Costa Rica views from a medical conference attendee

Posted on March 9, 2012 by

It’s usually interesting to read impressions of an area you know by visitors to the area. William Hay, from Vancouver, came to Guanacaste for a medical conference and stayed at the Hilton Papagayo in Playa Panama. Read his impressions of Guanacaste,

Hay also had some personal experience with a dentist in Playas del Coco while he was there. His dental experience, like my Costa Rica dental experience, was very favorable.

Hay made the 20 minute drive from Playa Panama to Playas del Coco and notes the different flavor and feeling in the two areas. Though the main street of Coco is as hay describes, there are residential areas in Coco that offer a peaceful retreat like feel.

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Mountain Biking in Costa Rica

Posted on February 28, 2012 by

Mountain biking is a popular sport in Costa Rica. Generally you’re on a back road, competing with other vehicles for space. Sometimes you’re on a rutted trail.

Try the new 10 km single track mountain bike trail at Las Catalinas, a beach town in Guanacaste. Start from Playa
Danta and head up into the hills. Gorgeous water views, valley and mountain views, monkeys, birds and other wildlife. There are benches along the way to stop and enjoy the surroundings. It’s a challenging as well as beautiful trail. The next mountain bike trail at Las Catalinas is scheduled to be easier for beginners, as it winds through the valley. A total of 50 KM of bike trails is planned for Las Catalinas.

When you return to Playa Danta, stop for a refreshing drink or meal at beachfront Lola’s Norte. Take a refreshing swim at the beach or just relax in the shade.

Interested in living here? Only 20% of the 1,200 acres is being developed – the rest will be preserved. Learn more about Las Catalinas now.

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Song written for Las Catalinas

Posted on February 27, 2012 by

Not many beach towns have songs written about them, but Las Catalinas on Playa Danta in Guanacaste, Costa Rica does.

It’s a Las Catalinas Day. Time to come out and play.

 

A Las Catalinas Day from Las Catalinas on Vimeo.

Take 1,200 acres in beautiful Costa Rica, keep 80% of it natural, and develop the rest into an inviting beach town. Think of a charming Tuscan village along the coast with it’s narrow cobblestone walkways, it’s fountains and parks. Add homes that are both classy and comfortable. Mix in independent businesses such as a restaurant and a sports equipment rental shop. Sprinkle with events. Cover and let the ingredients meld. You’ll get Las Catalinas, hidden away between Playa Flamingo and Playas del Coco, but just an hour from Liberia LIR airport with several daily international flights.

Find out more about Las Catalinas!

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Signs can sometimes reveal culture

Posted on February 25, 2012 by

 

 

Don't mistreat the iguanas

Signs sometimes reveal the culture of a country or an area. The carved message on this sign is in both Spanish and English, a courtesy as well as increasing its effectiveness.

Strictly Prohibited to Mistreat or Kill Iguanas or any other kind of Wildlife.

Costa Ricans care about their environment, including their wildlife. The Ticos also care about people: they are kind, caring and hate to say No.

Near the sign, which is in front of the Sol y Mar beachfront condominiums in Playa Hermosa in Guanacaste, we watched two creatures surveying each other from opposite sides of a tree trunk: a cat and an iguana. When we left it was still a standoff. Obviously neither of them could read the sign.

 

 

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Magnificent volcano view in Guanacaste Costa Rica

Posted on February 22, 2012 by
Volcano view from Papagayo Gulf and Country Club in Guanacaste Costa Rica

This relaxing view with volcanoes in the distance is from one of the homes in the Papagayo Golf and Country Club in Libertad, about 6 miles from Playas del Coco. What a contrast from bustling to serene! There are volcano views, valley views and of course, golf course views.

All lots in Papagayo Golf and Country Club are over an acre and prices start at $50,000. Most of the homes currently available range from $400,000 to $600,000. It’s a gated community, just 20 minutes from the Liberia (LIR) International airport. It offers country living that’s close to the Papagayo beach communities of Playa del Coco, Playa Hermosa and Playa Panama.

This 335 acre community includes an 18 hole golf course that is open to the public. Greens fees, including cart, are $100 for nonmembers and $30 for members. There is a restaurant and pool.

 

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Donde Johann’s Profiteroles de Chocolate

Posted on February 15, 2012 by
Profiteroles de Chocolate at Donde Johann's

 Sometimes you just can’t resist a dessert. Profiteroles de Chocolate from Donde Johann’s is one you shouldn’t even try to resist.

 

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Corporate medical travel increasing in Costa Rica

Posted on February 10, 2012 by

 Costa Rica has long been a preferred destination for thousands of medical tourists since it is close to the US, has well trained medical professionals, and offers low cost and high quality medical and dental care. Now corporations as well as individuals are realizing the benefits of coming to Costa Rica for surgery.

Pepsi, for example, is offering US employees and their dependents, about 250,000 people, a travel-surgery benefit. Cardiac and complete joint-replacement surgeries  are one benefit. Increasingly corporations and insurance companies are seeing the cost-effectiveness of sending patients to other countries for health services.

Costa Rica is ideal, not only because of its proximity and quality care, but because the Costa Ricans are such caring people. After all, we are talking about health CARE.

Read the Tico Times article on medical tourism in Costa Rica for more information.

If you want to buy a property in Costa Rica that can benefit from rentals to medical tourists, contact The Simms Team.

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Medical Tourism in Costa Rica

Posted on February 9, 2012 by

 Medical tourism is increasing every year in Costa Rica and it’s easy to see why:

  • Costa Rica’s health care system has been ranked higher than the US
  • Costa Rica has  hospitals rated by the JCI Joint Commission International
  • Doctors that speak English; many were trained in the US
  • Prices far below those in the United States
  • The culture in Costa Rica is caring and family oriented
  • Costa Rica is a wonderful place to recuperate and vacation.

Read the full article on Medical Tourism in Costa Rica from The Costa Rica News.

Most of these medical and dental procedures have been done in San Jose, hours by car from the resort beaches and tourism destinations of Guanacaste, on the northwest Pacific coast. Hospital CIMA recently finished construction of a new hospital in Guanacaste, 15 minutes from Liberia LIR International airport. Hospital Clinica Biblica has purchased land in Guanacaste to build a hospital as well.

With the increase in medical tourism coming to Guanacaste, this is one more reason you may want to purchase a home in Costa Rica or buy a condo in Costa Rica. Many of the people coming for a medical procedure may want to rent a condo or home in Costa Rica that’s near the hospital AND near the beach. Contact The Simms Team for more information on buying a property in Costa Rica. 

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Cheap Flights from Canada to Guanacaste Costa Rica

Posted on February 1, 2012 by
Playas del Coco beach Costa Rica

 No wonder so many Canadians are in the Papagayo area of Guanacaste Costa Rica this winter – low fares on flights from Canada. yyzdeals.com shows round trip flights from $299 per person, including tax, from Toronto to Liberia (LIR) Costa Rica. Just a 5 or 5-1/2 hour flight from cold Canada to warm Guanacaste.

The beach communities in the northwest Pacific corner of Costa Rica along the Papagayo Gulf range from the Papagayo Peninsula (home of the Four Seasons Resort) through Playa Panama, Playa Hermosa, Playas del Coco to Playa Ocotal. Those are just the communities – numerous named beaches dot the shore.

It’s a good time to buy real estate in Costa Rica. Guanacaste properties range from small studio apartments to luxurious hillside homes with over 10,000 sq  ft. 

Find out more about Guanacaste real estate.

 

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Canadians are flying to Papagayo region of Costa Rica

Posted on February 1, 2012 by
Guanacaste beach Playa del Coco

 

Canadians are flying to the Gulf of Papagayo in Costa Rica because of the great travel deals now available. yyzdeals.com shows round trip flights from Toronto to Liberia Costa Rica (LIR) for $299.00! In 5 to 5-1/2 hours Canadians can go from col Many condos and homes along the beaches of the Papagayo Gulf are only 30 minutes from the Liberia airport. 

It’s not enough, though, for a destination to be affordable. Canadians are coming to Guanacaste, Costa Rica because of the weather, of course, since the days are warm with low humidity. Spend your day relaxing by the pool or at the beach. They’re also coming because the people in Costa Rica are so friendly, helpful and welcoming. After all, Costa Rica has been named the country with the happiest people in the world. 

It’s an excellent time to buy real estate in Costa Rica. Buy a vacation home for winters and summers; buy a Costa Rica home or condo as an investment: rent it out if you’re not going to be using it. Buy now for retirement later – or just decide to retire now and enjoy life in the Papagayo Gulf area. Guanacaste offers a wide variety of properties, from a small studio condo to homes over 10,000 sq ft. 

Find out more about Costa Rica real estate.

                                                                            

 

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