Costa Rica Corner

Car rental in Costa Rica is expensive. Expect to pay about $350 per week (including insurance) for a regular vehicle, and up to $500 for a large 4WD. Rental days are calculated on a 24-hour basis: thus, if you pick up your car on a Tuesday at 3pm for a week, you have to return it before that time the following Tuesday. The minimum age for rental is usually 25, and you’ll need a credit card, either Mastercard or Visa, which has sufficient credit for the entire cost of the rental. There are rental offices in all the major tourist spots and Costa Rica real estate companies and you can arrange to pick up your car in another part of Costa Rica and drop it off at the airport when you leave - this normally entails a charge of $20-30, but this may be waived if you’re taking the vehicle for more than a few days. It’s also worth knowing that most tour operators in Costa Rica can arrange car hire much more cheaply than if you organize it yourself through one of the overseas operators.

If you’re planning to visit the Nicoya Peninsula, national parks, or other remote spots, it’s definitely worth paying the extra money for a 4WD. In smaller vehicles, punctures are a depressingly regular experience, and although getting them repaired is a matter of a couple of minutes’ hammering at the rim at the local garage, its not the best way to spend a holiday.

Most car rental companies in Costa Rica… Read the rest of this entry »

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A perfect place for strategic investment in Central America is Costa Rica. Fueled by the upsurge of tourism in the country, Costa Rica Real Estate industry is experiencing some sort of a balanced and firmer economic rush. All over the island, whether it be in the Pacific or the Caribbean coastlines the increase in numbers of elite residential condominium projects, constructions of exclusive beach front villas and mushrooming serene private communities are evidences of a fast growing, continuously expanding and consistent market which bring higher yields and enormous income to those who sustained and put their  money in real estate market.

The province of Guanacaste, for instance, has turned into a booming commercial hub that represents some of the tremendous investments in Costa Rica as… Read the rest of this entry »

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The realization of the seven year plan of expansion has moderately added to the economic expansion. The good turnouts for Costa Rica can be attributed to the extensive industries that comprise its economy. Being located in the Central American isthmus, the country gains an easy access to North and South American markets while also getting a direct ocean entry to the European and Asian continents.

Eco-tourism in Costa Rica is now becoming popular due to its forests usually connected to breathtaking beach views that charm a number of retirees and eco-tourists. The humidity of the country has made it a good getaway for those near the polar regions. Positive changes have been made to improve Costa Rica’s property sector. Tax breaks and investment incentives can be availed by real estate buyers in Costa Rica. Real estate investors and those looking for a retirement or second home overseas can come to Costa Rica and explore its exciting and affordable property market.

With other real estate… Read the rest of this entry »

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Educated urban women play an active role in Costa Rica’s public life and in the workforce. Today, Costa Rica has a higher percentage of female politicians than either the United States or Britain. They even take precedence in business like those skillful and smart real estate agents in Costa Rica real estate while woman in more traditional positions are generally accorded the respect due to their role as mothers and heads of families. Despite this, however, women may be subjected to a certain amount of machismo.

In general, people are friendly and helpful to solo women travellers, who get the poor little thing vote, because they’re all alone, without family or man. Nonetheless, Costa Rican men may throw out unsolicited comments at women in the street. If they don’t feel like articulating a whole word, they may stare or hiss - there’s a saying used by local women: “Costa Rica’s full of snakes, and they’re all men.”

Blonde, fair-skinned women are… Read the rest of this entry »

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More than a million visitors each year flock in Costa Rica for several reasons: one such reason is that it is only a few hours from the southern states of the US. There are frequent flights that quite affordable. Another reason is that Costa Rica real estate can be up to 70% cheaper than in the southern states of the US. Costa Rica has a higher stand of living so that when you are able to retire, you can live quite comfortably on $2,000 a month. And of course, it is strikingly beautiful and relaxing. People come here to see birds and animals already rare or vanished elsewhere in the region, such as tapirs, squirrels monkeys, manatees and sea turtles.

When national parks system was being set up in the 1970’s, Costa Rica had one of the world’s highest rates of deforestation. This destruction still continues at a rate of about 60,000 hectares per year. Such rapid… Read the rest of this entry »

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For the past 11,000 years, Costa Rica has been colonized. However, its early history remains something of a mystery. Records kept by the Spanish conquistadores are unreliable. Few sites were excavated.Today there are only around 150,000 indigenous people living in the country. Until quire recently, around 27,000 people were living in the country when Columbus arrived.

Recent archaeological digs revealed structures, burial sites, and artifacts of complexity too great to have been made by a population of anything less than 500,000 people.

European diseases like smallfox and flu, to which they have no resistance and massive transportation of slaves to other parts of the empire are the result of warfare. Until 1930, the country’s total population was not able to recover to its pre-Conquest levels.

Costa Rica acted as both bridge and filter for cultures from north and south, not to mention the fact that the place is a rich coast country - outstanding national parks, spectacular wildlife, high investment with low risk Costa Rica real estate, gorgeous beaches and an abundance of fresh tropical fruit,as well as an important trade route.This is prior to the arrival of the Spaniards. The theory… Read the rest of this entry »

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Do you have a secret place where you go to whenever you seek complete solace? A hideaway that serves to ease your mind of all worries and rejuvenates your tired limbs?

Perhaps an alcove in the garden where the bees make buzzing in your ears. Or even the cozy and familiar confines of your own bedroom. In this progressive world where noise and clutter intrudes upon us with a driving insistence, it is a great luxury to have even the barest of places to call one’s own private space. But with an ultimate retreat, more is called for them a quiet room where one can bask in the comfort of solitude.

Visit and discover some of Costa Rica’s most breathtaking scenery and peaceful places where you can get away from it all and relax.

Ø Find out where a trail goes.

Ø Catch a glimpse of a sparkling river through the forest.

Ø Walk on a soft carpet of pine needles.

Ø See what’s around the next bend.

Ø Wonder at the depths of ancient canyon.

Ø Lift your spirit to the top of a snow-capped mountain peak.

Ø Watch a glorious sunset.

Costa Rica’s National Parks are filled with undiscovered treasures, quiet corners, and primeval settings. Start your trip with an unhurried approach and a pre-trip plan and wind up feeling inspired, refreshed, and uplifted. Although forest cover declined from 75% in 1950 to 23% in 1990, the country’s very broken terrain and until (recently) relatively sparse population, has left many pockets of virgin forest. More than a quarter of the territory is now protected in some form or another by Costa Rica’s pioneering system of parks, refuges, and reserves set up since 1969. There are about 136 protected area in Costa Rica.

Tourism is now the country’s biggest foreign income earner, and as most tourists come specifically to visit the parks, environmentalists hope official protection, currently often only patchy, will be strengthened.

These are some of the most popular/important protected areas.

1. Parque Nacional Marino las Ballenas.

A 4,500 hectare (6, 620 – acre) marine park protecting Isla Uvita

(an island about 20 minutes by boat from Limón), with its nesting

colonies of frigate birds, blue-footed bobbies, and other seabirds.

The area is excellent for snorkeling and diving, and humpback whales

migrate through the area from December to March. Dolphins and turtles

are also seen. Read the rest of this entry »

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Located 35 km. North of Liberia is a 387 square km of amazingly diverse topography of mangrove swamps and monsoon forest is Costa Rica’s Santa Rosa National Park. Established in 1971 under government’s plan to protect a stretch of dry tropical forest, Santa Rosa Park has become one of the best destinations for those who love traversing trails and find excitement on forest trekking.

A home to variety species of wildlife and being rich in biological repository this tropical dry forest has attracted groups of researchers from all over the world. Biologists and mostly researchers are the most frequent visitors of the park.

A most exciting characteristic of the park can be observed during dry season where its appearance changes drastically into chocolate brown color when streams and small lakes dry up and trees lose their leaves. Thirsty animals come out of their habitats and hiding places in attempt to look for water in known waterholes in the park while during rainy season most of the areas are lush green, wet and damp, which becomes the nesting and hunting grounds for reptiles and amphibians.

Hikers also come here to witness a phenomenon where hundreds of Olive Ridley turtles lay eggs under the moonlight. However, there is a limit as to the number of visitors allowed each trip every day to control the disturbance cause by big tour groups.

The picturesque beaches of Naranjo and Nancite are too rough for swimming with its giant waves and stony shorelines nevertheless it is an attraction to extreme surfers. It is also a great place for camping sites and hiking trails.

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Photo courtesy of : stmartin.edu/

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The pleasant agricultural town of Turrialba, located about 45 km. east of Cartago on the eastern slopes of Cordillera Central, which boasts of sweeping views over the rugged eastern Talamancas offers an exciting experience for thrill seekers.

Most visitors come through Turrialba en route to Guayabo or on the way to a great whitewater rafting or kayaking to explore the serene rivers or challenge the wild rapids of the Cordilleras. And if you prefer a slow pace kind of adventure and you want to take time to enjoy the breathtaking view of the Talamancas, a guided walk or horseback rides up to the dormant Vulcan Turrilaba is delightful and less exhausting way to accomplish it.

Its lack of trails around the crater makes it almost inaccessible for visitors but it definitely adds excitement to trekkers as they attempt to traverse the rugged and wild terrain and slopes of the volcano. Most of these guided services are offered by the local hotels and tour operators in the area. Read the rest of this entry »

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The 4^th of July is celebrated usually with a big bang as it commemorates US Independence Day every year elsewhere in the North America. Well, this year’s merry making is going to be but a small and simple celebration in Costa Rica as The American Colony Committee decided not to hold the annual big picnic for such celebration for the first time after 47 years.

Normally, the party is held at the Cerveceria Costa Rica Picnic ground west of San Jose, the country’s capital, where free food and drinks overflow each occasion for expats, their kin and close friends in Costa Rica. Previous events were graced with special activies and musical concerts and culminated with spectacular fireworks.

This year’s celebration is quiet and simple. The reason for the changes is not made known publicly except that when you ask a Tico they’ll jokingly say that it could be that there are not enough free hotdogs, burgers and beers for everyone anymore as Costa Rica’s population of expatriates who attend to this activity annually is now close to 3,500 as recorded in the last year’s event.

Although there are several bars and restaurant staging 4^th of July events and giving huge discounts on food and beverage to expatriates in downtown area as many retired U.S. servicemen were expected to be tipping off their glasses and bottles of wine in the streets of San Jose to highlight the celebration and merry making, many American families in Costa Rica who have relatives in the active military service preferred to stay home and celebrate the 4^th of July in silent prayers and thanks giving as many American soldiers are still in the frontline such as in the Middle East, Korea and elsewhere fighting for someone else’s freedom.

To them, our fervent prayers and best wishes. Read the rest of this entry »

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