GUANaCASTE MARCH 2021
REGIONAL
Freecopy
h o w l e r m a g . c o m
celebrating 25 years publishing
BY HOWLER s i n c e 1 9 9 6
Costa Rica’s National Parks
EDITORIAL
Read the editoral “Leader Or A Follower”
John B. Quam
The full HOWLER online March issue here! Open in full screen
Join the regional magazine publication by including HOWLER in your business marketing strategy.
Contact Terry today! (506) 4701-5942 terry@howlermag.com Publisher / Editor-in-Chief John B. Quam CR Office: (506) 4701-5942 Sales and Marketing Manager Terry Carlile Graphic Design, Art Director & Rock Star Adriana C. Zerpa 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. 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 © 2021 The Howler Gold Coast CR S.A. Copyright © 2021 Howler Media Holding, Inc. Panama The Howler Gold Coast CR S.A. Ced. Juridica: 3-101-725213 HOWLER (TM)2017
Ready to Take the Plunge
Legal Due Diligence Seminars Discover the important legal issues about moving to Costa Rica to live, from 30+ Years of Canadian and Costa Rican legal practice
?
— helping expats.
...to Costa Rica
Limited Attendance Seminars AND Open Q&A Sessions with LIC. RICK PHILPS, COSTA RICA LAWYER
March Seminar March 9, 2021, 9AM to 11AM April Seminar April 13, 2021, 9AM to 11AM Margaritaville Beach Resort Playa Flamingo Ask about more mo seminar dates available until July 2021 www.costaricacanadalaw.com More Information and Reservations Email: rick@costaricacanadalaw.com
More info here:
UP FRONT by Debbie Bride
ONLY NATURAL N AT I O N A L PA R K S L E AV E YO U WA N T I N G M O R E
I
COVER STORY
f it’s hard to imagine ever managing to visit all of the national parks on Costa Rica’s still-growing list, consider how unlikely it would be to lose interest in trying to see as many as possible. We might also marvel at how recently it was that any government-protected areas existed at all here, where astonishing 26% of the country is now held in conservation. From ground zero barely a half-century ago, the tally now stands at 30 national parks, in addition to a staggering number of natural spaces in other categories: wildlife refuges, protected zones, wetland areas/mangroves, forest reserves and biological reserves. In addition, there is a distinct group of conservation regions covering both land and sea.
For a country whose land mass is so compact, Costa Rica’s park system is extraordinarily deep, wide and dynamic. It encompasses a vast network of protected habitats and ecosystems where water, forests, wetlands, beaches, birds, animals, insects, plants, coral, whales, sharks and turtles coexist. These are the most impressive and compelling attractions for anyone visiting or living in Costa Rica. Each park provides its own special reason to visit, and every park should be visited. And like most of life’s pleasures, these wonderlands are apt to keep beckoning you back for more. With the prospect of new discoveries and experiences each time, it’s only natural that we want to revisit our favorite outdoor places. In that spirit, Howler takes you now to five of the national parks we have featured in previous magazine issues.
Use the QR code to discover the articles, photographs and videos.
T E N O R I O VO LC A N O
C A H U I TA
R I N CÓ N D E L A V I E J A
M A N U E L A N TO N I O LA CANGREJA
TRAVEL & ADVENTURE
COATIS by Vern Veer
CUTE AND
C
osta Rica is home to the largest species of coati, Nasua narica, known as the white-nosed coati.
CREATURE FEATURE
These animals can grow to 120 centimeters long, their large, bushy tail making up half that length. Coatis use their tails for balance while moving about in the trees, where they spend much of their time foraging for insects, fruits, small mammals, reptiles and amphibians.
CLEVER
rainy season. Females give birth three months later, the number of offspring ranging from two to seven. Beforehand, pregnant females build a crude nest in a tree or on a high ledge, to protect the young from predators. Coatis have many predators in the wild. Jaguars, ocelots, foxes, large snakes, birds of prey, humans and domesticated dogs are all known to hunt these docile and highly intelligent creatures.
White-nosed coatis can grow to a weight of 11 to 20 pounds and have a top speed of 15 miles per hour when running. Coatis are normally active during the day, sleeping at night.
Coatis have the unique ability to descend from trees headfirst by reversing their ankles. They are often observed eating their food while hanging upside down from a tree limb by their hind feet.
Female coatis live in groups of several animals known as bands, which often include immature males. Adult males live a solitary life, only joining bands for breeding, which usually coincides with the start of the
Coati are also known as coatimundi, hog-nosed coon, moncun, pizote or cusumbo. They belong to the same family as the raccoon and are similar in appearance and behavior.
February International Emag Highlights
QR CODE FOR THE VIDEO AND MORE
Reinvent
Turning DreamsInto IntoRea Reality lity
Turning Dreams
www.marvistacr.com US 1-888-414-1836 CR +506 8387 8888
Your Life
FULLY DAY CUSTOMIZED CHARTERS 4 NIGHT NICOYA PENINSULA 6-14 NIGHT ENTIRE PACIFIC COAST UP TO 8 PASSENGERS OVERNIGHT 30+ YEARS EXPERIENCE IN FLAMINGO
R E S E R VAT I O N S :
+(506) 8861-5676
pacificsoulsailing@gmail.com
+(506) 8819-3889
W W W. PA C I F I C S O U L S A I L I N G . C O M
SUMARCH RFTIDE CHART G
MOON PHASES
March 5
3rd Quarter
March 12 New Moon
March 21 1st Quarter
March 28 Full Moon
SUNRISE MARCH 1 MARCH 31
5:57 am 5:40 am
SUNSET CLICK HERE
TO SEE MARCH 1 MORE 5:53 pm MARCH 31 5:54 pm
DAY
HIGH
LOW
Mon 01
04:10 9.42 ft
10:15 −0.92 ft
Tue 02
04:53 9.47 ft
Wed 03
05:37 9.29 ft
COSTA RICA HIGH
LOW
HIGH
16:33 9.88 ft
22:40 −0.89 ft
10:56 −0.99 ft
17:15 10.01 ft
23:25 −0.92 ft
11:39 −0.83 ft
18:00 9.88 ft
Thu 04
00:11 −0.71 ft
06:23 8.91 ft
12:24 −0.44 ft
18:47 9.51 ft
Fri 05
01:00 −0.29 ft
07:14 8.37 ft
13:14 0.12 ft
19:39 8.97 ft
Sat 06
01:54 0.25 ft
08:11 7.78 ft
14:10 0.76 ft
20:39 8.37 ft
Sun 07
02:57 0.79 ft
09:19 7.28 ft
15:17 1.34 ft
21:48 7.87 ft
Mon 08
04:09 1.14 ft
10:35 7.06 ft
16:34 1.65 ft
23:03 7.64 ft
Tue 09
05:26 1.19 ft
11:50 7.20 ft
17:54 1.59 ft
Wed 10
00:14 7.72 ft
06:35 0.95 ft
12:55 7.60 ft
19:02 1.26 ft
Thu 11
01:16 7.98 ft
07:32 0.59 ft
13:50 8.08 ft
19:57 0.83 ft
Fri 12
02:07 8.28 ft
08:20 0.25 ft
14:36 8.52 ft
20:43 0.44 ft
Sat 13
02:52 8.53 ft
09:01 −0.01 ft
15:16 8.86 ft
21:23 0.15 ft
Sun 14
03:33 8.67 ft
09:37 −0.15 ft
15:54 9.05 ft
22:01 −0.02 ft
Mon 15
04:10 8.68 ft
10:12 −0.15 ft
16:29 9.08 ft
22:36 −0.05 ft
Tue 16
04:46 8.55 ft
10:46 −0.00 ft
17:04 8.97 ft
23:11 0.06 ft
Wed 17
05:22 8.29 ft
11:19 0.27 ft
17:38 8.72 ft
23:46 0.29 ft
Thu 18
05:58 7.91 ft
11:54 0.65 ft
18:13 8.35 ft
Fri 19
00:23 0.63 ft
06:36 7.45 ft
12:29 1.11 ft
18:50 7.92 ft
Sat 20
01:02 1.04 ft
07:18 6.96 ft
13:09 1.60 ft
19:32 7.45 ft
Sun 21
01:47 1.46 ft
08:06 6.52 ft
13:55 2.06 ft
20:22 7.03 ft
Mon 22
02:40 1.81 ft
09:05 6.22 ft
14:54 2.38 ft
21:25 6.74 ft
Tue 23
03:44 1.99 ft
10:15 6.19 ft
16:05 2.46 ft
22:36 6.73 ft
Wed 24
04:53 1.89 ft
11:23 6.50 ft
17:18 2.17 ft
23:44 7.02 ft
Thu 25
05:56 1.51 ft
12:22 7.09 ft
18:22 1.58 ft
Fri 26
00:41 7.53 ft
06:50 0.94 ft
13:12 7.84 ft
19:15 0.83 ft
Sat 27
01:32 8.14 ft
07:38 0.30 ft
13:57 8.63 ft
20:03 0.05 ft
Sun 28
02:18 8.74 ft
08:22 −0.31 ft
14:40 9.37 ft
20:49 −0.65 ft
Mon 29
03:02 9.23 ft
09:05 −0.80 ft
15:23 9.95 ft
21:33 −1.15 ft
Tue 30
03:47 9.54 ft
09:48 −1.10 ft
16:06 10.28 ft
22:17 −1.40 ft
Wed 31
04:31 9.62 ft
10:32 −1.14 ft
16:50 10.32 ft
23:03 −1.36 ft
HOWLER MAGAZINE Bali island. Photo by Kirayonak Yuliya.
SURF
G
COSTA RICA
LEARN TO CATCH
THE PERFECT WAVE B E G I N N E R
T I P S
by Gina Conejo Original Howler publication date: July/Aug. 2019
B
eing a Costa Rican city girl from San José, not one of those Ticos who grow up on the beach or head there as often as they can, I had never surfed a day in my life until a few months ago. I enjoy traveling, lived in the Big Apple for a while and then moved to Florida. I would constantly get the typical remark, “Oh, so you are from Costa Rica … the surfing there is great!” Yet in truth, I knew nothing about it firsthand.
SURF 101
Having recently moved to the beach, I took it upon myself to learn to surf like a pro — well, maybe just learn to surf for starters. Now, after exploring the surf world for a few months, I am ready to share all my insider tips with you. LO NG RUN OR SH ORT SNA P?
Now you need to ask yourself the following question: are you in it for the long run or just for a weekend vacation? For me, this is a long-term commitment.
Q UAL I T Y CO UNT S
Many surf instructors are used to the onetime lesson tourists who just want to feel excited about getting on a board. This makes it hard if you are a serious beginner looking to learn good technique. GE AR I NG UP
Make sure you have the right gear. Surfing does not require much, but it has to serve the right purpose. AP P FO R T HAT
When to surf? Lucky for you, your instructor will tell you and this is part of learning to surf. Become a surfer, don’t be a “Barney” (watch the surf classic film “North Shore”). But if you want to get ahead, continue reading Howler’s surf section and all the back issues online. Also download an app like MSW (MagicSeaWeed). It has surf cams and allows users to upload reports and photos — sort of like the Waze of waves.
d! ou starte y t e g d l That shou ight age, it m r u o y t a wh r surfing No matter u o y t e g me” to Surf on! . a be “ go ti d i v a r in pu feet wet
READ MORE
Photos: Shaka Media.
Scan QR code. Use code HOWLER2021
Visit us Today! USE DISCOUNT CODE
HOWLER