ellene

For all those travelling to Costa Rica within the near future, there is a truck stoppage on many of the major roads. Check with your hotel to insure you can actually get there once you arrive.

lvk

Ellene,

We're just back today, and got to experience the trucker strike first hand on the way to the airport. All major roads into the San Jose were closed.

Luckily, Oscar, our driver knew of a very long detour (adding 3.5 extra hours-good thing we left early) and was on the phone with his wife and other drivers to make sure this access wasn't blocked off. It was a bone-jarring, winding road not on the maps, but we got to our flight on time. The airport was eerily empty when we got there.

This strike may last a while, so anyone leaving in the next few weeks should call their hotels and plan accordingly.

Kwoo

lvk, we returned from CR on Aug 20. We rented a car and didn't have any problems. Looks like we left just in time, though. Luckily we missed the trucker strike.

Did you see the lava from Arenal Paraiso? I think you were there just after us. We were there from Aug 14 - 16, and saw the lava on Aug 14 & Aug 15. What an amazing sight! It was very prehistoric, with the howler monkeys howling & the red lava flowing. My trip report is titled "Costa Rica Trip Report - just Returned", if you are interested. Am looking forward to reading yours. I enjoy the trip reports even more now because I can relate to most destinations, stories, events, etc.

lvk

Hi Kwoo,

We must have just missed you at the AP. We got there about 6pm on the 16th. Yes, we saw the lava on most nights. We sat out on our rocking chairs and enjoyed the show. Pretty amazing!

I read your trip report, sounds like you had a great time. We had some similar experiences.

I'm procrastinating dealing with my real life (mail, faxes, emails, messages, laundry) by reading and posting here. I need to carve out some time to devote to posting my trip report. I kept a little journal, and I'm so glad I did, because I had forgotten about some highlights until I read them in the journal.

lvk

Just read on www.amcostarica.com that the strike is now turning from a truckers strike to a general strike involving telecommunications workers, teachers, etc.

Another reminder - check with your hotel to see if it is accessible. Get as much information as possible. Check the cancellation policies and have a back-up plan!

costaricaguide

There is also a good article in the Tico Times this morning.

trevorjoyce

IVK, welcome home! Isn't Oscar great? We felt sooo bad when he had his car problem and consequently no income and the repair expense. We also felt so bad not seeing him again. I guess I've said enough about this, but we never would have stopped for the lunches or wildlife like we did with him. Joyce

lvk

Hi Joyce,

I replied in detail on your other thread about private drivers. Oscar was wonderful in this situation (and many others).

The road we took was a little-known road that he has been driving for years. It's between his home and his family's vacation cabin near Playa Hermosa.

We were stopped at a road block in San Mateo for about 1/2 hour. He told us about that road and asked if we wanted to give it a try. He, and the other drivers stuck at this intersection were talking to each other, on their cell phones and on two-way radios to other drivers around the country, and learned there was no way to pass from where we were. So, we pulled a u-turn and headed out on our adventure. He even asked a tour bus driver behind us if he wanted to follow. The tour bus driver had passengers trying to get to the airport for their flight to the Netherlands, so he gave it a try too. Many, many other people were not so lucky judging from the emptiness of the airport at that hour (5:30 pm).