Florida Developers Transform Costa Rica Town into World-Class Residential, Resort Marina Destination
Golfito - this Costa Rican paradise may have started as the bustling port for the Chiquita Banana empire in the 1920's, but today a team of Miami developers will transform it into Bahia Escondida, a luxury tropical playground located just off the southeastern side of Costa Rica's Golfo Dulce.

This bayside village and marina includes multi-family condos, town homes and private residences, boutique shops, restaurants, a luxury hotel and yacht club. Prices for luxury condos range from us$300,000 to more than us$800,000 and prices for luxury town homes are upwards of us$1.5 million. Marina slips range from 55 feet to 150 feet and are priced from $180,000 to more than us$600,000.

Mega yacht pleasure cruisers or sport fishing enthusiasts will appreciate the bragging points of the Bahia Escondida marina, the largest and most complete state-of-the art marina on the country's Pacific coast. The marina features golf cart concierge service, covered piers, a high-speed fuel dock and slips accommodating vessels up to 150-feet.

This us$500-million dollar project, slated to break ground in January 2006, is the brainchild of Costa Rica developers and Miami natives Jim Lynskey and Harvey Sasso. Lynskey has pioneered the southern zone of Costa Rica for more than 14 years, and Sasso heads up Miami-based Coastal Systems, the company designated to manage construction of the project's marina development. Phil Perko, president of Boca Raton-based Digital Capital International Sales Group, is leading the U.S. and International sales and marketing efforts.

"This destination is the richest in all of Central America in biodiversity, it is home to the largest rain forest and offers some of the world's best offshore fishing," said Perko. "With the yachting industry maturing into larger boats with advanced communications' systems this further enables travel to destinations that were once out of reach. Costa Rica's stable government and the project's proximity to the Panama Canal, makes it the perfect location."

Located on the idyllic South Pacific coastal area, Bahia Escondida is a boater's dream, with a 216-slip marina, the closest Costa Rican sheltered bay to the Panama Canal.

Land lovers will enjoy the "Plantation/Victorian" village-design, a blend of luxurious amenities and laid back living. Floor plans include one, two, and three bedroom residences integrated into a unique pedestrian village of shops, galleries, waterfront promenades and elegant plazas, including two restaurants, a yacht club facility, spa, exotic tropical pool and an eco-adventure center for children.

"It's one of the most breathtaking spots in the world," said Lynskey. "Bahia Escondida is its own little village, full of friendly people and rich history. You never have to venture outside the community to experience 'pura vida' (Costa Rica's national slogan meaning pure life) the ultimate in Costa Rican luxury living. It's the best of both worlds-the laid-back lifestyle and picturesque views of Costa Rica and the luxurious amenities of America."

About Golfito
Golfito is situated at the southeastern side of the Golfo Dulce, a big bay off the Pacific Ocean, northwest from Panama. The port town was founded at the end of the twenties by Chiquita Banana.

Within a short time it was built into a prosperous trade center. At one point Golfito was the most important port at the south end of Costa Rica but decreased dramatically since in 1985 when the banana company left and gave all their real estate to the government. One year following the departure of that industry, the government established the Golfito Reserve or "Refugio National de Vida Silvestre" - establishing a kind of limited national park or wildlife refuge area.

In April 1990 a duty-free shopping zone was opened in Golfito. It attracts ticos and foreigners from all over the country. This new duty-free tourism and a newly developing Eco-tourism industry around Golfito is helping to revitalize the coastal community. More and more travelers are attracted to visit the nearby national parks, reserve areas and botanical gardens or to take boat trips in the pristine "Golfo Dulce" (Sweet Bay) and the river "Rio Coto." In 2005 Bahia Escondida developers introduced the master plan to transform this old port town into a world-class residential, resort and marina destination.