Costa Rica is well known for the premium that
it places on peace, education and democracy,
and is often referred to as "the Switzerland of
Central America." In 1949, the government
abolished the army, allocating all would-be
military expenses to education and health. As
a direct result, the literacy rate rose to 95% and
still continues to be one of the highest rates in
the Americas.
International ports on both coasts; air, ocean
and freight transportation services; a well-
developed infrastructure; and a strategic loca-
tion at the crossroads of two continents make
Costa Rica a contender in world markets. The
government’s receptiveness toward new busi-
ness ventures and excellent incentive plans has
lured a growing number of multinational cor-
porations to the country."
Enter one William Royster, a notably successful
Californian developer.
In 1991, Royster was cruising the Pacific Coast
from California when he dropped anchor in
Herradura Bay. He was captivated with
Herradura’s natural beauty, unique topography
and the warmth of the Costa Rican people.
The enchantment was completed when Royster
caught a 750-lb. marlin. "This is my dream,"
he said, and immediately started the realiza-
tion of that dream, now a world-class destina-
tion and the premier resort community in
Latin American: the Los Suenos Resort and
Marina.
The travel brochures note the usual facts
and figures:
"Costa Rica is situated on the Central
American isthmus, flanked by the Pacific
Ocean and Caribbean Sea with a distance
of approximately 155 miles between
coasts. With a total area of 20,480
square miles, Costa Rica is no larger
than the state of West Virginia, yet it con-
tains 6% of the world’s biodiversity.
To be sure, the Los Suenos Resort and Marina is
for anyone seeking the ultimate in luxury resort
living in a tropical paradise. The Marriott
Ocean and Golf Resort is the centerpiece of the
property, surrounded by luxury residences, beau-
tiful golf courses and superb recreational facili-
ties.
In Spanish, "Los Suenos" means dreams, and
from the start, Royster decided to incorporate
that luxury concept into every facet of the
resort, as well as the boats chartered from the
marina, including his own personal boat.
Naturally, the only choice for Royster was the
best built sportfishers in the world, CABO
Yachts. The marina became home to the
exclusive dealer for CABO Yachts in Central
America, Royster’s own Central America
Yacht Sales (www.CenAmYachts.com).
Royster asked for numerous specifications on
his CABOs. In return, CABO Yachts produced
a Los Suenos Edition of the CABO 35 Express,
CABO 40 Express and CABO 45 Express. The
sportfishers are shipped from the CABO
Yachts factory in Adelanto, CA to Basin
Marine in Newport Beach for readying with
installation of towers and electronics. Once
the CABOs are completed, they are floated
onto Dockwise Yacht Transport’s unique sub-
mergible carrier, which makes regular trips
to Los Suenos throughout the year.
The Los Suenos Edition models of the CABO Express share several unique
features. One of the most apparent is the elimination of the windshield,
assuring enhanced airflow moving across the common area on the open
bridge deck.
"In our area, we see people going to smaller and express model boats,"
Royster explains, "there is really no need for a boat larger than 45 feet at
Los Suenos Marina or its adjacent fishery. When you only have to run 20
miles offshore to catch fish and you return to our marina every night,
you don’t need
three staterooms."
Royster also points out that the enhanced maneuverability of boats 45-
feet and under is a real plus when fighting multiple hook-ups at the
same time and catching and releasing a couple of dozen billfish per
day—typical action off Los Suenos.
According to Marlin Magazine, Los Suenos sits smack dab in the middle
of some of the best sailfishing in the world. With hot spots like Cabo
Blanco just a few miles out, boats rarely have to make a long run to fish
out of Los Suenos. Sailfish season runs from December to June,
although there are sails caught year-round. The average catch is 80
pounds. Local Captain Jimmy Nix noted that, "If you hit the season
right, it’s not uncommon to get 20 to 30 bites a day."
NuCo2, a private sportfisher out of Stuart, FL caught and released 1,162
sailfish in 80 days of fishing between April and June at Los Suenos at
spots located within 20 miles of the resort – "26," "Cabo Blanco" and
"Herradura Bank."
Locals say that dorado and yellow-fin tuna are outstanding all year,
with large schools of tuna staying close to the bank and Cabo Blanco.
Several sportsmen have expressed awe at the numbers and sizes of dora-
do off the Central Pacific Coast, with smaller ones weighing in at 25
pounds.
Currently, the resort is presenting a three-part series of world-class off-
shore tournaments, focusing on the species that inhabit the rich waters
off Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Coast. The series is sanctioned by the
World Billfish Series as part of the Pacific Rim Division.
Of course, sportfishing isn’t the only draw. Costa Rica’s spectacular and
diverse natural
beauty attracts over
one million visitors
annually. Nine
active volcanoes, for-
est environments,
hot springs, wet-
lands, lakes, island
reserves and 600
miles of beaches on
two coasts account
for the dramatic
increase in tourism
over the last decade. Costa Rica’s varied terrain provides endless possi-
bilities for activities from hiking and white water rafting through
national parks to surfing, snorkeling and scuba diving off the Pacific
and Caribbean shores.
But sportfishing is the sport of choice at Los Suenos, and Royster is
proud of what he has brought to Costa Rica. Considering that the proj-
ect garnered support from the Costa Rican government to the extent that
Los Suenos was officially recognized as a "project of national impor-
tance," the resort and marina will certainly continue to live up to its
original concept of Royster’s dream – a Paradise in Costa Rica.