Top 10 Costa Rica

Costa Rica vs El Salvador Live CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier Today

Watch Costa Rica vs El Salvador live in the CONCACAF World Cup qualifier as the two favourites for this group have struggled before reaching this stage. Costa Rica have qualified for the World Cup before and they try to do it again in this live CONCACAF World Cup 2010 qualifying football match on TV and online by winning this match and the group to advance to the next stage. But based on their recent form, they are no longer as good as in the past and will struggle away from home. They should still be able to win this live commentary CONCACAF World Cup qualifier soccer match between Costa Rica and El Salvador at Estadio Ricardo Saprissa quite comfortably though.

Costa Rica vs El Salvador Live CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier 8/20/2008

El Salvador just managed to squeeze through to this live commentary and online radio TV telecast CONCACAF World Cup qualifier soccer match between Costa Rica and El Salvador at Estadio Ricardo Saprissa and the group stages. They overcame a plucky Panama side on an aggregate score of three goals to two, and the reward is this group stage and the first match will be this live CONCACAF World Cup 2010 qualifying soccer match on TV and online. They have fought tight matches with Costa Rica before in the past but overall have usually lost to them. But they can aim for at least a draw in this live streaming online soccer TV and radio broadcast CONCACAF World Cup qualifier soccer match between Costa Rica and El Salvador at Estadio Ricardo Saprissa and it will give them a good start to the group stages.

The Heredia commuter train may be running by December if the government is able to keep its promise and the Instituto Costarricense de Ferrocarriles (Incofer).

The train service between Heredia and San José which comes at a cost of some ¢2 billion colones will help ease traffic congestion and if all goes well it should be running by the second week in December.

“The budgeted amount to get the Heredia trains moving reaffirms our commitment to a comprehensive energy policy that protects the interests of the country and users. I am very pleased that with these resources we can realize a tool that will allow thousands of Costa Ricans to leave their car at home and mobilize in a secure and economic environment”, said Costa Rican president, Oscar Arias Sánchez.

The rehabiliation of the train service between Heredia and San José is one of the measures announced by the government as part of the national contingency plan to alleviate the energy crisis generated by the unsustainable rise in the cost of oil in the world.

Miguel Carabaguíaz, president of Incofer, explained that the institution has been working with limited financial resources and with the help of other governmental institutions, but the injection of funds by the central government will help in meeting the goal of giving Herdianos the train.

The ministra de Transportes, Karla González, made an urgent call to legislators to quickly approve the funds and added that the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT) will be working hard with the Presidency to obtain additional material for the railway from the govenrment of Spain.

The MOPT minister added that the train will be a great source of energy savings and will change the habits of Costa Ricans as they get accustomed to using pubic transportation and leaving their cars at home, which is the main objecive of the government’s energy policy.

Carabaguíaz explained that the ¢2 billion colones will be used to repair sections of the track which some parts have been in abandon for more than a decade, analyze the state of repair of the bridges, refurbishing and repairing the locomotives and passenger cars and purchasing new equipment.

Once the train is moving again, it will offer regular service between Heredia and San José during morning and afternoon rush hours, though exact schedules and details are not yet avaialble.

Part of the work on the railway system is the repairing the bridge over the Rivera river in Cinco Esquinas de Tibás, installin some 11.200 railway ties and the clean up of a major portion of the tracks.

The Incofer has been advancing work on the Heredia tracks, repairing the bridge near the Hospital Calderón Guardia, cutting down weeds along the route and refurbishing the Estación al Atlántico and Cuatro Reinas de Tibás stations.

Incofer will be using diesel locomotives for the service.

Costa Rica has been chosen as the host of the most important surfing tournament on the planet. The Costa Rican Surfing Federation (FSC) informed it will host the 2009 International Surfing Association’s (ISA) World Surfing Games (WSG), which will be sponsored by Billabong.

Jaco Beach, on the Central Pacific, will be the epicenter of world surfing, as a record-breaking 40 countries are expected to attend.

Cos Rica beat out favored candidates, including Brazil and South Africa.

Costa Rica’s selection will be made official a this years World Surfing Games, which will be held in Portugal next October.

According to a communiqué by FSC, organizers chose Costa Rica, among other reasons, because of the organization capabilities the local surfing federation has demonstrated, and the fact that the Ticos have been present in the past few world games with full teams. Additionally, Costa Rica’s location makes it convenient for many delegations from the Americas to take part in this event for the first time. And, of course, the quality of the country’s waves played an important role in the decision, as Costa Rica has become a favorite surfing spot in recent times.

According to data from the Costa Rican Sports Institute, an estimated 20 percent of the 2 million people who visit Costa Rica every year come here attracted by the country’s surfing.

The Costa Rica games will beheld between July 31 and Aug. 9 of next year, a week after the conclusion of the U.S. Open in California, which gathers hundreds of the world’s best surfers. The athletes will be traveling then to Costa Rica to join their national teams.

“Being the host of the World Open Games is the best thing that can happen to a country surfing-wise, plus it will help as tourism promotion because of the millions of people around the world who will be following the competition,” said Jose Ureña, FSC president. “Taking advantage of the games to promote the country will be very important, so that surfers from all over the world will get to know even more what Costa Rica has to offer as one of the best 10 surfing destinations in the globe.”

The competition will be broadcast live over the Internet to an estimated 80 million people around the world, thanks to the sponsorship of Billabong.

The competition will be held at Jaco’s Hermosa Beach, in front of the Hotel Terrazas del Pacifico. The time of the year chosen for the event is the best as far as waves in this Central Pacific tourist hotspot.

Meanwhile, the Municipality of Garabito, together with the Jaco Pro-Culture and Development Association, will take advantage of hosting these games to launch a marketing campaign that seeks to position Jaco as one of the world’s top destinations for surfing.

The campaign will be conducted under the slogan, “Jaco, Land of Adventures and Surf City.”

This campaign will be deployed both in Costa Rica and abroad, and it will also exploit the influx of surfing lovers during the event and the international coverage the event will receive.

Sykes in Costa Rica is looking to hire some 200 people and will be holding a job fair Saturday.

The company is looking for client support personnel to help customers use the company’s software, network and information systems.

Professionals specialized in Cisco systems and customer service agents who are fluent in English are the main jobs available.

Arturo Barboza, spokesperson for Sykes, said that the job fair will be held at their offices in Global Park in La Aurora de Heredia.

More information on the job opportunities are available at Sykes or calling at 2298-2123 or 2298-2235.

As a tropical nation Costa Rica has an extremely fascinating ecosystem. To be able to study this from a birds eye view is what makes the Canopy Tours so popular in the area. Cranes and Climbing gear combine to create a fascinating adventure for the tourists as they rise above the sky and view the Arenal Volcano or any other area in Costa Rica. There are numerous companies that offer Canopy and Jungle Tours and yet, the experience you have directly correlates to the company you choose.

So to make choosing easier we have gathered together reviews of the Top 5 Canopy Tour Companies in Costa Rica.

The Top 5 Canopy Tour Company’s in Costa Rica:

1. Original Canopy Tour:

The Original Canopy Tour Company was perhaps the first company that started these tours in the region. This company started the tours under the leadership of Darren Hreniuk, a Canadian who wanted to provide this exhilarating experience in order to create an adventure that thrilled and yet, also provided an awareness for the environment. The feature of the tour is climbing inside a tree trunk tens of meters high!

The Original Canopy Tour provides tours in 4 regions:

• Drake Bay
• Monteverde Cloud Forest
• Mahogany Park, San Jose
• Limon

These tours provide adventure and learning creating au unique experience for all the visitors to the region. Lasting between 2-3 hours they have an age limit of 5 years minimum. The tours are safe and the company already has 1 million clients who have soared above the trees and created a lasting memory.

Price for tourists US 45.00 includes entrance fee, and bilingual guide.
Price for students US 35.00 includes entrance fee, and bilingual

Before the tour starts the participant must sign a liability waver as there is no insurance possible.

Original Canopy Tour Contact Information:

You can contact them at:

For information from the United States: 305-433-2241
from Costa Rica: 2291-4465

Website

2. Aventura Canopy Tours - Monteverde, Costa Rica:

The Aventura Canopy Tours guarantees a heart bumping ride to all its participants. Providing experienced guides and a safety guide that will help you through the tough times, the tour is a hit with most people. The best part is insurance is included and dressed in a helmet, safety vest and gloves you’ll be harnessed to the cables while you view the breathtaking valley below. Its not as diverse and educational as the Original Tour but has great potential especially since it caters to small groups.

The rave reviews they get are based on their guides, safety features and their Tarzan swing. Yes you read it right their most intense feature is having a participant climb on a platform secure them to a bungee cord and then off you go, down a hundred feet!
There are only four tours in a day each lasting 2 1/2 hours.

Price for the Tour:
Adults $ 35.00
Students $ 28.00
Children under 12 $ 20.00

Aventura Canopy Tours Tour Contact Information:

You can contact them at:

For information from the United States Hotline:(00506) 645-6062

Website

3. Dream Forest Canopy Tour:

This canopy tour starts inside the jungle and is located a few minutes from the mystical mountains of Manuel Antonio. It has the perk of having 14 platforms that are larger than those owned by other tour companies and only 8 people per cable are allowed. The first platform is 7 meters high with the highest reaching a peak of 45 meters.

There longest cable is 600 meters and the amazing fact is that children 4 years and older are allowed. They have three tours a day going 3 1/2 hours everyday.

Price for the Tour:

Special Internet Price: $65

Dream Forest Canopy Tour Contact Information:

You can contact them at:

For information from Costa Rica:2777-4567

Website

4. Poas Canopy Tour:

With safety rules and regulation according to international standards the tour has 24 platforms and a trail above the canopy forest. A two hour tour it takes participants through the tree tops and then glide down a 1980 feet length cable.

The tour is 2km long with 14 cables, 24 platforms and 12 trails with the last cable of 600m length.

They also have a pretty cool one day tour which includes:

• Transportation
• Canopy Tour
• Meal at the restaurant
• Add $20 to Poas volcano if desired
• Pick up is available in your hotel in San José, Heredia o Alajuela.
• $80 per person (20% off online reservations )

Prices:
PER PERSON $50
>18 and <60 years of age, and students with valid ID and student card $45

Poas Canopy Tour Contact Information:

You can contact them at:

For information from Costa Rica:(506) 2430-4113 / 2482-1313

Website

5. Pacuare Canopy Adventure Tour

This is one of the highest canopy tours of the region. After the safety orientation the first platform will be reached where the views and scenery are magnificent. The dramatic views the sliding cables and provides the two hours of adventure tours.

One disadvantage of the tour is that it can be booked only as part of a Pacuare Lodge package. However, staying at the lodge means that you can enjoy different adventure packages while still living in one place.

Pacuare Canopy Adventure Tour Contact Information:

Website

Price:
For only the canopy tour exclusive of lodging US$40 per person.

Pedestrian imprudence is the reason for many deaths on Costa Rica’s roads. According to figures releases by the Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT), 33 people lost their lives between January and July this year.

The numbers are alarming and top deaths of cyclists, becoming the number three cause of traffic accidents.

The number two cause of traffic accident deaths is drunk driving with 35 deaths and speeding, causing 55 fatalities in the same period.

Officials of the Policía de Tránsito say that many of the pedestrian fatalities could have been avoided if they had used the overhead passes, cross at traffic lights and at corners.

Pedestrians frequently dash across busy highways like the General Cañas in the areas of the Plaza Cariari and the Fernando Prospero in Escazú or dash out into traffic stepping off a bus, not paying attention to the oncoming traffic.

It is also common to see people begin to cross a road, aware of an oncoming vehicle, but unable to properly calcuate the speed and distance of the vehicle or believing that a vehicle can come to a full stop in an instant.

And not uncommon for people to cross the highway under the pedestrian overpasses in front of the Cariari Plaza, or hospital México or CIMA. Although the MOPT has erected a divider fence to frustrate pedestrians, holes in the fences have been made or take the time to walk around the fence and made a mad dash rather than use the overhead pass.

Tránsito officials say that many see road safety as a subject for drivers and not all that use the public roads.

The New England Revolution announced on Monday that the club has signed Costa Rican defender Gabriel Badilla to a Major League Soccer contract to play for the Revs pending U.S. P-1 Visa approval.

He will occupy one of the team’s seven available international roster spots. Per MLS and club policies, terms of the deal were not released.

“We’re pleased we are finally able to bring Gabriel to the Revolution,” Revolution vice president of player personnel Michael Burns said. “He is a strong, versatile defender who has gained tremendous club and international experience at a young age. With so many extra games on our schedule this season, Gabriel will give us added defensive depth as we prepare for a busy fall.”

Badilla, 24, comes to the Revolution from Deportivo Saprissa of Costa Rica’s Primera Division, where he has spent his entire professional career. He made his debut with Saprissa in November 2001 and has appeared in more than 130 matches for the “Monstruo Morado.”

He has helped Saprissa earn five national championships, including each of the last four. Badilla was also a member of the Saprissa team that earned a third- place finish at the 2005 FIFA Club World Cup in Japan following its 2005 CONCACAF Champions Cup title.

Badilla is also a member of the Costa Rica National Team, with which he has earned 12 caps and competed in the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.

A physicist and a conservationist from The University of Manchester are heading for the rain forests of Costa Rica – in a bid to understand more about a deadly fungus that is killing amphibians around the world.

Physicist Dr Mark Dickinson from the Photon Science Institute and Andrew Gray, Curator of Herpetology at the Manchester Museum are using equipment more commonly used for medical diagnosis to see inside the skin of South American tree frogs.

Infrared reflection spectroscopy and photography does not cause harm or distress and allows images to be obtained from the surface and within the tissue of the frogs

Manchester researchers believe these spectroscopy techniques could hold the key to understanding the alarming global decline in amphibians.

Now the researchers are taking their work outside the lab and into the field. Dr Dickinson, Mr Gray and former Manchester zoology student Stephanie Dawson will spend just over two weeks in Costa Rica.

They will use a stripped down portable version of their usual lab equipment to investigate the skin of tree frogs living in the wild. Dr Mark Dickinson is now busy investigating ways of powering his equipment without electricity.

The Manchester Museum already boasts a large and unique collection of colourful tree frogs. Mr Gray visits Costa Rica every summer and this year he is hoping to find a pair of the extremely rare Isthmohyla rivularis frogs, so they can be brought back to Manchester for breeding, before being released back into the wild.

Tree frogs prefer to live on leaves and branches high above the ground. They enjoy basking in the hot sun, which is unusual because frogs normally avoid prolonged exposure to light due to the risk of overheating and dehydration.

The Manchester team believes global warming is leading to more cloud cover in the tree frogs’ natural habitat – and think this is denying them the opportunity to ’sunbathe’ and kill off the Chytrid fungus – a fatal infection that is causing many species dying out.

In their work so far, the team have observed the skin of sun bathing tree frogs sometimes undergoes a visible change and becomes almost metallic in texture. They think that when this happens, the level of absorption and reflection and the skin temperature change.

The Manchester team believes that tree frogs are able to bask under a fierce sun because they have the ability to regulate their body temperature and prevent overheating through the unique structure and properties of their skin.

Mr Gray and Dr Dickinson, along with Dr Richard Preziosi from the Faculty of Life Sciences, are seeking further funding to do more comprehensive research using the spectroscopic and OCT techniques.

They want to use it to compare structural changes in the skin of tree frogs with the structural changes in the skin of frogs that do not have the same high levels of infrared reflectance.

Dr Dickinson said: “I had been working on infrared reflection spectroscopy for medical imaging. When Andrew approached me about a possible collaboration, I thought that this would be perfect for the frogs - it can show us what is happening in the frogs’ skin but it is non-invasive.

“This is a great example of novel and exciting interdisciplinary research that draws on expertise right across the University.”

Mr Gray said: “With a third of the world’s amphibians currently under threat it’s vitally important we do our utmost to investigate the reasons why they are dying out at such an alarming rate.

“The imaging techniques we use do not harm the frogs in any way. As an animal conservationist, I simply would not allow any research that distressed these amazing creatures.”

After arriving in San Jose, the group plan to visit Costa Rican Amphibian Research Centre in Talamanca before trekking into the Monteverde Cloudforest Reserve to begin their search for the Isthmohyla rivularis frog – thought to be extinct until Mr Gray found and photographed it last year. During the hunt the group will spend the night in a basic and remote hut without electricity and running water.

The University of Manchester researchers, whose trip is being funded by the Photon Science Institute, Chester Zoo and The Manchester Museum will be accompanied by staff from the zoo.

Chester Zoo’s involvement reflects its support for the conservation of the Rana Vibicaria frog species, which is only found in the Monteverde Cloudforest Reserve. The zoo and Manchester Museum are the only places in the world currently breeding these frogs.

The project to develop a marina at Puerto Viejo, on the Caribbean, was filed. The facility was to be developed by Grupo Caribeño Internacional whose chairman, Jan Kalina, said that the $40-million, 100-berth marina was objected by several organizations, “a minority from outside Puerto Viejo”. However, he pointed out, the firm might renew the project some time in the future.

The Technical Council of Civic Aviation allocated $20 million to improve landing strips and set up fences at seven airports. Four local terminals, Nosara, Puerto Jimenez, Parismina and Tortuguero, and the international ones at Limon, Pavas and Liberia will benefit from the program. On the other hand, the Civil Aviation Bureau will receive this month the master plan for the new international airport in the South Pacific, which will be located at Sierpe, Osa, and whose construction will be launched next year.

The Bank of Inter-American Development (BID) agreed to lend Costa Rica $850 million to build or improve roads, bicycle paths, the new international airport in the Costa Rican South Pacific, and the Metropolitan Electric Railroad, among other works. The loan has to be approved by the congressional, a fact that prompted president Oscar Arias to request from the deputies to the Legislative Assembly to approve it at the soonest possible. He pointed out that the country has waited for a long time to improve infrastructure, thus the opportunity has to be take proper advantage of. The Government of Costa Rica has to supplement the loan with a $200-million counterpart, thus taking the overall amount to $1,050 million. The first installment, for $300 million and $75 million as the Costa Rican counterpart, would be used to improve 500 kilometers of roads.

If you thought that gasoline prices in Costa Rica would be dropping anytime soon, given the drop in the price of crude oil on international markets, you would be wrong.

According to the Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos (Aresep) - the regulator of public prices and services - the method used to fix gasoline prices is once a month.

The director energey of the Aresep, Álvaro Barrantes , explained that the method to adjust gasoline prices is based on the international price and the exchange rate, however, there is a gap.

Gasoline price adjustments can only be made every second Friday of the month and it uses the average price of crude for the past 30 days. So, when the Aresep gives its approval following the second Friday request it does not reflect the crude oil price at the moment, but of days previous.

Complicating matters is the time the Aresep needs to analyze the request, taking into account a public consultation, which can take up to a month.

“The prices we have today has a gap of one or two months with respect to the international market”, said Barrantes.

Currently the Aresep is studying the latest request made by the State refinery, RECOPE, on August 11 asking for a drop of ¢1 colon for a litre of super, ¢5 for regular and ¢3 for diesel. In addition, the regulator is analyzing an increase of the tax on fuels of ¢5 colones for a litre of super, ¢5 for regular and ¢3 for diesel.

Many feel that that request is a joke, mocking Costa Ricans who have seen record fuel prices this year, when prices have been falling in other countries.

Currently, a litre of super gasoline sells for ¢732 colones; regular ¢721; and diesel ¢726.

Gasoline prices in Costa Rica are uniform across the country, even though in Guanacaste and Puntarenas regular gasoline is being sold with a mixture of ethanol.

According to a study done by Mercer in 2008, Costa Rica occupies the position 139 in the rankings of global cost of living. The aspects evaluated were the following: food, transportation, clothing, household durable goods, cost of housing and entertainment. Even though the cost of living in Costa Rica is substantially lower than that on the United States, it´s the highest is the Central American isthmus, this, according to the Central American Council of Consumer Protection.

The Costa Rican government recognized that they are going through difficult times due to the increments of the oil prices and the food crisis. The cost of living augmentations made Costa Rica face, in the last trimester of this year, the highest inflation levels in the last 12 years.

The prices are not going down anytime soon. The cost of living in Costa Rica is forcing many low/middle class people to modify their meals and the way they live life. Some “ticos” claim they are barely eating chicken or “olla de carne” anymore.

However, there are ways to overcome the situation, such as understanding and planning your expenses, buying only necessary things, turning off the lights you are not using, among others; learning how to live cheap is a skill that can be developed and hopefully enforced.

As Costa Rica became one of the preferred destinations for vacation homes it has also witnessed a significant deterioration of its natural resources in exchange for economic growth.

If you are about to select an exotic real estate development in Costa Rica as the ideal vacation home, please double check the information you have, make sure you obtain a professional opinion from an expert in the field. Currently the Costa Rican Environmental Tribunal or TAA (acronym for its Spanish name Tribunal Administrativo Ambiental) has investigated 40 real estate developments located all across Costa Rica, the results were alarming: 8 closed, 19 paralized and 13 are currently under investigations.

Costa Rica Real Estate Law is almost a science, it requires multiple bureacratic procedures, extensive lobbying and inside collaboration, as the most common practice is that if the environmental permits are not prepared through the consultation of an officer of the environmental agency, the chances are that your project will never get them.

To add extra drama to the chaotic permit application process, now various projects that obtained construction permits will have to suffer of a new degree of uncertainty as their permits will be investigated, raising the question of the level of transparency of government decisions in Costa Rica.

So if you are planning to invest in Costa Rica, make sure that you are provided of a clear, binding agreement by a reputable developer and that your legal counsel approves it.

In our opinion, the implementation of the TAA should have been done 10 years ago, it is still not to late, the real estate development industry will suffer for a period of time but in the long term Costa Rica will move towards a better version of sustainable development that will contribute with our global environment.

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