Costa Rica Jacó Regional by HOWLER September 2020

REGIONAL

by HOWLER s i n c e 1 9 9 6

SEPTEMBER 2020

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The Howler is back in print for Jacó. These past few months have been trying on all of us.

We have had ups and downs and emotional highs and lows. The Glow of reopening is finally becoming visible.

You might ask Why the name HOWLER..

Well, the HOWLER was born in 1996 in the Tamarindo area by David Mills. He chose the name the HOWLER because the Howler Monkeys are known as the loudest animal in the forest. We are the loudest platform touting the beauty of Costa Rica and its wonderful people and communities. I purchased it after David retired and have expanded its reach and created its style.

We hope that you enjoy this publication in print as well as the online E-Jacó multimedia edition that has links and videos John B. Quam

Read the full Howler online September issue here!

As someone who has lived in Playa Jaco for the last 5 years, it has been truly remarkable to see how this community has come together,in countless ways, over the last fews months.

To have a bustling beach town completely shutdown in the middle of high season wasn't easy on anyone, but I have witnessed this community pull together to support each other, as we always have, in the good times and the bad.

Jaco has a unique energy and a strong sense of community. It’s what I love about living here! To see neighbors supporting neighbors, that’s what makes this town great!

To me, that is what this regional Jaco edition of Howler Magazine represents. A tangible statement to show the rest of the country and our friends around the world, that we are still here, surviving, thriving and coming back to life!

In recent weeks, I have seen our beaches and streets filled with visitors enjoying the normality that Jaco brings back to their daily lives.

I am thrilled to be coming back to print for September!

We hope you will pick up your free copy of the magazine this month and check out the amazing articles and photographs featuring local stories, written by locals, and of course not to miss the local deals and announcements of our supporters that can be found everyday @ howlermag!

Kelly Norris

Join the regional magazine publication by including Howler in your business marketing strategy.

Contact Kelly today! (506)8364 5376 kelly@howlermag.com Publisher / Editor-in-Chief John B. Quam CR Office: (506) 4701-5942 Creative Director Terry Carlile & Kelly Norris

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors in this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Howler organization or its advertisers.

The Howler Magazine does not assume responsibility for the content of its advertisements.

Images not credited are acquired from stock photography services.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests write to: info@howlermag.com.

Copyright © 2020 The Howler Gold Coast CR S.A. Copyright © 2020 Howler Media Holding, Inc. Panama The Howler Gold Coast CR S.A. Ced. Juridica: 3-101-725213 HOWLER (TM)2017

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REGIONAL - JACÓ

Ángela Aguilar González Waves of Passion for Surf Girl

I

By Howler Staff

n addition to multiple achievements that set Angela Aguilar González apart as a surfing competitor and instructor, her inland urban upbringing is an unusual mark of distinction. Angela is the first and only Costa Rican woman born and raised in San José to surf professionally in the National Surfing Circuit and consistently rank among the top female surfers.

Distance from the beaches on both coasts while growing up in the capital city was no deterrent to her passion for surfing. It found her moving initially to Dominical, on the south Pacific coast, to surf the famous waves on that beach and start pursuing her goals as a female surfer.

Two years later Aguilar moved to Jacó beach in the central Pacific area, where she has continued to thrive as part of Costa Rica’s first generation of female surfing pros.

"I've known the best waves around Costa Rica and dedicated myself to competing nationally," she told us. “My favorite spots are Hermosa Beach, Jacó and Pavones.”

SURF PROFILE

During her career, Angela’s sponsors have included several different bikini brands, Manual Surf and Skate surfboards, Build Your Dream Cori Motors and the Sesderma beauty skin care brand.

Being one of Costa Rica’s few female surf instructors with such extensive knowledge and expertise in the sport, as well as a competitive track record, puts Aguilar in another class of her own.

Remarkably in 2019, Angela put some 2,000 surf trainees in the water during high season, significantly augmenting her professional teaching experience beyond the International Surfing Association degree course she completed.

“I love pushing people to surf because they think they cannot,” she said. “But I am sure with my instruction you will be able to surf and have fun.”

To contact Angela, visit her social media pages: Instagram @angelaaguilarg and Facebook @Angela Aguilar-Atleta.

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‘I love pushing people to surf because they think they cannot.’

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REGIONAL - JACĂ“

Jalil El Harrar

Capturing The Dance Behind The Lens of Jac

J

alil El Harrar is a German photographer now living on the Central Pacific coast of Costa Rica. He is a master of capturing art in nature, transpiring over years of disciplined observation and commitment to his craft.

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

Since his arrival in Costa Rica five years ago, Jalil has been fascinated with bird photography, in particular colibri (hummingbirds). He is also drawn to the beauty of the rarer bird, resplendent quetzal, found in the higher regions of Costa Rica.

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Subsequently, as a resident close to the beach, El Harrar began dabbling in surf photography both in Playa JacĂł and Hermosa Beach. The fluidity of surfers within the waves inspires him for their resemblance to the dance of the hummingbirds.

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r

có Photographer

By Kate Hanley Photos by Jalil El Harrar If you surf in Jacó, you may have spotted the unpretentious and quiet man under a palm tree, sitting on a chair with his eyes on the waves, camera in hand.

In addition to surf and nature photography, Jalil is also a real estate photographer and available for contracted work.

READ MORE:

Here are some excerpts from a recent interview with the gifted photographer.

How long have you been doing photography and what inspired you initially?

It all started during my former profession; I was the manager of a very popular nightclub. Whenever I had the chance I would borrow the photographer’s camera and take pictures myself of the people at

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REGIONAL - JACÓ

Tarcoles River Trip

Always A Different Adventure Story and photos by Lori Anne Haskell

T

he Tarcoles River begins on the southern slopes of Costa Rica’s Cordillera Central volcanic range and flows southwest to the Gulf of Nicoya. It flows 69 miles through an area famous for the large population of American crocodiles, ending at the Pacific Ocean near Carara National Park and the town of Tarcoles.

Since 2007, José Eduardo has been conducting guided boat trips down the river where passengers are consistently rewarded with diverse wildlife sightings.

According to the owner of José's Crocodile River Tours, there are approximately 20 crocodiles per mile on the river. But many of the international bird enthusiasts on board his trips might argue that the river’s greatest claim to fame should be the amazing number and variety of birds.

Love at first sight In 2006, I visited Costa Rica for the first time. While there, I visited the Tarcoles River and took a boat tour to see the crocodiles and other wildlife. At that time, I fell in love with the mangroves and birds in the area. Nowadays, I immediately feel at peace anytime I am out on the Tarcoles River with my camera. It is one of my favorite places to spend time.

COOL PLACES

Perhaps because there is truth to the phrase "the early bird gets the worm," Tarcoles River birding tours generally start around 6:00 a.m. Some of the birds seen early on are falcons, hawks, jacana, spoonbill, heron, ibis, stilt birds and scarlet macaws.

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Monstera Deliciosa A Classic Favorite House Plant

By Lyndsay Bilodeau

M

onsteras have always been very popular among plant collectors. We just have to take a look at any trending Instagram feed to find loads of posts featuring these beautiful plants. This rise in popularity has also given way to the hashtag #monsteramonday, where people kick off the week by showing off their monsteras through social media platforms. For plant lovers, there’s no better way to start your Monday!

LIFESTYLE FEATURE

While there are several other beautiful species of monsteras out there, the monstera deliciosa remains a classic favorite house plant for any gardener and plant lover.

Monstera deliciosa is also commonly known as the “swiss cheese plant,” describing the holey fenestration on the leaves. These holes actually have a cleaving function for the plant, allowing light to penetrate in between.

This enables the leaves to spread out over a large area by using less energy.

The fenestration is also one of the most attractive details of this plant, creating a lovely lace-like appearance on the foliage. Larger, more mature leaves produce more fenestration and splitting than younger leaves, which can sometimes have none.

To read more, scan!

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Howler never stopped being the loudest voice in the Costa Rica OR information media marketplace!

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Plastic Love in the Time of COVID-19

By Ben Harris

H

ow quickly our grasp of the recent past has slipped and the promise of a greener future dimmed. In times that now seem so long ago, the word Corona just conjured up images of a cold beer rather than a deadly virus. The world seemed to be gradually making changes and pledges to halt the production of single-use plastics, in favor of more sustainable options. Countries were banning plastic bags, styrofoam and throwaway utensils. People were beginning to become more conscious, caring consumers.

Now as we ride the wave of COVID-19, so many of these promises and resolutions have fallen by the wayside. The importance of barriers to human contact and bleach to protect our health have taken priority over the health of our planet and preserving sources of the air we breathe.

Of course, measures need to be taken to keep ourselves, our friends and our families safe from testing positive in this pandemic. But we can still make choices that have less environmental impact than others.

and little bottles of Clorox form a parade of ocean poison running like a ribbon along our shores.

For those front-line workers who do not have a choice but to grab a fresh mask a dozen times a day, we understand and are, of course, grateful for their vital work. But for those of us who are not essential workers fighting on the front lines, there is no excuse for not using washable/reusable masks in our day-to-day lives.

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Hazardous human health safeguards The high tide mark of many beaches shows just how much extra plastic pollution is flooding into our rivers and oceans right now. Single-use masks HM HOWLER MAGAZINE | 23

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