And as certain as this uncertainty is we have no other option than to learn how to manage it and deal with it. But how do we do it? Some online research can provide you good and specialized materials on this subject. As a basic guide let’s review some basic points for this process.

First of all there are three points you need to interiorize:

1. You need to accept that change is happening and that you cannot stop it but rather need to be willing to deal with it;
2. You need to open your mind to be in an “always ready” mode, so you can adapt to change; and
3. You have to be willing to take action.

The whole process of managing uncertainty has to be understood as an strategic foresight exercise to figure out how to think about the future and its uncertainties. Here are some ideas about this process:

• Know your factual situation. You have to identify the factual points of your situation so that you know which are the factors on which your actions will need to take place.
• Identify as many possible scenarios as you can. While you cannot know what is going to happen you can think about the different situations that you may be facing regarding your personal situation, business or investment.
• Think possible solutions. Analyze your possible scenarios and think about the actions you would take to face them. Keep in mind that in some cases bailing out or taking actions to minimize loses may be part of the solutions to take.
• Eliminate obstacles. As a consequence of the three previous steps, define those actions that you can take to make your possible solutions more feasible. For instance, if you are in the process of selling a property, make sure you have at hand the corresponding zoning certificate, water availability letter, taxes compliance document and all of those items that will ease up your possible solutions.

Most of all, be always monitoring your situation and your environment so that you can constantly update your possible scenarios and solutions.

Written by Randall Sanchez

Randall Sanchez is an Attorney and Notary Public, founder and managing partner of the Sanchez and Associates Law Firm, based in the Southern Pacific Zone of Costa Rica. His practice is focused in real estate transactions and development and corporate law, to which he has been dedicated for 32 years.

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“Be patient where you sit in the dark. The dawn is coming.”

– Rumi

As the world was impacted by the spread of COVID-19, Costa Rica responded efficiently. There was no panic, no hoarding. People remained calm and followed the government restrictions, even amid job losses and school closures.

In a country where many family run operations rely on International tourism for its bread and butter, there have no doubt been financial and personal struggles. The campaign, “Don’t cancel, just postpone” went viral, reminding visitors that Costa Rica is a place you will want to go once freed from travel restrictions.

The Costa Ballena area has experienced an atmosphere of coming together even when social distancing kept us physically apart. We evolved as a community. Organizers came together to create new online platforms for people to order their favorite local products. Local stores and restaurants offered take away and home delivery, re-creating their menus for families and adjusting pricing. Virtual home tours became the ultimate way to market a home for sale due to border closures. People with rental homes made them available to those who could not travel back to their home countries. Non-Profits in the community collaborated with local businesses to provide donations of food and goods to families in need.

The Osa has experienced minimal confirmed cases of the virus and businesses continue to have sanitary measures in place. As we see a gradual opening up, these next few months will be an opportune time for national tourism and staycations, with discounted rates and less crowds.

We have seen some cities brought to their knees, while also bringing families back into their homes and giving nature room to breathe. It caused people to pause, it opened our eyes, and allowed us to reflect on the things we truly hold dear. The ability to live in Costa Rica, is no doubt one of those things we are all grateful for.

Written by Zoe Wright

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NEW MOON – February 11th

FULL MOON – February 27th

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NEW MOON – January 12th

FULL MOON – January 28th

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With policies stemming from this mindset, Envision Festival has implemented maximum efficiency waste separation as well as massive on-site recycling efforts and the use of composting toilets, all designed to minimize trash going into landfills. In addition to trash and recycling reduction, Envision encourages guests to stay on-site and also organizes shuttles to and from the festival so as to reduce every single traveler’s impact on emissions from vehicles. Beyond waste initiatives, Envision strives to reforest the area by planting trees to build up the land instead of taking away from it. Over the past decade, Envision has planted over 45,000 native trees on the Pacific Coast. “It’s all about restoring the local ecosystem,” says Federico Gutiérrez, a board member and the founder of Costa Verdes, the organization responsible for the tree planting initiatives. “The goal is to bring the animals back to their natural habitats since all the monkeys, turtles and macaws have returned to the beach lines.” As noted by Stephen Brooks, Envision co-founder and owner of a permaculture farm on the Caribbean coast, Punta Mona, “True permaculture is all about mimicking nature. Whoever did it, did a great job.” Really, we only need to look towards nature to find a blueprint.

Currently, seven beaches are under reforestation, and over 6,000 volunteers and 25 local schools are involved to help bring awareness and motivate others to take action. In 2017, Envision Festival implemented a program where people can donate their time cleaning up the beach in exchange for a ticket to the festival. Andres Vargas, a Uvita local who heads the Beach Clean-Up program noted, “At first there were only 18 people who came to help, but last year there were 100.” The movement is gaining momentum. Last year, three and a half tons of garbage between six cleanups were amassed reaching from Isla Garza (Boca Coronado) to Dominical (Río Baru). This year, the goal is to expand the operation all over Costa Rica and collect 10 tones of waste!

Reflecting on Envision Sustainability

If we look at all that has been done, from reforesting coastlines with native trees, to cleaning up the beaches, it’s clear that the next step is to share knowledge. Skilled laborers from around the world come to Envision Festival every year to share all of their wisdom and knowledge around sustainability and permaculture. When you see the same faces and break bread with those you work with, learning goes deeper and becomes a fun family affair. Trading tips and picking up new skills is commonplace for the people who work at the festival.

“Come with an open heart, come with no expectation, come loaded with love and wanting to grow and share.”

Federico Gutiérrez, Envision Festival Board Member

Envision Festival hosts an informal apprenticeship where skilled workers are paired with locals and knowledge sharing becomes a natural course of action. Additionally, Envision provides the perfect grounds for locals to interact and cross-pollinate with culturally-different thought leaders in permaculture and sustainable building practices. Locally, the festival generates around 300 jobs for the community, which has a hugely positive impact on the community. For those who have yet to come and experience Envision Festival for themselves, this is the year to visit. This year’s 10-Year Anniversary is a celebration of how much the festival and Costa Rica community has grown. It’s time to come together and celebrate!

If you want to learn about environmental symbiosis, biodiversity, low impact living, organic
food, and other healthy lifestyle choices, Envision Festival is a world-class place to start.

Here’s to the 10 years! See you there!.

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Adventures in Brewing

Brewing the perfectly creamy stout or a tangy IPA is difficult enough under normal conditions. However, when you throw in tropical climates, government hurdles, and a generally untapped and lager-loving public, you’ve got a whole different kind of rodeo.

One of the biggest obstacles for Costa Rica brewers is the lack of beer’s main ingredients, hops and malts. All of the hops must be imported, which more than once has caused major confusion with immigration officers, who mistake the shipments as large, poorly concealed crates of marijuana.

The good news is that with the increase of craft beer in the country, microbrewers are working together to make hops more available and at better cost. From its humble beginnings in 2010 when there was one microbrewer with three different ales to nearly 40 independent breweries and the 85 different craft brews available now, it’s clear that the industry has rallied to bring new flavor to an unfamiliar land.

Tiny Country, Big Flavor

While Imperial lager is typically considered the king of beers in Costa Rica, craft beer is steadily and not-so-quietly creating a name for itself not only here, but on an international scale. Just this year four of Costa Rica’s microbrewers took home five medals at the biggest beer competition in Latin America, the Copa Cervezas de América. Additionally, the Costa Rica’s Craft Brewing Company, which was Costa Rica’s first microbrewer, was recently named one of the top 100 craft breweries in the world by London’s Future Publishing. Not bad considering Costa Rica’s craft beer market has only been around for about six years.

If you haven’t had a chance to try one of Costa Rica’s many craft ales, then it’s time to get to the nearest beach or bar and indulge yourself. Or if you’re really lucky, you might be able to find a few thousand of your good, similarly-minded friends at a regional beer festival with a bottomless glass. No matter how you discover the local craft beer, cheers to many tasty adventures to come.

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• 1% – 2.5%: From ground level, a home with a view overlooking unobstructed open space (not necessarily water as the open space).
• 3% – 5%: A home just high enough to overlook trees or other buildings, with apartially obstructed view.
• 6% – 8%: A good unobstructed view but without much elevation; a home halfway up the hill, for example.
• 9% – 12%: A home at the top of a hill with an unobstructed view (of a landmark, city or other).
• 15% – 20%: A water view. An outstanding, unobstructed view of a big lake or ocean can start at a price increase of 15%, and if highly unique, prices can increase vastly.

On average, it is found that grand open views of water that are highly exclusive can add up to 59% of the value of a property.* It is noteworthy, that as the distance from the coast increases the impact on value greatly diminishes. Other important factors include attractive landscaping, which on average adds 5% to the value, buildings in a property’s neighborhood add 37% to the value, and attractive improvements in the immediate surroundings of a property add another 27% to value*. The overall conclusion is that aesthetics are multi-dimensional and can havean important impact on property value. A one of a kind view may be worth the investment and creating your own garden can turn in to more than a hobby; it could be a great investment choice in the end.

†Merilyn, Lewis. “What’s the value of a view?” MSN Real Estate. Microsoft, 25 May 2013. Web. 01 11 2013. <http://realestate.msn.com/whats-the-value-of-a-view>.

*Bourassa S C, Hoesli M, Sun J, 2004, “What’s in a view?” Environment and Planning A 36(8) 1427 – 1450.

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