Good Morning Pavones, News from Costa Rica

New photography book on Pavones, Costa Rica

2011-07-29T15:29:00.002-06:00

Lily Mayfield's new book, "de Pavones"

"The photographs in this series reflect my interest in this rural surfing community. Pavones is renown amongst pro and amateur surfers for having the world's second longest wave. When the conditions are right, surfers can ride a wave for nearly a mile," said Lily Mayfield, of Chicago, Illinois. Lily is a photographer whose collection is now available in a book "de Pavones."

"Even with its attraction for surfers, Pavones remains a rural community, untouched by the typical chain hotels and restaurants you might expect to find in a tourist-driven Costa Rican town with views of the Pacific Ocean.

"Since 1997, my sister Angela has lived in Pavones, Costa Rica located on the Pacific Ocean. Angela and her husband Marshall own and manage what started as modest but comfortable cabinas and what has become a full-fledged resort. I visit my sister as often as possible and spend much of my time photographing while I am in town.

"There are many reasons for its protected state: its location near the southern tip of Costa Rica far from the capitol city of San Jose, the unpaved roads into and through Pavones, and its lack of connection (until recently) with the modern world.

"Until 2008, there were no phone lines or Internet in Pavones. Since this recent introduction of modern technology, the town has begun changing rapidly.

"My intention is to create a portrait of Pavones by photographing the residents, the many scenic spaces, and the local businesses. Through my continued visits to the community, I am creating a travelogue of my experiences and a record of this rural surf town."

Sails, marlin, tuna on Pacific Coast

2011-07-29T15:18:00.000-06:00

Down south, only a few sails are appearing, and only one marlin was reported last week. Lots of tuna are being found either at the mouth of Golfo Dulce or just a couple of miles offshore all the way to Caño Island. Roosterfish have helped keep anglers busy to make up for the lack of steady action offshore. Jani Schulz of Rainforest Radio caught and released her first roosterfish.

Read more here: Sails, marlin, tuna on Pacific; tarpon and flat seas on Caribbean, The Tico Times

If you are in NorCal

2011-07-21T16:16:00.001-06:00

The World Media Awards and Event will take place on October 26^th at the PayPal building in San Francisco.
Through a series of practical workshops hosted by some of the world’s leading publishing experts, attendees will learn how to use the latest technologies and techniques to maximize their publishing potential. The purpose of the event it to celebrate the best in blogging and media creation as well as to exchange publishing best practices.

Why are we telling you? Tickets to attend the event go on sale today for $50 and entries to the Media Awards are $45. The first 100 bloggers to blog about the event will receive a free ticket and/or entry to the awards for posting about the event. Space is limited to 500 attendees. Contact event organizer Murray Newlands for full information or see www.themediaawards.com.

The event is for authors, bloggers, media creators, media owners, PR practitioners and businesses.

The event founder Murray Newlands said:

“I love blogging and wanted to create an event to celebrate the best in blogging and media. I meet lots of publishers and want to be able to create an environment where they can exchange knowledge and creativity.”

“We are pleased to have eBay as lead sponsors of the event. eBay is keen to support the publishing community.”

The eBay partner network is increasingly reaching out to support bloggers. Other sponsors include Growmap, VigLink and Trancos.

World Media Award judges include Steve Hall, Sarah Austin, Chang Kim, Pierre Zarokian, Cheryl Contee, Krystyl Baldwin, Adrian Harris, Jeremy Wright, Rob Bloggeries, Dave Duarte, Tanya Alvarez and Dana Oshiro

Media partners include Adrants, The Affiliate Marketing Awards, Read Write Web, mediavisioninteractive.com and Bloggeries.

For more information visit www.themediaawards.com

Murray Newlands is author of How to Make a Blog Book and Online Marketing; a User Guide. He is also founder of the Affiliate Marketing Awards. Born in the UK, he now spends his time in San Francisco and New York. Murray works for Audience Mindshare and consults for Trancos Ins as well as being an advisor for VigLink.

Humpback, Killer & Pilot Whales in Pacific, Osa and Golfo Dulce Waters

2011-04-15T15:13:00.008-06:00

In the waters beyond Pavones,
a killer whale surfs the boat's wake,
photo by Mike Grace
of Cummins Motors,
Courtesy Crocodile Bay Resort

This whale story from Todd Staley at Crocodile Bay Resort in nearby Puerto Jimenez, which sits across the Golfo Dulce from Pavones, Costa Rica.

"Off in the distance were silhouettes of something large jumping and making tremendous splashes. We were sure it was a huge school of very big tuna. As we got close enough to see what it was, it turned out to be a mammoth group of pilot whales. There were literally hundreds of them."

"As the boat got closer, they came over to check us out and began to swim alongside the boat the way porpoises do. We watched them for over an hour with not one tuna in sight," he continued.

The humpback whales come twice a year, from the Northern Hemisphere in January and February, and in August and September from the Southern Hemisphere.

Mothers will bring their calves into the Golfo Dulce, and when they are here, sighting them is almost a daily occurrence as they teach their young how to feed on their own and breach.

Humpback Whale off Matapalo,
Courtesy of Crocodile Bay Resort

Read the Full Story:

It’s not always about the fish: An angler’s Aside

by Todd Staley, in The Tico Times

Related articles on Good Morning Pavones, News from Costa Rica:

Share your whale story below or send to blogger@goodmorningpavones.com

The humpback whales come twice a year to the waters near Pavones, Costa Rica, from the Northern Hemisphere in January and February, and in August and September from the Southern Hemisphere.

Fishing Wild Blue Pavones for Tuna & More

2011-04-14T14:00:00.006-06:00

Tuna and porpoises sometimes share the waves with surfers at Pavones point, but if you want to catch tuna for dinner, you need to hire a panga in Pavones or a sport fishing captain in Golfito, Puerto Jimenez or Zancudo, Costa Rica.

You’ll find tuna and porpoises together, as tuna like to feed underneath groups of porpoises.

For “eating“ fish, yellow-fin tuna and pargo (red snapper) are at the center of the plate in the Golfo Dulce region; the local panga captains regularly pull them in for themselves and visitors.

To hire a panga, go to the fishermen’s shack in Pavones and ask for William Mata, Macho or talk to any of the fishermen there – unlike Golfito, where everyone-and-their-brother will say they are good fishermen, the guys in Pavones really are.

If you aim for sailfish, marlin or other catch-and-release trophies, there is some inshore fishing (eg. roosterfish) but you’ll probably need to go out to the fishing grounds, which are 12-15 miles out.

Remember, in Costa Rica you are not allowed to pull billfish out of the water for photos, see link at end of article.

Offshore trips are best arranged out of Golfito, Puerto Jimenez or nearby Zancudo.

In Golfito, head straight to Banana Bay Marina and talk to owner Bruce, he’ll hook you up with the best offshore captains, which will save you money and time.

Plus, you can come home to the Banana Bay happy hour (awesome + great food) and stay in one of their waterfront rooms.

Another good choice for accommodations is Las Gaviotas, at the south end of town, which also has great food, beautiful grounds and one of the best “wake up” views anywhere in the area. Next door, the Mar y Luna restaurant is a lively favorite.

Casa Roland, managed by your host Christian Castro, has an oversized pool, brand-new impeccable luxury rooms and a great breakfast. It’s also a 5 minute walk to the Golfito airport.

In Puerto Jimenez (and you can take a boat from Pavones to Pto. Jimenez) your first stop is Crocodile Bay Resort.

In Zancudo, the Zancudo Lodge – formerly Roy’s Zancudo Lodge – offers great accommodations with every desirable amenity, and fishing tours of 3 days or more.

Related articles:

Thanks for reading!

Got a fish tale? Share it below or send it to us at blogger@goodmorningpavones.com

Tuna and dolphins sometimes ride share the waves with surfers at the point, but if you want to catch tuna for dinner, you need to hire a local panga in Pavones or a sport fishing captain in Golfito, Zancudo or Puerto Jimenez, Costa Rica.

Pavones Votes to Create Development Association Led by Business People, Activists

2011-04-14T12:02:00.007-06:00

We did it – 170 Pavones residents including Costa Rican citizens and expat landowners voted to successfully create the Pavones Development Association, which means our small Costa Rica town now has a direct voice in programs to develop jobs and infrastructure.

Gerardo Mendoza Barantes
Vela Miles

Gerardo Mendoza Barantes won a very close vote over his friend Vela Miles to win the Presidency of the Association. Gerardo’s 56 votes won over Vela’s 53 votes, and also over Miriam Lobo, the 3rd lead candidate.

Gerardo Mendoza Barantes (above) is now President, and Vela Miles (right) is Vice President. Other elected officers comprise Arelis Rojas, Treasurer; Susanne Mesen Madrigal is Secretary and the 3 Vocales are Miriam Lobo, Juan Jimenez and Pedro Caballero.

The Association is led by business owners and operators with long experience in community activism.
For example, Gerardo owns a restaurant, Vela works in a real estate office and has also managed cabinas, Susanne runs Clear River Adventures, and Arelis’ family operates the local supermarket.

The meeting itself was a balanced mix of local residents, and unlike political elections, one did not need Costa Rican citizenship to vote, so local residents born on foreign shores (expat gringos, and that’s not a derogative term here) were able to vote.

The meeting started around 2:30 in the afternoon, and it took more than an hour for everyone to sign in to register to vote. Representatives of the Costa Rican government were at the meeting to explain the voting rules to the assembled audience. Each person received a stack of teeny tiny ballot slips to vote for the positions on the association.

First, the president was elect4ed in a confidential vote. Then, the vice president elected in another confidential vote. And so it proceeded. The meeting went until after dark.

Coming soon: What’s in store for the Asociacion de Desarollo de Pavones.

Related articles:

April 2nd Vote Planned to Form a Development Association for Pavones' Infrastructure

Zen, Yoga and Surfing: Staying in the Present Moment at the Pavones Yoga Center in Costa Rica

2011-04-13T18:33:00.020-06:00

We asked Indira Kate Kalmbach why she combines yoga and wave riding – surfing and SUP – in recent events at Pavones Yoga Center. Katie said,

Indira Kate Kalmbach

Pavones Yoga Center

Costa Rica

“The act of riding a wave inherently compels us to remain in the present moment.

“The pauses between waves, between sets – the stillness between action – is a perfect metaphor for the natural oscillation between highs and lows, ups and downs, good and bad, yin and yang.

“In life, it seems we’re always trying to grasp the highs and avoid the lows. But surfing makes it clear how impossible this is.

Surfing teaches yogic principles, without verbalizing them. Very zen-like.”

Since opening the Pavones Yoga Center in March, 2011, Katie has led one retreat that combined daily yoga practice with beginner and intermediate SUP lessons, and combines yoga with surf lessons in the upcoming True Nature Retreat (April 26 to 30th, 2011).

Katie continued, “Combining surfing and yoga is a natural extension of practicing the art of being.

Pavones Yoga Center in Costa Rica: above it all & close to town

“The natural world exists in perfect balance, yet it is the nature of the active mind to upset that balance, or to see it as imperfect."

“I use my yoga practice as a tool to come into awareness of the natural flow of things, and to slow the mind into synch with the slower pace of “nature.”

Katie is very down-to-earth, fun to hang out with and leads a calming and extremely effective yoga practice at her studio. Check her out at PavonesYoga.com.

Hard Facts: Pavones Yoga Center Opened March, 2011

Pavones Yoga Center is a Yoga Alliance registered teaching facility with arguably one of the best views in Costa Rica. Overlooking the Pavones pointbreak, the 1,650 open air studio is light and expansive, and creates a physical sense of being at one with in nature. Guests are housed in nearby villas, and local transportation is provided.
Indira Kate Kalmbach trained at the Nosara Yoga Institute, where she’s a faculty member with 500 hour certification (on her way to 1,000 hours); she also co-directs Interdisciplinary Yoga Teacher Trainings in Canada.

Thanks for being a friend.

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Pavones Hotels: Yoga Farm, Punta Banco

2011-04-13T17:34:00.008-06:00

A great place to disconnect from the world and reconnect with tranquility, healthy food, community and nature is the Yoga Farm in Punta Banco (south of Pavones), Costa Rica.

The Yoga Farm is perched high on a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean. This blogger, for one, has escaped the hustle and bustle of Pavones to recharge at The Yoga Farm.

Resident Yoga Farm instructors provide daily guided practice, and the open air studio has glorious views of the Pacific Ocean and the jungles of southern Costa Rica. You’ll enjoy lots of play time, and group meals from home-grown organic gardens.

Architecturally, the Yoga Farm is completely off-the-grid and self-sustaining: solar powered, well-designed compost toilets, organic farming and a 4x4 in the form of a horse called MoMo.

Yoga studio overlooks
Pacific Ocean, Cabo
Matapalo and the jungle
of Punta Banco.

Bring a shortboard or a super lightweight epoxy long-board if you want to enjoy the break at the foot of the Yoga Farm hill, or any of your other mind-expanding toys, because the Yoga Farm is also about PLAY.

The Yoga Farm is at the end of the road, and beyond – the bus stops at the bottom of the hill, at the Rancho Burico, and Yoga Farm guests hike upwards to reach the epic views of the yoga studio and sleeping quarters. If you plan on doing this at night, fresh off the evening bus, please carry a powerful flashlight.

The Yoga Farm is also
about play, however
you define it.

The Yoga Farm is for healthy people who want to reconnect with nature and further (or begin) their yoga practice. This is fairly self-selecting, because If you are not in good shape, you have no business climbing The Hill every day, 10 minutes down, 20 minutes up.

The Yoga Farm is far from the shackles of civilization, or even of Pavones for that matter. Here, you will disconnect from the internet, from cell phones, from alcohol and bars (no booze allowed). You will disconnect and you will be grateful and happy. Promise.

As of April, 2011, rates were $40 per night, per person, and up, and this includes guided yoga practice and 3 vegetarian meals. Volunteer rates, if you want to live and pitch in for a month, start at $500 per month.

A visit to the Yoga Farm can be arranged by e-mail to yogafarmcostarica@yahoo.com.

This is Ranger

Arrive by bus from Golfito or Pasa Canoas. The late afternoon bus (i.e. the last bus) from these points (or from the supermarket in Pavones) stops at the foot of the Yoga Farm hill. Or hitch a ride from someone with a pickup truck.

You may be interested in reading:

Yoga in Costa Rica: A great place to disconnect from the world and reconnect with tranquility, healthy food, community and nature is the Yoga Farm in Punta Banco (south of Pavones), Costa Rica.

April 2nd Vote Planned to Form a Development Association for Pavones' Infrastructure

2011-03-30T12:18:00.006-06:00

How would you have spent 80 million colones...$160,000.. to improve Pavones, Costa Rica?

Bring your identification -- residency card or passport or cedula -- to a meeting this Saturday, April 2, 2011 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. to form the Asociacion de Desarrollo de Pavones (Association for the Development of Pavones), at Escuela Las Gemelas, by the fishermens' center.

101 votes are necessary for the association to become a legal entity. This gives Pavones the legal ability to request government funds for local infrastructure improvements and have direct oversight and accountability for funds... like the $160,000 which was spent 2 years ago (more below). We're told expats can vote as long as you're in Costa Rica legally, i.e. with a visa stamp in your passport.

As things stand today, no one can be certain where money goes, and all requests go through the apparatus of the Municipality of Golfito.

Who can vote? How?

Everyone who lives in Pavones can vote -- Costa Ricans, foreign residents and expats on a tourist visa. To vote, you must bring identification -- passport, residency card or cedula -- and be 12 or older. There will be 2 confidential ballots, one for the Presidency of the association, and another for the board of directors.

2 Candidates
Vela Miles: Vela helped revise the boulevard construction so that vehicles could not drive over the fragile area at Pavones Point. Vela also spearheaded several important projects, including the construction of the children's playground, the provision of high-speed internet service in town, garbage pickup service and the maintenance of the Pilon area for a potential airport.

Miriam Lobo: Miriam has represented Pavones for many years. She gets credit for the building the vending stand at the soccer field, which is especially popular during soccer games, expanding Las Gemelas school with new buildings and restrooms, and initiating the original Boulevard design.

Back to the c 80 million…

How would you spend it? A rhetorical question, since this is what was "to be spent" on infrastructure improvements 2 years ago...

This is the amount allocated 2 years ago for the Boulevard. The mayor at the time, Jimmy Cubillo, first detailed the Boulevard plans to a somewhat puzzled of Pavones residents at a meeting at Escuela de Gemelas.

The plan detailed a palm-lined paved boulevard from Rancho del Mar to Pavones Point, replete with cement benches and cement picnic tables.

When presented, the plan was criticized for the lack of any public restroom facility for tourists, and after the meeting many residents vocally complained that this was not the best use of money.

Today, from this Boulevard Plan, Pavones has a raised gravel walkway around the Point with benches, a vendors building and garbage bins.

If you'd like more of a say in setting local priorities, this is your chance.

* * *

We will publish all corrections. Please add your comments, corrections and clarifications below or send us an e-mail. Thank you.
Community activists in the town of Pavones, Costa Rica are trying to form an association for community development at a meeting scheduled for April 2, 2011 at 2:00 p.m., at Escuela Las Gemelas.

Fundraising Drive For Pilon Airport

2011-03-29T15:05:00.009-06:00

Fundraising for an airport in Pilon to serve the area of Pavones, Costa Rica, now begins in earnest.

Community activist Vela Miles has established a fund at Banco Nacional de Costa Rica for the benefit of the Aeropuerto Rancho del Mar.

With Ms. Miles at the helm, and promising to publish the banking statements, the community has assurances that funds will be wisely used, for their stated purpose, and with transparent reporting to the public.

Added 3/30/2011 -- You can also contribute labor -- time and sweat. If you are an employer, you can donate man-hours.

If you have an account at BNCR or BCR, you can make an direct donation to the new account. The account is #200-01-125-008896-1. Additionally, the client identification number, if needed, is 15112520010088961. Funds can also be wired from outside the country, contact us for more information.

To Donate Labor: Call Vela Miles at (506) 2776-2173 (landline) or (506) 8876-4874 (cell phone, great for text messages).

Vela Miles will be publicly sharing bank statements for this account. When provided, we will publish the bank statements on this blog.

In the past, airport donations made to other parties lacked transparency and accountability, and were reportedly diverted for other purposes.

In March, we wrote about the Municipality's disclosure (or insistence) that Pavones pays for the ongoing maintenance of the airstrip area until such time as the Civil Aviation Ministry formally accepts the airport plan.

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Please share any corrections or updates through the comments section or to us via e-mail.

Fundraising for an airport in Pilon to serve the area of Pavones, Costa Rica, now begins in earnest.

Forecast Calls for Chubascos as Rainy Season Comes to Pavones

2011-03-23T16:27:00.010-06:00

Rainy Season
Starts in Pavones

Rainy season starts next week for Pavones, Costa Rica and the rest of the southern zone, thanks to the effects of this year's La Niña weather pattern.

The forecast calls for sunny mornings and late afternoon Chubascos, with possible aguaceros, according to a forecast from Costa Rica's meteorological institute. A chubasco is a fast downpour that starts and ends suddenly in a localized area. An aguacero is a more sustained, heavier rain.

Surf and Waves>> Pavones Microclimates>>

The start of rainy season is usually a welcome relief, and rains from April to August are usually limited to the late afternoons -- when everyone is surfed-out or taking a pre-supper siesta. Just don't leave the laundry out on the line.

Photo: Brent Bourdeau

Pavones surfers benefit from rainy season, as the southern swell comes in with full force. At the point, the waves have the best shape when they approach from South to slightly South/SouthWest. The current swell direction is clearly visible (and usually very accurate) on the forecast app on the "SURF SUP KITE" tab, above.

Pavones has many micro-climates:

There are many times that we stand on the beach at the point (Rio Claro de Pavones) and watch the rains fall across the gulf onto Matapalo, which gets significantly more rain than Pavones.

Meanwhile, at the north end of our hamlet, Cuervito, Pilon and Cocal tend to get less rain than Rio Claro, while the areas to the south -- Punta Banco -- are wetter.

The central pacific and central valley has until the end of April before their rainy season begins.

The meteorological institute expects that 2011 will be "a wet year, above the normal (historical) averages, but not as wet as last year."

The Costa Rican meteorological institute cited the Central Valley as an example. There, normal annual precipitation is 2,000 mm. This year, the valley could receive 2,600 millimeters (2,600 liters per square meter).

The meteorologist said Costa Rica will remain under the influence of La Niña phenomenon and expected the occurrence of eight major storms, three of them becoming hurricanes. Hurricanes hit the eastern, Caribbean areas of Costa Rica; Pavones does not get "hit" with hurricanes, but we do get the rain that makes it over the high mountains of the continental divide.

Today we added a weather report onto the right side of this page. Let us know what you think. Thanks for reading us!

The meteorlogical institute says that rainy season starts next week for Pavones, Costa Rica and the rest of the southern zone, including Zancudo, Punta Banco, Pilon, Cuervito and Matapalo -- thanks to the effects of this year's La Nina weather pattern.

The New National Stadium, A Gift from China: San Jose Businesses Hope for a Boom

2011-03-21T16:57:00.020-06:00

Prices for business and residential
real estate are +30% around new
national stadium in San Jose,
but no parking for 30,000 fans.

In San Jose, Costa Rica, prices of properties near the new National Stadium have risen at least 30% in the last 9 months. An undeveloped property behind the ICE tower is available for $1 million. One plot of land 524 square meters is selling for $895,000. "For sale" and "for lease" signs are common in the streets of La Sabana. Demand for vacant land has almost doubled.

More of this story + VIDEO

Rents in residential condominiums are now $6 to $8 per square foot. A 3 bedroom apartment lists for $2,000 per month, and a retail space of 104 square feet is leased for $2,300 a month, according to local real estate brokers.

All this reflects how businesses in the area of La Sabana park in central San Jose are gearing up for a BOOM in business with the grand opening of the National Stadium on March 26th, 2011. The stadium was built by China (with some Costa Rican laborers) and is a gift to Costa Rica.

The 35,000 seat stadium was built without any parking facilities what.so.ever. Presumably visitors will have to park on top of the park's lovely green areas. (Update -- parking areas have been designated in adjacent cities -- Tibas, Belen and Heredia. Also, there are 200 parking spaces at the stadium. The stadium opens this weekend, and officals met on Monday to address the problem.)

Small businesses are open on Saturdays and will open on Sundays if there is sufficient demand. Restaurants are renovating their facades and increasing their advertising spending. Shops are hiring more staff for customer service and security.

Read the source story in El Financiero (Spanish).

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Road Trip to San Jose for Stadium Opening Festivities -- concerts, athletics and culture

Pavones Surfer Noe McGonagle Wins Quiksilver King of the Groms

2011-03-21T14:35:00.017-06:00

Noe Mar McGonagle of Pavones,

Costa Rica won King of the Groms,

photo: Maripaz Chinchilla

Noe Mar McGonagle of Pavones, Costa Rica, won the first national Quiksilver "King of the Groms" competition in Playa Hermosa on March 19, 2011. He will now go to Mexico for the Latin American final in June.

Noe competed against 35 other competitors in the under-16 competition. Conditions in Playa Hermosa were good when the surfers entered the water at 3:00 p.m., with waves 1.5 meters high, mild winds and a crowd of 1,000 spectators. Saturday's contest was the final round of a regional competition.

The finals also included Thomas King of Tamarindo, Bruno Carvalho of Jaco and Jason Mora of MalPais. Noe had the highest combined score of the event: 13.27 (7.00 and 6.27).

"I want to thank my dad (Sean McGonagle) for being my main sponsor. For me, winning this competition is very important because I can go on to represent Costa Rica in Mexico and hopefully in France too," said Noe. Noe is 14 years old, and born in Costa Rica; his parents are from the United States.

Quiksilver's contest was open to Costa Rican, Nicaraguan and Panamanian surfers, however Nicaragua was represented by only 3 surfers, with none from Panama.

Congratulations Noe!

Read more (in Spanish) at TicoDeporte.com, Él es el hijo del 'Mar' and at La Nacion, Noe Mar visó boleto a Mazatlán

You may also want to read:

5 reasons to bring the kids ("groms") to Pavones this winter
Surf in the morning, kitesurf in the afternoon.
Wavehunter's luxury surf tour
Good SUP behavior (video)
Need to Rent a Surfboard or SUP in Pavones?

Translated from the Spanish original by GMP, we assume all responsibilities for errors and welcome comments.

Noe Mar McGonagle of Pavones, Costa Rica won the 2011 Quiksilver King of the Groms contest in Playa Hermosa on March 20th.

April 2nd Community Development Meeting, Pavones, Costa Rica

2011-03-19T12:24:00.003-06:00

Community Development

Meeting April 2nd, 2011, 2 p.m.

Escuela las Gemelas

Rio Claro de Pavones, Costa Rica

The Association for Comprehensive Development in Rio Claro de Pavones invites you to a meeting on Saturday, April 2, 2011, in La Escuela las Gemelas (near the fishermen's center) from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

"We want our community to progress and enjoy positive changes. Help us as we choose the group of people who will have the responsibility to ensure future growth and create jobs in our community. Remember that we can not go backwards, only forwards. Most communities have their association, now it's time for us to create ours, to determine the future of Pavones and to meet our many needs. We invite all, and hope to have more than 100 people attend." From Gerardo Mendoza Barrantes.

Tourists Spending More in Cost Rica, But Still Below Peak Levels

2011-03-18T15:52:00.005-06:00

Spending per tourist (blue line)
is rebounding, according to analysis
by Good Morning Pavones

Visitors to Costa Rica are spending more money while in the country, but spending per tourist remains below peak levels, according to an analysis by Good Morning Pavones.

"Spending per tourist" in Costa Rica, shown in blue in the chart above, peaked in June, 2008 at $1,056. The latest available data for December 2010 shows spending per tourist is $954. Spending in the past few months is above trend (green line).

The total number of visitors to Costa Rica in December, 2010 was higher than the same month in 2008 and 2009.

The analysis by Good Morning Pavones uses data from the Central Bank of Costa Rica and the Costa Rican tourism bureau.

Costa Rica has strong seasonal
variations in the number of tourists.

Costa Rica Fishing Law Says Leave the Sailfish in the Water for Photos

2011-03-18T09:16:00.016-06:00

The legal way to get a sailfish photo

without harming the fish,

photo credit: Crocodile Bay Resort

on the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica

Hauling a sailfish aboard your charter fishing boat to shoot a photo is illegal in Costa Rica, and can cost $4,000.00 in fines.

"Research has shown that [hauling sailfish aboard a boat] greatly reduces the fish's chance of survival. It puts added stress on the fish, damages internal organs and removes the protective slime from the body."
"Fish secrete a mucoprotein that covers the scales and skin, acting as a defense against illness caused by bacterial, parasitic and fungal invasion," writes Todd Staley of the Crocodile Bay Resort in the Osa Peninsula.

Read the whole story at the Tico Times: Don’t be a hero: Leave sailfish in water for photos.

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Costa Rica Moves to Protect Sharks at Cocos Island, Favorite Diving Spot, Creates "Blue Yellowstone", March 2011
Sailing and Boating in Golfo Dulce and Pavones: Mooring & Anchoring & Services, March 2011
Breakthrough in Tuna Farm Opposition in Pavones, February 2010

Costa Rica fishing law requires sailfish (billfish) catch and release with no hauling fish out of water, or face $4,000 fine.

Tropical Caterpillars of Pavones, Costa Rica: Insect Photo Essay

2011-03-17T20:05:00.016-06:00

Photos: Barry Donaldson

Local surf photographer Barry Donaldson captured these images during the past rainy season in Pavones, Costa Rica.

What are caterpillars good for?

"Decomposition of litter, pollination, suppression of plant growth, and serving as prey for carnivores", writes Jeff Miller, Professor of Entomology at Oregon State University, and co-author of the beautiful book 100 Caterpillars: Portraits from the Tropical Forests of Costa Rica.

Miller writes that caterpillars generally serve 3 functions (before they become butterflies and moths):

Exploiters -- as herbivores, predators or parasites;
Providers -- of food, as hosts to parasites or dinner for predators;
Facilitators -- of pollination, the transportation of organisms, and the spread of pathogens which control species reproduction.

Barry Donaldson is available for private surf photography sessions and can be reached at PavonesSurfPhotos@gmail.com

You may also want to see:

A photo portrait of tropical caterpillars of Pavones, Costa Rica, by Barry Donaldson.

Part 3: Uvita Whale's Tail Gone, Tsunami Damage

2011-03-17T15:14:00.024-06:00

Whale Tail at Uvita, Costa Rica after

Tsunami. Even at low tide, the famous

Moses Passage is underwater,

report oceanographers

At Uvita's Whale's Tail, the famous Moses Passage -which allows visitors to walk to the end of the tail at low tide - has disappeared, report Costa Rican oceanographers.

The tail was damaged by the tsunami of March 11, 2011.

Even at low tide, about 300 to 400 meters of space remains underwater. The photograph at right was taken on March 13, 2011, at 2:40 p.m., which is precisely low tide.

The concrete cube that served as a permanent marker at the site is still visible, but the sandbar connecting the "tail" to the mainland is now underwater, and the type of beach material has changed.

Whale's Tail at Uvita, Costa Rica
Before Tsunami Waves
Aerial Photo from Uvita.net

This post is based on a preliminary report prepared by noted oceanographer Quirós Guillermo Alvarez.

The day after the Tsunami, March 12th, a team inspected the beach looking for anomalies and found the Moses Passage at the Whale's Tail had closed and was filled with water. This team presumes that the tides for that day measured 5.9 feet at high tide and 1.4 feet at high tide.

Added 3/17/2011: Translated from Channel 7 report

A television news report, in Spanish, from Channel 7, shows the tail's prior location is now submerged at all tides. Water coming from two different directions create an area unsafe for swimming. Local residents are interviewed, and they are worried about the tourism implications.

In the video, Marino Protti from Costa Rica's Volcano and Seismic Observatory, says that the phenomenon could be reversible as the ocean redeposits sand to the whale's tail in the future.

Added 3/19/2011 -- Eyewitness Update -- Whale Tail at Uvita, Costa Rica, could be rebuilding itself.

Good Morning Pavones today received this report from an anonymous reader:

I'm a geologist and live in CR where everyday I look down on the Whale's Tale from about 1200 ft elevation. Indeed, it is different. It is now low tide and there is a section that is somewhat discontinuous. The photos I've seen of it being "washed out" look nothing like it looks now. I question whether some of those photos were taken at a higher tide. Or perhaps mother nature is busy rebuilding this past week. There has been a change, no doubt, but I suspect mother nature will give us back our Whale's Tale in due time. It's now 8:08am on March 18, 2011 and I've just taken several photos of the disrupted Tale we love here.

You may also want to read...

Part 2: Eyewitness reports of secondary Tsunami damage in Costa Rica
Part 1: Secondary Tsunami waves damage Costa Rican treasures
Full coverage from the day of the Tsunami from Good Morning Pavones, March 11, 2011, including Costa Rica Tsunami risk map

We welcome the input of any scientists and oceanographers who can provide additional information, insights, or corrections to this post. Please add in the comments below or email us at blogger@goodmorningpavones.com.

At Uvita's Whale's Tail, the famous Moses Passage -which allows visitors to walk to the tip of Uvita at low tide - has disappeared, report Costa Rican oceanographers.

Part 2: Eyewitness Reports of Secondary Tsunami Damages in Pacific Costa Rica

2011-03-17T12:47:00.008-06:00

The secondary Tsunami waves and currents were very destructive, reaching 4 meters high in some parts of the Pacific coast in Costa Rica on March 12, 2011.

Pockets of coastline that are open to a north-west swell received the brunt of this force, says a preliminary report prepared by noted oceanographer Quirós Guillermo Alvarez. Sr. Alvarez collaborated with oceanographers and Jose Maria Diaz, Andrade Gutierrez and Alejandro Echeverria.

This eyewitness testimony below, from the Central Pacific of Costa Rica, is excerpted from their report, as provided to Buenos Dias Pavones.

"Around midnight [on March 11] a huge wave entered the marina, taking with it the dock and yachts that were moored. There was a mountain of water moving around and around, moving everything. When the water went down, it left a large area barren. We walked on foot, walked on foot in areas that formerly were deep water." Jose Benavente, Coast Guard, Flamingo Marina, Guanacaste, 10 a.m., Saturday, March 12th.

"Every ten minutes, the tide rose and fell as it does every 12 hours, you know beter than I that the tide lasts 12 hours, but this isn't happening since last night. It all started around midnight, the tide went out as in a low tide. We were in the dock, at the marina, and the sea, suddenly without warning, the sea rose to within a meter of the street, it was very high, the sea advanced about 200 meters inland more than normal. In a stream that is close to here, the water rose and then fell with a loud bang, like a headwater coming down the river, and this happened every 10 minutes. It was very strange. [Don Guillermo], please tell us what this was and what to do." Guideo Virgilio, fisherman, north Pacific, Guanacaste, 9 am., Saturday, March 12.

Excerpts from other eyewitnesses:

"The tide is rising and falling every 8 minutes, and the sea is dark, as if different algae has emerged from its depths. Last night the tide was so high, it reached the palm tree; that has never been seen here...the sardines are going crazy and the fish are hiding." - from Santa Cruz, Guanacaste.

"This morning when we went fishing the sea dried up, then quickly filled and dried up again... the pangas were stranded on the rocks." - from Playa Cabuya on the south-eastern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula.

"Before the quake last night, the wind first blew north very strongly. After the quake, the sea is out of control, unwell, and it dried up every 10 minutes, over and over." - from Golfo of Nicoya.

You may be interested in

Part 1: Secondary Tsunami Waves Damage Costa Rica's Pacific Coast
Full Tsunami Coverage of March 11, 2010, Pavones and Pacific Coast Rica
{Coming Soon: Oceanographer's report on Whale Tail, Drake Bay, & more}

Note: We welcome the input of any scientists and oceanogoraphers who can provide additional information, insights, or corrections to this post. Please add in the comments below or email us at blogger@goodmorningpavones.com.
The translations from the original report and eyewitness testimony are ours and we accept responsibility for errors and omissions.
Secondary Tsunami Waves Damage Costa Rica, Part 2, eyewitness reports from fishermen and Coast Guard.

Part 1: Secondary Tsunami Waves Damage Costa Rica Pacific Treasures

2011-03-17T10:36:00.013-06:00

Fishing Grounds of

Costa Rica and Central America,

source: ANEP

On Saturday, March 12th, the day after the Tsunami, strong secondary waves and currents reached Costa Rica and damaged national treasures in Pacific waters and the coastline.

Damage to the Flamingo Marina and yachts in its harbor, changes in the behavior of fish, and the disappearance of the Whale Tale near Uvita are among the damages reported. Additionally, material from Costa Rica's famous offshore Thermal Dome washed up on shore, indicating damage to fishing areas.

A preliminary report from Costa Rican oceanographer Guillermo E. Quiros Alvarez was shared with our Spanish language site, Buenos Dias Pavones.

Costa Rica's Thermal Dome is an ultra-rich marine feeding ground and an important natural and economic resource.

Normally, the open ocean is a biological desert, and only very special areas create conditions that sustain the early stages of the marine food chain. While marine upwellings create rich, seasonal food sources, Costa Rica'sThermal Dome is a permanent feature.

The Whale Tail, which has reportedly disappeared, has long been a tourist attraction in Bahia Ballena ("Whale Bay") and a major landmark clearly visible from the air to travelers.

You may also be interested in:

Part 2: Eyewitness reports from secondary Tsunami damage in Costa Rica
Good Morning Pavones' full Tsunami coverage from March 11, 2011, including Costa Rica tsunami risk map.

Note: We welcome the input of any scientists and oceanogoraphers who can provide additional information, insights, or corrections to this post. Please add in the comments below or email us at blogger@goodmorningpavones.com.
Additional information:
Web site of Guillermo E. Quiros Alvarez , Dignidad Nacional Costa Rica,
Afloramiento Pesca en Costa Rica
Los recursos marinos en el ajedrez del referéndum

Costa Rica's Pacific coast was damaged by secondary Tsunami activity on March 12th, 2011.

Save 20%-35% on Gasoline In Southern Costa Rica

2011-03-14T15:50:00.005-06:00

Gas prices in Costa Rica
make a trip to the border worth it.

Pavones residents lower their cost of living expenses by filling their cars and trucks at the Panamanian border instead of paying Costa Rican gas prices.

This week's report by CCHAC confirms what we all know: Costa Rica's gas prices are the highest in Central America, and Panama's are the lowest.

The average price of a gallon of regular gasoline is $4.44 in Costa Rica, compared to an average of $3.33 in Panama. Generally, Costa Rica's import taxes for petroleum and automobiles are high to supply money for building and repairing the country's infrastructure.

Gasoline prices in rural areas such as Pavones can be ~$1.00 more per gallon than the average price, primarily because of high transportation costs. Traveling to "La Bomba" on the border to fill up the gas tank is worth the one and one-half hour drive when the trip can be combined with other errands (new shocks for the truck, anyone?).

La Bomba on "La Frontera" (The border) sells empty plastic tanks for ~$6.00, so it pays to buy an extra tank, fill it up, and put it in the back of the SUV. If you can't travel all the way to La Frontera, then average Costa Rica prices can be found in Laurel or Golfito.

3/16/2011 Update: With rising oil prices, the Costa Rica authority that determines retail gas prices announced that prices will increase c54/liter (roughly 220 colones per gallon ~50 cents) in April; this will be the third price increase in 2011.

Full Coverage: Costa Rica's Pacific Coast Responds to "Green Level" Tsunami Warnings from Government, Readying for Possible Emergency without Panic

2011-03-11T09:52:00.042-07:00

Tsunami passes Costa Rica, surfers feel effects, land stays dry; Pavones, Costa Rica, a natural wave funnel, lies outside high risk tsunami area on map (below).

PAVONES FINAL -- Update 10: 6:30 p.m. Surfers and hotel owners along the Golfo Dulce report no unusual tides between 4:00 and 5:00, when the tsunami waves were predicted to arrive on the shores of Matapalo, Pavones, Golfito and Zancudo, in Costa Rica. The sea is calm, and there has been no flooding. The early and conservative predictions of Costa Rican scientists were prudent. Surfers reported long period between waves, and the swell did grow between 4pm and 5pm, so the effect was felt in the water, but not on land, in Pavones, Costa Rica. All is well here.

Tsunami map of Costa Rica,
Video of day's waves,
US Embassy warning
Hour-by-hour updates

READ: SECONDARY TSUNAMI WAVES DAMAGE COAST RICA PACIFIC COAST TREASURES, REPORTED MARCH 17TH, ONLY ON GOOD MORNING PAVONES, CLICK HERE.

Continue reading this coverage from March 11, below.

FROM THE OSA PENINSULA, NORTH SIDE: At 5 p.m., in the enclosed harbor of Drake Bay, several boats broke free of their lines and pronounced surges were reported every 45 minutes. No major damage reported.

Highlights:
Pavones lies outside high risk tsunami area
Follow Live Animated Buoy Reports Below

INTRODUCTORY TSUNAMI POST -- Pavones, Costa Rica prepares for any effects of Japan's tsunami by closing schools and avoiding low lying coastal regions as the government of Costa Rica declared today a warning after a powerful earthquake and tsunamis hit Japan. The topography of Pavones into the Golfo Dulce is an undersea and above ground funnel shaped formation, however the area has not been affected by previous wave action caused by earthquakes, and a perfect correlation of wave direction and land formation should have a very low probability.

Update 9: 6:15 P.M.

Tsunami passes Costa Rica: Imperceptible effects from Tsunami on Costa Rica. Not seeing anything in Pavones, Costa Rica, 1 1/2 hours after the announced "arrival" time of tsunami waves.

5:00 P.M. -- Still no effect from Tsunami on Costa Rican shores

Update 8: Waves hit Mexico

Tsunami comes to Latin America -- The tsunami hit the coast of northeastern Mexico, at Ensenada (northwestern Mexico) with a height of half a meter that could grow to two meters, said the Center for Scientific Research of the region. The Government of Mexico has declared an alert in their Pacific coasts but said that the phenomenon represents a "moderate risk."

Cat Slatinsky of the Imperial Beach Surf School said, "we're on watch now and can see the surge happening in 20 minute intervals. it's about a 50 yard surge in and out."

Update 7: Tsunami waves to reach Pavones, Punta Banco, Zancudo and Matapalo, Costa Rica 4:45 p.m.

According to the US Embassy in Costa Rica, Tsunami wave expected to reach Matapalo (the closest measurement point, across the Golfo Dulce from Pavones, Punta Banco and Zancudo) today at 4:45 p.m.

Update 6: No swell in Pavones due to Tsunami as of 11:30 a.m. (video report)

Update 5: Costa Rica hospitals get ready (11:45 am)

Hospitals from Golfito to Guanacaste readied extra beds for a for a possible emergency due to the tsunami warning, even though the National Emergency Commission (CNE) has said that the tsunami in Japan have little effect on the Costa Rican Pacific. As patients come in for normal emergencies, evaluations are being performed to see how many patients can be provided with outpatient care, with the goal of maintaining a high level of capacity for any possible emergency inflows.

According the CNE, it is expected that the tsunami wave touch the country at 4 pm, when the tide is low (1.5 meters). In the worst cases, the tsunami wave could be 80 inches, a few minutes ago said Omar Lizano, an oceanographer contributor to the CNE.

Update 4: Pavones not high risk

Pavones lies outside a high risk tsunami area, which centers around the Osa Peninsula in the Golfo Dulce, according to the chart below.
Link to Costa Rica tsunami risk map, Pavones outside of high risk zone

Update 3: Costa Rican ambassador's eyewitness report from Japan

In Japan, the effects of the earthquake were reported by Costa Rica's Ambassador, Mario Fernandez Silva (translated from the Spanish original report):

"I was in a basement on the second floor of a hotel at a conference when the quake began. A Japanese man next to me did not think it was shaking. People ducked under tables and I walked towards a wall but could not hold on because the wall literally shook me off, the rocking and movement threw me. I got out of there and saw more modern buildings that were moving more, like they were dancing, and everything inside falling," he said.

Fernandez said that the lack of devastation was because the buildings in Japan are well constructed. Other Costa Ricans in Japan reported that tall buildings generally fared well, because the epicenter of the quake was in the northern part of the country, in rural areas devoted to agriculture.

Update 2: CORRECTION Costa Rica's Green alert means emergency preparedness not evacuation

"We issued a green alert for all the cantons of Costa Rica's Pacific coast," said the president of the National Emergency Commission (CNE), Vanessa Rosales. This implies a warning to the inhabitants of the coast that could eventually lead to an emergency. This alert is milder than the yellow, which leads to evacuation, while a red alert is the maximum attention.

"This implies an immediate activation of all local response mechanisms," said Rosales, who asked the public to avoid "panic" and not rumors.

Japan on Friday suffered an earthquake of magnitude 8.9 degrees on the Richter scale, followed by powerful aftershocks and a devastating tsunami with waves 10 meters high, which left dozens dead and triggered a tsunami alert across the ocean Pacific.

Oceanographer Lizano Olman said he expected that the tsunami reaches the coast of Costa Rica at about 4:00 pm (22:00 GMT).

Update 1: Early reports say tsunami should miss Costa Rica

School of Geology at the University of Costa Rica argued that the country is no record of tsunamis originating in Japan and come to Costa Rican coasts.

According to geologist Mario Fernandez, the country has been hit by tsunamis originating in South America and Alaska, but never from the Japanese archipelago.

The school sent a list of the tsunami that came at the expense policies and accumulate 10 from 1536 through 2011. The most recent occurred after the earthquake in Nicaragua in 1992, which triggered a tsunami with waves of 9.5 meters.

"No one can ensure that future tsunamis of Costa Rica will be small. The height of the tsunami in Nicaragua was too high for the magnitude of the earthquake, was an anomaly. This tsunami of Nicaragua in 1992 made it clear that in Central America major tsunamis occur . Therefore, the threat of tsunamis in Costa Rica should not be underestimated, "said Fernandez.

Pavones Surf Report and Forecast

See Spanish language coverage in La Nacion, Costa Rica's national newspaper, about the Green Level Tsunami Warning in Costa Rica for the Pacific Coast

2011 Tsunami coverage Costa Rica pacific coast, Pavones, Matapalo, Zancudo, Punta Banco and Golfito.

News from Pavones, Costa Rica for March, 2011

2011-03-10T14:21:00.018-07:00

CLICK HEADLINE TO READ, OR SCROLL DOWN PAGE
Rent a surfboard or SUP in Pavones or Pilon
Costa Rica tourism -- how competitive is it?
Nu in het Nederlands
Protecting sharks, turtles at hot diving spot
Rare land comes to market at Pavones Point
The airport in Pilon
Bus Travel from Golfito to Pavones
Turtle laying eggs (video)
SUP etiquette (video)
Mooring and anchoring a sailboat
A SUP and surf story of friendship, not tension in Pilon
Tangled knot for new cell phone companies
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News Briefs: The farmer's market is now every Saturday morning at the Escuela Camino Claro. Henry Castrillo won the $1,000 cash prize in a local surf contest two weeks ago. We add a "contribute" page where you can donate towards the fight against the Tuna Farm or to the libraries in Punta Banco and Pavones, Costa Rica.
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FAQ: A health clinic is located in the town of Comte, a 30-45 minute drive from Pavones (30 minutes from Pilon, 15 minutes from Cuervito). Regional hospitals and private health clinics in Golfito (1 1/2 hours by car) and Ciudad Neilly (2 hours by car) offer outpatient and emergency services. While 1 1/2 hours may seem far for a hospital, it is comparable to some rural and resort areas in the United States; e.g. in Montauk, New York, one has to drive 1 1/2 hours to reach Southampton hospital.
-----------------------------------
Please send us your questions, story ideas, comments or criticism through the comments' sections or via e-mail at blogger@goodmorningpavones.com.
Thanks for visiting us ! Big hello to our Canadian friends !

Need to rent a surfboard or SUP in Pavones?

2011-03-10T13:30:00.012-07:00

Surfboards for rent in
Pavones, Costa Rica

An open letter to our friends who want to rent a surfboard or SUP in Pavones, Costa Rica.

So stoked you're coming! Yep, it's hard to leave friends behind, can't bring your favorite stick. No worries, visit our friends at Clear River Adventures (they used to go by Clear Water Adventures) or Surf-and-Kite, they'll hook you up with a rental.

BTW, if you're going to SUP in Pavones, watch this video before you leave: SUP etiquette from Pavones to Zancudo. Here are the details and prices:

Clear River (formerly Clear Water Adventures) rents boards for $20 a day, check out this photo of their shop. Their shop is across the road from the Cantina in the heart of Pavones. Hook up with them through their web site Pavones Sports and Adventure.

Check in at the Cantina too, there is usually somebody there willing to make a few bucks by renting you a board. Step up to the internet cafe or the bar. Check out the bulletin board too.

Shawn and Nathalie in Cocal rent stand-up paddleboards for $35 for 2 hours, $15 each additional hour. Shawn rents Starboard brand SUPs from 9'8" to `12'6", and you should definitely check out the SUP page on his web site CRSurfandKite -- he offers SUP lessons and vacation packages.

I hope you get great waves at the Point in Pavones, there's plenty of room for everyone, and takeoff spots for every level, so your kook friend who's learning can stay way inside, in the bay, and ride the foam balls. Please try to plan in advance, because if you get here when an epic swell is going off, you'll have plenty of competition for those rentals.

You're not going to find some sweet, shiny Robert August-style longboard to rent down here. We're just too far from all that touristy stuff for that ;) But you'll find something in a longboard, or a long-ish board at least.

A final thought, and not to second guess your decision, but you're coming to one of the most epic surfbreaks in the world, during a time of the year when it can really go off and you can have your pick of beautiful waves all day long (no guarantee). Do you really want to leave your best friend at home?

If you change your mind, remember to read those travel tips for Sansa and Nature Air about how to get your board on the plane (if you don't drive from San Jose).

Remember to practice Aloha when you get here.

See you soon. Pura Vida.

Do you have extra boards to rent? Longboards? Shortboards? Let everyone know by adding your comments below, or send us an email (blogger@goodmorningpavones.com).

Have a question about your trip to Pavones? Give us a shout, we're happy to help. Email blogger@goodmorningpavones.com.

Where you can rent surfboards shortboards longboards standup paddle SUP boards in Pavones, Pilon or Punta Banco, Costa Rica.

Costa Rica Travel and Tourism Industry Ranks 2nd Highest in Latin America

2011-03-10T11:59:00.048-07:00

The Competitiveness of Costa Rica's travel and tourism industry ranks second highest in Latin America, behind Mexico, but Asia is nipping at our heels, reported the World Economic forum today:

Latin American country rankings in tourism and travel competitiveness,
highlighting Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, courtesy of America Economia

Mexico ranks #43 out of 139, the highest ranking for a Latin American country. Costa Rica ranks #44. Our neighbor Panama, #52 moved down slightly from last year's #53 ranking, while Nicaragua improved a bit from #103 last year to #100 in 2010.

While all Latin American countries are in the lower two-thirds of the rankings, the report noted a shift in competitiveness eastward towards Asian countries that are" creating the right infrastructure and marketing support" for tourism development. The report noted that all countries, no matter what their stage of development, have strengths they can build on. In our lifetimes,

Costa Rica will never have the tourism infrastructure that makes travel so easy in Europe, but we have other things to offer, such as open spaces for wildlife and are good for the soul; welcoming friendly Costa Ricans; indigenous cultures; and lots of physical activities like surfing, SUP, mountain hiking, horseback riding, swimming in warm waters, diving, birding, and even night time bug hunts.

Tourism is considered a critical sector of economic growth. European countries lead in the competitiveness of developing travel and tourism businesses. Costa Rica is much more dependent on tourism than Switzerland, Germany and France (which are top ranked in this report), yet has a lower competitiveness score.

Jennifer Blanke, Senior Economist of the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Network, said "The top rankings of Switzerland, Austria, Germany, France and Canada demonstrate the importance of supportive business and regulatory frameworks, coupled with world-class transport and tourism infrastructure, and a focus on nurturing human and natural resources for fostering an environment that is attractive for developing the travel and tourism sector.”

Update 3/16/2011:

In the rankings, Costa Rica was penalized for poor highway infrastructure. Juan Carlos Ramos, who heads the country's tourism department (CANATUR), said in a press release, "We appreciate the high position the country maintains, however we are aware that we can work to improve our ranking," (translated). Ramos boldly stated that he thought the Costa Rican government would ignore the weaknesses cited in the report. He alsocriticized the government for not undertaking the highway and other infrastructure projects that are necessary to improve Costa Rica's competitiveness in the tourism sector, which accounts for 7.2% of economic activity.

View the related a 4 minute video from the World Economic Forum

Download the full PDF report on Travel and Tourism Competiveness (large file size).
Read more at the website Travel and Tourism Tourism Competitiveness, The World Economic Forum
Read a related story in Spanish in AmericaEconomia.com
Read press release from CR Tourism authority in English
Costa Rica ranks highest in the competitiveness of its tourism and travel industry /sector, 2nd only to Mexico, but tourism director criticizes government's infrastructure investment.