San José - Caldera Road Open, Finally

Finally, after more than three decades of planning, promises, starts, stops and delays, the San José - Caldera highway, though some prefer to call it a road, is a reality and travel between the interior of Costa Rica and the Pacific coast is at least 45 minutes faster.

However, Ruta 27 is not cheap. A round trip between the Sabana, San José and PuertoCaldera, Puntarenas, costs ¢3.860 in tolls (¢1.930 in each direction), for the 77 kilometre trip that takes less than an hour.

On Wednesday, Costa Rican president, Oscar Arias, officially inaugurated the road wich for some moments was open to the public from Orotina to San José, who were met by protestors at Pieades (Cuidad Colón exit), having to turn around and take the San Rafael exit that weaved around the La Reforma prison and ended up at the Panasonic.

Protestors were out early in the morning to stop the inauguration and opening of the highway.

A truck dumped debris on the road under the bridge at Piedades and then about 50 protestors maintained a road block all day long, waiting on the presidential motorcade to arrive, to make their concerns known to president Arias.

However, the presidential motorcade took the San Rafael route, avoiding the roadblock, to attend the inauguration ceremony at Orotina.

The road officially was opened to traffic Wednesday night and the toll stations began collecting at midnight.

Even though the road is now open and the tolls are being charged, parts of the road is still missing signaling, bus stop bays, lighting and rail guards.

What the road means to many is a savings in time, fuel and wear and tear on their vehicle.

Some prefer to call the highway a road, since it is for the most part a two lane road that weaves between the mountains, not much different than the other roads that lead to and from the Pacific, but with tolls.

Until yesterday, the only routes to and from the Pacific  coast from San José was the Cambronero or the Desmonte (Aguacate), which took almost two hours to make the trip between San José and Puntarenas.

The new San José - Caldera road now means the trip takes less than an hour and no mountains to climb or descend.  Also, the new road offers passing lanes at points where there some gentle climbs, allowing slow moving traffic to the right.

Whatever you call it, a road or a highway, to paraphrase president Arias during the inauguration ceremony on Wednesday, the new highway will be a boost to tourism.

Source: Inside Costa Rica

Costa Rica Beach Championships

As a former college and beach volleyball player, I was thrilled when Atenas Costa Rica was chosen to host the beach and indoor volleyball championships for the 2010 Juegos Deportivos Nacionales (National Sports Games). Beach sand and bleachers were shipped in to the Central School Park where three courts handled the men’s and women’s under 21 tournament. In addition, the gym in Atenas was retrofitted with new sport court volleyball flooring for the indoor tournament.

The event welcomed teams from all over the country and offered a great time for Atenas residents. Admission was free to the public who enjoyed the high level of competition and various food vendors. The men’s championship match for the two-on-two beach event was this Saturday. There was standing room only to watch the final between Escazu and Atenas. Escazu entered the championship match undefeated, while Atenas lost one match (to Escazu) and had to climb through the loser’s bracket to face Escazu in the final.

Both teams were highly skilled and athletic which made for an epic battle. The lively crowd was overwhelmingly routing for their hometown team and their energy proved to feed the underdog Atenas duo. Raúl Sandoval and Julio Álvarez of Atenas won the first game to the delight of the crowd, before narrowly losing the second game to force the tie breaker.

A skirmish broke out in the crowd during the second game between several Atenas fans and a single Escazu fan which caused a break in the action followed by loud chants of “Ole, ole, ole, viva Atenas!” Atenas jumped to and early 4-to-0 lead in the final game to 15, and they never looked back. With the crowd cheering wildly, the Atenas duo claimed the 2010 Beach Volleyball Championships.

In a country that is crazy for soccer and not much else, Atenas has created a legacy in volleyball. The success of men’s indoor team who are also perennial national champions has spawned youth programs for boys and girls. Their success also brings pride to locals and resident expats. The event was such a success in Atenas that the commission is considering Atenas as the regular host of the volleyball games for years to come.

For volleyball players and teams in the U.S. interested in touring and playing Costa Rica teams, a new tour company is offering volleyball tours in Costa Rica. Your teams of all ages can come to play local competition and enjoy the many attractions of Costa Rica. Find out more information at http://www.costaricavolleyball.com/.

Jeff Hickcox – Author of the Real Estate Investing Guide – Costa Rica

By Chrissie Long
Tico Times Staff | clong@ticotimes.net

Costa Rica was the fourth and final stop Monday on Qatar Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani’s tour through Latin America, in a visit that included Argentina, Venezuela and Brazil.

The visit – the first by an Arab head of state to this Central American country – is expected to bring Qatari investment in fields such as technology, science and the economy in Costa Rica.

“It’s a new window we are opening for the Arab world; with a country that is very wealthy and with a personal friend of mine and a friend of Costa Rica,” said Costa Rica President Oscar Arias.

Arias announced plans to open an embassy in Qatar capital Doha in the coming months. Qatar officials said they, too, would open an embassy in Costa Rica.

The decision to open an embassy in Doha comes less than a year after Arias closed three (in Bolivia, Paraguay and Czech Republic) due to financial reasons. Arias also closed consulates in Puerto Rico and in Chicago.

But Arias said an embassy in Qatar would encourage investments from Arab countries.

“We don’t have an embassy in the Arab world,” Arias said. “And they have interest in investing in tourism and in agriculture (here)… If we don’t have an embassy in the Arab world, it would be very difficult to solidify certain investments.”

Qatar, a small country of 1.5 million on the eastern coast of Saudi Arabia, is the world’s largest producer of liquefied natural gas and has the third largest gas reserve in the world, according to the U.S. State Department. The per-capita income in 2007 was $67,000, the fifth highest in the world.

“We don’t want to let this opportunity pass,” Foreign Minister Bruno Stagno told reporters before the meeting, which was held at the Four Seasons Resort in Peninsula Papagayo in Guanacaste. “This is significant.”

Asked why the Qataris chose Costa Rica, Stagno said the emirate is looking to diversify its investment portfolio.

“They know that Costa Rica is a stable country and a country that is attractive for real estate, tourism and technology investments. They are looking for secure destinations and this is what we are giving them,” he said.

Costa Rica and Qatar began establishing diplomatic relations in March 2004.

The agreements signed Monday promote cooperation between the countries and provide protection for investors under certain circumstances in the areas of expropriation, repatriation and currency convertibility, meaning investors may be protected against certain types of government action.

Costa Rican officials neglected to define specific investment projects, but mentioned housing, infrastructure such as ports or highways, telecommunications and further development of high-end tourism as top priorities.

Arias said a mission from Qatar will remain in Costa Rica to learn more about the country’s investment opportunities.

Al-Thani arrived on Monday at the Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia and was scheduled to leave the same day. He assumed power in 1995 when he deposed his father while the former ruler was traveling Europe. The father and son have since reconciled.

Private Gated Mountain Community in Atenas

Retirement or Vacation Homes in Atenas

Each of the finished homes, starting at $173K, is below $200K. They are cozy but classy affordable retirement or vacation homes with nice finishing details including granite countertops, custom wood cabinets, and quality fixtures and faucets.  Beautiful vaulted wood ceilings keep them cool all day and each room has a ceiling fan.

Community Infinity Pool and Pavilion

The homes are wired for a dishwasher, alarm, phone, SAT TV and high-speed internet is readily available, and house 1 has GE stainless steel appliances.  They’re all built to North American standards with modern plumbing and electricity, electric on-demand hot water throughout, screened windows, and much more.

Quality Homes Under $200K

The community is in a private mountain setting with an electric gated entry and amazing views of mountains, volcano peaks, and the Central Valley.  There is a communal infinity pool and picnic pavilion, along with many fruit trees and coffee plantings in the common area.  Each owner will have equal shares of the common area. The community is at nearly 4000 feet above sea level offering the most perfect year-round temperature of 70s during the day and 60s during the evening.

Big Mountain Views

For more information view property listing.

President Oscar Arias’s recent visit to Puntarenas highlights the excitement surrounding the opening of the Costanera Highway which will connect San Jose to the beaches in 50 minutes, and every area in between in a fraction of the time we are all accustomed to.  The fact that it will open in the height of the travel season will be a boon for the Costa Rican economy and vacation travelers alike.  In Atenas, where we are located, we expect to see many city dwellers consider moving out to the country now that they can commute to the city in 20 minutes.  Let’s see what this will do to home prices.  But for those considering a safe place to purchase land or a home, Atenas will be the one Central Valley town that truly benefits, as we have an exit from the highway that leads right into the town center.

Nearly everyone living in Costa Rica can agree that the tropical climate creates problems with mold.  Mold has been linked to a variety of health problems, as well as smelling terrible, and restricting clear breathing.  For hotels and businesses the problem is compounded as these businesses rely on maintaining their image of cleanliness and health for their clients.

Until now nothing has been available in Costa Rica to kill mold permanently and keep foul smells from returning.  That has changed with the arrival of PERFECT AIR.   Director of Business Development, Wayne Byrd, has obtained the newest 4^th generation of air purifier, designed specifically for use in Costa Rica.  “There are many units available, but ours is the only one that has been designed to cope with the high humidity conditions of Costa Rica.”  Internal parts have been modified for durability and rust-free continued use.

The central technology is the use of ozone.  Ozone kills offending organisms of mold and bacteria, removing the source of the musty smell, as opposed to only covering it up as room fresheners will do.  Ozone is the strongest sterilizing agent known to man, yet it is safe because it is made up of simple oxygen, and thus completely reverts back from ozone to oxygen in a relatively short time period.  Because of the dual properties of ozone – its toxicity at high levels, and its basic foundation as safe oxygen – it is truly one of the safest and most powerful cleansing agents available.  In fact, ozone is the way that nature purifies the earth.  Now this wonder element has been harnessed to benefit indoor life as well.

Allergies and asthma sufferers also benefit from this process. Any odors such as cigar smoke, cooking odors, new building materials such as hardwood floors, and paint fumes are also removed.  If it smells, PERFECT AIR can make it go away.  Oftentimes, people use air conditioning to combat mold, but even a regular unit can cost up to $150 per month or more – and electricity rates continue to rise.  Whereas, PERFECT AIR offers their Perfect Air 5000 unit for maintenance, estimated to cost no more than $10 per month.

There have been warnings against the overuse of ozone in an occupied space, which is why the technicians at PERFECT AIR perform their High Ozone Shock Treatments with a large unit, run at full power, in an unoccupied space.  This is the process used for killing mold and bacteria, so it must be performed in its highest concentration.  As previously stated, the toxic levels of ozone do not linger; ozone naturally reverts back to healthy, clean, breathable oxygen within an hour.  Low-level concentrations are then established for ongoing maintenance, ensuring the continued benefits of a mold, bacteria, and virus-free environment.

PERFECT AIR is offering a 3-year 100% replacement warranty on their maintenance units.  An ongoing maintenance program is available for as little as $30.00 per month keeping any business or residence free from viruses, bacteria, germs, and mold.  Combined with low-use electric costs, for less than $40 per month this is one of the best and least expensive ways to ensure health and comfort, while actually saving money.

For more information about keeping your home or business in an optimal condition for promoting health and wellness, please contact Wayne Byrd, Director of Business Development, at 506-8814-0651 or 506-8377-4677 http://www.wekillmoldcr.com