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Costa
Rica
 Fishing
Two oceans,
beautiful inland lakes and hundreds of rivers provide some of the
best multi-species sportfishing - any time of the year - that you
are likely to find in such a small and easily accessible area anywhere
else in the world.
From the capital
city of San José, fishermen are only 30 to 40 minutes flying time
from the prime fishing regions on the Pacific and Caribbean coasts.
There is hardly any place in the country that can't be reached within
3 to 6 hours driving time.
Costa Rica's reputation
for incredible fishing is well justified. Action will vary with the
seasons, prevailing winds, weather, currents and other natural conditions
at any given time, but there is always something on the bite !
  Popular
"bluewater" gamefish species include marlin, sailfish, tuna, dorado,
wahoo, roosterfish, snook,and a host of other hard-fighting sportfish
(cubera, barracuda, snapper, corbina, grouper, amberjack, mackerel,
runners, tarpon, kingfish, grouper, jewfish, and more).
Full-service marinas, large (27 to 38'), professionally equipped charter
boats, experienced charter skippers, skilled crews and guides are
ready to provide a great fishing trip, no matter the quarry.
 Inland,
in the larger lakes and, in particular, Lake Arenal, there are exciting
fishing opportunities for guapote (rainbow bass) - coloration
of a rainbow trout and the
habits of a largemouth bass. Averaging three pounds but often reaching
7 to 9 pounds, the guapote is a great gamefish and a number of lodfges
around the
lake offer bass boats and guides.
Costa Rica's
many rivers offer exceptional fishing, especially in the rainy season
when fish gather in river mouth areas, along mud / debris lines
and current breaks. Popular species include bobo, the colorful mojarra,
roncador (drum), snook, tarpon, machaca (sabalito or little tarpon),
acrobatic and tough, and a favourite among flycasters.
Golf
 Costa
Rica is well on its way to becoming considered among the world's
newest golf travel destinations with new clubs in development and
construction and existing courses upgrading. Premier resort golf
courses include Rancho Las Colinas G&CC, Melia Conchal GC, Parque
Valle del Sol, the Cariari CC (Geogre Fazio, designer, and venue
of 2 PGA events) - perhaps Costa Rica's premier layout - and the
devilish 10-hole executive side at Tango Mar Beach Resort.
The traveller's
dilemma? Which courses to play. The Cariari Country Club is a must-play
championship 18 measuring 6590 yards (par 71) and featuring tree-lined,
narrow fairways, few fairways bunkers and large, fast Bermuda greens.
Another favourite among golf travellers is the new (1997), $ 7M Conchal
Campo de Golf at Melia Playa Conchal Beach & Golf Resort, designed
by Robert Trent Jones II and the centerpiece of Costa Rica's mega-resort.
Stretching 7033 yards, this demanding layout has wide, many-bunkered
firways, sweeping vistas, few mature trees and hazards of every shape,
size and description, including water, ravines, bunkers, and frequent
elevation changes.
 Today,
the focal point of new golf course developments in Costa Rica is along
the northern Pacific coast, often referred to as the Gold Coast, a
region of dramatic topography and spectacular signature holes. Rancho
Las Colinas, largely a golf course community built in 1997, is already
"de rigeur" on any serious golf itinerary. Las Colinas (6741 yards)
takes full advantage of the surrounding steep, rocky terrain on the
back nine, while the front is shaped around the river. Other courses
and golf communities are in the development stages, including the
Cacique del Mar project designed by the Greg Norman Group.
The lure of playing
golf in Costa Rica is quite simple: Costa Rica is a beautiful country
that provides spectacular natural settings for golf. Course designers
have quickly recognized that the best and most aesthetically pleasing
layouts evolve from the natural landscape itself.
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