(Qtravel) Are you glancing at your phone every five to 10 minutes (if not more frequently) or maybe (like me) staring at a computer screen for hours on end? Or perhaps you are constantly on Facebook and Twitter. Pinterest and Instagram are you home away from home. You are in need of a digital detox!
Thanks to a complete inability to moderate our own behaviour surrounding digital devices, a new “digital detox” travel trend is being marketed to the masses.
At the Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica in Peninsula Papagayo, guests can trade their phones for tech-free activities, including Latin dance classes or a sunset catamaran cruise. At Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire in England, guests are asked to surrender their devices in return for detox smoothies and Sodashi therapy. At Nayara Springs, located in Arenal you can enroll the Digital Detox package, where you’ll either surrender your tech devices to the hotel staff for safekeeping or store them away in your room’s safe.
Photo: Courtesy of Nayara Springs
In 2012, the entire country of St. Vincent and the Grenadines tried to entice travellers with a techfree package that excluded phones, the Internet and televisions, but included access to a life coach and a guide (ironically, digital) to taking a break from tech.
Intrepid Travel (one of the world’s biggest tour operators) just announced a new package of digital-free tours – to North Morocco, Ecuador, India and Thailand – that require participants to sign an agreement that they won’t text or even take pictures for the duration of the trip. “In turn, participants will be rewarded with a connection they could never find through Wi-Fi,” promises a press release.
Amanda Williams, a blogger based in Ohio, tried Intrepid’s eight-day Ecuador on a Shoestring tour – from Quito to the Amazon jungle in Banos – and she swore off her smartphone, laptop and camera for the duration. “The experience forced me to look at my usage of technology and call it an addiction,” says Williams. Despite enjoying a vacation from her selfie, she acknowledges that there were parts of the trip when she wanted to communicate her experience. “I wanted to Snapchat from the end of a hike that overlooked the most incredible valley in Banos,” she says. “But I quickly realized that I could tell all those things once I got home.”
From Intrepid Travel
So much of the satisfaction we get from a trip is capturing memories, and reporting those details back to friends and family – increasingly, over social media. A recent study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology suggests that taking pictures can even help us to engage with an experience in a more meaningful way. But that seems to suggest some moderation, and not the chronic attachment to screens so many of us exhibit.
“It’s nice to see life through a camera because you get to record it for reflection,” says Jessica Renshaw of Virtuoso-affiliated agency Renshaw Travel in Vancouver. “But you have to think about the intention of the trip. If it’s to reconnect with friends or family, observing everything through a screen might not be the best way to do it.”
From Intrepid Travel
Julia Buckley, a journalist based in Cornwall, England, tried a digital detox in the Umbrian countryside in 2015, and she initially floundered while trying to recall how one conducts oneself in the absence of digital paraphernalia. “I was literally climbing up the walls that first night,” she says. “I went to bed at 7:30 p.m.” But eventually, she realized that the absence of constant activity was the point. “I completely relaxed,” she says. “Everything felt calm, like I was really immersed in the landscape. I could focus on the sound of this stream about a half a mile down the road and if I was on my computer, I would have missed it. I was actually watching clouds.”
An international team of scientists has solved a case of mistaken identity and discovered a new species of venomous snake. Credit: University of Central Florida
Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2016-07-venomous-snake-costa-rica.html#jCp
An international team of scientists has solved a case of mistaken identity and discovered a new species of venomous snake. Credit: University of Central Florida
An international team of scientists has solved a case of mistaken identity and discovered a new species of venomous snake.
The newly discovered Talamancan Palm-Pitviper is a striking green-and-black snake living in some of the most remote regions of Costa Rica. The coloring is a characteristic it shares with its close relative the Black-Speckled Palm-Pitviper. In fact, these two species look so similar that the Talamancan Palm-Pitviper went unrecognized for more than 100 years. It is a case of cryptic speciation, where two species look almost identical, but are genetically different.
“It’s a really interesting phenomenon,” said University of Central Florida biologist and professor Christopher Parkinson who led the team that made the discovery. “It shows some of the complexities we deal with when cataloging biodiversity and underscores the importance of maintaining natural-history collections. Discovering this species would not have been possible without the specimens housed in natural-history museums.”
The team’s findings are published in the July 15 online issue of the academic journal Zootaxa.
The team first discovered evidence of the new species in 2001 during a genetic analysis of the palm-pitviper clade. Parkinson, an expert in venomous snakes, and his graduate students noticed some unusual genetic differences among the snakes they were studying. They began questioning if they could have a distinct new species on their hands. However, these snakes live at high elevations, in low densities and are rare even in their natural habitat, making it difficult to find the samples needed for thorough comparisons.
The newly discovered Talamancan Palm-Pitviper is a striking green-and-black snake living in some of the most remote regions of Costa Rica, said lead researcher, UCF Biologist Chris Parkinson. The coloring is a characteristic it shares with its close relative the Black-Speckled Palm-Pitviper. In fact, these two species look so similar that the Talamancan Palm-Pitviper went unrecognized for more than 100 years. It is a case of cryptic speciation, where two species look almost identical, but are genetically different. Credit: University of Central Florida
To overcome this, Tiffany Doan, first author on the paper, turned to the University of Texas at Arlington’s Amphibian and Reptile Discovery Research Center, the Museo Zoología at the Universidad de Costa Rica, and several other museums across the country to generate the morphological data used in the project. These institutions house natural-history collections containing thousands of reptile specimens from decades of research. They gave Doan and her colleagues the ability to compare morphology of the suspect snakes to those of others, which had been placed in museum collections for 150 years. During the past 15 years, the team also amassed tissue samples from additional specimens to compare the DNA of the potentially new snake species to the DNA from other snakes in Central America. Their findings concluded that the snake was indeed a new species.
Although many parts of Costa Rica are well explored and the nation has invested in documenting its biodiversity, new species continue to be discovered.
“This discovery highlights the necessity for strong conservation initiatives,” Parkinson said. Many undisturbed areas around the world are being developed before scientists get a chance to document their flora and fauna. “There’s no telling what other species are yet to be found and how they might benefit mankind.”
In the case of venomous species like the Talmancan Palm-Pitviper and Black-Speckled Palm-Pitviper, those benefits may be closer than we realize. Snake venoms have proven to be a great source for protein discovery and drug development. While little is known above the venom of the Talamancan Palm-Pitviper, the Black-Speckled Palm-Pitviper was recently shown to possess an important toxin that poses an interesting evolutionary question. The toxin, called nigroviriditoxin, is similar to a neurotoxin found in some rattlesnakes and hasn’t been seen in a nonrattlesnake before.
So did the toxin evolve in a common ancestor, or did these snakes independently develop the same toxin?
“It’s certainly an interesting question, because it gets at some of the fundamental concepts in evolution” said Ph.D. student Andrew Mason.
Mason was part of the team describing the new species and his dissertation work will focus on learning how evolution has shaped the venoms of palm-pitviper species. “We are really interested in seeing how the venom of this new species compares to other palm-pitvipers, and especially the Black-Speckled Palm-Pitviper because they are morphologically very similar.”
Talamancan Palm-Pitvipers are small to medium sized pitvipers that are relatively slender. They are found in trees where their green and black pattern provides excellent camouflage. A large snake might reach about 30 inches, but most are less than 24 inches. Scientists believe their habitat to include only 100 km area in the north of the Talamancan Cordillera of Costa Rica.
“The discovery of this new cryptic species shows the advantages of using modern molecular techniques and phylogenetic reconstructions in the catalog of the planet’s biodiversity,” said Mahmood Sasa, professor at the Instituto Clodomiro Picado, a toxin research center and producer of snake antivenin from Universidad de Costa Rica and a co-author of the research paper. “This research is a good example of the synergies that result from collaborative studies between institutions and countries, each party contributing with their own expertise to achieve common goals.”
This alliance frames a series of projects that are running, and also served to the presentation of Christiana Figueres of Costa Rica as a candidate to the general secretariat of the United Nations.
Costa Rica Foreign Minister, Manuel Gonzalez (left) met with Chinese state advisor, Yang Jiechi, in Beijing Monday to discuss the strengthening of bilateral relations between the countries and to enlist China’s support for the selection of Costa Rica’s Christiana Figueres as the United Nationals Secretary-Generals. Photo from Cancilleria (Foreign Ministry)
China and Costa Rica have pledged to strengthening cooperation in trade, investment and exchanges in other areas. During a meeting between the Chinese state advisor, Yang Jiechi and Costa Rica foreign minister, Manuel Gonzalez, the two parties expressed their wish to increase mutual political confidence and cooperation in international and regional affairs.
In the meeting, the foreign ministers decided to put behind them the failed project between Costa Rican Oil Refinery (Recope) and the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC, its acronym in English) refinery owned by both companies and agreed that this is “an isolated issue” in bilateral relations.
In a statement to the press Monday from Beijing, Gonzalez stressed the issue (of the business relationship) “should be resolved by the partner companies, being a corporate matter, which does not affect the excellent relations between of both peoples and governments.” So, it is up to Recope and CNPC to resolve their issues in the Soresco project announced with great fanfare in 2008 and legally constituted in 2009. The US$1.5 billion dollar project started in 2009, and during the last year of the second administration of Oscar Arias (2006-2010), didn’t manage torefine one barrel of oil. In the past six-year (to 2015), more than US$30 million dollars have been spent on salaries and studies, and on April 14 last, in a hearing before a Legislative Commission, RECOPE president Sara Salazar announced the state’s decision to back out of the deal.
The meeting was not all about black gold.
Next June, the two countries celebrate a decade of bilateral relations, the meeting in China could be seen as a pre-celebration and signed the Joint Action Plan agreement for China-Costa Rica Cooperation 2016-2020 that establishes the actions of cooperation in education, trade, politics, agriculture, technology and communication, among other sectors.
Discussed was alsothe progress of theexpansion project of the Ruta 32 (San Jose – Limon) by the China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC). The expansion of this important road will be funded by way of a Chinese loan of US$395 million and US$70 million by the Costa Rica government.
The ministers also agreed to promote higher level meeting in the context of the UN General Assembly in New York of Next September.
In that framework, Costa Rica is looking for China’s support in the selection of Costa Rica’s Christiana Figueres of Costa Rica to the general secretariat of the United Nations. Figueres accompanied Foreign Minister Gonzalez on the China trip.
Source La Nacion, Ministery of Foreign Relations (Cancilleria)
Good will trip. [Visit made as President-elect.] November 28, 1928
John F. Kennedy
Attended Conference of Presidents of the Central American Republics. March 18–20, 1963
Lyndon B. Johnson
Informal visit; met with President Trejos. July 8, 1968
Ronald Reagan
Official working visit; met with President Monge and President Magana of El Salvador.December 3–4, 1982
President Luis Alberto Monge receiving Ronald Reagan at the Teatro Nacional. **
George Bush Sr.
Attended Hemispheric Summit Meeting. October 27–28, 1989
Bill Clinton
Attended a Summit Meeting of Presidents of the Central American Republics. May 7–9, 1997
Barack Obama
Met with President Laura Chinchilla and leaders of the Central American Integration System. May 3–4, 2013
Barack Obama’s visit in May 2013
** In researching this article I found a discrepancy: the U.S. State government website says Reagan visited December 1983, however, an article in La Nacion has Reagan visiting Costa Rica in December 1983.
One one’s knees is the last part of the romeria to pay homage to La Virgen de Los Angeles
(QCostarica) In about two weeks, thousands in Costa Rica will be walking to Cartago, taking part in the annual pilgrimage to the Virgen de los Ángeles, known as “romeria” that places place on August 1 & 2. For some it’s a tradition, for others it is a question of faith.
This year, however, the “romeros” are being asked to include facemasks as part of the gear for the walk.
Volcanologist Javier Pacheco, of the Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Costa Rica (Ovsicori), recommends the masks given the recent eruptions of the Turrialba volcano, whose ashes have reached areas of La Union, Tejar, San Pedro and Coronado in San Jose. And the area around Basilica de Los Angeles, the area of major congregation of pilgrims.
“You never know if the wind can blow to the southwest and the ashes and gases will spread over Cartago as it happened days ago. If the case of not carrying a facemask, people can use a cloth dampened with water,” said Pacheco.
According to the Ovsicori, the latest blowout of the colossus occurred at 6:42am Sunday, spewing out a steady stream of gases and ash.
The experts say the emanations have become more frequent and variable in volume.
According to Mauricio Mora, volcanologist at the Red Sismológica Nacional (RSN), on Saturday at 3:30pm and on Sunday at 3:00am were episodes that spread ash in Santa Cruz centre, Turrialba and Cascajal de Coronado.
Both experts say the fall of ash is dependant on the prevailing winds at the time of the eruption.
The “Dia de la Virgen de los Angeles” is one the most important Catholic holidays in our country, a day when Costa Ricans pay homage to the La Negrita, the patron saint of Costa Rica.
Though some walks hundreds of kilometres (literally) to reach the Basilica, modern day romeros take some form of transportation and then walk the last couple of kilometres to Cartago.
Over the years, up to 2 million people reached Cartago, according to numbers reported by the Catholic Church. The numbers today are much less, estimates are now less than 1 million.
The riot of color, and the sheer variety of foods on display, make Downtown San Jose’s Farmer’s Market a great place to shop and to people watch.
(by Greg Seymour, Internationaliving.com) My lifestyle has changed significantly since moving to Central America three years ago. One reason my wife Jen and I moved here was because the American Dream was killing us.
We both had successful careers and no children; this meant we had a lot of disposable income. We had the large house (occupied only by two people and a dog), two cars, and all the possessions we could want. We had all the things that define “making it” in the U.S.
But we were missing one thing…the time to enjoy our success.
The “Feria del Agricultor” (Fair of the Farmer) happening all over Costa Rica every weekend is great way to buy fresh fruits and vegetables and much cheaper than the local supermarkets.
Dinners out were eaten, not to enjoy each other’s company, but because we were too tired and stressed to cook. Long hours at the office, working through lunch and on the weekends, and rarely taking vacations took their toll. Some changes with my company and the industry in which I worked forced a decision. I could continue working myself into an early grave or we could change our lifestyle and enjoy having more available time.
We chose Costa Rica, not because it is the cheapest country, but because it met all of our needs. We have found ways to make living here fit our budget and now live on about a quarter of what we lived on in the U.S. When I compare my cost of living in the States to my life in Costa Rica, there is no comparison.
Our budget each month is $1,500. Typically, we spend less and are in the $1,300 range, but sometimes we are over by a couple hundred dollars as well—it all averages out to hitting our monthly goal. And we don’t feel like we are being shorted. In fact, we are having the time of our lives. Some friends of ours require more, and the typical two-person budget for the Central Valley is around $2,000 or a bit more.
In Costa Rica, Greg can buy his weekly groceries for a fraction of the price he would pay in the U.S.
Even with the smaller budget, we live big. Our home is a (still too large for us) three-bedroom, two-bathroom home of about 1,200 square feet. The home is a comfortable chalet with million-dollar views of the surrounding mountains. We get a beautiful sunset every night, and parrots and other birds in the trees every morning. The yard is small but we have enough space for a few edible plants and fruits: spinach, kale, mint, cilantro, rosemary, banana, and papaya.
The riot of color, and the sheer variety of foods on display, make Downtown San Jose’s Farmer’s Market a great place to shop and to people watch. Photo from Micheal Miller‘s The Real San Jose.
The weather at our elevation (4,700 feet) is temperate and there’s no need for an air-conditioner or heater. This saves us money as does living on a bus line. We can walk 50 feet and catch a bus into town. From there we can grab a bus to the airport, San Jose, or really any town we would like to visit. Not having a car can be an inconvenience, and for some it is a must. But for us, the cost savings far outweigh the added time to get around. If we are ever in a hurry, we just take a cab.
Shopping is done both at the weekly farmers’ market (feria) and at a grocery store. We shop similarly to the way we did in the U.S. but we buy much more fresh produce and fewer pre-packaged meals. Now, we have the time to cook. We do eat out once or twice a week. If we eat at a soda (a small restaurant selling typical foods) the price is inexpensive. We can eat a breakfast for $10 for the two of us or lunch for about $15. If we eat at a larger restaurant the bill will be more in line with a meal in the States—$25 to $40 for us both to eat and drink.
While we have given up some things, we have gained time. And there is no better country than Costa Rica to have time to explore.
We hike each day, visit national parks, and take trips throughout the country often. Our new lifestyle and budget allow us to actually live and not just work.
Original article was first published at Internationaliving.com
(QCostarica) As of this morning, the urban train of the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM) has no conductor, following the resignation of Guillermo Santana over the weekend. Santana cited personal reasons for stepping down as president of the Instituto Costarricense de Ferrocarriles (Incofer).
Santana has been at the conductors controls of the Incofer since Solis took office as President and has been responsible for the expansion of the commuter train service that now includes service to Rio Segundo de Alajuela and the passing of the bill (on April 26 and signed into law on June 28) allowing the Incofer to obtain US$408 million dollars in financing of its modernization plans, that includes the “Tren Eléctrico Interurbano” (electric train) project
Santana has also had to answer questions overthe constant (almost daily) collisions involving the train, and the worst of all, a head-on collision of two trains earlier this year.
President Solis expressed satisfaction and took time to recognize the efforts and dedication by Santana to find a solution to public transport problem gripping the country.
Details of the Santana decision and his potential replacement are expected today, Monday, July 18 at a press conference that President Solis says will also be assisted by the Minister of Transport and Public Works (MOPT).
The Incofer is an independent government agency and does not answer to the MOPT.
The Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, is arguably the most notorious street gang in the Western Hemisphere. They are so feared in El Salvador with a reputation for merciless revenge and cruel retribution, that they’ve been allowed to run their own prison – the Penas Ciudad Barrios.
“Penas Ciudad Barrios is a maximum security prison for members of the Mara Salvatrucha Gang in the South of El Salvador that is guarded by prison guards and the El Salvadorian army from outside its gates. This ensures that its inmates stay behind bars but means they hardly meddle at all with the ongoings inside its walls.
The MS-13 – whose motto is “rape, control, kill” – was founded in the 1980s in Los Angeles by war-torn El Salvadoran immigrants, but has since been brought back to the country after repatriation. It was built for 800 inmates and now houses over 2500. The prison is practically run internally by the gang who have organised a bakery, basic rehabilitation and are even left to run the hospital.
In 2013 London-based photographer Adam Hinton was brave enough to go into the compound to take portraits of some of the inmates said, “The men stand around aimless with nothing to do except kill what seem like an infinity of minutes, hours and days.”
Linton also added, “The vast majority of the inmates are from the Barrios or slums. In El Salvador this is a place without hope or opportunity and the gang is the only real option. If the authorities catch you this is the place they literally dump you and forget about you – every inmate is made to feel just like that.”
In an article by the Independent UK, Linton explained, “As you enter the prison you soon realize that there are no guards around. They only stay on the outside and let the gang run the joint, which they do very well given the conditions.
“The MS gang members are heavily tattooed, their bodies telling stories of their crimes and declaring their allegiances through gang-markings such as the ‘devil’s horns’, which MS appropriated from heavy metal.”
You can see more of Adam’s work on his website, and the complete set of prison photographs have been collected in a book called ‘MS-13’.
For the first time, Raúl Castro publicly referred to “contraction” in supply of Venezuelan fuel
Cuban President Raúl Castro admitted that the domestic economy undergoes “adverse circumstances” due, among others, to Venezuela’s standstill and “contraction” in supply of Venezuelan oil. However, he ruled out a “collapse” or return to the Special Period.
At the end of the plenary session of the Cuban National Assembly, Castro confirmed that the domestic economy has grown only 1% so far this year, half than expected, according to his speech disseminated by official means and cited by Efe.
Such outcome is due to declining revenues from exports of goods, such as nickel and oil, and the plunge of their world prices, in addition to the effects on Cuba of the crisis in Venezuela, the main partner of the island. According to Castro, Venezuela is subject to “an economic war to weaken people support to its revolution.”
For the first time, Raúl Castro publicly referred to “a contraction” in fuel supply from Venezuela, “applying additional pressure to the performance of the Cuban economy.”
Since 2000, and by virtue of a partnership between the governments of Havana and Caracas, Venezuela has provided the island with approximately 100,000 barrels of oil per day in exchange for professional services.
Raúl Castro gave no data or percentages as to such “contraction” in supply of Venezuelan oil.
He remarked, however, that despite “the complex circumstances of the domestic economy, will not weaken the least” his commitment and support to the “Bolivarian and Chavista revolution” and to the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
He did not skip mentioning the “harmful effects” of the US embargo and recalled that Cuba may not use the US dollar in its international transactions despite the announcement made three months ago by US President Barack Obama concerning the termination of the ban.
In the light of the complex outlook, the Cuban president promised to take steps “aimed at facing the situation and ensuring the main activities which secure the economy vitality,” yet minimizing their impact on people.
Raúl Castro rejected the “speculations” and “auguries” of “looming collapse” of the Cuban economy or the comeback of the hard times of the “special period,” decreed in the island in the nineties after the downfall of the USSR.
“We cannot deny that some impacts, even bigger than the current one, may occur, but we are prepared and in better conditions to reverse them.”
Opposition supporters clash with riot police. File photo REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins
Venezuela’s government has touted the achievements of a militarized security operation that began a year ago, but many experts say it hasn’t reduced crime and is in fact generating a greater number of human rights abuses.
Venezuela Minister of the Interior, Justice and Peace Gustavo González López presented the results of the Operation Liberation of the People (Operación de Liberación del Pueblo – OLP) July 13, exactly one year after he announced the creation of the joint police-military operation.
López said the OLP has dismantled 157 criminal groups, “a great number of which are dedicated to paramilitary activity under the structure of organized crime,” reported El Nacional. He added that a total of 2,399 suspects have been arrested, and 1,492 weapons have been seized during the past year.
The OLP “has significantly mitigated crime rates in the zones and places in which the principal groups operate,” he said.
The minister also said that a recent poll showed 82 percent of Venezuelans approve of the OLP.
InSight Crime Analysis
The government’s praise for the OLP runs in sharp contrast to criticism leveled by security experts and observers. Kemyer Ávila, a professor of criminology at the Central University of Venezuela, said the OLP operations have been “counterproductive, because they are increasing institutional violence.” According to Ávila, 445 people have died as a result of OLP activity.
Criminologist Luis Izquiel told El Nacional that the country’s militarized approach to citizen security has failed to reduce crime.
“This concept of being prepared for war has not served to diminish criminality, and there is no better evidence than what we are experiencing,” he said.
Concerns about the OLP’s negative impact on human rights abuses began immediately and have continued over the course of the past year. At least 17 people were killed during the OLP’s initial raids in July 2015. In April of this year, Human Rights Watch published a report documenting several cases of alleged extrajudicial killings by OLP forces.
It is somewhat more difficult to pin down the OLP’s effect on crime rates. Proponents say the OLP has brought down violence, critics say it hasn’t, but it is next to impossible to know for sure since the government routinely withholds data on crime indicators. Venezuela’s murky system for reporting on its security situation has even made it difficult for researchers to accurately estimate the number of violent deaths in a given year, one of the few crime statistics that can be counted with a relatively high level of certainty.
After 37 days of failed negotiations between the Colombia’s government and truckers, frustrated truck drivers began blocking roads and the government ordered the military to take action.
The truckers have been on strike for 37 days already, demanding the government complies with promises made earlier that would alleviate the transporters’ dire economic situation.
However, as talks resulted in nothing, the increasingly frustrated truckers began blocking roads this week while truckers who do not wish to join the strike allegedly have been threatened.
As a result, truckers began blocking major highways in at least eight of Colombia’s 32 departments.
The strike had already caused troubles at Colombia’s largest port city, Buenaventura, where containers for exports are either not reaching the docks and imported containers have been unable to travel land inwards.
However, the road blocks also paralyzed transport, preventing basic food supplies to reach the country’s main cities like Bogota and Medellin.
As a consequence, food prices are up 15% compared to this time last year
In Medellin, food prices have soared as much as 66% and in Barranquilla the main food supply center said they were running out of vegetables and fruit. In the central Meta provinces, food prices at the warehouses have gone up as much as 200%.
The government has so far been unable or unwilling to appease the strikers.
Amid the escalation of the strikes, The prosecutor General ordered the arrest of strike leaders and President Juan Manuel Santos ordered the military to deploy as many as 13,000 soldiers to free up the roads, increasing fears the strikes could turn violent.
One person has reportedly already died in clashes with riot police in Boyaca, one of the areas most affected by the strikes and roadblocks.
Colombian authorities captured yet another drug boss in the country’s lucrative Eastern Plains, keeping up the pressure on criminal organizations that are also busy fighting each other over key illicit economies.
Authorities said they captured José Manuel Capera, alias “Nube Negra,” the alleged head of the Libertadores de Vichada criminal organization, El Espectador reported. The boss of the group — which is also known as “Los Puntilleros”– was arrested in a rural part of Meta department, in central Colombia.
Capera is accused of being in charge of the Libertadores’ drug trafficking activities and extortion of local businessmen and cattle farmers. He is believed to be behind a number of targeted homicides in the area, and of leading armed clashes between his group and the Urabeños — Colombia’s largest neo-paramilitary criminal group. Capera is also thought to be responsible for the forced recruitment of minors and forced displacement.
Capera allegedly took charge of the Libertadores — a splinter faction of the paramilitary organization Popular Revolutionary Anti-Terrorist Army of Colombia (Ejército Revolucionario Popular Antiterrorista Colombiano – ERPAC) — after the death of his predecessor Álvaro Enciso Arias, alias “Venado” in May 2016.
Authorities put the Libertadores’ numbers at 180 men, El Espectador reported. Its main activities are protecting coca farms and extortion in Meta, Vichada and Guainía departments.
InSight Crime Analysis
The Libertadores de Vichada are perhaps the dominant drug trafficking group in the Eastern Plains region, which includes the Meta, Arauca, Casanare and Vichada departments. The group has come under heavy fire from state forces carrying out an offensive against organized criminal groups (known as “bandas criminales,” or “BACRIM”). The government crackdown is related to an ongoing peace process with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia – FARC) guerrilla group, who have urged the Colombian government to eliminate the threat posed by such organizations.
Since the death in September 2015 of major crime boss Martin Farfan Diaz Gonzalez, alias “Pijarbey” — who was one of the first leaders of the Libertadores — his successors to the top spot have not lasted long. Over the past year, authorities have killed or arrested at least three other leaders — apart from Capera — known by the aliases “Calandrio,” “Móvil 7,” and “Venado.”
However, the Libertadores are not the only criminal organization in the area with security forces hot on their heels. Numerous Urabeños bosses have also been taken down in Meta department of late, as the group pushes to expand its presence in the Eastern Plains. Evidence suggests that the Urabeños are currently fighting the Libertadores in alliance with the Meta Bloc, a rival ERPAC splinter group.
The Urabeños’ incursion into the region is unsurprising — a cocaine trafficking and production hub on the border with Venezuela, the Eastern Plains have long been disputed territory for criminal groups.
The outcome of these security efforts and criminal power struggles — which are being mirrored in various strategic regions in Colombia — will determine which groups come out on top once FARC guerrilla fighters lay down their weapons and leave huge criminal economies up for grabs.
The park lies in the foothills and mountains of Cordillera de Talamanca between the mountain ranges of Las Vueltas, Cartago and Echandi on the Panamanian/Costa Rican border. The Cordillera de Talamanca is the highest and wildest non-volcanic mountain range in Central America. It was formed by the folding of the Earth's crust and uplifting activity that created the land dividing the Pacific from the Caribbean
The park lies in the foothills and mountains of Cordillera de Talamanca between the mountain ranges of Las Vueltas, Cartago and Echandi on the Panamanian/Costa Rican border. The Cordillera de Talamanca is the highest and wildest non-volcanic mountain range in Central America. It was formed by the folding of the Earth’s crust and uplifting activity that created the land dividing the Pacific from the Caribbean.
The Reserve of the Mountain Range Talamanca-La Amistad, located in part of Panama and Costa Rica, will be absent for the moment from the list of heritage sites of the world in danger.
The decision of the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization (Unesco) recognized the joint efforts of both countries, with the objective of securing the integrity of the area, reason why it conceded time for the solution of the main problems, according to a communiqué of the Panamanian Ministry of the Environment.
It also says the Committee of World Heritage, Natural and Cultural of Unesco, during its 40th session, took note of the actions carried out by Panama to attend the reiterated recommendations, particularly in all regarding hydroelectric projects in nearby zones.
Additionally, the decision of the international organism included to expedite a strategic transborder environmental evaluation and the implementation of measures to minimize the negative impacts of human activities.
UNESCO offices in Paseo Colon, San Jose, Costa Rica
The area extends for over 400 thousand hectares of mountains, where the highest peaks of Panama and Costa Rica are located, besides occupying part of the central west zone and the east of Costa Rica.
This bi-national park, whose threat of damage was essentially provoked by hydroelectric plants, it is an important geological sample of the glaciation in the Quaternary period, especially due to the morphology of the land and the glaciar lagoons, characteristics for which it was declared patrimonial site in 1983.
The mentioned Committee of Unesco is an intergovernmental organ formed by 21 States and its annual meeting of 2016 takes place at present in Istambul, Turkey, and will extend until July 20.
The places included in the list of Patrimonial Natural and Cultural Sites “carry out a function of milestones in the planet, symbols of the States and peoples becoming aware of the importance of those places and the emblems of attachment to collective property, as well as the transmission of that patrimony to future generations”, says the Unesco website.
Mexico President Claims Homicide Drop Despite Uptick in Killings
Mexico President claims homicide drop despite increase in killings
The public relations campaign for Mexico’s militarized crackdown on organized crime and its effectiveness in restoring public security continued this week, but the data doesn’t back up President Enrique Peña Nieto’s claims.
The president assured Mexicans that on a national scale there have been important reductions in homicides, kidnappings and extortions while speaking at the inauguration of a new military barracks in the northern state of Coahuila on July 12, reported El Universal.
But although government figures show small decreases in kidnapping and extortion between January and May of 2016 compared to that period last year, homicides have increased by more than 15 percent, jumping from 6,706 in the first five months of 2015 to 7,743 in 2016.
Peña Nieto acknowledged that challenges remain in parts of the country, and that the military would continue to play a role in addressing those problems. The president told the Mexican people that the government wouldn’t stray from its main objective of restoring peace and tranquility, one of the promises that he campaigned on during his presidential bid in 2012.
He also highlighted that the government crackdown on organized crime has netted 100 out of 122 of the country’s most dangerous criminals.
Peña Nieto and his administration have created fiction from facts before, and these latest claims are more of the same posturing at a time when the president’s popularity rating is low.
Despite the president’s assurances to the contrary, violence nationwide has been rising since 2015, reversing a downward trend that began in 2012, the same year Peña Nieto took office. Acapulco is currently one of the most dangerous cities in the world, while in Mexico’s northeast 14 people were murdered in one day last weekend. There was a huge spike in homicides in Colima last year, and after crying victory over calming Ciudad Juarez, an increase in murders there is threatening a comeback with the alleged arrival of legendary “narco of narcos” Rafael Caro Quintero.
Ciudad Juarez’s El Diario newspaper reports a month on month uptick in homicides there, raising concerns that killing in the border city could return to the hair-raising highs seen from 2008 – 2011.
Add to that mixed popular support for the approaching extradition of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman to the United States for trial. Three in ten Mexicans agree he should be sent north, three in ten think he shouldn’t, and the rest are undecided, according to a poll published by Animal Politico. The escape of Guzman — for the second time — from a high security prison in July 2015 was a major embarrassment for the Peña Nieto administration, which then caught him again in January.
Half of the people in the poll featured by Animal Politico think the main reason the drug trafficking boss is being extradited is that the government fears he may escape for a third time.
Given those factors, it’s understandable why Mexico’s president would want to create a positive view of the country’s current crackdown, which has been going for almost a decade since it was launched by Peña Nieto’s predecessor, Felipe Calderon, in 2006.
With some exceptions, Peña Nieto has largely stuck to the kingpin strategy begun by Calderon of bringing down leaders of organized crime networks. Although the Mexican government has proven adept at capturing drug lords, this strategy has also contributed to the fragmentation of Mexico’s criminal networks. The creation of more criminal actors makes violence even more difficult to eradicate because it is hard to establish anything resembling a tacit consensus on rules and norms with so many different players in the game.
If the current trend in rising violence continues, Mexico’s president will find it increasingly hard to claim otherwise.
One of Guatemala’s most important business figures has been arrested for tax evasion, as the corruption scandals that have rocked the country’s political elite appear to be expanding to encompass prominent members of the private sector.
Carlos Enrique Monteros Castillo, owner and president of the Camino Real hotel chain, was apprehended July 9 at Guatemala City’s international airport in connection with “tax fraud and special tax fraud” related to his company, the Attorney General’s office reported. Camino Real S.A.’s administrative manager, José Humberto Jiménez Contreras, was arrested at his home in Guatemala City.
On July 13, a judge ordered Jiménez Contreras into house arrest and gave the prosecutors office one month to make its case against him.
Camino Real owner and legal representative Monteros Castillo was detained upon returning from the United States and taken to a courthouse holding cell where he stayed briefly before moving to a private hospital for medical reasons, Prensa Libre reported.
The charges stem from an investigation begun in 2012 after the Superintendent for Tax Administration (SAT) informed prosecutors that audits had uncovered irregularities at the firm, the Attorney General’s Office said in a statement. Authorities allege that the hotel executives used an intermediary named Norman Tejeda, who administered some 70 shell companies and “sold receipts for a percentage to simulate purchases and evade taxes.”
Monteros Castillo was arrested late Saturday and by Tuesday the government had been paid the equivalent of approximately $5.9 million in back taxes, interest and penalties, Prensa Libre reported. The latest statement on the case from the Attorney General’s Office did not specify whether or not the hotel owner was still under arrest.
This high-profile tax evasion case follows a series of corruption scandals involving the country’s top political leaders. Corruption charges brought by the Attorney General’s Office and the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (Comisión Internacional Contra la Impunidad en Guatemala – CICIG) led to the resignation and jailing of President Otto Pérez Molina and his vice president, Roxana Baldetti.
Pérez Molina and Baldetti have been charged with running a huge customs fraud scheme, collecting bribes from a Spanish port management firm, and receiving vacation homes and other extravagant gifts from members of their cabinet, some of which were purchased with purloined public funds.
Digging into the administration’s dealings prosecutors uncovered that they came to power under the banner of the Patriot Party (Partido Patriota – PP) via massive campaign finance fraud that spawned a the case dubbed Cooptación del Estado.
“It was easy for the criminal structure of the PP to get into power thanks to the financing of all manner of businessmen,” according to CICIG.
Among the accused was prominent banker Flavio Montenegro Castillo, who promptly resigned as general manager of Banco G&T Continental. The bank describes itself as Guatemala’s second biggest financial group. The president of Banrural, Fernando Peña, was also charged in that case.
Not long after announcing the cooptation case Attorney General Thelma Aldana complained of receiving threats. She has been outside of Guatemala for the past three weeks.
That authorities are targeting big fish in the private sector as well as the government signals a willingness to root out deeply entrenched corruption even among the rich and powerful. Aldana’s absence may be an indication that that battle is far from won.
Foto Adrián Soto.13/7/2016. San José y Sabana. Usuarios de la aplicación Pokemón Go, juegan en diferentes partes de la ciudad. Foto Adrián Soto.
Pokemón Go in downtown San Jose (by the Correos – post office) on July 13, 2016. Photo by Adrián Soto from notytech.com
Although the Pokémon Go Mobile application has not been formally launched in Costa Rica, the more impatient players have found a way to install the game on their smartphones (iPhone and Android devices).
But what is Pokémon Go? According to an article by Vox 9 questions about the game you were too embarrassed to ask, “the game is an inescapable force of nature….and not even that great or stunning of a game…but playing the game is like giving your brain a warm, relaxing bath, the warm fuzziness of nostalgia, and our human thirst for escapism.”
Although it may seem everyone is playing Pokémon Go, and since you are not (for if you were you wouldn’t be here reading this) and may be feeling left out, consider this:
– According to experts on last Monday, Pokémon Go has been downloaded around 7.5 million times.
– For context, in 2013 the US Census Bureau estimated that there were 242,470,820 adults in the United States, and according to a 2016 Pew report, 72 percent of adults have smartphones. That means roughly 174,579,000 adults have smartphones they could use to play Pokémon Go; 7.5 million is a fraction of that.
Is the game any good? Alex Abad-Santos from Vox says, “Pokémon Go is fun, but I don’t think it’s very good.”
Is Pokémon Go dangerous? Pokémon Go is a lot like texting. Its augmented reality setting that uses your smartphone camera is distracting; even though you’re theoretically paying close attention to your surroundings, you’re doing so through a camera lens with the aim of spotting and catching Pokémon all around you. Crossing the street into traffic or walking into the ocean are both distinct possibilities with this game. Getting lost is a risk too.
Thecrpost.com came up with this piece, 5 ways to die playing Pokemon Go in Costa Rica. The online publication in presenting the top 5 ways to die playing Pokemon Go in Costa Rica includes strong images of “Getting Hit by a Car”, “Getting Hit by a Train” and “Getting shot for your phone” while playing the game. Perhaps the appeal in Costa Rica is, that according to thecrpost.com’s friend Bob, “Costa Rica is also ranked at #2 for illegal downloads which is why you will see so many Ticos playing it already.”
Train poke by Thecrpost.com
How much data and battery life will I use while playing Pokémon Go? You will use data. Claro, Movistar and Kolbi (ICE) are loving this if you don’t have an unlimited data plan for your smartphone. Be careful. Not so much if you are on unlimited, and even if you do, remember, Kolbi at least, will take you down to 3G after 6Gb of data transfer. As to battery life, the constant use of the camera will quickly drain you battery. Dimmning your screen will help you run a little longer, without a charging station nearby, the Pokémons will pass you by.
An overnight sensation?
Despite many believing that Pokémon is an overnight sensation, something new to reach your smartphone, it has actutally been around a long time (in tech standards). The name Pokémon is the romanized contraction of the Japanese brand Pocket Monsters (ポケットモンスター Poketto Monsutā?).
The Pokémon franchise was created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1995, beginning as a pair of video games for the original Game Boy, developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo. Pokémon is the second-most successful and lucrative video game-based media franchise in the world, behind only Nintendo’s Mario franchise. Tajiri first thought of Pokémon around 1989 or 1990, when the Game Boy was first released.
Pokémon Go was released in July 2016 for iOS and Android devices. The game quickly became one of the most used smart device apps after launching, surpassing the previous record held by Candy Crush Saga in the United States, and was a boon to the stock value of Nintendo. Upon 24 hours after its release, Pokémon Go topped the American App Store’s “Top Grossing” and “Free” charts The game has become the fastest game to top the App Store and Google Play, beating Clash Royale. The average daily usage of the app on Android devices exceeded Snapchat, Tinder, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. By July 15, approximately 1.3 million people were playing the game in the Netherlands, despite the app not being officially released in the country.
PS Looking to install Pokémon Go on your smartphone in Costa Rica? Notytech has the link (in Spanish) to the download app for the iPhone and Android and a list of compatible smartphones.
Why Do Cockroaches Even Exist? Roaches are more than just pests that crawl around our homes.
Why Do Cockroaches Even Exist? Turns out cucarachas are more than just pests that crawl around our homes.
If you are like many when moving to Costa Rica, the last thing that comes to mind are cockroaches (cucarachas in Spanish) in your house. Some of them are huge, I mean really big.
Cockroaches can be one of the top ten, no wait, probably 5, definitely in the top three, of the frustrating things about living in Costa Rica.
Costa Rica is a tropical country. Bugs thrive here. Keeping your house clean can reduce a cockroach problem. But, wait, maybe the cucarachas are more than just pests that crawl around our homes and are actually beneficial and even essential to the environment.
Without question cockroaches have a serious public relations problem. They’re creepy and crawly and pretty much universally despised by us humans. But that’s OK, because Mother Nature loves her cockroaches.
In a special edition of DNews, Dr. Sapna Parikh fields a question from their Reddit page concerning cockroaches and their overall benefit to nature. It turns out that roaches actually serve several vital functions out in the wild, if not in your kitchen.
Watch the video and the decide if cockroaches should even exit in your environment.
After eighteen “fun-filled” years of living in Costa Rica, I’ve had an opportunity to witness many differing social norms in Tico Society, from that of my native Canadian Society. I’ve commented on many of these differences in my many previous blogs on this website, with my characteristic lack of political correctness and sometimes, with a slightly irreverent tone, as the circumstance may dictate.
One of the most consistent societal differences that I’ve witnessed, is the general lack of will power (fuerza de voluntad) by those in authority, to enforce regulatory offences, Municipal By-laws and minor traffic offences being good examples. Generally, enforcement varies between lax to non-existent. Enforcement of traffic offences tends to pick-up around Christmas time, as it presents an opportunity for the Transit Police to supplement their annual “Aguinaldo” (Christmas bonus) payment that they are entitled to receive by law.
However, Sundays and Statutory Holidays present a unique opportunity to carry-out illegal acts, particularly as they relate to the infringement of Municipal By-laws, with virtually no chance of facing any regulatory sanction.
On such days, you will see roadways being dug-up by ordinary citizens to make unpermitted water connections to a new house, or other building under construction. Likewise, it is possible to witness ordinary Ticos, with, or without electrical, or other technical knowledge, climbing-up utility poles and on roof-tops, engaged in making illegal electricity, telephone, cable TV, and internet service connections to their residence, or otherwise. Albeit, these activities do tend to take place more in the poorer rather than the more affluent neighbourhoods and sometimes such activities end with disastrous consequences to those involved.
Another common infringement of Municipal By-laws carried-out on such days is burning to clear land, when it is otherwise prohibited.
This happens frequently throughout the Country, but probably more so in the Province of Guanacaste. In Guanacaste, these purposely lit land clearing fires often burn out-of-control, causing many unintended and expensive consequences in the form of damage to neighbouring properties.
These, of course, are all well established practices in Costa Rica, with the Authorities seemingly quite willing to “turn a blind eye” with respect to instituting any practical forms of sanctioning to prevent their continuation.
On the “flip-side”, I’m not going to complain too loudly about these practices, as it is all part of a general Tico Societal attitude, that allows us all to live a more free and relaxed life-style than in our native over-regulated and enforced societies, such as the U.S. and Canada.
COSTA RICA EXTRA On its official website Guns N´Roses announced that they are extending their “Not in this Lifetime” tour to include South America, with Costa Rica now booked for the 26th November 2016 at the Estadio Nacional (National Stadium in La Sabana), San José.
“Guns N’ Roses are set to go South for the fall,” says the band’s website announcing night dates including Lima (Peru), Santiago (Chile), Buenos Aires and Sao Paolo (Brazil), Medelling (Colombia) and San Jose (Costa Rica).
Guns N’ Roses was foremd in Los Angeles in 1985 and consisted of vocalist Axl Rose, lead guitarist Slash, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, bassist Duff McKagan, and drummer Steven Adler. The current lineup consists of Rose, Slash, McKagan, keyboardists Dizzy Reed and Melissa Reese, guitarist Richard Fortus and drummer Frank Ferrer.
The band has released six studio albums, accumulating sales of more than 100 million records worldwide, including shipments of 45 million in the United States, making Guns N’ Roses one of the world’s best-selling bands of all time.
Guns N´Roses very first album, “Appetite for Destruction” smashed into the music scene in 1987 and remains to this day, the highest selling debut album of all time. However, long-term conflicts between Slash and Rose prevented the group reforming with many lucrative offers to reunite turned down….that is until now!
Guns N Roses, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, July 14th, 2016. Watch the video
Couldn’t resist this meme about Pokemon and the Guancaste level.
Unless you’ve away from Earth this past week, Pokémon Go has taken over the planet and in Costa Rica, mainly La Sabana park, among many other locations.
Pokémon Go (stylized as Pokémon GO) is a free-to-play location-based augmented reality mobile released earlier this month iOS and Android devices.
The game allows players to capture, battle, and train virtual creatures, called Pokémon, who appear throughout the real world. It makes use of GPS and the camera of compatible devices. The game is free-to-play, although it supports in-app purchases of additional gameplay items.
The game quickly became one of the most used smart device apps after launching, surpassing the previous record held by Candy Crush Saga in the United States, and was a boon to the stock value of Nintendo, which owns a part of The Pokémon Company.
Lisa Castillo being sworn in on Tuesday as Deputy Minister of Transport by President Luis Guillermo Solis
Liza Castillo Vásquez is the new deputy minister of Teansportes y Seguridad Vial, sworn in by President Luis Guillermo Solis this past Tuesday. But, will Castillo last long in her post? Our prediction is most likely not.
Castillo is expected to continue work of Sebastian Urbina, who was removed from his post weeks ago for conflicts with the public transport sector, mainly the bus operators.
One of the main projects of Transport is to continue with the “sectorization” and the use of electronic billing in public transport.
Castillo comes in at a time the transport sector is battling reforms and the arrival of ride sharing companies such as Uber. The Transport ministry is also under the gun to resolve the growing traffic congestion nightmare that has gripped the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM).
Castillo, an architect by profession and with six years experience in the planning and coordination of the reorganization of public transport proposals, is expected to promote the public transport to be more sustainable and inclusive.
But, within days of her appointment, the transport sector is calling for her destitution.
The first accusation volleyed her way was over her relationship with the bus operators.
According to the trade union, the National Association of Public and Private Employees (ANEP), Castillo’s appointment was to the government was for appeasing the interest of the “corporate entrepreneurship of bus operators”.
The union said Castillo has devoted her last six years in advising several public transport companies and until last week (prior to her appointment as deputy minister), was the project advisor for the Sistema Integrado de Transportes del Este (SITE), the consortium that holds the bus route concessions for Tres Rios, San Pedro and Curridabat.
For the union, the arrival of Castillo deepens the “helplessness” of bus users. Bus operators are now in the midst of a “blackmail” campaign against the Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos (Aresep) wanting to apply a new tariff model that will lower bus fares.
On Thursday, the Minister of Transport and Public Works(MOPT), Carlos Villalta, ruled out the departure of the new deputy minister.
On the charges of being on the side of the bus operators, most specifically attending meeting held last March by former deput minister Urbina, to which Castillo was present, she says she was “only there to take minutes of the meeting”.
“Mrs. Castillo was acting virtually as executive assistant to the said business sector,” said the ANEP on Thursday.
Defending his new deputy minister, Villalta said, “I honestly think will not proceed with the resignation, Liza’s participation (in the March meeting) was not relevant, nor a driving issue with competing projects.”
But, on Friday, an even stronger public transport group, the taxi drivers, joined in to demand the removal of Castillo.
The taxi drivers are coming from a different angle, accusing the new deputy minister as being a Uber customer.
According to Ruben Vargas, president of the Unión de Taxistas Costarricenses (UTC) – Taxi Union), the group has infiltrated Uber and assure to have evidence that Liza Castillo is a user of the ride sharing service, which is in continuing conflict with the Ministry of Transport over its legality in the country.
“We went from ‘bad’ with Urbina to ‘worse’ with this lady. It leaves us thinking in whose pockets is the deputy minister of transport in,” said Vargas.
Thus, the deputy minister is one more enemy to the list of the taxi drivers union. “We can not have a person of such high rank within the MOPT and which has been or is a user of illegal transport,” says the Union.
According to the UTC, eventually, Castillo will have to testify when the Administrative Court calls it first hearings in the administrative proceedings the tax union has filed against the government, a process that, according to Vargas, could begin in a month.
The reigning ISA World Surfing Games champions will defend their title on home turf from August 6-14 in Playa Jacó.
Last year, Costa Rica claimed the team gold medal from 27 nations, edging out Portugal and the United States. Pavones native Noe Mar McGonagle brought home the individual gold medal.
This year, more than 130 surfers from up to 30 countries are expected to attend the event, which is being held in front of the Best Western Jacó Beach All Inclusive Resort.
This event marks the first time the games are held in Costa Rican waters in seven years. According to the International Surfing Association (ISA), the 2009 ISA World Surfing Games in Playa Hermosa went down in history as one of the most-attended ISA World Championships ever with over 100,000 attending the week-long event.
Randall Cháves, president of the Costa Rican Surfing Federation says, “We envision a record-breaking world championship like in 2009, but above all we envision an extraordinary opportunity for tourism by showcasing the waves, athletes and people of Costa Rica.”
Hundreds of thousands of fans are expected to descend upon the 2.5 mile (4 km) long beach known for offering some of the best surfing in Costa Rica.
Surf tourism is on the rise in Costa Rica. According to CRSurf.com, 20% of tourists come to Costa Rica for the surfing. That’s 400,000 visitors and about $830 million dollars coming into the country’s economy.
Nicaraguan writer and former vice-president in the Ortega 1985-1990 administration, Sergio Ramirez. Photo from Facebook
In Nicaragua votes “are counted in advance” says Nicaraguan writer and form Ortega vice-president in 1985, Sergio Ramirez.
While President Daniel Ortega seeks his third successive term in office in the November 6 presidential elections, without international observers, who have been declared ‘non grata’ by the President himself or “credible opposition candidates”, Ortega’s almost absolute concentration of power is maintained, said Ramirez in an article published Thursday.
“There never will be in the coming months, an enthusiastic and proven election campaign in the streets and on television screens or opinion polls that show trends of votes that can change from one day to another or debates between presidential candidatescapable of affecting these surveys.
“The only demonstrations will be of the official candidate, with all available state resources, and behind the propaganda apparatus of the ruling party capable of flooding the streets with flags and posters and slogans and spots on radio stations and TV under official control.” writes Ramirez.
Despite the “bought” election, the Nicaraguan write assures there is not real threat to the security of the hemisphere or business in Nicaragua. “The regime relies on its partnership with the private sector which has learned not to fear the virulent speeches against Yankee imperialism and capitalism by Commander Ortega. The golden rule of this relationship is that political issues are excluded from the negotiation tables when it come economic issues, adjusted to within the framework recommended by the International Monetary Fund (IMF),” he writes.
Under this premise, the writer said “it is as if the votes in favour of Ortega are counted beforehand. It is as if the November election this year has already happened,” writes Ramirez.
According to the Nicaraguan writer in his opinion piece titled in La Prensa, “Tigre Suelto” (Loose Tiger), “everything has been decided in advance for Commander Ortega to win for the third time
“Under this conception of absolute power, the regime is showing increasingly intolerant, as seen in the recent deportations of foreigners, including US citizens, who come to investigate issues such as poverty or the Grand Interoceanic Canal,” he said.
“The US knows that behind the fiery rhetoric of Ortega there is no real threat to hemispheric security interests,” said Ramirez.
Ramirez is a Nicaraguan writer and intellectual who served in the leftist Government Junta of National Reconstruction and as Vice President of the country 1985-1990 under the presidency of Daniel Ortega. Born in Masatepe in 1942, he published his first book, Cuentos, in 1963. He received his law degree from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua of León in 1964, where he obtained the Gold Medal for being the best student. In January 2000, he was awarded the first Narrative Prize José María Arguedas granted by Casa de las Americas based in Havana, Cuba. He has taught at the University of Maryland from 1999 to 2000 and in 2001, and has been visiting professor at various prestigious universities in the United States, and Europe.
The Ramirez opinion article (in Spanish) in La Prensa can be found here.
1. Costa Rica takes up just 0.03 percent of the Earth’s surface, but it has 6 percent of its biodiversity.
For thousands of years, Costa Rica has acted as a ‘bridge’ for numerous species of animals and plants to travel up from South America. And it has so much climate diversity, that they all tend to remain there. Costa Rica has miles of rainforest, but there are also dry, volcanic areas and mountain ranges as well. Plus, it has a coastline on both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.
The people of Costa Rica have also made preserving the environment a top priority — they’ve signed 45 international environmental treaties and have enacted countless regulations of their own in order to protect endangered species and biodiversity. One small example I saw while I was in Dominical: monkey bridges. When a highway was built between Quepos and Dominical, the community knew that because it had to intersect through a rainforest, the road would endanger animals trying to get between either side. To counteract this, rope bridges were strung between the trees above to give monkeys and sloths a way to pass safely.
2. In Costa Rica, you’re not ‘pregnant,’ you’re ‘con luz.’
Which translates as ‘with light.’ And your soulmate isn’t your ‘soulmate,’ they’re your ‘media naranja‘ or ‘the other half of your orange.’
3. Nearly 26 percent of Costa Rica’s land is protected in either a national park or refuge.
There are also four UNESCO World Heritage sites in Costa Rica — Area de Conservación Guanacaste in the northwest, Cocos Island 342 miles offshore in the Pacific Ocean, the Stone Spheres on the Diquís Delta, and La Amistad International Park, which is the largest nature reserve in Central America and is equally split between Costa Rica and Panama.
4. More than 10 percent of the world’s butterflies live in Costa Rica.
And there are more than 750,000 different types of insects, including 20,000 different kinds of spiders.
5. Costa Rica’s life expectancy is one of the highest in the world.
In 2012, The World Health Organization found that the average life expectancy of Ticos is about 78 years. And as of June 2013, 417 Centenarians were reported to be living in the country — out of a population of 4.5 million, that’s really good. The Nicoya Penninsula is especially interesting to longevity researchers because it’s common for citizens to reach ages between 90 to 110 years old there. Researchers believe that the high life expectancy in Nicoya could be because the waters are unusually rich in magnesium and calcium, but other factors might play in too. For instance, Costa Rica has a well-structured social welfare system, living standards are high, many people are spiritual and the country has remained peaceful, even while its neighboring countries battle civil wars and poverty.
6. Costa Rica’s marine territory is larger than its land territory.
By a lot. The actual land area of Costa Rica is just over 50,000 square kilometers, but it watches over more than 500,000 square kilometers of marine territory.
7. Costa Rica has a literacy rate of 98 percent.
The World Economic Forum ranked Costa Rica’s education system as the highest in Latin America. Schooling is mandatory and free — a minimum of 8% GDP goes to it annually. And if a student lives in a rural area without access to a school, classes are broadcasted over the national radio station for them. When they turn 13, students can choose between two different types of secondary education: five years at an academic school or six years at a technical school, either way, they get a high school diploma.
8. Monkeys are the most common mammals.
Next to bats. There are four different species of monkey in CR: Howler Monkeys, Spider Monkeys, Squirrel (or Titi) Monkeys and White-Faced (or Capuchin) Monkeys.
9. Costa Rica is the longest standing democracy in Central America.
Its constitution was drafted in 1949. Since then, it’s arguably become the most stable nation in Central America.
10. Costa Rica is a Catholic country, but it respects freedom of religion.
A 2007 survey by the University of Costa Rica found that a little more than 70 percent of Ticos identify as Roman Catholic, but a little more than 11 percent don’t practice a religion at all. And an interesting fact: all the Catholic Churches face west. Although the purpose of this tradition isn’t exactly set in stone, the reason might be that if the church faces west, the churchgoers will be facing east, which is the direction of Jerusalem.
11. CR hasn’t had an army since 1948.
After Costa Rica ended its civil war — a war that lasted just 44 days but killed at least 2,000 people — the Costa Rican military was abolished. Breaking a wall with a mallet, President José Figueres Ferrer symbolically called for an end to any militarized, violent spirit. In 1949, the abolition of the military was added to Costa Rica’s Constitution. The budget that was devoted to military spending was funneled into education, culture and security instead.
Proudly produced in partnership with our friends at Visit Costa Rica and Southwest Airlines. Southwest Airlines now has new direct flights from Los Angeles to Liberia, Costa Rica.
Original article by Emma Theme can be found at the Matador Network
WE HUMANS AREN’T VERY GOOD at calculating risk, especially when it comes to travel: whenever there’s a terrorist attack in a foreign country, trips are frantically canceled (sometimes at a huge financial loss) because of the worry that the country is no longer safe. But this isn’t rational.
If anything, a country that just underwent a terrorist attack is going to be more on the alert, and will be, for the time being, a bit safer.
It’s not just terrorism, though. We allow our fears — as irrational as they may be — dictate our travel plans far more than we should. Here are five fears you need to stop freaking out about.
1. Zika
Australian golfer Jason Day is one of many to pull out of the Rio Olympics over Zika. When he pulled out, he said, “The reason for my decision is my concerns about the possible transmission of the Zika virus and the potential risks it might present to my wife’s future pregnancies and to future members of our family.”
A lot of people are terrified of Zika, but the truth of it is this: for the vast majority of people, getting Zika would not be a big deal. It leaves the system relatively quickly — in a matter of a few weeks. There’s some evidence it stays in semen a little bit longer and can be sexually transmitted, but the simple solution for Day, if he’d gone to Rio and contracted Zika, would be to just abstain from having unprotected sex for a few months.
Even then, if he had transmitted it to his wife, she would have needed to be pregnant at the time for it to be harmful to their unborn child. If she got it, she would simply have to wait a few weeks, and then she would have been Zika-free and, also, now immune to the virus.
There’s some chatter that golfers are actually using Zika as a cynical excuse to pull out of Rio, which isn’t as lucrative as touring with the PGA. And this seems to make more sense than the reason Day gave: it’s a risk, sure, but it’s a really, really, really small risk. The World Health Organization has said there’s not enough of a threat from Zika to cancel the Olympics, in part because the summer Olympics are actually taking place during Brazil’s winter, when there are less mosquitoes breeding. The hype around Zika is just that — hype.
The short of it is this: unless you are a pregnant woman, Zika is not a good reason to cancel your travel plans.
In 2013, 3 billion people flew. Only 210 of them died in a crash. When you get into a car, your odds of dying skyrocket. You have a 1 in 6,700 chance of dying in a car crash.
Flying is safer than driving. So don’t cancel your trip because you’re worried about a plane crash. Cancel it because plane travel is the worst.
3. Terrorism
The odds are absurdly small that you’ll be killed in a terrorist attack. 29 Americans are killed by terrorists per year on average. You are as likely to be crushed to death by a falling television of piece of furniture. Furthermore, canceling a trip because of a terrorist attack is a great way of letting the terrorists win.
4. Sharks
Afraid to go in the water because of sharks? Stop. Just stop. Sharks are a really, really, really small threat to humans. For one thing, we are not their normal prey. The people they attack at the highest rates are surfers, because surfers can resemble seals to sharks. Furthermore, the highest number of unprovoked shark attacks in a year on record is 79. That’s worldwide. Some years, they kill just a handful of people. On average, it’s around 12 people a year. We, on the other hand, kill around 11,417 sharks per hour.
Shark attacks are an awful and dramatic way to die, but you have, as an American, a 1 in 3.7 million chance of being killed by a shark. You’re far more likely to drown.
5. FOMO
You’re going to die someday. Accept that now — that you’re going to miss out on everything after you die, just as you missed out on everything before you were born — and you’ll be a way better traveler.
Original aritcle by Matt Hershberger first appeared on the Matador Network
expathousingcr.com – When settling in a new country, expats have to cope with adapting to new challenges: a new environment, a new language, new cultural codes… it’s not always easy to fit in! Here are some tips to help you deal with the adaptation process in Costa Rica:
1- Learn the language
In Costa Rica, it is highly recommended to speak or at least understand basic Spanish. You can either start learning the basics of the language just before moving, or once you arrive in the country. Having some knowledge of Spanish will be a tremendous advantage in your daily life, and a valuable asset in order to meet and/or communicate with the locals.
2- Don’t compare your host country to your home country
When living in a new environment, expats have to face new and unfamiliar situations. This is part of the process of discovering another way of life and culture. Therefore, there is no need to compare your host country to your home country. Just keep an open mind and be ready to change your routines and habits. And don’t forget that when in Rome, do as the Romans do!
3- Expand your social network
When living abroad, loneliness is a feeling that can definitely bring you down. So don’t stay on your own and meet people! Don’t be shy, build contacts with locals and expats, neighbors, colleagues, students of your Spanish class for instance, or get involved in social activities or associations, sports clubs etc. It’s easier to adapt when you are not alone!
4- Do some research
In order to help you understand your new environment and adapt to your new community, find as many data as possible. For this purpose, Internet can provide great sources of information with hundreds of expatriation sites. Amongst them, Expat.com offers you a free comprehensive set of tools designed to help you out throughout your expatriation project, from information gathering in your home country to your actual move to Costa Rica, and eventually in your everyday life as an expat in Costa Rica. The site also gives you the opportunity to get in touch with other members. Just ask them any question you may have and they will be happy to give you an answer based on their own experience!
5- Enjoy Pura vida!
Relax and chill! Take all the time you need to adapt to your new expat life and enjoy every moment of it. Whether you chose to move to Costa Rica as a professional, an entrepreneur, a student or a retiree, you made a great decision. You now have the opportunity to live in a charming environment with a delightful weather so… enjoy the Pura vida lifestyle!
Original article can be found at Expathousingcr.com
Netflix became available in Costa Rica on September 2011. The current monthly subscription cost is $8.99
Netflix users hate Netflix, but can’t stop using it and the biggest complaint is it doesn’t always have that film or TV show you really want to see.
Admit it, how many times have you browsed through the titles, even read some of the info and made more than one search? And still nothing, feeling frustrated at the ridiculously low number of titles available for streaming. And costing you all the while.
Netflix became available in Costa Rica in 2011 and today is country with the third largest number of films, series and documentaries available on Netflix in Latin America – leaving out the English speaking Caribbean islands – with an estimated 3,840 titles.
Panama with 3,962 and Mexico with 3,876 titles are the only two countries with more titles than Costa Rica, that offers more titles than Colombia with 3.819, Brazil with 3.796 and Canada with 3,435.
According to Netflix, it says it has more than 14,000 content options, but it cannot be offer them in all countries. In the U.S., Netflix’s beginning, is where it has the largest number of titles available to its subscribers with 5.087, while Sudan is the nation with the lowest, with 906.
Despite this, Nextflix has begun to lose market share in Latin America, due to strong competition from operators like Claro and Movistar, according to a study by the Dataxis consulting group.
In Latin America, Netflix has some 10 million subscribers of the 70 million worldwide with Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Colombia the major markets.
Biting at the heels of Netflix are the Mexican operator, Claro and the Spanish telco, Movistar. Both companies offer streaming through their wireless networks to both prepaid and postpaid customers.
A round up of titles across Latin America according to Allflicks.net:
Citibank additionally claimed they would keep financial relations with Venezuelan customers
Following risk assessment, US bank Citibank confirmed the closure of some accounts of Venezuelan customers in the United States.
In a communiqué sent to media outlets, the financial institution claimed: “Following a periodic risk assessment of Venezuelan clients, Citibank NA decided to stop banking services for some accounts in the US.”
The document also reads that Citibank’s representatives make clear they will continue with the financial relationship with Venezuelans as has been the case for almost one century. “This decision does not mean less commitment with Venezuela, a country we have served for some 100 years.”
During a compulsory radio and TV broadcast, President Nicolás Maduro termed a “financial blockade” the bank’s move. In this connection, Citibank claimed they hoped to resolve any doubts with the Executive through dialogue.
Tareck Zaidan El Aissami Maddah (born 12 November 1974)[2] is a Venezuelan politician who is the current governor of the state of Aragua. He's currently playing as a striker for Aragua Fútbol Club.
Labor Minister Oswaldo Vera supervised the resumption of production activities of US personal care company Kimberly-Clark in Venezuela in order to protect the employees’ rights
Labor Minister Oswaldo Vera claimed the Venezuelan government would protect employees of US personal care company Kimberly-Clark, which recently announced an indefinite halt in operations in the country due to the current economic crisis.
During a broadcast on Monday on state-run TV channel Venezolana de Televisión (VTV), Vera monitored the seizure of the plant, located at the San Vicente sector of Maracay city, north-central Aragua state. There, they activated the manufacturing plant of sanitary napkins, among other personal care products.
This move resulted from the enforcement of Article 149 of the Labor Organic Law, which reads that in the event of unlawful shutdown of a company and upon its employees’ request, the Labor Ministry is authorized to order takeover and resume the plant activities to protect the employees’ rights.
his is what the entrance to the city of Cañas looks like when there is a strong downpour.
Foto por Luis Mendoza
This is what the entrance to the city of Cañas (Guanacaste) looks like when there is a strong downpour. Foto por Luis Mendoza
by Wilberth Villalobos Castrillo, Vozdeguanacaste.com – Three months after the Cañas-Liberia highway began to be used, some sections are flooding due to clogging of drainage along the roadway.
The situation affects Bagaces, Cañas and Liberia, whose mayors blame the National Highway Council (CONAVI- Consejo Nacional de Vialidad) for what they consider bad design of the highway.
Meanwhile, CONAVI indicated that these problems were already occurring long before the highway was built.
The mayor of Bagaces, William Guido Quijano, affirmed that “the route is poorly designed” because CONAVI did not preplan proper water evacuation, mainly at the entrance of the city.
Julio Viales Padilla, mayor of Liberia, also pointed out that the area at the entrance of the La Cruz neighborhood floods frequently. “The expectation was that the highway was supposedly going to improve drainage and in reality, it did not,” he said.
In the case of Cañas, the problem is even greater because neighbors have had to wade through the water that accumulates along the side walls of the drawbridge, causing flooding in neighborhoods such as San Cristobal and Los Angeles, as shown in photographs provided by neighbors.
CONAVI Has No Quick Fix
CONAVI spokesman Roberto Lopez reported that, for now, the agency is studying if there are areas for improvement. “We are committed to following up on the problem,” he said.
Although we tried to talk to the engineers in charge of the project, the press office would only provide this clarification.
The minutes from a council session that the Municipality of Cañas provided to The Voice of Guanacaste records the version of the engineers, who met at the municipality on June 17 with the three mayors involved.
According to the minutes, engineers indicated that the matter is the responsibility of the municipalities since it is a problem caused by the sewer system of each of the cantons.
They explained that CONAVI could look for some mitigative measure, but the problem will not be solved anytime soon.
Given these explanations, the mayor of Cañas, Luis Fernando Mendoza, stated that since CONAVI doesn’t have a concrete plan and responsibility is being shifted to the municipality, he will not accept the work from President Luis Guillermo Solis on July 25th, when the president is scheduled to inaugurate the highway.
From TICO BULL – Uber customers can have an ice cream delivered to them on Friday. In 400 cities around the world, Friday is #UberIceCream party.
In San Jose (Costa Rica), from 11:00am to 3:00pm, Uber drivers will be deliver to their customers, at the office or home, the “Churchileta”, a 100% Costa Rica treat.
On their website, the company says for this year it teamed with the leader in “paletas” (ice cream bar), Los Paleteros, for four of their delicious Churchiletas.
But is it free? Well, not exactly. The delivery and the ice cream is ¢6,000 colones and billed to the account of customers who request it by simply opening the application and just like ordering the car service, click on ‘ice cream” and they can have the Churchiletas delivered to wherever they may be.
The company reminds that the service ‘Ice Cream’ is only for the delivery of the ice cream treats and not for a ride.
Now, if you have never had a Churchileta and are not a Uber customer (and don’t want to be), not a problem.
According to Los Paleteros website you can get a Churchileta at: Papata, Calle de la Amargura, Diagonal a Caccio’s in San José; Soda Paco Alfaro, 15 metros sur de la Cruz Roja in Heredia; the Grocery Store, Ultra Park 1 y 2, Heredia; Sweet Brew, 200 metros norte del Centro Cultural, Barrio Dent; and FIK Lindora, Parque Comercial Lindora Santa Ana.
Don’t forget to share with your best friend!
This article is not promote Uber nor the Churchileta of Los Paleteros. But, if you want to invite us for one, the ice cream, we will not say no.
Original article first appeared at here.
There’s money to be made in the car rental business and the reason why car rental companies in Costa Rica don’t want you know all the associated costs that increase their profits. They goal is to get the cars off the lot and if that means giving you a raw deal, so be it.
Renting a car in Costa Rica doesn’t have to be a headache, just be informed ahead of time.
The following is a list of what I call little dirty secrets I’ve learned in renting cars in Costa Rica. Most I learned by accident, the rest by the friendly staff of several car rental companies I use regularly. On average, I rent up 2o times a year, from one vehicle for one day to multiple vehicles for up to a week or more.
1. There’s Not That Much Competition As You May Think
Most of the car rental companies in Costa Rica are franchisees that include Avis, Hertz, Economy, Dollar, Enterprise, Alamo, Budget, Thrifty and National. Some franchisees own multiple franchises. For example, National, Alamo and Enterprise are all part of ANC, with ties to the Toyota dealer. Avis and Economy are owned by the exclusive Nissan and Audi dealer. The “independents” include large and small operators like Europcar, Sixt and Vamos, among others. The Toyota rent-a-car is owner by the Purdy Motors, the exclusive Toyota dealer in the country.
As to the franchisers, for example did you know that Avis owns Budget and Zipcar, Hertz owns Dollar and Thrifty, Enterprise owns Alamo and National, and Advantage owns E-Z Rent-A-Car? Now you do.
2. Sign Before You Drive
One of the most important aspects of renting a car in Costa Rica is signing the vehicle inspection form before leaving the car rental place. But, before you sign, be meticulous on every scratch, dent, whatever. Check under the hood to make sure caps (radiator, oil, etc) are not missing – or even engine parts. As I have been told by some car rental company staff, you’d be surprised on some people will rent a vehicle to swap out a car part.
In the trunk, check the spare time, jack and safety kit. Inside the vehicle, check for any loose nobs, switches, belts, etc. Anything missing or damaged from the previous rental could become your ownership (you paying for them).
3. To Insure Or Not To Insure
Unlike in the U.S. or Canada where you really don’t have to pay for insurance if you are using a credit card to rent the vehicle, in Costa Rica, the credit card coverage may not apply or at best be limited in coverage. Before you call off on any additional insurance, check with your carrier first. That is call your credit card company to understand your coverage completely.
Having said, in Costa Rica, everyone pays for basic insurance despite your credit card company may be covering you. What you don’t need to buy, but you should, is the additional insurance. Most of the large rental companies offer zero deductible, full coverage. This option, combined with the basic insurance, will probably be more than the basic car rental. But worth it. That ding could cost you hundreds of dollars or more. And it wasn’t even your fault.
But, even with “full coverage” is used, make sure what is fully covered. Full coverage is not full in most cases. For example, damage or loss of a radio is not part of the full coverage. Neither is damage caused by your negligence. Uh, say what? And of course, any damage caused while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs or breaking of a traffic law, like speeding, is not covered. Remember, they have your credit card on file and the contract gives the car rental company the right to make charges to that card even long after you’ve returned the vehicle.
4. Deposits
Every car rental car company will want a deposit. They will insist on a credit card for that, but, if you have one of he raised letters type of debit card, you may be able to use it. Deposits can be up to $2,000 dollars, depending on the vehicle and insurance coverage.
For example, at most car rental companies if you purchase the full coverage, the deposit is usually half. They won’t tell you that, insist on something since you are paying for full coverage. Having said that, with some high end vehicles, even though you are fully covered, the full deposit will be demanded.
Now, something you need to understand about deposits. One, they do not get returned upon the return of the rental vehicle. No. Depending on the car rental company and the credit card issuing bank, it can be 30 days or more before the deposit is released. If you using a credit card, the amount is blocked from your available credit. If a debit card, the card processor will have use of your money.
For cards issued outside Costa Rica, a deposit can be released within 72 hours if the charge is not completed by the car rental company. But not with all. For credit and debit cards issued in Costa Rica, expect nothing less than 30 days unless your car rental company cooperates and send their card processor a letter, that will then authorize your bank to release the hold on the charge.
Ask your car rental company for their policy on deposits. And don’t just take it for granted that they will stick to it. One car rental company I use I have to go out of my way to ask for the release. Another, will do so automatically, without a call or fuss, within 7 days or return of the vehicle. With this one car rental company, since I rent often, they ask me if I want them to hold it for the next rental, but within less than 30 days or they will automatically issue the release. For example, one car rental company has some 3,000 vehicles in its fleet, with more than 2,000 on the road every single day. 2,000 times $2000 deposit is? do the math.
5. Gas Up Before Returning
In Costa Rica, gasoline prices are regulated. The price of gasoline is the same at every gasoline station across the country. For that matter, it’s also the same gasoline. But, when it comes having the car rental company gas up for you, the price can be 2, 3 or more times the st price at the pumps. It’s in the contract.
In most cases your rental car has a full tank. Take the extra few minutes to fill up before returning the vehicle. It will save you a lot of money. (If you got the tank at 3/4 full for example, top it to that, not the full). While you may feel it is a great convenience for the car rental service to gas up for you, you’re going to waste money for nothing. In addition, most car rental companies don’t actually go to fill the tank and charge you based on the amount pumped, no, no, no, they will charge you a flat rate for the missing 1/4 , 1/2 or 3/4 tank based on the type of vehicle and size of tank.
6. Driving in General, The Vehicular Restrictions And Traffic Fines
Don’t get suckered into a car rental company charing you extra from driving out of the Central Valley (San Jose) or mileage. Most rental car companies in Costa Rica don’t charge for driving out of the city, like Guanacaste, and mileage is unlimited.
When it comes to the vehicular restrictions of In San Jose, rental cars are exempt. If you get pulled over by the traffic police for violating the restriction, show your rental contract. MAKE SURE YOU ARE THE NAMED DRIVER ON THE CONTRACT.
If you do get a ticket for violating the restriction, report it to the car rental company on returning the vehicle, to avoid having you credit card dinged for the fine, plus all the other costs tacked on by the car rental company. For all other traffic fines, pay the fine, if possible before returning the vehicle (at any national bank) or notify the car rental company of the ticket. They will charge you at the time of the rental return, avoiding all the extras in the future.
7. It’s All About That Base Rate
Advertised will be the “base rate” for your rental. Rental car companies don’t include all the extras – insurance, GPS, Quickpass, etc – in the their advertised rates on their websites. Some car rental companies will give you a “total” rental cost before reserving online. Compare this with other car rental companies. BUT, before you sign on the dotted line at the counter, get the total rental rate in writing – it should be on your preliminary bill. I say preliminary, because on the return of your rental, that bill, the one you signed, will be amended to include all the other extras – traffic tickets, that ding in the door, the missing oil cap, etc. They will even try to pull that on you if you are paying full coverage and is not one of the excluded items.
8. Extra Drivers, To Add Or Not To Add
One driver is usually enough. Car rental companies will charge for any extra drivers on the contract. If you are going to be only driver fine, but, if travelling with family or friends, you may want to pay the extra for an additional or additional drivers.
Here’s why. One, if there is a problem while someone else (not named in the contract) the rental car company will null any coverage of any insurance and ding you for whatever. And two, if the vehicle is pulled over by a traffic cop and the person behind the wheel is not a named driver on the rental contract, the vehicle may be subject to seizure.
9. Customers Are Always Right?
Well, maybe, but not necessarily in Costa Rica. As a customer you may make reasonable requests, even reasonable assumptions. And what is done at home (in your country of origin) by the local rental car franchisee, it doesn’t mean it is the same with the franchisee in Costa Rica.
Car rental companies in Costa Rica can sometimes overlook “important” things (like the aforementioned insurance), taking advantage of visitors who will be under the assumption of conditions of the master franchise. If you have a problem, you will quickly learn, that in Costa Rica, anyways, the “customer is not always right”.
10. Problems With Your Rented Vehicle
If you experience a problem with your rented vehicle a call to the rental company’s hotline will usually mean help is on the way. This could include delivering you a new vehicle or simply picking you and the vehicle up where you are. Depending on the car rental agency, it may be your responsibility to get the rental to them. Others, on the other hand, will even allow to switch out a vehicle (in the same class or lower) if you don’t like say the colour you got that day.
11. Returning Your Vehicle On Time Or Early
A typical car rentals are for a 24 hour period. Each car rental company has its particular policy on return times. Most will adhere to a one hour grace period, anything after that it can cost you an hourly rental (not prorated to the daily rental, but a set rate by them) that can add up to more than the daily rental. If you are going to be returning the car late, call ahead, reconfirm the policy, ask – you may not get it – for an extension or consider keeping the vehicle the extra day.
For example, at one car rental I last used (won’t mention the name), I would have to rent the vehicle for two days for my particular need of only using the vehicle for specific hours of one day. At the other car rental company, the one I did rent from, since they generally close at 7:00pm and it being Sunday, closing is at 5:00pm, they applied the overnight policy (recognizing that they hours would not permit returning the vehicle within the usual 24 hour cycle) and thus was able to return the vehicle first thing Tuesday morning for the one day rate. Sweet deal.
Returning early there is no benefit to you, so drive that rental to the very last minute. But if returning late, it will cost you dearly.
Also, check with your car rental company on returning the vehicle at a different location. Some companies will charge extra for that. If are going to return at a different location, arrange it ahead of time and you may avoid the extra cost.
12. Rental Location, Sales Tax And Discounts
In Costa Rica sales tax (13%) is applied to all vehicles rented at the airport in San Jose and Liberia, event though the car rental companies do not have their cars at the airport and you will be shuttled to a nearby location.
If you are flying into the country, it is convenient for you to pick up and return the vehicle at the “airport”. However, if the vehicle is rented out from a “non-airport” location, say in San Jose or Santa Ana, the sales tax doesn’t apply. They will most likely add it, but protest.
When making a reservation, check the location nearest where you will be staying (say a hotel or condo) or where you live and arrange for the rental pick up there and you will save. This also brings up discounts. Since the rented vehicle is not coming out of the airport location, besides the sales tax, ask for other discounts that can, depending on the staff, magically appear on their rental system. Especially if near closing time and it has been a bad rental day. Use the comments section below or post to our Facebook page on your experiences in renting a vehicle in Costa Rica. If you have any questions, write me and will try to answer or point you in the right direction. Renting a car in Costa Rica doesn’t have to be a bad experience. And please SHARE!
(Qtravel) Are you glancing at your phone every five to 10 minutes (if not more frequently) or maybe (like me) staring at a computer screen for hours on end? Or perhaps you are constantly on Facebook and Twitter. Pinterest and Instagram are you home away from home. You are in need of a digital detox!
