ABOUT THE LIVING LIFE IN COSTA RICA BLOG

I (Vicki Skinner - aka "THE Sarong Goddess") created this blog in 2007 to share DETAILED Finds•Lists•Info•Events•Experiences to help bring more EASE to people living in, visiting or thinking of moving to Costa Rica since DETAILS are NOT easy to find!
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Wednesday, January 16, 2013

CIGARS in Costa Rica - Where to Buy & Where to Smoke Them

NOTE that SMOKING is ILLEGAL in MOST places in Costa Rica now (including at some outdoors venues)
LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2012/12/smoking-laws-cr.html

Ok, so this paragraph has changed & since no one's paid to be listed here or no reader has donated to it, one day I'll get around to updating it - BUT - I'm pretty sure they have cracked down on even these private Lounges & what I "heard" (& need to verify from one of the horses mouths) is that you can buy the cigars there & even pay for a private space to store them, but you can NOT smoke INSIDE.
Now "what you do outside the door" is your business (wink-wink!)
With that said, there are a few PRIVATE LOUNGES for Cigar Smoking - most of which you'll pay a "Membership Fee" to have access to them.

CIGAR BARS • LOUNGES 
and
WHERE TO BUY CIGARS in
Costa Rica

9 Degrees North • 9°N

Costa Rica’s Only Private HOOKAH Lounge
which allows guests to be able to smoke - and some of the best tobacco imports at that!

9 Degrees North • 9°N has an exclusive selection of premium liquors, champagnes, and cigars, hookah's and hookah flavos from around the world to an relaxed elegantly styled lounge. 
Each table even has an iPads on it.

HOOKAH FLAVORS
All their flavors are Nicotine & Tobacco-free which is how they've gotten around the No-Smoking law

Private Cigar Club
(though the general public is welcome with a $5 admission fee)


CIGARS
Trinidad, H. Upmann, Arturo Fuente, Cohiba, Romeo y Julieta, and Punch.
DRINKS - some of the specialty drinks
Tico Oro, Escazu Iced Tea, Rica Libre, Warm Night in Viejo, Long Kiss Goodnight, or the margarita called Ticarita. Another must try is the Arenal Eruption- a mix of rum with tropical fruit juices.

HAPPY HOUR
Daily 4-7pm
$2.50 Costa Rica Draft Beer Brew (it's RARE to find draft beers in Costa Rica!!!!)
2x1 House drinks
$1 Sangria  •  $1 9N Shots

SPECIALS
Monday•Lunes
Montecristo & Bucephalos Cigars = 30% off

Tuesday•Martes
Hookah's Night with discounts

Wednesday•Miercoles
Whiskey = 20% off all

Thursday•Lunes - 6-9pm
Ladies Night - Free Sangria & Wine Tasting

Friday•Viernes
5 Beck's Beers = 7,000-c

Sundays•Domingo
Hookah Sundays
Women Drink Free Sangria, No Cover, Specials on Drinks & Hookahs!!

CIGAR of the MONTH CLUB

MEMBERSHIP
*VIP  -  $500/year
Standard Annual  -  $250
Month  -  $25
Day Pass - $2

*VIP MEMBERSHIP
VIP Members receive their own Exclusive Private Humidors where they can store Cigar Boxes, Individual Cigars, Lighters, Bottles of Liquor/Wine, or anything else. Only they have the key and the staff maintains it for them.
Members will also have early access to exclusive events, promotions, and specials provided by local businesses exclusively for 9°North

HOURS:
Monday-Thursday - 5pm-2am.  Friday & Saturday - 5pm-6am.  Sunday - 5pm-12am/midnight

LOCATION:
Escazu (San Rafael) - Centro Comercial•Plaza el Cortijo #6 - downstairs of the el Cortijo Condominium Laureles.
Across the street from Centro Comercial Laureles.
1 block East of the U.S. Ambassador's house • or 2 1/2 blocks West of Calle Country Club

9n.cr   •   facebook.com/9NCostaRica   •   2-588-2913  


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MUNDO de lost PUROS
The World of Cigars is a perfect place to relax, share with friends, discuss business and enjoy the art of smoking a good cigar.  We are distributors of the most recognized brands in the world of snuff, and accessories.

LOCATION:
Escazu (San Rafael) - Plaza Colonial

facebook.com/MundoDeLosPuros   •   MundoDeLosPuros.com  •  2-289-9167


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WARNING!!!   
FAKE CIGARS - ESPECIALLY "Cuban's"
Sadly, there seem to be MANY places around Costa Rica selling fake cigars - especially Cubans!!  I hear the biggest proliferation seemed to be 5-packs of Montecristo #4's, plus Cohibas and Romeo Y Julitas as well.
These are OFTEN found in Tourist and Souvenir shops.

With that said - here's where you can buy REAL cigars - many made in Costa Rica, Nicaragua (I hear that Cuba has even sent some seeds over to Nicaragua and they're EXCELLENT and they are growing them on such places as Isla Ometepe and Granada!!!)



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WHERE TO BUY CIGARS
(some even CUBANS!!!)


VEGAS SANTIAGO "MADE IN COSTA RICA CIGARS"
(VegasSantiago.com/factory.htm  •   8-815-4304  •  2-458 - 3179  •  VegasSan@gmail.com)  
MANUFACTURERS of premium cigars in Costa Rica.  I hear their special "Signature Brand" of Cigar Tobacco is "touched by the Gods" ... because it is grown with the "Secrets of the Shaman" from  the rainforests of Costa Rica.
LANGUAGES:
English, German, French 

LOCATION:
Puriscal


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DON BENIGNO "MADE IN COSTA RICA CIGARS"
Don Benigno Cigars - MADE IN COSTA RICA, plus a large selection of national and international cigars (guaranteed 100% genuine and kept in prime conditions), as well as lighters, cutters, and other smoking related souvenirs and gifts.
HOURS:  
Monday to Saturday - 10am - 7pm.  Sunday - 10am to 6pm
LOCATION:  
Pavas - Commercial Center Plaza Mayor, Stage 2
(BenignoCigars.com/plaza_mayor_costa_rica  •  2-296-8111  •  


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Isthmus Cigars
Made in Costa Rica (base), Nicaragua and Honduras
(facebook.com/pages/Isthmus-Cigars/191335999771  •  IsthmusCigars.com  •  KurtBrandt@IsthmusCigars.com)



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There at least USED to be a Cigar Lounge at the
White House up in San Antonio de ESCAZU
(now called Grand Tara).
I'm looking into this as it's been closed for awhile.
2288-6362


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Hotel Little Havana
Cigar Bar and Walk-in Humidor (and hotel [lets just say it’s not a “family hotel”!!])


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Smoking Club in San Pedro
2-224-5227
(I'm not positive if they are still in business as the listing I had was dated back in the late 2000s)


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"Bar La Castilla" in the Marriot Hotel in San Antonio de Belen
??


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CIGARS FROM 
NICARAGUA
vs 
CUBA!!!!


I hear THE HOTTEST CIGARS in the WORLD these days - even surpassing Cuban Cigars - AND winning MANY awards are coming from 
NICARAGUA
When I was on Isla Ometepe in the middle of Lake Nicaragua we visited one of the main farms providing tobacco leaves to 
Their Padron 1926 is supposed to be SUPERB!!!  


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TIPS FOR BRINGING YOUR CIGARS BACK TO THE U.S.


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This is a good thing since Bringing back to the U.S. - heck - or even Smoking
CUBAN CIGARS
are 
HIGHLY ILLEGAL
for 
AMERICANS
EVEN if you're traveling in another country!!!

Now, I think this law is BEYOND ASININE 
BUT - I'm going to give you the warning anyways (both to cover my tush for printing ANYTHING about Cuban Cigars [OHHH MY - SINFUL!!!])

THE U.S. LAW
Cuban Assets Control Regulations, 31 C.F.R. Part 515, (Revised September 30, 2004) are administered and enforced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control. Criminal penalties for violation of the Regulations can go as high as $1 million for corporations, and 
$250,000 for individuals + up to 10 years in prison
In addition, 
Civil penalties of up to $65,000 per violation can be imposed by OFAC.


Here's a GOOD site for more details on it:


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