Safari is visited by a wide range of people of all sizes.

The most enjoyable times for me are when the surf school is buzzing with lots of kids. The atmosphere then is bustling with energy, activity, laughter, and joy, I mean it’s like that all the time, but with kids around…….well you know what I mean. Safari Surf offers lessons and kids camps for the munchkins. We offer full and half day camps that include surf lessons, beach games, arts & crafts, pool activities, lunch, etc. Ages range from 5-15 with the emphasis on structuring by age groups. Our instructors are fantastic with kids and jump at the opportunity to work a “kid’s camp”. I recently joined a wild and crazy group from Charleston, South Carolina.

WYLLY, RODGERS, CAMILLE, CAMERON, ZOE (in front)

I LOVE THIS JOB!

PL: How did you find out about Safari Surf School and Costa Rica?

WYLLY: We had our Spring Break this week. My parents knew someone who had been

here and recommended it. We came in two families; we all go to the same school.

 

PL: Hey Zoe how old are you?

ZOE: I’m 5, the youngest. My name is spelled Z-O-E with 2 dots over the E.

 

PL: Holy smokes I don’t think my computer has a key for the 2 dots. Is that important?

ZOE: YES! If they aren’t there then you will say my name wrong!

 

PL: OK! I will do my best to find the 2 dots (I can’t find them). So did you have fun?
ZOE: We are having a blast! We don’t want to leave.

 

PL: What did you guys do this week?

CAMERON: We surfed, a lot! We also went snorkeling, went on a scavenger hunt on the beach, played in the pool, ate pizza, and drew stuff.

 

PL: Your mom said you would probably grow up and move here and be a surfer girl.

CAMERON: She said that?! That’s cool!

SURFER GIRLS CAMERON AND CAMILLE

PL: Was surfing hard for you?

RODGERS: Naw it was easy and fun! The boards here float you good!

 

Pl: What was the biggest wave you caught?

RODGERS: As big as an aircraft carrier!

 

PL: WOW, that big?

RODGERS: Yup, ask Wylly.

RODGERS THINKIN’ BIG

 

  PL: Hey Camille, do you have any top memories of your vacation

  CAMILLE: This was my best Spring Break ever! I am definitely coming back.

I made even better friends with Cameron here.

BFF’S – CAMILLE & CAMERON

PL: Who’s your favorite instructor?

ALL: ALONSO*HELBERTH*KEVIN!!!!!!!

“TA DA!” – ZOE WITH STYLE

PING PONG!   SNORKELING!  PIZZA!

CAMIILE       CAMERON     ZOE

MITTY WITH DAUGHTERS AND LUIS

 

Safari has also hosted some older kids over the years: Phil Guilfoyle, Professor of Art at Virginia Wesleyan College brought his group down for his the “Art of Surfing” course and they earned full college credit for their participation in this innovative program!

PROFESSOR PHIL GUILFOYLES ‘ART OF SURFING’ CLASS

Jason Roderick, Director of Counseling Services at Providence Country Day School in Rhode Island has brought down his Juniors and Seniors groups for four years running.

MORE ALUMNI!

  LINSDAY IN OCT 2013 *       LINDSAY LAST WEEK – MOST IMPROVED!

SURF TERM OF THE WEEK: PEARLING

“To nose dive, having too much weight at the front of the board causing the nose to go under, resulting in a wipeout”

A TEXT BOOK “PEARL DIVE” **** STRAIGHT TO DAVEY JONES LOCKER!

Pura vida,
Peter

The Return of the Safari Surfer.

I am continually amazed by the large number of returning Safari Surf School ‘students’. Year after year guests come back to Safari to pick up where they left off – to surf, dine, zipline, swim, relax and groove on the mellow Pura Vida beach vibe we are known for. A sure sign of a good operation can be measured by the number of people who return. They bring family and friends, gifts and photos, and huge hugs and smiles. The friendships fostered during their initial visit are lasting and meaningful. I don’t know the actual statistics, but my guess is that at least 50% of our guests come back – a phenomenal number! I have wanted to do a little profile on our alumni, see what brings them back, what they would like to accomplish, and how they feel once here. Now is a good time to start.

Jason Roderick and his “kids” recently returned for their fourth consecutive trip to Safari Surf School.  Jason is the Director of Counseling Services at the prestigious Providence Country Day School in Rhode Island, a private learning institution that balances rigorous academics, visual and performing arts, and competitive athletics. As a former Dean of Students at Vermont Academy Jason created a month long environmental study abroad program called Eco-Ecuador which was adopted into PCD’s study abroad program. It was here that Jason realized the profound impact that location based learning had on students. They experienced new cultures, languages, and customs, far different from theirs which facilitated new perspectives and insights. Jason went on to create the PCD surf/yoga program and selected Nosara as the ideal location to bring students to. He graciously answered a few questions for me.

GROUP LEADER JASON RODERICK

 

PL: How did you come to select Nosara for these youth travel experiences?

JR: I had been to Nosara once before 9 years ago. The laid back “wellness vibe” is what sold me. Everything here exudes a positive, healthy lifestyle. It is the perfect getaway from winter in New England.

 

PL: How do your spread the word to students and parents?

JR: Every year I present a slide show to students, teachers, and parents. Nosara is such a spectacular visual place, the nature, the ocean, the people. Imagine watching these images of happy people enjoying this tropical paradise with a foot of snow on the ground!

 

PL: How are students selected?

JR: We interview all interested kids and their parents. The seniors have first priority on available openings. The parents really support me. You might think they would be hesitant to let their kids travel to what they might perceive a “third world country”, but it’s just the opposite. The Eco-Ecuador concept laid the groundwork for these types of study abroad experiences. The kids came back enlightened and the parents were convinced!

 

PL: How did you come to select Safari Surf School as base camp?

JR: On my earlier trip I discovered Casa Tucan. It had this really cozy surf vibe, very friendly, small, great food. I met Tim Marsh and we mapped out a customized itinerary that was basically all-inclusive; lodging, meals, surfing, yoga, a canopy tour zip line day in the rainforest, and a community exchange encounter. Now here we are on trip #4!

 

PL: What are the students’ impressions of the experience?

JR: Over the top, just ‘stoked’, that’s the word! I am a very organized detail person and think every aspect of the trip down to the minute. But when you get here and become immersed in the energy and atmosphere, you adopt a little more “go with the flow” attitude. It’s therapeutic!

 

Pl: Thanks for coming Jason, congrats on another great trip.

JR: See you next year.

I grabbed a few of the students to get their impressions…

KIRI, NATE, AMARA

PL: Do you all go to Providence Country Day School?

Kids: Providence and Wheeler, both private schools.

 

PL: How do you like it here?

NATE: You know how when you go on vacation a lot of it is planning, preparation, packing, and flying and a lot of details? You finally get there and it takes a few days to finally unwind and can ask yourself ‘was it all worth it’? Well here on my first morning we were walking on the jungle path to the beach and it just hit me and I’m thinking “if I had to go back right this instant it would still be totally worth it”. Best trip of my life!

JUNGLE TRAIL TO BEACH

 

AMARA: This place is amazing, so laid back, you can walk everywhere, and everyone waves to you!

KIRI: I felt ‘at home’ here from day one. Surfing is so fantastic and the instructors are such cool guys and very professional. A lot of girls surf here so I felt welcome and accepted in the water. Also the food, loved it all!

THE GANGS ALL HERE!

BEACH WARM-UP AND TRAINING

KIRRI, NATE

JASON


AMARA

JASON’S WIFE KELLY & SON GREYSON

AMARA INDO BOARD PRACTICE

SAFARI / PCD CLASS OF 2014

Thanks for reading!
Pura vida,
Peter

PINNED HIM (TYLER) DOWN!

Greetings all and Happy St. Paddy’s Day! In this issue we bring you The Tyler Marsh Story – Part Two. As mentioned, Tylers brain is razor sharp and super active and it is often a challenge to grab him and hold his attention for a sustained period of time before he is up and addressing something else. I had the great pleasure of “pinning him down” for 15 minutes – all I needed! The things I learned about him in that short time confirmed my intuitions about a true success story here. Essentially Tyler moved to Costa Rica in 1996 with very little, ‘starting from scratch’ as they say. He went on to build a business, family, home, and life down here, NOT an easy thing to do. Seems like every other week we hear something about Costa Rica – Best Retirement Spot in Central America, the Happiest Place on Earth, the Blue Zone… But these articles almost exclusively refer to us older folks, tribal elders I like to say. These are generally folks that have worked major careers, maybe have some assets, and are collecting Social Security. Many young people come here for the surf, the yoga, the beauty, lifestyle, simplicity, etc. They sustain themselves by teaching pilates, working in restaurants, selling surf photos, and the like, but earning the big money – to be able to own a car, buy property, and build a house – just can’t be done here. Tyler Marsh Did! Here’s how:
Peter: So you were born and raised in Hawaii?
Tyler: Yes on Oahu. We lived in a little town on the outskirts of Honolulu.
Peter: What did your folks do?
Tyler: Dad was a writer, he was freelance and sold advertising. Mom was a
therapist for the Cerebral Palsy Association.
Peter: When did you start surfing?
Tyler: Oh way early on, can’t remember exact year.
Peter: Where did you surf over there, Pipeline?
Tyler: I have surfed Pipeline, but I don’t like the egos and pressure there.
My favorite spots were Backyards and Rocky Point. There are so many
incredible waves on Oahu, they call the North Shore “The Seven Mile
Miracle”.
Peter: And the vibe there, pretty local and harsh?
Tyler: It was not easy to grow up a blond haired Haole over there. You had to
show respect and remain in the background until you proved yourself
in the water. Once you were accepted the Ohana (brotherhood, family)
would watch over you and encourage you to take off deeper.

Rocky Point- Tyler’s Favorite Spot in Hawaii

Peter: So how did you get here (Nosara)?
Tyler: I had a tree trimming and sprinkler business in Hawaii. When Tim went
to Costa Rica in 1995 he totally fell in love with it and called me raving
about how magical it was, green, uncrowded, perfect waves. He talked me into coming down. I came here and pretty much loved it too! I decided to move here, and came over with very few possessions, footloose and fancy free. I found work on a finca (ranch) that was eventually bought by Mel Gibson. I had been looking around for some land in Hawaii and found it was just too expensive, so when I moved here I began to look around. I ended up buying a 30 acre tree farm. The farm had 20,000 Pochote and 40,000Teak trees. Tree farms were good investments and I ended up selling my land for a profit. This became the seed money for Safari Surf School. I also built my house!

Teak Plantation

Peter: We covered the start-up of Safari Surf School in last weeks blog. When
did you meet Arlene?
Tyler: I met her through a friend in San Jose. It was love at first sight! We were
inseparable and together for 4 years before we got married. We’ve been
married now for 8 years.

Arlene & Tyler – first Son Bradley

Two Boys- Kalani & Bradley
Three Boys – At Seaworld!

Peter: You speak Spanish well, everyone understands you! How did
become fluent?
Tyler: Absorption – 100% Just being here it sort of sunk in.
Peter: Where on the planet have you surfed?
Tyler: Hawaii, Fiji, Australia,New Zealand, Maldives, Mentawais, El
Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama, Costa.
Peter: Never surfed new Jersey huh?
Tyler: jajajaja
Peter: Favorite wave in the word!
Tyler: Impossibles in Indo

IMPOSSIBLES, INDONESIA!
Peter: You are one of the rare few who found your niche here. Whats next?
Tyler: Olas Verdes will be beyond anything this town has seen.. My Guardian
Angel must be watching over me….

Peter: When, where?
Tyler: Oh My God where did you get that?
I will have to think on that!
Peter: Tell me about your new cabinas.
Tyler: Well I got to thinking about how there is often a problem finding rooms
for people in high season. I have a lot of room on my property so kinda
just went for it. I plan to add a pool and separate entrance, and they will be super private once the landscaping fills in. There was a big concert here this past weekend and I filled ‘em up!

CABINAS TYLER
Peter: Thanks man, this has been fun.
Tyler: Aloha

DON TYLER – YOUR CONGENIAL HOST
Pura vida,
Peter

Hola friends & welcome back to the Inside Peak! I have decided to present ‘The Tyler Marsh Story’ in two parts. In Part One (in this issue) I will attempt to introduce this amazing enigmatic character as I know him from my personal experiences and observations gained from working at Safari Surf. Part Two follows on next week’s blog, and will feature ‘an up close and personal’ interview with Da Man himself. I have known Tyler for over 4 years now, and have had the pleasure of watching him and his family and his business grow. Anyone who knows me well knows that I am nuts about kids, and his 1st born son Bradley (5 yrs old) and I have formed a bond that transcends age and traditional roles. He is a treasure, as are all kids, and I feel blessed and lucky that he can be ‘in my life’. Now there are two more boys in the brood, all future surf connoisseurs and soccer stars to be sure.

MADDOX, BRADLEY & KALANI MARSH

BACKSTORY – THE WAY WE WERE

Tim and Tyler grew up on the beaches of Hawaii and became excellent surfers. Tim eventually moved to California and became a successful house painter and Tyler stayed in Hawaii. In 1995 Tim and girlfriend Marsi took a 3 week surf trip to Costa Rica and instantly became enamored with the beauty, people, simplicity, and perfect surf. They felt as if they had found Nirvana and fantasized about living in this paradise. Their travels lead to the Nicoya Peninsula where they started their explorations in Tamarindo, and then moved south, eventually ending up in Playa Garza (the next beach town south of Playa Guiones) in a torrential downpour. They were lost, tired, and hungry. They happened upon a small market with a light on and English signs in the windows. The owner Richard took them in like family and gave them shelter, food, and encouragement. He showed them around the coast and took them surfing to wondrous empty beaches. Tim and Marsi sensed destiny and they ended up leasing the little market and moving to Costa Rica to pursue their tropical dream. They loved every minute of it and called Tyler in Hawaii to entice him to come down for a look. Tyler arrived two weeks later and never looked back, making Costa Rica his permanent home. Tim and Marsi eventually returned to California to regroup and prepare for the arrival of Camille, their first of three children. Little did they know the seed had been planted…

THE MINI MARKET IN PLAYA GARZA 1997

DESTINY CONVERGES

My wife and I moved to Nosara in 2008. We had ended our professional careers and decided to pursue a ‘more interesting life’ living in Nosara.  We sold all of our possessions and left the Miami airport (just as Tim and Marsi had) with 4 suitcases and 3 dogs in kennels. We built a house and gradually learned the crazy ways of this new life. We kept our eyes and ears open and explored different possible opportunities to stay busy and earn some expense money. My wife had retired from 35 years of critical care nursing and became a cake maker, starting a little dessert business called Ems Yums. It didn’t take long for me to gravitate to my roots; surfing, restaurants, and travel planning. I met Tim Marsh and family on the local zip line tour and quickly found we had much in common and knew many of the same people in the surfing world. Tim brought me into Safari Surf School initially as a chauffeur, driving the van to and from the local airport, tours, etc., I eventually landed in the office helping with administrative tasks, guest welcome orientations, and general office duties. Tyler was the on-site owner/manager while Tim and Marsi operated the main office in California. Tyler and I came from different eras, but we worked well together as we realized our passions and backgrounds were one and the same I had to prove myself at work and in the water, and eventually earned a spot on team as the “tribal elder”.

 

HAWAIIAN CODE

Growing up in Hawaii, Tim and Tyler learned to endure a strict and often hostile surfing culture. The Hawaiians are a fiercely proud people always protective of their turf. The Haoles, or light skinned outsiders were often harassed and ousted in a kind of reverse discrimination. But deep down they are loyal, loving, and have hearts of gold. I could sense that Tyler was engendered with these same traits. At times misunderstood, Tyler’s mind goes a mile a minute. It is often hard to “pin him down”, but he doesn’t miss a beat, he processes everything that’s going on, and has a deep moral sense of right and wrong. Most significantly, Tyler has a big heart and is very sensitive and perceptive of feelings. He is often moved to tears by acts of kindness and loyalty. I have always loved that in him, it defines who he is.

TYLER AND TIM IN THE EARLY DAYS OF SAFARI SURF

 

BIRTH OF A DREAM

Whereas Tim and Marsi returned to California to regroup, Tyler stayed in the Nosara area. He found various odd jobs to sustain him, and of course surfed every day. (I am looking forward to more detail on this in our interviews). Tim found work as a mortgage broker, made good money, bought a house, and acquired many ‘possessions’- the archetypical model of success. But deep down he was disenchanted and unsettled, he longed for the simple Costa Rican lifestyle. A chance encounter one day with an old friend changed everything. Pat Weber was one of the first to open a surf school in California, and it was thriving. Here was a guy having fun, staying healthy, and making a good living while making a life. Seeing this started the wheels turning, and the “what ifs” in Tim’s head would not cease. Safari Surf School was opened in 1998, and was one of the first in Costa Rica providing full service vacation packages. It has steadily grown every year.

The next step in Safari’s evolution is currently underway with the development, construction, and operation of Olas Verdes, a state of the art sustainable surf resort slated to open in 2015.

 

FAMILY MAN

Tyler found love and married local girl Arlene DiCarlo and started a family, 3 boys whom he adores. He has a beautiful house, nice cars, and is currently finishing up 4 beautiful guest rooms on the corner of his property. Not bad for a happy go lucky surfer dude from Hawaii!

FAMILIA MARSH

HOUSE AND NEW CABINAS

TYLER SURFS GOOD!

 

NEXT WEEK

Join us in the next edition of Inside Peak as we continue our profile of Tyler, the man, the myth, the LEGEND! (If I can pin him down!)

THIS WEEK AT SAFARI

Great guests, as always, at Safari this week. They came to learn how to surf and made the Surfing Nosara daily webcam! – The photos tell the story!

SHARON WITH STYLE!

RICK – CONCENTRATION!

GRACEFUL ASHLEY

STEVE RIPPING!

FUN WITH MY BUDDY BRADLEY

JEFFREY BUYING FRESH PRODUCE – THE TRUCK GOES DOOR TO DOOR

WELCOME TO ANGELO – OUR NEW CHAUFFER!

SAFARI MANAGER JEFFREY STYLING WITH NEW MACBOOK AND iPHONE

Thanks for reading!
Pura vida,
Peter

Welcome back to the Inside Peak! Wow, here we are in March, hot weather, south swells, Spring Break!

NOSARA’S BEST TOURS & ACTIVITIES

Last week I did a review of one of Nosara’s most popular (non-surfing) tours – Miss Sky Canopy Tour. This week I thought I would continue on that line of thought, and feature some of the other fantastic tour and activity offerings available here. Safari Surf can provide further information and help you arrange any of these activities, just ask and we are on it!

 

ON THE WATER

Water activities abound in Nosara! Abundant rivers, tide pools, waterfalls, estuaries, bays, and ocean provide for a variety of water sports, offering ideal settings and conditions for beginners through advanced skill levels.

KAYAKING/SUP

The convergence of the Nosara and Montana Rivers at ‘The Boca’ offers multiple waterways and spectacular scenery, perfect for calm-water kayaking and stand up paddling. A favorite attraction here is the mangrove tunnels where you can paddle through an amazing network of coastal mangroves. At the intersection of land and sea, mangrove forests support a wealth of life, from starfish to people. The relationship between mangroves and their associated marine life cannot be overemphasized. Mangroves provide protected nursery areas for fishes, crustaceans, and shellfish. They also provide food for a multitude of marine species such as snook, snapper, tarpon, jack, sheepshead, red drum, oyster, and shrimp. Mangroves can help prevent erosion by stabilizing shorelines with their specialized root systems. Mangroves also filter water and maintain water quality and clarity.

SUP

Stand up paddle tours (SUP) can be conducted on the river or in a variety of ocean conditions.  Safari Surf works with Experience Nosara, a professional full service outfitter providing the latest in equipment and excellent local guides. The cool thing is that they have a storage shed right on the river, so when you book a kayak tour, they also bring along a couple of stand up paddleboards so people can also give them a try. Experience Nosara conducts SUP camps teaching basic and advanced techniques in all facets of the sport.

If you are feeling the call of the wild, try SUP surfing on open ocean swells, a guaranteed buzz! They also provide snorkel and waterfall excursions!

SNORKELING

The pristine beaches of San Juanillo (45 minutes north of Nosara) offer the perfect setting for a family day of swimming, snorkeling, and picnicking.  The vast diversity in coastal ecosystems in this region is impressive. Playa Guiones is hard packed light sand, Playa Pelada is defined by volcanic reefs and outcroppings. Ostional is a black sand beach and north of that San Juanillo is punctuated with white coral reefs and crystal clear bays and lagoons.

WATERFALLS

Everyone loves a waterfall! There are several in our area, some well known, but also a few secret spots. We can help arrange a memorable waterfall hike in between your surf lessons (rainy season June-November).

 

FISHING

Costa Rica is known for its world class fishing and the Nosara area is no exception. Far removed from commercial fishing lanes and off the beaten tourist paths, the Nosara area is Costa Rica’s best-kept fishing secret. The nearby 100 fathom ledge bends in towards the beach creating a pool of deep blue water very close to the shore. Our waters are full of Sailfish, Blue Marlin, Black Marlin, Striped Marlin, Snook, Cuberra Snapper, Yellowfin Tuna, Dorado/Mahi-Mahi, Bonita, Rooster Fish and Pago Snapper.  You can charter a boat for offshore trips or hang down at the Boca (river mouth) with Safari Surf instructor/fishing guide Alonso and try your luck for snook.

HORSEBACK RIDING

Nosara was originally dominated by cowboy culture! Every year local town fiestas feature rodeos and Tope (horse dancing) and everyone comes out to celebrate the country life. There are a variety of horseback tours for rider of all experience levels.

TURTLE TOURS

Turtle nesting in the Nosara area is a well known phenomenon, famous actually in environmental circles. The beaches of Playa Ostional just to the north is the setting for a rarely-seen biological wonder. The week before new moon hundreds, and sometimes thousands of sea turtles come to one specific mile of beach at Ostional to dig their eggs into the black, volcanic sand. Prompted by some secret signal, the “arribada” will begin. At first, a few hundred turtles will come out on the beach, followed by a steady stream of animals for the next three to seven days. The Ostional Wildlife Refuge in Costa Rica was created in 1984 to protect one of the world’s most important nesting sites of the Olive Ridley sea turtle. Amazingly, Ostional is the only beach in the world where harvesting turtle eggs is legal. Scientists found out that most of the eggs deposed in the first nights of an arribada are destroyed by subsequent turtles who dig their nests.  Therefore, since 1987, the government of Costa Rica allows the community of Ostional to harvest the doomed eggs on the first three days of an arribada. In return, the villagers become rangers who protect the turtles, clean debris from the beaches and patrol day and night for poachers.

MOTORIZED TOURS

ATVs or ‘quads’ are a fun way to see the areas diverse coastal nooks, rivers, and mountains.

You can rent a quad for a day or week and also go on various guided tours. One of the more creative operations here is Howling Monkey Adventures. Their website description tells the story:

Howling Monkey offers exhilarating off road adventures, guaranteed to be the highlight of your Costa Rica trip! Drive our TOMCARS and experience Costa Rica’s secluded beaches, untouched wildlife, amazing mountain vistas and pristine sunsets. Our Unique military grade vehicles with our Super Amazing local guides, allow for a safe and thrilling ride into remote jungle terrain to witness Howler Monkeys, exotic birds, and a variety of other jungle dwellers in their native state. Whether you are into surf, snorkel, nature or just pure adrenaline, let us customize a unique adventure for you, your group, family or corporate guests. This is guaranteed to be an adventure that you will never forget!

 

NEW IN NOSARA!

NOSARA CLIMBLING WALL

ESKINA SKATE PARK – OPEN SOON!

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

      CAITLIN & CALVIN’S FAREWELL BREAKFAST      YELENA & FRIEND WAXING UP

OWEN SMILE   OLAS VERDES CONSTRUCTION SITE

“WILD HORSES”

Thanks for reading! Come back next week for my interview with the man, the myth, the legend… Tyler Marsh!
Pura vida,
Peter