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Tag: Las Villas de San Buenas

We made a terrific choice!

We made a terrific choice!

The Madrigal family from San Jose, Costa Rica, recently spent a week in Las Villas de San Buenas. After their stay they wrote the following review of their stay.

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We decided to go south Costa Rica for our year end vacation. We’re from San Jose and we all decided to skip the road to Guanacaste as this time of the year is hectic.

We rented this house for the final week of December and first days of January and we really had a great time here. First of all the road is in in great condition. Directions to the house are also really easy to follow. We were a group of 7 people, 3 couples and a friend. The house has 3 bedrooms, all with their private bathroom. Hot water of course and even a Jacuzzi in the master suite.Costa Rica home rental
Kitchen is in perfect condition, large refrigerator, dishwasher, stove and microwave. Laundry room with washer and dryer. Living room with Sky TV and all others with a DVD player.

The gardens and pool area are exceptional, the ocean view is amazing and we really spent our days there! With a cool breeze and birds singing everywhere.
The property is located in San Buenaventura town, close to beaches, national parks and waterfalls

Now, we really didn’t find any cons, however I must say that the house is listed for 8 people and the house has only 3 bedrooms with 3 beds (for 6 people comfortably accommodated). The other two must sleep in mattresses in the floor so you have to make some room for them in the bedrooms. Not a big issue for us.
Booking process was excellent and Nick the owner, replied every single email in no time.
If you’re thinking for a vacation in south Costa Rica, this is a great choice, you’ll have a wonderful time here!

Casa Cusinga Video

Casa Cusinga Video

Casa Cusinga is one of our newest homes built in Las Villas de San Buenas. The home is located on the edge of the jungle, fifty-feet above a year-round-flowing creek. The home’s modern design, and 16 foot ceilings, provide all-day breezes and fresh air. The proximity to the jungle and the creek are a perfect backdrop to the outdoor, private, Jacuzzi.

If you’re interested in renting this home during your visit to Las Villas de San Buenas and/or your visit to the Osa region, contact us today!

 

High Speed Internet Now Available

High Speed Internet Now Available!

It took several years, and lots of meetings and negotiations, but Las Villas de San Buenas now has DSL high-speed internet available!

Internet San Buenas costa rica
ICE installing the internet and phone lines to Las Villas de San Buenas

We have always wanted to be able to offer this to our full-time

customers and our vacation renters, however, the fiber optic network never extended close enough to our entrance to make this a reality. Due to the small population of San Buenaventura (population ~ 400), neither ICE or CableTica were originally interested in connecting the town. However, the nearby elementary school was recently connected and given our proximity to the school we were able to extend the telephony network to our property. The speeds are great!

For those who enjoy streaming movies on Netflix you will be happy to know that Netflix Costa Rica has been available for over three years. In fact, Netflix Costa Rica has its own Facebook page! If you already have a Netflix account outside of Costa Rica it will probably not work in Costa Rica. You will need to sign up for an additional account with Netflix. However, for the price of an netflix costa rica logoinexpensive meal, you will have access to 10,000s of movies, documentaries and specials.

My Costa Rica Vacation Video 2014

Costa Rica Vacation Video (June 2014)

The following video compilation is from our most recent trip to Costa Rica (June 2014) when the rest of my family came to Las Villas de San Buenas. My kids absolutely love it here in Costa Rica. The highlights always include daily dips in the swimming pool, running and playing in the Pacific Ocean at Playa Ventanas and going horseback riding on the property.

Come on down and make your own memories here! Contact us today to let us help you plan your Costa Rica trip.

Costa Rica is Home to Top 5 Best Global Medical Care

These 5 Countries Provide The Best Health Care In The World | InternationalLiving.com.

Best Healthcare in the World

InternationalLiving.com’s annual Global Retirement Index reports that France, Uruguay and Malaysia provide the best and most affordable health care in the world.

The Health Care category in the Index considers the cost of care and the quality. Also considered are the number of people per doctor, the number of hospital beds per 1,000 people, the percentage of the population with access to safe water, the infant mortality rate, life expectancy, and public-health expenditure as a percentage of a country’s GDP.

France comes in first in this category as the best country in the world for health care. The Top 5 countries with the best healthcare in the world are as follows:

  1. France
  2. Uruguay
  3. Malaysia
  4. Costa Rica
  5. Mexico

 1. France

According to the World Health Organization, France has the number one health care system in the world. The country also comes first in the health care category of the InternationalLiving.com annual Global Retirement Index 2014. Despite their meat-and cream-rich diet augmented by alcohol and cigarettes, the French have been living much longer in recent years. Life expectancy now averages 85 years for women and 78 for men. 

2. Uruguay

Uruguay has a variety of health care options available that include a public health care system for people who cannot afford to pay for private health care, a number of private health insurance options, and the most popular option, a hospital plan called a “mutualista.” Therefore Uruguay comes in second in the health care category of the InternationalLiving.com annual Global Retirement Index 2014. InternationalLiving.com’s Uruguay correspondent, David Hammond, who has lived in the country for seven years, says: “My personal experience with health care in Uruguay has been positive. The cost is a fraction of what I paid for private coverage in the U.S.” 

3. Malaysia

Malaysia has gained fame as a medical-tourism destination because its health care is among the world’s best—and cheapest. Medical expertise here is equal to or better than that in most Western countries. Malaysia comes in third in the health care category of the InternationalLiving.com annual Global Retirement Index 2014. Despite the low cost of health care in Malaysia, many expats do get private health insurance. There is a plethora of national insurers, with no one company being preferred—expats tend to shop around and look for the cheapest offer. 

4. Costa Rica

Hospital de Osa Costa Rica ball blue
Hospital de Osa is located less than five minutes from Las Villas de San Buenas.

Costa Rica’s excellent and affordable health care is largely the result of government investment in the health sector, plus an atmosphere of political stability. Costa Rica comes in fourth in the health care category of the InternationalLiving.com annualGlobal Retirement Index 2014. By almost any standard, Costa Rica has some of the best health care in Latin America. Not only that, but the country’s public and private health systems are constantly being upgraded—new hospitals, new equipment, and improvements in staff training. 

NOTE from Las Villas de San Buenas: One of Costa Rica’s newest hospitals is located just a couple of miles from Las Villas de San Buenas. This provides an extra layer of support and affordable healthcare options for our clients and guests.

5. Mexico

Given the galloping rise in health care costs in the U.S. and elsewhere, Mexico’s affordable and top-notch health care is a huge benefit to living there. Pretty much across the board, health care in Mexico costs a quarter to a half of what you would pay in the U.S. Mexico comes in fifth in the health care category of the InternationalLiving.com annual Global Retirement Index 2014. Medical insurance with Mexico’s national health care service costs less than $300 a year; private insurance will cost more, depending on age and pre-existing conditions—but still a fraction of what you’d pay in the U.S. for similar coverage. Photo: Glynna Prentice,InternationalLiving.com

Costa Rica Information Update

Costa Rica Information /Newsletter                                June 2014
We’ve been very busy here in the Osa region of Costa Rica the past couple of months. Growth continues to take place in the area from Uvita to Palmar Norte – come visit and find your piece of paradise today! Let us help plan your Costa Rica trip (home rentals, tours, etc). Contact us to assist you.

 
The big news the last week has been Costa Rica’s incredibly successful run in the World Cup. For those that follow futbol (soccer) here’s a nice recap.
 

 

Cano Island
Views of Cano Island, San Buenas Golf Resort and Golfo Dulce.

You will not find a better priced ocean view lot with these amenities:

 
  • Sweeping ocean views 
  • Epic sunsets
  • Views of San Buenas Golf Resort (next door)
  • Private
  • Adjacent to 15 acre jungle preserve and hiking trails. 

More updates coming soon! Pura vida!

Me enjoying the waterfall walking distance from Las Villas de San Buenas

Nick Halverson 

USA/CAN: 612.819.8154 

8718.7900 (Costa Rica)

[email protected]

Costa Rica photo of the day

Great Mountain View Lot! Easy access!  

Over 25% Discount! Only $30,500

Lot Clark

Start owning in Costa Rica for only $10,000
Secure your 2 weeks in paradise for only $500/year.
Granite counters.
Stainless steel appliances.
Maintenance free living!

We Can Help You Plan Your Trip
Contact us to help us take care of the details for your trip.

  • Lodging
  • Rental cars
  • Zipline tours
  • Fishing
  • River float rides
  • Hiking

 

 

 

Costa Rica Update from Cliff Hulbert (June pt 1 of 2)

The following is Part 1 of a two part Osa, Costa Rica Update written by Cliff Hulbert. Cliff and his wife Ana own and operate Villa Leonor at the Ballena Beach Club. It is the only location in the Ballena National Park region that has a restaurant walking distance to the beach.

Villa Leonor is only 15 minutes from Las Villas de San Buenas and is a wonderful place to eat and to visit the beach. Ballena Beach Club collage

We hope you enjoy it…..

The High Season came to a close with a clear increase of the awareness, discovery and visitors in the Ballena to Ojochal sector. We still are a fraction of the numbers that frequent long time favorites like Manuel Antonio and Arenal but our steady progress of growth in numbers and awareness has us coming up on the radar of travelers more and more frequently.

The Humpback Whales made an early appearance this season with regular encounters beginning by mid December and continuing through late March.

The Guava seed pod season attracted the White Face Monkeys again to leap from the nearest palm into the tree, cruise through the branches breaking open the pods and dropping the seeds on us after eating the sweet pulp around them.

Also an increase of arrivals by the Scarlet Macaws who would occasionally spend part of the day, one day in a group of eight, another day a pair was viewed flirting around various trees on the grounds.

The final event of the sea-son was the Oranje Trophy group of exocentric vehicles and fun lov-ing Dutch drivers on their 25,000 Km journey from New York City to Rio de Janeiro for the Futbol Mundial. The local Ojochal Team hosted a traditional Futbol en La Playa (Beach Soccer Game) with the Oranje group, the local boys prevailed; the Dutch Team seemed a bit sluggish, which they blamed on the altitude …but invited the victors to their Boca Buffet and drinks.

Now on to the Green Season, in many ways more pleasant than the Dry Season …. Come See Us at The Beach!

Cliff Hulbert Ballena Beach ClubCliff Hulbert & Ana Herrera
Owners
Villa Leonora at the Ballena Beach Club

Welcome to Osa Costa Rica

Osa Costa Rica

Las Villas de San Buenas is located in one of the most beautiful locations on Earth – Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula . Osa Costa Rica is considered to be one of the most biologically intense place in the world. Along with the largest mangrove forest in the world, miles of beaches and countless species of flowers, wildlife and birds, Osa Costa Rica is truly paradise.

We are located just 1 mile (2 km) from the Costanera Highway (highway in the photo below), in the small, peaceful town of San Buenaventura. For more information about our location visit this page. osa costa rica aerial costanera|

 

Affordable Costa Rica Healthcare Nearby

Affordable Costa Rica Health Care

Costa Rica is world renown for its high quality and affordable healthcare. Did you know that Costa Rican’s life expectancy is almost equal to that of the United States and of Canada? Additionally, 14% of all tourists receive some form of medical work done during their time in Costa Rica. The two most common types of health care that are performed are dental work and plastic surgery.

costa rica healthcare sign Hospital Osa Aerial View Halverson

Las Villas de San Buenas is located five minutes from one of the newest and most state of the art hospitals in Costa Rica.This allows our residents to easily take advantage of some of the best and most affordable Costa Rica healthcare. For all the details click here.

Many of the doctors, nurses and administrators are fully fluent in both Spanish and English, so communicating is never a problem.

Costa Rica healthcare osa

Mr Halverson Goes to San Jose to Visit the Costa Rica Congress

Last week my project manager, Hanz Cruz, and I spent an afternoon in San Jose where we

Hanz Cruz Rosibel Madrigal Halverosn
Las Villas de San Buenas Project Manager Hanz Cruz, and CEO Nick Halverson meet with Deputada Rosibel Ramos Madrigal at the Costa Rica Congress.

visited the Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa), Costa Rica’s Congressional body.  Costa Rica has an unicameral legislative structure (a single chamber. By way of comparison the USA has two – the House of Representatives and the Senate). A member of Congress is called a Deputado (Deputada if a woman) – which translates to ‘Senator’.

Costa Rica has 57 Deputados, who are all elected every four years. Deputados do not have term limits, although they cannot serve consecutive terms. Once a Deputado’s four-year term expires, they must sit out an entire four-year election cycle before they can serve again.

We spent approximately one hour talking with a couple of Deputados. We first met with Deputada Rosibel Madrigal, who represents the region including San Isidro del General/Perez Zeledon areas of San Jose province. Next we met with Gerardo Vargas Rojas who represents the province of Puntarenas.

We discussed tourism, increasing foreign investment and I pushed to know more about the possible international airport in Osa (still being reviewed).

I have always found it beneficial during my career in New Zealand and Australia to meet face-to-face

Costa Rica Asamblea Nacional
Founding members of Costa Rica’s first Congress in 1949 (photo by Nick Halverson with Google Glass)

with government officials to ensure they are aware of our project as well as we are kept abreast of any potential changes. We will continue to meet with officials quarterly.

It was an enjoyable day and everyone we met with was friendly and hospitable. I’ll keep everyone updated on our future visits – and the Southern zone international airport.

Nick Halverson
CEO, Las Villas de San Buenas

Mamones Chinos A Costa Rica Fruit Treasure

costa rica mamon chino fruit
Mamones chinos are starting to fruit for the 2014 season. Que rico!

Costa Rica is home to hundreds of fruits, and in particular, the Osa Peninsula’s weather patterns provides the perfect environment for growing mamones chinos. I love mamones chinos as much as guanabana’s. The main advantage of mamones chinos versus guanabana is the ease of eating.

What is a ‘mamon chino‘?

A mamon chino is a fruit that grows on trees (most fruits do grow on trees but a few don’t) and is harvested once a year. To eat one, you simply pluck it off the tree, rip the skin of with your teeth, which will generally open in two or three large pieces, then eat the sweet, white fruit. There is an almond-like seed in the middle of each fruit, so you have to eat and suck off the fruit from the seed. Once you are finished eating the fruit you spit out the seed.

Eating mamones chinos will definitely get your hands sticky and they are a bit messy to eat as the easiest way to eat them is with your hands and utensils will not help.

The name of the fruit tells you a lot about the food. mamon is from the word mamar, meaning ‘to suck’. Chino comes from “China”. Therefore, the ‘mamon chino’ is the Chinese sucking fruit.nick halverson mamon chino

We’ve planted several in Las Villas de San Buenas, and just this last weekend one of our customers requested that we plant a couple
near his home. It takes a couple of years after planting for it to start producing fruit.

Nick Halverson
CEO, Las Villas de San Buenas
[email protected]