COSTA RICA ADVENTURE RACE
Locals from Grupo Orosi earn third place overall

• Nissan Ecuador reached the finish line in fourth position.
• They also began to reach Manzanillo teams Sub Category.
• Columbia Spot from Spain won last night crossing finish line at 9:59 pm. Second place went to Buff Thermocool of Spain and Finland, they arrived at 11:30 pm

Grupo Orosi Costa Rica Spirit ended this afternoon more than 500 miles from Costa Rica Adventure Race 2011 and left the third place overall in this event after Columbia Spot and Buff Thermocool Columbia this Thursday night ended their participation in the first and second place.

The home team, wearing the number 12 and led by Álvaro Sáenz with Ivannia Chinchilla, Pablo Leiva, Marco Mendez, fought relentlessly to maintain their difference and so they got from 5:15 am Thursday when the competition resumed with 8 km of kayak, after the organization decided to neutralize the times during the night in Puerto Vargas.

Although Orosi lost some ground against the North Face team during the day, the efforts of the rivals were not sufficient to achieve the wide diversity and were kept constant in the mountain biking sections between Playa Negra and Playa Gandoca and trekking to arrived at Hotel Almendros y Corales in Manzanillo, make the Canopy to cross the official finish at 3:03 pm.

After they made their entry into the official target Nissan Team Ecuador at 3:12 pm, they wear number 18 and leded by Santiago Miño.

They have also made their arrival several teams of Sub Category, like Paradofobia from Brazil, Toyota Costa Rica and Tierra Viva Argentina and Brazil. Also arrived at Hotel Almendras y Corales Atenas from Colombia and Aerodiva, this two teams received assistance to get close competition.

In the coming hours we will send the final report of the race and new pictures.

COSTA RICA ADVENTURE RACE 2011
Columbia Spot could become the winner tonight

• Organization estimates that the winner could get between 7 and 8 pm
• Orosi team still struggling to maintain the third position

The Columbia Spot team of Spain managed to maintain and increase their advantage over the Buff Thermocool, from Finland and Spain, and if they don’t have any problems in the next few hours, they could become winner of the Costa Rica Adventure Race 2011 at Playa Manzanillo Limón.

Spot Columbia ended the 32 km of Coastering at 12:48 pm, at Transition 11 (T11) in Puerto Vargas. In 6 minutes they were prepared and took the exit to another part of Kayak for 8 kms to reach the Hotel Perla Negra at Playa Negra, where they arrived at 2:17 pm. 10 minutes later, theyleft again to face 27 km of mountain biking in the direction of Playa Gandoca.

Buff team, world champions in 2010, remain in second place. They ended the segment Coastering Puerto Vargas at 1:12 pm and went kayaking at 1:22 pm. They finished the 8 km of kayaking in Playa Negra at 2:46 pm and at 3:06 left on a bicycle to Gandoca.

The Grupo Orosi Costa Rica Spirit is fighting despite the problems. They maintain the third place overall and performed fairly quickly T10, saving minutes to avoid losing very important time in this stretch. The leader Alvaro Saenz was treated for foot problems.

Close to them is Nissan Ecuador, who came in fourth place in the T10, Gonzalo Calixto, a member of this team, dislocated his shoulder during the kayak at the end was reviewed and decided to compete despite the injury.

5 minutes behind Nissan Ecuador is the local team Agricenter Caribe, and the team who lost ground during the evening was The North Face Costa Rica, and closes the top 6.

After completing the 27 km of mountain biking, they will reach Gandoca beach for 12 km of trekking to the finish line in the Almendras y Corales Hotel in Manzanillo, the last test there will be a very short Canopi.

The organizers expect that the winning team will be gettinh finish line between 7 pm and 8 pm.

In sub-category Patagonia Chile team remains in first place, second place is shared by Brazil Paradofobia and Toyota Costa Rica, while a little further back, we report the presence of Xtres Toledo from Argentina and Uruguay.

They are out of competition the team Issy Adventure France, Ara Goals from U.S. and Daredevils of Denmark, one of the strongest teams at the start of competition.

Via Press Release

What are you doing over the Christmas holiday? Don’t delay if you plan to join us on our island in Belize for your best vacation ever!

Our 2010-2011 season is almost over and we are getting ready for another great year in Belize. We have already begun receiving bookings for this upcoming season. If you plan to take your family somewhere warm this Christmas, you should start planning now. All of our Christmas dates fill by mid-summer. Every year we disappoint at least 300 people who waited too long to make their Christmas plans. Don’t let this happen to you!
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Museum of Belize Unveils New Exhibit Honoring Mayas as 2012 Draws Near

As the official kick-off for Maya 2012 celebrations in Belize, the Belizean community is embracing a new worldly era by reflecting on the past at the Museum of Belize in Belize City. Providing a deeply enchanting and personal look at the Mayas’ work in creating famous Belizean jade masterpieces, “The People Who Carved Jades and Their Descendants” is an exhibit that was revealed in April in order to provide visitors with a deeper connection with Belize’s Maya culture, as people look to uncover the truth about the end of the 2012 calendar. As the first of many celebrations planned for when the world starts anew on December 21, 2012, this exhibit serves as a bridge between ancient times and the future, and sets the tone for a full line-up of Maya-related events, tours, activities and festivals in Belize, scheduled throughout 2011 and 2012.

“Jade signified life to the Mayas, and we are proud to commence our countdown to the world’s rebirth in conjunction with this renowned exhibit,” said Seleni Matus, director of tourism for the Belize Tourism Board (BTB). “The Long Count Calendar fascinates people from all over the world, and we look forward to unveiling the calendar’s true meaning and the Mayas’ mysteries to all visiting scientists, academics and visitors.”

“The People Who Carved Jades and Their Descendants,” which is sponsored by National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) in conjunction with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), builds on and personalizes the already successful “Jades of Belize” exhibit by highlighting the Mayas who crafted extraordinary jade objects thousands of years ago.

As the epicenter of Maya culture during the Classic Period, Belize has retained its vibrant Maya community and strong influence throughout time, along with an array of ancient Maya temples, artifacts and more.  Information on all of Belize’s most notable Maya sites can be found on the country’s official travel website, but examples include Altun Ha, which is just north of Belize City and is where the largest carved jade object in the entire Maya area – a Jade Head – was originally discovered.  Lubaantun in Punta Gorda is a site rumored to be the place where Anna Mitchell-Hedges found the famous Crystal Skull, in 1926.  And temples at Lamanai in northern Belize were occupied continuously for over 3,000 years, and are surrounded by a lush and beautiful jungle.
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With vacation season on the horizon, travelers hunting for a bargain will find countless wallet-friendly options in Belize as hotels are slashing prices and boosting inclusive packages for the summer months. Home to the second largest barrier reef in the world, ancient Maya temples, exotic wildlife and more, Belize provides an unforgettable vacation unlike any other destination in Central America and the Caribbean. And with a fixed exchange rate of BZ$2 to US$1, travelers will naturally save even more on their summer trips.

Below is a list of specific offers that begin in the summer and run through Belize’s low season (October 31) and are tailored to fit a range of travelers – from couples seeking romantic escapes to families in search of safe summer destinations. Tourists can also find a full roster of hot summer deals on Belize’s official travel website, TravelBelize.org.

SUMMER ROMANCE FOR A BARGAIN

Featuring remote islands, mesmerizing waterfalls and affordable luxuries, Belize is the ideal getaway for couples in search of rousing romantic destinations. From seaside star-gazing on the white beaches of Placencia to breathtaking sunsets on the Maya temples of Caracol in the Cayo District, Belize’s awe-inspiring attractions are sure to sizzle any couple’s summer. While the country’s romance website, Belize In Love, features romantic packages offered year-round, below are two summer deals perfect for stirring up a little romance.

The Palms Oceanfront Resort – Oceanfront Romance Package

Description: A 6 day/5 night romantic escape in an oceanfront suite for US$525 per person (double occupancy).  Package Includes: beautiful oceanfront suite; half day snorkeling along the famous Hol Chan Marine; free snorkeling equipment; swimming with the sharks and stingrays; complimentary land transfer to and from the Palms Resort; free bottle of local Belizean rum; and more.
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8th Edition of The Coastal Challenge Expedition Run to be held in the mountainous north and welcomes competitors once again to the formidable and unforgettable “Route of Fire”.

The Coastal Challenge (TCC) has opened registration for 2012 and the “Route of Fire” scheduled for January 21st to 28th.

Set in Costa Rica’s pristine northwestern region and starting in the shadow of Arenal Volcano, the “Route of Fire” will utilize the country’s volcanic terrain as a backdrop for a diverse course that moves  through inland lakes, windswept highlands, jungle and tropical dry forest until finally reaching the wild coast of Bahia Salinas with amazing views of southern Nicaragua and volcanoes across the bay.

“We had an amazing group of competitors for the Rainforest Run and we considered a wealth of feedback to improve everyone’s overall experience for next year’s race”, said Tim Holmstrom, race director. “The Route of Fire combines the best of Costa Rica’s natural beauty with a stunning and challenging route that will reward trail runners and athletes of all levels.”

The race, which will be capped at 125 competitors, will again attract an international field and Monica Aguilera of Spain and David James of USA will both return to defend their champion titles.
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Belize gets two sunny thumbs up as one of this year’s top destinations for Spring Break in a recent Yahoo! article, and it’s no wonder why with a hefty line-up of fun, premier vacation destinations fit for families, groups, friends and couple alike. With Spring Break just around the corner, travelers will find an unparalleled experience with Belize’s relaxing cayes (islands), adventurous zip-lining and cave tubing excursions, world renowned snorkeling and diving trips to the Belize Barrier Reef, among other activities. Plus, as the only English speaking country in Central America and a fixed exchange ratio of BZ$2 to US$1, travelers can have a budget-friendly vacation without having to worry about language barriers.

Belize’s Toucan Trail website offers countless low-cost travel options, and the country’s official travel website, TravelBelize.org, features daily updates on vacation deals throughout the year. Even still, below are highlights of vacation deals tailored to spring travelers.

SPRING GETAWAYS FOR COUPLES

Boasting sparkling azure waters, stunning beachfront properties and a full range of laid-back and adventurous activities, Belize features the ideal ingredients for a romantic spring getaway. For lovebirds looking to fly away together, Belize offers a variety of travel deals that inspire passion filled moments and memorable experiences that couples can cherish for years to come. Belize’s romance website, Belize In Love, features romantic packages offered year-round, but below are three spring deals perfect for any couple. Continue Reading

What a better place to explore, compete, and live (or at least make plans to) then at the Adventures in Travel Show. A consumer based travel show that hosts events in six cities nationwide. We (No Boundaries) attended an awesome show last March in DC. This time around landing in the ‘Windy City’ or better the wet, cold, and now blizzard ladened metropolis, Chicago. Weather did not detour hundreds of travel enthusiasts from packing the aisles at the Donald Stephens Convention Center. All gathered to talk of beach trips, safari treks, jungle adventures, and various cultural events. Travel agencies, tour operators, and tourism boards arriving days ahead to set up intoxicating displays of exotic places far and wide.

To spice it up further both days were packed full with seminars by well known travel advocates, live camel rides, world dance performances, and dives in the scuba pool. The travel seminars led by photographers, travel experts, magazine editors such as Rick Steve’s of PBS, Ralph Velasco Travel Photographer, and Beth Collin of Budget Travel Magazine all there to share stories and offer advice for planning the trip of your dreams.

I spent my time speaking with various tourism boards and tour operators. To learn of authentic travel experience opportunities and the importance for each country to share the culturally rich and beautiful aspects of their region. This supporting our mission at Adventure Traveler & No Boundaries to be a communication platform for the many positive aspects and connectedness we can all experience through travel. Whether it be for adventure sports, cultural exploration, or simply needing some time away from our everyday. I was also impressed and inspired to learn about the many great humanitarian projects and initiatives out there aligned with travels and to discover literally thousands of vacation opportunities all under one roof.

To finish my day I enjoyed the world dances experiencing each culture through unique costumes, style of movement, and diverse music on the global beats stage.

The Travel & Adventure Show is the longest running series of consumer travel events in the United States – a one stop shopping marketplace, where consumers and the travel trade will find thousands of travel providers offering unique vacation options and travel information. Plus, you’ll be able to access informative travel seminars, hands-on activities cultural performances and more.

Upcoming Adventures in Travel Expo dates for 2011:
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The 2011 edition of The Coastal Challenge Rainforest Run ended today and below are the final results by category. Congratulations to all that competed. Now, enjoy some down time in a fantastic location.

Click on individual graphics for larger version.

Teams:

Men’s:

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It’s amazing how San Juan Howler, Central America’s newest mountain bike race, has morphed into a premier sports event showcasing Nicaragua’s natural beauty. Check mark December 11, 2010 for Howler series races—18K, 28K and 42K.

True, it’s the vision and dedication of race organizers Bodhin Adventure Services based in San Juan del Sur on Nicaragua’s Pacific coastline. However, it’s also thanks to race participants, sponsors and volunteers teaming up for an unforgettable mountain bike race. Not only are visitors delighted to visit this destination gem. More significantly, Howler benefits a cash-strapped economy such as Nicaragua’s when affluent adventure travelers from other countries seek their racing nirvana with this race. And, locals get to compete alongside their sports heroes.

How Participants Pedal-Power Howler
Take for instance Rod Dagneau and Tara Walsh from Vancouver, B.C., Canada. In 2009, Rod placed second in Howler’s elite division while Tara was the sole female competitor. Race organizer Larry Thraen notes, “Not only did Rod and Tara make a huge donation with their bikes—they also flew down a bike box stuffed with new helmets, gloves, glasses, jerseys, tires, reflectors and brake pads. Nearly everyone took home something from the race!”

Tara choked up. “It’s wonderful to see the impact by donating to the cause and how it can touch the community—especially after witnessing the huge surprise on Harvin’s face when he received one of two bikes we brought down. It nearly brought me to tears.”
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Tonight at 8:05pm our first team crossed the finish line, the Swedish team #17, Explore. After 84 hours of racing, including 185km of mountain biking that ended just a few kilometers before the end, they entered Playa Samara where a big crowd of staff, media and other competitors who are no longer in the race greeted them with cheers, flashes and applause. Everybody wanted to witness the last steps of a team that set the race pace since the beginning and remained strong through it all, even despite Per Vestling’s very bad knee. At some point the paramedics recommended him to stop, but he inspired so many by walking through that finished line, doing what he did best, smiling big!

Helena Lindnord from the swedish media accompanying team Explore, was interviewing Jari Kirkland earlier today, and Jari said before resting or showering she wanted a juicy hamburger and french fries! And her wishes were granted, and her whole team got a share, as well as some ice cold beer that went with meal.

That closed the action for Playa Samara tonight. The remaining 4 teams that remain in elite competition have been neutralized at checkpoint 36 for safety reasons and will spend the night there once they arrive. Tomorrow at the crack of dawn team Quechua #12 will be released at 4am, then Bosi Zoom Radio #15 at 4:30am and all other teams and racers at 5am.

The second place is expected to arrive at the finish line at 7:30am.

Hot!!! Everybody agreed, as they ended their mountain bike task, in stage 6 at Pedacito de Cielo in San Carlos. A remote place surrounded by mountains, and very hot. At some points, the bikes had to be carried over the mud and the swamped trails. Exhaustion is starting to set in. The teams took between 30 minutes and an hour to complete this stage.

The next stage is the longest trekking section of the race, under a merciless sun. This must have weighed in Brazil´s decision to retire from the race, once they concluded the mountain bike section in control point 14. This decision leaves Quasar Lontra, one of the favourite teams, to be out of the race. As with the Finnish Omjakon, the remaining members Rafael Campos and Sabrina Gobbor have decided to continue the challenge without Xuxa and Victor Lopes.

The race has been full of expectations. The Swedish Explore has remained first throughout the day. When they crossed the San Juan river mouth, they were three hours ahead of the team Safety Smart Wear (team 16), that has had an amazing take over. Although they have lost precious time due to navigation issues, they have been quick to overcome them and remain in second place. Amongst the members of this team is Costarrican Ligia Madrigal, considered the best mountain bike cyclist of the country. Continue Reading

After a long and hard first day, already the teams are setting the pace differences between them. Although during the rafting section, of the first stage, the teams were quite even, it was not until the biking task that timing became an import issue. Once they came out of the river, the teams were struck by the heat and navigation dilemmas started to arise.

At the canopy La Linda of Sarapiqui, a great thunder storm broke out and although nobody was injured, the electrical lightning affected some of the members of the teams, who could feel small electrical discharges from the cables above the trees.

For the next task, the teams took hold of their bikes to get ready for the third stage, and head towards the daring nocturnal task of the descent of the Ravine of Caños, in Río Cuarto. This task was a proof of team work, in which they had to deliver between what was safe and what was risky and faster competition wise. This was undergone during the night and in very harsh weather conditions. Only one third of the teams managed to accomplish this task before the end of the day. The rest of the teams arrived to the control post #12 early this Tuesday morning, thus completing 10 miles of trekking.

Every aspect is taken into account. The captain of the Swedish team, who leads the race, commented about how complicated and technical this task had been. The Argentinean team Tierra Viva, said that the team´s security was the main issue during the river and canyon crossing without ropes. The Finnish team Multisport Omjakon (team 2) were the only ones that decided not to cross the canyon and headed for their bikes at 9.45 p.m. This will result in a penalty that will amount to twice the longest timing in this stage, probably 10, which will make it very difficult for the team to classify in the first places.

But still, anything can happen.

The race tonight has developed in unexpected ways.

Finland Multisport.fi, team #2 that had remained at the front all day, and while in the 3rd position, decided to not risk the canyoning section at the Laguna de Hule checkpoint and has advanced directly to the mountain bike at 9:45pm. This has changed their time from being just 30 minutes away from the lead to falling back to last place.

This all happened at the 4th transition of the Costa Rica Adventure Race. At the second transition earlier today captain Pekka Sorjonen, team 1 of Multisport Omajkon had to abandon the race starting the canopy section, due to health problems that had been affecting him for the past 2 or 3 days. However, Toumas Hallila and Heikki Hihnala have decided to continue on the course, even after their team has been drawn out. Tonight they were looking strong at checkpoint 11 at around 11:15pm.

Nontheless, this leaves Finland with little chances to win the first edition of the ARCR.

Unlike other teams that have been giving us some unexpected surprises at the front, where Sweden’s team 17, Explore, continues in the lead by only 10 minutes, with the Colombian team #15 Bosi Zoom Radio at their heels and probably closer at every transition. And even more than that, seeing Costa Rica, with team #5 come out in third place at the end of the checkpoint 12, which was the exit of the canyoning section where all teams of competitors had to race through the night. Real Costa Rica Coastal Challenge got cheers from the 7 or 8 staff and media team that were standing over the bridge expecting France to come out next. Of course Quechua, team #12 team was close behind them on the trail. Continue Reading

Equipo Explore (SUECIA) heading since today’s second stage

Colombian BOSI Zoom Radio Team is just 30 minutes behind the leader, crossing Hule lagoon canyon.

Sweden´s Explore team (17) is heading the race followed 30 minutes behind by Costa Rica´s Bosi Zom Radio team, and barely a minute behind, is the Finnish team Multisport.fi., (team 2).

Unfortunately the Finnish Omjakon multisport.fi (team 1) has been forced to withdraw from the race due to captain Tekka´s unexpected physical indisposition. Even though the team will not be able to classify, the three remaining members will continue in the race.

After the rafting, mountain bike, and canopy sections all teams arrived at Lake Hule in Rio Cuarto. Tonight they will be travelling through the canon of Lake Hule Río Cuarto. This task is a very technical one which is made more difficult due to weather conditions. The major obstacles being¸ rain and mud.

In tomorrow’s early morning we will know if Sweden keeps the head of the race.
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The long awaited moment has arrived, Costa Rica Adventure 2010 is about to start!

At 7.30.a.m. the 18 teams, a great number of members of the press and all the staff from ARCR were ready at La Virgen of Sarapiqui. Last minute preparations and details were being taken care off, instants before the race was due to begin.

Children from the neighbouring High school Claudio Lara Campos, from La Virgen of Sarapiqui attended the event in order to join the members in the first trekking stretch of 1.5 miles along the main road of this community. A great entourage of vehicles escorted the team while the locals greeted them as they passed by.

Faithfully supporting their teams are the sponsors: Columbia, Red Bull, AeroDiva, Toyota and Toyota Car Rental.

The race was officially given the go, at the fire of the gun, in Sarapiqui´s bridge, at 8.a.m on the dot. High anxiety mingled with smiles, even though a very tough and rough time lays ahead of each and every team during their different tasks.

At the start of their 27.5 mile rafting along the Sarapiqui river, the team QuasarLontra from Brazil (team 18) were the first to embark, followed by Sweden (team 17) and France ( team 12) in the third place.

Four hours later, heading the race, the Finnish team (team 2, Multisport.fi) arrived at 12:50 p.m. local time, followed closely by the Swedish from Explore and the French Quechua.

On August 23rd, 21 international teams will be standing at the starting line at 7 A.M. ready to be a part of the first ever Costa Rica Adventure Race (ARCR 2010). Beginning in the Atlantic region, men and women in teams of 4, will race across more than 500 Km. of forest, beach, rivers, mountains and through rural communities, guided only by maps and a compass.

The best competitors will sacrifice many hours of sleep for 5 days, trying to beat the clock, on a non-stop journey toward the Pacific Coast. Several different stages will wave them through, including rafting, mountain biking, trekking, ropes, kayaking and canopy. The route, which remains a secret, promises a variety of scenery, vegetation and climate that goes from a tropical rain forest to the cloudy heights of the country. The winning team will earn the right to compete against 60 other teams in Spain in October, for the Adventure Race World Championship in Bimbache.

Costa Rica has been popular among people who wish to practice all types of adventure sports. In 2008, close to 70% of all visitors participated in at least one of these activities, according to the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT). With the interest of promoting the country and all its potential, Mr. Carlos Ricardo Benavides, the head of the Ministry of Tourism for Costa Rica, will be hosting the official press conference. This will be the first time that a general overview of the ARCR 2010 route will be presented to the public, on Thursday, August 17th, just a few days before the race.

More than just great scenery for a challenging race, Costa Rica has played its part before in Adventure Race history, like earning the “Spirit Award” at Borneo Eco-Challenge in Malasya. Other national teams have also participated in Fiji, Mexico, Ecuador, United States, Nicaragua, Argentina, Chile, Brazil and Portugal. So the ARCR continues to play its role as the first of a series of 3 races to be held again in the following consecutive years. The goal is to host the 2013 Adventure Race World Championship in Costa Rica.

Via Press Release

For the first time in the Central American region, the ADVENTURE RACE WORLD SERIES (www.arworldseries.com) will be holding 1 of it’s 11 qualifying events in Costa Rica. Just a couple months prior to the World Championship of October, in Spain. This great new event will be the COSTA RICA ADVENTURE RACE 2010, on August 20 and 28th.

The race will cover more than 500 km of exhuberant, natural Costa Rican landscape. On a non-stop secret course filled with adrenaline and many challenges. The teams of 4 are a mix of both men and women, and each competitor must complete several disciplines like trekking, mountain biking, canopy, kayaking, ropes, and rafting, without the help of any motorized transportation. Along the way they must find 39 different checkpoints, navigating with just maps and compasses, where even the most experienced athletes will find the Costa Rican terrain and it’s unique reference points somewhat difficult and peculiar.

A record of 20 teams from 10 different countries are already confirmed, with still 3 months left for teams to enter the race, even more are expected. The event will have 2 other unique features. First, the Horizontes family vacation option, which, parallel to the race will allow those who accompany the teams to follow the excitement of the competition while enjoying some of Costa Rica’s best attractions. And second and even more important, is the commitment of the ARCR to guarantee a CO2 Neutral event with an offset of all the CO2 emissions produced by the race and travel.

For those who love adventure and can’t make it to Costa Rica this year, a step by step follow-up of all competing teams will be available online on through the SPOT satellite technology, at the ARCR official website www.ARCostaRica.com, where teams will also be able to post and receive messages and support along the course.

Our media staff has much more information available, as well as updates on race preps, interesting facts about the teams and the course and additional material, newsletters and photos. So let us know who to talk to or forward our information to your staff to contact us at: media@ARcostarica.com. We’ll be pleased to receive any comments, answer your questions, or coordinate oportunities for coverage of the race and interviews.

Not all travels to a tropical paradise have to be mellow, beach lounging, sun soaking, lazy days splashing in the surf all day and coconut shaped umbrella drinks all night.  Grant it, for some that might be just what the doctor ordered, but for others, some pulse raising, adrenaline pumping activities may provide the balance to a perfect adventure vacation. 

For those with the time and access to Central America look no further than Costa Rica for a fantastic combination of nature, relaxation, culture, cuisine, and neck-hair raising fun!

Costa Rica is roughly the size of West Virginia, about .03 % worth of the planet’s landmass.  Yet, this small country contains 5% of the planet’s biodiversity, and because of this roughly 25% of the land in Costa Rica is in the Protected Areas program, dotting the land with national parks, forests, and biological reserves.  With gorgeous mountains, active volcanoes, clear clean rivers, and pristine beaches, Costa Rica is the setting for the world’s largest and most unique outdoor playground! Continue Reading