Naturewalk Costa Rica News: May 2013

Kayaking Down The Tulin River in Costa Rica

Epic Day of fun and Kayaking on the Tulin river. Naturewalk Adventure Center, Costa Rica.

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For more articles about retiring and/or investing in Costa Rica contact Naturewalk Brands by calling our toll free number (in Canada and U.S.A): 1-866-990-1123 or write to naturewalkbrands@gmail.com

Mountain Bike Park to Open at Naturewalk Adventure Center in Costa Rica

Naturewalk Brands is planning the addition of a mountain bike park to their Adventure Center in Costa Rica which is due to open in December 2013. This video of a recent mountain bike park opening in Whistler, Canada provides great inspiration to the effort.

Naturewalk Brands Monthly Magazine by Naturewalk on Flipboard.
Monthly summary of news on Costa Rica and Naturewalk, Costa Rica. For Tablet and Mobile Users on Flipboard. Subscribe.

Naturewalk Brands Official Blog. Daily updates on Naturewalk, Costa Rica. For Laptop, Desktop, Tablet and Mobile.

Naturewalk Brands Live Magazine by Naturewalk on Flipboard. Daily news on Costa Rica and Naturewalk, Costa Rica. Great visual format. For Tablet and Mobile Users.

For more articles about retiring and/or investing in Costa Rica contact Naturewalk Brands by calling our toll free number (in Canada and U.S.A): 1-866-990-1123 or write to naturewalkbrands@gmail.com

Costa Rica Attracts Foreign Retirees Notwithstanding Short Supply of Residential Options

Reprint from La Nacion, May 21, 2013: Translated and edited to English

Editors Note: Naturewalk plans in later stages for a health care retirement model with integrated health and wellness, nutrition, regular and elective medical procedures and a state of the art diagnostic facility. Naturewalk’s vision is to have people contribute and be empowered by the beauty and activity base of Naturewalk. Flexible employment, craft manufacture and other engaging activities will be offered at Naturewalk.

When Andy and Fran Browne lost their jobs in 2009, they decided to embark on a new life plan: leave the US and retire to Costa Rica.

There are thousands of US retirees like Andy and Fran who, hit by rises in the cost of living, seek retirement alternatives that are more economical and provide better conditions than they can find at home.

Costa Rica offers these options. In actual fact it is placed at number five in the annual ranking of the best retirement destinations in the world published by the magazine International Living, which covers factors like cost of living, health services, climate and special benefits amongst others.

It also occupies the same place in the list published by the website, Top Retirements, ahead of countries like New Zealand.

“The quality of life in Costa Rica with its roots in security, political and economic stability, access to first rate health services, natural beauty, a benign climate and the warmth of its people, makes Costa Rica a very competitive destination for retirees”, comments Gabriela Llobet, director general of CINDE, Costa Rica’s inward investment agency.

And, in addition to those qualities. Massimo Manzi, director of the Council for the International Promotion of Medicine in Costa Rica (Promed), added that medical tourism has boosted the interest of foreigners in the country. “Medical tourism creates an opportunity for patients to get to know the county and consider the option of retiring here”.

He went on to mention that the lower cost of living (on average 22% less than in the US) and more affordable health care are two more attractive benefits.

According to the 2011 census, 2 262 retirees from the US live in Costa Rica. A further 261 Canadians and 284 Spaniards live here along with various other nationalities.

Short supply. In spite of the potential which the country has to attract foreign retirees, the supply of residential options focusing on the needs of this group is still rudimentary.

“When a foreign retiree asks: ’What US style communities do you have to offer?’, the answer is none”, explained Lou Aguilera, president of the Pacific Plaza project.

Althoug the idea of creating a foreign retireee “cluster” did get government support in 2010, the initiative did not prosper and it is the private sector which has had to take up the project.

“The first step is to create a critical mass of projects for retirees and then move on to other promotional activities,” observed Massimo Manzi.

While every retiree has specific preferences, the investors are targeting the retired professionals, middle and upper class, from the US (south, south east and east), Canada and Spain.

To satisfy this demand, the projects starting to be developed here in the country are of an integrated nature following the concept of “supplying progressive health care models for growing old in the same community”.

“People arrive at an active retirement age and progress through different models of care and support depending on their health,” explained Manzi.

So projects for living are combined with medical services at an international level.

These projects need to be located within easy reach of international airports, and should offer recreational facilities like golf courses, swimming pools or gyms and, obviously, internet services.

These special communities normally charge an entry fee and a monthly membership.

“People pay and also pay a monthly rate according to the type of medical services that they require”, explained Jamie McWilliam, director general of the Verdeza project being built in Escazú.
At this point in time there are three projects of this type being constructed and two in the planning stage.

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For more articles about retiring and/or investing in Costa Rica contact Naturewalk Brands by calling our toll free number (in Canada and U.S.A): 1-866-990-1123 or write to naturewalkbrands@gmail.com

New Bio-Diversity App Available at Naturewalk Adventure Center

New App Available Shows Costa Rican Biodiversity

Naturewalk Adventure Center will feature several new apps for use on its eco-excursions into the jungles of the Central Pacific and one of them is Touit.

Touit is a new app available to help tourists better understand and locate over 500 species in Costa Rica.

The app is called Touit named after a national bird Touits costarricensis. The application can be downloaded for free by logging on to www.touit.cr . The app is offered in Spanish and English.

The app is designed to assist people in learning more about biodiversity, allowing users to view information about 500 species that can be found and observed in the country, with images, text, distribution maps and geo-referencing.

Some of the features of the app are maps showing areas of the country where the species are located, images and information on their behavior and description.

The data base contains information on amphibians, spiders, birds, mammals and reptiles. It also has a section called “Did you know?” where you share information about activities taking place in the country related to biodiversity.

In addition to adding species to the application, it also has the ability for sharing content on social networks.

Not only is this app a great tool for the tourism industry, for guides and tourists alike, but offers opportunities for the classroom, providing students and teachers a new tool to explore Costa Rica's rich eco systems.

Costa Rica is rated as one of the most bio-dense places on the planet, with a land area of only 0.03% of the planet’s surface. Costa Rica is considered to be one of the 20 countries with greatest biodiversity in the world.

Because Costa Rica is a land bridge between the north and South American continents, it gives rise to numerous and varied microclimates, as well as being a major migration route, Costa Rica’s is a natural reservoir of species and ecosystems.

There are more than 500,000 species found in this small country, which represent nearly 5% of the total species estimated worldwide. Of these 500,000 species, just over 300,000 are insects.

[Based on a report by Nacion.com]

For more articles about retiring and/or investing in Costa Rica contact Naturewalk Brands by calling our toll free number (in Canada and U.S.A): 1-866-990-1123 or by writing to Natuewalkbrands@gmail.com.

Costa Rican Exports Increase by 3.5 Percent in First Quarter

Naturewalk Report on Business

Originally Posted: Monday, April 22, 2013 - By L. Arias Tico Times

The U.S. is the main destination for Tico products.

Costa Rican exports of goods during the first quarter of 2013 slightly surpassed $3 billion, which is 3.5 percent more than that recorded for the same period last year, when the figure reached almost $2.9 billion, the Foreign Trade Ministry said on Monday.

Trade Minister Anabel González said in a press release that "the international economic situation is not the best," and Costa Rica should keep looking for new markets in Latin America and Asia.

"We must take advantage of opportunities in regions and countries where we have established a trade platform, and where growth rates are more robust, such as those in Asia, Perú, Chile and Colombia," González said.

The report indicates that Intel microprocessors lead the numbers with $776.9 million in export revenue, an increase of 24.8 percent compared to the first quarter of 2012.

North America – primarily the United States – is the main destination of Costa Rican exports with a share of $1.3 billion, followed by the European Union with $583.4 million and Asia with $427.8 million.

In 2012, Costa Rican exports totaled $11.2 billion, an increase of 9 percent compared to the figures recorded in 2011.

For more articles about retiring and/or investing in Costa Rica contact Naturewalk Brands by calling our toll free number (in Canada and U.S.A): 1-866-990-1123.

Costa Rica’s First Quarter Inflation Reaches 2.46 Percent

Naturewalk Report On Business

Accumulated annual inflation is 4.21 percent higher than a year ago.

By L. Arias (Tico Times)

Accumulated inflation in the first quarter of this year reached 2.46 percent, 0.86 percent more than the same period in 2012, the National Statistics and Census Institute (INEC) reported on Tuesday.

INEC's report indicates that goods and services that most influenced inflation were fuel, taxi fares and rental housing.

Inflation during March was 0.11 percent, the second lowest in the last decade for that month, behind the 0.01 percent in 2009.

The yearly indicator, which is accumulated from April 2012 to March 2013, reached 6.21 percent, up 4.21 percent from the same period last year.

Costa Rica ended 2012 with an inflation rate of 4.55 percent, the second-lowest figure in the last decade, behind cumulative 4.05 percent in 2009.

The Central Bank of Costa Rica set the inflation goal for 2013 between 4-6 percent.

For more articles about retiring and/or investing in Costa Rica contact Naturewalk Brands by calling our toll free number (in Canada and U.S.A): 1-866-990-1123.

Naturewalk's Up and Coming Costa Rican Recipes

Here's a great recipe for Taro that will be featured in the Adventure Hotel at Naturewalk.

 Naturewalk grows taro and Tiquisque on its farm lots at Naturewalk for export and investment.   

Try some of these great dishes yourself in December 2013 with the opening of the Adventure Hotel at Naturewalk.

Taro & Leek Bhaji

A fusion vegetable dish of sorts which actually turns out amazing!

Ingredients: (3-6 people)

 1 packet of frozen Taro or 2 fresh Taro (cut into cubes)

3 leeks

1 onion (roughly sliced)

1/2 packet of frozen giant cusco corn

1 habanero pepper (optional)

4 cloves of garlic (whole)

Spices: 1 level tsp of fresh cumin seeds, 1/2 tsp of salt or to taste, 1/2 tsp of turmeric, 1 level tsp coriander powder.

1 tablespoon of oil

How to:

1. Wash all vegetables and cut into cubes as applicable.

2. Roughly slice the onion into thin strips and set aside.

3. In hot oil, fry one level tsp of fresh cumin seeds until they turn brown. Do not over fry as you will lose the flavor when burnt.

4. Add four whole cloves of garlic and allow to fry for about a minute. Add the habanero pepper if you wish.

5. Add the onion and fry for about 2 minutes until they become brown.

6. Add the turmeric, coriander and salt to the onion and cook for a couple of minutes on medium heat.

7. Add the taro and corn and and stir into the spices. Fry them for 3-4 minutes until slightly brown. Meanwhile, prepare the leeks by thoroughly washing them and slicing them roughly. Add to to the mix.

8. Lower the heat and allow to cook for a further 5 minutes. Don’t stir too much as the taro may melt.

9. Put the lid on, lower the heat further and allow to cook for a further 10 minutes. Remove from heat when cooked.

 Recommendations: Goes well with basmati or brown rice and is delicious with daal (lentil curry).

Recipe & image by Sabina Huq

Author: Sabina Huq

You can pre-book now for the Adventure Hotel at Naturewalk. Contact us at toll free 1-888-990-1123 or online at naturewalkbrands@gmail.com

Naturewalk Adventure Hotel: Glamping Sparks Luxury Tent Market

Editors note: The Naturewalk Adventure Hotel and Resort is scheduled to open in December of this year in conjunction with the opening of the Naturewalk Adventure Center.

The Hotel will feature Luxury Tented Structures in a base camp format and themed for the heart of eco-adventurer, no matter what age.

The following article brought to you by Janice Kleinschmidt of InTents Magazine discusses the rise in interest for this type of fun and lodging experience:

The Happy Glamper package at Lakedale Resort Campground on San Juan Island, Wash., includes sleeping on pillow-top queen beds and a sommelier bringing you gourmet s’more makings with a bottle of sparkling wine, in accommodations that have more in common with high-end temporary structures than a camping tent.

“[Glamping] originated in the safari experiences in Africa,” says David Troya, CEO of GlampingHub.com. “Now a lot of people that own luxury tents and yurts are starting to call their sites glamping. It’s in nature, and it’s comfortable—even posh.”

To read the rest of the article click here.

The Naturewalk Adventure Center and Resort Hotel is located next to the Tulin River in the Central Pacific area close to Jaco featuring horse back riding, mountain biking, waterfall rappelling, seet and trap, rafting and water sports, birdwatching, multi-day safari treking and much more.

For more information on Naturewalk and the Adventure Center please contact us toll free at: 1866-990-1123. For more information about Naturewalk you can follow us here:

Naturewalk Brands Monthly Magazine by Naturewalk on Flipboard. Monthly summary of news on Costa Rica and Naturewalk, Costa Rica. For Tablet and Mobile Users on Flipboard. Subscribe.

Naturewalk Brands Live Magazine by Naturewalk on Flipboard. Daily news on Costa Rica and Naturewalk, Costa Rica. Great visual format. For Tablet and Mobile Users.

For more articles about retiring and/or investing in Costa Rica contact Naturewalk Brands by calling our toll free number (in Canada and U.S.A): 1-866-990-1123. or email us at naturewalkbrands@gmail.com.

Naturewalk Media Launches New Naturewalk Brands Monthly Magazine

In May 2013 we launched our daily digital magazine on Flipboard called Naturewalk Brands Live, and now we're getting ready to bring you our monthly magazine.

If your busy schedule doesn't allow you to check our daily magazine, but you still want to be informed of everything that goes on at Naturewalk then Naturewalk Brands Monthly is for you.

SUBSCRIBE HERE

Just click on this link to the subscription form to receive the link to our magazine As it launches at the end of every month you will be able to enjoy it on any smartphone or tablet.

For those that wish to receive a PDF version for viewing on a desktop or laptop, be sure to indicate that as well on the subscription form.

Happy Viewing
Naturewalk Media

For more articles about retiring and/or investing in Costa Rica contact Naturewalk Brands by calling our toll free number (in Canada and U.S.A): 1-866-990-1123.

Horseback Riding at the Naturewalk Adventure Center

Prepare for a day of enjoyment at the Naturewalk Adventure Center. Horseback Riding, Water Sports, Kayaking, Canoeing, Mountain Biking and more coming to the Naturewalk Adventure Center.

Reserve now by calling Naturewalk Brands at Toll Free 866-990-1123 or email us at naturewalkbrands@gmail.com.

For more articles about retiring and/or investing in Costa Rica contact Naturewalk Brands by calling our toll free number (in Canada and U.S.A): 1-866-990-1123.

Tiquisque Seeds Ready to be Planted

Tiquisque, (a cousin of Taro) is a high value crop in Tropical America. Naturewalk grows tiquisque commercially for export to the United States and the Caribbean for our clients and for Naturewalk Farming.

Get more information on how you can benefit from this high value crop and own a resort lot by calling 866-990-1123 or by email to naturewalkbrands@gmail.com

For more articles about retiring and/or investing in Costa Rica contact Naturewalk Brands by calling our toll free number (in Canada and U.S.A): 1-866-990-1123.

Naturewalk Brands Live is now online!

Naturewalk has launched a digital magazine available online at Flipboard.com packed with all the information that you need to live, retire and invest in Costa Rica.

Constantly updated, Naturewalk Brands Live is available to you through this link. if you don't have the Flipboard app just download and then you will have immediate access to our magazine.

For more articles about retiring and/or investing in Costa Rica contact Naturewalk Brands by calling our toll free number (in Canada and U.S.A): 1-866-990-1123.

Naturewalk to Plant 1000 New Teak Trees

Naturewalk will plant 1000 teak trees in its nursery this month as part of its ongoing program for reforestation and sustainability.

Naturewalk sells teak plantation lots with 14-year-old teak as well as well as lots with new tree plantings. Both types of lots are suitable for resort homes.

Find out more about how you can invest, acquire a home in Costa Rica and win with a valuable lumber commodity by calling Naturewalk Brands at toll free 866-990-1123 or email us at naturewalkbrands@gmail.com.

For more articles about retiring and/or investing in Costa Rica contact Naturewalk Brands by calling our toll free number (in Canada and U.S.A): 1-866-990-1123.

Equestrian Additions to Naturewalk

Newest additions to Naturewalk Adventure Center!

These are exciting times as we just acquired 5 beautiful horses including our little colt "Daybreak." The horses will be available for our more experienced riders and will form part of the equestrian center at Naturewalk.

For more information about living, retiring and/or investing in Costa Rica contact Naturewalk Brands by calling our toll free number (in Canada and U.S.A): 1-866-990-1123.