Recent Blog Posts

Cala Luna Hotel Reopens

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:01:50 -0500

Cala Luna Hotel Reopens with Great Spirit

Hotel Cala Luna, a true classic of Tamarindo, reopened its doors weeks ago with a renewed proposal of services for its guests.Its owners, the Pilurzu family, sold the hotel some years ago, way before the U.S. economic and housing crisis affected the national economy and, especially, Guanacaste’s, when plenty of hotels and tourism, real estate and construction businesses closed their doors.According to the surfer Federico Pilurzu, who is the new General Manager of Cala Luna, the person who bought the hotel could not meet the payment arrangement and after many years of legal wrangling and infinite number of concerns, his family was able to recover their hotel.

Pilurzu kindly provided us with information on this complicated stage and on how Cala Luna managed to survive thanks to the determination of his family and the love they have for this hotel, which is an essential reference in town.Federico answered these questions exclusively to Tamarindo News:

Under what conditions is the hotel reopening?

�In short, the hotel was sold some years ago, just before the global crisis. The buyer was unable to continue paying, and after two years of trials, arbitrations and an inexplicable dose of stress, we finally recovered Cala Luna.

Why is the Pilurzu family resuming the management of the Hotel? Why did you keep the same name?

My family built Cala Luna in 96 and, since then, the hotel has had a very good position as a boutique hotel around the world. If we were going to rename it, we would have lost 15 years of marketing. That is why we kept the same name. The appearance of the project has greatly improved. We began remodeling it in January 2011.

The property was not in good shape; it was a very long and hard work. My family and a great team have been working days and many nights so that the hotel could be ready for this season. We are now in the final stage finalizing a few details. We are very pleased with the final product.

Which new features and facilities will the hotel offer with the reopening?

Besides the new look, the details and decoration, I am very pleased with the restaurant we are opening in La Caletta, formerly the Sushi Lounge.The whole concept is quite revolutionary: all the products are local and organic. It consists on exotic, exquisite, and mind-blowing combinations of dishes. It is new concept different from other restaurants�.

How many rooms does the hotel have? What facilities are going to be offered to the guests?

We have 20 rooms and 15 villas available. Each villa has its own pool, garden, parking space, security, and all the hotel facilities.

There are two restaurants. The hotel is 50m away from the beach. There is free internet throughout the property, free Vonage at the reception for international calls, and concierge and tour services for any activity.

In Cala Luna’s website, the hotel promotes various segments packages and makes emphasis on the wedding market. What does the Hotel has to offer for this niche market?

Due to its location, the hotel is perfect for weddings…from the privacy on the beach, the restaurants on the edge of the pool, the private villas, the quietness to the fact that the we can only accommodate 100 pax.

We offer different wedding packages, but each wedding is "custom made" in accordance to the customer’s preferences.

The crisis has caused a significant drop in the entry of American visitors to the country and the number of days they are staying here; will Cala Luna focus on attracting the domestic market?

The domestic market is very important to us. We always have different packages and offers throughout the year. For example, we have packages with Nature Air to reduce transport time and promote a more relaxing stay.

How is Cala Luna different?�

Besides our packages and promotions, Cala Luna is different for being a boutique hotel, where attention to detail and customer service are essential.

Our goal is guests to enjoy the best vacation of their lives, and them to return whenever they need to relax or have fun.

�

Banco Nacional de Costa Rica Puts Branch out to Tender for $1.5 million

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:02:54 -0500

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The National Bank has put out to tender construction of a new branch in Tamarindo, Guanacaste Province.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

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Summary of the works, according to the tender specifications:

The project consists of construction of a building for a National Bank branch in Tamarindo, Guanacaste province. It includes all works described in the plans and specifications prepared by the consulting firm CONDIS.

The construction work referred to, will be carried out in lots 4, 5 and 6 of Urbanizaci�n Bah�a Tamarindo, next to Hertz Rent A Car

Deadline for receipt of bids is February 6th , 2012.

Avellanas Hillside Property - Unique Jungle Home - Owner Needs To Sell

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 22:10:48 -0500

Located on a hill in a forested private area 5 miles from Avellanas, this ocean view home should be called the jungle home.
It has been built with local tropical hard woods creating a charming rustic atmosphere. The home has 2 levels with the upstairs being the most detailed finished, featuring 2 sleeping areas , living and kitchen with wrapped around wooden deck. The ground floor has hook ups for second kitchen and concrete slap for social / living area. Needs to be finished further. Total area 4000 ft2, includes a caretakers 500 ft2 home. Total size of the property 1 hectare/ 2.5 acres.
OWNER NEEDS TO SELL, BRING OFFERS

Hidden Coast Realty moves...

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 18:14:48 -0400

Hidden Coast Realty has moved their office to a new location in the commercial center where Bar One, ABC, RPM and Mr. Tom are located. We are located on the second floor in the back corner, unit #19. Please stop by the next time you are in town and meet our new sales affiliates Mark Brown and Brenda Burback.
Brenda, born in Canada, has many years of experience in the Real Estate industry and has been in Costa Rica since 1997. Mark Brown has been in Costa Rica since 2008 and knows the area and people like no other, combined with a passion to help newcomers he will certainly be a great man to meet when you are looking for real estate opportunities.

Costa Rica Tax Reform Hits A Dead End

Sat, 07 May 2011 12:26:22 -0400

Costa Rica Tax Reform Hits A Dead End

The control of the legislative directory by the opposition bloc on Monday is sure to kill the tax reform plan introduced earlier this year by the government of Laura Chinchilla.

The opposition bloc, a group of 31 legislators from five different political parties, calling themselves "Alianza por Costa Rica" signed an agreement which calls for thwarting the tax reform plans by the ruling party, the Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN), which does not have sufficient members in the 57 member house for a majority.

The not-so surprising move by the opposition bloc has not been seen in Costa Rica in decades. The opposition say they felt cornered and came together to fight the governments intention to increase taxes to generate badly needed revenue.

The opposition bloc say there are alternative ways to generate revenue without raising taxes, one of which is curb government spending and waste.

The key part of the government's tax reform proposal or "paquetazo" as it is being called, is the introduction of a 14% value-added tax expanded to included goods and services and replace the present 13% sales tax.

In addition, changes were proposed to corporate deductibility and small business tax rules, and the taxation of capital income, which would be harmonized at a rate of 15%. An increase to the tax on vehicles by 10% was also under consideration.

A major fiscal reform plan designed to enhance the government's tax take has been under consideration in Costa Rica for almost 10 years in one form or another, but opposition parties have used all sorts of procedural tricks to block the legislation.

With the latest events in the legislative assembly, it could yet be a considerable time before any changes take effect.

Direct flights between San Jose and Panama City

Fri, 06 May 2011 10:33:21 -0400

Aeroperlas Announces Costa Rica - Panama Flights

Panama's regional airline announced the start of a direct flight between San José, Costa Rica and Panama City beginning May 16.

The airline, with a 40 year history, is part of TACA Avianca offers discounts of up to 40% within Panama.

Although prices have for the San José - Panama have not been announced and tickets cannot yet be booked online, it is expected that the airline will offer a less expensive alternative to current flights between the two cities offered by TACA, Avianca and Copa.

The regional airline currently only offers flights in Panama. For travel within the region it connects with SANSA Regional in Costa Rica, and TACA Regional in Honduras and soon in Nicaragua and Guatemala.

Aeroplas Regional has been awarded, for the second consecutive year, "Best Airline Central America and the Caribbean".

City of the Future.....

Sat, 30 Apr 2011 11:58:01 -0400

San José Is The Fifth "City Of The Future" in Latin America
Heredia and Santa ranked high in "micro cities with future potential"

According to the ranking by the Financial Times fDi, San José is the fifth city of the future in Latin America. The publication takes into account foreign direct investment generated over the last decade and examines variables such as economic potential, human resources, quality of life, infrastructure and business climate.

fDi of Caribbean& Central American countries of the future 2011/12 will be available in August 2011.

Taking first place in the ranking is Santiago de Chile, followed by Lima (Peru's capital), Monterrey, Mexico and Bogota, Colombia.

Moreover, Heredia centre and Santa Ana ranked fifth and eight, respectively, in the category of "micro cities with future potential".

The report, "American Cities of the Future 2011/12" is the first ever fDi ranking of cities across the American continents, New York being crowned the leading American "city of the future" for 2011/12.

In August 2011, fDi will publish a ranking of the most promising countries in the Caribbean & Central America region. We are identifying those countries with the best prospects for inward investment, economic development and business expansion.

Countries will be ranked across categories which include cost effectiveness, incentives and infrastructure.

fDi invites investment promotion agencies, operators, economic development units and local and regional governments to supply additional information about their country.

In order to help enhance your country�s competitiveness in the rankings, click below to tell us more about your location.

What is fDi?
Foreign direct investment has become the major economic driver of globalization, accounting for over half of all crossborder investments. Nearly $1 trillion in greenfield investment was announced by companies in 2008, creating almost 3 million jobs in their overseas subsidiaries.

Companies are rapidly globalizing through FDI to serve new markets and customers, map out their value chains in the most efficient locations globally, and to access technological and natural resources.

fDi Intelligence is a specialist division from the Financial Times Ltd established to provide industry leading insight into globalization with a portfolio of world-class products, services and business tools that allow organisations such as investment promotion agencies, companies, services providers and academic institutions to make informed decisions regarding foreign direct investment and associated activities.

�

Costa Rica celebrating opening of its new national stadium

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 14:38:23 -0400

The new National Stadium opened Saturday evening with a colorful display of binational pride and camaraderie between Costa Rica and China. Deemed “the jewel of La Sabana,” the 35,000 fans in attendance were treated to a night of rousing fireworks, cultural song and dance and a spirited 2-2 draw between the countries’ national soccer teams. The $100 million National Stadium was a gift from the government of China and was constructed by Chinese laborers during the last two years.

Festivities began around 6 p.m. with government representatives from the two countries addressing the crowd on a stage decorated with giant Costa Rican and Chinese flags waving gently behind them. Amid a mixture of jeers and applause, former Costa Rican President Oscar Arias spoke to the crowd about the significance of the inauguration and the progressive step that the relationship with China, the world’s second largest economy, means for the country. In 2007, Arias severed diplomatic relations with Taiwan to establish ties with China.

“Countries have to grow and mature,” Arias said of his government’s decision to create diplomatic relations with China. “And so, like a mother understands that her son can’t wear the same shoes that he was wearing 10 years ago, we should accept that there is clothing that we shouldn’t continue to wear. Sooner or later all countries have to wear long pants.”

Arias also said, in his allegorical oratory style that marked his four years in office from 2006-2010, that Costa Rica shouldn’t fear the change that this relationship will bring and that “some countries are slaves to their own past.” He also referred to the bilateral relationship as a “young Bonzai tree” and that it creates a “bridge over the Pacific Ocean.”

Arias’s speech was followed by words from Chen Changzhi, the vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, and a speech from President Laura Chinchilla, who praised Arias and also trumpeted the benefits of the relationship with China.

“This impressive stadium in La Sabana stands as a permanent reminder of our gratitude to the people of China,” Chinchilla said. “(It also serves) as recognition for our ex-President Arias and, above all, as the reason to assume, as a nation, the responsibility to grow to the height of this modern coliseum.”

Chinchilla’s speech was followed by a performance of traditional Costa Rican dance, a video montage of Costa Rican sports accomplishments, and several traditional Chinese dance and song performances.

A little after 8 p.m., the national soccer teams of each country took the field for the first-ever match in the National Stadium. Costa Rica dominated for most of the first half. Forward Alvaro Saborio scored the first goal in stadium history when he found himself open on the left side of the box and pushed a low shot into the far corner of the net. Saborio’s goal was followed by a frenzied celebration in the stadium and explosive fireworks into the night sky.

Seven minutes later, just before the halftime whistle, Randall Brenes tapped in a rebound to give Costa Rica a 2-0 advantage at the break.

In the first minute of the second half, Gao Lin cut the Tico lead in half when he rose above Costa Rican defenders to head the ball into the side netting. In the final minute of the game, a pass split the Costa Rican defense and found Lin alone on the right side of the box. Lin struck a low shot through the legs of Costa Rican goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado to force the draw.

The organization of the event seemed to go off without a hitch, as parking was controlled, bus routes to the stadium were fluid and police and stadium officials were well-coordinated in and around the stadium. The only concern within the stadium was the absence of a game clock, leaving fans in the dark on the game time. Outside the stadium, a lack of trash receptacles resulted in an excessive pile-up of trash along the streets of La Sabana and around the stadium.

On Sunday, a marathon will be run that finishes in the National Stadium and on Tuesday, Argentina comes to town to play Costa Rica in a friendly between the two Latin American rivals. Argentina tied with the U.S. 1-1 on Saturday night in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Argentina star Lionel Messi played in the match Saturday night, which is a good sign for Costa Rican fans hoping to see the star of the Spanish club Barcelona in action. Inauguration events will continue until April 10.

Liberia Airport Sets New Record for Visitors

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 16:02:04 -0500

Daniel Oduber had the highest number of visitors since it has opened in January 2011, according to a recent news article. See the details here

Las Catalinas Update

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 11:50:16 -0500

The developers of Las Catalinas project near Flamingo Costa Rica, invited area real estate professionals out for a progress update yesterday afternoon. The homes now have roofs and work has begun on some of the interiors. The landscaping between the beach and the first phase of homes is now mostly complete, and gave the group from Hidden Coast Realty a good idea of the feel of the project. We loved it!

The homes are elevated slightly above the pedestrian park on the beach, and the foliage is light and tasteful allowing great views of Playa Danta and the Pacific. Construction on the first group (owned by participants in the project), are slated for completion by April 1st.

Charles Brewer spoke briefly stating that he is fired up about the project and emphasizing that he is really working for a great community for families with children.

The owners of Lola's were on hand for the unveiling of Lola's Norte, their second restaurant that hopes to be open by the end of February. The restaurant has a similar feel to Lola's at Playa Avellanas, with tables set in sandy areas with good shade and great views of the beach.

We also understand the outfitter store will be open shortly, allowing visitors to rent sea kayaks, snorkel gear, floats, etc. All of this is open to the public so consider spending a day there in the near future.

If you are interested in purchasing at Las Catalinas, please send an inquiry through the Las Catalinas listing page.

Casa Ix Chel - So Many Options

Sat, 13 Nov 2010 11:15:19 -0500

Casa Ix Chel sits in residential neighborhood about 5 minutes walking to Playa Tamarindo. The property is quite unique in this market because of the great amount of flexibility it has for an investor.

The main house has 4 bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms as well as two living areas and a great kitchen. The architecture is truly spectacular with a large porch overlooking the pool and gardens and the living room having an expansive view of the gardens as well.

In the front of the property, there are two cabinas set up as studio apartments with private baths, kitchenettes and large porches.

Extra features of the home include gated parking, walled and fenced completely, wireless internet, multiple bodegas in the back of the property with double washers and dryers, fruit trees, and more.

Potential uses of Casa Ix Chel are:

Bed & Breakfast with caretaker staying in one of the cabinas.

Cabinas rented long term with the home available for owner use and vacation rentals.

Whole property rented as one vacation rental with 6 bedrooms and 6.5 baths.

Casa Ix Chel is offered turn key with rentals on the books for $629,000.

Esmeralda lot reduced from $95.000 to $65.000

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 16:00:36 -0400

This 1/2 acre lot is located in the Josefina area, within a residential community with a total of 15 lots.

Flat land, with access to all utilities.

Contact us for more details, great value!

Marbella lot dropped in price from $69.000 to $49.000

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 15:55:06 -0400

Great lot in Posada del Sol subdivision only 1.5 km from the beach. Large lot with creek running through it, many mature trees.

Lot comes with water and electric.

Casa Charly $149,000 Best Deal in Playa Grande

Thu, 16 Sep 2010 18:45:14 -0400

[caption id="attachment_104" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Casa Charly Pool"][/caption]

Once in a while a truly great opportunity comes along. Yes, there are good deals in this down economy, but there are also great deals. Casa Charly #4 is a two bedroom, 1 bath home located in a small community of six units that share a pool. The kitchen is open to the living area, and the living area has French doors that open onto a lanai facing the pool.

Casa Charly is located in Palm Beach Estates, Playa Grande. Palm Beach is a residential community with a huge portion reserved as nature reserve. The community has a couple great restaurants, a small supermarket, and a boat dock where you can take a water taxi to Tamarindo. There are approximately 60 single family homes in Palm Beach Estates.

Casa Charly is roughly 35o meters to the beach. You can easily walk with your surf board to the surf break called Casitas. The six units are managed by a property manager, so if you want to purchase this home for your vacations, it is easy to have it taken care of.

[caption id="attachment_105" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Casa Charly Patio"][/caption]

Playa Grande is a national park, with leatherback turtles making it their nesting ground. For that reason, the beach is very pristine looking with almost not visible construction. Homes are set back into the foliage, and there are now zoning laws to ensure that future construction is low density anywhere near the national park.

See more info about Casa Charly or other Playa Grande real estate.

Las Catalinas Phase I Arriving in December

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:58:06 -0400

[caption id="attachment_92" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Las Catalinas"][/caption]

On Friday I had the pleasure of meeting with Charles Brewer, principal of Las Catalinas, a development underway on the north end of Potrero Bay. Charles formerly founded and sold Mindspring, an early internet service provider, and later developed a new urbanism project in Atlanta called Glenwood Park. These days his attention is devoted fully to Las Catalinas, where he plans to create the most attractive and friendly beach community in the world.

I met with Charles on site and got to pick his brain about the project as we drove through the vast piece of land and walked the construction now underway. The project spans Danta and Dantita beaches, and we spent most of our time at Phase I, located at Playa Danta. The land lends itself to development perfectly as the hills rise up in a sort of bowl, directly overlooking the beach.
Phase I encompasses seven luxury homes just steps off the beach. Staying true to their goal of community, the homes are essentially zero lot line and open to a beach front promenade. The idea is that Las Catalinas will be a self contained and fully pedestrian friendly town, and the developers will be living right there in the heart. As we talked Charles emphasized how it important it is to him that this place be safe for children, and for that reason, parking will be in zoned areas only and all roads through the heart of town will be pedestrian. Additionally, new urbanism lends itself to compact spaces, so securing the area will be quite simple. Charles envisions his three children being able to walk wherever they please at Las Catalinas without the fear of them being endangered by traffic.
Another aspect of the project that he emphasized was the need to make sure that Las Catalinas is a fun place to live. To this end, Phase I contains two commercial establishments that will be open the public. The first will be Lola's Norte, a beachfront restaurant run by the same geniuses that created Lola's at Playa Avellanas, a local favorite for a relaxing day at the beach for many years now. Lola's will be serving up great food and cocktails in the heart of Las Catalinas. Additionally, there will be an outdoor outfitter located at Playa Danta. Here you will be able to rent whatever toys you might interested in for the day including kayaks, paddle boards, snorkel gear, etc. Charles wanted to emphasize that the goal is community, and he would be working hard in all phases of Las Catalinas to make it an interesting place to live, instead of simply a high end resort with little to do.

[caption id="attachment_94" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Las Catalinas Construction"][/caption]

As of Friday the first seven houses at Las Catalinas (owned mostly by the principal investors in the project) were in the gray work reaching the roofs with scheduled completion before the end of 2010. Additionally, there are seven homes available for purchase through Hidden Coast Realty. Please contact us for more information. Hidden Coast will be happy to give you a personalized tour of Las Catalinas.

Tips for a Gold Coast Surfing Vacation in Costa Rica

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 19:00:14 -0400

Surfers from all over the world love the convenience of a surfing trip to Costa Rica. Read on to find out how to surf diverse breaks all within one hour of the international airport in Liberia, with direct flights to major cities in North America.

For beginners, the recommended spot is to go directly to Tamarindo. Tamarindo is a sheltered beach hidden behind Isla Capitan, and thus receives less swell than most other beaches in the area. Waves break on the beach at a size perfect for beginners. There are many surf shops with tons of instructors and boards to rent, so stop in a get yourself a lesson. You'll practice standing up on a large and stable board with soft foam cover.

For more advanced surfers, I recommend you stay at Playa Grande. The beach break in front of Las Tortugas is one of the most consistent in the country. There are may be 30 unsurfable days a year at Playa Grande. The main peak throws lefts and rights and occassionally barrels. There are also smaller peaks to the left and right including the rock, Pochotes, and further down, Casitas.

You might also like to try out Playa Langosta, on the southern end of Tamarindo. You drive through Tamarindo following the signs to the Barcelo Hotel. The break here is heavy and with a moving peak, so not ideal for novices. It can be surfed on a mid tide, which is nice when most other beaches are best before and after high tide.

Avellanas is another great location. The rivermouth consistently breaks left and right. Be careful if surfing on a low tide as there is a submerged rock. Little Hawaii is the most famous break at Avellanas. It breaks on the reef west of the Hacienda Pinilla beach club. For an easier swim, walk well south before swimming out and you won't have to duck dive nearly as much. Little Hawaii is mostly a right that can get double overhead with a large swell. Going left will drop you in a rock area, so generally not recommended.

Playa Negra is a great beach for advanced surfers. There is a large barreling left when the swell is good. Be careful as there are rocks on both sides of the main break. Watch the locals to get an idea of how to surf this break.

You might consider surfing Little Hawaii on a mid tide and then making your way to Playa Negra for the rest of the day if the tide is working your way.

The great part of this area of Costa Rica is that it is slow close to the airport and has consistent swell throughout the year. Search Playa Grande Surf Report on google to get an idea of how the waves are breaking.

Visitors love the fact that the water is so warm too! You never need a wetsuit, only occassionaly needing a rash guard.

What's So Special About the Courtyard Villas?

Sat, 07 Aug 2010 17:31:19 -0400

[caption id="attachment_81" align="alignright" width="200" caption="A Marrakech Unit"][/caption]

Visitors to Playa Langosta will probably remember seeing the Courtyard Villas from the street at a minimum. Architecturally, they are one of the most appealing properties in the area. The plan for the 10 unit complex was to create a sense of community, and with that in mind, each villa has a covered front porch ideal for reading a book and having a friendly word with neighbors and visitors alike.

It is rare that an architect blends three different styles successfully, but the Courtyard Villas pull it off in spectacular fashion. The three models are Napoli, Marrakesh and Madrid, drawing influence from Italy, Morocco and Spain respectively. The Marrakesh units in particular have received rave reviews from vacation renters as they enjoy the rooftop jacuzzis and dining areas.

A walk through any of the Courtyard Villas is a lesson in attention to detail. Mosaic tile is used in the interiors with baldosa on balcony and patio areas. The ceilings, molding, cabinets, doors and windows are all custom teak. The kitchens feature leaded glass, granite countertops or molded cement, and high end GE appliances. Wrought iron elements and molded concrete pieces accent the exterior areas including gorgeous window sills and columns. Pools and jacuzzis are glass tile and very comfortable, with small fountains.

Each unit also has an exterior propane barbecue.

The complex itself is maintained by Javier, the garden loving handyman who maintains approximately 35 types of plants on the property. They surround the central fountain, which runs west towards the ocean.

[caption id="attachment_83" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="Rooftop Jacuzzi"][/caption]

The Courtyard Villas are across the street from Playa Langosta and an easy walk to the supermarket, restaurants, and a bit of night life as well.

As of August 2010, there are two units for sale at the Courtyard.

Courtyard Villa 9 is a Marrakech unit listed at $560,000US.

Courtyard Villa 5 is a Madrid unit listed at $570,000US with a small 4x4 and a scooter included.

Courtyard Villa 8 is a Napoli unit for sale at $529,000.

Villa Moderna (Oro del Sol) Price Reduction! FIRE SALE

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 21:02:37 -0400

The owner of Villa Moderna at Oro del Sol is now more motivated to sell. He has dropped the price of his home to $340,000. This is a great deal. 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, with a pool, garage and a great landscaped lot.

Villa Verde II Fire Sale $95,000

Sat, 19 Jun 2010 19:09:37 -0400

2 bedroom, 2.5 bath unfurnished unit. Can't beat that price! Emails us to see it!

La Perla Construction Resumes

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 13:37:53 -0400

The view from some of the central Tamarindo hills looks different these days as construction has resumed on La Perla. Workers have stuccoed the exterior and are adding railings. We understand kitchen installations are underway as well.

[caption id="attachment_75" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="La Perla"][/caption]

Costa Rica MLS Working

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 16:12:31 -0400

Hidden Coast Realty sellers will now have their properties listed on a nationwide MLS system implemented by Tierra Max. This will dramatically increase the exposure of listings.

For buyers, it is a great situation as well as they will be able to search the MLS directly on hiddencoastrealty.com, with a qualified agent from Hidden Coast able to follow up immediately.

Look for the link to the MLS to appear later this week!

Villa Verde II #8 Priced Reduction

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 16:35:35 -0400

The owner of this two bedroom, 2.5 bath never used unit is ready to deal. Now asking $97,900 for Villa Verde II #8.

Courtyard #9 Price Reduction!

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 20:19:59 -0400

The owners of Courtyard Villa #9 in Playa Langosta have reduced their price to $560,000. That is a great deal for a 3 bedroom, 3.5 bath turn-key property. It is a truly unique set up with a rooftop jacuzzi and a ground floor swimming pool.

Best Deal in Langosta?

Wed, 26 May 2010 23:08:13 -0400

Perhaps as a buyer you are wondering what the best Langosta real estate deal is these days. You might consider La Esquina #1, a gorgeous condominium located across the street from the beach. La Esquina is a small complex of 10 units with an absolutely gorgeous swimming pool with a truly unique banyan tree. There are two sunset decks that are perfect for cocktails and enjoying the stars. Unit #1 is tastefully furnished and sold turn-key. For $350,000US, it's a very nice property in a very nice location.

Juan Santamaria Airport Upgrades Open

Sat, 22 May 2010 20:03:36 -0400

Visitors to Juan Santamaria international airport in San Jose will experience shorter lines. The security checkpoint for travelers departing from the airport and the immigration checkpoint for those arriving have been expanded substantially!

Laura Chinchilla Takes Office

Sat, 22 May 2010 20:01:43 -0400

Costa Rica's first female President is now office. She promises to work on security as well as the economy.

Villas Cerca del Mar Closes

Sat, 22 May 2010 18:58:48 -0400

Hidden Coast Realty Villas Cerca del Mar recently closed. Congratulations to the happy new owners.

Courtyard 9 Goes to Market $595k

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 15:44:07 -0400

Courtyard Villa #9 in Playa Langosta just went on the market for $595,000. The price includes a 95 Mitsubishi Montero. The home is a 3 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom unit with a gorgeous layout. The 3rd floor is an open terrace with a jacuzzi and separate dining area. There is a swimming pool on the ground floor. Click to see more info on Courtyard Villa 9.

Hidden Coast Exclusive Villas Cerca del Mar 8 Goes to Contract

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 19:12:54 -0400

Tamarindo Rainy Season Begins

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 17:12:46 -0400

Yesterday rain started down in earnest in the afternoon. Residents are enjoying the cooler weather and will be glad to see their gardens take off again. The mornings are staying sunny with clouds rolling in during the afternoons.

The Langosta Road Continues

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 11:32:59 -0400

Work on the Langosta Road has progressed a good bit. The area near El Pescador that typically washed out during rainy season now has massive underground pipes spanning that section.
According to the local fundraiser, owners who have pledged assistance will need to send their money in within the next few weeks.

Las Catalinas Full Steam Ahead

Tue, 04 Dec 2001 19:00:00 -0500

On Friday I had the pleasure of meeting with Charles Brewer, principal of Las Catalinas, a development underway on the north end of Potrero Bay. Charles formerly founded and sold Mindspring, an early internet service provider, and later developed a new urbanism project in Atlanta called Glenwood Park. These days his attention is devoted fully to Las Catalinas, where he plans to create the most attractive and friendly beach community in the world.

I met with Charles on site and got to pick his brain about the project as we drove through the vast piece of land and walked the construction now underway. The project spans Danta and Dantita beaches, and we spent most of our time at Phase I, located at Playa Danta. The land lends itself to development perfectly as the hills rise up in a sort of bowl, directly overlooking the beach.

Phase I encompasses seven luxury homes just steps off the beach. Staying true to their goal of community, the homes are essentially zero lot line and open to a beach front promenade. The idea is that Las Catalinas will be a self contained and fully pedestrian friendly town, and the developers will be living right there in the heart. As we talked Charles emphasized how it important it is to him that this place be safe for children, and for that reason, parking will be in zones areas only and all roads through the heart of town will be pedestrian. Additionally, new urbanism lends itself to compact spaces, so securing the area will be quite simple. Charles envisions his three children being able to walk wherever they please at Las Catalinas without the fear of them being endangered by traffic.

Another aspect of the project that he emphasized was the need to make sure that Las Catalinas is a fun place to live. To this end Phase I contains two commercial establishments that will be open the public. The first will be Lola's Norte, a beachfront restaurant run by the same geniuses that created Lola's at Playa Avellanas, a local favorite for a relaxing day at the beach for many years now. Lola's will be serving up great food and cocktails in the heart of Las Catalinas. Additionally, there will be an outdoor outfitter located at Playa Danta. Here you will be able to rent whatever toys you might interested in for the day including kayaks, paddle boards, snorkel gear, etc. Charles wanted to emphasize that the emphasis is on community, and he would be working hard in all phases of Las Catalinas to make it an interesting place to live, instead of simply a high end resort with little to do.

As of Friday the first seven houses at Las Catalinas (owned mostly by the principal investors in the project) were in the gray work reaching the roofs with scheduled completion before the end of 2010. Additionally, there are seven homes available for purchase through Hidden Coast Realty. Please see the listings here. Hidden Coast will be happy to give you a personalized tour of Las Catalinas.