But the park is worth the 10 dollars. You have a beach in there where you can hang out while monkey go thru your purse stealing you lipstick.

Kids love it. One of the species there is the Mono Titi squirrel monkey and those monkeys are almost extinct.

The Eco Preservation Society and Kids saving the Rainforest have teamed up to help plant trees, protect wildlife, and keep the Mono Titi’s alive. Here is how you can help.

Puerto Viejo is intense. Fun place to be. You have a lot of people there, but the vibe is different, more relaxed than Santa Teresa. You can always go ahead and check out the Peninsula de Osa which is most likely going to follow into the footsteps of Malpais, but right now it is a place where you can enjoy time in more privately located surf and vacation spots where you can relax. Manzanillo and Playa Hermosa however are located close to Santa Teresa and Playa Carmen. And they are just like Osa. The roads are bad, but you have the opportunity to spend time away from the crowd. The suburbs of San Jose are also nice. Santo Domingo de Heredia, Heredia itself, also San Pedro where the mall is has a great vibe. San Pedro is the area where the University of Costa Rica is located.  Jaco and Tamarindo are two places I do not recommend to my worst enemy. Those who go there knowing what it’s like often do so for reasons which family vacationers would not share, but Manuel Antonio which is close to it is a real treat providing great surf, a beautiful beach and the national park.

When deciding where to go in Costa Rica, I do not recommend listening to the travel agent before having spoken with some people who have been here and share common interests.

If you have any questions, ask us here. I have been to many places and get an idea of which areas are going to be fun for whom. Costa Rica is full of places I love and others which I avoid. I see so many tourists not happy with choices they have made me knowing other locations which they would have truly enjoyed had they taken their time deciding where to spend their vacation.

Costa Rica has something for everyone. So take the time and find out where someone like you is going to be most likely to have a wonderful vacation or with your friends/family.

by Mike Dammann.

Photo Source: Costa Rica Fishing Tour

Everything is slower here. People have less of a sense of urgency. It’s good, but it can be frustrating when you’re doing business.

People here are not as pressured by financial obligations, debts or whatever we in America have accepted as normal and will not let anything related to work stress them out. Touristic areas are very defferent from the ones that are rural or just average towns. In the typical Costa Rican towns, everyone is laid back. Most of those places are very safe, but when you flash too much money or belongings of value, you can attract thieves.

Unfortunately high tourism areas like San Jose, Tamarindo, Santa Teresa and Montezuma has a crowd of outlaws who will try to hustle you if you let them.

Although prostitution is not legal, you find this everywhere, and drugs are cheap and if you are a single guy, you will be solicitated. Santa Teresa and Montezuma are not so much about prostitution, but drug usage is high and many of the locals grow up experiencing the sale of drugs as an easier and faster way to make money than working for $1.50 an hour.

This post is not about pointing fingers or putting blame. Many tourists come here for that so the locals often learn to meet their needs.

A friend of mine was a tour guide in Tamarindo, and needless to say he constantly had requests from clients to provide them with whatever they want, so if you don’t want to be bothered with anything, just use your instinct who to avoid and don’t allow people to know your weak spots, because they will spot it.

Costa Rica has great climate. The beach areas are warm, day or night, the inland areas can be a little cold at night and from November to May the sun usually shines non-stop.

The rainy season is something else though. Tiring. You watch the rain pour down and hear the thunder explode. Never in my life have I experienced as much rain as I have here. Sometimes it’s so bad that the roads look like rivers and the town looks like Venice, Italy.

In the picture above you can see sunset in Tamarindo.

by Mike Dammann.

Photo Source: Pedro Vidigal.

The guy is a friend and if any of you want to know more, you can contact me and I get you guys in touch.

I have never before see such a great way of “respectful construction”, constructing around nature rather than getting rid of it first and then creating a concrete manion.

What is so unique about the surrounding areas of Puerto Viejo is the monkey highways, the wildlife and fauna and the reason people want to live there is because those are being and should remain provided for the residents and tourists.

Take a look at the pictures below and let me know what you think.

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by Mike Dammann.

Photo Source: Kaya’s Place.

Costa Rica has been on the forefront of the international real estate market for quite some time now, and from what I am told, on the Pacific side it’s now time to build, and on the Caribbean and southern side it’s time to buy.

The price of land on the Pacific side went from about $20 a square meter (take this times 10 for square feet) to about $80. Major development is on the way, and on the Caribbean side investors and private well-to-does are starting to buy up land which provides hope to becoming a prime investment anybody with enough money to acquire it can make.

What I like about Costa Rica is the stability of the government. I also like the fact that Costa Rica has so much to offer for everyone. Costa Rica is and will remain an ideal vacation spot for everybody, but especially Americans and Canadians since the country is close enough to head down quick and flights are fairly cheap.

What does indicate a huge boom is the fact that many of those who come here do have the money to build their dream, yet eco friendly building is in. Not to destroy the environment which provides such a great alternative to what we are all used to is something worth striving for. The natural habitat needs to be preserved, so investors are encouraged to build eco friendly resorts rather than highrises.

Time will tell what will happen.

Costa Rica is a goldmine.

Those who are down on their luck in the U.S. should consider giving Costa Rica a try and experience this country in its developmental stage before the opportunities are gone.

I believe that Costa Rica has a bright future ahead and I would like to see more good people make their way here in order to prosper and help make a difference when it comes to doing business in a way which benefits them as well as their newly found community.

Feel free to ask me questions and let us know what brought you here.

Mike Dammann

Then after about a month from one day to the next the sun came out and it stayed out.

Until May.

Then the rain started again and in 2007 it ended about October 31st.

Right now it rains. We’re ready to head to the beach to sell some properties and start building, but we will wait a little bit longer so the sun will hopefully shine bright on our future ventures.

If YOU are planning to visit Costa Rica, December to February is THE best time to do that.

On the caribbean side the rainy season is not that bad, but there are the surf spots of the Nicoya Peninsula which get hit hard.

The tourist season is about to start and we’re looking forward to seeing happy faces enjoying their overdue vacation in an environment where the surf never ends and the sun won’t stop shining.

Mike Dammann