Thanks. I just heard from my driver who said the road is impassible and that we should book alternative arrangements. I was able to get a room at the Marriott, no problem, so we will have a place to sleep. I can cancel it, and will try to find one night at something more Costa Rican and add a night at Arenal. Thanks for the recommendations.

Xandari gets a lot of good reviews; you might check there.

Those pictures are really scary. I feel really bad for folks who are there. Best of luck to everyone in your travels and for the people who live there.

traveler318:

You may want to look into doing a Pacuare rafting tour. It would be a perfect day excursion.

Glover,
They are now back to normal programing - music etc. When I tried it did tell me to upgrade to IE 7 - but then it let me past there. Maybe try this - its the direct link - for me it pops up ina media player.
http://www.monumental.co.cr/asx/monumental.asx

Yes - it really is scary to think that it is places that so many of us have been to or are going to or have friends. Hopefully they will not find more casualties.

raquel

Someone on another forum reported that the main road north of Varablanca is completely gone in places, and that the Peace Lodge itself has been destroyed.

Is this possible?

Thanks, raquel, that other link worked and, as it happens, it was 11pm news and they were talking earthquake - just wish they didn't talk so FAST!!!! I think my Spanish is ok, until I'm reminded it's not ..

Thanks for all the updates. Frustrating the lack of coverage. Very sad to hear of the two children, very sad.

The missing Canadian couple mentioned are very close friends of ours. We are anxiously awaiting word on their safety. My husband received a call tonight from the Canadian Consulate reporting them missing and we spoke with the B&B owner. We have been frantically searching for news all night but there's not a whole lot out there -just the same repetitive stories. I'll keep checking this board - It was a great source of information when we planned our family trip to CR last March. I'd really appreciate any links or news you may come across. We were told they had called off searches for the night - it will be a long night of worry ahead but hopefully good news will come in the morning.

I got an email from Berni, owner of Pura Vida Hotel in Alejuela. For anyone headed there, he said the Volcano room sustained serious damage - but all else is well there. I just hope that others have fared as well. The lack of current reports is very frustrating.

Unfortunately Tico Times reports a third child was killed, a teenager who was in her home which was buried in a landslide. Doesn't mention Peace Lodge by name, but says 300 people still stranded.

http://www.ticotimes.net/daily.htm#story1

This seems to be getting bigger and bigger as little Pieces of news come out. Very worrisome for the residents and visitors to that area.

Has anyone heard anything on any of the U.S. media sources? Seems a little odd to me. . I guess it isn't a "big enough" news event. I'm afraid it will eventually be.

Will be making calls this evening trying to get more info. It really sounds like they don't even know down there the extent since roads are blocked and lines are down.

As for Peace Lodge, I pray that it has not been destroyed with all those guests in that immediate area. Traveler, it won't be a big deal to change the first part of your itinerary. It isn't anything like the Peace Lodge area, but you might consider staying in the city and doing a couple of days down to the Irazu/Orosi Valley area. Pacuare an excellent idea as well.

More quakes are being predicted. Is that common other than the usual after quakes? That concerns me as well.

I just received this update: SAN JOSE - The death toll from a powerful earthquake in Costa Rica rose to 14 Friday when rescue workers found the bodies of 10 more people near the epicenter of the 6.1-magnitude tremor, the Red Cross said.

I haven't heard a thing on American media about the quake and have been relying on Tico friends and internet for info. I guess this isn't large enough for our media to notice - hard to believe, but some people do not focus on Costa Rica the way we do on this forum!

I hope there won't be more quakes. There was a smaller one on Wednesday, never heard anything about it until this larger one hit.

www.amcostarica.com has some good updated information.

In the touristic area of La Paz Waterfall Gardens, at least 200 employees and about 200 other visitors and tourists were trapped and isolated at the La Paz Peace Lodge and Waterfall gardens, which according to an employee who communicated with Amelia Rueda, was completely destroyed, although no people died. You can hear the audio and read an account of the earthquake at Amelia's blog, as well as later reports of private helicopters charging tourists for taking them away from disaster areas.

Outside the city, near the towns of Vara Blanca, Poasito, Cinchona and Fraijanes, landslides have already claimed the lives of two young girls and a family of five, and it is suspected that tomorrow, as day breaks, more deadly victims will be found. Material damage is substantial, as buildings collapsed, and many roads dissapeared in landslides that may have taken with them cars, buses and houses. The earthquake also brought flooding down the river banks as a result of so much dirt and organic matter falling into them. In total, the damage caused by the earthquake, flooding and landslides is still impossible to predict according to the Costa Rican Red Cross.

Yea... our Canadian friends have been found safe - they were hiking near the waterfalls. That is all we know for now. We'll keep our best wishes for everyone still missing.

Any news, folks, about the students from the University of South Dakota? My son Micah Wonnenberg is among them. They hope to fly back this wkend. Hope they're safe. Thanks! Daddeo

Does anyone know if Poas Volcano Lodge was affected? I would imagine so since it is so close to the epicenter. We are supposed to stay there Wednesday night after flying into San Jose so I am wondering if we should just head to Arenal instead. Any suggestions?

Very scary - I feel so sorry for all those who were affected. It seems so selfish to be worrying about my vacation plans right now...

Daddeo, I hope you hear something soon and let us know when you do.
I

Sessa:

I would avoid anything having to do with the Poas area and just head straight to Arenal.