www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Ive read alot about this board and have done most of the research provided by you guys. Im going to CR is feb with my two friends for some surfing and some partying. Ive been to thailand bangkok and pattaya and had a blast. My grandpa recently past in CR and now that i know alot about it now, he was 90 and musta been getting it on good for his last days lol. Im 24 and friends are 23 you guys seem older then me by a bit and is the experience any different? Are any of u guys surfers?i wanted some 411 on the surfing? i was planning 4 nights in SL and maybe 4 nights in jaco to do some surfing. IF money wasnt a issue i gotta great job what good gameplan would you recommend? i was gonna rent penthouse at SL if anyone there wanna come up and party some. I know ima young buck but i party hard here in vegas and anywhere i go. Would love to get some rounds for u guys from a young newb. Moral of the story if you were us what kinda gameplan would you suggest since were young guys? Thx and i got VIP member for all the helpful info, the least i could do.

Welcome to the board, not a surfer, but here a few starting points

As you have already joined as a VIP no need to recommend, but check the VIP discount link below, plus a few good links for every newbie to read.

Lots of CRT VIP's always hanging out at Sportsmens Lodge, referred to on the board a lot as SL, Hotel Del Rey/Blue Marlin Bar and Zona Blue

https://costaricaticas.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=16357

https://costaricaticas.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=531

https://costaricaticas.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=5209

https://costaricaticas.com/memberdiscounts.pdf

about surfing, Most of the die hard surfers go to Tamarindo you can fly into liberia and take a car about 45 minutes to tamarindo. There have been a few reports of possible ptp in and around tamarindo. Then if you want to go to SJO, you can catch a flight out of liberia into SJO.

im not diehard i used to surf for 5 yrs then moved to vegas so not in my best surfing cardio shape. My plan was to surf a few hrs pop a lortab or two with a few beers, eat some good food nap. Then off for the night to chase some fine ass and dance and have a good time. Only to wake up and repeat. I just feel kinda weird cuz i dont see alot of young posters and was wondering their experiences compared. All you olders studs seem to have a blast and thats what im expecting. My two friends werent with me at thailand so to see their faces will be priceless to, Thailand was crazy

Surf is pretty good on the Carribean side near Cahuita and Puerto Viejo too. But, there is no mongering there to speak of.
In Tamarindo if you surf real close to the mouth of the river you will probably see the resident 12 foot long momma croc floating alongside waiting for a fish dinner.

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Providing humanitarian assistance to self employed chicas, one cash grant at a time.

Might want to have some second thoughts about surfing in Tamarindo. This article was in AM Costa Rica this morning.

"Getting a straight story about Tamarino's pollution woes is not easy
By Helen Thompson and Elise Sonray
of the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Tourists are unlikely to get a straight answer about the dangers of pollution in Tamarindo's waters because workers at different hotels spin one of several contradictory stories to potential vacationers.

Many hotel workers still are advising that it is all right to swim and surf at Tamarindo beach, despite the recent findings that parts of the bay harbor are over 300 times the count of coliform bacteria that is considered the safe limit for humans.

Hotels have been left fighting to counter the bad publicity threatening their businesses after a report showed concentrations of up to 79,000 cloriform bacteria per 100 milliliters, indicating fecal pollution and the possible presence of other disease-causing bacteria. The limit considered safe for swimming is 240 per 100 milliliters.

The Ministerio de Salud has so far blamed the problem on resorts, hotels and restaurants in the Guanacaste beachfront town for failing to treat sewage properly, but these establishments cannot agree about the severity of the situation.

Seven hotels contacted Monday advised callers that swimming was still a common practice and that visitors should not worry too much about the reports.

While some hotel employees qualified their approval with cautions about the safety of the water, others issued blanket denials that anything has been found amiss.

A staff member at Hotel El Milagro flatly denied the truth of the report issued by the laboratory of the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados in October.

El Milagro, whose Web site encourages tourists to enjoy the "green to turquoise blue" sea on their doorstep, is situated near to a site where readings showed a concentration of 49,000 coliform bacteria per 100 milliliters.

Staff members at Hotel Tamarindo Diria appeared to be even more confused about the situation, with two different employees contradicting each other about the safety of the water.

While a lady on the tour desk sided with El Milagro in disclaiming the report, her colleague on the reservations desk was the only person to advise that tourists should avoid the ocean.

Although unwilling to go into details that would
put clients off, the man said that he would tell the clients to restrict swimming to the hotel's pool and avoid watersports in the ocean.

Other hotels acknowledged that there is a problem in Tamarindo, but assured clients that it will be dealt with by the end of the rainy season. Some were under the impression that the contamination is only present in Tamarindo's waters because of the excessive rain over the last few weeks that washed polluted water downstream into the ocean, resulting in a much higher concentration of bacteria than usual.

This idea is unconfirmed, and the health ministry has ordered that further tests be taken after the rainy season has finished.

A staff member at another hotel, Pasatiempo, said that she still swims frequently during any season. "Occasionally you hear of someone getting an ear infection," she said, "but nothing much worse than that. It's not like you won't be able to get up in the morning," she said.

A member of staff at Hotel Lago Cocodrilo was happy to agree that the problem is caused by older buildings whose drains empty into the ocean, but was pessimistic about the situation improving. He said "Pollution is more and more of a problem all over Costa Rica. People buy property to make money and don't care about the environment. The government does not enforce the laws, and it is that mindset that needs to change."

A staffer at Tamarindo Village said "I'll tell you the truth — there's pollution everywhere. They close down beaches in California because of pollution as well."

The staffer was, however, eager to point the finger: "In a way the locals don't mind the bad publicity because we want the government to shame the places that are causing the problems, in order for the problems to be cured," she added.

One hostel has been shut down by the ministry of health for failing to comply with a sanitary order, and two other large hotels will be ordered to correct problems with waste water.

Tamarindo risks losing the Blue Flag certification that recognizes its beaches are environmentally sound if it does not clean itself up over the next couple of months.

At this time, no signs warning of the possible dangers of swimming have been erected, as it is considered that this would damage tourism, and that the reports are not yet certain enough to take such a step. "

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

ID,
You beat me to the punch with that article!

Mrcold2,
Welcome to the board. Normally I would recommend Tamarindo over Jaco (for surfing), but there's been several articles in the newspapers over the past couple weeks, regarding very high levels of "poo-poo" in the water in Tamarindo. I would advise you to steer clear of that area until something is done with the pollution problem they're having.

As far as a gameplan for you and your wingmen? I'd advise you to NOT have a gameplan. Just go with the flow. Many vets will tell you that all your plans will go straight out the phucking window as soon as your wheels touch down at Juan SantaMaria Int'l Airport!

Like anywhere else - just treat the chica's nice, and they'll return the favor. Be careful, and always walk around town with a wingman or two.

Again, welcome to the board, and enjoy yourself. Be sure to post a trip report when you return.

Mucho Gusto

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You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

The same thing can pretty much can be said for Jaco. A buddy of mine who surfs and went to Jaco with me said it was gross. His words exactly.

Thanks for all the advice, i was planning Jaco beach for a few days just to ride some waves and check out the night scene. Is it really that bad i cant even go in the water?

Mucho gusto- I know what u mean when i landed in bangkok after being up for 22 hrs i was like wtf am i doing 15000 miles away and did everything sparatic and was fun. I kinda meant would u recommend 4 days in sj and 4 days jaco? because some hotels i need to make a reservation and didnt wanna just show up and not get a room at the places you guys are recommending.

How do you handle very high humidity? Jaco is hotter than hell, it may not be for you. Of all the people that I've talked to who don't like Jaco, many say it's the hot weather. I agree. I melt there.

The water isn't green or anything, but don't they dump sewage or garbage or something in the water on the other side of the mountain? I remember reading something about that but don't remember the details.

Since you asked, I'd recommend 4 days in SJO, two days in Jaco, and then your last 2 days back in SJO. But that's just me.

Chances are.... after your first 4 days in SJO, you might blow off Jaco completely, and spend all your time in the gulch. Then you can plan on seeing "other" locations on your next trip! YMMV.

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You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

Well, for those of you that care, Jaco is NOT hot right now. Been here 2 days, and the rain and clouds have been keeping it cool.

We even had fog roll in yesterday afternoon!!!!

The water at the beaches is tested by the government from time to time much like what the States in the US do. They have not issued any advisory for Jaco at this time I would say yes you can go into the water.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

What do u think of the surf at jaco beach? i heard its awesome for good rides. Any experiences from u guys?