Tamarindo community report for Friday, September 5th

September 5th, 2014
By Tamarindo Community Reporter, Liisa Vexler

Water Bottle Refill Station First of Its Kind in Tamarindo

Xplore Costa Rica Tours and Transfers is giving Tamarindo tourists and locals the opportunity to be green and save money by offering a water bottle refill station outside their office in the Subway Plaza on the main road (across the street from the Diria).

For a small fee, individuals can reduce waste by refilling their water bottles with cold purified water. The cost of refills is as much as 75% less expensive than purchasing a bottle of water in town. Prices run from c300 for a 600 ml bottle to c850 for a 2000 ml bottle refill. A neighboring restaurant offers small water bottles for c1,744 plus tax, while the same bottle can be had at the local super for around c700.

Plastic water bottles continue to be part of the pollution problem plaguing beaches and marine ecosystems around the world.

Movement to Revitalize the Tamarindo Community Parks

(Liisa Vexler / Inside Costa Rica)

Last Thursday August 28th, a group of Tamarindo residents hosted a ‘town hall’ meeting to discuss opinions, ideas and strategies related to the revitalization of the Oneida Park in the center of Tamarindo. The group has just created a Facebook page and is in inviting all community members to join the discussion.

In the coming days, a preliminary proposal will be posted with architectural sketches, budget for construction and ongoing maintenance, fundraising initiatives, and ongoing programming for children of all ages.

The Facebook page is considered an open forum, and organizers hope the community rallies together in a positive way to create solutions and to build a stronger environment for all of Tamarindo.

Revive Wellness Center at Langosta Beach Club Expands to Include Spa Services and Cosmetic Medical Treatments

On July 11^th of this year, Revive Wellness Center at Langosta Beach Club added spa services to its existing fitness and wellness facility. In addition, on Friday afternoons, Dr. Villalobos Villar, a board certified cosmetic surgeon, is now seeing patients for non-invasive procedures like Botox, facial fillers, lip augmentation, mole/skin tag removal, collagen induction therapy, spider vein treatment, microdermabrasion, and chemical peels.

When asked how the community is embracing the new spa, wellness center co-owner Jackie Smyder said, “We had six massages our first day!” She also reports that the most popular treatment is the 90- minute traditional Swedish massage called “Serenity” which combines massage and aromatherapy using green tea and aloe oils for a calming and purifying experience. The price for this treatment is $110.

For those looking to extend their wellness experience, Revive, whose motto is Healthy. Balanced. Living., offers day retreat packages which include fitness and spa services, lunch, a cocktail and access to Langosta Beach Club’s pool and beach area for the day. These start at $200.

Local pricing is only available for monthly gym memberships and classes ($10 for beach boot camp and $15 for Surfset Fitness) though there are daily spa specials announced on the Facebook page and website.

More information is available at revivewellnesslangosta.com .

Liisa Vexler

Liisa Vexler is the author of The Family Freedom Project: A Step-By-Step Guide to Living Abroad with Kids. From Dream to Plan to Reality.

On their honeymoon, Liisa and her husband fell in love with Costa Rica. They designed their lifestyles so it could eventually become their home. She now speaks and writes about their experience in addition to managing her busy medical writing business.

Liisa lives with her husband and two sons in Tamarindo where she is currently working on her second book. Connect with her on Twitter, on Facebook, or on Google+.