Properties in Costa Rica Blog

Yes, one of the many benefits of Costa Rica’s natural resources is the possibility to cultivate and grow organic products in our land.

Small producers are getting more attracted towards growing and producing organic foods. Options are growing all over Costa Rica and the more interest the population shows the more possibilities we have.

As I said, the places where to get organic food grows as the demands get bigger. The central valley has several options of daily markets, street fairs and restaurants, other areas of the country still have limited options but there are a few.

This is a compilation of markets and restaurants that sell and serve organic products including fruits, vegetables, meats, cheese, milk, coffee, cleaning products, etc.

1.   Green Center Supermarket – Río de Oro de Santa Ana and Curridabat. Offers fruits and vegetables, cleaning products, personal care products, meats and much more. It has express service where you can order the products and have them delivered to your home.

2.    El Trueque Fair San José – Barrio el Carmen, Paso Ancho. Takes place every Saturday from 6 am to 12 pm and it offers fruits and vegetables, cheese, milk, etc.

3.    Aranjuez Green Market – Barrio Aranjuez. Saturday from 6 am to 12 pm

4.    Buena Tierra Organic Fair Escazú – In front of the Red Cross of Escazu. Wednesday from 8 am to 11 am

5.    Organic Fair Km 0 – Avenida Escazú. Saturday from 9 am to 2 pm

6.    Organic and artisans Maket – Ciudad Colon (Mercado Viejo). Thursday from 2 to 6 pm.

7.    Viandas Market – San Jose downtown. Online shopping available.

8.    Mar Verde Biodynamic Farm – Punta Leona, Jaco. Offers fruits, vegetables, honey, herbs, etc.

9.    Ecological Market El Guayabo – Nicoya, Guanacaste. Monday thru Friday from 6:30 am to 5:30 pm and Sunday from 6:30 am to 1:30 pm

10.  Guápiles Organic Fair – Guapiles, Limon. Saturday from 5 am to 12 pm.

11.  Heredia Green Fair – Santo Domingo, Heredia. Sunday from 8 am to 2 pm.

12.  Turrialba Organic Fair – Turrialba. Saturday from 6 am to 2 pm.

I personally like going to the market and enjoy all those colors and smells, it is not a simple shopping shore. Some of these fairs have become social events where people with similar interests and life styles get together.

Dining options are also available with vegan, organic and raw food. Take a look at the following list:

1.    Buena Tierra. Escazu.

Cuisine: Vegan-friendly, Lacto, Organic, Western, Caribbean, Beer/Wine, Take-out

2.    Mandala. Plaza Vita, Escazu.

Cuisine: Ovo, Lacto, Organic, Western, Pizza, Juice bar, Beer/Wine, Take-out

3.    La Oliva Verde. Momentum Lindora, Santa Ana.

Cuisine: Vegan-friendly, Lacto, Juice bar, Mediterranean, Non-veg

4.    Oasis Restaurant and Bar. Trejos Montealegre, Escazu

Cuisine: Vegan-friendly, Ovo, Western, Beer/Wine, Take-out, Delivery, Non-veg

5.    El Brotario. Barrio Escalante, San Jose.

Cuisine: Vegan, Organic, Western, Fusion, Raw, Juice bar, Take-out

6.    Mantras Veggie Cage and Tea House. Barrio Escalante, San Jose.

Cuisine: Vegan-friendly, Lacto, Caribbean, Costa Rican, Raw, Take-out, Delivery

7.    Pu Ti. Guadalupe, San Jose

Cuisine: Vegan-friendly, Chinese, Take-out, Taiwanese

8.    The Flying Tomato. La Fortuna, San Carlos

Cuisine: Vegan-friendly, Ovo, Lacto, Organic, American, Western, Juice bar

9.    Elemental Samara. Samara Beach.

Cuisine: Vegan, Juice bar, Raw, International, Take-out, Delivery

10.  Pajara Pinta. Jaco.

Cuisine: Vegan-friendly, Ovo, Costa Rican, Fusion, Organic, Beer/Wine

Consuming organic products is not only something we should do for ourselves, of course the benefits to our health will be enormous but we are also helping the small local producers directly. We are not buying products from big companies so it is assured that we will be helping social development of small communities. In the bigger picture, we are also helping the whole environment, as organic agriculture is a way of reducing global warming.

Year after year Costa Rica remains a popular tourist destination, is home to countless activities to keep every traveler entertained, and offers a little something for everyone. It is no surprise that the country’s tourism industry is a $2.2 billion one, and with over 2 million foreigners visiting each year.

So what is it about Costa Rica that makes it so magical? Surely each visitor can be their own judge here, but I would say that the country’s variety would be a determining factor. Variety, ranging from the type of vacation travelers are looking for (i.e. fun, educational, relaxing, romantic), to the amount of money needed to enjoy a high quality vacation, to the kind of experiences visitors get out of a trip, not only adds to Costa Rica’s desirability factor but also makes vacation planning a challenging feat for most travelers. For those who know little about the country, simply narrowing down the specific areas worth a visit can be a daunting task. Fortunately, Costa Rica’s various towns and regions are as diverse as the travel population itself, so knowing the type of traveler you are and what you are looking for in a vacation will direct you where to go and look for help in determining the best places to visit.

Adventure and Nature

Adventure enthusiasts in search of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences that are difficult to obtain at home. For this reason, they need a location that not only offers a lot to see and do, but also offers unique activities that cannot be experienced elsewhere (without sacrificing experience quality). The following areas of Costa Rica are recommended to those travelers who want access to a variety of activities from within the same location. Ideal for those with limited time in Costa Rica and/or with an interest in participating in combo tours that combine two or more activities in one full day tour experience. For nature lovers, areas that offer plenty of outdoor activities for optimum eco-immersion and rainforest/cloud forest education are most desirable, as are areas that offer a variety of accommodation types (beyond high-rise and resort hotels) including bungalows, chalets, cabins, and eco-lodges that allow visitors to experience nature in an up close and personal way.

Couples and Honeymooners

They seek romance and prefer destinations that can offer an experience beyond a typical beach vacation. To them this “extra something” may be a high-class resort-quality hotel, whereas to others it may be an area of the country where romantic activities (such as spending an evening at the volcano hot springs or taking in a sunset sailing cruise) are easily accessible. In either case, quality is key, as are destinations that make the happy couple feel confident about choosing Costa Rica for their romantic getaway. Another important factor? Dining opportunities. Couples/honeymooners are more likely to visit restaurants within the areas in which they stay, so for those travelers who do not plan to stay at one of Costa Rica’s few all-inclusive resorts, choosing towns that offer a wide variety of dining options (and that do not require a long commute to/from such dining options) is a smart decision.

Families with Children

Families that travel with young children do so with a list. Some of the most important questions topping the list include destination safety, transportation accessibility, and transportation duration between routes, child-friendly dining options, and child-friendly activity options. While not always the case, the most popular tourist destinations in any country tend to be those that are best equipped to accommodate the needs of families travelling with young children, primarily because they tend to be developed enough to offer it all. Since safe areas appeal to parents and fun/unique areas appeal to kids, ideal vacation destinations for this travel group demographic offer both.

For those families with older children have more flexibility about longer commutes, more dining options and adventurous activities.

Surfers

Costa Rica is a well-known surf destination. It regularly hosts surf championships, offers plenty of coast and breaks to explore, and has a surf culture all of its own, containing Costa Ricans and international surfers that call Costa Rica home. As to be expected, the surf culture is backed by a surf industry, complete with an abundance of surf shops, schools, and camps. Lessons for beginner, intermediate, and advanced surfers are available, as are surf tours to remote beach areas offering the best surf breaks. For those looking for an authentic surf experience that is truly off the hook, trained by only the best local surf experts and world-renowned surf champions, Costa Rica’s got it.

• Tamarindo
• Manuel Antonio
• Dominical
• Jaco
• Santa Teresa and Malpais

Vacation Rental Home Fanatics

Looking for a home away from home? Vacation home rentals are scattered throughout the country, however particular regions offer more concentrated rental areas than others. Ideal for those who wish to take day trips to/from one central location throughout the duration of their trip.

It doesn’t matter what kind of tourist you are, bottom line Costa Rica has something for everyone. Enjoy Costa Rica!!

by Rod Martin

Bandera Azul Ecológica… sounds exotic, doesn’t it? Well, it is exotic in a pristine tropical beach kind of way. Bandera Azul translates to English as “Blue Flag” — a designation awarded annually by the ICT (or the Tourism Board in Costa Rica). Eighty-nine beaches received at least one Bandera Azul, while some received an additional two, three, and even five stars for exemplary status.

Inspired by a similar program developed in Spain in 1985, the “Bandera Azul Ecológica” is intended to curb the negative impacts of increasing tourism and population by helping the local community to protect the beach environment and limit pollution. Costa Rica’s version was started in 1996, and 10 beaches received a blue flag designation that year. In 2004, an executive decree was made that clarified and organized the various government institutions to better manage the program. That foresight to protect one of its most precious attractions (clean beaches and water) is part of the reason why Costa Rica is booming now. Over 2.5 million visitors came to Costa Rica in 2014 (not to mention an influx of new coastal residents), and eco-tourism is one of its fastest growing sub-sectors.

For those who like the specifics behind a catchy headline, the beaches are evaluated on seven different criteria:

• Quality of Seawater (35%)
• Quality of Water for Human Consumption (15%)
• Quality of Sanitation, which includes garbage (10%)
• Domestic Sewage (15%)
• Industrial Sewage (5%)
• Environmental Education (10%)
• Safety and Administration (10%)

If the beach earns at least a 90% rating, they are awarded a Bandera Azul. In addition, multiple stars are now awarded if the beach community makes an extra effort in areas such as safety in the form of lifeguards and signs announcing “heavy surf/rip currents”, toilets and showers, bins for trash and recyclable items, and environmental education, among others.

Three beaches received a 5-star rating—Matapalo and Punta El Madero in Northern Guanacaste, and Playa Blanca on the Central Coast. There were three beaches within the southern Pacific zone of Costa Ballena that received blue flag ratings—Playa Dominical, Playa Arco, and Playa Hermosa – a beach that now has designated trash bins and lifeguards thanks to community initiative.  Those lifeguards have saved 30 people from drowning in recent weeks, so safety is an ancillary benefit to a community. House hunters even base their searches using this Blue Flag criteria. If you are one of those seeking pristine and protected beaches, check out both our Dominical and Tamarindo listings.

Last year, the Costa Rican Times reported “[…] more than 90% of the beaches in the Costa Rica have minimal pollution levels, with little to no risk to human health.” This is good for beach-goers and for everyone who will benefit from tourism in the years to come. So, if you are planning a trip to Costa Rica in the near future, don’t forget your beach towel and your sunblock. The water is warm and the tropical beach experience is definitely part of the pura vida.