Calendar of Events and Posts
Sep
28
Kids celebrate Costa Rican Independence Day
September 28, 2007 | Tags: Community News | Leave a Comment
Local kids from the Hone Creek School turned out in full force on September 15th to celebrate Costa Rica’s Independence Day. These photos courtesy of the Life in Puerto Viejo Blog.
Sep
25
$40 Million Marina Project Announced for Puerto Viejo
September 25, 2007 | Tags: Community News, Entertainment, Tourism | 14 Comments
 The barge at Playa Negra, Puerto Viejo which used to be a marina. The new project is planned for the same area. |
The consortium Grupo Caribeño Internacional S.A. has announced a huge marina project for Playa Negra with berths for 384 boats. The plan includes the building of 2 breakwaters, a commercial zone, administrative offices, a artisan’s marketplace and yacht repair and maintenance facilities. The investors behind the group plan to invest $40,000,000 in the project and say it will create about 2,000 jobs.
The consortium is made up of American and Costa Rican investors from the real estate and agriculture sectors. Their legal representative, Walter Coto, said this is their first marina project. He added that the first draft of the project proposal was presented two weeks ago to the Comisión Interinstitucional de Marinas y Atracaderos Turísticos (Cimat).
Coto said that the work will begin in 8 months if the permits are attained in line with their projections. The construction stage would last 2 years. The estimate of 2,000 new jobs includes the personnel necessary to operate the marina and the supporting commercial enterprises.
According to Coto, Puerto Viejo has the best natural conditions for a marina. “Studies by a consulting firm determined that the depth of the water and the marine currents in this zone are optimal.” Currently no marinas exist in the Costa Rican Caribbean.
Cimat also has another proposal under consideration for construction of a marina in Moín, near the existing cruise ship terminal in Limon.
Coto stated that the objective of the business would be to develop a project with the least possible environmental impact. “We want a construction which project the Caribbean identiy, that reflects the culture, the form of life and the feeling of the residents of this area.”
Rugeli Morales, mayor of Talamanca, noted that 88% of the Canton of Talamanca is a protected zone. “We don’t want a development which wouldn’t be harmonious with the natural environment.”
Other local residents were concerned with the type of tourism that the development would bring, specifically big money tourists and sportfishermen. Colin Brownlee, owner of the local hotel Banana Azul, worries that “the marina could attact a crowd which not as culturally diverse and tolerant as has historically been drawn to the area. Other Costa Rican resort towns seem to be predominantly American tourists. The visitors who come here often have environmentalist-leanings or are they’re lives are not primarily driven by financial gain. These visitors have contributed to this environment by volunteering their time with local organizations and helping make this area the leader in areas such as recycling, organic farming and other green initiatives.”
The plan needs the support of the municipality as well as Cimat. However the council has already declared the development “in the interest of the local public” on their meeting on the 29th of March. According to this agreement the municipality would be responsible for the construction and administration of the breakwaters.
Cimat noted that there are actually applications in process for 22 new marinas in Costa Rica. Half of these projects are in Guanacaste.
With reporting from La Nacion: Empresa pretende construir marina con 398 atracaderos en Puerto Viejo
This project could be the biggest change to ever come to Puerto Viejo. Residents and visitors alike are encouraged to make their voices heard on this issue. One way to do so is to leave a comment on this article.
Sep
21
Government Announces Money to Improve Puerto Viejo Water and Sewer
September 21, 2007 | Tags: Government and Politics, Health | 1 Comment
The government yesterday announced a $113 million plan to improve sewers and build new aqueducts around the country beginning next year.
President Oscar Arias made this announcement alongside Ricardo Sancho, president of the National Water and Sewer Institute (AyA), and Alfredo Ortuño, a representative of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration, according to a statement from Casa Presidencial.
A chunk of this money came from a $68.5 million loan the bank made the institute; another $44.5 million came from the institute’s own funds.
The project aims to guarantee “sustainability of potable water systems for the next 20 years,” improving aqueduct and sewer systems in the San José metropolitan area as well as in Puerto Viejo, on the southern Caribbean coast, the statement said.
It also seeks to benefit communities in the Pacific province of Puntarenas including Buenos Aires, Esparza, Palmar Norte, Coto Brus, Golfito, Jacó and Ciudad Neilly as well as parts of the northwestern Guanacaste province including Nicoya and Liberia. In the province of Alajuela, San Ramón, Palmares, San Mateo, Poasito and Atenas are included.
“We can’t hope to be a developed country by 2021 if our system of sewers and aqueducts does not develop along with us,” the President said.
Story courtesy of The Tico Times.
Sep
21
Volunteers turn out to paint Bambu Retirement Center
September 21, 2007 | Tags: Community Calendar, Volunteering | Leave a Comment
| September 15, 2007 | ||
| October 13, 2007 |
This story shows what a difference a small group of dedicated volunteers can make. Thirteen volunteers organized by Helping Hands Costa Rica and Tropical Adventures made their way out to the Talamanca Indigenous Reservation for a day of painting at the Bambu Retirement Home.
 Volunteers take a break to pose for a group picture |
In 7 hours they managed to paint three out of four wings, as well as 8 out of 16 bathrooms. In addition, two of the volunteers worked out in the back of the property scraping and painting the chain link fencing and metal bars that enclose the entire laundry section.
A generous donation from the Iain Programa of $1,000 was exactly enough to buy the paint and supplies needed. And Hotel Banana Azul donated a staff member and reduced room rates for the volunteers.
If you want to help out, they’re scheduling another weekend at the retirement home to finish up the work they didn’t get a chance to complete. They’ll be going back again on Saturday, October 13, 2007.
You can get all the details, see more pictures and find out how you can help at Crazy Jungle Blog: Painting Party.
Sep
21
Murder-Suicide leaves 2 dead in Cahuita
September 21, 2007 | Tags: Crime & Punishment | 3 Comments
 Authorities from OIJ in Limón remove the body of McCloud, Sunday at 12:30 p.m. Photo by Marvin Carvajal, courtesy of La Nacion. |
A dispute between two brothers in Cahuita last weekend left both dead. The murdered man is well known Cahuita businessman Hernán Horacio Spencer McLoud, owner of Cabinas Spencer. He was 46 years old.
Witnesses staying at the cabinas heard an initially unknown man arrive at the cabinas at 8:05pm Saturday. A brief discussion between the two men was followed by several shots were fired and then the man fled. The victim managed to get to the nearby house of some relatives who brought him to the Hone Creek Clinic where he was pronounced dead. He had 3 bullet wounds in his back and 1 in his shoulder.
The police initially believed the incident was a robbery by a gang operating in the area. A wide investigation was launched, including setting up roadblocks. Freddy Santamaría, chief of the Frontier Police, said that the situation was initially confused and there were conflicting reports of the incident.
On Sunday morning the police and OIJ agents searched the home of the victim’s brother, of last name McCloud, and found the 61 year old man dead in his home. Beside him was apparently the same 22 calibre gun used to take his own life and that of this brother.
Sep
18
Critter of the week: Heard but not seen
September 18, 2007 | Tags: Critter of the week | Leave a Comment
It’s like the opposite of a well-behaved child: often heard (loudly!) but not often seen. It’s the Howler Monkey, also known locally for it’s Spanish name as the Congo.
This is the loudest animal on earth and can be heard up to 2 miles away. So you’ll often hear them. They are larger than other monkeys found in Costa Rica too so they can look a little scary. But they aren’t particularly interested in humans (unlike the Caro Blanco who’ll sneak up on you and steal your lunch) so don’t threaten them and they’ll leave you alone.
This picture was taken by a recent visitor to Puerto Viejo, Molly, who took this photo in Cahuita National Park. You can see the rest of her pictures on the Photos and Blogs page.
Sep
13
ICT & Chamber of Tourism Free Security Seminar
September 13, 2007 | Tags: Community Calendar, Crime & Punishment | Leave a Comment
| September 26, 2007 | ||
| 2:00 pm | to | 5:00 pm |
ICT in collaboration with the Tourism Board CATCAS has prepared a seminar for Wednesday Sept 26 between 2pm and 5pm (including a coffee break) at the Hotel Punto Cocle. This free seminar regarding tourist security will be presented by Sr Miguel Palacios. an expert in this area. This seminar is intended for owners and managers of hotels and restaurants, private security companies and other interested community memebers.
If you’d like to attend please RSVP to 370 3966 or by email to turismocaribesur@yahoo.com.
Sep
7
Puerto Viejo featured in Conde Nast Traveler magazine
September 7, 2007 | Tags: Site news, Tourism | Leave a Comment
 Herschel Lewis  Cycling to Salsa Brava Photos by Christopher Wray-McCann, Condé Nast Traveler |
The prestigious Conde Nast Traveler magazine has featured Puerto Viejo as a destination in their September 2007 issue.
The article by Alison Humes is entitled The Coast of Utopia and covers the Caribbean coast of Central America from Belize down to Bocas del Toro in Panama. Puerto Viejo gets a lot of the attention — this is a huge boost for the community from what many would consider to be the world’s premier travel magazine and one which usually caters to the luxury market.
The local businesses recommended in the article were Banana Azul, Tree House Lodge, Aguas Claras, Shawandha Lodge, Samasati Nature Retreat, La Pecora Nera restaurant and Hershel Lewis’ Caribbean Surf School and Tours. Cahuita National Park and Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge were also recommended.
In addition, the Puerto Viejo Satellite site itself was recommended as the place to do research on Puerto Viejo and it seems evident that this is where the author herself started her research.
Way to go Puerto Viejo! We’ve hit the big time.
If you can’t find the printed magazine, you can read the article online here.
Sep
5
Tourist Police Harass Tourists, Not Criminals
September 5, 2007 | Tags: Crime & Punishment, Opinion | Leave a Comment
It’s not always the criminals that are a problem. Sometimes it is the police. Recently on more than one occasion local Puerto Viejo Tourist Police have been observed shaking down tourists that are caught smoking marijuana on Cocles Beach. They wait and watch to see who is lighting up a joint and then proceed to threaten them with arrest hoping that the tourist will just pay them off.
Local businesses (especially hotels) are enraged. They can not believe all the time and effort they have been doing in working with police (both tourist and regular police) in order to combat and prosecute criminals and this is how tourist police are spending their efforts.
Local security representatives have expressed their concern with police officials and they were informed that the Tourist Police were not adequately supervised.
Local security representatives are now encouraging all hotels that have guests that have been harassed by police for bribe money to encourage guest to participate in pressing a charge against them. They are also encouraging residents and businesses to ask local police what is going on with these types of incidents and what types of programs they are involved in protecting tourists rather then harassing them.
Sep
4
Costa Rican Independence Day Celebrations
September 4, 2007 | Tags: Community Calendar | Leave a Comment
| September 14, 2007 | ||
| 5:30 pm | to | 7:00 pm |
| September 15, 2007 | ||
| 9:00 am | to | 11:00 am |
September 15 is Costa Rican Independence Day. Look for a parade of school kids in the streets of Puerto Viejo, Hone Creek and BriBri about 9am. And on Independence Day eve look for the kids marching with their “faroles” at dusk.
Sep
4
ARTE VIVA Festival set for Sept 28-30
September 4, 2007 | Tags: Community Calendar, Entertainment | Leave a Comment
| September 28, 2007 | ||
| 8:00 pm | to | 11:30 pm |
| September 29, 2007 | ||
| 12:00 pm | to | 11:30 pm |
| September 30, 2007 | ||
| 12:00 pm | to | 11:30 pm |
The first annual ARTE VIVA Festival was last year and it was an incredible success with more than 3,000 people passing through the Cultural House and attending the outdoor concerts. And over 105 students successfully completed workshops.
This year ARTE VIVA is promising to be even better with a goal to provide classes to over 200 students. They also are asking for your help to make it happen.
You can find out more about this years program and how you can help out on their website: www.arteviva-puertoviejo.com.
Sep
4
Update from the Citizen’s Security Committee
September 4, 2007 | Tags: Community News, Crime & Punishment | Leave a Comment
 Fernando Berrocal, Minister of Public Security Photo courtesy La Nacion |
Back on August 3, we told you about a showdown between the Puerto Viejo police and private security guards hired by local residents and tourism business owners. The guards were hired as an attempt by locals concerned with escalating crime.
The Citizen’s Security Committee of Puerto Viejo now reports that the problems with the police have been resolved in a meeting with the Minister of Public Security, Fernando Berrocal and his advisors. In the meeting the Minister committed to give the order that the Polilce work with the private guards in an initiative called Strategic Alliance of Mutual Cooperation
The committee wants to remind everyone that after just 15 days of work, the Community Security effort had reduced practically to nothing the occurrence of armed assaults and delinquency, something no one had dreamed of and for which we have to recognize the efforts of the company that was employed.
But they’re looking for committed support to maintain the program. They are asking businesses that still do not participate that they need everyone’s support, since we all benefit from this program because it protects our source of income, tourism.
The initiative initially started with 5 officials patrolling on foot from 8 pm to 5 am, with 2 motorized officials for support. Unfortunately, they have had to reduce personnel due to lack of resources, because some businesses decided to pay only half of what they had promised. Because of this lack of commitment of some businesses and because the company didn’t have its papers in order, the program has been on hold since August 16th until they can contract a new company.
Here is what the committee is asking for:
- •If all of the businesses that entered in the initiative would make their payments, we can continue the program: for your information, for the month of August half of the businesses have not paid up.
- •If the security program is to continue, it is essential that each sector is organized and pays its guard(s). Sectors that do not organize and pay will not be protected by the program, which puts everyone at risk since the situation can go back to what it was: assaults and impunity
- •We want to emphasize that peace in the community and protection of our income source is the responsibility of all of us and for all of our benefit. If we do not understand this fundamental truth, we deserve to continue living the way we were just a few months ago and have no right to complain.
If you’d like to read the full communication from the committee, you can download the letter here: English | español.
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