“It’s not easy to find organic produce in Costa Rica,” owner and registered nutritionist/herbalist Jill Ruttenberg says, “so we grow especially our greens and some fruits here on the property to be sure they are fresh and organic. Vegetables can lose up to 45 percent of their nutritional value between the time they are picked and when you buy them in the grocery store, and it is a proven fact that organic produce has more vitamins and minerals than commercially grown, non-organic produce.”

Hydroponically grown celery

The greenhouse at AmaTierra is hydroponic; space-saving heavy plastic hanging bags make growing easier, and rice hulls and coconut fiber are used to keep in moisture. Here you will find fresh arugula, fennel, mint, swiss chard, lettuce and bok choy, vegetables rich in antioxidants (cancer-fighting agents), vitamins and minerals. Guests give AmaTierra 5 stars on TripAdvisor.com for their food, and freshness and flavor is the main reason why.

Last December AmaTierra grew and harvested 80 kilos of turmeric (curcuma longa), a root used in Indian cooking that has medicinal properties to help inflammation, liver and digestive problems, and to help prevent cancer. “We use turmeric in many of our dishes here,” Ruttenberg says, “in curries, gallo pinto, soups and oven-roasted root vegetables. It has a pretty mild flavor but is a powerful herbal ally.”

As a professional clinical herbalist registered with the American Herbalist Guild, Ruttenberg leads detox retreats and counsels both visiting guests and local residents to help them improve their physical health. “Many of the plant medicines I use come from the land here. Costa Rica is rich in medicinal plants—guava leaves for diarrhea, gotu kola for memory and menopause symptoms, gotas amargas and hombre grande for parasites–all of these can be made into strong medicines to help people heal.”

Organics are catching on with the locals too! The Ruttenbergs created the AmaTierra Foundation as a response to what they saw as a need for education in healthy nutrition and sustainable practices. The Foundation is reaching out to help families build their own hydroponic gardens so they can enjoy fresh produce and better health. People are learning that it’s a fast, easy and inexpensive way to eat!

Amatierra wellness, yoga center and spa

All are invited to come and see the gardens at AmaTierra, especially now that green season special rates are in effect. “Perhaps you will be inspired to grow your own!” says Jill. “Or, call ahead if you want to come for lunch or dinner, or just spend a nice day taking a yoga class or treat yourself to a therapeutic massage.”

More info:

http://www.ticotimes.net/Obama-in-C.R/News-Briefs/Security-operation-for-Obama-visit-biggest-in-Costa-Rica-s-history-_Tuesday-April-30-2013

http://www.ticotimes.net/Obama-in-C.R/News-Briefs/U.S.-President-Barack-Obama-to-visit-Costa-Rica-in-May_Wednesday-March-27-2013

The Kekoldi Hotel in Downtown San Jose

After a few visits to Costa Rica in the early 1990’s, Edgar decided to leave behind the often cold and gloomy weather of his German homeland for a new and perhaps more carefree adventure in tropical Costa Rica. Attracted by the eternal spring like temperatures of the Central Valley, he decided to renovate an existing building in the historic Amon district of San Jose in 1994. Using his imagination, and the decorating talent of the well known English artist Helen Eltis, his dream project became what it is still known as today – the Kekoldi Garden Hotel in San Jose, an art deco hotel just out of the immediate bustle of San Jose, but close to trendy restaurants, museums and theaters. “Business was brisk and I was happy with the results of what I had set out to do, but there was one problem,” relates Edgar, “Even though I owned the business, I didn’t own the building and the land. I was a tenant, subject to the whims of the owner who could raise the lease cost periodically. I wanted more security and opportunity by owning the land, and that is when I became interested in Granada.”

Granada is actually the oldest city on the American Continent, being established in 1524, and has a lot of history and charm in its historic buildings, churches and museums, many built with thick walled adobe. “I was attracted to the lower prices of real estate,” Edgar says. “Once again, I decided to make another leap by buying a home in 2003 with the intention of converting it into a colonial style boutique hotel. So, now, I was owning one hotel business in Costa Rica and starting another in Nicaragua. I was very busy, to be sure. During several years I maintained at the same time the ‘Kekoldi Beach Hotel’ in Manuel Antonio, an outlet of the Kekoldi San Jose, also in a rented property.”

Edgar went on to explain that the approval process in Nicaragua was more intensive and bureaucratic than Costa Rica, taking a year and a half just to get approval to convert the structure. Owning a building didn’t mean that you could do just whatever you wanted to do with it. Architectural and planning reports had to be generated that were hundreds of pages long. The city had strict architectural style guidelines so they could maintain the Colonial atmosphere motif. “In Costa Rica there is the ICT; in Nicaragua, there is INTUR, and you have to please everybody, locally and nationally.”

The Kekoldi Hotel in Granada, Nicaragua

The Kekoldi-Nicaragua opened in Christmas of 2005, a tasteful colonial hotel finished to the design and decorating specifications of Robert Berberena de la Rocha, a local Granadian painter and artist, who developed the artistical and color concept, completing Edgar´s second dream. Juggling between managing two or three hotel businesses came to an end when the Kekoldi Beach Hotel ceased in 2007 and the Kekoldi San Jose hotel business was sold in 2011, and then Edgar could live full time in Granada at the hotel.

Edgar with Staff at Hotel Kekoldi, Nicaragua

What would be the difficulties, benefits and ease of owning a business in both places?

Edgar laughed and said, “In most cases, equal but different, so they balance out. In Costa Rica, you have a more abundant source of professional, qualified employees. The approval process is much easier. I like the San Jose climate better. And, the tax system is far less complicated and onerous.”

“In Nicaragua, though, the people seem more genuine, but maybe that’s because they appreciate the opportunity to work in a tourism related business, one of the best jobs available. Labor is less expensive. On the other hand, business wise, when I made the decision to buy in Granada in 2003, there were only 8 hotels here; now there are 95. I am sure there has not been a proportionate growth in downtown San Jose. Yes, tourism has grown in Nicaragua, but the pie is being split more ways. But, in the end, life is much about what you make of it, no matter where you live, and I’m glad I had a chance to be part of ‘Pura Vida’, and now ‘Diacachimba Mae’”.

“My husband David and I are really excited about this news,” says Discovery Beach House vacation rental villa homeowner, Evelyn Gallardo. “A wedding is such a joyful day for the bride and groom and we love the special energy it brings into our home.”

The Discovery Beach House is just steps from the world renowned Manuel Antonio Beach, just voted number 1 of the top 10 beaches in Central America in 2013 by Tripadvisor making it a most preferred location for the growing popularity of beach weddings. In addition, since the villa is right next to the beach on a private estate, the wedding party doesn’t have to travel to the beach location from the hillside houses. And, wedding receptions are held in the spacious “Great Room” of the home and in the surrounding grounds. “What could be more perfect?” Evelyn states.

Couples looking for an extraordinary tropical setting for their wedding are particularly attracted to the Discovery Beach House Villa, its gardens and wildlife. The one acre estate property was once part of Manuel Antonio National Park. When the boundaries were legally defined in the 1970s it fell outside the park limits – but no one told the monkeys. Capuchin, red-backed squirrel and howler monkeys continue to follow their regular routes along the monkey corridor through the property. Two- and three-toed sloths, iguanas and a variety of birds can also be found. “For couples who want to exchange marriage vows in an ecological, tropical setting, they agree this location is the best,” says Evelyn.

Evelyn and David built the Discovery Beach House in 2006. They worked with a botanist to enrich the ecosystem for the local wildlife. They planted 75 trees with identifying plaques and created their own private nature resort. “Years ago we only heard howler monkeys in the distance,” says Evelyn, “but this year they’re appearing in our back yard to eat fruit from the trees we planted specifically for them.”

The 3 bedroom 3 bath Discovery Beach House is a blend of Spanish and modern architecture. Its French doors and generous picture windows allow the outdoors in so guests can appreciate nature from every room. It’s one of only three luxury vacation villas located right on the beach in Manuel Antonio. “The house itself, the grounds, the special touches by our incredible staff, plus the Manuel Antonio Beach location is why I feel that it was voted the top vacation rental home in Manuel Antonio in 2012 by Tripadvisor and FlipKey,” Evelyn relates.

One Italian bride said, “On the day of our wedding I was getting ready in the master bedroom when I looked out on the balcony and saw several monkeys watching me. It was magical! I was also surprised at how much less expensive it was to get married in Costa Rica than in Italy, and we also loved the bonus of getting a tropical vacation.” Bride Ana Creus del Campo vows she’ll spread the word to her friends in Italy.

Residents of Escazu to Santa Ana may have noticed a difference in the skyline along the “Calle Vieja” road between the two cities, and they are correct. There has been a transformation in the exterior of the landmark Alta Hotel in Costa Rica overlooking the Central Valley. Recognized as one of the original, luxury boutique hotels in the area, it has recently been acquired by the Nature Group, of which Nature Air Regional Airlines, the first carbon neutral airline in the world, and Nature Vacations are a part.

In the pages of his most recent in flight magazine, “Landings”, Alex Khajavi, CEO of Nature Group relates, “I always wanted to create a city hotel with panache, casual sophistication, caring service, black and white pictures and books. A great bed with white natural cotton sheets, just fluffy enough to evoke dreams of white Camargue horses running in knee high water. A great bar with single malt scotches, wines of notable terroir that speak from what’s inside the bottle rather than the babble on the label.”

Alta Hotel Reception

Reflecting on the changes since the purchase last year, Orvieto Morales, Director Comercial of Nature Group, explains that the hotel was closed in October for a complete refurbishing and stylish redecorating and then reopened on December 13. “All areas were essentially gutted – the 23 rooms, all common areas, the kitchen, new stylish furniture was acquired, complete interior and exterior painting was completed, even the gardens replanted. An interior designer was commissioned to incorporate the changes we wanted to emphasize a new avant-garde / neoclassical motif.”

The La Luz Restaurant in the Alta Hotel

The Alta Hotel was originally built almost twenty years ago, a stunning architectural masterpiece bordering on a Baroque / Mediterranean design with vaulted ceilings in the lobby and main staircases. One of the only upscale boutique hotels with a view in the area at that time, it quickly gained prominence, as well as the gourmet restaurant, “La Luz”. With its recent acquisition by Nature Group, standards have been elevated to, “offer the discriminating vacationer or business executive deluxe accommodations, amenities and dining,” relates Alex. “Our new ‘Alta’ is where San Jose’s high life reaches a new summit.”

As mentioned in the in flight magazine, “Landings”, major airlines have in the past started upscale hotels – for instance Pan Am opening the Intercontinental. To that same end, in his “Founder’s Letter” in the March edition, Alex writes, “Alta is a hotel for adventurers, explorers, seekers, writers, journalists, lovers and bohemian minds. A dream of times past when elegant ladies walked with wide brim hats in long fitted skirts and lapeled double layered dresses.”

“When they travel all the way to get to this side of the world, Europeans want to see as much as possible. Offering Nicaragua as an extension, gives added value to the Costa Rica experience, and overall, Nicaragua is not a competitor of Costa Rica as they offer different experiences and sites that we don’t have, like Granada and Leon.   We have found that by assuring the European traveler that they won’t run out of things to do and places to see actually brings Costa Rica more business, as they choose to stay here most of the time anyway.  We’re glad we decided to move into this sector.”

According to statistics, Nicaragua attracted more than 1 million tourists in 2011, about 2.8% more compared to 2010.  With extensive campaigns by the governmental tourism board, known as INTUR, included running ads on TripAdvisor and The New York Times, this has lead Nicaragua to experience an increasing arrival of US travelers and international travelers.

Years ago, the Costa Rican travel agencies started taking small vans with travelers back and forth across the border. Many were surprised and wanted to stay for more than a day.  Added Mauricio, “Curious travelers and wholesalers from Europe were gradually starting to ask for more authentic and different experiences beyond our borders, and that is how we began our sister company Panama Trails 5 years ago with a great response and constant growth, extending a travelers vacation time in Costa Rica, too. Now the picturesque landscape of Nicaragua with its white sandy beaches, cultural diversity and colonial cities are the perfect next step to keep offering new ‘trails’ to our guests”!

INTUR, and the first-hand knowledge and experiences of the staff at Nicaraguan Trails is changing the unsound perception of security problems within Nicaragua and spreading the word that it’s now a very different Central American destination. Professionals in the travel business claim tourism in Nicaragua is growing at about 15 percent every year. Part of the reason might be the fact that visionaries like Nicaraguan Trails offer good value priced packages, lodging, transportation, and daily tours from Managua, Granada, Leon, Ometepe, and the San Juan River.  “The confidence of planning the holidays with an ICT approved agency lends credibility also to the European traveler and their travel agencies, who are responsible to their governments for assuring that their clients are safe and receive the accommodations promised.  Costa Rican Trails, Nicaraguan Trails and Panama Trails has the confidence of those agencies,” states Mauricio.

Hotels, barefoot luxury retreats, restaurants with all local corn-based flavors and bars are opening up mainly on the Southern Pacific coasts and around the colonial cities, like Granada. Older Spanish style buildings border the city’s center square and decorated horse drawn buggies can be hired for travel around downtown Granada. “The friendly posture of the Nicaraguan people toward tourists and the great weather from December to April are some of the comments often made to us,” says Mauricio.  “Outdoors lovers and naturalists can enjoy the off-the-beaten path villages with the inexpensive, safe and clean lodging options, all the way up to luxurious boutique hotels in the middle of Lake Nicaragua.  There is something for everyone!”

Related: Nicaragua Luring More Luxury Tourists

We previously had written about the joy of moving to Costa Rica and pursuing our dream of having a small hotel near the beach and living Pura Vida after having originally started with meeting each other while working as crew members on private mega yachts, which together was our first great adventure.

Now, after making a very difficult decision to fully retire and sell this well established and successful hotel business (www.hotelforsalecostarica.net)so that we can move on to our next great adventure, we realize at times we have some very strong regrets! We are moving on to enjoy retirement, to travel and visit some of the many great people we have met here at our hotel from around the world, who we promised we would come see some day, while keeping Costa Rica as our base.

Now, “some day” has come.

Since we met each other over 25 years ago, we have always seemed to hop off our present adventure, whatever it may be, and onto a new one every 6 to 8 years. So, again we are hopping off this one and onto another.

A few weeks after we jumped into the decision to sell the hotel, we started getting sellers remorse. We will still go through with a sale when one comes, ready to chase new adventures, but we had a long hard talk about our experiences here, and came to realize what a fantastic experience this has been in Costa Rica.

When we arrived here in Cahuita, we were coming from two very stressful executive careers in the USA and living in the fast track, working 12 hour days, six day weeks. We accumulated lots of stuff and wasted lots of money. It took us a while to calm down and appreciate Costa Rica, Cahuita, the people, the lifestyle and what we have here in Cahuita.

What our discussion made us realize, is how much it has changed us – the way we think, the way we live, our wants, needs and desires, our outlook and opinions on people and life in general. It has been a great education, both mentally and physically and one we are really happy we have experienced. It will be tough to leave.

Our previous executive lifestyle had taught us, pushed us, to live with more, always more. We never really and truly enjoyed it. We were taught that is what you are supposed to do. This Pura Vida life has taught us how to live with less, yet enjoy it more. We have learned to shun the trappings of consumerism and accumulating “stuff”, of spending more and making more.

Living here has taught us the true beauty of a sunrise over the beach at Playa Negra every morning when we walk and run the dog and watch the Pelicans skim the waves, and every afternoon as the sun sets and leaves the sky a plethora of colors and the ocean a calm gray. It really does bring a smile to your face and calmness to your heart every day.

This experience has taught us to live healthier, eating more fresh fruits, vegetables and fish and less meat. And because of the weather, to eat less. We have learned to exercise more and to worry less. We have learned the Pura Vida way” “It will happen, do not worry, it will just take some time;” ‘Tranquillo man, it is not that important”.

It took a while to realize that the trappings of materialism and consumerism are not relevant. What is, are the great friends and neighbors we have grown to know here. The wonderful relaxed lifestyle, friendships, camaraderie and acceptance of who you are as a person now, rather than what you do and what you have, who you were or what you did.

No one here has ever asked what we did before we got here or what we have before getting to know us, and best of all, no one cares. They just care that you are who you are, and that if you need help, they are there, and if they need help, you come through, and that we all help each other – almost a kind of a utopian lifestyle. There are the normal relationship problems, of course. You just cannot get along with absolutely everyone all the time. But it is different here.

Living Pura Vida has taught us the use of plants, herbs and flowers for health and healing, without using pharmacological imitations of what is natural. It has taught us to eat more organic foods, which are so readily available and to breath fresh air that is so clean all the time here on the coast. It has taught us to enjoy our walks, hikes, Yoga, dance, swimming and using our bodies to enjoy our health rather than sustain our existence.

In moving on from this great little hotel and the life style we have grown to love, to our new adventures, will we have regrets? Absolutely!! It has been a wonderful and fulfilling adventure. We will take with us a new life and a new way of living. A new way to live with what you need rather than what you are supposed to have, a way to eat what is good rather than what is easy, a way to meet and enjoy new and old friends just for the friendship rather than for their status, position or usefulness.

We hope and pray that whoever steps into our place here in Cahuita will have the same wonderful and fulfilling and enduring experience as we have.
Pura Vida!

Joe and Chris

Fernández Aguilar, “Cermamicas Con Nombre Y Apellido,” is proud to announce the opening of their new and luxurious showroom in upscale Escazu, just three blocks west of the Paco Shopping Center on the old road to Santa Ana, Calle Vieja.

Formerly the location of the La Casa de Doña Lela Restaurant, that structure was removed entirely to make way for the advanced design concepts of architect Denise Michaud.  With floor to ceiling expanses of glass letting in the natural light, the tasteful use of marble and ceramic tiling, the ensuing comfortable browsing environment invites clients to explore their re-decorating ideas.

Architect Denise Michaud at entrance of new Fernandez Aguilar showroom

For generations, starting at their first location on 10th Avenue in downtown San José, Fernández Aguilar has been supplying discriminating Costa Ricans with the finest qualities of ceramic tiles, marble, bathroom fixtures and vanities, laminated flooring and glass blocks.

The new showroom facilities were opened to the public just a few weeks ago, but a grand opening is planned for January, after the Christmas holiday season, according to Denise Michaud Fernández, the store manager and member of the family.

For more information about the products and services of Fernández Aguilar, visit their website at www.feraguilar.co.cr

What brought you to Costa Rica originally?
Basically my love for the Latin American way of life and for the Spanish language. I had lived and studied in Mexico and thought that I wanted to eventually live there. However, a voice inside me told me to look at the bigger picture and explore Central and South America to see if there was a better place to live. I eventually explored all of the countries in Latin America except for Colombia and Venezuela. In 1978 I came to Costa Rica and it was love at first site.

What made Costa Rica different from the other countries?
The beauty of the country, the vibe of the people, the peaceful atmosphere and a lot of intangibles. I began to return to Costa Rica every chance I had. My first trip was for two weeks. My next visit was for a month. Each time I found a way to protract my stay. I was living in the San Francisco Bay Area but found myself spending most of my time thinking about Costa Rica. I really felt more at home here than in the United States. Consequently, I decided to follow my heart and move to Costa Rica to pursue my dream. I did not want to wait until I was 65 years old and retired to make the move.

How was Costa Rica different in the early days?
You wouldn’t recognize it. There was no cable TV, everything was a hell of a lot cheaper, few people had automobiles, there was an air of innocence, life was a lot simpler, and there were hardly any products in the supermarkets from the U.S. In fact, every time I visited the U.S. I would stock up on things that were not available here. In those days before TV and the Internet the U.S. Influence was a lot less than it is now and there were very few American and retirees.

Author & tour leader, Chris, relaxes on a retirement tour

How did you get into the relocation/retirement book business?
Around 1988 I read an article about a book on retirement in Mexico. It dawned on me that there were no books about living and retiring in Costa Rica, and my creative juices started to flow. I put together a 100-page rudimentary booklet titled The Golden Door to Retirement and Living in Costa Rica about retiring here and started to advertise it in the Tico Times. Much to my surprise it started to sell like “hot cakes “and I couldn’t keep up with the demand. Over the years my product evolved into the 700-page bestselling travel guidebook it is today.

Chris with retirement tour group watching a Pacific sunset

When did you start doing tours?
I had a good friend, Shirley Miller, who published Costa Rica’s first English newsletter called The Costa Rica Outlook. Shirley was the pioneer in the retirement tour business here. She ended up doing a few tours but had trouble making money, so she gave up on the idea. A couple of years later I was contacted by someone who knew her and ran an organization called The Overseas Retirement Network. They offered tours to Belize and Mexico and wanted to do they same thing in Costa Rica because of the county’s growing popularity. They contacted me and I did a couple of successful tours for them in 1997.

June, 2012 retirement tour group picture with Chris

However, the owner of ORN had his hands full with another business and decided doing tours was just too much for him to handle, so he suggested I branch out on my own. I did and the rest is history. Over the years I have personally helped 1000s of people relocate and retire here successfully. My tours have been featured in many newspapers and magazines like Newsweek and on the NBC Today Show, CNBC World Business News and Fox News.

For about half of what it would take to operate a qualified operation in the United States, a small business can set up a satellite marketing office in Costa Rica – an important financial savings, especially in the present state of the world’s economy. One such company is Dixon Group Services, an Atlanta based home improvement company specializing in roofing, decks, insulation, painting and energy efficient window installations.

Jairo and Melissa reviewing sales figures for the month.

A family centered business began when Costa Rican born Jairo Murillo moved to Atlanta, Georgia 15 years ago and started a painting company called “Dixon Painting”. There he met and married Melissa and together they worked to build a family business with sales over $5,000,000 a year. After the 2008 recession, they needed to find a way to cut costs so they moved some of their departments to Costa Rica including the call center based marketing arm. This has resulted in a significant cost savings for the company which has allowed them to remain completive during the ongoing recession. Jairo’s partner now is also his brother, Bicet, which runs the crews on the jobs in Georgia.

Dixon Office and Call Center in the Hills of Atenas

“When I came back to Costa Rica, I didn’t want to put the business call center in San Jose, and so choose Atenas to live in and to set up our satellite marketing office here,” explained Jairo. “After first setting up the call center in rented facilities in downtown Atenas, I realized not only the ongoing cost of rent was too high, but the closed in atmosphere of being downtown was not what I wanted for my wife and me, or for my employees. So, I bought this land 10 kilometers from town and built our ‘country marketing center’!”

A better work environment makes for a better employee

Every office and cubicle has a view to the beautiful hills, plants and trees surrounding the building – a much better work environment. We have an outside eating area, and I even built two attached apartments for employees with a swimming pool. You can’t get this kind of work environment in downtown Atenas, and certainly, not Atlanta!”

2 apartments and swimming pool for employees

Outside, looking across the driveway to the hills, I could see cows and bulls meandering through the pasture land with a warm breeze blowing gently.

Jairo and Melissa have 2 children, and their nine year old daughter recently hand painted a Dixon sign which proudly hangs in Melissa’s office with the caption, “When houses need repair, we are there to help.”

Jairo discusses website changes with Adriana of marketing department

To co-ordinate activities with Bicet, they sometimes divide their time between the US and Costa Rica.

“This is the best of both worlds type of situation,” says Jairo with a smile. “We get to operate a successful business in Atlanta, I get to be back in my native Costa Rica, and all while saving money for the company.”