Any comment on reports of record rainfall over the last year in some parts of Central America.Has this affected the roads,especially in places like Arenal,Monteverde or the Osa Peninsula?Just wondering,since we will be in these areas in mid-January of next year.

For what it's worth, the road conditions on the Osa as well as the road to Monteverde tend to be rough all the time, record rainfall or not.

The road to Arenal from the airport is good, both routes, though San Ramon and through San Carlos. Arenal to Monteverde, around the lake does deteriorate with extra rainfall, but generally has alternating decent areas and rough areas.

At least, this has been our experience in many years and as recently as 3 months ago. Additional rainfall during the past week has, no doubt, adversely affected many areas, but not the ones you have mentioned--unless the road to Monteverde is now even worse than it usually is! There have been a few roads and areas closed due to landslides, but that particularly area, to my knowledge, has not been mentioned.

This is expected to be the heaviest rainy season since 1944. There have been many road closures, landslides and bridge washouts. In general the roads are taking a beating and will need a lot of repair. With the rainy season going until early December, and then the holidays coming, repairs don't usually begin until mid-January. As Shillmac says, certain routes are always bad. You drive slowly and don't drive at night.

When you get to Costa Rica, look at the structure of the streets and roads. The construction is cheap and shoddy. No wonder they can't stand up to heavy rains. During the dry season, road crews will be out to fill the potholes with blacktop, but that won't stand up to another rainy season.

An enormous pothole has appeared on my street. Someone in the neighborhood planted a large stick with a red piece of cloth in pothole to warn drivers until such time that it's repaired, if ever. It's all part of life in Costa Rica.

Lots of rain closures including the
Pan Am Cerro de la Muerte area last
week.Best to check on closures closer
in but things tend to dry out and
get fixed pretty quickly.

You should be ok on main roads in Jan.

Thanks shillmac,Jeff,gwodavis et al for the most informative replies,in addition to all the other great info you folks provide.This was my first post on the Latin America board-my other posts have been on the African site.We are excited about our first journey to CR-in fact,I just called my local indoor climbing wall to set up an appointment,so I can learn how to rappell-want to try one of those canyoning tours while in Arenal-even at my old age (50 plus)that is if they let me sign up-LOL!!!
PS We will be at BDC the last week in January-maybe we'll run into some Fodorites!
Regards,Dave

You are welcome, Dave. . have a great time! LOVE BdC--bet you do, too! And hey--50 plus is a GREAT age!