The Surfer's Guide to Costa Rica - Costa Rica Surf Travel News
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Blue Flags Back at Manuel Antonio
Good news for Manuel Antonio surfers and beachgoers. The beaches at Manuel Antonio National Park got
their Ecological Blue Flags back, per a March 12, 2009 announcement from the Environment, Energy and
Telecommunications Ministry (MINAET). The Blue Flags are recognition of beach and ocean water
cleanliness. In February, the Costa Rican Water and Sewer Institute (AyA) revoked the Manuel Antonio’s Blue
Flags, citing sewage contamination risks. But that was more of a precautionary measure. The Blue Flags
were returned after MINAET put forth a plan to improve sanitary conditions by installing new bathrooms and a
sewage treatment facility for the park. (Source: The Tico Times, March 13, 2009.
Good news for Manuel Antonio surfers and beachgoers. The beaches at Manuel Antonio National Park got
their Ecological Blue Flags back, per a March 12, 2009 announcement from the Environment, Energy and
Telecommunications Ministry (MINAET). The Blue Flags are recognition of beach and ocean water
cleanliness. In February, the Costa Rican Water and Sewer Institute (AyA) revoked the Manuel Antonio’s Blue
Flags, citing sewage contamination risks. But that was more of a precautionary measure. The Blue Flags
were returned after MINAET put forth a plan to improve sanitary conditions by installing new bathrooms and a
sewage treatment facility for the park. (Source: The Tico Times, March 13, 2009.
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Costa Rica Happiest Place on Earth?
Has Disneyland been upstaged? According to a recent poll by the New Economics Foundation, the land
of Pura Vida is the happiest place on earth. In fact, Latin America did pretty well scoring nine of the top 10
spots. Maybe it's the surf? More at Yahoo!
Has Disneyland been upstaged? According to a recent poll by the New Economics Foundation, the land
of Pura Vida is the happiest place on earth. In fact, Latin America did pretty well scoring nine of the top 10
spots. Maybe it's the surf? More at Yahoo!
It's an El Niño Year
The El Niño weather pattern comes every decade or so, and brings with it bigger waves for some areas,
warmer water in the NE Pacific, and a change in wind patterns. It can be a good thing, or not, depending
on where you surf now or where you're planning to surf. And we're in one now, the fall/winter of 2009/2010.
For Central America, the more west-facing beaches will benefit from bigger surf. The too-strong offshore
winds that plague parts of Nicaragua and NW Costa Rica will be less strong. And water generally warmer.
Get the full rundown from Surfline.
The El Niño weather pattern comes every decade or so, and brings with it bigger waves for some areas,
warmer water in the NE Pacific, and a change in wind patterns. It can be a good thing, or not, depending
on where you surf now or where you're planning to surf. And we're in one now, the fall/winter of 2009/2010.
For Central America, the more west-facing beaches will benefit from bigger surf. The too-strong offshore
winds that plague parts of Nicaragua and NW Costa Rica will be less strong. And water generally warmer.
Get the full rundown from Surfline.
ISA World Surfing Games Come To Costa Rica
Costa Rica is officially on the surf contest map now with the arrival of the International Surfing
Association's World Surfing Games. The biggest sporting event in the history of Costa Rica hosted teams
from over 30 countries at Playa Hermosa, just south of the central Pacific town of Jaco, July 31 to Aug. 9.
Competition took place in front of the Terraza del Pacifico Hotel at the north end of Playa Hermosa, the
scene of many surf contests, but none yet of this caliber. The U.S. team finally won the event after 13 years
of trying. The Costa Rica team took seventh place. The Open Men's was won by WCT Frenchman Jeremy
Flores.
Costa Rica is officially on the surf contest map now with the arrival of the International Surfing
Association's World Surfing Games. The biggest sporting event in the history of Costa Rica hosted teams
from over 30 countries at Playa Hermosa, just south of the central Pacific town of Jaco, July 31 to Aug. 9.
Competition took place in front of the Terraza del Pacifico Hotel at the north end of Playa Hermosa, the
scene of many surf contests, but none yet of this caliber. The U.S. team finally won the event after 13 years
of trying. The Costa Rica team took seventh place. The Open Men's was won by WCT Frenchman Jeremy
Flores.
Bus Dives Into Rio Tarcoles
October 2009 - Six people died and 15 more were hospitalized when a 50-meter bridge over the Río
Tárcoles collapsed because the driver decided to ignore the weight restriction sign and go for it. The
wooden suspension bridge, built over 80 years ago, had been marked as “seriously fatigued” by the
MOPT, and an iron beam was procured to reinforce the bridge seven years earlier. The drop to the river
was about 20 feet, but the bus managed to land on its wheels, so they actually got lucky. The bus was
traveling from Turrabares to Orotina and the accident occurred at Puente Angosto de Turrabares.
October 2009 - Six people died and 15 more were hospitalized when a 50-meter bridge over the Río
Tárcoles collapsed because the driver decided to ignore the weight restriction sign and go for it. The
wooden suspension bridge, built over 80 years ago, had been marked as “seriously fatigued” by the
MOPT, and an iron beam was procured to reinforce the bridge seven years earlier. The drop to the river
was about 20 feet, but the bus managed to land on its wheels, so they actually got lucky. The bus was
traveling from Turrabares to Orotina and the accident occurred at Puente Angosto de Turrabares.
Custom Search
New Traffic Fines Take Effect
Getting pulled over in Costa Rica has never been fun. But now it is downright expensive, too.
It used to be OK to just pay a small fine on the spot and be on your way. Frustrating, but inexpensive. Now
there's a fine for attempting a bribe ($415), which is the same price as driving without your license - a
pretty typical thing to do when trying to minimize "stealables" when driving for a surf. It all went into effect
February 24.
Other new fine increases include:
- Rolling a stop sign: $300
- Toll evasion: $42
- Talking on a cell phone while driving: $300
- Illegal U-Turn: $399 (not $400?)
- Driving without appropriate papers: $83
- Blocking the road: $165
Getting pulled over in Costa Rica has never been fun. But now it is downright expensive, too.
It used to be OK to just pay a small fine on the spot and be on your way. Frustrating, but inexpensive. Now
there's a fine for attempting a bribe ($415), which is the same price as driving without your license - a
pretty typical thing to do when trying to minimize "stealables" when driving for a surf. It all went into effect
February 24.
Other new fine increases include:
- Rolling a stop sign: $300
- Toll evasion: $42
- Talking on a cell phone while driving: $300
- Illegal U-Turn: $399 (not $400?)
- Driving without appropriate papers: $83
- Blocking the road: $165
Avoid Horses, Use Deet
June 2010 - Costa Rican authorities issued a warning due to an outbreak of horse encephalitis, a viral
disease which can be transmitted to humans. The outcome of encephalitis varies. Some cases are mild
and short with full recovery. Others are severe, and permanent impairment or death is possible.
Encephalitis is not exceptionally unusual in NW Costa Rica, Guanacaste, but the warning was issued
because it has been detected outside Guanacaste in the northern zone as well as Panama to the south.
Guanacaste and the north border Nicaragua, and both borders have stepped up cross-border horse
transport monitoring.
June 2010 - Costa Rican authorities issued a warning due to an outbreak of horse encephalitis, a viral
disease which can be transmitted to humans. The outcome of encephalitis varies. Some cases are mild
and short with full recovery. Others are severe, and permanent impairment or death is possible.
Encephalitis is not exceptionally unusual in NW Costa Rica, Guanacaste, but the warning was issued
because it has been detected outside Guanacaste in the northern zone as well as Panama to the south.
Guanacaste and the north border Nicaragua, and both borders have stepped up cross-border horse
transport monitoring.
Dengue Fever Up
July 2010 - Authorities reported a big jump in dengue
cases. This year, over 8,300 cases have been confirmed,
a 450 percent increase over the same period last year. An
official warned that the chances of hemorrhagic dengue
(HD), which can be fatal, are up now that three of the four
types of dengue are here in Costa Rica. HD, which
causes internal bleeding and needs immediate
hospitalization, results from reinfection with a different
strain of dengue than that of the victim’s first infection.
Highest dengue rate areas are found in Corredores and
Buenos Aires in the Southern Zone; Carrillo, Abangares,
Nandayure, Santa Cruz and Canas in Guanacaste;
Aguirre in the Central Pacific; Atenas, Alajuela Central and
San Sebastián in the Central Valley; and Pococí in the
Caribbean lowlands.
July 2010 - Authorities reported a big jump in dengue
cases. This year, over 8,300 cases have been confirmed,
a 450 percent increase over the same period last year. An
official warned that the chances of hemorrhagic dengue
(HD), which can be fatal, are up now that three of the four
types of dengue are here in Costa Rica. HD, which
causes internal bleeding and needs immediate
hospitalization, results from reinfection with a different
strain of dengue than that of the victim’s first infection.
Highest dengue rate areas are found in Corredores and
Buenos Aires in the Southern Zone; Carrillo, Abangares,
Nandayure, Santa Cruz and Canas in Guanacaste;
Aguirre in the Central Pacific; Atenas, Alajuela Central and
San Sebastián in the Central Valley; and Pococí in the
Caribbean lowlands.