Source: http://www.journalcr.com
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
For tourists, information about the place they are visiting is a very valuable resource that maximizes time, money, interests, and more. And now there’s way to find everything tourists need in Guanacaste, with the opening of the Tourist Information Center (CIG), located two kilometers south of the Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia.
Guanacaste’s Tourist Information Center provides a centralized platform to educate residents, visitors and businesses about the great variety of services and products available in the region.
Guanacaste has become the center of tourism activity in Costa Rica, which demands this kind of service, previously available only in the capital city of San Jose. At CIG, tourists can come spend a nice time, while they enjoy a refreshing beverage and, in only 10 minutes, take a visual tour of everything the country offers. All information is provided in English, allowing tourists to also ask questions and clarify any doubts they may have, thanks to the center’s personalized attention.
As you are about to land in Costa Rica, these and other questions may come to your mind: What can be done in 10 minutes? Where are the best canopy tours? Where can I find the best food? Where are the fish biting today? Where can I find a soft pillow and clean sheets at a good price? What would be the best option for investing in a property in Costa Rica? Where are the most popular real estate developments? Where can I find an honest, responsible architect and builder? Who can help me furnish or remodel my house? Where do I find local artisans?
If that’s the case, simply ask a member of CIG’s team of professionals, who will be wearing distinctive shirts with the word “Ask me.” They will be ready to provide you with answers to your many questions. Concierge services will also be available to supply you with questions that might make your dreams reality whether you are vacationing or have made Costa Rica your home.
CIG is all about helping. And so, if in addition to having your questions answered, you are interested in lending a hand, you’ll have such an opportunity here. You can join in charity activities for the community, which benefit the Salesian Ladies Association (a nonprofit that helps single mothers) and the Foundation for Assistance to Abused Children. CIG invites visitors and residents to help choose a third charity to help. You can let your voice and commitment be heard by submitting your petition at CR411.com. The Tourist Information Center will support the petition through additional votes. Your vote must be submitted through a verifiable e-mail address and must be received by Oct. 15, 2008. Encourage your friends and family to submit a vote, and look for results in this newspaper.
There’s limited space to advertise at the Tourist Information Center, so those interested in doing so please contact us ASAP. Just ask Randy. In only 10 minutes you could find out how to be a part of the Tourist Information Center of Guanacaste!
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Marina Papagayo would begin operating in January 2009
Source: http://www.journalcr.com
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
The Marina Papagayo project, which is currently under construction in Bahia Culebra in Guanacaste’s popular Gulf of Papagayo, is expected to begin operations in January of next year, according to project director Roberto Kopper.
Construction of the marina began in January 2007, with total projected capacity for 382 boats. With an investment of $15 million, developers have said this marina would offer the best facilities to be found in the region, among them government services, storage, parking, fuel stations, watercraft repair, lodging, state-of-the-art communications technology, and much more.
The project is located in the Playa Sombrero sector and covers a total area of 44 hectares, 33 of which are occupied by the marina itself. The development is part of the Gulf of Papagayo Tourism Development Project, and thus complies with the guidelines established by the Costa Rican government for development of this tourism hotspot.
It is estimated that the current construction stage is generating a total of 470 direct jobs, with 360 more jobs to be had when the marina begins operating at full swing.
A very important step in the construction process took place last week, when the floating docks for the marina arrived from Cape Canaveral, Fla. The blocks, built by ShoreMaster, were shipped to Papagayo on the M.V. Tuxpan Reef ship. ShoreMaster has also built the floating docks for the modern Long Beach, Calif. Marina, which has capacity for 1,200 boats.
Last week, the Costa Rican press was invited to the construction site to learn more about advances in the project, and even though it’s evident that much is still to be accomplished, Kopper indicated that the marina would be ready in about six months.
In addition to placing the newly arrived floating docks, work is currently being done on the building that will house immigration, customs and other services.
Developers pointed out that by January of 2009, 180 slips will be ready, plus the above-mentioned services. In the project’s second phase, 200 more slips will be added, possibly in 2010.
Access to the marina will be public, via National Route 253, which begins at the Gulf of Papagayo intersection at Guardia. The road will be rehabbed from there to the marina.
Complying with conservation guidelines
In the process of bulding the Marina Papagayo, its developers claim that they have complied with all guidelines stipulated in the master plan, which was okayed by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) and the government entities charged with supervising this kind of infrastructure — including the Inter-institutional Commission on Marinas and Tourism Docks (CIMAT), the Environmental Technical Secretariat (SETENA), municipalities, and others.
The project has also received constant supervision from the National Museum and the National Archaeological Commission, due to the fact that there are archaeological remains in the construction area — specifically pre-Columbian stone ponds, which Indigenous cultures in the region used for fishing.
Archaeologist Silvia Salgado has been working as part of the marina project, coordinating work between Marina Papagayo and the National Archaeological Commission, not only for the rescue, conservation and “visualization” of these ponds — but also for conducting research on them and exhibiting them to the public.
Careful attention also had to be paid to environmental issues in the design, construction and operation of projects of this sort. And again, Marina Papagayo spokespeople indicate that the development has followed the country’s conservation policies very closely.
Proof of that is that the project’s master plan was approved by all government entities in charge of supervising this type of endeavor. Additionally, during the construction stage, the developer must file bimonthly reports to SETENA and CIMAT, among other entities.
The person in charge of environmental issues for Marina Papagayo is biologist Giovanni Bassey, who said the project is “harmonious with its surroundings.”
One key issue that has been on the table regarding this project is sedimentation and the impact on marine ecosystems of the marina.
“Currently, we are conducing work to control sedimentation and monitor ecosystems. “For example, we are using for the first time turbulence curtains in the water, and peripheral canals have been built to control and channel the water, thus avoiding the movement of soil. Also, buoys have been placed in areas of interest, and the Bahia Manzanillo coral reef in monitored daily along with the University of Costa Rica’s (UCR) Marine Research Center (CIMAR),” said Bassey, who added that the marina will also implement policies for using recycled waste in landscaped areas.
Bassey also indicated that those providing services to the marina must abide by environmental rules, and there are economic sanctions in place for those that disrespect such norms. In fact, he said, some have already been penalized, but the issues have been minor and no contracts have been rescinded.
A growing market
Despite the U.S. economic slowdown and the international crisis generated by high fuel and food prices, the marinas market continues to grow, and Marina Papagayo is seeking to capitalize on such behavior by becoming the best option for taking care of luxury yachts coming to Costa Rica to enjoy its natural treasures.
Daniel Eaffaldano, a world-class marina consultant, said that construction of high-end yachts continues to grow, especially boast larger than 80 feet.
For example, while in 1997 240 such yachts were built, in 2007 the number reached 940. Such figures appear to confirm the thought that the marina market is growing and that Costa Rica, which attracts visitors thanks to its biodiversity, surfing and famous sports fishing, seems to be well-position to benefit from these trends.
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
The Marina Papagayo project, which is currently under construction in Bahia Culebra in Guanacaste’s popular Gulf of Papagayo, is expected to begin operations in January of next year, according to project director Roberto Kopper.
Construction of the marina began in January 2007, with total projected capacity for 382 boats. With an investment of $15 million, developers have said this marina would offer the best facilities to be found in the region, among them government services, storage, parking, fuel stations, watercraft repair, lodging, state-of-the-art communications technology, and much more.
The project is located in the Playa Sombrero sector and covers a total area of 44 hectares, 33 of which are occupied by the marina itself. The development is part of the Gulf of Papagayo Tourism Development Project, and thus complies with the guidelines established by the Costa Rican government for development of this tourism hotspot.
It is estimated that the current construction stage is generating a total of 470 direct jobs, with 360 more jobs to be had when the marina begins operating at full swing.
A very important step in the construction process took place last week, when the floating docks for the marina arrived from Cape Canaveral, Fla. The blocks, built by ShoreMaster, were shipped to Papagayo on the M.V. Tuxpan Reef ship. ShoreMaster has also built the floating docks for the modern Long Beach, Calif. Marina, which has capacity for 1,200 boats.
Last week, the Costa Rican press was invited to the construction site to learn more about advances in the project, and even though it’s evident that much is still to be accomplished, Kopper indicated that the marina would be ready in about six months.
In addition to placing the newly arrived floating docks, work is currently being done on the building that will house immigration, customs and other services.
Developers pointed out that by January of 2009, 180 slips will be ready, plus the above-mentioned services. In the project’s second phase, 200 more slips will be added, possibly in 2010.
Access to the marina will be public, via National Route 253, which begins at the Gulf of Papagayo intersection at Guardia. The road will be rehabbed from there to the marina.
Complying with conservation guidelines
In the process of bulding the Marina Papagayo, its developers claim that they have complied with all guidelines stipulated in the master plan, which was okayed by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) and the government entities charged with supervising this kind of infrastructure — including the Inter-institutional Commission on Marinas and Tourism Docks (CIMAT), the Environmental Technical Secretariat (SETENA), municipalities, and others.
The project has also received constant supervision from the National Museum and the National Archaeological Commission, due to the fact that there are archaeological remains in the construction area — specifically pre-Columbian stone ponds, which Indigenous cultures in the region used for fishing.
Archaeologist Silvia Salgado has been working as part of the marina project, coordinating work between Marina Papagayo and the National Archaeological Commission, not only for the rescue, conservation and “visualization” of these ponds — but also for conducting research on them and exhibiting them to the public.
Careful attention also had to be paid to environmental issues in the design, construction and operation of projects of this sort. And again, Marina Papagayo spokespeople indicate that the development has followed the country’s conservation policies very closely.
Proof of that is that the project’s master plan was approved by all government entities in charge of supervising this type of endeavor. Additionally, during the construction stage, the developer must file bimonthly reports to SETENA and CIMAT, among other entities.
The person in charge of environmental issues for Marina Papagayo is biologist Giovanni Bassey, who said the project is “harmonious with its surroundings.”
One key issue that has been on the table regarding this project is sedimentation and the impact on marine ecosystems of the marina.
“Currently, we are conducing work to control sedimentation and monitor ecosystems. “For example, we are using for the first time turbulence curtains in the water, and peripheral canals have been built to control and channel the water, thus avoiding the movement of soil. Also, buoys have been placed in areas of interest, and the Bahia Manzanillo coral reef in monitored daily along with the University of Costa Rica’s (UCR) Marine Research Center (CIMAR),” said Bassey, who added that the marina will also implement policies for using recycled waste in landscaped areas.
Bassey also indicated that those providing services to the marina must abide by environmental rules, and there are economic sanctions in place for those that disrespect such norms. In fact, he said, some have already been penalized, but the issues have been minor and no contracts have been rescinded.
A growing market
Despite the U.S. economic slowdown and the international crisis generated by high fuel and food prices, the marinas market continues to grow, and Marina Papagayo is seeking to capitalize on such behavior by becoming the best option for taking care of luxury yachts coming to Costa Rica to enjoy its natural treasures.
Daniel Eaffaldano, a world-class marina consultant, said that construction of high-end yachts continues to grow, especially boast larger than 80 feet.
For example, while in 1997 240 such yachts were built, in 2007 the number reached 940. Such figures appear to confirm the thought that the marina market is growing and that Costa Rica, which attracts visitors thanks to its biodiversity, surfing and famous sports fishing, seems to be well-position to benefit from these trends.
Costa Rica Masters to bring professional golf to Guanacaste
Source: http://www.journalcr.com
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — Everything is ready for Costa Rica to re-immerse itself in the world of professional international golf, thanks to the Costa Rica Masters 2008, which will be held in Guanacaste’s Reserva Conchal Golf Club next Dec. 11-14.
The tournament was officially announced by Tour de las Americas (TLA) and the Canadian Tour, as part of a partnership between the two tours that will alos include tournaments in Chile and Argentina later this year.
In addition to being the first joint competition between TLA (the men’s professional golf tour for Latin America) and the Canadian Tour, the Costa Rica Masters will mark a new era in the country’s golf scene. With a purse of $125,000, the event will be the first at this level ever to be held in Guanacaste, which is now home to many high-quality courses that have made Costa Rica famous as a premiere golf destination.
Both TLA and the Canadian Tour, which are associate members of the International Federation of PGA Tours, published press releases last week making official the tree-country tours they will hold together.
The announcement comes at a time when golf has become an important source of foreign currency, employment and hotel occupancy for Costa Rica, which welcomes 34,000 tourists every year who come here exclusively to play golf.
Golf tourism is generating approximately $87.6 million annually in food, lodging and recreation expenses, in addition to sales of sporting equipment. Most golfers who come to Costa Rica are individuals of high purchasing power who take advantage of playing the game to do business with colleagues and new clients.
In a release issued by both tours, the director of the Costa Rica Masters, Ricardo Valdivieso, said: “We are very pleased for being able to make the new Costa Rica Masters a reality, as this tournament will proudly put the country back in the international golf scene.” He added that the tournament is proud to taking high-level professional golf for the first time to the province of Guanacaste, where golf and tourism development are growing by leaps and bounds.
“We thank Tour de las Americas and the Canadian Tour for their support, as well as Reserva Conchal Golf Club, which opened the doors of its spectacular course designed by the famous Robert Trent Jones II,” Valdivieso said.
The other two tournaments of the joint tour will be held Nov. 27-30 in Chile (50th Anniversary of the Sports Frances Open) and Dec. 4-7 in Argentina (Torneo de Maestros at Olivos Golf Club). Costa Rica will be the last leg of the trio. The tournaments will combine for a grand total of $435,000 in prize money.
The great business potential of golf and Costa Rica’s reputation as an exotic destination have contributed to the emergence in the past few years of new courses designed by internationally recognized golf stars, including Robert Trent Jones II, Greg Norman, Arnold Palmer and Mike Young.
The number of golf courses is expected to climb in Costa Rica in the short term, as at least six new projects are underway, several of them in Guanacaste.
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — Everything is ready for Costa Rica to re-immerse itself in the world of professional international golf, thanks to the Costa Rica Masters 2008, which will be held in Guanacaste’s Reserva Conchal Golf Club next Dec. 11-14.
The tournament was officially announced by Tour de las Americas (TLA) and the Canadian Tour, as part of a partnership between the two tours that will alos include tournaments in Chile and Argentina later this year.
In addition to being the first joint competition between TLA (the men’s professional golf tour for Latin America) and the Canadian Tour, the Costa Rica Masters will mark a new era in the country’s golf scene. With a purse of $125,000, the event will be the first at this level ever to be held in Guanacaste, which is now home to many high-quality courses that have made Costa Rica famous as a premiere golf destination.
Both TLA and the Canadian Tour, which are associate members of the International Federation of PGA Tours, published press releases last week making official the tree-country tours they will hold together.
The announcement comes at a time when golf has become an important source of foreign currency, employment and hotel occupancy for Costa Rica, which welcomes 34,000 tourists every year who come here exclusively to play golf.
Golf tourism is generating approximately $87.6 million annually in food, lodging and recreation expenses, in addition to sales of sporting equipment. Most golfers who come to Costa Rica are individuals of high purchasing power who take advantage of playing the game to do business with colleagues and new clients.
In a release issued by both tours, the director of the Costa Rica Masters, Ricardo Valdivieso, said: “We are very pleased for being able to make the new Costa Rica Masters a reality, as this tournament will proudly put the country back in the international golf scene.” He added that the tournament is proud to taking high-level professional golf for the first time to the province of Guanacaste, where golf and tourism development are growing by leaps and bounds.
“We thank Tour de las Americas and the Canadian Tour for their support, as well as Reserva Conchal Golf Club, which opened the doors of its spectacular course designed by the famous Robert Trent Jones II,” Valdivieso said.
The other two tournaments of the joint tour will be held Nov. 27-30 in Chile (50th Anniversary of the Sports Frances Open) and Dec. 4-7 in Argentina (Torneo de Maestros at Olivos Golf Club). Costa Rica will be the last leg of the trio. The tournaments will combine for a grand total of $435,000 in prize money.
The great business potential of golf and Costa Rica’s reputation as an exotic destination have contributed to the emergence in the past few years of new courses designed by internationally recognized golf stars, including Robert Trent Jones II, Greg Norman, Arnold Palmer and Mike Young.
The number of golf courses is expected to climb in Costa Rica in the short term, as at least six new projects are underway, several of them in Guanacaste.
Environmental guide for construction issued
Source: http://www.journalcr.com
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — Beginning last Aug. 11, a new Environmental Guide for Construction became effective in Costa Rica. Builders must now abide by the new rules during the process of Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIA) of their projects as part of the construction phase and permits stage.
The guide’s goal is to serve as a reference tool for orderly, systematic planning and execution of environmental measures for prevention, correction, mitigation, minimization or compensation of construction-related activities that could cause significant effects to the environment. The document will also become a way of standardizing the implementation of environmental actions as part of government efforts to achieve consensus and improvement of the EIA process. Furthermore, the guide will be applicable to any construction project in its early stages.
The guide consists of two parts: 1) environmental measures for specific actions, and 2) environmental management divided by topics, including aspects such as selection of land for development of urban infrastructure as well as the planning and design phases of a project, plus construction planning. Included in this guide are also rules regarding forest coverage and protected areas, storage of construction materials, construction equipment and machinery, quality of construction materials used in the project, and storm-water management.
Other topics addressed in the guide are worker security and occupation hygiene; installation of urban services; landscaping; social aspects of the project; waste water and air quality; preservation of cultural heritage; natural risks management; and integral environmental management and shared responsibilities.
The new guide is of great importance for regions such as Guanacaste, which currently has one of the highest rates of construction in the country. In the particular case of hotel development, a study by the Costa Rican Chamber of Hotels — entitled “Impact of the Hotel and Real Estate Growth in some Coastal Areas of Guanacaste” — found that in the case of large projects, it’s expected that more and more of these developments will combine both lodging and real estate construction (two examples being Peninsula Papagayo and Reserva Conchal, among others).
According to the Federated Association of Engineers and Architects (CFIA), Guanacaste is fourth in the country in construction permits issued, with 347,590 square meters of construction — or 15 percent of the country’s total.
In addition to the environmental guide, on April 9 an executive decree was signed that regulates construction on Guanacaste’s coastal areas. The measure was issued to establish clear guidelines regarding construction in this region and to mitigate environmental damage — such as the recent cases of wastewater being dumped into the ocean by hotels and other businesses.
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — Beginning last Aug. 11, a new Environmental Guide for Construction became effective in Costa Rica. Builders must now abide by the new rules during the process of Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIA) of their projects as part of the construction phase and permits stage.
The guide’s goal is to serve as a reference tool for orderly, systematic planning and execution of environmental measures for prevention, correction, mitigation, minimization or compensation of construction-related activities that could cause significant effects to the environment. The document will also become a way of standardizing the implementation of environmental actions as part of government efforts to achieve consensus and improvement of the EIA process. Furthermore, the guide will be applicable to any construction project in its early stages.
The guide consists of two parts: 1) environmental measures for specific actions, and 2) environmental management divided by topics, including aspects such as selection of land for development of urban infrastructure as well as the planning and design phases of a project, plus construction planning. Included in this guide are also rules regarding forest coverage and protected areas, storage of construction materials, construction equipment and machinery, quality of construction materials used in the project, and storm-water management.
Other topics addressed in the guide are worker security and occupation hygiene; installation of urban services; landscaping; social aspects of the project; waste water and air quality; preservation of cultural heritage; natural risks management; and integral environmental management and shared responsibilities.
The new guide is of great importance for regions such as Guanacaste, which currently has one of the highest rates of construction in the country. In the particular case of hotel development, a study by the Costa Rican Chamber of Hotels — entitled “Impact of the Hotel and Real Estate Growth in some Coastal Areas of Guanacaste” — found that in the case of large projects, it’s expected that more and more of these developments will combine both lodging and real estate construction (two examples being Peninsula Papagayo and Reserva Conchal, among others).
According to the Federated Association of Engineers and Architects (CFIA), Guanacaste is fourth in the country in construction permits issued, with 347,590 square meters of construction — or 15 percent of the country’s total.
In addition to the environmental guide, on April 9 an executive decree was signed that regulates construction on Guanacaste’s coastal areas. The measure was issued to establish clear guidelines regarding construction in this region and to mitigate environmental damage — such as the recent cases of wastewater being dumped into the ocean by hotels and other businesses.
Action plan for Guanacaste unveiled
Source: http://www.journalcr.com
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Inmfocom) — The province of Guanacaste will benefit from the injection of 114.7 billion colones (some $225 million) between 2009 and 2010, as outlined in an Action Plan unveiled last July 25 during the President’s Cabinet meeting in Nicoya.
According to Planning and Economic Policy Minister Roberto Gallardo, this plan seeks to solve historical problems affecting the region, such as water and environmental management, poverty and lack of proper infrastructure.
The Guanacaste Action Plan was prepared by the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Policy (MIDEPLAN) in collaboration with municipalities, government institutions and private industry representatives, as well as with presidential delegates and Guanacaste legislators. Gallardo thanked all those sectors and individuals who contributed to the plan, which seeks to energize the province’s development.
The funds earmarked as part of this initiative will go to three key areas: integrated water resources management, solid waste management and regulatory plans; production, infrastructure and energy; and access to public services, education, health, housing and security.
The first target area will receive 14.2 billion colones; some 50.5 billion colones will be allocated to the second area; and the third priority will be given almost 50 billion colones.
A commission, led by the Planning Minister, will provide follow up to the Guanacaste Action Plan’s goals. Gallardo and seven province representatives will draft and semiannual and annual reports.
The second workshop for drafting of the plan took place recently, with participation from organizations responsible for development in the province. The June 6 meeting gathered 63 representatives from 45 public entities and eight community and private organizations.
Among the players in this process are national institution such as the Costa Rican Water and Sewer Institute (AyA), the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE), the Ministry of Public Education (MEP), the Ministry of the Environment and Energy (MINAE), the Police Force, the Costa Rican Social Security System (CCSS), and the Costa Rican Fishing Institute (INCOPESCA). There are also regional organizations, including the Liberia Chamber of Tourism and the Abangares and La Cruz Associations Union.
Workshop participants utilized the information provided by municipal representatives in the previous meeting.
At the second workshop, attendees spoke about potential solutions to Guanacaste’s most pressing problems. Proposals were compiled by MIDEPLAN functionaries to be used in drafting the Guanacaste Action Plan, which was then presented before President Oscar Arias on the anniversary of Guanacaste’s annexation to Costa Rica.
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Inmfocom) — The province of Guanacaste will benefit from the injection of 114.7 billion colones (some $225 million) between 2009 and 2010, as outlined in an Action Plan unveiled last July 25 during the President’s Cabinet meeting in Nicoya.
According to Planning and Economic Policy Minister Roberto Gallardo, this plan seeks to solve historical problems affecting the region, such as water and environmental management, poverty and lack of proper infrastructure.
The Guanacaste Action Plan was prepared by the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Policy (MIDEPLAN) in collaboration with municipalities, government institutions and private industry representatives, as well as with presidential delegates and Guanacaste legislators. Gallardo thanked all those sectors and individuals who contributed to the plan, which seeks to energize the province’s development.
The funds earmarked as part of this initiative will go to three key areas: integrated water resources management, solid waste management and regulatory plans; production, infrastructure and energy; and access to public services, education, health, housing and security.
The first target area will receive 14.2 billion colones; some 50.5 billion colones will be allocated to the second area; and the third priority will be given almost 50 billion colones.
A commission, led by the Planning Minister, will provide follow up to the Guanacaste Action Plan’s goals. Gallardo and seven province representatives will draft and semiannual and annual reports.
The second workshop for drafting of the plan took place recently, with participation from organizations responsible for development in the province. The June 6 meeting gathered 63 representatives from 45 public entities and eight community and private organizations.
Among the players in this process are national institution such as the Costa Rican Water and Sewer Institute (AyA), the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE), the Ministry of Public Education (MEP), the Ministry of the Environment and Energy (MINAE), the Police Force, the Costa Rican Social Security System (CCSS), and the Costa Rican Fishing Institute (INCOPESCA). There are also regional organizations, including the Liberia Chamber of Tourism and the Abangares and La Cruz Associations Union.
Workshop participants utilized the information provided by municipal representatives in the previous meeting.
At the second workshop, attendees spoke about potential solutions to Guanacaste’s most pressing problems. Proposals were compiled by MIDEPLAN functionaries to be used in drafting the Guanacaste Action Plan, which was then presented before President Oscar Arias on the anniversary of Guanacaste’s annexation to Costa Rica.
Almost 130,000 visitors came through Liberia airport in first semester of 2008
Source: http://www.journalcr.com
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — A total of 129,623 people arrived in Costa Rica via Liberia’s Daniel Oduber International Airport during the first half of 2008, 10,883 (9.16 percent) more than during the same period last year.
According to data obtained from Daniel Oduber and San Jose’s Juan Santamaria International Airport, plus visitation estimates provided by the National Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR) that include other ports of entry, Costa Rica received 1,030,000 tourists in the first semester of this year, or 89,178 more compared with the same period in 2007.
Even though these are not official numbers, CANATUR said they point to important growth in local tourism trends.
However, it is forecasted that the global crisis resulting from sky-high petroleum prices could impact the number of visitors arriving in the country during the rest of the year.
“These estimates and forecasts reveal very encouraging data for Costa Rica’s tourism, despite the difficult economic conditions of the day, both external and internal, that are affecting the growth and development of this sector,” said Gonzalo Vargas, president of CANATUR. “We can say based on the performance of this first semester, Costa Rica is still well liked by foreigners as an ideal place to enjoy their vacation time.”
The visitation estimates unveiled also underscore the fact that both the Liberia and San Jose airports saw increases in passenger influx. During the first semester of 2007, some 595,405 tourists arrived through Juan Santamaria, while during that same period this year the number jumped to 673,701, for a 13.1 percent increase.
But not all is good news. Vargas explained that the effects of some external variables — such as escalating fuel and food prices plus the U.S. economic slowdown — will possibly begin to be felt in Costa Rica during the rest of 2008. That’s why he called on business owners to be more careful during this period before the 2008-2009 high tourist season begins.
Additionally, government officials in charge of the country’s monetary policy have warned about the strong economic adjustment Costa Ricans will face during the second semester of this year, due to the impact of international markets and direct effects related to high prices of oil, steel and food.
The Costa Rican Central Bank has also informed that accumulated inflation in the past 12 months reached 13 percent in June, generating an increase in the prices of basic goods and services. The prize of the U.S. dollar compared to the colon has also gone up, while national production of goods slowed in the first quarter of 2008 to one of its lowest levels in the past two years. Meanwhile, exports were reduced considerably due to the economic crisis in the United States — Costa Rica’s main commercial partner.
“The Costa Rican tourism sector must be prepared to feel the negative effects of this situation, reflected in the reduction of purchasing power of the local population to go on vacation or make one-day trips,” Vargas said.
The CANATUR president added that the tourism industry must continually work to guarantee the sustainability of Costa Rica’s top economic activity — which generates $1.85 billion annually, or 8 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 20 percent of total exports, and 450,000 jobs.
And although Vargas acknowledged that the numbers looked good for the first semester of 2008, it’s very possible that Costa Ricans will opt for limiting their income for leisure and recreation, resulting in a slowdown of local tourism — which in 2007 represented 1.3 million citizens and foreign residents traveling around the country.
“As a priority, the local population will take care of its basic needs. We see how, as interest rates have gone up recently, the amount in colones that is paid for loans will be higher, again affecting the percentage of disposable income available for recreation,” Vargas explained. “We must add to that the already mentioned increases in fuel and food costs, which for the moment are driving up inflation. And the tourism industry is not exempt from this situation.”
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — A total of 129,623 people arrived in Costa Rica via Liberia’s Daniel Oduber International Airport during the first half of 2008, 10,883 (9.16 percent) more than during the same period last year.
According to data obtained from Daniel Oduber and San Jose’s Juan Santamaria International Airport, plus visitation estimates provided by the National Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR) that include other ports of entry, Costa Rica received 1,030,000 tourists in the first semester of this year, or 89,178 more compared with the same period in 2007.
Even though these are not official numbers, CANATUR said they point to important growth in local tourism trends.
However, it is forecasted that the global crisis resulting from sky-high petroleum prices could impact the number of visitors arriving in the country during the rest of the year.
“These estimates and forecasts reveal very encouraging data for Costa Rica’s tourism, despite the difficult economic conditions of the day, both external and internal, that are affecting the growth and development of this sector,” said Gonzalo Vargas, president of CANATUR. “We can say based on the performance of this first semester, Costa Rica is still well liked by foreigners as an ideal place to enjoy their vacation time.”
The visitation estimates unveiled also underscore the fact that both the Liberia and San Jose airports saw increases in passenger influx. During the first semester of 2007, some 595,405 tourists arrived through Juan Santamaria, while during that same period this year the number jumped to 673,701, for a 13.1 percent increase.
But not all is good news. Vargas explained that the effects of some external variables — such as escalating fuel and food prices plus the U.S. economic slowdown — will possibly begin to be felt in Costa Rica during the rest of 2008. That’s why he called on business owners to be more careful during this period before the 2008-2009 high tourist season begins.
Additionally, government officials in charge of the country’s monetary policy have warned about the strong economic adjustment Costa Ricans will face during the second semester of this year, due to the impact of international markets and direct effects related to high prices of oil, steel and food.
The Costa Rican Central Bank has also informed that accumulated inflation in the past 12 months reached 13 percent in June, generating an increase in the prices of basic goods and services. The prize of the U.S. dollar compared to the colon has also gone up, while national production of goods slowed in the first quarter of 2008 to one of its lowest levels in the past two years. Meanwhile, exports were reduced considerably due to the economic crisis in the United States — Costa Rica’s main commercial partner.
“The Costa Rican tourism sector must be prepared to feel the negative effects of this situation, reflected in the reduction of purchasing power of the local population to go on vacation or make one-day trips,” Vargas said.
The CANATUR president added that the tourism industry must continually work to guarantee the sustainability of Costa Rica’s top economic activity — which generates $1.85 billion annually, or 8 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 20 percent of total exports, and 450,000 jobs.
And although Vargas acknowledged that the numbers looked good for the first semester of 2008, it’s very possible that Costa Ricans will opt for limiting their income for leisure and recreation, resulting in a slowdown of local tourism — which in 2007 represented 1.3 million citizens and foreign residents traveling around the country.
“As a priority, the local population will take care of its basic needs. We see how, as interest rates have gone up recently, the amount in colones that is paid for loans will be higher, again affecting the percentage of disposable income available for recreation,” Vargas explained. “We must add to that the already mentioned increases in fuel and food costs, which for the moment are driving up inflation. And the tourism industry is not exempt from this situation.”
CR tourism grows at three times the international rate
Source: http://www.journalcr.com
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — Despite the adverse conditions of the world economy due to the rise of fuel prices, the economic slowdown in the United States, the international food crisis and the ever-present threat of terrorism, Costa Rica continues to perform well in terms of the number of tourists coming here.
According to the latest World Tourism Barometer issued by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Costa Rica has experienced a very positive performance in terms of tourist influx, remaining in the two-digit growth level, despite the fact that international travel only attained a 5-percent growth average during the first four months of 2008 — one percentage point above what was expected at the beginning of this year.
Costa Rica’s exceptional numbers were highlighted by UNWTO in its June report, news that Tourism Minister Carlos Ricardo Benavides was glad to receive.
“It’s very satisfactory to us that as part of the positive worldwide growth that the tourism industry has posted in the first few months of this year, Costa Rica has remained among the group of countries with the most dynamic performance and the highest increases in the arrival of international tourists, in the two digits, and in our case, having three times the world median,” Benavides said. “This pushes us to continue doubling efforts to keep the current economic uncertainty due to high petroleum prices from impacting us as much as far as the tourism activity, but also allows us to see the coming months with a very positive outlook.”
As the time has gone by, Costa Rica has continued to venture into new tourism market niches with the objective of expanding its product supply and provide a wide range of options and services to visitors. The results are noteworthy: between 2003 and 2007, the country’s tourism activity posted a 56 percent growth, going from 1,238,000 to 1,926,000 visitors, which has contributed to an increase in the range of products offered by the local industry.
During the first five months of 2008, tourist arrival in Costa Rica grew by 15.6 percent, and estimates indicate some 2.1 million visitors will have arrived here by the end of the year — at least 200,000 more than in 2007, according to data from the National Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR). Such data also indicates that the main attractions sought by tourists are sun and beaches, nature and adventure, and ecotourism. However, rural tourism, congresses and conventions, and medical tourism and niches that have helped diversify the country’s tourism product, reaching more segments and sectors of the market.
Another factor contributing to the success of Costa Rica’s tourism in the midst of adverse conditions is that the country hasn’t faced reductions in flights, which has occurred to other nations in the region. According to the June UNWTO barometer, tourism growth was fastest in regions such as the Middle East, North-East and South Asia, and Central and South America. The report highlighted nations such as China, Japan, the United States, Costa Rica, Chile and Peru, among others, which have managed to post positive two-digit growth.
UNWTO believes that, although consumer confidence indices show an increasing degree of uncertainty, international tourism has proven to be resilient in similar circumstances in the past and able to cope with various types of shocks, including security threats, geopolitical tensions or natural and man-made crisis. Accounting for these factors, coupled with a slower but still positive economic growth, international tourism is as yet expected to keep growing at a solid pace in the mid-term, broadly in line with UNWTO’s Tourism 2020 Vision forecast long-term growth rate of about 4 percent.
Tourism market niches
One of the segments of the Costa Rican market that has experienced tremendous growth and recognition is medical tourism, in which visitors — in addition to schedule some sort of surgical procedure — also take advantage of the trip to visit various attractions the country has to offer.
Since 1995, the World Trade Organization has included Costa Rica in the list of top 20 countries with the best health systems and third with the highest life expectancy rates. This, in addition to the quality of health professionals here and the low cost of medical treatment, has helped position Costa Rica as a favorite destination for health tourism.
CANATUR President Gonzalo Vargas said this niche came about almost accidentally, as tourists who came here to relax began comparing prices for some health services and took note of the abysmal difference compared to prices in their home countries.
“Tourists have the option of coming to Costa Rica to vacation and, at the same time, have some sort of health or aesthetic treatment done. The cost of doing both activities is still less than having just the medical procedure done in their home countries,” Vargas indicated.
According to the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT), some 95 percent of the people coming here for medical procedures are from the United States, where costly treatments such as plastic surgery are not covered by insurance. In Costa Rica, ICT claims, they can save between 50 percent and 70 percent on the costs of such procedures.
Vargas said that among the most sough-after treatments are dentistry and orthodontic procedures, plastic surgery and other aesthetic procedures. Additionally, “Costa Rica provides the great advantage that there are already hotels specializing in the attention of patient post-operation, which undoubtedly provides for better chances of a quick and complete recovery,” Vargas said. “Together with the travel component and the excellent prices, these factors differentiate the country and allow us to have a competitive advantages over other nations (offering similar services).”
The head of CANATUR indicated Costa Rica is a privileged country, where many different options can be exploited to attract tourists and cover well the different niches of the travel market. He added that the National Tourism Development Plan 2002-2012 has set a goal of attracting 2.3 million foreign visitors and 1.6 million domestic tourists on a yearly average basis, reason why it’s essential that the different types of tourism activities be executed in a sustainable and environmentally harmonious manner.
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — Despite the adverse conditions of the world economy due to the rise of fuel prices, the economic slowdown in the United States, the international food crisis and the ever-present threat of terrorism, Costa Rica continues to perform well in terms of the number of tourists coming here.
According to the latest World Tourism Barometer issued by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Costa Rica has experienced a very positive performance in terms of tourist influx, remaining in the two-digit growth level, despite the fact that international travel only attained a 5-percent growth average during the first four months of 2008 — one percentage point above what was expected at the beginning of this year.
Costa Rica’s exceptional numbers were highlighted by UNWTO in its June report, news that Tourism Minister Carlos Ricardo Benavides was glad to receive.
“It’s very satisfactory to us that as part of the positive worldwide growth that the tourism industry has posted in the first few months of this year, Costa Rica has remained among the group of countries with the most dynamic performance and the highest increases in the arrival of international tourists, in the two digits, and in our case, having three times the world median,” Benavides said. “This pushes us to continue doubling efforts to keep the current economic uncertainty due to high petroleum prices from impacting us as much as far as the tourism activity, but also allows us to see the coming months with a very positive outlook.”
As the time has gone by, Costa Rica has continued to venture into new tourism market niches with the objective of expanding its product supply and provide a wide range of options and services to visitors. The results are noteworthy: between 2003 and 2007, the country’s tourism activity posted a 56 percent growth, going from 1,238,000 to 1,926,000 visitors, which has contributed to an increase in the range of products offered by the local industry.
During the first five months of 2008, tourist arrival in Costa Rica grew by 15.6 percent, and estimates indicate some 2.1 million visitors will have arrived here by the end of the year — at least 200,000 more than in 2007, according to data from the National Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR). Such data also indicates that the main attractions sought by tourists are sun and beaches, nature and adventure, and ecotourism. However, rural tourism, congresses and conventions, and medical tourism and niches that have helped diversify the country’s tourism product, reaching more segments and sectors of the market.
Another factor contributing to the success of Costa Rica’s tourism in the midst of adverse conditions is that the country hasn’t faced reductions in flights, which has occurred to other nations in the region. According to the June UNWTO barometer, tourism growth was fastest in regions such as the Middle East, North-East and South Asia, and Central and South America. The report highlighted nations such as China, Japan, the United States, Costa Rica, Chile and Peru, among others, which have managed to post positive two-digit growth.
UNWTO believes that, although consumer confidence indices show an increasing degree of uncertainty, international tourism has proven to be resilient in similar circumstances in the past and able to cope with various types of shocks, including security threats, geopolitical tensions or natural and man-made crisis. Accounting for these factors, coupled with a slower but still positive economic growth, international tourism is as yet expected to keep growing at a solid pace in the mid-term, broadly in line with UNWTO’s Tourism 2020 Vision forecast long-term growth rate of about 4 percent.
Tourism market niches
One of the segments of the Costa Rican market that has experienced tremendous growth and recognition is medical tourism, in which visitors — in addition to schedule some sort of surgical procedure — also take advantage of the trip to visit various attractions the country has to offer.
Since 1995, the World Trade Organization has included Costa Rica in the list of top 20 countries with the best health systems and third with the highest life expectancy rates. This, in addition to the quality of health professionals here and the low cost of medical treatment, has helped position Costa Rica as a favorite destination for health tourism.
CANATUR President Gonzalo Vargas said this niche came about almost accidentally, as tourists who came here to relax began comparing prices for some health services and took note of the abysmal difference compared to prices in their home countries.
“Tourists have the option of coming to Costa Rica to vacation and, at the same time, have some sort of health or aesthetic treatment done. The cost of doing both activities is still less than having just the medical procedure done in their home countries,” Vargas indicated.
According to the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT), some 95 percent of the people coming here for medical procedures are from the United States, where costly treatments such as plastic surgery are not covered by insurance. In Costa Rica, ICT claims, they can save between 50 percent and 70 percent on the costs of such procedures.
Vargas said that among the most sough-after treatments are dentistry and orthodontic procedures, plastic surgery and other aesthetic procedures. Additionally, “Costa Rica provides the great advantage that there are already hotels specializing in the attention of patient post-operation, which undoubtedly provides for better chances of a quick and complete recovery,” Vargas said. “Together with the travel component and the excellent prices, these factors differentiate the country and allow us to have a competitive advantages over other nations (offering similar services).”
The head of CANATUR indicated Costa Rica is a privileged country, where many different options can be exploited to attract tourists and cover well the different niches of the travel market. He added that the National Tourism Development Plan 2002-2012 has set a goal of attracting 2.3 million foreign visitors and 1.6 million domestic tourists on a yearly average basis, reason why it’s essential that the different types of tourism activities be executed in a sustainable and environmentally harmonious manner.
More tourists expected in Guanacaste for mid-year vacation
Source: http://www.journalcr.com
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — The National Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR) said it is expecting a significant increase in the number of national tourists visiting various destinations throughout the country, with at least 150,000 Costa Ricans traveling now that the mid-year school vacation has arrived.
According to CANATUR, it is expected that beach and mountain hotels will see their occupancy levels increase this vacation season. Studies conducted by this chamber indicate that the most popular destinations during this time of year are Jaco (Central Pacific), northern Guanacaste, Puntarenas, La Fortuna and Monteverde (Northern Zone).
Guanacaste has been preparing to receive this wave of July visitors. Among the measures being implemented are road repairs, security reinforcement on coastal areas and those favorite with tourists, and cleanup and sanitation campaigns.
Additionally, there’s another important wave of tourists coming from the United States as part of summer break. Many of them take advantage of this time to visit Costa Rica via Liberia’s Daniel Oduber International Airport. Only in the first quarter of this year, the influx of passengers through this terminal reached 156,028 people, according to data provided by the Civil Aviation General Office. This represent an increase of 13 percent compared to the same period in 2007, as confirmed by Mauricio Cespedes, executive director of the Guanacaste Chamber of Tourism (CATURGUA).
CANATUR President Gonzalo Vargas said the mid-year vacation is a great opportunity for families to take advantage of the country’s many and diverse destinations and enjoy very accessible prices.
With the goal of providing local tourists with different options in terms of destinations to visit, CANATUR and state-owned Banco Nacional are forging ahead with a discount campaign all of this year, called “Be a tourist in your own country, all year-long, at a very small price.” The focus of this campaign is on providing Costa Ricans a 35 percent discount on a variety of tourism options such as beach and mountain hotels, one-day tours and extreme sports, as well as personal care establishments and tourism services such as rent-a-cars.
“Through this campaign we are trying to promote domestic tourism, so that Costa Rican families benefit from discounts, allowing them to get to know many of the places and paradisiacal destinations Costa Rica has, which for so long have been thought of as exclusive to foreign tourists,” Vargas said.
More than 40 tourism-sector businesses are participating in this campaign, offering 35 percent discounts to national tourists as long as they pay with Banco Nacional-issued debit or credit cards.
“Even though the objective of this campaign is to promote domestic tourism and benefit Costa Ricans, it also seeks to benefit companies taking part in this agreement by increasing the number of visitors and reservations not only during the low tourism season, but all throughout the year, thus keeping satisfactory occupancy levels to allow for the growth of this industry all over the country,” Vargas concluded.
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — The National Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR) said it is expecting a significant increase in the number of national tourists visiting various destinations throughout the country, with at least 150,000 Costa Ricans traveling now that the mid-year school vacation has arrived.
According to CANATUR, it is expected that beach and mountain hotels will see their occupancy levels increase this vacation season. Studies conducted by this chamber indicate that the most popular destinations during this time of year are Jaco (Central Pacific), northern Guanacaste, Puntarenas, La Fortuna and Monteverde (Northern Zone).
Guanacaste has been preparing to receive this wave of July visitors. Among the measures being implemented are road repairs, security reinforcement on coastal areas and those favorite with tourists, and cleanup and sanitation campaigns.
Additionally, there’s another important wave of tourists coming from the United States as part of summer break. Many of them take advantage of this time to visit Costa Rica via Liberia’s Daniel Oduber International Airport. Only in the first quarter of this year, the influx of passengers through this terminal reached 156,028 people, according to data provided by the Civil Aviation General Office. This represent an increase of 13 percent compared to the same period in 2007, as confirmed by Mauricio Cespedes, executive director of the Guanacaste Chamber of Tourism (CATURGUA).
CANATUR President Gonzalo Vargas said the mid-year vacation is a great opportunity for families to take advantage of the country’s many and diverse destinations and enjoy very accessible prices.
With the goal of providing local tourists with different options in terms of destinations to visit, CANATUR and state-owned Banco Nacional are forging ahead with a discount campaign all of this year, called “Be a tourist in your own country, all year-long, at a very small price.” The focus of this campaign is on providing Costa Ricans a 35 percent discount on a variety of tourism options such as beach and mountain hotels, one-day tours and extreme sports, as well as personal care establishments and tourism services such as rent-a-cars.
“Through this campaign we are trying to promote domestic tourism, so that Costa Rican families benefit from discounts, allowing them to get to know many of the places and paradisiacal destinations Costa Rica has, which for so long have been thought of as exclusive to foreign tourists,” Vargas said.
More than 40 tourism-sector businesses are participating in this campaign, offering 35 percent discounts to national tourists as long as they pay with Banco Nacional-issued debit or credit cards.
“Even though the objective of this campaign is to promote domestic tourism and benefit Costa Ricans, it also seeks to benefit companies taking part in this agreement by increasing the number of visitors and reservations not only during the low tourism season, but all throughout the year, thus keeping satisfactory occupancy levels to allow for the growth of this industry all over the country,” Vargas concluded.
Costa Rica’s ‘Treasure Island’ among New 7 Wonders of Nature favorites
Source: http://www.journalcr.com
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — The subject of maritime tales, legends of treasures buried by pirates and even the inspiration for Hollywood films such as Jurassic Park, Costa Rica’s Isla del Coco (Cocos Island) is inching closer to becoming part of modern history as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.
Thirty years after it was declared a national park (a ceremony was held this past June 23), this Pacific Island natural treasure is competing against 300 other ecological marvels from all over the world in an online contest organized by the New 7 Wonders Foundation. As of June 26, Cocos Island was 11 on the list, according to the website www.new7wonders.com, where anybody with a valid e-mail address can go to cast his or her vote (those with more than one e-mail address can vote more than once).
Polling will continue until 2009, when the New 7 Wonders Foundation — which recently held a similar Internet competition to select the new seven man-made wonders of the world, including places such as Mexico’s Chichen Itza and Peru’s Machu Picchu — will tally up the votes and pick the 21 sites receiving the most support.
Cocos Island — which famous oceanographer and conservationist Jacques Cousteau called “the world’s most beautiful island” — has proven to be a strong contender. The island’s beauties and its fabled and mysterious history have made it a favorite among nature lovers. Additionally, there’s a committee in the country led by the Friends of Cocos Island Foundation, whose goal is to promote the attributes of this isolated ocean paradise locally and internationally to obtain as much support as possible for its candidacy.
The final New 7 Wonders of Nature list will be announced in 2010.
“The Friends of Cocos Island Foundation leads support efforts in this initiative, and we fighting to end up among the first 21 positions worldwide,” said Jessica Chavarria, marketing and public relations coordinator for Friends of Cocos Island Foundation. “For this campaign, we are sending e-mails to friends of the island, we participate in fairs and other events, and during Week of the Sea, in addition to giving talks, we encourage companies to vote. This is a word of mouth campaign.”
According to information supplied by the Friends of Cocos Island Foundation, because of its size, isolation, and conservation status, Cocos Island is one of the most privileged natural sites worldwide. With a unique biological diversity and important endemic species, the island is considered an ideal natural laboratory to carry out research about evolution of species and long-term environmental monitoring.
Results of this type of research could yield important data about the dynamics of the planet’s ecosystems and their relation with global changes in land and seas. That’s part of the great importance of this island to humanity.
Historical and biological value
Convinced of the exceptional caliber of the island’s natural characteristics, in 1978 the government of Costa Rica created the Cocos Island National Park, which was later declared as the core of the marine conservation area that bears the island’s name. Also because of its uniqueness, the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization (UNESCO) in 1997 named the island a World Heritage Site. One year later, it was chosen as a RAMSAR wetland site of international importance.
Moreover, on Oct. 11, 2002, the government of Costa Rica named Cocos Island a Historical Architectural Heritage Site.
According to the Friends of Cocos Island Foundation, such designation is due to the great historical and cultural value of the island for Costa Rica and the world, as Cocos has been the subject, since the XVIII century, of visits and some human settlements by groups arriving there from different latitudes and with different purposes.
Inscriptions on the rocks of Chatham and Wafer bays, in addition to other cultural vestiges found on the island, remain as testimonials of this insular territory’s history, giving it exceptional value that deserves to be preserved for the enjoyment of present and future generations.
The 2002 declaration prohibits the demolition of building and alteration of elements bearing historical and cultural value, and it also bans their partial or total remodeling without previous authorization from the Cultural Heritage Research and Conservation Center, an office of the Ministry of Culture and Youth.
Privileged location
Cocos Island was first put on the world map, literally, in 1542, as Ysle de Coques. It was discovered in 1526 by Spanish sailor Johan Cabeças. It is located in the central area of the Eastern Pacific, in the ocean that Spaniards called Mar del Sur (South Sea) during the time of discovery and conquest, in front of the Gulf of Panama. Its extreme borders are: to the north, Agujas Point, at 5º 33'26" N; to the south, Dampier Cape, at 5º 30'06" N; to the west, Lionel Cape, at 87º 05'46" W; and to the east, Atrevido Cape, at 87º 01'47" W.
On the North American continent, the nearest point to Cocos Island is Cabo Blanco, on Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula, located 532 km away. In South America, the nearest points to the island are Isla Pinta (Abingdon), in the Galapagos, 682 km away; and Malpelo Island (Colombia), 630 km away.
Cocos Island’s land area is 23.85 km2, and the area of protected marine ecosystems encompasses 1,997 km2. The island is 7.6 km long and 4.4 km wide.
Take a minute to visit the www.new7wonders.com site and vote for this gem of nature so it can continue climbing positions in the ranking. Even though it’s already a natural wonder to Costa Ricans, your vote could make it a wonder of the entire world.
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — The subject of maritime tales, legends of treasures buried by pirates and even the inspiration for Hollywood films such as Jurassic Park, Costa Rica’s Isla del Coco (Cocos Island) is inching closer to becoming part of modern history as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.
Thirty years after it was declared a national park (a ceremony was held this past June 23), this Pacific Island natural treasure is competing against 300 other ecological marvels from all over the world in an online contest organized by the New 7 Wonders Foundation. As of June 26, Cocos Island was 11 on the list, according to the website www.new7wonders.com, where anybody with a valid e-mail address can go to cast his or her vote (those with more than one e-mail address can vote more than once).
Polling will continue until 2009, when the New 7 Wonders Foundation — which recently held a similar Internet competition to select the new seven man-made wonders of the world, including places such as Mexico’s Chichen Itza and Peru’s Machu Picchu — will tally up the votes and pick the 21 sites receiving the most support.
Cocos Island — which famous oceanographer and conservationist Jacques Cousteau called “the world’s most beautiful island” — has proven to be a strong contender. The island’s beauties and its fabled and mysterious history have made it a favorite among nature lovers. Additionally, there’s a committee in the country led by the Friends of Cocos Island Foundation, whose goal is to promote the attributes of this isolated ocean paradise locally and internationally to obtain as much support as possible for its candidacy.
The final New 7 Wonders of Nature list will be announced in 2010.
“The Friends of Cocos Island Foundation leads support efforts in this initiative, and we fighting to end up among the first 21 positions worldwide,” said Jessica Chavarria, marketing and public relations coordinator for Friends of Cocos Island Foundation. “For this campaign, we are sending e-mails to friends of the island, we participate in fairs and other events, and during Week of the Sea, in addition to giving talks, we encourage companies to vote. This is a word of mouth campaign.”
According to information supplied by the Friends of Cocos Island Foundation, because of its size, isolation, and conservation status, Cocos Island is one of the most privileged natural sites worldwide. With a unique biological diversity and important endemic species, the island is considered an ideal natural laboratory to carry out research about evolution of species and long-term environmental monitoring.
Results of this type of research could yield important data about the dynamics of the planet’s ecosystems and their relation with global changes in land and seas. That’s part of the great importance of this island to humanity.
Historical and biological value
Convinced of the exceptional caliber of the island’s natural characteristics, in 1978 the government of Costa Rica created the Cocos Island National Park, which was later declared as the core of the marine conservation area that bears the island’s name. Also because of its uniqueness, the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization (UNESCO) in 1997 named the island a World Heritage Site. One year later, it was chosen as a RAMSAR wetland site of international importance.
Moreover, on Oct. 11, 2002, the government of Costa Rica named Cocos Island a Historical Architectural Heritage Site.
According to the Friends of Cocos Island Foundation, such designation is due to the great historical and cultural value of the island for Costa Rica and the world, as Cocos has been the subject, since the XVIII century, of visits and some human settlements by groups arriving there from different latitudes and with different purposes.
Inscriptions on the rocks of Chatham and Wafer bays, in addition to other cultural vestiges found on the island, remain as testimonials of this insular territory’s history, giving it exceptional value that deserves to be preserved for the enjoyment of present and future generations.
The 2002 declaration prohibits the demolition of building and alteration of elements bearing historical and cultural value, and it also bans their partial or total remodeling without previous authorization from the Cultural Heritage Research and Conservation Center, an office of the Ministry of Culture and Youth.
Privileged location
Cocos Island was first put on the world map, literally, in 1542, as Ysle de Coques. It was discovered in 1526 by Spanish sailor Johan Cabeças. It is located in the central area of the Eastern Pacific, in the ocean that Spaniards called Mar del Sur (South Sea) during the time of discovery and conquest, in front of the Gulf of Panama. Its extreme borders are: to the north, Agujas Point, at 5º 33'26" N; to the south, Dampier Cape, at 5º 30'06" N; to the west, Lionel Cape, at 87º 05'46" W; and to the east, Atrevido Cape, at 87º 01'47" W.
On the North American continent, the nearest point to Cocos Island is Cabo Blanco, on Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula, located 532 km away. In South America, the nearest points to the island are Isla Pinta (Abingdon), in the Galapagos, 682 km away; and Malpelo Island (Colombia), 630 km away.
Cocos Island’s land area is 23.85 km2, and the area of protected marine ecosystems encompasses 1,997 km2. The island is 7.6 km long and 4.4 km wide.
Take a minute to visit the www.new7wonders.com site and vote for this gem of nature so it can continue climbing positions in the ranking. Even though it’s already a natural wonder to Costa Ricans, your vote could make it a wonder of the entire world.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
The latest u.s. department state statement about Costa Rica
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
June 05, 2008
COUNTRY DESCRIPTION:Costa Rica mapCosta Rica map Costa Rica is a middle-income, developing country with a strong democratic tradition. Tourist facilities are extensive and generally adequate. The capital is San Jose. English is a second language for many Costa Ricans. Read the Department of State Background Notes <http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2019.htm> on Costa Rica for additional information.
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: For entry into Costa Rica, U.S. citizens must present valid passports that will not expire for at least thirty days after arrival, and a roundtrip/outbound ticket. Some U.S. airlines may not permit passengers to board flights to Costa Rica without such a ticket. Passports should be in good condition; Costa Rican immigration will deny entry if the passport is damaged in any way. Costa Rican authorities generally permit U.S. citizens to stay up to ninety days; to stay beyond the period granted, travelers must submit an application for an extension to the Office of Temporary Permits in the Costa Rican Department of Immigration. Tourist visas are usually not extended except under special circumstances, and extension requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. There is a departure tax for short-term visitors. Tourists who stay over ninety days may experience a delay at the airport when departing. Persons who overstayed previously may be denied entry to Costa Rica.
Persons traveling to Costa Rica from some countries in South America and Sub-Saharan Africa must provide evidence of a valid yellow fever vaccination prior to entry. The South American countries include Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela.
See “SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES” for information on requirements to carry documentation within Costa Rica and on travel by dual national minors.
The most authoritative and up-to-date information on Costa Rican entry and exit requirements may be obtained from the Consular Section of the Embassy of Costa Rica at 2114 “S” Street NW, Washington, DC 20008, telephone (202) 234-2945/46 , fax (202) 265-4795 , e-mail consulate@costarica-embassy.org, web site http://www.costarica-embassy.org <http://www.costarica-embassy.org/> , or from the Costa Rican consulates in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico), San Francisco, and Tampa. The Costa Rican immigration agency web site is http://www.migracion.go.cr <http://www.migracion.go.cr/> . It is advisable to contact the Embassy of Costa Rica in Washington or one of Costa Rica's consulates in the United States for specific information regarding customs requirements before shipping any items.
Visit the Embassy of Costa Rica web site at http://www.costarica-embassy.org <http://www.costarica-embassy.org/> for the most current visa information.
Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our web site. For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information sheet.
SAFETY AND SECURITY: There have been no recent acts of terrorism in Costa Rica. Visitors to Costa Rica may experience the effects of civil disturbances such as work stoppages and strikes. Although infrequent, these acts can create inconveniences for visitors. On both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts, currents are swift and dangerous, and there are few lifeguards or signs warning of dangerous beaches. Every year eight to twelve American citizens drown in Costa Rica due to riptides or sudden drop-offs while in shallow water. Extreme caution is advised.
Adventure tourism is popular in Costa Rica, and many companies offer white-water rafting, bungee jumping, jungle canopy tours, deep sea diving, and other outdoor attractions. Americans are urged to use caution in selecting adventure tourism companies. The government of Costa Rica regulates and monitors the safety of adventure tourism companies; enforcement of safety laws is overseen by the Ministry of Health. Registered tourism companies with operating permits must meet safety standards and have insurance coverage. The safety regulations enforced in Costa Rica are not the same as safety regulations enforced in the United States.
For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs’ web site at http://travel.state.gov <http://travel.state.gov/> , where the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts, as well as the Worldwide Caution, can be found.
Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada, or for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
The Department of State urges American citizens to take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas. For general information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect themselves in an overseas environment, see the Department of State’s pamphlet A Safe Trip Abroad.
CRIME: Over one and a half million foreign tourists, the majority American, visit Costa Rica annually. All are potential targets for criminals, primarily thieves looking for cash, jewelry, credit cards, electronic items and passports. U.S. citizens are encouraged to exercise the same level of caution they would in major cities or tourist areas throughout the world. Local law enforcement agencies have limited capabilities and do not act according to U.S. standards. Travelers should minimize driving at night, especially outside urban areas.
Americans should avoid areas with high concentrations of bars and nightclubs, especially at night, and steer clear of deserted properties or undeveloped land. For safety reasons, the Embassy does not place its official visitors in hotels in the San Jose city center, but instead puts them at the larger hotels in the outlying suburbs. Americans should walk or exercise with a companion, bearing in mind that crowded tourist attractions and resort areas popular with foreign tourists are common venues for criminal activities. Travelers should ignore any verbal harassment, and avoid carrying passports, large amounts of cash, jewelry or expensive photographic equipment. Tourists are encouraged to carry photocopies of the passport data page and Costa Rican entry stamp on their persons, and leave the original passport in a hotel safe or other secure place. Costa Rican immigration authorities conduct routine immigration checks at locations, such as bars in downtown San Jose and beach communities, frequented by illegal immigrants. American citizens detained during one of these checks who have only a copy of the passport will be required to provide the original passport with appropriate stamps.
Travelers should purchase an adequate level of locally valid theft insurance when renting vehicles, park in secured lots whenever possible, and never leave valuables in the vehicle. The U.S. Embassy receives several reports daily of valuables, identity documents, and other items stolen from locked vehicles, primarily rental cars. Thefts from parked cars occur in downtown San Jose, at beaches, in the airport and bus station parking lots, and at national parks and other tourist attractions.
Travelers should use licensed taxis, which are red with medallions (yellow triangles containing numbers) painted on the side. Licensed taxis at the airport are painted orange. All licensed taxis should have working door handles, locks, seatbelts and meters (called "marias"); passengers are required to use seatbelts. When traveling by bus, avoid putting bags or other personal belongings in the storage bins. At all times have your belongings in your line of sight or in your possession.
Thieves usually work in groups of two to four. A common scam has one person drop change in a crowded area, such as on a bus, and when the victim tries to assist, a wallet or other item is taken. The most prevalent scam involves the surreptitious puncturing of tires of rental cars, often near restaurants, tourist attractions, airports, or close to the car rental agencies themselves. When the travelers pull over, "good Samaritans" quickly appear to change the tire - and just as quickly remove valuables from the car, sometimes brandishing weapons. Drivers with flat tires are advised to drive, if at all possible, to the nearest service station or other public area, and change the tire themselves, watching valuables at all times.
In late 2006, the government of Costa Rica established a Tourist Police force, and units were established in popular tourist areas throughout the country. The Tourist Police can assist with the reporting of a crime, which can be difficult for victims due to language barriers and the requirement that only investigative police can accept crime reports.
INFORMATION FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME: The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for assistance. The Embassy/Consulate staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, contact family members or friends and explain how funds could be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed.
See our information on Victims of Crime.
MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION: Medical care in San Jose is adequate, but is limited in areas outside of San Jose. Most prescription and over-the-counter medications are available throughout Costa Rica. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services, and U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. A list of local doctors and medical facilities can be found at the website of the U.S. Embassy in San Jose, at http://sanjose.usembassy.gov <http://sanjose.usembassy.gov/> . An ambulance may be summoned by calling 911. Most ambulances provide transportation but little or no medical assistance. The best-equipped ambulances are called “unidad avanzada.”
Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC’s web site at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization’s (WHO) web site at http://www.who.int/en. Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith/en.
MEDICAL INSURANCE: The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. Please see our information on medical insurance overseas.
TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Costa Rica is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.
Costa Rica has one of the highest vehicle accident rates in the world. The fatality rate for pedestrians and those riding bicycles and motorcycles is disproportionately high. Traffic laws and speed limits are often ignored, turns across one or two lanes of traffic are common, turn signals are rarely used, passing on dangerous stretches of highway is common, and pedestrians are not given the right of way. Roads are often in poor condition, and large potholes with the potential to cause significant damage to vehicles are common. Pedestrians, cyclists, and farm animals may use the main roads. Traffic signs, even on major highways, are inadequate and few roads are lined. Shoulders are narrow or consist of drainage ditches. All of the above, in addition to poor visibility due to heavy fog or rain, makes driving at night especially treacherous. Landslides are common in the rainy season. All types of motor vehicles are appropriate for the main highways and principal roads in the major cities. However, some roads to beaches and other rural locations are not paved, and many destinations are accessible only with high clearance, rugged suspension four-wheel drive vehicles. Travelers are advised to call ahead to their hotels to ask about the current status of access roads.
Costa Rica has a 911 system for reporting emergencies. In the event of a traffic accident, vehicles must/must be left where they are. Both the Transito (Traffic Police) and the Insurance Investigator must make accident reports before the vehicles are moved.
Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information. Visit the website of Costa Rica’s national tourist office and national authority responsible for road safety at http://www.mopt.go.cr <http://www.mopt.go.cr/> and www.visitecostarica.com <http://www.visitecostarica.com/> .
AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the Government of Costa Rica’s Civil Aviation Authority as being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of Costa Rica’s air carrier operations. For more information, travelers may visit the FAA’s web site at http://www.faa.gov/safety/programs_initiatives/oversight/iasa.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Land Ownership and Shoreline Property: U.S. citizens are urged to use caution when making real estate purchases, and consult reputable legal counsel and investigate thoroughly all aspects before entering into a contract. Coastal land within fifty meters of the high tide line is open to the public and therefore closed to development, and construction on the next one hundred fifty meters inland is possible only with the approval of the local municipality.
Squatters: Organized squatter groups have invaded properties in various parts of the country. These squatter groups, often supported by politically active persons and non-governmental organizations, take advantage of legal provisions that allow people without land to gain title to unused agricultural property. Local courts may show considerable sympathy for the squatters. Victims of squatters have reported threats, harassment, and violence.
Documentation Requirements: Visitors are required to carry appropriate documentation at all times. However, due to the high incidence of passport theft, tourists are permitted and encouraged to carry photocopies of the datapage and entry stamp from the passport, leaving the passport in a hotel safe or other secure place. However, as noted under CRIME, Costa Rican immigration authorities conduct routine checks for illegal immigrants, especially in bars located in downtown San Jose and in beach communities. An American citizen detained during one of these checks and carrying only the copy of the passport will be required to produce the original passport. Tourists should consider carrying their passports when traveling overnight or a considerable distance from their hotel. Tourists who carry passports are urged to place them securely in an inside pocket.
Exit Procedures for Costa Rican Citizens: Costa Rican children may only depart the country upon presentation of an exit permit issued by immigration authorities. This policy, designed to prevent international child abduction, applies to dual national U.S./Costa Rican citizens. Parents of minors who obtained Costa Rican citizenship through a parent or through birth in Costa Rica are advised to consult with appropriate Costa Rican authorities prior to travel to Costa Rica, especially if one (or both) parent(s) is not accompanying the child.
Disaster Preparedness: Costa Rica is located in an earthquake and volcanic zone. Serious flooding occurs annually on the Caribbean side near the port city of Limon, but flooding occurs in other parts of Costa Rica as well, depending on the time of year and rainfall. General information about natural disaster preparedness is available via the Internet from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at http://www.fema.gov/.
CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating Costa Rica’s laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Costa Rica are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States. Please see our information on Criminal Penalties.
CHILDREN'S ISSUES: For information see our Office of Children’s Issues web pages on intercountry adoption and international parental child abduction.
REGISTRATION / EMBASSY LOCATION: Americans living or traveling in Costa Rica are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department’s travel registration web site <https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/> so that they can obtain updated information on travel and security within Costa Rica. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. The U.S. Embassy is located in Pavas, San Jose, and may be reached at (506) 2519-2000; the extension for the Consular Section is 2453. The Embassy is open Monday through Friday, and is closed on Costa Rican and U.S. holidays. Those seeking information are strongly encouraged to utilize the embassy web site http://sanjose.usembassy.gov/, and can email consularsanjose@state.gov with any questions/concerns. For emergencies arising outside normal business hours, U.S. citizens may call (506) 2220-3127 and ask for the duty officer.
This replaces the Country Specific Information for Costa Rica dated August 15, 2007, to update sections on Registration/Embassy Location and Special Circumstances.
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
June 05, 2008
COUNTRY DESCRIPTION:Costa Rica mapCosta Rica map Costa Rica is a middle-income, developing country with a strong democratic tradition. Tourist facilities are extensive and generally adequate. The capital is San Jose. English is a second language for many Costa Ricans. Read the Department of State Background Notes <http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2019.htm> on Costa Rica for additional information.
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: For entry into Costa Rica, U.S. citizens must present valid passports that will not expire for at least thirty days after arrival, and a roundtrip/outbound ticket. Some U.S. airlines may not permit passengers to board flights to Costa Rica without such a ticket. Passports should be in good condition; Costa Rican immigration will deny entry if the passport is damaged in any way. Costa Rican authorities generally permit U.S. citizens to stay up to ninety days; to stay beyond the period granted, travelers must submit an application for an extension to the Office of Temporary Permits in the Costa Rican Department of Immigration. Tourist visas are usually not extended except under special circumstances, and extension requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. There is a departure tax for short-term visitors. Tourists who stay over ninety days may experience a delay at the airport when departing. Persons who overstayed previously may be denied entry to Costa Rica.
Persons traveling to Costa Rica from some countries in South America and Sub-Saharan Africa must provide evidence of a valid yellow fever vaccination prior to entry. The South American countries include Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela.
See “SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES” for information on requirements to carry documentation within Costa Rica and on travel by dual national minors.
The most authoritative and up-to-date information on Costa Rican entry and exit requirements may be obtained from the Consular Section of the Embassy of Costa Rica at 2114 “S” Street NW, Washington, DC 20008, telephone (202) 234-2945/46 , fax (202) 265-4795 , e-mail consulate@costarica-embassy.org, web site http://www.costarica-embassy.org <http://www.costarica-embassy.org/> , or from the Costa Rican consulates in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico), San Francisco, and Tampa. The Costa Rican immigration agency web site is http://www.migracion.go.cr <http://www.migracion.go.cr/> . It is advisable to contact the Embassy of Costa Rica in Washington or one of Costa Rica's consulates in the United States for specific information regarding customs requirements before shipping any items.
Visit the Embassy of Costa Rica web site at http://www.costarica-embassy.org <http://www.costarica-embassy.org/> for the most current visa information.
Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our web site. For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information sheet.
SAFETY AND SECURITY: There have been no recent acts of terrorism in Costa Rica. Visitors to Costa Rica may experience the effects of civil disturbances such as work stoppages and strikes. Although infrequent, these acts can create inconveniences for visitors. On both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts, currents are swift and dangerous, and there are few lifeguards or signs warning of dangerous beaches. Every year eight to twelve American citizens drown in Costa Rica due to riptides or sudden drop-offs while in shallow water. Extreme caution is advised.
Adventure tourism is popular in Costa Rica, and many companies offer white-water rafting, bungee jumping, jungle canopy tours, deep sea diving, and other outdoor attractions. Americans are urged to use caution in selecting adventure tourism companies. The government of Costa Rica regulates and monitors the safety of adventure tourism companies; enforcement of safety laws is overseen by the Ministry of Health. Registered tourism companies with operating permits must meet safety standards and have insurance coverage. The safety regulations enforced in Costa Rica are not the same as safety regulations enforced in the United States.
For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs’ web site at http://travel.state.gov <http://travel.state.gov/> , where the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts, as well as the Worldwide Caution, can be found.
Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada, or for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
The Department of State urges American citizens to take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas. For general information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect themselves in an overseas environment, see the Department of State’s pamphlet A Safe Trip Abroad.
CRIME: Over one and a half million foreign tourists, the majority American, visit Costa Rica annually. All are potential targets for criminals, primarily thieves looking for cash, jewelry, credit cards, electronic items and passports. U.S. citizens are encouraged to exercise the same level of caution they would in major cities or tourist areas throughout the world. Local law enforcement agencies have limited capabilities and do not act according to U.S. standards. Travelers should minimize driving at night, especially outside urban areas.
Americans should avoid areas with high concentrations of bars and nightclubs, especially at night, and steer clear of deserted properties or undeveloped land. For safety reasons, the Embassy does not place its official visitors in hotels in the San Jose city center, but instead puts them at the larger hotels in the outlying suburbs. Americans should walk or exercise with a companion, bearing in mind that crowded tourist attractions and resort areas popular with foreign tourists are common venues for criminal activities. Travelers should ignore any verbal harassment, and avoid carrying passports, large amounts of cash, jewelry or expensive photographic equipment. Tourists are encouraged to carry photocopies of the passport data page and Costa Rican entry stamp on their persons, and leave the original passport in a hotel safe or other secure place. Costa Rican immigration authorities conduct routine immigration checks at locations, such as bars in downtown San Jose and beach communities, frequented by illegal immigrants. American citizens detained during one of these checks who have only a copy of the passport will be required to provide the original passport with appropriate stamps.
Travelers should purchase an adequate level of locally valid theft insurance when renting vehicles, park in secured lots whenever possible, and never leave valuables in the vehicle. The U.S. Embassy receives several reports daily of valuables, identity documents, and other items stolen from locked vehicles, primarily rental cars. Thefts from parked cars occur in downtown San Jose, at beaches, in the airport and bus station parking lots, and at national parks and other tourist attractions.
Travelers should use licensed taxis, which are red with medallions (yellow triangles containing numbers) painted on the side. Licensed taxis at the airport are painted orange. All licensed taxis should have working door handles, locks, seatbelts and meters (called "marias"); passengers are required to use seatbelts. When traveling by bus, avoid putting bags or other personal belongings in the storage bins. At all times have your belongings in your line of sight or in your possession.
Thieves usually work in groups of two to four. A common scam has one person drop change in a crowded area, such as on a bus, and when the victim tries to assist, a wallet or other item is taken. The most prevalent scam involves the surreptitious puncturing of tires of rental cars, often near restaurants, tourist attractions, airports, or close to the car rental agencies themselves. When the travelers pull over, "good Samaritans" quickly appear to change the tire - and just as quickly remove valuables from the car, sometimes brandishing weapons. Drivers with flat tires are advised to drive, if at all possible, to the nearest service station or other public area, and change the tire themselves, watching valuables at all times.
In late 2006, the government of Costa Rica established a Tourist Police force, and units were established in popular tourist areas throughout the country. The Tourist Police can assist with the reporting of a crime, which can be difficult for victims due to language barriers and the requirement that only investigative police can accept crime reports.
INFORMATION FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME: The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for assistance. The Embassy/Consulate staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, contact family members or friends and explain how funds could be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed.
See our information on Victims of Crime.
MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION: Medical care in San Jose is adequate, but is limited in areas outside of San Jose. Most prescription and over-the-counter medications are available throughout Costa Rica. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services, and U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. A list of local doctors and medical facilities can be found at the website of the U.S. Embassy in San Jose, at http://sanjose.usembassy.gov <http://sanjose.usembassy.gov/> . An ambulance may be summoned by calling 911. Most ambulances provide transportation but little or no medical assistance. The best-equipped ambulances are called “unidad avanzada.”
Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC’s web site at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization’s (WHO) web site at http://www.who.int/en. Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith/en.
MEDICAL INSURANCE: The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. Please see our information on medical insurance overseas.
TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Costa Rica is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.
Costa Rica has one of the highest vehicle accident rates in the world. The fatality rate for pedestrians and those riding bicycles and motorcycles is disproportionately high. Traffic laws and speed limits are often ignored, turns across one or two lanes of traffic are common, turn signals are rarely used, passing on dangerous stretches of highway is common, and pedestrians are not given the right of way. Roads are often in poor condition, and large potholes with the potential to cause significant damage to vehicles are common. Pedestrians, cyclists, and farm animals may use the main roads. Traffic signs, even on major highways, are inadequate and few roads are lined. Shoulders are narrow or consist of drainage ditches. All of the above, in addition to poor visibility due to heavy fog or rain, makes driving at night especially treacherous. Landslides are common in the rainy season. All types of motor vehicles are appropriate for the main highways and principal roads in the major cities. However, some roads to beaches and other rural locations are not paved, and many destinations are accessible only with high clearance, rugged suspension four-wheel drive vehicles. Travelers are advised to call ahead to their hotels to ask about the current status of access roads.
Costa Rica has a 911 system for reporting emergencies. In the event of a traffic accident, vehicles must/must be left where they are. Both the Transito (Traffic Police) and the Insurance Investigator must make accident reports before the vehicles are moved.
Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information. Visit the website of Costa Rica’s national tourist office and national authority responsible for road safety at http://www.mopt.go.cr <http://www.mopt.go.cr/> and www.visitecostarica.com <http://www.visitecostarica.com/> .
AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the Government of Costa Rica’s Civil Aviation Authority as being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of Costa Rica’s air carrier operations. For more information, travelers may visit the FAA’s web site at http://www.faa.gov/safety/programs_initiatives/oversight/iasa.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Land Ownership and Shoreline Property: U.S. citizens are urged to use caution when making real estate purchases, and consult reputable legal counsel and investigate thoroughly all aspects before entering into a contract. Coastal land within fifty meters of the high tide line is open to the public and therefore closed to development, and construction on the next one hundred fifty meters inland is possible only with the approval of the local municipality.
Squatters: Organized squatter groups have invaded properties in various parts of the country. These squatter groups, often supported by politically active persons and non-governmental organizations, take advantage of legal provisions that allow people without land to gain title to unused agricultural property. Local courts may show considerable sympathy for the squatters. Victims of squatters have reported threats, harassment, and violence.
Documentation Requirements: Visitors are required to carry appropriate documentation at all times. However, due to the high incidence of passport theft, tourists are permitted and encouraged to carry photocopies of the datapage and entry stamp from the passport, leaving the passport in a hotel safe or other secure place. However, as noted under CRIME, Costa Rican immigration authorities conduct routine checks for illegal immigrants, especially in bars located in downtown San Jose and in beach communities. An American citizen detained during one of these checks and carrying only the copy of the passport will be required to produce the original passport. Tourists should consider carrying their passports when traveling overnight or a considerable distance from their hotel. Tourists who carry passports are urged to place them securely in an inside pocket.
Exit Procedures for Costa Rican Citizens: Costa Rican children may only depart the country upon presentation of an exit permit issued by immigration authorities. This policy, designed to prevent international child abduction, applies to dual national U.S./Costa Rican citizens. Parents of minors who obtained Costa Rican citizenship through a parent or through birth in Costa Rica are advised to consult with appropriate Costa Rican authorities prior to travel to Costa Rica, especially if one (or both) parent(s) is not accompanying the child.
Disaster Preparedness: Costa Rica is located in an earthquake and volcanic zone. Serious flooding occurs annually on the Caribbean side near the port city of Limon, but flooding occurs in other parts of Costa Rica as well, depending on the time of year and rainfall. General information about natural disaster preparedness is available via the Internet from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at http://www.fema.gov/.
CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating Costa Rica’s laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Costa Rica are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States. Please see our information on Criminal Penalties.
CHILDREN'S ISSUES: For information see our Office of Children’s Issues web pages on intercountry adoption and international parental child abduction.
REGISTRATION / EMBASSY LOCATION: Americans living or traveling in Costa Rica are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department’s travel registration web site <https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/> so that they can obtain updated information on travel and security within Costa Rica. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. The U.S. Embassy is located in Pavas, San Jose, and may be reached at (506) 2519-2000; the extension for the Consular Section is 2453. The Embassy is open Monday through Friday, and is closed on Costa Rican and U.S. holidays. Those seeking information are strongly encouraged to utilize the embassy web site http://sanjose.usembassy.gov/, and can email consularsanjose@state.gov with any questions/concerns. For emergencies arising outside normal business hours, U.S. citizens may call (506) 2220-3127 and ask for the duty officer.
This replaces the Country Specific Information for Costa Rica dated August 15, 2007, to update sections on Registration/Embassy Location and Special Circumstances.
Golf becoming key aspect of Costa Rican tourism
Source: http://www.journalcr.com
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — In Costa Rica, golf has quickly become a key source of foreign currency, employment and hotel occupancy, to the point that every year some 34,000 come here to play the sport.
Travelers’ interest in golfing in Costa Rica is helping generate some $87.6 million annually in food, lodging, recreation and purchase of sport implements, especially considering that a large majority of golfers are people with high purchasing power and take advantage of practicing this sport to do business with colleagues and new clients.
Joseph Kuo, corporate vice president of New York Life Insurance Company, is one of the many golfers who have fallen in love with Costa Rica as a destination for seeking leisure on the links.
“I have played in many sites around the world, but nothing compares to the experience I had in Costa Rica, with very attentive personnel, exquisite scenery and incomparable price,” Kuo said.
Golf’s potential and Costa Rica’s reputation as an exotic destination have contributed to the construction here, in recent years, of new golf courses designed by recognized international golf legends such as Robert Trent Jones II, Greg Norman, Arnold Palmer and Mike Young.
And in the short term, the number of courses are about to increase, because at least six new courses are being planned.
The National Golf Association (Anagolf) has 12 affiliates, including Los Delfines, Valle Del Sol, Cariari Country Club, Conchal GC, Hacienda Pinilla, Los Sueños Marriott, Four Seasons, Monteran, Centro Campero Los Reyes, Costa Rica Country Club, Hotel Punta Islita and Papagayo Golf. Most of them are located in Guanacaste.
Nearby beach hotels in Guanacaste make the courses located in this province very attractive, as visitors can choose between playing golf at the hotel’s course or go to another nearby course. Additionally, the country has begun to position itself in the world as a golf destination, several international tournaments of importance have been organized here (one for charity purposes), and golf magazines and TV channels have broadcast tournaments taking place locally.
The number of top-notch courses, their design and the attention provided by their hosts have been key to attracting more and more golfers to Costa Rica, which is now competing in the region against traditional destinations such as Mexico and the Dominican Republic.
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — In Costa Rica, golf has quickly become a key source of foreign currency, employment and hotel occupancy, to the point that every year some 34,000 come here to play the sport.
Travelers’ interest in golfing in Costa Rica is helping generate some $87.6 million annually in food, lodging, recreation and purchase of sport implements, especially considering that a large majority of golfers are people with high purchasing power and take advantage of practicing this sport to do business with colleagues and new clients.
Joseph Kuo, corporate vice president of New York Life Insurance Company, is one of the many golfers who have fallen in love with Costa Rica as a destination for seeking leisure on the links.
“I have played in many sites around the world, but nothing compares to the experience I had in Costa Rica, with very attentive personnel, exquisite scenery and incomparable price,” Kuo said.
Golf’s potential and Costa Rica’s reputation as an exotic destination have contributed to the construction here, in recent years, of new golf courses designed by recognized international golf legends such as Robert Trent Jones II, Greg Norman, Arnold Palmer and Mike Young.
And in the short term, the number of courses are about to increase, because at least six new courses are being planned.
The National Golf Association (Anagolf) has 12 affiliates, including Los Delfines, Valle Del Sol, Cariari Country Club, Conchal GC, Hacienda Pinilla, Los Sueños Marriott, Four Seasons, Monteran, Centro Campero Los Reyes, Costa Rica Country Club, Hotel Punta Islita and Papagayo Golf. Most of them are located in Guanacaste.
Nearby beach hotels in Guanacaste make the courses located in this province very attractive, as visitors can choose between playing golf at the hotel’s course or go to another nearby course. Additionally, the country has begun to position itself in the world as a golf destination, several international tournaments of importance have been organized here (one for charity purposes), and golf magazines and TV channels have broadcast tournaments taking place locally.
The number of top-notch courses, their design and the attention provided by their hosts have been key to attracting more and more golfers to Costa Rica, which is now competing in the region against traditional destinations such as Mexico and the Dominican Republic.
Oceans had their weekend at Ocotal and Playas del Coco
Source: http://www.journalcr.com
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — Oceans had a special day picked in their honor last June 8, but in Playas del Coco and Ocotal Beach it was celebrated starting on Saturday and throughout the weekend through cleanup campaigns and presentations about sharks.
The activities were in charge of the Proyecto de Luz organization, which was the sponsor. Also collaborating were companies such as Ocotal Beach Resort, Safari Diving, Restaurante Donde Claudio y Gloria, Rich Coast Diving, Arte y Movimiento. The Sea Turtle Restoration Program (PRETOMA). The Keto Foundation also supported these activities in honor of World Ocean Day, along with Florida Bebidas. On Saturday, PRETOMA put together a movie forum around the film Sharkwater, by Rob Stewart, which aims to debunk stereotypes about sharks.
In addition to the cleanup efforts that took place at Playa Ocotal on Saturday, on Sunday the community of Playas del Coco also did its best to improve conditions at the beach by collecting garbage. Many school kids from the area helped in the cleanup.
Following a hard day of work picking up trash, the children had the change to enjoy ocean art and sand sculptures, as well as helping painter Carlos Hiller paint a mural on the Reach Coast Diving building. Hiller and some 70 children painted a colorful reef on the building’s outside wall, as 2008 is International Coral Reef Year. The artist also painted a shark to create awareness among the children about the issue of shark finning that is threatening populations of this amazing sea creature.
Ocotal Beach Resort Dive Shop is also planning to send a boat with divers this week to clean waste disposed of by fishermen.
Additionally, the Proyecto de Luz Foundation took advantage of the celebration to set up a VIP tent where wine, cheese and music were offered to collect funds for its initiatives to benefit children in the communities it serves. Also part of the activity was an auction of several items donated by collaborators, including a painting by Hiller.
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — Oceans had a special day picked in their honor last June 8, but in Playas del Coco and Ocotal Beach it was celebrated starting on Saturday and throughout the weekend through cleanup campaigns and presentations about sharks.
The activities were in charge of the Proyecto de Luz organization, which was the sponsor. Also collaborating were companies such as Ocotal Beach Resort, Safari Diving, Restaurante Donde Claudio y Gloria, Rich Coast Diving, Arte y Movimiento. The Sea Turtle Restoration Program (PRETOMA). The Keto Foundation also supported these activities in honor of World Ocean Day, along with Florida Bebidas. On Saturday, PRETOMA put together a movie forum around the film Sharkwater, by Rob Stewart, which aims to debunk stereotypes about sharks.
In addition to the cleanup efforts that took place at Playa Ocotal on Saturday, on Sunday the community of Playas del Coco also did its best to improve conditions at the beach by collecting garbage. Many school kids from the area helped in the cleanup.
Following a hard day of work picking up trash, the children had the change to enjoy ocean art and sand sculptures, as well as helping painter Carlos Hiller paint a mural on the Reach Coast Diving building. Hiller and some 70 children painted a colorful reef on the building’s outside wall, as 2008 is International Coral Reef Year. The artist also painted a shark to create awareness among the children about the issue of shark finning that is threatening populations of this amazing sea creature.
Ocotal Beach Resort Dive Shop is also planning to send a boat with divers this week to clean waste disposed of by fishermen.
Additionally, the Proyecto de Luz Foundation took advantage of the celebration to set up a VIP tent where wine, cheese and music were offered to collect funds for its initiatives to benefit children in the communities it serves. Also part of the activity was an auction of several items donated by collaborators, including a painting by Hiller.
Costa Rica commits to planting 7 million trees
Source: http://www.journalcr.com
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — Beginning last May 22, and for the second year in a row, Costa Rica kicked off the national campaign “A Que Sembras un Arbol” (Bet You Will Plant a Tree) — part of the Let’s Plant for the Planet initiative of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).
Following the success of last year’s planting campaign — 5.9 million trees were planted then — this year’s effort seeks to promote reforestation and agroforestry ecosystems with the ultimate goal of curtailing climate change, preserve the country’s biodiversity, recuperate lost forest coverage, and improve the competitiveness of different sectors of the population to lead to better living conditions.
At the program’s kick-off ceremony, which was held at the Methodist School in Sabanilla de Montes de Oca, east of San Jose, organizers announced that this year’s goal is planting 7 million trees.
Environment Minister Roberto Dobles spoke about the importance of teamwork and collaboration between different institutions, as well as the need to get children and adolescents involved in playing a more active role in Costa Rica’s future.
That’s why the 2008 reforestation campaign includes a novel component: the student competition “Bet You Will Plant a Tree,” promoted by the Ministry of Education (MEP) with support from the teacher co-op COOPEANDE. As part of the contest, schools are encouraged to organize reforestation and education campaigns at their schools and communities. The best proposals will be awarded with the necessary funds to carry them out.
The overall tree-planting program is being organized by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy (MINAE) through an inter-institutional commission, which involves public and private entities that implement as part of their work forest-related activities, environmental protection initiatives and water and energy management.
Members of the commission include MINAE, the National Forestry Office (ONF, program coordinator), the National Conservation Areas System (SINAC), the Central Volcanic Cordillera Development Foundation (FUNDECOR), the National Forestry Financing Fund (FONAFIFO), MEP, the Costa Rican Chamber of Forestry (CCF), the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE), the National Power and Light Company (CNFL), and the Costa Rican Water and Sewer Institute (AyA).
Two-thousand and seven was a year of environmental urgency, when most of the world admitted global warming is a decisive issue in our time. The Let’s Plant for the Planet campaign symbolized the commitment of thousands of people around the world to preserve adequate climatic conditions and protect natural ecosystems.
Inspired by Prof. Wangari Maathai, who won the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2004, the launching of Bet You Will Plant a Tree was well received here last year, with thousands of people propagating the initiative. And thanks to the support and enthusiasm of the forest products industry, government institutions, community organizations, businesses and many volunteers, 2007’s goal of planting 5 million trees was more than accomplished.
This year’s campaign to plant and take care of 7 million trees, again, will involve central and local governments, public institutions, the privates sector, NGOs and citizens.
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — Beginning last May 22, and for the second year in a row, Costa Rica kicked off the national campaign “A Que Sembras un Arbol” (Bet You Will Plant a Tree) — part of the Let’s Plant for the Planet initiative of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).
Following the success of last year’s planting campaign — 5.9 million trees were planted then — this year’s effort seeks to promote reforestation and agroforestry ecosystems with the ultimate goal of curtailing climate change, preserve the country’s biodiversity, recuperate lost forest coverage, and improve the competitiveness of different sectors of the population to lead to better living conditions.
At the program’s kick-off ceremony, which was held at the Methodist School in Sabanilla de Montes de Oca, east of San Jose, organizers announced that this year’s goal is planting 7 million trees.
Environment Minister Roberto Dobles spoke about the importance of teamwork and collaboration between different institutions, as well as the need to get children and adolescents involved in playing a more active role in Costa Rica’s future.
That’s why the 2008 reforestation campaign includes a novel component: the student competition “Bet You Will Plant a Tree,” promoted by the Ministry of Education (MEP) with support from the teacher co-op COOPEANDE. As part of the contest, schools are encouraged to organize reforestation and education campaigns at their schools and communities. The best proposals will be awarded with the necessary funds to carry them out.
The overall tree-planting program is being organized by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy (MINAE) through an inter-institutional commission, which involves public and private entities that implement as part of their work forest-related activities, environmental protection initiatives and water and energy management.
Members of the commission include MINAE, the National Forestry Office (ONF, program coordinator), the National Conservation Areas System (SINAC), the Central Volcanic Cordillera Development Foundation (FUNDECOR), the National Forestry Financing Fund (FONAFIFO), MEP, the Costa Rican Chamber of Forestry (CCF), the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE), the National Power and Light Company (CNFL), and the Costa Rican Water and Sewer Institute (AyA).
Two-thousand and seven was a year of environmental urgency, when most of the world admitted global warming is a decisive issue in our time. The Let’s Plant for the Planet campaign symbolized the commitment of thousands of people around the world to preserve adequate climatic conditions and protect natural ecosystems.
Inspired by Prof. Wangari Maathai, who won the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2004, the launching of Bet You Will Plant a Tree was well received here last year, with thousands of people propagating the initiative. And thanks to the support and enthusiasm of the forest products industry, government institutions, community organizations, businesses and many volunteers, 2007’s goal of planting 5 million trees was more than accomplished.
This year’s campaign to plant and take care of 7 million trees, again, will involve central and local governments, public institutions, the privates sector, NGOs and citizens.
Record birthrate of leatherback turtles in Costa Rica
Source: http://www.journalcr.com
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom and AFP) — During the leatherback turtle nesting season that began last October, almost 900 of the endangered ocean reptiles have hatched at Junquillal Beach in Santa Cruz de Guanacaste.
Even though one of the 25 nests that have been protected since the beginning of the season is yet to hatch, World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) officials indicated 886 baby turtles have been born, most of them in a nursery that this environmental organization set up in this Costa Rican North Pacific beach, which in the past few years has become one of the main spots worldwide where the largest of the sea turtles come to lay their eggs.
Community support to protect the nests and keep them from being vandalized has been vital to this year’s record-high hatching rate of 62 percent.
The leatherbacks are giant migratory turtles that swim great distances to nesting spots in the tropics. Their main nesting area in Central America is Playa Grande, which like Junquillal also belongs to the canton of Santa Cruz, Guanacaste.
Junquillal, which only recently was found to be an important nesting site for leatherbacks, is not officially part of Costa Rica’s Conservation Areas System, making it difficult to conduct preservation campaigns from a legal standpoint.
According to the WWF website, the absence of patrolling efforts by authorities in the area leads to up to 75 percent of the eggs being stolen.
But this year’s community support and hatching success in Junquillal has led to optimism tha the turtles will increase their dwindling population.
“Junquillal has probably become the second most important beach for leatherback turtles to nest in Central America, due to not only the number of nests but also the success in the number of birth of young turtles,” said Gabriel Francia, who coordinates the WWF’s Pacific leatherback turtle conservation project.
Taking much of the credit are six young area residents who patrol the nearly six-kilometer (four mile) long stretch of beach each night looking for leatherbacks that have come ashore to lay eggs.
Team members will take note of the time the turtles crawl out of the ocean as well as the weather conditions and the tide. The team members then take the eggs from the beach nest after the mother turtle has returned to the ocean and move them to a secured hatchery.
The leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) measures nearly two meters (6.5 feet) long and can weigh up to 650 kilos (1,430 pounds), making it the largest turtle species in the world. The number of leatherbacks worldwide has declined by nearly 90 percent in the past three decades.
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom and AFP) — During the leatherback turtle nesting season that began last October, almost 900 of the endangered ocean reptiles have hatched at Junquillal Beach in Santa Cruz de Guanacaste.
Even though one of the 25 nests that have been protected since the beginning of the season is yet to hatch, World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) officials indicated 886 baby turtles have been born, most of them in a nursery that this environmental organization set up in this Costa Rican North Pacific beach, which in the past few years has become one of the main spots worldwide where the largest of the sea turtles come to lay their eggs.
Community support to protect the nests and keep them from being vandalized has been vital to this year’s record-high hatching rate of 62 percent.
The leatherbacks are giant migratory turtles that swim great distances to nesting spots in the tropics. Their main nesting area in Central America is Playa Grande, which like Junquillal also belongs to the canton of Santa Cruz, Guanacaste.
Junquillal, which only recently was found to be an important nesting site for leatherbacks, is not officially part of Costa Rica’s Conservation Areas System, making it difficult to conduct preservation campaigns from a legal standpoint.
According to the WWF website, the absence of patrolling efforts by authorities in the area leads to up to 75 percent of the eggs being stolen.
But this year’s community support and hatching success in Junquillal has led to optimism tha the turtles will increase their dwindling population.
“Junquillal has probably become the second most important beach for leatherback turtles to nest in Central America, due to not only the number of nests but also the success in the number of birth of young turtles,” said Gabriel Francia, who coordinates the WWF’s Pacific leatherback turtle conservation project.
Taking much of the credit are six young area residents who patrol the nearly six-kilometer (four mile) long stretch of beach each night looking for leatherbacks that have come ashore to lay eggs.
Team members will take note of the time the turtles crawl out of the ocean as well as the weather conditions and the tide. The team members then take the eggs from the beach nest after the mother turtle has returned to the ocean and move them to a secured hatchery.
The leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) measures nearly two meters (6.5 feet) long and can weigh up to 650 kilos (1,430 pounds), making it the largest turtle species in the world. The number of leatherbacks worldwide has declined by nearly 90 percent in the past three decades.
Playas del Coco marina project okayed by ICT
Source: http://www.journalcr.com
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — The marina project planned for Playas del Coco in Guanacaste has received the go-ahead by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute’s (ICT) Inter-institutional Commission on Tourist Docks and Marinas.
The project, on the drawing board since 200, seeks to become a magnet for tourists in the area, thus injecting dynamism to the economy in this popular Pacific coast beach by generating direct and indirect employment.
The marina would be constructed at Punta Centinela and would have capacity for 300 boats.
Now that the project has been okayed by the government commission, the Municipality of Carrillo will study it the proposal to initiate a concession process.
The El Coco Marina Development Association (Asodemac) is the entity in charge of the project. Representatives said the plan is moving at a good pace and the recent approval is testimony that the marina will be built according to environmental policy as regulated by the Environmental Technical Secretariat (SETENA).
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — The marina project planned for Playas del Coco in Guanacaste has received the go-ahead by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute’s (ICT) Inter-institutional Commission on Tourist Docks and Marinas.
The project, on the drawing board since 200, seeks to become a magnet for tourists in the area, thus injecting dynamism to the economy in this popular Pacific coast beach by generating direct and indirect employment.
The marina would be constructed at Punta Centinela and would have capacity for 300 boats.
Now that the project has been okayed by the government commission, the Municipality of Carrillo will study it the proposal to initiate a concession process.
The El Coco Marina Development Association (Asodemac) is the entity in charge of the project. Representatives said the plan is moving at a good pace and the recent approval is testimony that the marina will be built according to environmental policy as regulated by the Environmental Technical Secretariat (SETENA).
Tourists notice investment in Guanacaste roads
Source: http://www.journalcr.com
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
Touris(Infocom) — The investment made by the Ministry of Transportation and Public Infrastructure (MOPT) in the past two years on Guanacaste roadways has not gone unnoticed by tourists.
A survey conducted between January and March by the Guanacaste Chamber of Tourism (CATURGUA) at Liberia’s Daniel Oduber International Airport found that the level of satisfaction with the province’s national routes went from 1.75 (bad) in 2006 to 2.97 (good) this year.
MOPT data indicates that between 2006 and 2008, the government has invested 13.8 billion colones (almost $28 million) on national highways that run through Guanacaste, including works such as curb and bridge maintenance, concrete slab repair, pothole filling and paving, among others.
Additionally, MOPT spent 1.2 billion ($2.4 million) colones paving the Belen-Huacas-Matapalo route in the cantons of Carrillo and Santa Cruz, for a total of 36.4 kilometers.
Progress is also being made on the 13.2-kilometer highway that connects the communities of 27 de Abril, Rio Seco, Paraiso and Villa Real. This project has an estimated cost of 3.9 billion colones (almost $8 million). Other works include the highway that connects Hojancha to Puerto Carrillo, which is 90 percent paved now and represented an investment of 4.2 billion colones.
CATURGUA Executive Director Mauricio Cespedes said that in addition to offering national and international visitors roads in better shape, a plan has been developed to increase the number of road signs through an agreement betweee MOPT and the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT).
“We have seen that in the past two years, many national routes have been improved in Guanacase, which clearly reflects in the increase of favorable opinions among those who visit our province. We must highlight the intense work put forth by MOPT in this area,” Cespedes said.
Currently, another project is being developed to improve rural roads in Guanacaste through an investment of 4.6 billion colones (over $9 million). This project involves MOPT, communities that stand to benefit from the works, consulting from the German Technical Cooperation Agency (GTZ), and financing from the German Bank for Reconstruction and Promotion (KFW).
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
Touris(Infocom) — The investment made by the Ministry of Transportation and Public Infrastructure (MOPT) in the past two years on Guanacaste roadways has not gone unnoticed by tourists.
A survey conducted between January and March by the Guanacaste Chamber of Tourism (CATURGUA) at Liberia’s Daniel Oduber International Airport found that the level of satisfaction with the province’s national routes went from 1.75 (bad) in 2006 to 2.97 (good) this year.
MOPT data indicates that between 2006 and 2008, the government has invested 13.8 billion colones (almost $28 million) on national highways that run through Guanacaste, including works such as curb and bridge maintenance, concrete slab repair, pothole filling and paving, among others.
Additionally, MOPT spent 1.2 billion ($2.4 million) colones paving the Belen-Huacas-Matapalo route in the cantons of Carrillo and Santa Cruz, for a total of 36.4 kilometers.
Progress is also being made on the 13.2-kilometer highway that connects the communities of 27 de Abril, Rio Seco, Paraiso and Villa Real. This project has an estimated cost of 3.9 billion colones (almost $8 million). Other works include the highway that connects Hojancha to Puerto Carrillo, which is 90 percent paved now and represented an investment of 4.2 billion colones.
CATURGUA Executive Director Mauricio Cespedes said that in addition to offering national and international visitors roads in better shape, a plan has been developed to increase the number of road signs through an agreement betweee MOPT and the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT).
“We have seen that in the past two years, many national routes have been improved in Guanacase, which clearly reflects in the increase of favorable opinions among those who visit our province. We must highlight the intense work put forth by MOPT in this area,” Cespedes said.
Currently, another project is being developed to improve rural roads in Guanacaste through an investment of 4.6 billion colones (over $9 million). This project involves MOPT, communities that stand to benefit from the works, consulting from the German Technical Cooperation Agency (GTZ), and financing from the German Bank for Reconstruction and Promotion (KFW).
Forbes Magazine names Tamarindo ‘Costa Rica’s most popular beach’
Source: http://www.journalcr.com
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — An article appearing in the prestigious Forbes Magazine has designated Tamarindo “Costa Rica’s most popular beach,” according to an article written by travel chronicler Pierre Lehu.
The story, published last Feb. 22, lists several Costa Rican attractions for mountain and beach tourism, particularly in the Guanacaste region.
Lehu wrote that Guanacaste’s beach stand out, among other reasons, because they offer great conditions for practicing sports such as surfing and have better facilities, including transportation.
Among Costa Rica’s advantages, the Forbes article highlights its high degree of literacy, the diversity of places to visit and the warmth of the local population. In general, the story raves about the beauty of Guanacaste’s beaches and the friendliness of the residents.
Forbes Magazine is one of the most prestigious publications in the international financial world, with 900,000 copies in print every two weeks. It was founded in 1917 under the direction of editor-in-chief B. C. Forbes.
Lehu, the writer of “Off to Costa Rica,” constantly travels around the world to bring readers information about various destinations. He, the magazine says, is the author of more than a dozen books, including Sake: Water from Heaven.
In the past few months, several projects and infrastructure improvements have provided Tamarindo with more facilities, including the reestablishment of the beach’s lifeguard program and the paving of the town’s main access road — a project that is currently in its final phase.
Tamarindo has attracted a large number of investors and businesses in the past few years. The availability of goods and services has increased dramatically, including banks, restaurants, new hotels, law offices and many other businesses that have transformed this coastal town in an attractive destination for visitors, having there many amenities in a rural area with great scenic attributes.
Just as the The Guanacaste Journal has been reporting, in Tamarindo there have also been recent efforts to fight dengue fever, beach clean-ups and recycling projects, all part of public and private initiatives to offer and cleaner and safer place to visitors.
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — An article appearing in the prestigious Forbes Magazine has designated Tamarindo “Costa Rica’s most popular beach,” according to an article written by travel chronicler Pierre Lehu.
The story, published last Feb. 22, lists several Costa Rican attractions for mountain and beach tourism, particularly in the Guanacaste region.
Lehu wrote that Guanacaste’s beach stand out, among other reasons, because they offer great conditions for practicing sports such as surfing and have better facilities, including transportation.
Among Costa Rica’s advantages, the Forbes article highlights its high degree of literacy, the diversity of places to visit and the warmth of the local population. In general, the story raves about the beauty of Guanacaste’s beaches and the friendliness of the residents.
Forbes Magazine is one of the most prestigious publications in the international financial world, with 900,000 copies in print every two weeks. It was founded in 1917 under the direction of editor-in-chief B. C. Forbes.
Lehu, the writer of “Off to Costa Rica,” constantly travels around the world to bring readers information about various destinations. He, the magazine says, is the author of more than a dozen books, including Sake: Water from Heaven.
In the past few months, several projects and infrastructure improvements have provided Tamarindo with more facilities, including the reestablishment of the beach’s lifeguard program and the paving of the town’s main access road — a project that is currently in its final phase.
Tamarindo has attracted a large number of investors and businesses in the past few years. The availability of goods and services has increased dramatically, including banks, restaurants, new hotels, law offices and many other businesses that have transformed this coastal town in an attractive destination for visitors, having there many amenities in a rural area with great scenic attributes.
Just as the The Guanacaste Journal has been reporting, in Tamarindo there have also been recent efforts to fight dengue fever, beach clean-ups and recycling projects, all part of public and private initiatives to offer and cleaner and safer place to visitors.
Guanacaste is 4th in construction in first quarter
Source: http://www.journalcr.com
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — According to the professional responsibility construction registry of the Federated Engineers and Architects Association (CFIA), last March was the month was the largest request for construction permits measured in square meters of the past five years, with 758,509 m2. In fact, the first quarter of 2008 was the most active CFIA has seen in the past five years, with the professional organization okaying over 2.3 million m2 of construction throughout the country.
During the first three months of the year, San Jose province stayed in first place in construction area reported to CFIA, with a total of 686,313 m2, or 30 percent of the country’s total. That represented a 61 percent increase for Costa Rica’s most populous province compared to the first quarter of 2007.
Guanacaste was fourth out of the country’s seven provinces, with reports of 347,590 square meters, or 15 percent of the total. After San Jose, Puntarenas, Heredia, Guanacaste and Alajuela all had very similar shares of the total pie, with around 15 percent. But Alajuela, which came of fifth, had the biggest decrease (25 percent) in construction area compared to the same period last year.
No. 2 Puntarenas had 376,081 m2 of new construction registered last quarter, for 16 percent of the total. Posting a big gain was Heredia, which for the first time climbed to third place, boosting construction area by 80 percent in comparison with the first quarter of last year with a total of 361,495 m2. This was the largest positive variation of all provinces, with Heredia (the smallest province) becoming one of the main drivers of growth in the construction industry this year.
At the bottom of the list were Cartago (142,371 m2, or 6 percent) and Limon (69,861 m2, barely 3 percent of the country’s total).
When breaking down the country by cantons, it’s possible to see that some of them had more construction are registered than even Cartago and Limon provinces. For example, the upscale canton of Escazu, west of San Jose, concentrated 10 percent of registered construction area in the country (231,792 m2), while the central canton of Heredia scored 9.4 percent of the national total (217,793 m2). In the case of Guanacaste, the cantons with the most construction activity were Santa Cruz, Liberia, Carrillo and Nicoya, all along the Pacific coast (see graphic).
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — According to the professional responsibility construction registry of the Federated Engineers and Architects Association (CFIA), last March was the month was the largest request for construction permits measured in square meters of the past five years, with 758,509 m2. In fact, the first quarter of 2008 was the most active CFIA has seen in the past five years, with the professional organization okaying over 2.3 million m2 of construction throughout the country.
During the first three months of the year, San Jose province stayed in first place in construction area reported to CFIA, with a total of 686,313 m2, or 30 percent of the country’s total. That represented a 61 percent increase for Costa Rica’s most populous province compared to the first quarter of 2007.
Guanacaste was fourth out of the country’s seven provinces, with reports of 347,590 square meters, or 15 percent of the total. After San Jose, Puntarenas, Heredia, Guanacaste and Alajuela all had very similar shares of the total pie, with around 15 percent. But Alajuela, which came of fifth, had the biggest decrease (25 percent) in construction area compared to the same period last year.
No. 2 Puntarenas had 376,081 m2 of new construction registered last quarter, for 16 percent of the total. Posting a big gain was Heredia, which for the first time climbed to third place, boosting construction area by 80 percent in comparison with the first quarter of last year with a total of 361,495 m2. This was the largest positive variation of all provinces, with Heredia (the smallest province) becoming one of the main drivers of growth in the construction industry this year.
At the bottom of the list were Cartago (142,371 m2, or 6 percent) and Limon (69,861 m2, barely 3 percent of the country’s total).
When breaking down the country by cantons, it’s possible to see that some of them had more construction are registered than even Cartago and Limon provinces. For example, the upscale canton of Escazu, west of San Jose, concentrated 10 percent of registered construction area in the country (231,792 m2), while the central canton of Heredia scored 9.4 percent of the national total (217,793 m2). In the case of Guanacaste, the cantons with the most construction activity were Santa Cruz, Liberia, Carrillo and Nicoya, all along the Pacific coast (see graphic).
Study on Guanacaste hotel development unveiled
Source: http://www.journalcr.com
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — The Costa Rican Chamber of Hotels (CCH) recently unveiled the study “Impact of Hotel and Real Estate Growth on Some Coastal Areas of Guanacaste,” which outlines a series of recommendations for regulating the hotel industry in the region. The study was conducted by architect Alberto Salas Roiz, a tourism consultant.
Guanacaste was chosen for the study for being the province with the biggest tourism potential, in addition to the fact that Liberia’s Daniel Oduber International Airport is experience explosive tourist demand and Guanacaste is today the province with the largest number of high-standard hotel rooms. Other factors include the challenges the province’s development may cause in the future in relation with natural resources and the availability of drinking water, a major concern here. Moreover, Guanacaste is where the tourism business sector has the most activity among all provinces, has the most tourism mega-projects, and previous tourism-related studies have been conducted here by entities such as the INCAE Business School (Guanacaste Cluster), the University of Costa Rica (UCR), the National University (UNA), and the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT).
Among other goals, the study seeks to learn how hotel and real estate growth is taking place in some coastal areas characterized by constant change; determine the impact of the competition between the hotel and real estate sectors; and analyze the consequences of mixed tourism-residential projects and the proliferation of second homes in tourist destinations. Additionally, the study attempts to diagnose the province’s overall growth and assess its environmental, social and economic impact, placing emphasis on the interaction between these variables; outline actions to be taken and offer recommendations that would help with coastal planning in Costa Rica; and propose actions that could be implemented to minimize negative impacts on the tourism and hotel industries, making a mark on the government entities charged with drafting tourism-related policies.
The study found that there has been a sharp increase in the permits issued in the past year and a half, compared to the 2002-06 period, when the first study in the region was conducted. The increases were 171 percent in homes; 10.5 percent to 38 percent a year for condominium complexes; 10.7 percent to 60 percent for apartments; and 6.6 percent to 27.3 percent a year for hotels. The districts with the highest growth are Liberia and Nacascolo (Liberia); Sardinal (Carrillo); and Tempate, Cabo Velas and Tamarindo (Santa Cruz). There’s important activity in other districts such as Nosara and Samara (Nicoya); Bagaces and Fortuna (Bagaces); Tronadora, Tierras Morenas and Arenal (Tilaran).
“The strongest cantons are Liberia, Carrillo and Santa Cruz, as the three of them encompass 90 percent of the total rooms to be built. However, other cantons such as Hojancha, Bagaces and Tilaran are showing important activity, and others waiting to wake up are La Cruz, Abangares and Nandayure, depending on whether certain future projects materialize,” Salas pointed out.
According to the CCH study, an adequate follow-up on the ground is not given to hotel activity due to the province’s deficient municipal operation, as neither municipalities nor government institutions represented in the region provide enough resources to technical teams. Other limitations found by the study include lack of information by local governments and state entities; strong lack of statistics in research topics and detailed information about the real estate industry.
GROWTH FORECAST
Regarding the prospect for hotel and real estate growth in Guanacaste, the study indicates that there are still many holes in available information that would boost forecasts. Likewise, the report points out that in the big projects being built or proposed, both hotels and residences will complement each other — such as in the case of Peninsula Papagayo and Reserva Conchal, just to cite two well-planned developments.
“Most of the rooms will have good tourist quality, regardless of whether or not they have an ICT tourism certification, which is key to turning Guanacaste into a luxury destination at the international level,” the report stated. “Upcoming construction projects go from the short and medium terms (the Costa Rican Chamber of Construction estimates that this boom will cover the next two years, despite the real estate crisis in the United States) to the long term in the case of the large tourism projects, which will be developed gradually.”
Added Salas: “It has been observed, and this trend continues, that small and mid-sized developers don’t appear to be very interested in the hotel business, but in real estate, because it produces profit in the short term. This is illustrated by comparing the previous study (which encompassed six Guanacaste districts, all of them in Carrillo and Santa Cruz), which registered 36,665 rooms, while in the past year a half there have been 77,726 rooms reported. This is an increase of 211 percent in projected rooms.”
The study concludes that the various sets of data available regarding the hotel and real estate industries point to the fact that there are no adequate inter-institutional mechanisms to measure this sector of the economy, and that projects in rural subdivisions tend to evade infrastructure-related requirements and responsibilities of a formal residential development.
Regarding the fiscal arena, the report indicates that collection of construction taxes are affected by under-reporting, whether in the number of square meters of projects or the total costs that are disclosed, as many projects are conducted without official permits or are built and then pay fines. “In the municipal records you find construction permits that were given for social-interest (low income) housing when the houses are really for tourist lodging,” Salas said.
Additionally, the report came to the conclusion that ICT still hasn’t taken strong actions to lower negative impacts on the hotel sector. The tourism board needs to revise both the concept and the scenario for growth outlined in the National Tourism Development Plan (PNDT), and the report add that its strategy for creating so-called Sustainable Development Centers appears to be in contradiction with the accelerated growth of real estate currently taking place.
The study also offers a forecast of what the region might look like in the future. It predicts that in the coastal area between Cabuyal, north of Papagayo, and Junquillal, a dense tourism corridor will consolidate that will compete with other international destinations such as Cancun-Mayan Riviera in Mexico and the Florida coast between Ft. Lauderdale and the Keys. As this occurs, the predominance of natural tourism will give way slowly to a more “artificial” tourism, and the acceleration of urbanization will be inevitable. This, in turn, will gradually result in the loss of tourism market, although the interest of people to come and live in the country will increase.
“In other coastal areas, for example from Soley to Playa Rajada in the canton of La Cruz, from Junquillal to Bejuco in Nandayure, and in the periphery of Lake Arenal there will be other less dense corridors, where the presence of nature and natural landscapes will be more significant. There will also be a consolidation of a tourist corridor along the highways between Liberia and the intersection to El Coco and, with less density, between Liberia and Bagaces,” Salas said.
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The consultant recommended to carry out a larger analysis of the complex topic of hotel and real estate development in Guanacaste, with the consensual participation of various sectors (private, public and social). He also recommended asking ICT to revise and update official development plans that take into consideration the growth of both hotel and non-hotel projects.
“(It’s important) to ask INVU (the National Housing and Urban Development Institute) to move from a merely urban concept in its regulatory plans to one that considers an integral organization of municipal territories, the tourism space considered among them,” the report indicates. “All of this needs to be done through the above-mentioned multi-sector participation, which implies a paradigm shift involving an emphasis on land-use sustainability.”
Another recommendation is to request INVU, ICT and the Municipal Promotion and Consultation Institute (IFAM) to conduct a study of how projects proposed and approved by local governments and state institutions as part of coastal regulatory plans will impact the country’s coasts. It’s important, the report adds, that all players involved coordinate planning actions in consultation with the Land Registry Regularization Program, as well as with other government entities, including the ministries of transportation, environment and planning.
The study also suggests supporting the companies involved in the Land Registry Regularization Program and asking them to take in consideration these recommendations when drafting regulatory plans for Guanacaste; and supporting approval of the Water Resources Law in Congress and a possible moratorium in future land-use permits in the most affected areas, at least while the regulatory plans previously mentioned are complete; and supporting the recently passed executive decree that establishes regulations for constructions in coastal regions beyond what’s stipulated by the Land-Maritime Zone laws.
The study also calls on a variety of public and private entities to promote participatory planning. These entities include ICT, INVU, IFAM, the ministries of transportation and the environment, and municipalities; the National Chamber of Tourism, the Federation of Regional Chambers of Tourism, the Costa Rican Chamber of Construction, and the Costa Rican Development and Investment Board (CINDE); plus universities, NGOs, and community development associations.
Other recommendations deal with supporting the reorganization of efforts to attract investment for the hotel and real estate sectors within a framework of sustainability that would help keep Costa Rica competitive as a privileged tourism destination worldwide; and supporting improvements in the existing mechanisms for monitoring sustainability, whether by the state or by the Administrative Environmental Court, the Environmental Technical Secretariat, ICT, the private sector, and other sectors such as universities and civil society organizations.
Finally, the study proposes reviewing current legislation in the leasing of real estate properties in order to incorporate variables of rentals to foreign visitors, this with the goal of achieving more tax fairness; seeking to create a broader alliance between organizations representing the hotel and real estate sectors to seek integral solutions to issues affecting both of them, with a focus on sustainability.
According to Tourism Minister Carlos Ricardo Benavides, “it’s very important that these recommendations are presented early. I continue to believe that Costa Rica must bet on sustainability in its development, and I’m not only referring to tourism development. For that, we need clear rules.”
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — The Costa Rican Chamber of Hotels (CCH) recently unveiled the study “Impact of Hotel and Real Estate Growth on Some Coastal Areas of Guanacaste,” which outlines a series of recommendations for regulating the hotel industry in the region. The study was conducted by architect Alberto Salas Roiz, a tourism consultant.
Guanacaste was chosen for the study for being the province with the biggest tourism potential, in addition to the fact that Liberia’s Daniel Oduber International Airport is experience explosive tourist demand and Guanacaste is today the province with the largest number of high-standard hotel rooms. Other factors include the challenges the province’s development may cause in the future in relation with natural resources and the availability of drinking water, a major concern here. Moreover, Guanacaste is where the tourism business sector has the most activity among all provinces, has the most tourism mega-projects, and previous tourism-related studies have been conducted here by entities such as the INCAE Business School (Guanacaste Cluster), the University of Costa Rica (UCR), the National University (UNA), and the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT).
Among other goals, the study seeks to learn how hotel and real estate growth is taking place in some coastal areas characterized by constant change; determine the impact of the competition between the hotel and real estate sectors; and analyze the consequences of mixed tourism-residential projects and the proliferation of second homes in tourist destinations. Additionally, the study attempts to diagnose the province’s overall growth and assess its environmental, social and economic impact, placing emphasis on the interaction between these variables; outline actions to be taken and offer recommendations that would help with coastal planning in Costa Rica; and propose actions that could be implemented to minimize negative impacts on the tourism and hotel industries, making a mark on the government entities charged with drafting tourism-related policies.
The study found that there has been a sharp increase in the permits issued in the past year and a half, compared to the 2002-06 period, when the first study in the region was conducted. The increases were 171 percent in homes; 10.5 percent to 38 percent a year for condominium complexes; 10.7 percent to 60 percent for apartments; and 6.6 percent to 27.3 percent a year for hotels. The districts with the highest growth are Liberia and Nacascolo (Liberia); Sardinal (Carrillo); and Tempate, Cabo Velas and Tamarindo (Santa Cruz). There’s important activity in other districts such as Nosara and Samara (Nicoya); Bagaces and Fortuna (Bagaces); Tronadora, Tierras Morenas and Arenal (Tilaran).
“The strongest cantons are Liberia, Carrillo and Santa Cruz, as the three of them encompass 90 percent of the total rooms to be built. However, other cantons such as Hojancha, Bagaces and Tilaran are showing important activity, and others waiting to wake up are La Cruz, Abangares and Nandayure, depending on whether certain future projects materialize,” Salas pointed out.
According to the CCH study, an adequate follow-up on the ground is not given to hotel activity due to the province’s deficient municipal operation, as neither municipalities nor government institutions represented in the region provide enough resources to technical teams. Other limitations found by the study include lack of information by local governments and state entities; strong lack of statistics in research topics and detailed information about the real estate industry.
GROWTH FORECAST
Regarding the prospect for hotel and real estate growth in Guanacaste, the study indicates that there are still many holes in available information that would boost forecasts. Likewise, the report points out that in the big projects being built or proposed, both hotels and residences will complement each other — such as in the case of Peninsula Papagayo and Reserva Conchal, just to cite two well-planned developments.
“Most of the rooms will have good tourist quality, regardless of whether or not they have an ICT tourism certification, which is key to turning Guanacaste into a luxury destination at the international level,” the report stated. “Upcoming construction projects go from the short and medium terms (the Costa Rican Chamber of Construction estimates that this boom will cover the next two years, despite the real estate crisis in the United States) to the long term in the case of the large tourism projects, which will be developed gradually.”
Added Salas: “It has been observed, and this trend continues, that small and mid-sized developers don’t appear to be very interested in the hotel business, but in real estate, because it produces profit in the short term. This is illustrated by comparing the previous study (which encompassed six Guanacaste districts, all of them in Carrillo and Santa Cruz), which registered 36,665 rooms, while in the past year a half there have been 77,726 rooms reported. This is an increase of 211 percent in projected rooms.”
The study concludes that the various sets of data available regarding the hotel and real estate industries point to the fact that there are no adequate inter-institutional mechanisms to measure this sector of the economy, and that projects in rural subdivisions tend to evade infrastructure-related requirements and responsibilities of a formal residential development.
Regarding the fiscal arena, the report indicates that collection of construction taxes are affected by under-reporting, whether in the number of square meters of projects or the total costs that are disclosed, as many projects are conducted without official permits or are built and then pay fines. “In the municipal records you find construction permits that were given for social-interest (low income) housing when the houses are really for tourist lodging,” Salas said.
Additionally, the report came to the conclusion that ICT still hasn’t taken strong actions to lower negative impacts on the hotel sector. The tourism board needs to revise both the concept and the scenario for growth outlined in the National Tourism Development Plan (PNDT), and the report add that its strategy for creating so-called Sustainable Development Centers appears to be in contradiction with the accelerated growth of real estate currently taking place.
The study also offers a forecast of what the region might look like in the future. It predicts that in the coastal area between Cabuyal, north of Papagayo, and Junquillal, a dense tourism corridor will consolidate that will compete with other international destinations such as Cancun-Mayan Riviera in Mexico and the Florida coast between Ft. Lauderdale and the Keys. As this occurs, the predominance of natural tourism will give way slowly to a more “artificial” tourism, and the acceleration of urbanization will be inevitable. This, in turn, will gradually result in the loss of tourism market, although the interest of people to come and live in the country will increase.
“In other coastal areas, for example from Soley to Playa Rajada in the canton of La Cruz, from Junquillal to Bejuco in Nandayure, and in the periphery of Lake Arenal there will be other less dense corridors, where the presence of nature and natural landscapes will be more significant. There will also be a consolidation of a tourist corridor along the highways between Liberia and the intersection to El Coco and, with less density, between Liberia and Bagaces,” Salas said.
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The consultant recommended to carry out a larger analysis of the complex topic of hotel and real estate development in Guanacaste, with the consensual participation of various sectors (private, public and social). He also recommended asking ICT to revise and update official development plans that take into consideration the growth of both hotel and non-hotel projects.
“(It’s important) to ask INVU (the National Housing and Urban Development Institute) to move from a merely urban concept in its regulatory plans to one that considers an integral organization of municipal territories, the tourism space considered among them,” the report indicates. “All of this needs to be done through the above-mentioned multi-sector participation, which implies a paradigm shift involving an emphasis on land-use sustainability.”
Another recommendation is to request INVU, ICT and the Municipal Promotion and Consultation Institute (IFAM) to conduct a study of how projects proposed and approved by local governments and state institutions as part of coastal regulatory plans will impact the country’s coasts. It’s important, the report adds, that all players involved coordinate planning actions in consultation with the Land Registry Regularization Program, as well as with other government entities, including the ministries of transportation, environment and planning.
The study also suggests supporting the companies involved in the Land Registry Regularization Program and asking them to take in consideration these recommendations when drafting regulatory plans for Guanacaste; and supporting approval of the Water Resources Law in Congress and a possible moratorium in future land-use permits in the most affected areas, at least while the regulatory plans previously mentioned are complete; and supporting the recently passed executive decree that establishes regulations for constructions in coastal regions beyond what’s stipulated by the Land-Maritime Zone laws.
The study also calls on a variety of public and private entities to promote participatory planning. These entities include ICT, INVU, IFAM, the ministries of transportation and the environment, and municipalities; the National Chamber of Tourism, the Federation of Regional Chambers of Tourism, the Costa Rican Chamber of Construction, and the Costa Rican Development and Investment Board (CINDE); plus universities, NGOs, and community development associations.
Other recommendations deal with supporting the reorganization of efforts to attract investment for the hotel and real estate sectors within a framework of sustainability that would help keep Costa Rica competitive as a privileged tourism destination worldwide; and supporting improvements in the existing mechanisms for monitoring sustainability, whether by the state or by the Administrative Environmental Court, the Environmental Technical Secretariat, ICT, the private sector, and other sectors such as universities and civil society organizations.
Finally, the study proposes reviewing current legislation in the leasing of real estate properties in order to incorporate variables of rentals to foreign visitors, this with the goal of achieving more tax fairness; seeking to create a broader alliance between organizations representing the hotel and real estate sectors to seek integral solutions to issues affecting both of them, with a focus on sustainability.
According to Tourism Minister Carlos Ricardo Benavides, “it’s very important that these recommendations are presented early. I continue to believe that Costa Rica must bet on sustainability in its development, and I’m not only referring to tourism development. For that, we need clear rules.”
Number of tourists using Liberia airport continues to grow
Source: http://www.journalcr.com
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — The influx of passengers at Liberia’s Daniel Oduber International Airport reached 156,028 during the first three months of 2008, according to data provided by the Civil Aviation General Administration.This number represents a 13 percent increase compared to the first quarter in 2007, based on estimates by the Guanacaste Chamber of Tourism (CATURGUA).According to CATURGUA’s statistical analysis of passenger traffic at Daniel Oduber during the recently finished high tourist season, 58 percent of travelers were men to 42 percent women. A little over half of them (51 percent) were individuals aged 30-49 years, with a college education (47 percent), and with annual incomes between $71,000 and $300,000.The analysis also indicated that most of these travelers were retirees, followed by educators and business managers or administrators. Most of the tourists entering Costa Rica through the Liberia terminal came from the United States (74 percent), followed by Canadian residents (26 percent).
The report adds that average spending by these travelers reached $2,251, and the most commonly visited places were Papagayo, Tamarindo, Conchal and Flamingo.
New delay in airport expansion
The announcement about the increase in passengers at Daniel Oduber was made the same day when the Civil Aviation Technical Council (CTAC) informed that expansion works at this airport will be delayed once more — this time because CTAC modified the bidding packet for the project, which led to giving more time to receive proposals from interested firms. This time, the change indicated the terminal concessionaire won’t be required to build the boarding bridges at the new terminal.
The decision to eliminate the construction of the boarding bridges from the terminal’s project means the Costa Rican government will have to conduct such works on its own. Additionally, the CTAC’s decision seeks to offer more competitive rates by reducing the cost of installing such bridges.
This new change to the bidding packet also means that the Public Services Regulatory Authority (ARESEP) will need to establish a new rate model for the airport’s operation.
The completion of the new terminal and other airport expansions in Liberia was scheduled for November 2009, but it’s possible this new change will delay commencement of the project’s construction, which has a budget of $19 million.
The report adds that average spending by these travelers reached $2,251, and the most commonly visited places were Papagayo, Tamarindo, Conchal and Flamingo.
New delay in airport expansion
The announcement about the increase in passengers at Daniel Oduber was made the same day when the Civil Aviation Technical Council (CTAC) informed that expansion works at this airport will be delayed once more — this time because CTAC modified the bidding packet for the project, which led to giving more time to receive proposals from interested firms. This time, the change indicated the terminal concessionaire won’t be required to build the boarding bridges at the new terminal.
The decision to eliminate the construction of the boarding bridges from the terminal’s project means the Costa Rican government will have to conduct such works on its own. Additionally, the CTAC’s decision seeks to offer more competitive rates by reducing the cost of installing such bridges.
This new change to the bidding packet also means that the Public Services Regulatory Authority (ARESEP) will need to establish a new rate model for the airport’s operation.
The completion of the new terminal and other airport expansions in Liberia was scheduled for November 2009, but it’s possible this new change will delay commencement of the project’s construction, which has a budget of $19 million.
Bill Gates spends family vacation in Guanacaste
Source: http://www.journalcr.com
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) —U.S. billionaire, founder of and main architect behind software giant Microsoft, Bill Gates, was recently in Costa Rica with his family on vacation. Gates — who arrived in a private jet in Liberia’s Daniel Oduber International Airport — stayed at the Four Seasons Hotel in the Gulf of Papagayo, where he owns stock. Information about Gates’ trip was reported by local Spanish-language daily La Nacion in its April 11 issue.
Gates, 53, has a personal fortune estimated at $56 billion. And even though he no longer plays as big of a role in Microsoft as in the past, Gates continues to be a very influential figure not only in the field of technology but also in the world of philanthropy. Together with his wife Melinda, Gates created a foundation that donates funds to several charity and development projects.
Gates had announced his interest in visiting Costa Rica since last year. During a meeting with President Oscar Arias at the International Forum of Leaders of the Americas March 19, 2007, in Cartagena, Colombia, Gates said that “it’s amazing to me that a small nation such as Costa Rica is increasing its investment in education. Certainly, I’m a believer that part of that investment can be used in the application of technologies in educational processes.” Gates added, “I must go to Costa Rica” to check out first hand its advances in education and information technology that make the country an international example.
Back then, Gates applauded efforts by Costa Rica and claimed that integrating technology is a positive thing because “it would transform teaching and learning processes for children.” When asked about the Costa Rican economy, he said that “definitely, when there’s a critical mass, good universities and great employers such as HP and Intel that build capacity [as is the case in Costa Rica], demand will grow and opportunities will also increase.”
Even though this visit by Gates was strictly for vacation purposes, it’s expected that he will return in the future to learn more about educational information projects carried out by institutions such as the Omar Dengo Foundation (FOD). Arias had presented a letter to Gates asking Microsoft for support in financing and strengthening the National Educational Information Program (PRONIE), launched in 1988, during his first term as President (1986-90).
Arias reiterated his invitation to Gates to come to Costa Rica during the recent launching of his “Peace with Nature” initiative, which promotes the gathering of international leaders to support measures leading to sustainable development and the protection of the country’s natural treasures.
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) —U.S. billionaire, founder of and main architect behind software giant Microsoft, Bill Gates, was recently in Costa Rica with his family on vacation. Gates — who arrived in a private jet in Liberia’s Daniel Oduber International Airport — stayed at the Four Seasons Hotel in the Gulf of Papagayo, where he owns stock. Information about Gates’ trip was reported by local Spanish-language daily La Nacion in its April 11 issue.
Gates, 53, has a personal fortune estimated at $56 billion. And even though he no longer plays as big of a role in Microsoft as in the past, Gates continues to be a very influential figure not only in the field of technology but also in the world of philanthropy. Together with his wife Melinda, Gates created a foundation that donates funds to several charity and development projects.
Gates had announced his interest in visiting Costa Rica since last year. During a meeting with President Oscar Arias at the International Forum of Leaders of the Americas March 19, 2007, in Cartagena, Colombia, Gates said that “it’s amazing to me that a small nation such as Costa Rica is increasing its investment in education. Certainly, I’m a believer that part of that investment can be used in the application of technologies in educational processes.” Gates added, “I must go to Costa Rica” to check out first hand its advances in education and information technology that make the country an international example.
Back then, Gates applauded efforts by Costa Rica and claimed that integrating technology is a positive thing because “it would transform teaching and learning processes for children.” When asked about the Costa Rican economy, he said that “definitely, when there’s a critical mass, good universities and great employers such as HP and Intel that build capacity [as is the case in Costa Rica], demand will grow and opportunities will also increase.”
Even though this visit by Gates was strictly for vacation purposes, it’s expected that he will return in the future to learn more about educational information projects carried out by institutions such as the Omar Dengo Foundation (FOD). Arias had presented a letter to Gates asking Microsoft for support in financing and strengthening the National Educational Information Program (PRONIE), launched in 1988, during his first term as President (1986-90).
Arias reiterated his invitation to Gates to come to Costa Rica during the recent launching of his “Peace with Nature” initiative, which promotes the gathering of international leaders to support measures leading to sustainable development and the protection of the country’s natural treasures.
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