Photo caption: Be one of the first three to email: info@crsurf.com with the name of this break and win a sticker pack from CR Surf Travel Co.

~ Photo: Alfonso Petrirena (Last month was “Tulin”)

FORECAST

Caribbean Coast: Since the experts are calling for an active hurricane season for the Atlantic, it’s expected to push in chest to head-high surf anytime the winds pick up. Otherwise it will be hot, humid, and flat — great for snorkeling and sunbathing with a cold Imperial or coconut water.

Pacific Coast: Already, two tropical systems have brushed the coastline, bringing some flooding and plenty of local wind swell. After the big south swell pushes 2 to 3 feet overhead through for the Fourth of July weekend, it backs off to chest to head-high surf for the next week. Then another southwest swell arrives midmonth, keeping it overhead for another week, followed by waves from the south. Nothing major is showing later in the month, so the best waves are at the beginning.

New moon: July 11

Full moon: June 25

TRAVEL

A few rumbles are still being felt along the coast, and the new toll road to the Pacific has been closed off temporarily during certain days, so be prepared for detours or take the old route. The problem was that the walls cut from the mountain were too steep, and so rocks have been falling on the highway.

If you head to the Caribbean, be sure to check out a festival created in honor of Costa Rican calypso legend Walter “Mr. Gavitt” Ferguson. It will be celebrated July 5-18 in his hometown of Cahuita, on the southern Caribbean coast. Read more on their site, Festival del Cultura de Cahuita — www.adic.soy.es.

La Dolce Vita in Playa Esterillos Oeste is holding a photo contest, with a three-night stay at the resort as the top prize. Check their site for more information and to submit your photo — www.resortladolcevita.com

There are still plenty of great hotels are offering special low season deals that only CRSURF promote. How about $15/night economy rooms in Playa Grande, hostels and guesthouses from $12/night per person? A standard SUV is only $168 plus insurance. So send us your ideas for a relaxing summer vacation with great surf and we’ll put together a trip for you.

Best flights found for July: JetBlue from Orlando for $426, American Airlines from Miami for $340. The cheaper flights are later in the month and August.

CONTESTS

Luz de Vida Resort in Santa Teresa is hosting a pro surf contest on the weekend of July 9-11. There will be $10,000 in prizes with Open, Juniors, and Womens divisions. Check www.luzdevida-resort.com/torneo/Challenge.html

The Costa Rica National Surf Circuit ended June 26 with Luis Vindas winning the National title in the Open Division. Carlos Munoz took 1st place for Juniors and Lisbeth Vindas won her 8th National title. Congratulations to Noe Mar McGonagle from Pavones, on the CRSURF team, who took 1st in Grommets and 2nd in Boys.

ENVIRONMENT/COMMUNITY

Help put up bridges for monkeys in Manuel Antonio. Call 2777-2592 or e-mail info@kidssavingtherainforest.org. Or if you are in Playa Negra, get out to Azul Profundo Boutique or Luna Llena hotel to buy a souvenir t-shirt, mug, or sticker for the Salve Monos “Save the Monkey” program. They dedicate countless hours and every dollar or colon received to the area’s howler monkeys. All profits go to planting trees for corridors, putting up bridges over streets and power lines, and conducting population studies.

Thanks to Ron McLean at Dominical Photos, the lifeguard program has a new website. The lifeguards have made dozens of saves this year, and their salaries rely on donations from the community and tourists. During the last peak season, professional lifeguards stayed in town to volunteer their services, too. If you’d like to contribute resources to the program, visit www.dominicallifeguards.com. CRSURF also supports the lifeguards in Esterillos, Tamarindo, and Playa Cocles.

CRSURF eco-T-shirts are on still on sale for only $10! They are made in Florida from recycled plastic and cotton, and we are donating $3 from each shirt sold to the Surfrider Foundation’s Tamarindo Chapter, PRETOMA (to stop illegal shark finning), and the Dominical Lifeguards. You can also buy leashes and boardbags from WaveTribe, made from hemp and recycled materials.

Photo caption: Be one of the first three to email info@crsurf.com with the name of this break and win a sticker pack from CR Surf Travel Co. ~ Photo: GG

FORECAST
Caribbean Coast: Don’t expect big surf this month, but when it’s tiny and the sun is shining the snorkeling is incredible. The rainy season has started, so also be prepared for an afternoon dousing. What’s best is that the hotels drop their rates and when there’s surf the lineups won’t be nearly as crowded.

Pacific Coast: May is a favorite month to travel to the Pacific. First, you have very consistent swells from the south and southwest, and second, the high season is over and summer hasn’t started, which means fewer crowds. Thirdly, the rainy season dampens the dust and turns the landscape green again. It’s not the daily 12-hour downpours you get in October, more like afternoon showers that help afternoon glass-off sessions.

New moon: May 13

Full moon: May 27

TRAVEL
The movie release for “Fe De Agua,” the story of a local surfer from Guanacaste who goes pro, will take place at Aqua Disco on May 7 in Tamarindo at 7 p.m. The movie was filmed on the Nicoya Peninsula and employed local actors and directors. In other news, I’ve been putting together a lot of honeymoon trips, which include a few days at Volcan Arenal and a couple of days in Tamarindo, wrapping up the vacation in Nosara. These custom packages are priced at less than $1,500 per couple for the rooms and the car rental. With summertime around the corner, I also have some great options for the family and for college students who need low-budget accommodations. Just send a note to travel@crsurf.com. Mention the “Beachside Resident” when you book a trip, and you’ll get a free CRSURF t-shirt for every traveler coming with you.

CONTESTS
The next contest on the Circuito Nacional de Surf will take place May 22-23 in Nosara. Then the grand finale occurs June 25-26 in Playa Hermosa. Come watch the best surfers in the country compete to see who makes it on to the National team and on to the ISA World Surfing Games. Also, save the date of July 9 as Hotel Luz de Vida in Santa Teresa hosts an international surf competition with a $10,000 purse. Check the website and Facebook page as more details become available.

ENVIRONMENT/COMMUNITY
How about some summer reading for the kids?? Check out “All the Way to the Ocean,” a book that teaches kids not to litter because it will eventually end up in the sea and hurt marine life. Written by Joel Harper with a introduction by Laird Hamilton, it’s a great way to show your kids how to take care of our oceans. You can buy it in our online store — www.crsurfshop.com.

Did you know the Costa Rican government wants to downgrade the Las Baulas National Park to allow more development in Playa Grande? This is one of the last nesting sites of the endangered leatherback turtle in ALL of the Americas. You can help protect the park by signing this petition created by the Natural Resource Defense Council, posted on the CRSURF Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/crsurf.

CRSURF eco-T-shirts are on still on sale for only $12.99 including postage! They are made in Florida from recycled plastic and cotton, and we’re donating $3 from each shirt sold to the Surfrider Foundation’s Tamarindo Chapter, PRETOMA (to stop illegal shark finning), and the Dominical Lifeguards. You can also buy leashes and boardbags from WaveTribe, made from hemp and recycled materials. Why not save a little green while you’re out in the big blue?

Costa Rica Surf Report
By Greg Gordon
http://www.crsurf.com

FORECAST
Caribbean Coast: This is another consistent month for surf, with waves mostly head-high plus, but reaching double overhead. Lots of rain showers as well, so make sure you have tread on the tires for the roads and something strong to clean out your ears after a surf session. Two major surf contests this month will bring out the locals, so show respect in the lineup.

Pacific Coast: The Papagayo winds (from the northwest) really start howling this month, at times strong enough to cause upwelling, which means chilly water. Not that chilly, since you are 9-degrees latitude, but enough so you may want a springsuit up by Witch’s Rock. Waves arrive from the west-northwest and occasionally from the southwest, but don’t get too big. You will see surf from waist- to chest-high mostly, with some 1- to 2-foot overhead days scattered throughout the month.

New moon: February 13

Full moon: February 28

TRAVEL
(Email travel@crsurf.com if you are interested in any of these surf trips to Costa Rica)

Now is the time to start planning your Spring Break and summer surf getaways. Whether you’re just starting out and want to find a few lessons or you’re an expert looking to score epic uncrowded conditions, we can help you plan a custom trip to fit your budget. It’s what we’ve been doing since 1998. Flight specials on American Airlines from Orlando are ~$320 for March 28 or 29 to April 4. A small 4wd SUV costs only $219 per week plus insurance. So what are you waiting for? Send us an email and let us know what type of trip you’re looking for — travel@crsurf.com. (Prices can change quickly for flights, so no guarantees until they’re reserved).

CONTESTS
A Caribbean Surf Association has been created to help support the youth who want to improve their surfing skills on the Caribbean coast. A series of contests have been planned, the next one coinciding with the National Surf Circuit and taking place in Westfalia on February 20-21, and the organizers are looking for sponsors to help them with the financial burden. Their website — www.acosuca.com — has photos and news about upcoming events. If you’re interested in promoting your company and helping kids stay off drugs and instead participate in a healthy, active lifestyle, please contact info@crsurf.com. The Adelante Open is another contest taking place on February 27 in Playa Hermosa, Uvita (about 12 km south of Dominical). There will be cash prizes and an afterparty at the Adelante Hotel. Register at South Wave Surf Shop in Dominical or visit www.adelantehotel.net/surf.

ENVIRONMENT/COMMUNITY

* Florida has an important decision to make regarding oil drilling off the coast. If you disapprove of this idea, show your opposition by joining hands on the beach on February 13 at 1 p.m. Check www.handsacrossthesand.org for details.

* There will be a concert at the Harbor Reef Lodge in Nosara on February 16 to support the Nosara Wildlife Association. This comes right after the Craig Chaquito concert hosted by Safari Surf School on the 14.

* The Dominical Lifeguards are going through some difficult times financially, and without outside support will have to be disbanded. To help them out, go to www.dominicallifeguards.org and make a donation.

* CRSURF eco-T-shirts are on still on sale for only $12.99, including postage! They are made in Florida from recycled plastic and cotton, and we are donating $3 from each shirt sold to the Surfrider Foundation, the Dominical Lifeguards, and Pretoma.org (to stop the tuna farms in Punto Banco). You can also buy leashes and boardbags from WaveTribe made from hemp and recycled materials. Save a little green while you’re out in the big blue.

Surfer: Luis Castro

Costa Rica Surf Report and Forecast
By Greg Gordon
www.crsurf.com

FORECAST

Caribbean Coast: October usually means rainy season. This season is a little different since El Niño is in full-effect. That means more rain showers east of the Talamancan mountain range, but overall, less tropical activity for the Caribbean. No consistent swells coming until mid-November.

Pacific Coast: This month is usually the rainiest of the year, but with El Niño, it won’t be as plentiful, especially up in the northern Guanacaste region. This means cleaner conditions with plenty of south swells filing up from Peru. However, there will still be some heavy downpours toward the end of the month, so keep an eye out for lightning, flash floods, and objects floating in the lineup.

Full moon: October 4

New Moon: October 17

TRAVEL

Hotel and surf camps have their cheapest rates of the year in October. You can find a room on the beach with A/C and breakfast for <$50, or get up to 30% off boat trips or all-inclusive camps. Just take a look around our website, and when you see something you like, let us take care of the rest. Don’t forget to book your tickets now for the holidays. There are still tickets out there for under $300 from Miami, Orlando, and Fort Lauderdale, but you have to start planning with your family and friends. Let CR Surf Travel Co. find a great package for you that won’t break the bank. Email travel@crsurf.com if you’re interested in any of these surf trips to Costa Rica.

CONTESTS

The Jaco Surfing Association is putting together a contest to promote student surfers and education. It will consist of all age groups, from grade school through University, and prizes will be donated by local businesses. The contest will be held at the Best Western Jaco Beach on October 30 through November 1. There will also be a costume party at Bar El Muelle in the Jaco Beach with great prizes for the best costumes. For more info, contact Chuck at: chucks@racsa.co.cr, or Selena at: drselejaco@hotmail.com. Also, there are new dates set for the Central American Surf Championship. It will take place on October 24-25 at Playa El Sunzal, La Libertad, El Salvador.

COMMUNITY

With the help of donations from Surfrider Foundation Tamarindo, development group Las Mareas and area resident Drew Smith, Tamarindo’s only lifeguard, Jorge Zamora, had his salary paid through August. However, the lifeguard program still needs help to continue. The beach stand needs more equipment as well as more lifeguards, and of course the salary of the one remaining lifeguard needs to be protected. To help, contact Cheryl at: cherylmckillican@hotmail.com, or if you are in the area, talk to Mike Clifford at the Surfers Sports Club in Playa Langosta. The lifeguard program in Dominical is also having financial difficulties. In order to raise funds, calendars featuring local ticas are being sold for $20. Buy them at the hotel Tortilla Flats and go to www.dominicallifeguards.org to find out more on how to help the group.

ENVIRONMENT

Teams from National Geographic have been visiting Isla del Coco in submarines since September 9. While scientists gather data, film crews shoot scenes for an hour-long documentary to be aired on the National Geographic Channel. Follow the trip at www.ocean.nationalgeographic.com. Scientists have uploaded daily photos, videos and reports to the website during their visit. In other news, the leatherback turtle population has declined by 95% during the past two decades. Playa Grande, which was the nesting site for more than 1,000 leatherbacks per year in the late 1980s, now hosts only some 40 to 70 of the nesting sea turtles annually. Las Baulas National Park may be reduced by new Government legislation, and we want to know what you think about it. Post your comments on the CR Surf Travel page on Facebook.

Costa Rica Surf Report and Forecast

FORECAST

Caribbean Coast: During September it gets rainy and very inconsistent. Tropical systems generally head north, not west, so any fetch is heading in the wrong direction. On the good side, it’s very inexpensive to eat and stay comfortably, it’s not crowded, and when the occasional short-period swell shows up, you have a number of reefs and sand bars to choose from.

Pacific Coast: This month is tricky since many breaks are tide dependent — meaning it could be chest-high at near low tide and a foot overhead at an hour before high tide. Add to that the increased chance of the wind coming on shore early. You have to know where to go to get the goods and find the break that doesn’t have 30 surfers on it. (That’s where we can help you plan your trip…)

Full moon: September 4th; New Moon: September 18

TRAVEL

Girls Only Surf Camp? We can help you choose from a dozen options in Costa Rica which cater to every variety of chica. Whether it’s a mom-and-daughter bonding trip, an all-inclusive experience with nothing to plan but eat, surf, spa, stretch, and sleep, OR a strategic strike to find the best waves with minimal crowds and a jungle backdrop — just tell us when you want to go!

Private, all-inclusive tours on board a 48′ yacht. Spaces are still available for $300 per person per day and that gets you everything — food, drinks, board rental, and the best boat trip of your life. Mention CRSURF and you can surf for only $1,000 pp for a whole week if you bring at least two friends.

David McNeil is offering to take photos of you surfing while visiting Jaco and Playa Hermosa. He charges from $40 pp for a two-hour session and also can help arrange boat trips to lesser known point breaks in that area.

20% discount off your house rental in Manuel Antonio — www.anamars-ecotours.com
30% discounts at Costa Rica Surf Charters — www.costaricasurfcharters.com
20% off weekly board rental or surf lesson at Coconut Harry’s in Nosara — www.coconutharrys.com

Join CRSURF on Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter today to get the latest photos, news, and insider stories from the beaches of Costa Rica. And email: travel@crsurf.com to find out more about some of these great offers.

CONTESTS

Just in case you didn’t hear, the biggest surf contest ever held in Central America took place in Playa Hermosa last month, August 1-8. Thirty-five different countries came to compete and over 30,000 people were on the beach to see the finals and award ceremony. (You could walk to Jaco from Terrazas more quickly than driving — the traffic was that bad). The  U.S. team won, and Jeremy Flores from France won the Mens, with Cory Lopez coming in Second. Courtney Conlogue from the U.S. took 1st for the women, and Sage Erickson helped the U.S. with a 3rd Place showing. In Longboard, Antoine Delpero from France won, with Tony Silvagni from the U.S. getting Fourth. Our local longboarder — Raul Gonzalez — represented Puerto Rico well. The Costa Rica team placed a very respectable 7th, with Jason Torres reaching 7th Place and Carlos Munoz earning 13th Place.

To find the next generation of surf talent on the Caribbean Coast, the Puerto Viejo Open took place a week later. Jordan Hernandez took home two new surfboards and $300 for winning both the Open division and the Airshow. There are about a dozen super talented surfers in the community who would excel on the national surf circuit, and just don’t have the sponsors. CRSURF recently donated $100 to Jefferson Tacson from Jaco to help with contest entry fees. If you want to help, send a note to: info@crsurf.com.

The next BIG contest is the Central American Surf Championship, September 25-27, at Playa El Sunzal, La Libertad, El Salvador.

ENVIRONMENT/COMMUNITY

CRSURF set a booth at the contest site of the World Surfing Games to promote their methods of helping out. The first thing beachgoers saw were the t-shirts made from half-recycled plastic and half-recycled cotton. Then they noticed the beach bags made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. Also at the front were brochures that described the efforts to stop the tuna farms planned for Punta Banco, only a mile from Pavones. A petition was written up to oppose the farms and by the end of the week we had 285 signatures. If you want to help the communities of Pavones and Punta Banco stop the construction of eight experimental yellowfin tuna cages, then use this link set up by PRETOMA and sign the petition — www.pretoma.org/petitionpeticion. The group Project AWARE will host an International Coastal Cleanup Day 2009: September 19 from 9 a.m. to Noon, Diving Safaris, Playa Hermosa, Guanacaste, 2672-1259. For more info, email: info@costaricadiving.net. The road from Quepos to Dominical is almost done! It’s paved past Matapalo, and the rest is well grated. You should go slow though, because monkeys and coati still cross the road. Sadly, the lifeguard program in Dominical has run out of funding and now there are no lifeguards to protect swimmers and surfers. If you wish to help, visit: www.dominicallifeguards.org.

By Greg Gordon
www.crsurf.com

Caribbean Coast: August is mainstream hurricane season, so expect some surprise surf sessions. They’ll come and go quickly, so you need to sit on it for at least at week.

Pacific Coast: This month is one of the best for waves and weather. The first part of the month has an “Indian Summer” effect with offshores lasting later in the day and less rain. The second half is rainier, but when you’re in the water surfing 1- to 2-foot overhead peaks it doesn’t matter.

Full moon: August 5th
New Moon: August 20th

Travel

Joe Walsh from Witch’s Rock Surf Camp in Tamarindo now has a 48′ yacht, and is motoring it around the Osa Peninsula for the next month on a wave hunt. Spaces are still available for $300 per person, per day and that gets you everything — food, drinks, board rental, and the best boat trip of your life. Mention CRSURF and you can surf for only $250 per day.

David McNeil is offering to take photos of you surfing while visiting Jaco and Playa Hermosa. He charges from $40 per person for a two-hour session and also can help arrange boat trips to lesser known point breaks in that area.

Don’t miss the opportunity from August 9th to the 15th to get up close and personal with humpback whales in the Osa Peninsula. See the complete travel package and sign up soon! Space is very limited. Check: www.crsurf.com/news/travel/whale-trip09.html for details.

Join CRSURF on Facebook Groups, MySpace, and Twitter today to get the latest photos, news, and insider stories from Costa Rica. Email us at travel@crsurf.com if you’re interested in taking a surf trip.

Contests

The Billabong ISA World Surfing Games starts August 1st and runs through August 8th behind Terrazas del Pacifico in Playa Hermosa. CRSURF will have a booth at the contest and will be selling Eco-T-Shirts with a new design on the back, as well as commemorative beach bags (made from 100% recycled bottles) and stickers. Check out the CRSURF website for a list of our favorite accommodations with a satellite view of their location in relation to the contest.

There will be a Puerto Viejo Open Surf Contest August 15 at Playa Cocles. The contest will have heats for open, grommets and longboard. For more information, call Beto at 8885-9688.

Environment/Community

CRSURF is raising money to donate books to kids. “All the Way to the Ocean,” by Joel Harper, follows two boys learning about how litter affects the marine life and coastal ecosystem. Laird Hamilton explains in the beginning why it’s so important for surfers to keep their beaches clean. To purchase a copy, visit the travel shop at www.crsurf.com. For every two copies sold we can donate a copy in Spanish to kids in Central America.

If you want to help the communities of Pavones and Punta Banco stop the construction of eight experimental yellowfin tuna cages, then use this link set up by PRETOMA and sign the petition: www.pretoma.org/petitionpeticion. There will also be petitions to sign at the CRSURF booth during the World Surfing Games in Playa Hermosa.

Specials

(You only have to mention you found out about them from CRSURF.)

20% discount off your house rental in Manuel Antonio: www.anamars-ecotours.com

30% discounts at Costa Rica Surf Charters: www.costaricasurfcharters.com

Get a FREE surfboard for your stay at Witch’s Rock Surf Camp on select dates in August: www.witchsrocksurfcamp.com

Coconut Harry’s Surf Shop in Nosara is offering 20% off your weekly board rental or surf lesson: www.coconutharrys.com
Caption: New CRSURF t-shirt design. Get yours at the World Surfing Games in Playa Hermosa.Design by Bob at www.graphicbob.com.

Photo by: Fabian Sanchez – Witch’s Rock

www.crsurf.com

Tortuguero, my happy home…

So goes the opening line of a song, seldom (if ever) heard beyond the banks of the Parisimina River in northeastern Costa Rica. Despite the tune’s anonymity, it holds a place in my heart.

In contrast to the popular tourist destinations and expatriate havens of Tamarindo, Puntarenas, and Quepos, Tortuguero might be best described as “the Costa Rica less-traveled.” This village of 500 residents owes its relative obscurity to its relative remoteness. Located near the Nicaraguan border on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica, the village is accessible only by boat or light aircraft. This forced isolation has denied — some might say, spared — Tortuguero from the flood of tourism surging across the rest of Costa Rica. There is, however, an annual deluge of visitors that continues year after year just as it has forever. It was this frenzied annual migration that brought another Central Floridian to Tortuguero some five decades before our recent visit.

Each year, beginning as early as February and continuing well into October, thousands upon thousands of sea turtles seek out the muddy expanse of beach that lies between the mouths of the Tortuguero and Parisimina Rivers. Multitudes of loggerhead, hawksbill, leatherback, and the rare green sea turtle literally flock to this isolated seashore to dig their nests and lay their eggs.

While the number of turtles nesting here today may seem staggering, it pales in comparison to the amount counted as recently as a century ago. Stories abound and photographs exist that show it was literally possible to walk the length of Tortuguero’s beach by stepping from the back of one nesting turtle to the next. It was this preponderance, and more specifically, the decline of this preponderance, that brought University of Florida Professor and Naturalist Archie Carr to Tortuguero in the 1950s. Dr. Carr was already a preeminent scientist in the field of sea turtle study, but it was here, at Tortuguero, that he set out to become a preeminent force in their preservation.

By the mid-twentieth century unregulated commercial hunting of sea turtles had reduced nesting populations dramatically in Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, and the upper Caribbean. The Green Sea Turtle teetered on the brink of extinction, and the other varieties were sure to follow. As turtle populations declined, commercial hunting began to concentrate toward the few places where nesting continued on a large scale — places like Tortuguero. Dr. Carr, a lifelong scholar and teacher, believed that while protective legislation was vital, education was the best hope for saving sea turtles. In 1959 he helped establish the Caribbean Conservation Corporation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of sea turtles and their habitat through research, education and advocacy.

The long process of educating people about the plight of sea turtles, Dr. Carr reasoned, should begin right in Tortuguero, a village whose very existence relied on the hunting of turtles. Little by little, and often one by one, Dr. Carr and his associates changed the villagers’ perceptions of the turtle, convincing them over time that a live turtle was more valuable than a dead one. The message spread. In 1970, the government of Costa Rica established the 46,900-acre, Tortuguero National Park, restricting turtle hunting to a subsistence level and protecting the nesting beaches. The Caribbean Conservation Corporation soon expanded its influence, and today is the largest such organization in the Atlantic Basin.

Our journey to Tortuguero began aboard an air-conditioned motor coach in Costa Rica’s cosmopolitan capitol, San Jose. The quicker option would have been a flight on Nature Air, a regional airline serving Tortuguero. The bus ride from San Jose, however, traversed the Braulio Carrillo National Park and included a stop at the Rainforest Aerial Tramway for a thirty-minute ride through the treetops of the jungle canopy.

Since there are no roads in or out of Tortuguero, the bus ride was only the first leg of our adventure. At the village of Matina, near the industrial port of Limon, we transferred from the comfortable coach onto a pair of open boats called “pangas” by the locals. Our English-fluent guide informed us that we would, for the next several hours, be coursing our way northward through a network of rivers and waterways that roughly paralleled the Caribbean coast.

“Oh, just like the Banana River,” I remarked confidently.

WRONG! In stark contrast to our tranquil, coastal lagoons, these waterways are deep, swift rivers that drain an immense volume of water from the vast rain forests of the interior. Our intrepid boatmen carefully navigated upstream against strong currents, dodging submerged logs and other hazards while our well informed guide described the amazing bio-diversity slipping past on either shore. Curious birds, such as the architecturally-talented orapendola and the multi-colored toucan of Fruit Loops fame, were abundant. Occasionally, a troop of howler monkeys could be seen — and definitely heard — high in the treetops. As we progressed further north, the sporadically cleared lands of subsistence farmers became less prevalent as the landscape took on a much more jungle-like character.

The sign, declaring in both Spanish and English that were entering the Tortuguero National Park, was a welcome sight. Our long boat ride was almost over and our destination was near. We passed the village just as night was beginning to fall, and continued another mile or so to Laguna Lodge, our home for the next few days.

Laguna is one of seven lodges located just north of Tortuguero, all catering to the growing number of eco-tourists that come to explore the park and to witness the annual turtle nesting frenzy. Our accommodations were in cozy but spacious cabins situated around the lush, tropically landscaped, and impeccably maintained grounds. Meals, unfailingly delicious, included in the price and served buffet style, were taken under the thatched roof of the open-air dining hall. Evening entertainment consisted of gatherings around the fire pit where stories were told and friendships begun. One night, a local musical trio performed their repertoire of folk songs, including “Tortuguero, My Happy Home.”

Guided tours into the park departed the lodge twice daily with specialized tours focusing on specific types of animal and plant life. The village of Tortuguero, site of the Caribbean Conservation Corporation’s research and education center, was just a twenty-minute walk away down the famous nesting beach to which the village owes its fame.

The things we saw amazed us: exotic birds, including the rare green and vivid scarlet macaws; colorful, poisonous frogs; doll-faced capuchin monkeys, and their noisy cousins, the howlers. There were some disappointments: we arrived few weeks too early for turtle nesting and, sorry, no jaguar sightings to report. But what touched us most was Tortuguero itself: a tiny village sandwiched between a raging sea and a wide, deep river inhabited by a gentle and welcoming people who once hunted sea turtles to near extinction, but is now, thanks to the patient teachings of one dedicated Floridian, a place which has vowed to preserve them forever.

…Tortuguero, my happy home. From Tortuguero may I never roam…

To learn more, read “The Windward Road,” by Archie Carr

Group shot of International Surf Day at Hacienda Pinilla. Photo by Thornton Cohen at www.nomadpics.com

A great children’s book that teaches why it’s important not to litter.

FORECAST

Caribbean Coast: July is generally a quiet month for waves, but as the hurricane season gets into gear, there may be a swell or two. The actual storms don’t hit the coast, but instead move north toward Cuba and the Yucatan. If it’s powerful enough, it can send overhead surf for two to three days at a time. Pacific Coast: The last week of June has seen overhead surf just about every day from the South and Southwest, and this pattern continues for July. A stream of Southern Hemi systems plow towards Central America, sending head-high to double overhead-plus surf. The key is getting to the beach early when winds are offshore, and being there at the right tide — generally lower tides for points and reefs, and higher tides for beachbreaks. Full moon: July 7; New Moon: July 21.

TRAVEL

Joe Walsh from Witchs Rock Surf Camp in Tamarindo is taking the WRSC bus on a Pacific Coast surf tour August 15 to the 29. It includes daily surf instruction, surfboards, photos and video of you surfing, and all meals for only $700 per person per week. David McNeil is offering to take photos of you surfing while visiting Jaco and Playa Hermosa. He charges from $40 pp for a two-hour session and also can help arrange boat trips to lesser known point breaks. For July, the cheapest flights I’ve found are on Taca for $211.42 from Miami to San Jose. ($80 for 2 boards in one bag each way). American Airlines has flights from MIA to SJO for $235.42. ($100 per board each way). And Jet Blue has a few seats left from Orlando to San Jose for $315.42. ($50 per board each way). Join CRSURF on Facebook Groups, MySpace, and Twitter today to get the latest photos, news, and insider stories from Costa Rica.

CONTESTS

The Billabong ISA World Surfing Games will be held from July 31 to August 8 behind Terraza del Pacifico in Playa Hermosa. So far, 35 countries have signed up to compete, and if you are staying in Jaco, buses will be running to/from the contest site. Check out the CRSURF website for a list of our favorite accommodations with a satellite view of their location in relation to the contest — www.crsurf.com/ISA09-hotels.html. The top qualifiers for the Costa Rican team have been chosen for ISA World Surfing Games. Open: Jason Torres, Luis Vindas, Carlos Muñoz, Diego Naranjo, Juan Carlos Naranjo, Jairo Pérez y Gilbert Brown. Mujeres: Lisbeth Vindas, Nataly Bernold y Mariana Samudio. Longboard: Cristian Santamaría y Anthony Flores. Of these twelve, eight will make the final cut.

ENVIRONMENT/COMMUNITY

CRSURF is raising money to donate books to kids. “All the Way to the Ocean,” by Joel Harper, follows two boys learning about how litter affects the marine life and coastal ecosystem. Laird Hamilton explains in the beginning why it is so important for surfers to keep their beaches clean. To purchase a copy, visit the travel shop at www.crsurf.com. For every two copies sold we can donate a copy in Spanish to kids in Central America.

If you want to help the communities of Pavones and Punta Banco, stop the construction of eight experimental yellowfin tuna cages, then use this link set up by PRETOMA and sign the petition: www.pretoma.org/petitionpeticion

An International Surf Day event was held on the beach at Hacienda Pinilla on June 21 to raise funds for the Tamarindo Lifeguards and future beach cleanups. There was a great turnout for the event. Also, the Soulstice Pro took place the same weekend behind Cabinas Las Olas in Playa Hermosa. Their efforts were focused on cleaning the beach at Playa Guacalillo and supporting the Friends of Playa Hermosa in their environmental efforts. And Safari Surf School organized a contest in Nosara the same day to raise funds for the local schools.

The Christian Surfers group from Daytona Beach sent two groups to Dominical to help with local community projects and put together a free contest for the kids on June 20.

SPECIALS

– You only have to mention you found out about them from CRSURF…

30% discounts at Costa Rica Surf Charters! Go to: www.costaricasurfcharters.com

Get a FREE surfboard for your stay at Witchs Rock Surf Camp on selected dates in July and August — www.witchsrocksurfcamp.com

Coconut Harry’s Surf Shop in Nosara is offering 20% off your weekly board rental or Surf Lesson — www.coconutharrys.com

Two weeks in a two-bedroom luxury poolside condo in Jaco for only $2,300. It’s a great place for up to six people to stay for the World Surfing Games, less than 5-minutes drive to the contest site. Visit www.clubdelsol.com for details.

www.crsurf.com

The month of June is known for the consistent south and southwest swells that sweep the Pacific Coast. The average size of the surf is head-high to overhead, with a few stronger swells producing waves up to double overhead. The key is to surf early since winds turn onshore at about 10 a.m. on most days. On the Caribbean side there are rare days with a little size, but it’s mostly a serene sea — perfect for snorkeling or scuba diving, or just soaking in the sun.

TRAVEL

The next Tamarindo Beach Fair will be on Saturday, June 6. For those interested in joining us to show off your company, ideas or wares, email puravidahealth@gmail.com, or simply call them direct (Andrea 8398-8705, Holly 2653-1238). And don’t forget to check out the organic marketplace every Saturday from 9 to 2 p.m. in front of Witch’s Rock Surf Camp.

Taca Airlines now has flights from $280 from Los Angeles to San Jose! And flights from New York to SJO for $351 (+$95 each way to travel w/2 boards). This price is for many dates throughout summer, so contact travel@crsurf.com to get your next vacation started. On May 15th, TACA changed its surfboard bag fees to $95 each way ($80 to/from Miami to SJO). To petition the high cost of surfboard charges on airlines, go to: www-surfers-against-airline-fees.com

Three-Day Music Festival on The Osa with Costa Rica’s Best Rock, Blues, Classical, Reggae and World Musicians all donating their performances to play at RainforestAid09 this June 19-21. Don’t miss: Evolucion, Akasha, Gary Hoey, Kingo Lovers, Nancy Buchan, MudCat, Igni Ferroque and Manuel Obregon performing Simbiosis on Sunday June 21. RFA09 is raising awareness and funds in support of the Osa. Join us at Camp Rugged Seahorse on Leila’s farm in the small village of Amapola (25 min. North of Puerto Jimenez). Camp on site or stay at one of the areas hotels or eco-lodges in Puerto Jiminez or Uvita. Saturday is family and kids day with fun activities planned and local job fair. Don’t forget: Fly on Nature Air for half price between June 15 and 25. Promo Code: rainforestaid09 at www.natureair.com. Book your Costa Rican Vacation today for this June and enjoy music, art and nature in the Rainforest.

CONTESTS

Carlos Muñoz is Costa Rica’s New National Surf Champion! The 16-year-old made history by winning the Open, Junior, and Boys at the final contest of the Circuito Nacional de Surf Daystar 2008-2009, Presented by Coca-Cola Zero at Playa Hermosa. Lisbeth Vindas earned her 7th National Women’s title as well. Both will be representing their country proudly at the “Mundial” this July. The Billabong ISA World Surfing Games will be held from July 31 to August 8 behind Terraza del Pacifico in Playa Hermosa. There will be over 40 countries competing and if you’re staying in Jaco, buses will be running to/from the contest site. Check out a list of our favorite accommodations on the CRSURF.com website, with a satellite view of their location in relation to the contest. Also visit www.surfingcr.net and www.isasurf.org to get the latest information on the teams participating.

ENVIRONMENT/COMMUNITY

GoodMorningPavones.com (or BuenosDiasPavones.com en espanol) is a new website dedicated to the community of Pavones and Punta Banco. They’ve been covering the Tuna Farm issue, and they give you an opportunity to buy a t-shirt to support the environmental group PRETOMA, who are leading the effort to oppose the tuna farms. Unfortunately these farms are to be built right off the coast of Punta Banco, and although there is a lot of evidence that they would cause a lot of damage to the marine ecosystem, the Costa Rican Environmental Ministry has approved them anyway.

The US Department of State’s Bureau of Oceans, Environment, and Science imposed a trade embargo on all Costa Rican shrimp exports to the US, effective May 1. The embargo is due to Costa Rica’s failure to enforce its laws that require commercial shrimp fishers to protect sea turtles from capture and death in trawl nets by using Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs). According to a report issued by the State Department, the decision to embargo Costa Rica was the result of a multi-year investigation that involved certification visits and data compiled from credible third-party sources. The evidence points out how Costa Rica’s Fishery Institute (Incopesca), didn’t “provide sanctions for TED violations that served as an effective deterrent against the failure to use TEDs”.

SPECIALS

Coconut Harrys Surf Shop in Nosara is offering 20% off your weekly board rental or Surf Lesson if you mention the CR Surf Report!

Waves Costa Rica in Playa Hermoa is offering a 10% discount on their all inclusive surf packages.

Our partners at Tico Travel are offering this special: Tropical Volcano & Manuel Antonio – 8 Days/7 Nights. Includes: Arrival meet-and-greet service, 7 nights lodging at selected Hotels. Seven breakfasts. Guided tour to Arenal Hanging Bridges. Guided tour to Manuel Antonio National Park. All in-country land transportation to selected areas. Price: $765 double occupancy. (All offers valid from May 1 to November 14, 2009). Just send an email to travel@crsurf.com to book your trip.

Check out the limited-time specials for up to 30% discounts at Costa Rica Surf Charters. Their boat, the Aquadesiac, offers overnight surf trips to Witch’s Rock and Ollies Point. They also take multiday tours up to Nicaragua. Visit www.costaricasurfcharters.com to find out more.

Hotem Totem in Playa Cocles has an online reservation special: Stay 3 nights and pay for only 2. Visit www.totemsite.com for more details.

By Greg Gordon
travel@crsurf.com

Report #466 had submissions from Playa Grande, Tamarindo, Playa Negra, Nosara, Santa Teresa, Playa Carmen, Jaco, Playa Hermosa, and Dominical. Tide charts for all of 2009 are posted to help plan trips. Local surf photographers have sent in the best photos each week, and contest videos are now up on our video gallery and on YouTube. To join the weekly surf reports are monthly travel and environmental feature issues, and a free subscription is available to everyone with an email account. There are also blogs on MySpace (www.myspace.com/crsurf) and the “Costa Rica Surf Travel Group” on Facebook to keep travelers updated on the latest news and events.

The top story of the year has been the Costa Rican surfers’ performance at the 2008 ISA World Surfing Games in Portugal. The team came in 5th and Jason Torres put on an equal top-5 result (CJ Hobgood won it). Natalie Bernold, at 15 years old, made it to the top 8 in the world in the Womens Division. Next year, the ISA World Surfing Games comes to Playa Hermosa, July 29th to August 8th, with more than 50 countries expected to field teams. CR Surf Travel Co. sponsors 18-year-old Debbie Zec Jimenez from Dominical, who finished 2nd in the Junior Women’s division last season, with a win in Jr. Women’s at Playa Carmen in February.

Worldwide, beaches and the waves that break on them are a vital resource for the community, the economy, and the ecosystem. The ISA (International Surfing Association) and Save the Waves are looking into creating marine reserves around the world to protect surf spots perpetually. It can’t be done just by the international groups; it needs input and participation by locals, individuals like us. We need to educate the world of the value of surf — and how surfing improves the quality of our lives. CRSURF.com is helping to lead this movement.

In September, I was given 15 copies in Spanish of the book “All the Way to the Ocean,” by Joel Harper. I read the story to the school children in Dominical — how pollution gets to the sea, and what can be done to prevent it. It’s one small step, yet together, the possibilities are endless. Other contributions made this year by CR Surf were: a retail membership with the Surfrider Foundation; a $100 donation to the Dominical Lifeguards program, and a $50 donation to Tropical Adventures School Project Fund that will help the Bri-Bri Indians who were hit pretty hard by flooding in November. We’re bringing down some clothes and school supplies to the Caribbean community as well.

So the sponsors of CR surf are supporting some great causes for Costa Rica. And clients who book trips through CR Surf Travel Co. can know they are giving back to the environment and local surf community. You don’t see ads for real estate development anywhere on the site. If you want to get involved or get help planning your next trip, send a note to travel@crsurf.com. There will be many more surf missions to come.

www.crsurf.com

Thanks to our Sponsors: A Surfer’s Dream House; Adventure Inn; Backyard Bar and Hotel; Blue Surf Sanctuary; Blue Trailz; Cabinas Las Arenas; Cabinas Las Olas (Avellanas); Café Playa Negra; Cashew Hill; Jungle Lodge; Club del Sol; Costa Paraiso Lodge; Costa Rica Surf Club; CR Surf Adventures; Diuwak; Domilocos; Esencia Hotel; Fuego del Sol Hotel; Hacienda Baru; Hermosa Beach House; Horizon Surf & Yoga; Retreat; Hotel Fuego del Sol; Hotel Marea Brava; Hotel Poseidon; Island Hoppers; ISLS – Teen Spanish; Kevin’s Transfers; La Dolce Vita; La Felicidad; Lohe Lani Catamaran Cruises; Luz de Vida Hotel; Pablo Picasso’s Restaurant and Cabinas; Pancho’s Resort; Ranchos Ituana; Rip Jack Inn; Roca Bruja Surf Tours; Safari Surf School; School of the World; Castillo de Pavones; Sirena Hotel; Southwave Surf Shop; Surf Guide Book; The Ohana House; The Place; Tico Travel; Tres Monos and Green Iguana; Tuanis Rides; Vertical Pics; Villas Rio Mar; Vista de Olas; Witch’s Rock Surf Camp

Our Surf Reporters: Waves CR; Walking On Water Surf Shop; Hotel Las Tortugas; Witch’s Rock Surf Camp; SurfingNosara.com; John Lyman Photos; Funky Monkey Lodge; Hotel Buenisimo; Jazzy’s River House; Land Assurance; Alberto’s Surf School; The Jaco Sun

And our contributing photographers: AnaLucia Rodriguez-Tinoco; Carlos Barrera; Daniel Looman; David McNeill; Fabian Sanchez; Graham Swindell; John Lyman; Julia Mueller-Schwenn; Mama G; Matt Adame; Peter Correale; Phillippe Demarsan; PT; Ron MacLean; Sean Davis; Shifi; Thornton Cohen; Tony Roberts