Costa Rica - film & processing

Hello,

It looks like I'll be heading to Costa Rica for a month or so in June; I'll be staying near Turrialba.

I am wondering if there is somewhere in San Jose that I could buy B&W supplies - I would like to develop rolls whilst I am over there. I was also curious about 4x5 film availability - specifically Provia. Is there somewhere I can get E6 processed?

If anyone has answers to any of these questions, it would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

Best place in Costa Rica to get film, processing, both B&W and color, is Miami.
Don´t expect to get materials there. The best photo stores are, at best, sporadical suppliers. Labs are average. But the country sure has many nice places to photograph.

Peace,

Peter

Update on Costa Rica Supplies

So I´ve been in CR a week now. Delta Airlines managed to loose my bag, containing a lot of my darkroom supplies. Pretty angry about it, but that´s another story.

I spent a few more days than I would have liked to in San Jose, mainly dealing with Delta. However, on one of my strolls I came across a photo shop that was - lo and behold! - stocked to the gills with darkroom supplies.

To say I was shocked was an understatement. Every person I´ve spoken too has said "you´ll never find xxx in Costa Rica. Buy in Miami." Everyone! Quite ridiculous, when, without actively searching, I came across a well stocked shop.

Dima Industrial Y Comerical S.A.
Avenida Central, Called 3 y 5
Apdo. 871-1000
San Jose, Costa Rica
tel 506 222 3969
fax 506 255 3089
email dimaic@racsa.co.cr

The fellow I spoke with was Edmundo Palma. Didn´t speak English, but that was no worries.

What did they stock? in 120, they had Provia, and Ilford BW. I didn´t look at 35mm. No 4x5. Lots of Ilford and Tetenal chemistry, including DDX, wash aid, fixer, etc... They even had some (new!) jobo tanks and reels. Are you kidding me? I´m not familiar with the Tetenal stuff, but they had a good amount of it.

There was even some printing supplies - lots of RC paper and MG filters. I´m quite sure he processed e6 in 120. My spanish is arse, but I think that we understood each other on that.

I would wager that there are more suppliers than just this fellow in CR - so to all those who would say otherwise, I would suggest having a better look in San Jose before rushing of to Miami for supplies. Just a thought.

Good luck,