Jose Luis Rodriguez 164
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For Sale By Owners Vacation Rentals 166
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Ocean View Condo - Ocean Front Beach Club, Golf & Spa Resort, Reserva Conchal Studio Condo , 1 Bath $329,000 Escape to paradise in this luxury ocean view condo located within the prestigious guard-gated Reserva Conchal Resort. Enjoy the best location and one of the nicest units in all of Reserva Conchal! No worry of having to climb up and down numerous stairs. The main floor condo opens to the Malinche pool, yet is privately situated. Malinche 111B Features: • Beautiful Ocean Views • Main Floor Unit • Fully Remodeled • Private Location • Walks Out to Manicured Gardens and the Private Malinche Pool • King Size Bed with Memory Foam Topper, Deluxe Bedding and Feather Pillows • Bath Robes • Central Air Conditioning • Double Ceiling Fans • Flat Screen Cable Television with Netflix and Amazon Prime Video • Upgraded Internet Speed
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Full Kitchen with Granite Counters and Beautiful Cherry Wood Cabinets Stainless Steel Appliances Full Size Refrigerator/Freezer with Water and Ice Maker Dishwasher Microwave Oven Electric Oven with Smooth Stove Cooktop 110 Electric (US Standard) Security Safe Laundry Facilities Available Reserved Covered Parking in Front of Building Email for further information.
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REAL ESCAPES
Mariposa is an 2.5-acre upscale luxury beachfront property located in the exclusive north end
of Playa Santa Teresa. Our property consists of 3 unique houses; Casa Yin Yang, Casa Monarca and Casa Morpho. All located on the same property but completely private from each other, each house comes with full amenities including A/C, Wi-Fi, fully equipped kitchens, and private pool. The property is also set up with All houses and the gardens have been equipped with a botanical all-natural insecticide “MistAway� system that protects the property from mosquitoes and other pests. Email for further information.
Casa Morpho: A Cozy Tropical Home
VACATION RENTALS
2 Bedroom, 2 Bathrooms, Private Pool, outdoor BBQ grill (Sleeps 4)
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Casa Monarca: Upscale Family Oriented Home
Casa Ying Yang: Private Accces To Beach
4 Bedrooms, 4 Bathrooms, Private Pool & Yoga Shala (Sleeps 8)
4 Bedrooms, 3.5 Bathrooms, Private Pool & Non-heated Jacuzzi (Sleeps 1-8)
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El Cometa:
Vacation Rental Condos Tamarindo
Centrally Located - this modern little condo is perfectly located in the heart of Tamarindo, just a 5 minute walk to the beach! Email for further information.
Condo Loki
2 guests · 1 bedroom · 1 bed · 1 bath
Condo Niko 2 guests · 1 bedroom · 1 bed · 1 bath
Condo Nala
2 guests · 1 bedroom · 1 bed · 1 bath Complete makeover completed in January 2020. First floor cozy little modern space with a beautiful kitchen with stone countertops and imported tile floors.
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REAL ESCAPES
FOR SALE BY OWNER
Perfect for Retirement, Families, or Rental Investment
Modern 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom condo located close to seven of Costa Rica's most beautiful beaches. • It offers 1150 sq ft of air-conditioned space, plus a back porch, private rear garden, parking pad for two cars, and a paved roadway in a friendly gated community. • The HOA fee is a low $175/month with excellent property management. • The open floor plan offers a spacious feel. • The bedrooms have built-in closets and ceiling fans. Stainless steel stove and fridge with white washer/dryer unit. • The countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms are all granite, with ceramic tile floors and screen doors on the front and back door.
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This condo comes fully furnished with everything you need to move right in. The rancho and community pool are great for outdoor entertaining and a cool swim. The condo is located in Matapalo, a quaint Costa Rican town with convenience stores, where you will hear and see howler monkeys, birds, and iguanas. It is a short drive to quality 24/7 medical care, several restaurants, and shops. Playa Grande (famous for surfing) is minutes away! Conchal Beach is 10 minutes the other way. Even the Liberia International Airport is only a 50-minute drive. $157,900 US. OBO.
Email for further information.
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Home for Sale in Matapalo Costa Rica $239,900 High-quality construction and design in a quiet secluded area … it’s all yours, within an easy 10-minute drive to the area’s beaches, and just 20 minutes from the popular communities of Tamarindo and Flamingo. Special spaces throughout. This classic Spanish hacienda-style house optimizes all its tropical living space, inside and out: 125 square meters under interior roof, expansive front and back patios measuring 55 square meters with a two-vehicle carport. This is all situated on a 1,645 square-meter, tree-covered lot in a small, off-thebeaten-path subdivision of quality homes.
The three-bedroom floor plan incorporates two bedrooms / common bathroom and a master bedroom / bathroom. The open great room features exposed beams and high vaulted ceilings encompassing the spacious kitchen, dining and entertainment areas. The covered patios bring the tropics to your doorstep. Email for further information.
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FEATURED RESTAURANT
Bula Bula : Your Perfect Escape Plan by Jonathan Hiltz
Bula Bula means happy-happy, but the word bula can also mean hello or goodbye.
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I
f you find yourself traveling to Guanacaste for the first or maybe the tenth time, you’ll note the incredible number of restaurants and other eateries that exist. Food is so prevalent in the Tamarindo/Playa Grande vicinity that travelers could spend most of their vacation dining their way through the area. Having said that, not all restaurants or dining experiences are created equal. One of them that stands out above the rest is The Great Waltini’s, inside Hotel Bula Bula in Playa Grande. A unique aspect of this restaurant, if you are coming from the Tamarindo area, is that restaurant-goers can take a boat across the wildlife-abundant estuary to get to Hotel Bula Bula. This awesome ride almost acts as its own appetizer for the fabulous food that awaits when you reach the shores of the hotel. The menu itself in The Great Waltini’s is described as a “fusion of the Americas,” melding California fresh with Gulf Coast cajun and New England seafood. From St. Louis style pork ribs to Annie’s salad with a fusion of blackened chicken
breast, avocados, veggies and some of the freshest salad greens you can find, the menu is packed full of flavors. The flavors don’t stop there. By far, The Great Waltini’s is worth the trip just for the housemade desserts, the best we’ve ever had in Costa Rica. The true escape comes with some of The Great Waltini’s most amazing treats that most restaurants don’t offer. One of the best times to visit is Monday night, for the all-you-care-to-eat Mexican buffet. For $15 you get a wonderful array of delicious Mexican dishes, as well as happy hour prices on the bartender’s spectacular margaritas. The same goes for Wednesday night’s all-youcare-to-eat Italian buffet, loaded up with carbs and finished off with those amazing desserts. This is no place to count calories; instead it is about escaping and enjoying the views, trip and dining experience. Another special treat that this hideaway offers is that restaurant guests can come any day and enjoy the refreshing pool and amenities. Come for lunch and stay for the whole day! Are you looking for a longer-term escape plan?
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FOR SALE
“Bula Bula” is Fijian and actually has a few different meanings. In the case of this resort, Bula Bula means “happy-happy,” but the word “bula” can also mean hello or goodbye. This is apt for Hotel Bula Bula at this time, because the current owners are saying goodbye by putting this remarkable piece of paradise on the market for sale. “It’s a definite life experience,” said Wally Beck, owner and operator. Beck is one of the original owners of the hotel and restaurant and has been running it successfully for the last 18 years. When asked what originally drew him to the Guanacaste region and Playa Grande in general, he simply said it was “the vibe.” Getting out of the rat race is the one constant that seemingly drives people’s decision to become an expat: removing oneself from the day-to-day minutiae of commuting to the same place, working many hours and then returning home only to do it again the next day. While there are those who enjoy that existence, some of us believe that life is simply too short. If you are reading this and think you’re one of the latter, there’s a reason that Costa Rica is first on so many expat lists. Beck and many like him are all-toofamiliar with the trepidation and fear that can be related to drastically changing one’s life and taking a leap of faith to do something different. “You just gotta cut the string,” he said, meaning of course that
My wife and I enjoying some of the colorful Bula Bula tales from owner WallyfBeck. #s earch indh owl
despite the unknown, it’s worth it to forge ahead anyway. “I’m still enjoying life, loving Costa Rica,” he said. Beck went on to add that Playa Grande, where the property is located, is a gated community in between two national parks, Las Baulas and Tamarindo Estero. One of the great benefits of buying into the country of Costa Rica through an opportunity like Bula Bula is it would allow the new owner to apply for residency. This privilege comes with great dividends, including not having to leave the country every 90 days, which is part of Costa Rica’s immigration and tourism policy. If you are looking to take advantage of the Hotel Bula Bula opportunity, Beck says it would best be suited to someone with restaurant and hotel experience. Nevertheless, he is willing to stay on temporarily in order to ensure a smooth transition and to train the new owner so they can continue running the tight ship that has been sailing along for 18 years. If you are simply a traveler and want to enjoy a fabulous meal and what is widely considered to be the best margaritas around, The Great Waltini’s in Hotel Bula Bula is waiting for you. After a few drinks, you just might gain the confidence to come and live with the rest of us expats.
See you soon. Photos: Richie Velasquez
Live your Dream Bula Bula,
the profitable hotel, restaurant and bar is for sale. 10 Rooms
(king size beds)
4 rooms connect for families
128 seat restaurant 18 seat bar After 18 years, it's time for the current owners to move onto their next adventure. Priced to move at $1,100,000
Contact: Wally Beck 8863-0477 wally@hotelbulablula.com (Tell Wally you saw it in the Howler)
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