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Oct
11
Details Revealed for Route 32 Expansion
October 11, 2011 | Tags: Transport | Comments Off
Traffic backups are common on route 32 with many large trucks traveling between the central valley and Costa Rica’s most important port in Limon. Photo courtesy of La Nación.La Nación is reporting today many more details of the proposed expansion of Route 32 between San José and Limon.
The project is now being estimated to cost between $350 million and $420 million dollars. It is being financed by a credit line from the Chinese government and would be built by Chinese firms.
The 108km project starts from the Rio Frio crossing on Highway 32 to Limon. It will include 4 four lanes of traffic in a separated roadway, 14 overpasses, bus bays, pedestrian overpasses and a bike lane to protect the many students and workers who commute by bicycle along the route. The plan also includes repairs to the 32 km connection from Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui (the other Puerto Viejo) to route 32.
The route carries about 5,000 cars a day including 700 commercial trucks.
The project is still in the planning stages so no timeline has been announced.
More information: La Nación: País negocia crédito blando con China para ampliar vía a Limón
Sep
21
Diario Extra is reporting that the Costa Rica government has budgeted funds in their 2012 budget to expand and modernize this route which connects San José and Limon.
Caribbean residents are well aware of the faults of the route given the frequent mudslides which close the route and the resulting delays or hours long detours.
The newspaper states that the funds will primarily come from long term loan from the Chinese government with additional funds coming from the Banco Centroamericano de Integración Económica (Central American Bank for Economic Integration). However the figures quoted by the newspaper don’t make a lot of sense as they give figures in colones and in dollars that are completely different, at one point quoting ¢420,000,000 (which is just $840,000 USD more or less) and at another point quoting $210,000,000 USD. One hopes the latter figure is the correct one as the first one doesn’t seem adequate to accomplish much.
The work will take some three years to complete and is said to include expanding the road to four lanes between Rio Frio and Limon.
More: El Diario Extra: China Prestaría ¢420 Millones Para Arreglar Ruta a Limón
Jun
23
Tourists report problems at Caribbean Bus Terminal
June 23, 2011 | Tags: Transport | 4 Comments
Terminal Caribe in San Jose. Photo by Saphira.A number of tourists have contacted local travel company Gecko Trail Adventures about dishonest or unsafe behaviour at the Caribbean bus terminal in San José or onboard the MEPE buses to San Jose. We at the Talamanca News are concerned about the safety of the tourists visiting us and so we ask that customers report problems and keep in mind the following safety tips.
One of the problems is very aggressive pirate taxi drivers who harass customers coming off the bus offering them an onward ride to their hotel or their airport. Sometimes they even grab their luggage and try and take it directly to their vehicles. This usually ends up with the customer being horribly overcharged and at the mercy of the pirate taxi driver. We remind everyone that they should never get into an unmarked cab, either at the Caribbean Bus Terminal, the airport or anywhere else unless they have prebooked the ride with a reputable agency or hotel desk and the driver is waiting there with their name displayed. If they have not prebooked a ride, then they should only use the marked red taxis and make sure they use their meter. All licensed taxis in San Jose are red with appropriate taxi markings and must have an operating taxi meter and must use it. If the meter is not turned on you may ask them to “ponga la maría por favor”.
There have also been reports of customers looking for their prebooked / prepaid driver and the pirate taxi drivers pretending to be their driver. Any prebooked transport should have the name of the person they are picking up. Again, they should have a sign or at least a receipt with your name on it.
There have also been reports that in some instances the MEPE company or some of the drivers of the MEPE buses are not acting in a honest, safe and responsible manner. The kinds of incidents we’ve heard reported include:
• Some tourists have reported the driver just disappearing on arrival in San Jose and leaving a free-for-all with the luggage. This obviously does not feel very secure especially when pirate taxis and touts are circling. The driver of your bus is also responsible for unloading luggage from the bus and making sure people get their items so this is not acceptable.
• Drivers using their phone during the ride to either make calls or send text messages
• Selling tickets to clients to stand the whole ride and then charging the full fare
• Charging extra for your luggage when you want to put it in the luggage hold below the bus. This is illegal as by law you’re allowed up to 2 pieces luggage included in your ticket cost.
For the most part we find buses in Costa Rica to be easy to use, professional and very affordable. These complaints have been forwarded to the various agencies and action is being taken to resolve them. If you’ve seen any of these behaviors or others you can share your experiences in the comments here or on the Puerto Viejo facebook page discussion board. Adding specific information such as the date and schedule of the bus and bus numbers or photos of the incident or people involved would be particularly helpful.
Jun
15
Scheduled Flights to Resume to Limon
June 15, 2011 | Tags: Transport | 4 Comments
Starting sometime in July, there were will regular flights between San Jose and Limon on Sansa according to an announcement yesterday issued by the Casa Presidencial yesterday.
The initiative is part of the “Limón Ciudad Puerto” project which aims to revitalize the province.
A number of agencies and companies have come together to make this happen include the airline Sansa, the National Tourism Institute (ICT), the tourism chambers of Limon and of the South Caribbean, local governments and the Limon airport.
There are expected to be at least 4 flights per week with fares ranging between ¢30,000 ($60.00 US) and ¢75,000 ($150.00 US).
Sansa operates from the domestic terminal at the main international airport in San Jose so with a good connection from a morning flight, a visitor could easily be in Puerto Viejo or Cahuita by lunchtime.
As soon as schedules are posted, the Talamanca News will update you here.
More: La Nación: Turismo podrá volar a Limón a partir de julio
May
11
Route 32 reopens after slide but more closures likely
May 11, 2011 | Tags: Accidents and Natural Disasters, Transport | Comments Off
The latest slide damage. Photo courtesy of La NaciónA slide on Sunday once again closed route 32 between Limon and Guapiles.
The slide had closed the road at km 22. The debris field from the slide was 6 meters high and 50 meters wide and took several days to clear with the work being slowed down by the rain.
Route 32 is the main route between San Jose and the Caribbean Coast. When it is closed, travelers need to take route 10 via Turrialba. That route however is slow and windy and adds at least an hour to the trip.
Travelers should call 800-TRANSITO, option #1, option #4 (in Spanish) for the latest road information.
Transport officials are also recommending the people do not drive route 32 at night, especially when it is raining.
Mar
4
San Jose – Limon Roadwork Through Sunday
March 4, 2011 | Tags: Transport | Comments Off
The road will be closed to repaint lines.
Conavi has advised that Highway 32, which is the most direct route between San Jose and Limon, will be closed today through Sunday from 9am to 3pm daily for maintenance.
Buses and cars will therefore need to take the longer route via Turrialba.
This information is subject to change so drivers are advised to call the road update hotline at 800-TRANSITO, option #1, option #4 (in Spanish only and from within Costa Rica only).
Nov
22
Landslide closes route 32 again
November 22, 2010 | Tags: Accidents and Natural Disasters, Transport | Comments Off
The slide debris completely blocks the road. Photo courtesy of La Nación.
Heavy rains have caused a landslide on route 32 which is the main highway connecting San José with Limon and the road remains closed. The slide happened at km 31, 10 km east of the Zurquí tunnel on Saturday at 3:30pm.
Witnesses at first thought they thought a car may have trapped in the slide. But searchers from the fire department and red cross have not found any sign that anyone was trapped.
Until the slide is cleared, motorists and buses will have to take route 10 via Turrialba. However that route is very narrow and very windy so extra time and caution is required. It typically adds at least 1 1/2 hours to the bus journey to the Caribbean.
Transportation officials from the MOPT said they are hoping to have an estimate on the reopening soon but that continued rain and fog is hampering the effort of clearing the slide.
More: La Nación: Derrumbe impide paso hacia Guápiles
Oct
11
Route 32 Closures Today through Wednesday
October 11, 2010 | Tags: Transport | Comments Off
Ruta 32, the main San José-Limón route, will be closed today, Tuesday and Wednesday from 6 a.m. to noon. The Consejo Nacional de Vialidad has contracted with a team of geologists and engineers to create a three-dimensional image of the highway where it passes through Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo.
The goal is to find a definitive solution to the landslides that have plagued the stretch.
The firm Stereocarto is involved as well as specialists from a number of government agencies. Officials suggest that those who must travel to the Caribbean use the alternate
route through Turrialba.
Jul
14
Bocas Shuttle Services Running Again
July 14, 2010 | Tags: Transport | Comments Off
With the strike and protests over, regular service on the shuttles between Costa Rica and Bocas del Toro started running again today.
Current schedules can be found on www.geckotrail.com/shuttle.htm where you can also make a reservation for any of the shuttle companies.
More information on getting to Bocas either by shuttle or independently can always be found on the Puerto Viejo Transportation page.
Jul
12
Roads Reopen to Bocas as Situation Calms
July 12, 2010 | Tags: Government and Politics, Transport | Comments Off
Things have calmed down around Changuinola, Panama, as negotiations continue between union leaders, the Panamanian government and the Bocas Banana Company. The Changuinola Airport is open again. The curfew has been lifted and business are opening there doors again. The roads are open and traffic is flowing freely again for now.
The governor of the northern Panamanian province of Bocas del Toro, Bonifacio Abrego, said Sunday that he had decided against declaring a curfew for the city of Changuinola. Abrego said that calm had returned to the city after three days of violent confrontation between striking banana workers and police. The province of Bocas del Toro borders Costa Rica on the Caribbean coast.
Meanwhile, the Panamanian president, Ricardo Martinelli, vowed that he would uphold the controversial Law 30, which was the cause of the strike.
On Saturday, the Panamanian government ordered the reopening of the Changuinola airport, and police confirmed that the highway that connects the city to the rest of the country had been cleared. The road had been blocked for three days by strikers.
“The problems in Changuinola have been the product of misinformation and a series of lies,” Martinelli said in a press statement issued Sunday. “The intransigence of a group of trade unionists can not end with the banana industry in Changuinola.”
The conflict emerged when the Bocas Fruit Company withheld the portion of workers’ salaries that normally goes toward paying union fees. The company subtracted the union membership fee in response to a recently enacted law that makes such fees optional.
“The government regrets the misunderstanding on the part of this company,” the Martinelli administration said in a press statement. “It is not in the power of this business, nor any other, to retain workers’ salaries because it constitutes a violation of workers’ rights.”
Under the law, the employees must decide whether to pay membership fees and the decision cannot be made for them by their employers.
The protest ended Sunday, when the government signed an agreement with the striking workers. According to the document posted on the Panamanian government website, the original law will not be changed, yet, the government committed to providing more resources to help workers confront the high cost of living.
While roads and the border are open again, shuttle companies such as Caribe Shuttle are holding off on resuming service for a few days while they monitor the situation and make sure the route is safe to travel.
Sources: Caribe Shuttle, Tico Times.
Jul
10
Second Death in Bocas Province; Travel Advisory Issued
July 10, 2010 | Tags: Government and Politics, Transport | Comments Off
 Clashes have been reported today at Finca 4 and Finca 13. Photo courtesy of La Prensa |
La Prensa is reporting that a second person has died as a result of protests near Changuinola in Bocas Province, Panama.
According to the director of the Changuinola Hospital, Thusnelda Cruz, 123 persons have been admitted to the hospital for treatment of injuries as a result of the protests.
Meanwhile our friends over at Caribe Shuttle have let us know that the US Embassy in Panama has now issued a travel advisory for traveling to or from Bocas del Toro while noting that the islands themselves are calm. The travel advisory reads:
Bulletin from Bocas Warden
To those hotels/hostels this email sent to, please inform you guests.
Today, Friday 9 June: It is not a good idea to travel to, near or thru Changuinola or mainland Bocas Del Toro Provincia. It is not a safe to be in this area, and there are road blockages preventing transit, due to protests between Panamanians and their government.
If you need to travel from Isla Bocas to anywhere, it is advised that you leave only by air, to Panama City, David or San Jose, Costa Rica. Either, remain in Isla Bocas until the protests end, or change you travel arrangements accordingly.
When it is save to travel by boat/road from Isla Bocas, an advisory will be sent.
At 7pm, Friday 9 July: Per Isla Bocas Alcalde, Joe Anderson, and Isla Bocas Hospital Emergency, Dr Luis Mou, condition in Isla Bocas is very normal, no problems reported.
Larry Shane
Bocas Warden, US Embassy Panama
The land route between Costa Rica and Bocas del Toro remains closed leaving the only transport option the three times weekly Nature Air flights from San José.
Travelers who have already booked shuttle transport from Costa Rica’s Caribbean to Bocas should contact their travel agency.
Jul
8
 Banana Workers setting roadblocks near Changuinola. Photo courtesy of La Prensa |
Travelers are out of luck if they are trying to go to or from Bocas del Toro, Panama, or want to use the Costa Rica / Panama border crossing at Sixaola / Guyabito / Changuinola on the Caribbean Coast. Just over the border in Panama is one of a reported 11 sites where local banana plantation workers are striking and erecting road barricades.
In addition to the clash at the border, road barricades near Chiriqui Grande will keep travelers from getting to Bocas del Toro or gettting away from Bocas del Toro in that direction. For now, options appear to be by sea or air, or travelors can walk, but a VERY long way and around reportedly angry mobs with machetes, axes and rocks and police in riot gear and tear gas launchers! We do not recommend it.
Another strike of 700 workers in the province of Colon is paralyzing work on the Panama Canal extension.
These strikes are the latest in a series of strikes which date back to the government of ex-President Mireya Moscoso Martín Torrijos revolves around labor law and criminal codes which were voted into law in September 2009. Panama’s current administration reportedly stands by the laws, claiming they will encourage development and bring investment.
So far, the government of Panama has responded by sending military to the 11 strike sites throughout Bocas Del Toro and Colon. With 28 current arrests, the threat of escalation, and the local report that strikers won’t stop till the president comes (who is reportedly in Italy), no end is in sight.
At the moment, the strike has frozen all traffic between Costa Rica and Bocas del Toro, Panama. This effectively cancels the shuttle routes between Costa Rica South Caribbean and Bocas del Toro.
The Talamanca News will continue to monitor the situation. Please watch for updates here. Shuttles will start operating from Puerto Viejo to/from Bocas again as soon as it is safe to do so.
 Article by John Wheatley. John is a long time resident of Costa Rica’s Caribbean and owner of Adventuras Bravas, providing surf classes and adventure tours, and Caribe Shuttle, providing transport to/from Bocas del Toro in Panama. More information at www.caribeshuttle.com |
Jun
29
Route 31 Closed Again This Morning and Thursday
June 29, 2010 | Tags: Transport | Comments Off
Once again, route 31 through Parque Nacional Barulio Carrillo, will be closed again this morning from 6:30a.m. to 12:30pm and again on Thursday morning. The route which is the most direct link between San Jose and Limon has been plagued by mudslides.
The highways ministry has brought in experts from Spain to evaluate the route and this requires its closure.
So cars, buses and trucks will again be routed via Turrialba, which will add at least an hour extra to your trip.
Jun
24
Puerto Viejo gettting a new road
June 24, 2010 | Tags: Community News, Transport | 11 Comments
If you have lived more then just a few months in Puerto Viejo over the past 10 years, I’ll bet you can’t count on your own 2 hands and feet the number of times that we have heard the good news: the road will be fixed soon! Yet….time after time, it never happened, and the road has just kept on getting worse and worse – to the point where it has become downright embarrassing, dangerous and for some – costly!
When the residents scream enough and protest to the local municipality, we sometimes got the potholes filled with material from the nearby Sixaola River, only to watch it get washed away in the next downpour and the potholes getting bigger and deeper each time.
As a local resident and owner of a vehicle, I can personally attest that our biggest expense is THE CAR….and I am not talking about the gas! With horrible roads, it is impossible to stay away from the numerous highly trustworthy and knowledgeable mechanics – on average monthly! I could easily say that I have had to revise, update or change most parts of my suspension at least 4 times a year – every year!
A few days ago an unbelievable site appeared from the horizons: a caravan of heavy-duty road building equipment rolled in through Puerto Viejo, past Cocles, past Playa Chiquita, through Punta Uva and down to Manzanillo….”could it be” we thought to ourselves?
The answer is mostly yes! As it turns out, they are redoing the road (in reverse order from Manzanillo towards Puerto Viejo), with the best material and thickness these roads have ever seen. Unlike the first coat from 10 years ago which was a mix of gravel and tar, this time, we are getting a full 5 cm of hot asphalt…compressed and rolled on top of the bad road. Upon speaking to the “engineers” on the side of the road, we are learning that they are fixing only the stretches that need it most, and supposedly they will return in “about a month” to do the remaining (that part is the remaining mystery!) We don;t know what the final product will be….but at least we already know what we are seeing: The new road is slightly narrow…and leaves very little room for bicycles or pedestrians – in fact cars will even have to slow down when oncoming traffic is approaching – but a mostly smooth ride should be expected from Puerto Viejo down to Manzanillo.
While most, including myself, are thrilled to have a new road, there is also a new fear that the tourists and our children will be less safe walking or bicycling on the road, as drivers a will be tempted to drive “super fast”.
In an ideal world – we would love to see some bike lanes or trails and speed bumps along the way……perhaps this is something our local community can work towards!
Drive safely!
 Article by Manuel Pinto. Manuel, along with his wife Emmanuelle, are long time residents of Costa Rica’s Caribbean and owners of Caribe Sur Real Estatem a full service real estate company on the southern Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, assisting clients to buy or sell eco-friendly properties and businesses to people from around the world. More information at www.caribesur-realestate.com |
May
31
San Jose – Limon Highway 32 Reopens 24 Hours a Day
May 31, 2010 | Tags: Transport | Comments Off
The highways ministry (MOPT) has announced that Highway 32, the main route linking the capital with the Caribbean Coast, will now be open again 24 hours a day, weather permitting.
Travel had been restricted to daylight hours so that police and others stationed there could see landslides starting and halt traffic.
The 24 year old highway is frequently closed due to mudslides leading to criticisms of the way the road was initially planned and built. When the road is closed, residents, tourists and the large amount of truck traffic bound for the port in Limon are forced to take the safer but very slow and winding route via Turrialba which adds 1 to 2 hours to the trip.
This aerial photo from MOPT shows clearly how vulnerable the road is to slides.
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