A once was quiet remote town of Puerto Jimenez has grown to become the largest town on the Osa Peninsula today. Located in the southern part of the Puntarenas province, this kick-back town is one of the main gateways to the beautiful Corcovado National Park. With said, it has become one of the hot eco destinations in Costa Rica.
Many will take a plane, but those that like to see the country side, getting to Puerta Jimenez by vehicle can be a 6-8-10 hour drive from San Jose, and that is only if road conditions are good. When traveling during the rainy season ask the locals for information on whether the road has problems or is it ONLY passable with 4WD.
To really see Costa Rica, it requires you to drive out into the rural countryside. By far, the majority of roads in Costa Rica are dirt roads. Don’t even think of a gravel road – dirt roads are dirt, which becomes mud in the rainy season. And even the gravel and paved roads like Ruta (highway) 245, the turnoff from the Pam American Highway (Highway 2) getting to Jimenez can become one adventure and one huge obstacle course dodging mega pot holes, squeezing by 18-wheelers, landslides and one-way bridges that have the looks of rust and used as targets in aerial bombings. Read more...(552 words, 1 image, estimated 2:12 mins reading time)
This Grilled Marlin (including Sailfish) are no longer on the menus at four of Costa Rica's Hilton Hotels.
In a bold move, Hilton Hotels and Resorts in Costa Rica’s restaurants set example for others in promoting sportfishing ecotourism by taking sailfish and marlin off their menus.
FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. USA. – The Billfish Foundation (TBF) entered into an agreement with its conservation partner, the Costa Rica Sport Fishing Federation (FECOPT) and four participating Hilton Worldwide hotels in Costa Rica, pledging to stop serving all sailfish and marlin.
Because of a socio-economic study released last year by TBF showing the huge economic value of sportfishing tourism to Costa Rica, the participating hotels adopted the ban on billfish from their restaurants in part to promote responsible and sustainable tourism in the nation.
The four properties include the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Costa Rica in Puntarenas, the DoubleTree Cariari by Hilton San Jose, the Hilton Papagayo Costa Rica Resort and Spa, and the Hilton Garden Inn Liberia Airport. The bold conservation move with the hotels and resorts came after two months of discussions with FECOPT Executive Director Enrique Ramirez. Read more...(622 words, 2 images, estimated 2:29 mins reading time)
Finally, the National Convention Center in Costa Rica is being built, which is sure to draw many tourist and business people.
Costa Rica Tourism is back on the rise after a relatively flat 2010. Costa Rica Tourism Board (ICT) reports that total number of visitors is up 7% or 45,000 more visitors in the first quarter of 2011.
This is great news for tourism and there are even bigger changes on the horizon. Tourism is Costa Ricas’ number one industry and if the size and scope of many projects and initiatives on the table is any indication, this sector appears to be maturing rapidly.
After 20 years of anticipation, the first large National Convention Center will become a reality thanks to an initiative headed by ICT with the support of Costa Rica’s President, Laura Chinchilla.
It has not been a surprise to some how Costa Rica has become a desired and popular medical tourism hub attracting thousands of medical tourists every year. They are coming in for all kinds of different medical treatments, starting from necessary surgery to elective procedures and prolonged treatments.
In the last few years, the medical tourism industry has jumped up 200% and that is expected to increase within the next few years, 4-6% of all tourists will be those seeking some sort of medical treatment.
Costa Rica is a great choice for North Americans. On the one hand, medical centers in Costa Rica have been developing and blossoming, realizing the needs of global patients to travel to other countries for medical purposes and working to raise medical standards and practice medicine at the highest level. On the other, Costa Rica is just a short flight away and the capital of San Jose has many culture similarities, as well as most medical staffs speak English, making it easy on patients.
Besides the active volcano(s) and the country’s gorgeous beaches and legendary weather, the Costa Rican healthcare system has rapidly developed and the country is also known today as a leading medical tourism destination. As such, Costa Rica also offers very advance state-of-the-art private medical centers to Costa Ricans as well as inbound medical tourists. Read more...(684 words, 1 image, estimated 2:44 mins reading time)
One of the biggest bummers in Costa Rica is their infamous import tax, a horrendous tax that is applied to so-called luxury items, such as boats, vehicles and electronics. A tax that makes these items VERY expensive. Anyone that has tried to import a vehicle knows how a $10,000 vehicle can quickly become a major investment and/or headache.
However, this week may have changed that. It is no secret that China has been wining and dining Costa Rica politicians for some time now and has forked out mucho dinero for such projects as a Chinatown in San Jose.
In April 2010 Costa Rica signed a free trade agreements with China, before this agreement the US accounted for almost half of Costa Rica imports. China is Costa Rica’s second largest trading partner and for the last five years has been dumping billions into Costa Rica by investments, bonds and aid, including a new soccer stadium.
However, last week (May 31st) lawmakers on passed a final version of Costa Rica’s Free Trade Agreement with China (CFTA). According to Foreign Trade Minister Anabel González this will help improve the lives of Costa Ricans by generating more jobs, consolidating access for products exported to China and expanding options for consumers. Read more...(675 words, 1 image, estimated 2:42 mins reading time)
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