Don’t miss the excitement leading up to Superbowl XLIII while on vacation!

Whether you will be vacationing to the country or are already Living in Costa Rica, you do not have to miss the American football playoffs just because you are beyond U.S. borders. While local cable providers like Amnet and CableTica offer channels such as ESPN and FOXsports, games airing on other stations like CBS and NBC may be harder to come by. Should you find yourself in a bind with no game to be found, try out any of the following “Top 10 Sports Bars” in the San Jose metropolitan area, along with a limited list of beach bars with satellite TV.

1. Mac’s American Bar is proudly Costa Rican owned and offers satellite cable, promising to have all the big games this playoff season.

2. Hooters is a no-brainer for a quality football watching atmosphere. It opened in Costa Rica in 2005 at the Plaza Itskazu in Escazu. 2289-3498

3. Time-Out Tavern is a brand new sports bar that opened in San Rafael de Escazu. To get there, drive just 300 meters south of the Costa Rica Country Club and the bar/restaurant is on the left hand side in a tiny strip mall between two dental clinics and across from a nursery called Magia Verde Vivera. The menu is sports themed and large portioned with names like The Pittsburgh Steeler, Rocky Marciano and The Hog. 2289-3217

4. El Cholo, next to Palacio de los Deportes in Heredia.

5. Colonial Casino is located in the center of San Jose on avenida 1 between calles 9 and 11. Come in for some gambling or just sit at the bar watching your team vie for Superbowl XLIII victory.

6. Goool is a small open air bar located on the Careterra a Pavas just best of La Sabana Park where Big Dogs used to be.

7. Horseshoe Casino, located just before the Colonial Casino on avenida 1, between calles 7 and 9.

8. Hooligans Sports Café can be found in the large shopping center Multiplaza in Escazu where you can enjoy some quality American food while catching the big game.

9. The Fiesta Casino is located just 500 meters from the San Jose International Airport adjacent to the Hampton Inn & Suites.

10. The Sportsmen’s Lodge will also be presenting the games on their 8 big screen televisions. The bar, located in Barrio Otoya, 200 meters west of the Guardia Calderon Hospital, also hosts a private Superbowl party with tickets going for $50 last year.

Beach Bars:
1. Pasatiempos restaurant in Tamarindo is set under a rancho, pool side with large flat screen tvs and good snacks
2. Dos Locos off the mainstreet in Quepos claims to be a Steelers bar
3. Father Rooster’s in Ocotal offers a beachfront sports bar atmosphere

Playoffs Schedule:
NFL WILD CARD WEEKEND

Saturday, January 3
NFC: 3:30 p.m. in Costa Rica* (Costa Rica is one hour behind EST)
Atlanta (11-5) at Arizona (9-7) (NBC-TV)

AFC: 7 p.m. in Costa Rica
Indianapolis (12-4) at San Diego (8-8) (NBC-TV)

Sunday, January 4
AFC: 12 p.m. in Costa Rica
Baltimore (11-5) at Miami (11-5) (CBS-TV)

NFC: 3:30 p.m. in Costa Rica
Philadelphia (9-6-1) at Minnesota (10-6) (FOX-TV)

NFL DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS

Saturday, January 10
AFC: 3:30 p.m. in Costa Rica
Baltimore (11-5) or San Diego (8-8) or Indianapolis (12-4) at Tennessee (13-3) (CBS-TV)

NFC: 7:15 p.m. in Costa Rica
Arizona (9-7) or Atlanta (11-5) or Minnesota (10-6) at Carolina (12-4) (FOX-TV)

Sunday, January 11
NFC: 12 p.m. in Costa Rica
Arizona (9-7) or Atlanta (11-5) or Philadelphia (9-6-1) at New York Giants (12-4) (FOX-TV)

AFC: 3:45 p.m. in Costa Rica
Miami (11-5) or Indianapolis (12-4) or San Diego (8-8) at Pittsburgh (12-4) (CBS-TV)

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Filed under: Travel on January 2nd, 2009