Anyone who has ever relied on a GPS system to find their way in the US or Europe will rejoice in its helpfulness. Anyone who has tried to rely on a GPS system in Costa Rica will only encounter confusion and probably frustration.
Although the main highways, streets and avenues in Costa Rica are numbered and named, it is not one of the country highlights as to order and simplicity. For years, Costa Ricans have overlooked giving out directions using the conventional avenue and street numbers. Instead, Costa Ricans rely on well known institutions, banks and catholic churches among other to give out directions.
For example, say you want to buy souvenirs at Costa RicaNational Arts and Crafts Market in San Jose, if you ask anyone for the directions they wont say its located on Ave 2B 11th Street, they will more likely tell you its somewhere around 5 or 6 blocks east of the Central Park, in front of Hotel Dona Ines
One of my favorites is the reference of an old fig tree in San Pedro. The tree was quite a landmark back in the days but it was cut down a few years ago. Up to this day, people and local commerce still give out the address referring to the Antiguo Higueron which translates to where the former fig tree was go 2 blocks south then 1 block east. If you are a tourist or new to Costa Rica, there is no way on earth you’ll know there used to be a tree there unless someone shows you.
This is why the Costa Rican Association of Professionals in Tourism (ACROPOT) and a satellite route company has joined forces to create a tourist-focused satellite map for Costa Rica. The map will include Costa Rica entire tourism companies complete with company information, management, photographs and services. The developers will also include their own online traffic signs in order to compensate for the lack of physical signs.
This new Costa Rican GPS Satellite map will greatly benefit tourists and will encourage them to rent a car and head out on their own to explore the country at their own pace. All hotels, tour operators, restaurants and other tour services will be included in the map in order to make exploring Costa Rica a fun adventure instead of a frustrating experience.
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