The first time I went to Puerto Jimenez was back in the mid 1970, and it took us about three days traveling on very pot-hole ridden, one-lane dirt road. And thinking back, I think we were heading to Panama or Golfito, made a right instead of going straight at Chacarita, and ended in this very remote town. About the only Gringos we saw were surfers who were headed to Cabo Matapalo, a small town … [Read more...]
Road Conditions in Costa Rica – Mudslides, Construction, Closed Bridges
11/11/2010 by Leave a Comment
When you vacation in Costa Rica, you will most likely rent a car when you arrive in San Jose. The highway system in the capital city of San Jose is comprised of modern multi-lane freeways that look very much like freeways in other large cities around the world. Road conditions in Costa Rica can change very quickly during heavy rains, etc especially in the rural countryside. During Tropical … [Read more...]
Tropical Storm Tomas Pounds Costa Rica – Roads Closed Bridges Out
11/06/2010 by Leave a Comment
Tropical Storm Tomas pounded Costa Rica with strong winds and heavy rains that triggered hundreds of landslides, power outages, and road closers all over Costa Rica. The storm hit the Quepos area very hard. The country’s National Emergency Commission said in an e-mailed statement, torrential rains have left Costa Rica in emergency status; mudslide in Escazu (suburb of San Jose) killed 20 people … [Read more...]
Limon’s Redevelopment – Stalemate Between Union and Government
09/12/2010 by 3 Comments
If you love historical redevelopment, it is so easy to see how Limon would be the perfect candidate, and at the same time become a world-class port bringing in billions to Costa Rica. Its shipyards with historical railroad equipment, the downtown look of Caribbean/New Orleans, with its Victorian homes flaunting long balconies and colorful façades add old-world charm . And not counting a gateway … [Read more...]
Golfito, Banana Republic and Ecotourism of Golfo Duce, Costa Rica
07/11/2010 by 3 Comments
These days, the words Banana Republic are more likely to conjure up an image of neatly stacked chinos and v-neck sweaters than they are a place like Golfito. But when United Fruit built this town on the southwest coast of Costa Rica in 1939, there was nothing here but wilderness and Boruca, the region's indigenous tribe. Fleeing a rash of banana disease. like what happened to Quepos, that … [Read more...]
San Jose, Costa Rica’s Mercado Central, or Central Flea Market
05/24/2010 by 4 Comments
Central Market (Mercado Central) Flea and Street market. Bordered by Avdas. Central and 1 and Cs. 6 and 8 Barrió La Merced San José, Costa Rica San Jose, Costa Rica's Mercado Central, or Central Market, is the largest marketplace in San Jose. The Central Market is more than a common sale place. It is a congregation place, which city life passes day by day. It is a maze of shops and … [Read more...]
Costa Rica Gold Mine Opens – Sparks Protests on International Earth Day
04/20/2010 by 6 Comments
The Costa Rican Supreme Court (Sala IV) ruled last Friday that a small Canadian mining company can proceed with its open-pit gold mine, striking down complaints from environmental groups that the project was destroying virgin forest. "After reviewing the official studies we did not find that this mining project will negatively affect the environment. So the project will go ahead," Vanlly … [Read more...]
Costa Rica Developer Sues Bank Over Jaco Project
03/30/2010 by 1 Comment
Yesterday morning, the Internet was flooded with the Press Release FROM the developer of a Jacó condo and hotel project suing its lenders, seeking arbitration on $120 million that has caused what it claims was a successful project on the verge of falling apart. No doubt the $120 million was an eye-opener of what is at stake. The developer, Desarrollos Naturales de Costa Rica S.A., named Banco … [Read more...]
Santa Teresa & Malpais, Costa Rica – Beach and Jungle
03/06/2010 by 3 Comments
Welcome to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world: Malpais and Santa Teresa, known for their rugged jungle beauty, unforgettable sunsets, and especially the epic surf in Santa Teresa. The area has also become known as a hot spot for amazing cuisine in Costa Rica, since many amazing chefs have moved here from different parts of the world. The instant you arrive in Santa Teresa and … [Read more...]
Costa Ricas Black Sand Beaches – Jaco, Tamarindo, Coco
02/03/2010 by 3 Comments
Costa Rica’s awesome and calendared coast offers something for everyone. Golden sand beaches, gray sand beaches, black sand beaches, and pink sand beaches can be found dotted all along Costa Rica’s lush coastal plains, making it a truly spectacular beach destination. Costa Rica boasts some of the top beaches in the world. Although black sand beaches are generally less known than their white … [Read more...]
First IMAX Theater Opens In Costa Rica – 3-D Viewing
12/25/2009 by 6 Comments
IMAX (short for Image MAXimum) is a motion picture film format and projection standard created by Canada's IMAX Corporation whose technology is geared to the 3D. So there is lot of excitement about the new IMAX theater going in Escazú, and no one is more excited than Repretel, the theater operator. Repretel runs several Costa Rica television stations, and viewers have been hammered with lengthy … [Read more...]
Sexual Predator Joe Baker Takes Job at La Felicidad Hotel in Esterillos, Costa Rica
Maria used to send her eldest daughter, 13, down the hill to the supermarket to pick up vegetables and other products about twice a week. Her daughter had to pass the yellow house on the corner. But now Maria walks the 3/4 mile round trip herself, leaving her daughter in a newly installed locked house. She fears for her daughter’s safety; she does not want “this evil” – convicted pedophile Joe … [Read more...]