This weekend on the Costa Ballena (Whale Coast), the community is organizing the “Whale and Dolphin Festival”, with activities for each and all. The Ballena Marina National Park Organization and the Environmental Ministry (MINEAT) has gone to all lengths to make this a successful event.

All weekend, there will be Whale Watching tours, a photography exhibition, and a general exhibition stand on Punta Uvita beach by the Whale´s Tail, a sandbar that forms the shape of a Whales Tail at the beginning of the Marina Ballena Park.

On Friday, Sept. 4, there is an Environmental Parade, a workshop for Children, a Public Workshop with 20 minute lectures, and an environmental film and forum discussion.

On Sat., the additional events include a Sand Sculpture Contest, Face Painting, a Storyteller group, Art contest and a cultural night at the Community Center and Craftswomen Center.

Sunday will conclude with Traditional games and more Whale watching tours.

The community involvement is incredible.  When people move here they may chose to become part of a greater cause, saving the environment!  With these types of events, everyone who wishs to may contribute.  From my own home, I have seen the hump back whales leaping from the ocean with their babies.  To think that their future is being endangered is frightening.  This is a chance to do something positive and fun to help.

Contact me for more on this great weekend event.   Annie 1 888 581 1786

True Community Living,  A Golf Resort reaching out to its local community.

When I read articles about new developments in Costa Rica that have done horrible damages to the environment as well as destruction to the local community, it makes me proud that the first Golf Resort in South West Costa Rica has gone to great lengths not only to protect the environment, but to improve the local community. The San Buenas Golf Resort has a vision to significantly invest into the people and infrastructure of the pueblo of San Buenadventura, it´s new neighbor. There are 4 main projects.

-Escuela San Marcos This school is a completely new 2 room educational facility for 28 local students in kindergarten through 8th grade. Materials were donated by community members. All labor and construction was completed by the staff of SBGR. This includes an upgraded electric system, improved drainage, and an edible fruit and medicinal plant garden.

-Recycling Programs Located in the new Escuela San Marcos, and focused on educating the students on the importance of recycling, the project receives plastic, glass and aluminum from 90 local businesses. The SBGR employees use company trucks bi-weekly for pick up, recycling more than any other project in the Southern Zone. A pilot program for the Canton of Osa is being formed.

-Local Hiring Practices SBGR employees 20 men and women in various capacities, but would like to hire every willing person in San Buenaventura. In order for them to excel, every new staff member is provided with training and educational materials. Remember the old saying “Give a man a fish….”

-River Rehabilitation Project To minimize local flooding and erosion the river banks are being lowered and routed to access parts of the Golf Course, creating a natural floodplain on site, not in the town. Additional reforestation will provide stability and not affect playability.

-Road Improvements SBGR will be providing laborers and equipment on a regular basis as part of the community plan dedicated to improve the road conditions. Plans are to improve 5 kilometers of the Coastal Highway to a standard 14 meters wide, improving safety and access.

As time goes by, SBGR will create and join many other community efforts. It is commendable that while so many other developments concern themselves with maximum profit, they put the community and minimal environmental impact first.

Annie Drake, marketing manager, south Pacific
Costa Rica Retirement Vacation Properties

Identifying problematic situations in purchasing a home or a piece of land for constructing a home or small development is often the most difficult part of any purchase.

The laws, proceeds and protocol can be intimidating to many when developing a special project or building a home. One has to worry about potential inherited problems when buying a turn key house or business. You should know the potential uses of the property under consideration if is is your intention to develop. Property owners and potential buyers in Costa Rica need help evaluating various properties and navigating the complexities of purchasing and planning their construction projects.

As part of our services of Costa Rica Retirement Vacation Properties southern zone, we are trying to make things easier for our clients. For this purpose, we use and recommend a specialist who is a consultant with a wide range of experience. This serves to identify and solve many problems prior to purchasing property offer independent consultant services to support  Costa Rica Retirement Vacation Properties clients seeking assistance with purchasing, developing and selling Real Estate in the Central and Southern Pacific areas of Costa Rica, including Perez Zeledon (also called San Isidro).

His background is that of a project manager with engineering and technical experience in gaining approvals for site development, design, and construction in the United States, Europe and Central America.  His role ranges from conducting feasibility studies to providing bilingual project oversight and problem-solving. He provides reports and assistance mainly focused on determining if the visions and plans of the clients –- potential buyers or owners — can be realized for a specific property. After doing research, he produces reports tailored to each situation. The reports address important questions and cover potential costs and development options on a property or a remodeling project for an existing home.  The two main products are:

Basic Report: This includes information about the property from the public registry (Registro Nacional) and determining if any liens, restrictions, setbacks or other issues are discovered that warrant caution by the potential purchaser. After a site visit, he can make rough estimates for improvements such as roads, electrical service, remodeling, construction, etc.  In most areas, the Basic Report will include an overlay of the official “plano” or property map onto a Google Earth photo of the area, with my notes and comments.

The Basic Report answers the client’s specific questions, such as, “Can this property be subdivided into segregated and titled lots and sold on the open market?” The report also evaluates possible building sites on properties with environmental restrictions around natural springs and rivers.

Pre-Build Report: For potential buyers, investors or property owners who want to start on the process of developing or building on a property, he produces a Pre-Build Report similar to that required by SENTENA –- the Costa Rican equivalent of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This report includes clearance and setback information required for the building permit process and can be completed before architectural and engineering plans are finalized.

Documents obtained in the Pre-Build Report include the critically important Uso de Suelo in areas administered by municipalities and INVU for unincorporated areas. He submits formal requests to public utility agencies such as ICE (electricity and phone) and AYA (municipal water) to determine if these services are available.  Most of the official documents obtained in this effort are valid for one year and can be used in the submission for building permits.

The Pre-Build Report also can include price estimates for improvements such as access roads, on- and off-grid electrical services, water sources including wells, and more.  Also available are well-researched reports on what plants, trees, and food-producing crops will work well on a particular property.

Other types of projects that he has supported include development strategies for an assisted living center, intentional community planning and the sale of properties with “issues”

Please feel free to write or call me if you require this kind of service.  Telephone 1 888 581 1786 or email me at
annie@costaricaretirementvacationproperties.com
Costa Rica Retirement Vacation Properties

Not Par for the Course, Golf for the Ecologically minded Golfer

The new, exciting news in the South Pacific region of Costa Rica is the SAN BUENAS GOLF RESORT, the first one in our area. Not only are locals thrilled about the project and the new possibilities that it offers, but we are proud of the ecological, environmental way it has been developed.

This 18 hole course is dedicated to the preservation and conservation of the land upholding the highest standards to cause minimal environmental impact. The 332 acres was originally a pasture that had been deforested for the cattle. Great efforts were made to leave the 220 original trees in tact, thus influencing the design of the course. Traditional tractor work which can cause damage was replaced working with the natural existing features. The local sand and gravel provided the perfect drainage.

The SBGC did not only stop at preservation, but actually made more of a positive impact through reforestation. Through the advice of forest engineer, they are adding 15,000 more trees, including a wide variety of fruit trees and over 80 varieties of indigenous trees. This ongoing project is supported by 2 on site nurseries with plans to build a larger 3rd nursery. This former pasture will one day be a migration corridor for native wildlife, while in the meantime providing shade for residents, golfers and employees.

The Paspalum grass, native to Australia is also an ecological benefit. It can be irrigated, live and thrive off salt water, thus diminishing weed growth. It has minimal, low toxicity fertilizer requirements and tolerates wet conditions well, but has minimal dew collection thus facilitating faster drainage. Playability will not be affected by rains.

An Earth University graduate advises SBGR on greenhouse management, seedling propagation, pesticide, herbicide and fertilizer production from organic materials. They are creating natural pest control systems. Some of these methods predate the use of modern chemicals. It is more common to see birds than bugs there.

As far as water goes, the importance of responsible and sustainable water management is a priority. The project is located on 3 high flow springs that produces enough water to sustain the community and future growth, leaving a surplus to tie into the local water system. The mini waste water treatment plants are aerobic verses the normal anaerobic septic systems, creating a cleaner process. Natural Bio-filters like shrimp, fish and crayfish will be seed the projects wetlands resulting in water that is perfect for irrigation. Only recycled gray water, rain and small springs will be used for irrigation, no potable water.

In future entries, the luxury amenities of this Ecological Haven will be described. The clubhouse, golf academy, hotel, villas, condominiums and view lots are inviting, but it is nice to know that something of this magnitude could be created with such low impact on the environment.

For a tour of this great property, call me, Annie Drake  at 1 888 581 1786 or drop me a line
annie@costaricaretirementvacationproperties.com

THE STORY OF BRENDITA
My housekeeper is one of my closest friends.  Despite our cultural and age differences, we have bonded like family.

It concerned me one day when she was upset and depressed over an incident with her 8 year old daughter, Brendita.  She was born with crossed eyes, a feature that was drawing negative attention and causing headaches and vision problems.

As kids do, they began teasing Brendita unmercifully, causing depression and a drop in her grades that she already struggled with due to her poor and double vision.

Some members of their church as well as my family heard this story and agreed to pay for her operation.  In August of 2008, we began to visit pediatric opthamologist in San Jose.  After seeing several, we chose one from Clinica Biblica who is world renown for his work with children, Dr. Dario DeCalice. He operated on her Dec. 12th, 2008, and it was a quick surgery that healed quickly without the need for external stitches.

For Brendita and Rosa, it was a cherished experience.  Everyone in the Clinica Biblica made them feel comfortable.  The hospital itself is more like a hotel than a medical facility.  The restaurants in the both of food courts were so good that it was hard to make a choice.  They were able to explore the city from the heights of the 5th floor patio/ lounge.  For me, it was an even bigger pleasure since the operation and all of the expenses cost less than 1/5 of the price in the States.

It changed Brenda´s life.  She now wonders if the soccer goals that she scored while seeing double count as two points.  She can run, read, play and look people directly in the eye without frustration.  Her main goal is to learn English well and thank my family and their friends who helped her.  I thank Clinica Biblica and Dr. DeCalice for making this a pleasant and affordable experience for all of us.

Costa Rica Retirement Vacation Properties has a menu of very good Doctors Dentists with fine reputations and we keep it updated always. A client with a pre-existing condition needs the best in the field. These professionals arrive on our list to recommend based on actual cases with associates and clients that have been here for some time. We cover this in our orientation portion of our Lifestyle Property Tours if you have a health concerned or are worried about future possibilities.

If you are already living here or planning to move, I will be most happy to refer you on to one of our professionals that we recommend for our clients.
Call me toll free at 1 888 581 1786 ask for Annie.  Costa Rica Retirement Vacation Properties

I have lived in the southern zone for many years and often heard the rumors associated with the building of the new road between Dominical and Quepos.  In The last two years we have witnessed the reality of this road and now finally, the asphalt will go down.  President Óscar Arias Sánchez was in the area over the weekend and gave the symbolic go ahead to the final stage of the highway.  He also inaugurated a new bridge over the Río Naranjo between Savegre and Quepos. This is the fourth new bridge installed on this route.

Costa Rica Land Development, Tourism and general transportation will feel the immediate impact of this. The time will be reduced from 1 hour and 45 minutes to 35 minutes to arrive at Dominical from Quepos.  The new Bridge at Naranjo will impact greatly on travel time to the area as well. It was usually a wait of at least 15 minutes and often 30 minutes.

The 1,000,000 plus Tourists of Manuel Antonio have been held hostage for years due to the quality of this road and now will welcome the opportunity to visit the friendly, green area of the southern zone where mountains reach down to the sea.

The highway has been unmaintained gravel for years and a source of local air pollution as well had serious washout problems during the rainy season.
Officials now look to the work being finished in October, weather permitting.

 The Río Naranjo bridge is costing $2.8 million, and it is 198 meters (about 650 feet). The concrete beams are 56 meters (184 feet), the longest of any bridge in Central America. The other three bridges span the Rios Paquita, Portalón and Matapalo. Three more bridges are in construction.

This new opportunity with the access and Costa Rica’s southern zone land prices that are deeply discounted, it is going foster anew boom for Real Estate development in Costa Rica. The area is so rich with with amenities for the nature lover and city slicker alike.

This is a great time to take advantage of pricing and even consider unlocking your IRA to something that will grow quickly.  With Costa Rica being the quality brand it is world wide, the unrest in the north America and the desire for lower living costs with world class health care, we at Costa Rica Retirement Vacation Properties feel there is no better hedge against falling dollar than Costa Rica land today.

Read all about how you can use your self directed IRA  in Costa Rica.  If you are seeking deeply discount Real Estate in Costa Rica, contact us and find out all about our highly professional Lifestyle Property Tours that can be directed at distressed properties for investment today.
I am Annie Drake, marketing manager for the southern zone and will be happy to discuss all aspects of investing in the southern zone. I can also offer a Lifestyle Property Tour that will take you through all aspects of living in the southern zone.
Please read all about using self directed IRA for Costa Rica and getting it back on track

GETTING  THE MONKEY OFF YOUR BACK

One of the common problems in Costa Rica Real Estate is when a buyer is making a decision to buy a lot or a turn-key home.  People are hesitant to take on a construction project in a different country where Spanish is the predominant language.  They fear not being around to oversee the progress or lack of.  On the other hand, they don’t want to inherit someone else’s problems or accept their design.

Speaking personally, in 1999 when I bought my home in Playa Tortuga de Ojochal, I was living and working in San Jose with no intentions of overseeing a construction project.  So, I bought a turn-key home with 2 other building areas located on the property where I could have the option to build something later. Now, I am under more pressure to complete a home for my parents as they grow older.

Over the last 10 years, I have met many contractors, recommended many developers and viewed many prefabricated structures.  I wanted someone who was modern,  offered high quality craftsmanship, yet was ecological, incorporating alternate energy sources if desired.

Finally, I found the solution to who will build for me on my other 2 lots and I got the monkey off my back!

While at the weekly softball game, I noticed a stunning 2 story structure, Japanese style being assembled inside of a warehouse next to our field.   When I spoke to the project foreman, I discovered that the structures were designed and resurrected inside the warehouse, presented to the owner for approval and then moved to the lot.  I was even more surprised to find out that a friend is the representative of the new project, Nature Home.

Here in Dominical and Uvita he is the exclusive representative of Nature Home, which is a design and build firm based out of New York and Dominical, Costa Rica. Natura builds luxurious yet simple homes that are sustainable and thoughtful. The influences are primarily Japanese timber frame and Balinese, and you can see a combination of elements throughout the homes.

Every effort has been made to source the most sustainable materials and build the homes in about 1/2 the time of traditional construction (6 months estimated total time after materials arrive). Pricing is for seamless, turnkey construction, including basic foundation/site work, in house design, permitting and construction. Basic fixtures are included but upgraded fixtures, furniture and appliances are not, although we have sourced great furniture and low-energy appliances and can help with a package for you if you’d like.

They have a number of basic designs we are working with, but the system is modular, so you can help design a home that makes sense for you based on your individual desires.

You can design the basic size and layout you have planned for your home and when you plan on beginning construction they can send you current pricing and some floor plans.

For southern zone of Costa Rica Real Estate, this is a major consideration for someone contemplating relocating here.

Additional Options
Custom ?oor plans available.
We partner with several sustainability pioneers—John Todd Ecological Design and Bill Reed, among others—to provide sustainable systems and services appropriate to your location. These include:
• Solar photovoltaic or micro-hydro turbines for energy generation
• Solar hot-water systems
• Constructed wetlands for wastewater management
• Organic polyculture farming for food production
Items NOT included in Natura Home package include:
• Shipping and handling for all components, including wood, appliances, plumbing, and lighting
• Feasibility studies
• Soil studies
• Permitting
• Site work, including but not limited to: foundations, septic tanks, pools, Jacuzzis™, etc.
• Additional workers and labor insurance
• HVAC
Interior and exterior paints, stains, waterproofing, sealers, oil finishes, etc.

All wood species have been chosen for strength, beauty, and natural durability to rot, fungus, and termites. Designed for durability and adaptability.
Engineered to meet Zone 4 seismic loads(as found in California) and 155-m.p.h. wind
loads (as found off the coast of Florida).

Our Lifestyle Property Tours include a tour of some of these structures and meeting the developer.

For more on this or southern zone Costa Rica living, please contact me at any time.

Between Uvita, Dominical and Ojochal things are not boring on the South Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. There is something for everyone!  Please check out the list of activities below:

ACTIVITIES

Contact Annie at Costa Rica Retirement Vacation Properties - south for more and check out our web

http://www.costaricaretirementvacationproperties.com/south_pacific.php

Title:  Rock and Roll in Costa Rica’s Whale Coast

Residents, retirees, locals and tourist in the Costa Ballena or South Pacific Coast of Costa Rica aren’t lacking for musical entertainment. Nancy Buchan who has been associated with Bonnie Rait, Jimmy Buffett and various big musical names lives here with her husband Good Time Charlie.  Charlie arranges various groups and live music all around the area.  Most lately, Nancy has been playing with Kim Carson and the Radiators.

For people in the area, there is live music at the Marakuya Bar in Dominical on Tuesdays, The Tucan Hotel in Uvita on Wednesdays (with a buffet dinner), Dominical’s Rum bar on Thursdays, Los Delfines in Bahia Uvita on Friday’s as well as Twisted Tucan in Ojochal, sometimes a reggae or calypso night at Las Terrazas on Saturdays, again at Uvita’s Tucan on Saturday’s with Trey’s Band and at the Hotel Rio Lindo on Sundays.  If that isn’t enough, Hotels Cuna del Angel and Crystal Ballena both hold  monthly classical music concerts or jazz.  Once a month, Mistura Waterfall restaurant has a full moon party with a bonfire and a band.  Taj Mahal was just at Playa Zancuda and The String Cheese incident owns land in Escaleras.

Check out the article submitted by Nancy Buchan concerning quality music here in Costa Rica

MUSIC

Seems like we`re all planting some kind of seed this time of year, full of hope for its growth and marveling at the new beginnings all around us. The plants are trying to take over, folks are getting married, artists are starting new paintings, the kids are giving recitals – it`s just a fine time to be in our little dysfunction junction.

My April column was all about the Infinite River Orchestra (Orquesta del Rio Infinito) and since I’ve been driving my buddies nuts with tales of this adventure, I feel compelled to tell my readers about it. To really get the feel of this project, check out www.rioinfinito.com for photos, videos, the environmental agenda, future plans, biographies of the participants and press. Everything was being documented, so I imagine there will be CDs and DVDs available at some point, and the first concert at La Sabana in San Jose has been on national TV at least twice. At that very visual concert we had two stages in the lake with a water fountain in between, a ramp in the middle with the two musical directors and pianists, Manuel Obregon from Costa Rica and Benjamin Taubkin from Brazil, great lighting effects and fireworks behind us.

We started rehearsals in San Jose with the 35 musicians from 18 different countries introducing themselves and playing something typical of their style. Others joined in if they understood it and felt like contributing, so basically we had a whole lot of mini-jams getting to know each other. A Peña. We all shared common ground in the music, and there were the typical instruments involved – 3 electric guitars, a couple of acoustic guitar-like variations, 3 electric bass, 2 saxophones, 2 violins (3 if you count this really weird looking instrument played with a bow  by Siba from Brazil), 2 flutes, 4 marimbas, a harp, a cello and 2 accordions. Then there`s the bizarre and fascinating percussion section, with leaf fronds that you shake, gourds and birdcages and rain sticks and strange things you blow into…and, did I mention Mauricio, the Ecuadorian Shaman who chanted and played 3 five foot long flutes at the same time? Or the seven unbelievable female vocalists who left their egos at the door and thrilled us all with their powerful messages and  harmonies.

At a large press conference we all met Leon Gieco, an Argentinian singer, songwriter, environmental and social activist who has over 30 CDs to his credit and who is considered to be the Bob Dylan/Pete Seeger of South America. He`s performed  with Sting and Springsteen and others onstage at the Amnesty International  concerts. He`s written and published at least 3 books. His song, Solo le pido a Dios, is a passion filled anthem for the humble man that never failed to bring people to their feet singing along – often with tears rolling down their faces. An incredibly intense and important man, he had been active in protecting and cleaning up rivers in his country, so it was a natural fit for him to combine his efforts with Manuel Obregon and the objectives of the Orquesta del Rio Infinito. This man was soooo cool and was treated like royalty wherever we went, but he was just another guy jamming on the bus and was gracious and nice to everyone.

In the lovely town of Palmares we did some workshops with local musicians and music students, and you should have seen their smiles when they were invited to join the band on stage for the finale. Some 60 families patiently waited an hour and a half after the concert to collect a musician or crew member to take home with them. My family lived on a lovely hillside with a view of Poas Volcano, and their 7 year old daughter gave up her pink Barbie doll filled bedroom to me – a stranger just making music. A water blessing ceremony was held near there one afternoon, with local indigenous people and Ticos working together to address their issues politically, and everywhere we went peope signed letters to public officials supporting environmental attention to the health of rivers.

NOTES

The final concert was in the town of San Carlos , Nicaragua, on a beautiful Lake Cocibolca . We passed through a little customs shack on the Costa Rican side, and then the musicians all got on a flat bottomed boat to go down the Rio San Juan into Nicaragua. As we passed the border we were surrounded by boats full of machine-gun carrying policemen with big ole` smiles, boats full of cameramen and writers, and a boat with a brass band. Rarely has a bunch of musicians had such a glorious escort into a country… We were paraded through town and met at the stage by the mayor and other dignitaries. We were treated to performances by local school children about how they are helping to protect their rivers, and the entire event was broadcast live over the internet in all of Central and South America.

Throughout this trip children made tapestries or quilts or collages or some kind of art to demonstrate and educate about the plight of the rivers. Local grass-roots ecologically aware groups set up information centers and even the press seemed to center in on the message and not just the messengers. Seeing the pride and willingness of ordinary people to be caretakers of this planet was a hopeful and humbling experience.

Of course dancing with my 70 something violin playing buddy Miguel from Panama was also humbling, but one of my favorite moments. There were some hilarious stuff that went down , and no doubt there were some great musical moments, so I hope everyone gets a chance to hear or watch some of the concerts. However, the enduring message is one of hope that change can happen when our shared efforts produce something much grander and more important than the individual.

We`re headed down the Amazon in November and the Mississippi the next year, so stay tuned!

There`s a diverse and interesting concert coming up on June 7^th at 7:00 pm at the Cultural Center in San Isidro.  “Ayer, Hoy and Siempre”, (Yesterday, Today and Always), will be a performance of Tangos, Boleros, Waltzes, Bachatas, Sambas and other styles of Latin music. The participants are current and ex students and faculty from the Escuela Sinfonica (music school in San Isidro near the square), and there will be a small orchestra accompanying several different singers, all under the direction of Leonel Calvo.

As always, thanks for supporting live music and I urge business and hotel owners to contact the various venues around town and find out what`s happening so they can tell their guests or clients about their choices. Locals and visitors should check with the Rum Bar at Rio Lindo as they have BBQ and music on most Sundays and often music inside on Thursdays.

Maracatu has open jam night on Tuesdays, and the Tucan Bar in Uvita has live music and buffet on Wednesdays, with a special welcome back party and open jam for Nelson and Oliver on June 2^nd.

Someone contacted me about a free (needs work) upright piano she will donate to a school or church or similar good cause. Email me at njbfiddle@aol.com or 88 32 5810.

“Musical compositions, it should be remembered, do not inhabit certain countries, certain museums.like paintings and statues. The Mozart Quintet is not shut up in Salzburg: I have it in my pocket” Henri Rabaud

“You`ve got to continue to grow, or you`re just like last night`s cornbread – stale and dry.”

Residents of Costa Rica’s Whale Coast have a hard choice to make when deciding where to dine!  There are so many options.  Many of the members of one of Christopher Howard’s New Golden Door to Costa Rica Tour were impressed with The Chef’s Table.  Apparently, the food critics were also.  Please refer to the following article.

We have many properties in close proximity to this wonderful restaurant.

Building Lot Hawk Vista IV $150,000

House Hawk Vista III $385,000

Building Lot Hawk Vista II $150,000

House Hawk Vista I $550,000

These are both large parcel properties for an Environmentally conscious developer or lots and turn key houses for newcomers and persons seeking retirement in Costa Rica.

This article that was published in the monthly newspaper “Dominical Days” was written by the food critics Marcel and Andres.

Time Out

THE CHEF`S TABLE

There are few professionally trained international chefs in Costa Rica and Sarah Plowright is one of them. She received her initial training and her Cordon Bleu degree in her native England. Then she worked, among others, with world famous star chefs such as Roger Vergé at his famous Moulin de Mougins in Southern France and also spent some time in United States. For years, she cooked for the rich and famous on their glamorous luxury yachts. That`s where she met her partner Paul Perks.

Chef`s Table is a romantic dong hideout nestled away above Uvita, a few minutes from the Costanera Sur. The restaurant is open for dinner only and subsequently one is left to wonder how beautiful the setting must be during daytime. The dinner menus are either a multiple-course menu gourmand (Sat/Sun) or a somewhat simpler barbecue night (Mon) with a choice of various grilled meat (marinated ribs), chicken or fish. Vegetarians will love the Chef`s Table since there is always something special available for them. The cuisine is distinctly Mediterranean in style but is often accented with Asian flavors.

Guests at Chef`s Table are invited to partake in a monthly raffle. The winner receives a dinner for two. Each raffle ticket is rewarded with a bottle of wine.

Paul Perk`s Australian strine makes him a very distinguishable host and maitre d`.

He seemingly enjoys taking care of all his client`s needs, from their arrival during a torrential tropical rainstorm to the farewell. Being a professional engineer by training, he applied his skills to building anything and everything at this romantic restaurant and retreat, from wrought-iron spiral staircases to the very distinct chairs.

Chef`s Table is the restaurant that goes with Villas de las Aves, a retreat offering quiet and private accommodations in a true jungle setting.

Highlights: Weekly changing menu gourmand. The home-made focaccia and the pesto-flavored olive oil dip are to die for. Romantic outdoor setting with very attentive service. They`re open on Mondays!

Room for Improvement: Wine selection is somewhat restricted. No credit cards due to lack of a phone line. Difference between menu gourmand and barbecue dinners could be communicated more clearly.