Crocodile Crazy

When you thing corcodile, what do you think - warning, danger, death or serious injury. I sure the words friendly, safe, playful pet don't come to mind.

But as an old Chinese saying goes, "nothing is really strange in a world as great as this" and in Costa Rica we have a man who incredibly has a pet friendly crocodile.

Known as the 'Crocodile Man', Chito Loco performs a weekly show in Siquirres, Costa Rica with Pocho, an enormous crocodile. The animal lover Chito swims, plays and even feeds Pocho, the giant crocodile. This is one of the world's most unlikely friendships.


Wading chest-deep through the green water in a 100 sq/m lake in Siquirres, this bizarre and dangerous spectacle draws tourists from around the world.

Calling quietly for his five meter long 'companion' before thrashing around, lifting his tail and head above the water.

'This is a very dangerous routine but Pocho is my friend and we have a good relationship,' says 52-year-old Chito. 'He will look me in the eye and he does not attack me". 'It is too dangerous for anyone else to come in the water. It is only ever the two of us.'

The bizarre friendship began nearly 20 years ago when Chito rescued the 980-pound crocodile after finding him close to death on the shore of the Parismina River, in the Caribbean province of Limon.

When I heard the story it reminded me of the Chinese proverb / fairytale- once upon a time, an old peasant met a snake in winter. The snake was freezing and the peasant feeling sorry for the snake decides to save the snake. So he takes the snake home and gives him warmth. However, when the snake gets enough power to attack, it bites its saviour and the peasant dies. The lesson learned is that sometimes an animals nature just cannot be changed

I just worry that Chito one day may become lunch for Pocho. A lot of friends on the website share the view that he will be the crocodile’s lunch one day and say the lunch issue is just a matter of time.

Seeing the man enjoy giving his dangerous 'companion' kisses and cuddles, I’m, however, somewhat moved. Humans have had very tenuous relationships with so called dangerous animals, like crocodiles and sharks; we kill them when we can while they attack us when we are near.

Is Chito Loco the exception that proves the rule?.

Peter Zhang (August 2009)

Health Care in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica has one of the best health systems in Latin America. In addition to National Health care Private Health care is also available, very affordable, and high quality. Many doctors speak English and have received training in Europe, Canada, or the U.S.

There are three large, private hospitals that most expatriates use: CIMA hospital in Escazú, Clinica Biblica in San José, and Clinica Católica in San José-Guadalupe.

Statistics from the World Health Organization place Costa Rica in the top country rankings in the world for long life expectancy even though the per-capita income of Costa Ricans is about one-tenth that of the U.S. and the U.K. Arguably, one reason for this is the slower pace of living in Costa Rica combined with a healthy diet and a great climate. Costa Rica just seems to be a healthy place to live.
Costa Rica's Government-Run Health Care System

With a government-sponsored network of more than 30 hospitals and more than 250 clinics throughout the country, the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS) has primary responsibility for providing low-cost health care services to the Costa Rican population. Although sometimes overburdened, this system has worked well for Costa Ricans for the past 60 or so years.

This medical care is open not just to Costa Rican residents but the CCSS provides affordable medical service to any foreign resident or visitor. Foreigners living in Costa Rica can join the CCSS by paying a small monthly fee--based on income--or they can buy health insurance from the state monopoly Instituto de Seguro Nacional (INS), valid with over 200 affiliated doctors, hospitals, labs, and pharmacies in the private sector.

Costa Rica's Private Health Care System

Many of the country's highly trained physicians and some dentists work in the mornings for the CCSS and operate their own offices and clinics in the afternoons and evenings. While private health care in Costa Rica is more expensive than that offered by the same doctors and surgeons through the CCSS, the price is still far below that of the average office visit in the U.S. For example, a private office visit to almost any medical specialist costs around $40. Continued treatments for diagnosed problems will vary, but will almost always be considerably less than comparable treatment in the United States and Europe. Dental work, too, is provided at a much lower cost than in the U.S. and Europe.

The low costs and quality of care have proompted a boom in “health tourism.”

Cosmetic & Reconstructive Surgery

Costa Rica has long been a destination of choice for those in search of the Fountain of Youth. Many of the plastic and reconstructive surgeons in Costa Rica have been trained and board certified in the USA and Europe and they provide their talented services to thousands of satisfied patients year after year at a fraction of the costs of similar treatments in the USA or Europe.

Dental Care & Surgery

Foreign patients, seeking periodontal work and dental implants arrive in Costa Rica in greater numbers every month. Cost per implant, is between $750 and $850. Laboratory work here is much cheaper, but the materials used are all FDA approved and imported from the States.

Legendary Investor Kaufmann looks to Costa Rica

It has been widely reported in the press that legendary investor Henry Kaufmann is investing heavily in Costa Rica.

Kaufmann originally made his reputation as a bond trader and dealer. Specifically he is best known as a contrarian investor - when other investors run for cover, Kaufmann looks for investment opportunities.

In the 1970's Con Edison was in serious trouble. Kaufmann bought their bonds at 30% of face value. The authorities said they would let New York go dark rather than help bail out the troubled electricity company. Of course New York's lights stayed on, the bonds didn't default and Kaufmann made fortune.

As Kaufmann's wealth has grown, so have his property interests.

He bought extensive properties in Soho New York at distressed pricing of US$30 per square foot and sold them on at US$200 per square foot.

Now Kaufmann has stated that he believes market volatility and low property prices are to stay in the USA. As a result he is looking elsewhere for his investment opportunities and his investment country of choice is Costa Rica.

It is extensively reported that Kaufmann believes that Costa Rica will become a huge market for retirees who want good weather, low cost of living and excellent medical care at a fraction of the costs in the U. S. and Europe.

As a result of these retirees and expatriates Kaufmann expects Costa Rica to double gross national product during the next 20 years.

Whilst other investors sell their foreign property interests to cover the losses on their local property (US and European) interests, Kaufmann feels the opportunities lie outside of these markets and specifically in Costa Rica.

And Kaufmann is not alone in these expectations - he joins Steve Case (AOL founder), Mel Gibson, Madonna, Oprah Winifrey and many others who have extensive property interests in Costa Rica.

Finca Di Pacifio Dos offers an incredible opportunity to benefit from land prices increases in Costa Rica. Teak growing on your land provides a secure return whilst the land has the potential to see spectacular increases.

Maps of Costa Rica

Need to find your way in Costa Rica. Below are a range of great sites offering different types of map to help you find your way:

Costaricapad.com - beach map of Costa Rica with some great photos

CostaRicaMap-Online.com - detailed road maps of Costa Rica

Costaricamapproject.com - detailed maps of tourist destinations in Costa Rica, showing hotels and resorts

Maptak - detailed Costa Rica maps

Costaricamap.com tourist maps of Costa Rica, showing hotels, national parks, tourist attractions.

Costa Rica Geography and Climate

Costa Rica is located on the Central American isthmus, 10° North of the equator and 84° West of the Prime Meridian. It borders both the Caribbean Sea (to the east) and the North Pacific Ocean (to the west), with a total of 1,290 kilometers (800 mi) of coastline, 212 km (132 mi) on the Caribbean coast and 1,016 km (631 mi) on the Pacific.

Costa Rica also borders Nicaragua to the north (309 km or 192 mi of border) and Panama to the south-southeast (639 km or 397 mi of border). In total, Costa Rica comprises 51,100 square kilometers (19,700 sq mi) plus 589 square kilometers (227 sq mi) of territorial waters.

The highest point in the country is Cerro Chirripó, at 3,820 metres (12,500 ft), and is the fifth highest peak in Central America. The highest volcano in the country is the Irazú Volcano (3,431 m or 11,260 ft). The largest lake in Costa Rica is Lake Arenal.

Costa Rica also comprises several islands. Cocos Island (24 square kilometers/9.3 square miles) stands out because of its distance from continental landmass and also because of its incredible marine biodiversity (PADI the diving organisation ranks it as the number 1 dive destination in the world) 300 mi (480 km) from Puntarenas, but Calero Island is the largest island of the country (151.6 square kilometers/58.5 square miles).

Costa Rica protects 25% of its national territory within the Protected Areas system. It also possesses the greatest density of species in the world.

Costa Rica is a tropical country, situated between 8° and 11° North latitude, fairly close to the equator. In the mountains above 2000 meters you get much cooler temperatures but the average annual temperature for most of the country lies between 21.7°C (71°F) and 27°C (81°F). The coolest months are from November through January, and the warmest from March through May. San José, the capital, where over a third of the population lives, stands at approximately 1170 meters altitude and has a mean annual temperature of 20.6°C (69°F).

The nation's climate is classically divided into two major seasons: rainy and dry. The dry season runs from January through May and the rainy season from May to November and December. Locally, the seasons were named by the early Spanish colonizers, who compared them to their own Mediterranean climate, calling the dry months "verano" or summer, and the rainy, grey and gloomy months "invierno" or winter. It is interesting to note that some of the coldest temperatures are registered during the early dry season or "summer".

Because Costa Rica is located only about eight degrees north of the equator, the climate is tropical year round. However, this varies depending on elevation and rainfall. Therefore, it is greatly affected by the geography of Costa Rica. The Caribbean (northeast) slopes of the Central Cordillera mountains receive the most rain with an annual rainfall of over 5,000 mm. Humidity is also higher on the Caribbean side than on the Pacific side.

Both coastlines of Costa Rica have an abundance of beaches, though the Pacific strands are generally both less developed and less spacious. Between the coasts, the interior of the country is shaped by four mountain ranges, which run from North to South. The capital, San Jose, rests roughly in the nation's center, settled within a highland valley. Cascading down to the Caribbean from the central mountains are Costa Rica's many great rivers, including the Reventazon. The Pacific side is marked by two broad peninsulas that hook out into the Pacific, the Nicoya and the Osa. It is a geographic curiosity that their shapes are almost identical, the Osa being a smaller rendition of the Nicoya.

Demonstrating an environmental sensitivity unparalleled elsewhere, Costa Ricans have set aside one quarter of their land as protected areas and national parks. Ecotourists are rewarded with botanical and animal marvels found nowhere else on Earth. Although Costa Rica is best known as an invaluable refuge for nature, this small nation is also a haven of peace with no army, more teachers than Police and a Ministry of Peace.

Backpacking Across Costa Rica

by Johnny C.,

Perhaps one of the most romantic, adventurous and exciting parts of growing up is taking a trip to Central America. The depth of experiences and the heights of excitement that this continent provides for young budget travelers and backpackers are simply awe-inspiring.

Costa Rica is one of the countries in Central America that attracts backpackers and enthusiastic travelers from all over the world. And it is hardly surprising, really, given the gamut of things to do and see here, from lying on the beaches to dancing in the cities. Costa Rica is defined by its beauty and its fun-loving attitude; traveling here is all about experiencing how life really should be lived.

Here, then, are some of the things that a budget traveler or a backpacker simply must experience while staying in Costa Rica.

The Beaches
With the Pacific Ocean to the West and the Caribbean to the East, Costa Rica is blessed with a huge number of absolutely breathtaking beaches. You do have to find them, however: Costa Rica's more frequented beaches (such as those around San Jose) are also its worst. Far better are the deserted and isolated idyllic spots tucked away along its coastlines. So be prepared to travel a bit in order to find your perfect beach in Costa Rica!

Rafting in Costa Rica:
For the adventurous backpacker, intent on doing something wild, a rafting trip down the Chorro Section of the Naranjo River is one of the most adrenaline-pumping activities the country has to offer. Not for the feint hearted, this wild rafting trip is an experience to reckon with.
If white water rapids are not your cup of tea, a rafting trip along the calm waters and beautiful surrounding scenery of the Penas Blancas river is probably a better bet.

Mountain biking:
Costa Rica is a mountainous place, which makes it great for mountain biking. Experienced bikers particularly enjoy the country's volcanic areas, as they provide fun - if at times testing - rides. The dirt road that lies between the Irazu Volcano and the Turrialba Volcano is a particular favorite.

Explore San Jose:
A trip to Costa Rica is incomplete without experiencing the capital, San Jose. This is a city that has the classic Central American flavor - evocative and vibrant; it will catch you in its net of color and spin you around until you're immersed in its web of fun. Life here isn't always an easy ride though; by day San Jose is as big and noisy a city as you will find in these parts. Still, the nightlife makes it all worthwhile!

While spending time here, San Hose hostels are probably the best place to put up in. Clean, comfortable, fun and cheap, they make for a good base form which to explore the city.
Hostel 1110, for example, is a long standing favorite with the backpacking crowd. Located near the Avenida Central, this hostel offers a wide range of facilities at a very decent price. Costa Rica Backpackers is also an ideal hostel for budget travelers and students who are backpacking in Costa Rica (especially those on the lookout for a party).

Before settling down and becoming a copywriter for HostelBookers.com Jonny Cooper did a backpacking tour of Costa Rica and he checked out a variety of hostels in Costa Rica and San Jose hostels

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonny_C.

Surfing Costa Rica Style

If you’re a surfing fan, you’ll know the Billabong World Surfing Games Costa Rica 2009 is going on right now in Playa Hermosa, Jacó’s black-sanded southern neighbor. To score such an honor, Costa Rica beat out other popular surfing destinations like Brazil and South Africa and is bringing the world’s best surfers to Costa Rica’s Pacific shores.


With long pristine coastlines on both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Costa Rica offers a variety of breaks and excellent waves in one of the most gorgeous settings in the world. Besides warm water, consistent year round surf, affordable prices and easy access to breaks, Costa Rica also boasts friendly people, international surfing tournaments (and now the world surfing games) and great surf camps. This is a destination for beginners and expert surfers alike. Costa Rica is home to world-ranked surfer Federico Pilurzu and the Costa Rican team were the 2008 Central American Surf Team Champions, The team included Luis Vindas, Gilbert Brown, Lisbeth Vindas and Nataly Bernold.

Costa Rica is sometimes called "the Hawaii of Latin-American surfing" because of the thousands of beach breaks and tons of oceanfront. Rivers galore offer lots of river mouth breaks especially on the Pacific coast. On the Caribbean side, there are great reef breaks. Costa Rica is small and you can easily switch to another break if once isn’t working for you.

Costa Rica culture supports surfing culture, with surf shops, board rentals, bars, restaurants, hotels.

Costa Rica continues to grow as one of the world's top surf destinations is because it is one of the few destinations where travelers can feel safe exploring any part of the country.

Some of the most famous surfing spots are:
Tamarindo remains the most popular and well known "surfing Mecca" on the northern pacific coast. This area offers easy access to a wide variety of surf breaks for all abilities including beach, river mouth and of course, reef breaks such as Witches Rock and Ollie’s Point.

Santa Teresa - a surfer and beach lovers dream. This long stretch of untouched beach continues on to Mal Pais and Playa Catalina offering some of the best surf breaks in the country. If you have the time to make it out here it is a true treat. The water is about 80 degrees year round and the sunsets are spectacularly beautiful.

Playa del Coco - whilst Coco beach isn’t for surfing, it is the best jumping off point to get to the infamous Witch’s Rock - an area known by a tall island formation just off the coast that houses the best waves in Costa Rica.
Samara and Nosara - these beaches on the Pacific side of The Nicoya Peninsula are less crowded than some of their northern neighbors, but serve as a great place for beginners to try some smaller waves. Nosara is more laid back and relaxed than its busy neighbor to the north, Tamarindo, while boasting world class surf almost all year.

Playa Hermosa and Jaco - this area is for extreme surf enthusiasts. This area arguably offers the most consistent year-round surf with over 3 ½ miles of steep beaches with excellent exposure to swells from almost any direction. Although this area is extremely popular, there are so many peaks up and down the beach that you can find an uncrowded, head high peak at almost any time of year. Playa Jaco located just 2 hours drive from the international airport