Costa Rica Real Estate, from Coast to Coast, the Right Way!!!

By John Wieland in Dominical for the Easy Times
 

When I first moved to Costa Rica in 2004, my wife and I would walk the beach nearly everyday. One morning I had a feeling of being transported back to that 70's tv show, Gilligan's Island when I found myself watching a man climb up a palm tree, knock down a few coconuts, cut the top and then drink the liquid inside. It seemed so alien yet exotic and it brought a bit of childhood nostalgia back. It reminded me of those countless episodes when Gilligan would be lounging on the beach and coconuts would be falling on his head waking him out of his languishing dreamy state.

Who would know that some months later, even before I got involved in Costa Rica real estate, I would be living in Costa Rica and sitting on the beach watching a guy grab a "drink" from the nearest palm? It prompted me to ask what he was drinking and what, if any, were the benefits.

The cure

It turns out that he was in need of a serious "cure" for his hangover and said that "agua de pipa", or coconut water, was the best medicine. He grabbed a couple from his stash and proceeded to cut the top with the longest machete I had ever seen. It is a clear liquid and has a slightly sweet taste to it. Very tasty, but definitely not the sweet sugary drinks we had become accustomed to in the United States. He explained that it was very healthy and beneficial in many ways but said the main reason it was so great was for the relief from a hard night of fun.
 

What is agua de pipa

I decided to do my own research to find out what is "agua de pipa". It is not to be confused with coconut milk, which is the byproduct of the hardened coconut flesh once it has matured. What was so amazing was learning the health benefits of agua de pipa. One cup has more electrolytes and minerals than most sports drinks, more potassium than a banana, no sugar, no salt, no fat, has been used as replacement milk for babies whose mother's can not nurse and has even been used as intravenous hydration fluid. Wow!

So, it is no surprise that with such enormous benefits that there has been an enormous wave sweeping the United States and has Coca Cola and Pepsi rushing in to take over the market. You can find many brands of pipa sold at natural food stores.

State-siders are now just realizing what we've known for years. Agua de Pipa not only has many benefits but here in Costa Rica, it is still free in its purely unaltered state. A refreshing and tasty drink and all it takes is for you to pick a tree, climb up (or find a really long stick), grab a machete, slice the top and drink to your health while laying in a hammock pretending for a few moments you are Gilligan on that island. A Su Salud, pura vida!

By John Wieland, partner of Daveed Hollander, our affiliate real estate agent for the Domincal and Southern Pacific coast. John and Daveed offer beautiful beach homes and ocean view lots for sale and have the best vacation homes on the market. For showings, contact them now.

The number one attraction in Dominical is the beach and ocean. There's all the amenities to help you enjoy a safe and exhilarating time. Fishing and Waterfalls tie for second in area attractions. Ziplines, caves, horseback riding, yoga, massage, socializing, and hiking are as well favorites here. Being less than 5 miles from Marino Ballena National Park, whales are seen along the shoreline 9 months of the year. Thus, whale watching tours are popular and normally successful.