CONTESTS

12/15: Jason Torres and Nataly Bernold win their divisions in the 2nd Event on the CNS Tour in front of Hotel Bahía Encantada. Read More... (english and español)

12/12: José Ureña, President of the Federacion de Surf de Costa Rica (FSC), announced today that the second date of the Circuito Nacional de Surf DAYSTAR 2008-2009 (CNS) will take place this weekend, December 12-14, in Playa Jaco. Called Torneo Coca Cola Zero, the 4-star tournament will begin Saturday and Sunday morning at 7:00 a.m. in front of Hotel Bahía Encantada. Winners in all the divisions will receive 1,500 points toward the CNS rankings. Read More...

11/16: On November 15th to 16th, there was the first SurFest in Playa Carmen. Waves were overhead and the level of competition among the 80-plus competitors was very high. For more information and photos, visit www.cabuyasurf.com. This grassroots event was organized to financially assist area school kids with their plans to compete in this year’s National Surf Circuit. Although many members of the community helped make the event successful, it would not have been possible without the hard work of contest organizer Paul (Pablo) Fillingim of Tiki Sport Fishing and the commitment and vision of April Akerson of The Dirt Road, the area’s new weekly newspaper. During SurFest, members of the surf community came up with a program to donate surfboards to kids who lack the means to purchase one of their own. Surfers Helping Surfers was born. The first to respond were Ian and Carolyn Corrigall of Kina Surf Shop in Santa Teresa. They donated a Surftech Ratboy surfboard to Ronald García from Delicias, who was competing on a broken board. If you have a surfboard you would like to donate to a needy surfer, e-mail info@cabuyasurf.com or call 8833-3076.

11/13: New Dates set the Circuito Nacional, Costa Rica's Professional Surf Circuit - www.surfingcr.net

November 28-30 - Playa Hermosa
December 12-14 - Jaco
January 9-11 - Tamarindo
February 6-8 - Nosara (Playa Guiones)
March 6-8 - To be Determined
April 2-4 - Playa Hermosa

10/20: History written in Portugal: Costa Rica earns 5th Place at the 2008 ISA World Surfing Games, Jason Torres becomes 1st Costa Rican ever to reach the Top 10 at #5, Luis Vindas comes in 6th, as well as Nataly Bernold. Read More..

10/3: The 2008 Pura Vida No Pro will be on November 22, 2008 at the Pelican Hotel in Esterillos, Costa Rica. This is a day where orphaned kids from San Jose are brought to the beach to learn to surf, and then get to watch and cheer on a surf contest in the afternoon. There will be an orientation meeting for all volunteers on November 21, 2008 at Las Olas Hotel in Playa Hermosa. They are excited for our 7th year working with the kids and we look forward to seeing everyone on the beach! For more information go to www.puravidanopro.com

 

ENVIRONMENT

SURFRIDER - Tamarindo Chapter News Check out the new website for Surfrider's Tamarindo Chapter Tamarindo Neighbors Meet at the Recycling Day tent in front of Iguana Surf 9 AM. Langosta Neighbors Meet at the lifeguard tower in front of Hotel Barceló 9 AM Give a Christmas present to the beach! If you're interested in Recycling in Tamarindo, click here.

11/12: Threat of Tuna Farms in Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica, IS BACK. Read more..

10/27: Environmental Tribunal finds 14 out of 16 projects on the Osa Peninsula either don't have permits or are violating them. Read more..

10/26: A Tale of Entanglement - Why we must never forget why littering is a big deal, and why we must teach others not to do it.

10/18: Fact: The Osa Peninsula is home to thousands of rare and endangered species like the jaguar, which a recent count carried out by biologist and researcher Eduardo Carrillo of the National University confirmed that only 30 Jaguars exist on the Osa today. Ten years ago, the Jaguar population was 150. That is why Nature Air, CR Traveler, and Osa Peninsula Travel are hosting RainForestAid 2009, from June 19th to 21st. For more info, go to www.rainforestaid09.com.

10/22: IUCN Calls for Stronger Measures to Protect Leatherback Turtles, Sharks, and Whales - During the recent IUCN World Conservation Congress, held in Barcelona from October 5 to 14, three resolutions were adopted calling for improved protection of leatherback turtles, sharks and whales. Read more..

9/29: From JournalCR.com - Many Guanacaste beaches improve water quality. Playa del Coco one of those not included on list.

9/29: From the Osa Coalition - New video showing the destruction at Playa Plantares, near Puerto Jimenez on the Golfo Dulce. On the site you can voice your opposition to this illegal mauling of natural resources, since only with international pressure can it be stopped. Bulldozers on the beach stop to watch turtles hatch while Puerto Jiminez residents worry. Read more..

9/27: Spain donates $35 million for water, sanitation projects.. Following the visit by Costa Rican President Oscar Arias earlier this month, Spain last week announced a $35 million investment in water and sanitation projects here. The donation was made public by Ricardo Sancho, president of the Costa Rican Water and Sewer Institute (AyA) and Foreign Relations Minister Bruno Stagno. One of the first projects to benefit from the donation is the area of Conte, in Pavon, Golfito, and its 3,000 residents. Another project waiting funding is the Boca Arenal in San Carlos, which will now be completed thanks to the donation. Other areas that will also benefit from this gift are Lower Talamanca in Limon and communities in Sixaola, which have had constant problems with the quality of drinking water. The province of Puntarenas will also see improvements in its sewer system, including the building a water treatment plant that has been badly needed for the last 150 years, according to Sancho. The work in Puntarenas will cost some $20 million and benefit 110,000 residents of the area.

9/22: From AMCostaRica.com - Nosara study supports feasibility of recycling trash

9/22: From JournalCR.com - International Coastal Cleanup in Playa Ocotal a great success, hosted by the Ocotal Beach Resort and the Ocean Conservancy.

9/22: From TamarindoNews.com - See the VIDEO from the Trashion Fashion show in Tamarindo.

** How about some summer reading for the kids?? Check out All the Way to the Ocean, a book that teaches kids not to litter, because eventually it will end up in the sea and hurt marine life.

** New Book for Teens talks about saving turtles in Tamarindo - Turtle Feet, Surfer Beat is the story of Penelope who moves to Tamarindo with her parents for a month and learns about the peril of the leatherback turtle. The 86-page book written by Marina Kuperman is printed on recycled paper and has a journal in the back for a girl's own eco-adventure. Read more at - www.turtlefeetsurfersbeat.com.

From A.M. Costa Rica - Construction sites within the Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas are facing closure by the government's Tribunal Ambiental, but local real estate brokers say that the situation is not as clear-cut as the tribunal suggests. Read more.. (Fact: The park is of particular importance to the critically endangered leatherback sea turtle, whose numbers have plummeted more than 90% during the past 20 years (TT, April 13, 2007). Playa Grande ranks as the most important nesting beach in Costa Rica and one of the five most important in the world.

From Greencoast.com: Op-ed piece explains recent community meeting in Puerto Viejo regarding the New World Eco-Marina. For more info, go to Salvemos Puerto Viejo, or Let’s Save Puerto Viejo

Latin American Surf Tour's - Seven Ways to Help the Planet (in Spanish)

Puerto Viejo Residents protest marina built next to Salsa Brava, from www.amcostarica.com

Coalición Costarricense por las Ballenas - AYUDA A LAS BALLENAS, VISITA ESTE LINK Y LLENA CON TUS DATOS PERSONALES.. Costaricans for the Whales - Help the Whales by visiting this link and signing the petition.

TRAVEL

Sick of paying airline surcharges for your board?
Join the Surfboard Airline Petition!

12/11: Jet Blue Airways, which opened a hub for Latin America in March at Orlando, Florida, said Wednesday it would begin flights to San José March 26. The Orlando route will give Costa Rican residents options to fly to New York, Boston and 11 other U.S. destinations, the airline said. The company plans a flight a day leaving Orlando at 10:40 a.m. with arrival in San Jose's Juan Santamaría airport at 11:53 a.m. local time. The return flight will leave San José at 12:48 p.m. and arrive in Orlando at 5:55 p.m. Fares will run from $99 each way, the company said. Boardbags are $75 each way.

12/9: What to know Before booking a boat trip to Witchs Rock / Ollies Point

12/8: "Pura Vida Health" , Tamarindo's own unique marketplace of certified organic, organic, homegrown fresh produce and local handmade products and crafts is born!  The fair is set to kick off January 8, 9 and 10 and run every two weeks (Thursdays 1pm-4pm, Friday and Saturdays 8:30am-noon).   We have graciously been given use of the Vodoo Lounge Art Zentro's back garden bar to host this epic bi-monthly event. (directly behind Vodoo Lounge, next to Plaza Conchal, across from Cabinas Coral Reef)

***We are actively seeking people, families and small local businesses who are interested in selling or donating their certified organic, organic, homegrown and/or homemade produce/products and/or participate in the fair.***  Please send this email or pass our contact information to anyone you think may benefit from the market as a consumer and/or vendor (that, of course, means EVERYONE you know, right?!)  And help us bring a place to be happy and healthy together to our community.  More information will come soon about the kick off party on January 8th 2009.

11/7: Montezuma will be holding its 2nd Annual International Film Festival on November 13-16th. Find out more at www.montezumafilmfestival.com

11/1: Costa Rica is becoming a top 'whale tourism' destination as Humpback whales visit the coast from August to October and from December to April. Read more..

10/20: Surftech is having a promotion on their new line of soft boards "BLACKTIP" and "SOFTOPS" if your getting ready for next season fill your shops and schools up with these and save some $$. This offer its valid till mid November, 2008. 9'0 Black Tips starting at $299.00 + tax, 8'0 Softops $369.00 + tax price incluedes on time delivery. surftech@ bluetrailz.com.

10/1: Hotel Punta Islita was this month honored as one of the top 100 hotels around the world by Travel + Leisure Magazine. Punta Islita, on the Nicoya Peninsula on the Pacific coast, was the only hotel in Central America named to the magazine’s esteemed Top 100 Hotels list. Click here to see the whole list.

9/29: The Bocas de Nosara Academic High School has been awarded a grant for new computer equipment worth $185,000, but in order to receive it must refurbish the old lab. Read this letter and support Costa Rica's future - it's children.

Costa Rica may seem at times an idyllic paradise, so it's easy to leave common sense at the door of your cabina. Top ten safety tips for traveling in Costa Rica -

• Never leave anything of value in a parked car, even if it’s locked.
• Avoid carrying large amounts of cash or important documents. Carry a copy of your passport, not the original.
• Stay alert. Thieves usually work in pairs and distract their victims.
• Steer clear of overly friendly streetwalkers; they often are pickpockets or muggers.
• Never leave luggage, cameras or other possessions unattended in public places, restaurants, taxis or buses.
• Avoid placing luggage on overhead racks on buses – a favorite target for thieves. Keep all valuables with you at your seat; if you must place items on the racks, keep an eye on them.
• Bring a small flashlight. If you have car trouble or another car bumps yours, avoid pulling over until you reach a well-lit, public area.
* Don't go surfing or swimming alone and watch for rip currents.
* Clean out your ears if you surf or swim near rivermouths.
* Don't speed. "It's better to lose a moment in your life then your life in a moment."

From CRMercado.com - add the number 8 before all numbers starting with 3, 8 or 9 (cell phone lines) and that you add the number 2 before all landlines, such as 6 and 7.

Here is a great new report on backpacker hostels, from www.amcostarica.com.

Check out a cool aerial view of the Southwest and Northwest Pacific coastline at www.vrskytour.com

Featured Hotels for Surfers

FORUMS

A good surf forum is judged by how well it gets the local community to participate. These are a few of our favorites. Send a note if there is one you would recommend.

Trip Advisor (general travel topics)

Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree Forum (worldwide)

Witchs Rock Surf Camp (surf around Tamarindo)

Surfing Nosara (surf around Nosara)

Puerto Viejo Satellite (the Caribbean Coast - new)

2nd Light (Florida surfers with lots of C.R. posts)

Dade County Surf (Florida surfers in between C.R. trips)

WBLiveSurf (North Carolina surfers between C.R. trips)