Archive for June 11th, 2008
Wednesday, June 11th, 2008
The almost two-year freeze on renewing permanent resident cards looks promising, Costa Rican Immigration announced this week. As of Monday, foreigners can begin requesting new resident cards.
Director Mario Zamora said his agency installed a new high-tech document system, thanks to a $750,000 donation from a U.S.-based private company called Laser Card.
“The previous cards were of low quality and the photos on them disappeared over a relatively short period of time,” he said. “But with this new technology, the same they use in the United States, the same level of security is being transferred to Costa Rica.”
Zamora suspended the issuing of new cards under the old system in 2006 shortly after he took the post.
He said the $2.6 million contract that GTK-TML, a private consortium of businesses, won from the Public Security Ministry – then under Rogelio Ramos – in 2003 was a failure. The cards, because of their low quality and photo disappearance issues, were easily abused to perpetrate identity theft and bank fraud.
The director also said his agency awarded a contract to a private call center to manage a new Immigration phone number – 900-1234567 – for people to call to schedule appointments. He said staff is available to speak English and the hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
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Wednesday, June 11th, 2008
The Third Virtual Congress on Latin American Tourism Industry and Destination Competitiveness, recently recognized Costa Rica with the “Tourism for All” award in the category “Innovation in Tourism and Hotels.” The implementation of the Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST) program created by the Costa Rica Tourist Board (ICT) was the main reason for such recognition.
Minister of Tourism, Carlos Ricardo Benavides said “This award represents an additional incentive to continue the efforts promoting the CST program and also to strengthen our sustainable tourism development policy.”
“We are pleased to be recognized as an innovative country in the regional tourism activity,” said Benavides. “The CST is an exemplary program for companies to achieve market differentiation, success, and to contribute to development growth in a healthy manner; this recognition commits us to perform the job in the best possible way, he added.” (more…)
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Wednesday, June 11th, 2008
If you are into Sport Fishing, then you have probably heard that Costa Rica is a playground for enthusiasts from around the globe. You have probably also heard that many world records have been either set or broken in Costa Rica.
Thanks to its geographical position, Costa Rica is bordered by the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and has an impressive network of rivers, lakes and estuaries. Another impressive advantage of this small country is that all these different scenarios can be easily reached in very short periods of time. There are several companies that will offer a complete package that will give you the best of the best in Costa Rica.
Costa Rican law will allow for “catch-n-release” techniques in order to contribute to the country’s sustainability practices and insure continuing conditions for other tourists to enjoy as well.
The often overlooked inland freshwater fishing can be a pleasant surprise for many people! Beautiful mountain backdrops and cool streams provide some impressive trout. The Arenal Lake in Costa Rica’s northern region is not only a great place for windsurfing and jet skiing, but also for catching some nice rainbow bass. The areas accommodations go from the early family owned cabanas to the impressive five star resorts such as the Hotel Arenal Kioro.
Arranging your fishing trip is a breeze no matter which coast you are visiting. Several hotels, resorts and lodges have their own boat, captain and equipment which can be booked in advance.
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Wednesday, June 11th, 2008
With its two tropical oceans, the Pacific and the Caribbean, Costa Rica is a fun and exciting place for a vacation with the whole family. If you’re planning a family vacation in Costa Rica, there are plenty of wonderful locations you can visit. From the busy capital and beach cities to the remote locations full of wildlife; Costa Rica is full of adventure.
San Jose. If you’ve picked San Jose for your family vacation in Costa Rica, you probably want to stay outside the crowded downtown area to be able to get a good night sleep. One of the top choices is Meli Cariari, a resort with pools, a golf course, a game room, tennis courts and babysitting services. Teenagers will probably love the local mall, hosting a multiplex theater and food court. Just 15 minutes away from the downtown area Melia Cariari is a great place for exploring the capital city’s tourist attractions.
La Paz Waterfall Gardens. With its suspended walkways and astonishing waterfalls, this is another great choice for a family vacation in Costa Rica. Children will definitely love all the impressive attractions, from the hummingbirds to the magnificent waterfalls. In addition, the Peace Lodge provides some of the best rooms in Costa Rica.
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