The initial version of the Costa Rica map is now up and running, here:
http://www.ecomapcostarica.com/map/index.shtml
If you are using a small computer screen, you may need to scroll the page down to see three "Zoom To" buttons and some notes. Select the visible layers by using the "+" button on the upper right of the map.
The actual map display that you are seeing is being rendered by OpenLayers, running as a Javascript client.
The base layer (outline), ASTER satellite image, and 'synthetic streams' (artificially generated river routes) are being served from MapServer using WMS. The outline and stream layers are shape files, whilst the satellite image is a GeoTIFF (it was initially a JPEG which I converted using some of the MapServer/GDAL tools).
At the moment, there is only one "client-level" layer. This is the Leaves & Lizards which is served as KML. In two weeks (to the day) we shall be in the field and start adding real data such as topographic information (roads/paths,creeks, hot springs, buildings), panoramic photos, and ecological field points. The latter two will have their own KML data layers.
A version using Virtual Earth for the base layer should go live in the next 2-3 days.
Richard