Inside Tips
Walking the
Romeria
If you decide to
make the walk to
Cartago, here a
few basis common
sense
recommendations:
- Wear light
clothing, bright
colours and lose
fitting the best
- Do not consume
alcohol before
and during the
walk
- Do not walk
alone
- Do not carry
valuables, like
jewelry, cash
and credit cards
- Do not eat
food offered by
the food stands
- Make sure to
take along lots
of liquids and
keep hydrated at
all times
- Carry sunblock
and a hat
- If walking at
night carry a
flashlight and
wear reflecting
clothing
- Carry your ID
with you
- Stay on the
approved route.
Do not wander
off in areas
unknown
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Driving To And
From Santa Ana
On The Pista
With the
commencement of
the work on the
new highway to
Caldera, the
Autopista Próspero
Fernández, more
commonly known
as the highway
to Santa Ana/Cuidad
Colon, has
become a true
nightmare
especially
around the
bridge before
the Escazú exit,
Multiplaza,
Guachipelin and
Santa Ana.
Our Inside Tip
is to use
extreme caution
around those
areas,
especially at
Santa Ana
westbound, where
the road takes a
90 degree turn
to the left and
then another to
the right. The
speed has been
reduced to 25
Km/h and signage
is excellent,
but in typical
Costa Rican
fashion, nobody
pays attention
to the warnings
until it's too
late. In
addition, within
metres of the
swerve, there is
a bus stop in
the middle of
the right lane.
Not too bad
around
Multiplaza and
Guachipelin, but
reducing speed
is important, as
the lanes are
narrow and the
"Mario
Andretti's to
be" of Costa
Rica use it the
passage as
practice for
their Formula 1
debut. And
course, combined
with those who
slow down almost
to a stop
confused by the
bright pylons,
the skid marks
pile up.
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Driving Your
Vehicle Into
Nicaragua
Many are opting
to driving their
own vehicle into
Nicaragua from
Costa Rica
rather than
taking one of
the several bus
services
available. The
experience can
be rewarding or
frustrating,
depending on
your
preparation.
The first step
is to visit the
nearest office
of the Registro
Nacional to
obtain a
certificate that
is required for
the vehicle to
leave Costa
Rica. The
process takes
minutes if you
visit the Plaza
Mayor office
between 2:00pm
and 3:00pm and
not the central
offices in
Zapote.
The cer
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Passing the
Riteve
Inspection
Passing the
annual vehicular
inspection is
one of a
process. First
step is make an
appointment.
Next take the
vehicle to a
"trusted"
mechanic for a
complete
revision,
including a gas
emission test.
Once at the
Riteve station,
ensure that you
have the
required
documents - the
title
certificate, the
current marchamo
and your cedula
or passport.
Once the fee is
paid, proceed to
the inspection
line, where it
is best to stay
quiet, in your
vehicle, follow
the instructions
and then cross
your fingers
that the gas
analyzer is
working properly
that day and you
get your
sticker.
If the vehicle
fails the
inspection, you
then have up to
30 days to
correct the
"grave" problems
indicated and
have the vehicle
re-inspected.
The
re-inspection is
only of the
failed items and
not the entire
vehicle. If the
vehicle is not
re-inspected
within 30 days,
the vehicle has
to then be
submitted to an
new full
inspection.
For the
re-inspection,
follow the
advice above.
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Driving The
General Cañas
Keep clear of
the right hand
lane of the
General Cañas,
the so called
highway between
La Sabana and
the airport and
the busiest in
the country.
The shoulder
disappeared when
the highway was
widened to three
lanes from two
and stalled or
stopped and
buses vehicles
are forced to
use the lane as
a shoulder or "respaldon"
in Spanish.
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Dialing The
Eight Digits
To make dialing
less confusing
under the new
eight digit
number system,
dial the 2 or 8
prefix first
then dial the
seven digits as
always.
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