www.CostaRicaTicas.com

and if so how long does it take from SJ? thanks in advance

I've been reading nacion.com and I am pretty sure it is closed again due to rockslides that have caused accidents.

The section between Atenas and Orintina has been closed, by government order, for a number of weeks due to landslides that have at times totally blocked the road and in one case resulted in a fatality.

The concessionaire has been ordered to take remedial action. They have told the Transport Minister that they have resolved the problems. The Minister is waiting independent engineering reports before making a decision on the adequacy of the repair work.

A decision is expected this week.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Let's hope so ID. I drove back yesterday afternoon after picking up a client at the airport around 1:30. It was a nightmare before, during and after Atenas. Keeping my fingers crossed.

I am planning a trip to SJ with some friends in August. We are hoping to go out to Jaco for a couple days to mess around. Should I be worried about booking hotels and excursions in Jaco? Should I just play those more by ear and book them when I get there? Would hate to get there and find out the road is closed. Is this a real frequent occurence and if it does occur does it just make the trip longer or does the road shut down totally sometimes?

You can still get to Jaco, but if the highway is closed then it will most likely be a longer trip. Use the old road.

As of this morning insidecostarica is saying they are once again delaying the re-opening of the section between Atenas and Orotina. They said it is still possible by the weekend and that progress is being made.

Lol Muy Tico, twenty years to build and no one foresaw rock and mud slides on steep hills ovelooking the road during heavy rains.


BKTUNA/Boyd
I am never going home

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BKTUNA/Boyd
I am never going home

As of this morning the highway is open again. Thank God, the airport runs have sucked on the old road... Atenas has had terrible congestion. Look for lots of traffic on the new highway this weekend, with vacations still going on..

Is the highway still open or has it been closed again?

Thanks!

I just drove the road to Jaco last night, its open -- took about 3 hours for what should be 90 mins or less trip.

Lots of road crews working to contain the rock and mudslides slowed the traffic down. Worst place we stopped because a mudslide appeared to have happened the day before (heavy rains here all day) and they blocked off part of the road with those cement highway dividers.

Never seen anyone "cement" a whole section of mountain to prevent the slides... interesting.

My guess is that the best bet is to check the weather forecast before driving the road to Jaco.

Also, to the gentlemen who considered coming without reservations... thats exactly what I did - had no problems finding a room at a good price... 6 or 7 hotels I stopped at all had vacancy... its July, not high season though.

paraphrasing Rodney Dangerfield, Greengo,...."What'd ya say we bust up this joint....?".........

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"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16