Things to Do

MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND MAKE YOUR HOTEL RESERVATIONS FOR THE UPCOMING REEF CENTROAMÉRICA SURFING GAMES BEING HELD THURSDAY DEC. 1ST - SUNDAY DEC. 4TH, 2011 IN FRONT OF THE HOTEL BACKYARD INHERMOSA BEACH, LOCATED 5 MINUTES SOUTH OF JACO BEACH, COSTA RICA. Garabito welcomes the best 80 surfers from the following 5 Central America countries: Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama and Costa Rica.  The contest is set to have 5 categories: Open, Ladies, Junior, Boys and Longboard.  Schedule is as follows: Thursday December 1st: There will be an opening Parade down the main street of Jaco and the Sands Ceremony will be held in the Central Park in Jacó. Friday December 2nd: The start of the competition in front of Backyard Hotel in Playa Hermosa.

THE 10TH ANNUAL PURA VIDA NO PRO, A CHARITY SURF CONTEST THAT BENEFITS THE CHILDREN OF THE HOSPICIO DE HUERFANOS DE SAN JOSE ORPHANAGE IS BEING HELD SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19th IN JACO BEACH! Each year, a special group of orphaned children from San Jose look forward to an unforgettable day of philanthropy, fun and surf.  Just $50 sponsors one child to attend this event.  Hearts of Stone is a non-profit organization based in Arizona that benefits at-risk youth with projects in US and Central America.  To make a tax deductible donation in the US--visit www.puravidanopro.org or to volunteer or donate here in Costa Rica: contact John O'Toole, the event Director at puravidanopro@gmail.com.

BEST WESTERN HOTEL INVITES EVERYONE TO THE NEXT BEACH CLEAN UP NAMED OCEANS CONCERVANCY TO BE HELD ON Friday October 28th, 2011 at 8am starting in El Bohío. For more information please contact 2643-1000.

The month October 2011 brings the Marriott- BMW co-sponsored Eco Cup to the Central Pacific zone.  It includes a triathlon, open-water swim and 10K run. The open-water swim will take place on October 15th and the 10K run on October 29th.  The open water swim has options for a quarter of a nautical mile for children or a nautical mile for adults.  To register for this part:  visit www.aguasabiertas.com.  Cost is 15,000 colones and Registration Deadline is Friday October 7th.  The 10K Eco Run will begin at 7:30AM at the Marriott on Oct 29th and costs $30, of which $3.00 will go to help the Save The Turtles Program out at the Playa Hermosa Refugio. Registration is at Tienda Runners or www.gsgx.net

The GWex is a full day event that channels the gnarly feeling of surfing into thinking austainably.  This full day program for 20 people brings together surfing, recycling, eating, art, learning, interacting and much more to promote the responsibilities and awareness that surfers and non-surfers alike can experience.  Each GWex day involves an early morning beach cleanup, a tasty breakfast, the histpry of surfing, how to read swell models, a surf class and then lunch at a local restaurant.  After lunch, they will visit with kids in the local Jaco community and will start a creative recycling art project.  The materials for the art project will come from whatever was picked up during the beach cleanup.

Progress continues to be made on the DayStar Ocean Center which is located in the Center of Jaco where the old Pacific Bistro used to be.  This center is set to be a multipurpose entertainment and private event facility with 150 seats.  With the new Oceans Center almost completed, Pat Hundley  from DayStar Properties and Darren Lee Cole, co-owner of the SoHo Playhouse in New York City and founder of Teatro Jaco have announced plans to bring "A Christmas Carol" to Jaco December 20th-30th. The performance will not only feature cast from New York city, but it will also include local talent. The plan is to hold workshops at local schools and host auditions at the Oceans Center Oct 26 and Oct 27.

THE 21 CREDOMATIC MUSIC FESTIVAL CONTINUES IN VILLA CALETAS. The Hotel Villa Caletas has been carrying out different presentations of the 21 Credomatic Music Festival. The next presentation will be on Saturday August 13 at 5:30 pm at the Zephyr Palace, Holland Early Music, music: From Columbus to Independence. And the last presentation on Saturday August 20th at 5:30 pm at Zephyr Palace, Revel U.S., music: Popper, Debussy, Rajmaninov and Piazzolla. For more information or reservations please contact 2637-0505or 2630-3000

Falcon International School is very pleased and proud to announce that they will be bringing the Aldo Salvent Jazz Ensemble to the Central Pacific region as part of the International Jazz Festival to be held throughout Costa Rica from July 26 until August 7.  The main performance will be held on: Friday July 29th at 8pm in the Terrace lounge in Los Sueños Marina Village-space will be limited to 150.

The First Interinstitutional Integral Security Fair Central Park Garabito 2011 is being held in Jaco Beach on Saturday, July 9th from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. There will be activities all day inlcuding art exhibitions, stands from the participating businesses, and a spot for recruiting volunteers for Fuerza Publica, the Fire Department, Lifeguards and the Red Cross. For more information, contact the Chamber at 2643-2853.