Brasilito Feature Digital Magazine from April's Howler Edition

ffordable Luxury

Howler converted the April 2023 edition to just showcase the Brasilito section. From BOA Brewing to GM Attorneys, the stories and advertisers are all in the Brasilito area.

Your business can download this edition and/or send the link to your email database to broadcast to your guests about you and this area.

Every region of Costa Rica can have a section in the regular digital magazine each month. All it takes is a few businesses and someone to provide some general interest stories.

Browse through this edition, click the links to go the article pages. The articles are translatable to 12 languages.

For advertising opportunities contact:

terry@howlermag.com

The 21st is the deadline for the next month's edition.

PUBLISHER / EDITOR-in-CHIEF

John B. Quam

executive director - Terry Carlile

Table of Contents

• Mar Vista

• Brothers of Ale: A taste of what's on tap

• Brasilito Beckons

• A Cachete Adventures

• New Shogun

• Guanacaste Boasts Best Beach in the World!

• My Guanacaste Vacation

• Beach Community Church

• Hotel Tropical Diversion

• Fly With Us

• LIfe Booster Wellness Center

• My Bee Farm Visit

• New Urban and Rural Land Use Category Proposed

• GM Attorneys

• La Carniceria Gourmet

account executive

Mary Fernández

Editorial Staff

Debbie Bride - Editorial Coordinator

Laurie Quam - Copy Editor

HOWLER (™) 2017

Cont act

John Quam - Managing Partner headmonkey@howlermag.com

Editor: editor@howlermag.com

Advertising: terry@howlermag.com

Design: design@howlermag.com

CR Office: (506) 4701-5942

Howler Magazine Costa Rica @howlercostarica @thehowlermag @howlermagazine

The Howler Gold Coast CR S.A.

Ced. Juridica: 3-101-725213

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.

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.

The Howler Magazine does not assume responsibility for the content of its advertisements.

Images not credited are acquired from stock photography services.

Copyright © 2023

The Howler Gold Coast CR S.A

Copyright © 2023 Howler Media Holding, Inc. Panama

The Howler Gold Coast CR S.A.

Ced. Juridica: 3-101-725213

HOWLER (TM)2021

Brothers of Ale:

ATasteofWhat’sOnTap

Word of Mouth Attracts Locals and Tourists Alike

by Howler Staff

Three years after opening its doors as Costa Rica’s newest premier craft brewery, Brothers Of Ale Brewing is being well-served by all the entrepreneurial ingredients it takes to grow and thrive: a clear vision, patience, determination, resilience and hard work. Add to that a steadfast commitment to high product quality and customer satisfaction, plus a passion for giving back, and this remarkable Guanacaste success story keeps unfolding.

We are pleased to provide more details in this month’s cover story, and to share these highlights of our conversation with Brothers of Ale founder Alaks Thompson.

What brought you to this area to start your brewery?

In 2016, I was working in South America at the time and planning on the eventual Brothers Of Ale concept. I had been talking with my sister, who knew that I was leaning toward New Zealand and the Queenstown area, as I had such an unreal experience working and traveling in the country years before. However, my sister insisted I check out Costa Rica. At that time, it was scoring so high on the quality-of-life index.

Photos courtesy of BOA

Alaks Thompson

With constant feedback and not settling for mediocrity, I think we have a pretty good stride.

• Great food selections

• Arts, concerts, family events

• Special television viewing parties

• Business meetings

• An exciting atmosphere

You may come as a stranger, but you'll leave as friends.

CLICK FOR MORE

So I did. I spent about three months based out of Tamarindo, but traveling around the country. Later on in 2016, I bought my house and made the full-time move.

What were some of the general challenges you encountered?

"Costa Rica makes easy difficult and difficult easy." That phrase never rang so true as it did when I found myself moving here and living a full-time life. It's one thing to vacation here — everything is pura vida — but to live here and operate a business here, it takes patience and an understanding that you will not change Costa Rica — for the better or worse. Banks, government offices, utilities … you name it, they are infamous for long lines and not being well-organized. But it is in these challenges that the successful succeed.

I also found that surrounding yourself with similar-minded people, and those who may have gone through the same processes before you, allows you to surge ahead and not let any roadblocks keep you down.

What is your customer base like and what are their experiences like at BOA?

When we opened at the start of COVID, our base was exclusively locals. I'd say that it took about a solid year of growing our reputation

before we really started seeing tourists come in. We aren't in downtown Tama or Potrero. So being a destination location, we had to hit our mark on quality and service, and I believe we are doing that. It's a continual process, but with constant feedback and not settling for mediocrity, I think we have a pretty good stride.

And our customer reviews and feedback have allowed exponentially more people to come and seek us out. We hear pretty often, "So-and-so told us to come here and I'm so happy we did!"

So word of mouth has allowed more locals and tourists to come check us out. Right now I'd say we are about 70% locals and 30% tourists.

Click here for more!

Between Huacas and Brasilito, Guanacaste

WHICH ONE OF YOU DID THIS??!!

Alaks was 3,500+ miles away on a snowboarding trip in the mountains of Utah (Snowbasin, January 2023).

Of the 11 total lifts (and hundreds of chairlifts) that he could have sat in, he sat in this one: ONE WITH A @brothersofale STICKER ON IT!!

Unbelievable moment and what it’s all about! Thank you for spreading the BOA love! (But seriously, who did this? You rock, and next round is on us.)

My Bee Farm Visit

Part 1: When Things Changed

Howler is delighted to feature this first-hand account of an 11-year-old’s journey in Costa Rica learning about bees. Part 1 of the young author’s two-part story takes place at a bee farm, where everything about his perspective changed. This was the inspiration behind the colony he is now starting on his own at his family home.

Owww! A bee stung me! A bee — what did I do to it? Bees usually are nice. But I was collecting honey from the beehive, when sometimes they get mad. But if a bee would not sting me I would not be a beekeeper.

Two months earlier, I got invited to a bee farm. That’s when things changed. They changed a lot. I saw how smart bees are and how they have something to do all the time. So let me explain what they have to do.

The queen bee is responsible for laying eggs, and her pheromones dictate the behavior of the rest of the colony. The drones are male bees that exist solely to mate with the queen bee. They do not have stingers and do not gather food. The workers are female bees that do most of the work in the colony. They are responsible for tasks such as collecting nectar and pollen, building the hive, and caring for the young. Workers have a specialized body part called a pollen basket that they use to carry pollen back to the hive.

When a worker bee finds a source of nectar, she returns to the hive and does a "dance" that tells the other bees where to find the food.

This dance is called the waggle dance, and it communicates the direction and distance of the food source.

Bees are also important pollinators, and they play a crucial role in the ecosystem by helping plants to reproduce. When a bee lands on a flower to collect nectar, it picks up pollen on its body and transfers it to the next flower it visits. This process of pollination helps to fertilize the flowers and ensure that they can produce seeds and fruit.

Overall, bees work together in a highly organized and efficient way to ensure the survival and success of their colony.

So now you know bees always have work. But the most important thing I experienced is this: if you are scared when working with bees your body will release certain pheromones, which bees can detect as a threat.

Stay tuned for the rest of my bee story in a future Howler issue.

Story and photos by Marek Nahorski

I saw how smart bees are and how they have something to do all the time.

Brasilito Beckons

by Howler Staff

Playa Brasilito is a town in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Located on the north Pacific coast, 3 km south of Flamingo Beach and 20 minutes north of Tamarindo Beach. Brasilito was a small fishing village, which has become a budget location to stay on the Gold Coast.

Playa Conchal 3 minute walk

New Shogun

0 minutes

¡A Cachete! Adventures 0 minutes

Hotel Diversion Tropical 0 minutes

Beach Community Church 2 minutes

My Guanacaste Vacation 3 minutes

Located just an hour away from Daniel Oduber International Airport (LIR), this location frees you from the congestion of tourist towns.

At the same time, you are just minutes away from a variety of activities, restaurants, businesses and top beaches in the area.

Examples:

• 12+ restaurants, ranging from sodas, steak and pizza to Indian and seafood

• 5+ adventure agencies

• 24+ businesses

Romilio Rodriquez Gonzales has lived in Brasilito his whole life, 90+ years. He was featured on the cover of Howler's June 2022 edition. Photo by Perry Carlle

A rainy day in Brasilito at a local bar. Photo by Perry Carlle

A donor group worked directly with the Brasilito ADI to coordinate the repairs and paid for the security during the renovation for the total upgrade of the basketball court at the Brasilito park.

Ariel view of Brasilito. Photo by Terry Carlile

Guanacaste Boasts Best Beach in the World!

Playa Conchal No. 1 on EnjoyTravel Top 50 List

By Howler Staff

Photos by Perry Carlile

We’re number 1! To be a bit more specific, Costa Rica is home to this year’s winner on the annual “50 Best Beaches in the World” list released by EnjoyTravel.com. Epic congratulations go out to the exquisite Reserva Conchal, in Guanacaste, for achieving this amazing honor.

How did it happen that our north Pacific coastal gem should outrank 49 other sandy stretches in far-flung corners of the world? Who decides? According to EnjoyTravel.com, rankings from 1 to 50 are calculated using aggregated scores from previous media results, official Blue Flag locations and contributions from the Big 7 Travel editorial team.

“This year, you’ll notice a few old-timers alongside a whole host of newcomers, from black sandy shorelines to city beaches to castaway islands,” says the featured online results preamble. “Whether you’re in the market for a secluded sandy stretch or a buzzing beach party, you’re sure to like the look of a fair few of these beaches. Consider this your essential vacation guide.”

CLICK

BRASILITO:

• More beach photos

• Google map

• Places to eat

• Featured videos

• More stories

• Businesses

• Shops

If you’re curious about the competition, here is the complete top 50 list in countdown order. Photos and brief descriptions are posted to the EnjoyTravel.com web page.

HOW MANY HAVE YOU

Tell us in the comments on the article page.

– Menorca, Spain

Protaras, Cyprus

Jamaica

– Lagos, Portugal

Sao Tome & Principe

Koh Tao, Thailand

– Anguilla

– Kauai, Hawaii

– Bermuda

Tanzania

Archipelago – Mozambique

– Goa, India

Laucala Island, Fiji

Mayo, Ireland

18. Hyams Beach – New South Wales, Australia

17. Navagio Beach (Shipwreck Cove) –Zakynthos, Greece

16. Pig Beach – Bahamas

15. Porto Santo Beach – Madeira, Portugal

14. Source d’Argent – Seychelles

13. Playa Negra – Puerto Rico

12. Zlatni rat (Golden Horn Beach) – Brac, Croatia

11. Whitehaven Beach – Whitsunday Islands, Australia

10. Reynisfjara Beach – Vík í Mýrdal, Iceland

9. Boulders Beach – South Africa

8. Pedn Vounder – Cornwall, England

CLICK HERE TO DISCOVER BRASILITO:

• More beach photos

• Google map

• Places to eat

• Featured videos

• More stories

• Businesses

• Shops

7. San Fruttuoso – Italy

6. Secret Lagoon – El Nido, Palawan, Philippines

5. Punta Mosquito – Holbox, Mexico

4. Siesta Beach – Florida, United States

3. Grace Bay – Turks and Caicos

2. Turquoise Bay – Exmouth, Australia

1. Playa Conchal – Costa Rica

Men's Softball Friday Night

Biblical Discipleship Studies, Worship and community activies for Spanish and English communities.

Adults, youth, children - come and see.

Click logo for website.

Located 2 minutes from Brasilito.

Worship

Children Community

Community Sports

Youth

Hotel for sale

Hotel Diversion Tropical

• 45 minutes from Liberia International Airport

• Brasilito, Guanacaste

• 1 km from the most beautiful beach in the region, Playa Conchal

• 10-12 restaurants and shopping within 1 km

• Built in 2006

• Ten rooms

• Turnkey operation

• Future growth is possible

Click here for more details.

SeePlayaConchalfromtheair!

New Urban and Rural Land Use Category Proposed

Law for creating “touristic residential recreational parcels”

by Andrea Chacón & Ivan Granados

The landscape in your vicinity of Costa Rica could look different down the road as proposed legislation is being considered for a new urban and rural land use category.

The Asamblea Legistativa is studying bill number 23.200, the “Law of creating touristic residential recreational parcels.” This bill adds section 33 bis to the Urban Planification Law number 4240, to create a new form of economic reactivation and foreign and national investment attraction.

The Urban and Planification Law regulates the subdivision of land and allows each municipality to plan and control urban development in its county. Currently, there are three main district land categories under Costa Rican regulation:

1. Urban — corresponds to territories designated for the development of population centers.

2. Rural — land dedicated in its majority to the use and prioritization of natural resources, characterized by the joint evolution of society and nature.

3. Mixed — land that has more than one use: residential, commercial, industrial, or between agricultural, livestock, forest, or others.

According to the Fractionation and Urbanization Regulation, an agricultural parcel — within the third category — must have a minimum area of 5,000 square meters in rural zones and 7,000 square meters in urban zones.

Some owners have used agricultural parcels differently than they were originally intended — for agricultural use — and instead developed them for tourism or residency.

The proposed touristic residential recreational parcel category will be a unique division modality. In both urban and rural areas, such land parcels may be used for residential and recreational purposes through “touristic easement.” This legal designation will allow controlled infrastructure growth and new developments to reactivate tourism in the country.

The proposed tourist residential recreational parcel will have the following features:

• The area must be at least 5,000 square meters.

• The cadastral plan must indicate “touristic residential use.”

• More than one house can be built for residential and recreational use; buildings can have a maximum of two floors each. The maximum coverage for construction will be 25% of the parcel area.

• Access will be through an easement “servidumbre turistica” of seven meters wide in favor of and against the parcel. This easement will allow the authorities to provide public services, urbanistic control, municipal security, health services, fireman, or anything related.

• The cession of the public area will not be required.

Some owners have used agricultural parcels differently than they

Bill 23.200 will not require the approval of any additional regulation or bylaws. However, each Municipality can issue particular dispositions according to its master plans.

Minimum size

Activity or use

Type of access

Maximum coverage for construction

The main differences between these two categories of land, agricultural and touristic residential recreational parcels, are the following:

Agricultural Parcel Touristic Residential Recreational Parcel

Urban: 7,000 sq.m. (inside Greater Metropolitan Area)

Rural: 5,000 square meters.

Agricultural, livestock, forest or mixed between those.

•Agricultural easement 7 m. wide

•Must have direct connection to public road

•Public services providers can use easement

Maximum coverage area 25% of parcel:

1. Only one single-family home of 300 sq.m. up to two floors

2. House for agricultural worker.

3. Infrastructure associated with agrotourism activities

These three constructions together cannot exceed 10% of parcel area. The outstanding 15% must be used in agricultural infrastructure

At least 5,000 square meters.

Touristic, residential, and recreational activities.

Touristic easement of 7 meters wide Public services providers can use the easement"

Maximum coverage area 25% of parcel:

•Multiple structures, such as houses, can be built for residency and recreation

•Maximum two floors for each building

Cease for public area: any property fractionated outside cities or urbanized zones must cease freely for green areas and urban equipment, 10% of the area.

Once the bill is approved, if no changes are made, the owners of agricultural parcels will have 24 months to turn their property into a tourist parcel by following proper due process. They must submit a written petition to the corresponding municipality requesting the land classification change. It will not be required to rectify or update the cadastral plan or the registered title before the National Registry.

We at GM Attorneys will be pleased to help you with your legal matters in Costa Rica! Please feel free to contact us at info@gmattorneyscr.com or visit our blog section at https://www.gmattorneyscr.com/gm_ website/html/blog.php

Read more legal ease articles they were originally intended.