Good news from the Cangrejal River Valley

News from the Cangrejal River Valley
Our hacienda style building welcomes you upon arrival

I wish I could say that my good news from the Cangrejal River Valley is that we are open again. Not quite, but most hotels are working on it and complying with the bio security protocols. These are meant to keep us safe as well as all our guests. Not trying to put us before our guests… But as you can see, if we are not safe, we cannot provide you with safety![themify_hr color=”light-gray” width=”1″ border_width=”1″]

But that is a different story… I do hope that I can soon share that good news from the Cangrejal River Valley. In the meantime, we are working on up-keeping, maintenance, landscaping, and other things, I noticed a change in my cell phone this week. You see, not all of us in the Cangrejal Valley are fortunate to have a cellular phone signal. The Nombre de Dios Mountains are not conducive to cell phone coverage. Because of this, one of the two companies that offer cellular phone communications laid a fiber optic cable that connects the two towers within the valley with the rest of the network. Although the cable allows for high speed transmissions, the radio on the tower was a 2 G, or edge technology. Not complaining too much, you see, at least those of us who can afford it have a fiber optic internet connection!

News from the Cangrejal River Valley
Colorful garden flowers at La Villa de Soledad B&B

However, when the power goes out, as it often happens in our part of the world, we are without access to the world through our internet connection. So, I was pleasantly surprised this week when I saw that instead of the Edge sign on my phone, I found the LTE sign! This means that if our power or internet are down, we can still connect with the world! This includes downloading mail, surf the net, confirm reservations, or send messages! What a difference technology can make! Unfortunately, not all the hotels in the area have this benefit. Those properties that are down river from the Pico Bonito National Park Visitors Center do not have access to the signal. This means that they must rely on their internet for connections via whatsapp.[themify_hr color=”light-gray” width=”1″ border_width=”1″]

Those of us that are upriver from the swing bridge are fortunate to have both, cell phone coverage and internet. Guests staying in the area with Tigo phone lines now have both options. This is indeed good news from the Cangrejal River Valley! Amazing how small things like this can get you excited during this 3 month plus shut down!