Archive for August 26th, 2009
Wednesday, August 26th, 2009
There is no need to spend hundreds of dollars on expensive beachfront hotels to find a gorgeous sunset view in order to impress that special someone. Here in Costa Rica there are many beautiful, secret and secluded places to have a romantic dinner, candlelight picnic, or simply watch the sunset fade into the horizon. Here are three breath-taking, secluded secret spots in Costa Rica that will definitely turn your Costa Rican Adventure into the romantic experience of a lifetime.
#3) Lookout point on the road to Irazu: When travelling up the mountain to visit Volcan Irazu in Cartago, Costa Rica, there is a lookout point about ¾ of the way there. On a clear, warm night you can see the lights from the city when you look down and the sparkling constellations when you look up. Bring a blanket and some snacks, maybe a portable radio with some slow, romantic Spanish music and enjoy the sights together!
#2) Playa Cocles: If you are looking for a beautiful yet nearly deserted beach, Playa Cocles is where you want to be. Everyone visits the neighbouring beaches Playa Cahuita or Puerto Viejo, leaving this beautiful beach to be forgotten. Watch the sunrise on this beautiful Caribbean beach, have lunch in the white sand, or have some alone time in the evening in a secluded area of this low traffic Playa.
#1) Sunset view of the Pacific Ocean: On the main road to Manuel Antonio, just before turning left up to the road of hotels and cabinas, you will notice that you can go straight instead of turning left; however the path looks like an industrial only zone. It is not. Follow that road about a kilometre or so to the end, and you will find an empty lot where a hotel used to be. The old hotel is completely gone, and all that is left is the old floor. This space sits directly on the coast, with beautiful water and fish on three sides, along with large beautiful rocks and amazing greenery in the distance. Surprise your significant other with a romantic dinner on the shore as you watch the sunset together and take some breath taking photographs.
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Wednesday, August 26th, 2009
Nicaragua will reroute a river on the border with Costa Rica that has been at the center of a lengthy dispute between the two Central American countries, the Nicaraguan government announced Tuesday.
Eden Pastora, president of the committee for development of the San Juan River, said the dredging project will begin at the end of September and cost $1 million.
“The goal is to recover the 1,700 cubic meters per second of water that was lost after Costa Rica rerouted it toward its Colorado River between 1945 and 1950,” Pastora told The Associated Press.
For nearly two centuries, the San Juan River has been the source of disputes between the neighboring nations and of international intrigue over a potential canal route across the isthmus.
Costa Rica’s foreign relations department said in a statement Tuesday that a ruling by an international court “forcefully denies Nicaragua’s pretension that it has the right to dredge the San Juan River.”
The United Nations’ highest court last month set travel rules for the San Juan River, affirming freedom for Costa Rican boats to navigate the waterway while upholding Nicaragua’s right to regulate traffic. The judgment ended a four-year legal battle.
Under an 1858 treaty, the entire river belongs to Nicaragua up to the Costa Rican bank, but Costa Rican ships have freedom of navigation for commerce.
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Wednesday, August 26th, 2009
The ocean front property in Costa Rica is a tropical like paradise. Costa Rica beaches are one of the most beautiful in the world. Have you thought about making the giant leap and purchasing beach front property as a second home or an investment? During the past 5 years real estate has been increasing at a remarkable 18 – 30 % per year. How do you invest in Costa Rica beach front properties?
There are only two ways to go about buying beach front property in Costa Rica. Make sure the area your looking at is a place you would like to vacation at. If you plan on making a large purchase then spend a few days in the area to see if it is the right place for you. You will get a more in depth idea if you spend more time there. You don’t want to in your “tropical dream paradise” regretting that you’ve done it.
Find a competent lawyer to represent your investment. Do not use the lawyer who is associated with the buyer. Always find your own lawyer to manage your purchase. It’s important to find one that has considerable knowledge of maritime zone law. Costa Rican maritime law is different in every Central American country and you need to know all of the details before purchasing beach front property in Costa Rica. In Costa Rica, the maritime zone is 200 meters from the average median high-low tide all year long. The first 50m is public property and the 150 meters from that line is restricted. The 150 meters stretch can not have an “original title”, but can be leased by a concession by the local municipality.
Once your sure of purchasing your property act quickly. Since property in Costa Rica is in high demand a good deal won’t last long. Land prices are on the rise, and not showing signs of slowing down any time soon. Once your sure, act. The current owner may have second thoughts and want to renegotiate or may not want to sell. Negotiate directly with the owner. There are many middle men that light be charging you too much. If an agent says you can’t speak with the owner then do not waste your time or money.
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Wednesday, August 26th, 2009
Hundreds of passengers of the Heredia – San José once again were once again left on foot when the, this time, however, the problem was not due to the train tracks or the locomotives or the politics that has afflicted the project for some time, it was rather not due to a road block of the train tracks by areas residents of Santa Rosa de Santo Domingo de Heredia.
The blockage forced the cancellation of the remaining 11 runs of the train Monday evening.
The parents taking part in the protest were there to bring attention to the poor conditions of the Rubén Darío school, accusing the school principal for the physical deterioration of the school building,
“We are asking that the principal resign because since he has been here there have been problems, donations that end up in the pockets of the principal”, yelled one angry young woman for the television cameras.
The parents complain that the children attending the school cannot even wash their hands after using the bathroom, as there never is any water in the restrooms, children forced to have to used the water in the laundry tub where they also wash the plates from the school cafeteria.
For officials of the Instituto Costarricense de Ferrocarriles (Incofer)- Costa Rican railway – there was no way to get the trains through the blocade, forcing the trains back to the station, leaving some 250 passengers to find another way home last night.
The protestors demanded the presence of the ministro de Educación, Leonardo Garnier, at the scene to listen to their complaints. Garnier never showed and the protested ended peacefully.
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Wednesday, August 26th, 2009
More than 150 doctors and health experts descended on Costa Rica this week to discuss the challenges medical personnel face when providing immunizations in the region.
The 18th conference organized by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) comes in the embrace of the H1N1 pandemic; the largest influenza outbreak in the Americas since the Hong Kong Flu of 1968.
The H1N1 virus will certainly be a theme of the three-day event, which began Monday, said event organizers. But it’s also a time to share immunization successes and challenges in the hopes “that international dialogue will strengthen national health,” said Socorro Gross-Galiano, assistant director of PAHO.
The swine flu has thus far claimed 33 lives in Costa Rica, and infected more than 1,000 people, including Costa Rican President Oscar Arias. As the flu continues to approach its peak in the country, the Arias administration has invested an additional $1.7 million for a “roaming team” of medical professionals, who will travel to vulnerable areas to assist in prevention activities.
To date, there is no vaccine for the swine flu and health officials have been using immunizations against the seasonal flu to protect vulnerable populations. They expect to develop an H1N1 virus-specific vaccine in September, according to PAHO.
In welcoming the 150 medical experts to Costa Rica on Monday at the National Theater, Arias thanked them for their efforts in immunization and made a specific mention of PAHO, which he said has ensured that “ America is better today than yesterday and worse than tomorrow.”
The Regional and Urban Planning for the Greater Metropolitan Area (PRUGAM) and the Housing Ministry (MIVAH) inaugurated a new park on Tuesday morning that is to serve an example for sustainable urban development.
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Wednesday, August 26th, 2009
The Costa Rican government has declared a phytosanitary emergency in the north and central Pacific regions of the country, where a camp rat plague known as “Sigmodon hirsutus” has been raging, the Phytosanitary Service of the State said on Tuesday.
The camp rats affect sugar cane, rice, corn and pineapple harvests in the region, and the Costa Rican authorities have issued a decree requesting the collaboration of local farm owners in controlling the plague.
The phytosanitary service said it would take harvest samples to determine the damage, and conduct researches to decide the population of the rats.
Luis Sanchez, chief of the agency’s Plague Vigilance and Control Office of the Gunacaste region, said regional organizations and independent producers would also join in the efforts to control the plague.
Experts said that a long drought period in humid regions or pouring rains in drought areas have contributed to the plague by killing many of the rat’s less adaptable natural predators.
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Wednesday, August 26th, 2009
Saprissa of Costa Rica defeated the Puerto Rico Islanders 3-1 on Tuesday in Group C of the CONCACAF Champions League.
The islanders took a surprising 1-0 lead in the 25th minute with a goal by defender Domenic Mediate.
Jairo Arrieta equalized in the 34th with a driving, long-range shot that beat Islanders keeper Mike Behonick. Midfielder Walter Centeno made it 2-1 six minutes later and Armando Alonso wrapped up the scoring in the 48th.
Saprissa has three points from its first two games, and the Puerto Rican club has lost both of its opening matches.
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Wednesday, August 26th, 2009
The Costa Rican government on Tuesday delivered 600 soccer balls and 335 bikes donated by China to poor young people in rural areas.
The delivery was part of the donation of 10,000 balls and 1,000bikes from the Chinese government after agreements were reached between the two countries last November.
“I want my first words to thank the Chinese government for this generous donation of bikes four our youth and soccer balls for our students,” Costa Rican President Oscar Arias said at the delivery ceremony.
“China is an example to follow,” Arias said. “In the last 25 years it has helped 300 million people out of poverty … It is the fastest growing economy in the world.”
About 400 million people ride bikes in China, said Chinese Ambassador to Costa Rican Wang Xiaoyuan.
Bikes are environmental friendly and must be promoted, he said.
“I think all governments should promote the use of bikes and in this sense I think Costa Rica shares China’s point of view, because bikes have low costs, produce no greenhouse gases and take less space on the road,” Wang said.
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