Where will you spend your Costa Rica New Year?

New Years in Costa Rica is a time for families to get together, enjoy the last days of vacation and celebrate their blessings of the year past and hope for good fortune in the year to come. The more superstitious population has a set of actions that they perform to insure just that, whereas much of the younger generations look to find a place to party.

One of the New Year’s superstitions, for all you travelers out there, involves carrying a backpack or piece of luggage around your house twice or crossing the street with it on Dec. 31st in order to invite more opportunities for travel in the year to come. Many housewives will sweep out the entire house, removing all evils of the year past, while others swear that throwing a pan of water over your shoulder will assure that all bad fortune from the year will remain in the past.

You may see many people donning yellow tonight as well, in hopes of luck in the coming year, and if you know these people more intimately, spotting red underwear might key you in that they are hoping for a new significant other or spouse to come into their life in 2009.

A traditional New Year’s meal in Costa Rica will almost always include pierna de cerdo as the main course (a leg of pork). It is also said that eating 12 grapes at midnight will give you 12 wishes or overall good luck in the New Year.

Noting the family nature of these activities, you may be sad to hear that Dec. 31st festivities are generally kept in the house. In fact, last year, following the advice of others I headed to the Fiestas de Zapote, wandering around waiting for the “Megabars” to start filling up, only to find that they closed the bars just after 11 p.m. because not enough employees showed up to keep them running. I ended up spending New Year’s at El Pueblo, a large bar complex on the U.S. Embassy’s “do not visit list”, which was so packed, it was hard to enjoy despite my satisfaction of having found ‘the party’.

This year there are many events to choose from throughout the country including gala dinners, street parties and open bar events. Here is a list of options that I have put together for the last minute planner. If you hope to just head out and see what’s going on, I recommend that you don’t. At least call the place you are heading to in advance to make sure they are indeed open, or choose one from the list below!

Where’s the Party At? Dec. 31, 2008:

San Jose and Environs:

- Ramada Plaza Herradura is hosting a gala dinner in the Conference Center, hosted by music group Marfil, beginning at 8 p.m. As of yesterday, 50% of the 840 tickets had been reserved, each going for $85, which included entertainment and dinner from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.

- Hotel Crowne Plaza Corobici, just past La Sabana Park, will begin its festivities at 9 p.m. through 2 a.m., with performances by the music group Gerardo y Los Hicsos. The event costs 40,000 colones per person (about $73), and has a capacity for 500 people. Dinner, a glass of champagne and “lucky grapes” will be provided.

- Barcelo San Jose Palacio will be hosting two activities. At 9 p.m., a gala dinner will be served in the Salon Greco for up to 500 people. At midnight guests will enjoy a carnival, a typical Costa Rica music band, a magician as well as music by Requete and Charlie Rivera and Son del Pueblo. The second activity will take place at the hotel’s Bosque Bar and costs 30,000 colones (about $55) and includes appetizers for up to 260 people.

- At the Hotel Doubletree Cariari by Hilton, the party will take place pool side and includes a dinner, glass of champagne and live music by Entre Nos. The cost is $80 and the hotel expects to host about 150 people.

- Bar/Restaurant Casa Zeller in San Sebastian will be hosting Erick Sanchez y su Orquestra along with Sonora Show, calling all salsa lovers to participate starting at 9 p.m.

- Bar/Restaurant Baalbeck in San Rafael de Heredia will also be hosting a salsa themed New Year’s with the music group Chocolate starting at 10 p.m.

- The rather intence dance club Vertigo will be hosting two live DJs (Audiofly and Los 3 Amigos) starting at 9 p.m. at their Paseo Colon building locale with a 15,000 colones ($30) cover charge.

- The posh club Prive in Escazu will be hosting their Last & Best Party, which includes an open bar from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., and free breakfast from Soda Tapia, with an unknown cover charge.

- El Van Gogh, a smaller dance bar located along the Carretera a Pavas near the U.S. Embassy will be hosting models, “surprises” and free breakfast. The cover charge for this is also unknown.

Guapiles:

- The Hotel Suerre will host the cumbia and merengue band Kalua, starting at 9 p.m. The hotel is offering tickets to enjoy the live music, dinner, one night’s stay and breakfast.

Northern Zone:

- At the meeting hall in Santa Rosa de Pocosol in San Carlos, guests will enjoy lively cumbia music performed by music groups Sonideras and Revelacion starting at 8 p.m.

Guanacaste:

- The Hotel Occidental Grand Papagayo will be hosting local music group Taboga Band at 8 p.m.

- The Upper Deck sports bar with Electro and Progressive music starting at 8pm, 4,000 cover includes 2 beers.

- Bahia del Sol Beachfront Hotel in Potrero will be hosting an even that includes dinner, an open bar for 3 hours, and live music for $70 per person

Additionally: If you don’t mind crowds, New Year’s is also a time when the Costa Rican population flocks to the beaches. I have heard that one of the best outdoor beach parties takes place in Mal Pais each year, attracting locals, tourists and locals from neighboring Montezuma and Santa Teresa. Jaco is another destination sure to have something going on for the true partier, and Quepos hosts a street party each year for New Year’s as well. And, no matter where you go, you will be sure to here the Mariachi New Year classic: “El Año Viejo” in which the downtrodden singer tells of all the ‘bovines’ that left him in the past year. Enjoy!

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Filed under: Tico on December 31st, 2008