View Lot in Samarcanda, Gated Community on the Caribbean Coast

View Lot - $110,000 One of the most beautiful view lots in Samarcanda 2,511.93 square meters (27,017 square feet) of development ready beauty for just $110,000 About Samarcanda Located in a 250 acres property in the South Caribbean, overlooking the ocean, 85% of the land is protected as a Private Biological Reserve. Common areas include a Private Biological Reserve, natural pool, paths in the forest 3 km graveled roads, entrance office, 24/7security. Samasati Retreat and Rainforest Sanctuary is part of the Gated Community. All lots are surrounded by common areas and have lots of privacy. 11 magnificent homes have been built. Located 10km South of the Beaufitul Cahuita National Park on the Carribean Coast of Costa Rica Samarcanda is an intentional community with the goal of establishing minimal ecological impact as an alternative to traditional forms of communities. Visit and experience sustainable living in this spectacular Caribbean Location PRICE US$110,000 .

Semana Santa Costa Rica

This week is Semana Santa in Costa Rica or Easter Holy Week.

It is a holiday week in Costa Rica with many Costa Ricans taking the entire week off and many businesses shut for much of the week.

Thursday and Friday are official public holidays.

The main religion in Costa Rica is Catholicism and there are religious parades throughout the country on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday.Each procession is a dramatic reenactment of Jesus’ journey through Jerusalem to his crucifixion and resurrection. They are a very serious events, and spectators line the streets to mourn and pray.

At family gatherings during Semana Santa special meals are prepared and seafood is traditionally eaten.

Delicious dishes  such as rice and shrimp, ceviche and fried fish are prepared.  Various desserts such as empanadas, pudding and jelly are all made from chiverre, a big squash that looks like a watermelon and is in season during this time. The flesh is cooked with brown sugar blocks.

Those Costa Rican’s not celebrating religious traditions spend the week at the beach. Hotels and accommodation are booked up months in advance and the beaches and roads to them can be very overcrowded whist San Jose and other urban areas are deserted.

During Holy Week, a Dry Law is in place, meaning that at midnight on Wednesday all bars and liquor stores close.  However many locals stock up on liquor and beer for the upcoming weekend.  At the beach it is possible to find a clandestine bar open, but no alcohol can be officially served anywhere in the city.

Thai Chilli Peppers

Thai hot chilli peppers have been test planted and grown successfully in Naturewalk. Naturewalk will soon plant acres of chilli peppers for export.

Below you can see some of the hot chilli peppers grown in Naturewalk:

Naturewalk is a fully masterplanned community in the Central Pacific region. Located in the hills it is about 10 miles from the ocean. Owners in Naturewalk can own a beautiful lot on which they can have their home and better still they can have fully managed crops growing on their land giving an income.

To find out more about Naturewalk call USA +1-202-697-9284 or Europe +353-1-272-4184 or e mail info@costaricainvest.ie

Read about Naturewalk in the New York Times here.

Planting squash in Naturewalk

One of the crops grown for export to the USA in Naturewalk is squash. There are two main varieties grown - Butternut and Kabocha. This is a quick growing crop and requires significant maintenance and lots of irrigation.

Naturewalk is a fully masterplanned community in the Central Pacific region. Located in the hills it is about 10 miles from the ocean. Owners in Naturewalk can own a beautiful lot on which they can have their home and better still they can have fully managed crops growing on their land giving an income.

To find out more about Naturewalk call USA +1-202-697-9284 or Europe +353-1-272-4184 or e mail info@costaricainvest.ie

Read about Naturewalk in the New York Times here.

Cacao in Naturewalk

A new crop will be planted out in Naturewalk in the upcoming rainy season. Cacao grows wild in Naturewalk and it has been decided to trial Cacao on a commercial scale in Naturewalk.

The plants in the pictures below were grown in the National Seed Bank in Costa Rica, Catie.

These plants are now en route to the Naturewalk Nurseries.

Naturewalk is a fully masterplanned community in the Central Pacific Region of Costa Rica. Owners in Naturewalk can have a home on a beautiful lot and further benefit from the earnings from high value fully managed crops growing on their land. There are a range of crops available - teak, vanilla, tiquisque, Asian vegetables, ginger, papaya, coffee, cacao, pineapple and more.

To find out more about Naturewalk, visit the website here or give us a call on USA +1-202-697-9284 or Europe +353-1-272-4184

Zika virus in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is currently Zika free and you can see more on the Center for Disease Control Website here:

However, the first case of Zika has just been confirmed in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica has excellent health care and public health control measures, which include mosquito control measures country wide.

However, being surrounded by countries which have Zika it is going to be very difficult to keep the virus at bay. Health experts predict that Zika may spread as far North as Canada, but the mosquitoes will be killed off and limited by cold Winter weather.

Zika is spread by mosquitoes and usually causes symptoms which are less severe than those from similar mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue or chikungunya. But it has recently sparked alarm over the risks of birth defects for infected pregnant women and their babies.

Costa Rica Health Ministry officials on Wednesday announced new steps to boost surveillance at all entry points into the country. These measures include appointing health officials to monitor around the clock all entry points by land, air and sea in order to detect travellers who might have symptoms of the mosquito-borne virus.

You can read more about this in the coverage in the Tico Times here 

Ajuste Perfecto to launch in 2016

Ajuste Perfecto, Costa Rica's first full service MLS (Multiple Listing Service for Real Estate) will launch in the first quarter of 2016.

You can read more and register for priority updates here