Monday, December 29, 2008

Congratulations to our winners

Congratulations to the winners of our wine voucher competition:

J. Allen, London.

P. Van Der Wycke, London

S. Williams, Slough

M. Peters, Manchester

K. Gallagher, Barnsley

Your vouchers have been posted and enjoy your wine.

Happy Holidays to all our Friends



Happy New Year to all of our Friends.


And may 2009 be everything you wish it to be,


Our office will reopen on the 5th of January 9:00am

Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining

We are delighted that so many investors have recognised the tremendous investment opportunity that is Di Pacifico Dos and all of our 1,000 square metre plots are now sold out.

However,don't worry, we do have other larger plots from 2,000 square metres and upwards remaining.

In particular we have a very attractive group of sea view plots which have just come back on the market.

One of our clients had contracted to purchase a group of 14 sea view plots.

Unfortunately due to a change in circumstance he cannot now complete within the contract. It is our policy to always work with our clients and try to facilitate our clients wherever possible. But in this case, in defference to the demand from our other clients, and after long discussion and in agreement with our original client we have cancelled the contract and can now reoffer these attractive sea view plots.

These plots start at 2,500 square meters and are all priced at our standard price of €7.68 per square metre for teak, land and sea views. They occupy one of the highest areas in the estate and some back onto preserved forest.

Whilst we are very dissapointed for our client, every cloud has a silver lining and if you like to know more about these plots just drop us an e mail or give us a call on +353 1 272 4184

NEWSFLASH :In fact despite these plots just coming back on the market 2 weeks ago and over the Christmas period 3 plots have already sold.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Short (9 min) presentation on Di Pacifico Dos

Please click on the player below if you would like to see a short presentation on Di Pacifico Dos.

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ps. my pohoto did me no favours - I am not really that fat!

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Costa Rica second most globalized nation in Latin America

Most Latin American countries increased their roles in the world economy through trade, foreign investment, Internet penetration and other measures in 2007, according to a new report released by Miami-based Latin Business Chronicle.

In the Latin Globalization Index, which analyzed 18 countries, Panama was ranked as the most globalized nation in the region, followed by Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Chile and Paraguay.

Latin America's two largest economies, Brazil and Mexico, were ranked last and in 10th place, respectively, but both improved from last year's ratings.

The globalization index uses six elements to measure a county's globalization level: exports, imports, foreign direct investment, tourism receipts, remittances and Internet penetration. All factors except Internet penetration are calculated as a percent of Gross Domestic Product.

The index also measures the biggest winners and losers in foreign direct investment. Those showing the best gains in foreign investment were Panama, Chile, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Honduras.

The biggest losers were Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Paraguay and Guatemala.

Y0u can read the full Miami Herald report, By JOE MANN here

International news about forestry investment

Savills one of the UK's leading estate agencies has just released it's Forest Market report. Whilst the report focuses on UK forestry the message is clear:

Woodland and Forestry bucks the downward trend

The main points of the report are as follows:

  1. Forestry prices have outperformed Equities by more than 50% over the past two years.
  2. Since 1976, Rural Estates have also outperformed Equities year-on-year with Rural Estates up by nearly 30 per cent against Equities, currently down by more than 30 per cent at the latest count. See the graph here
  3. Over a three year period, Forestry has outperformed both Farming's Top 25% and Rural Estates. See the graph here
  4. Against a current backdrop of sharply declining investment assets across a broad spectrum, an investment in commercial woods has provided a positive return over the past six years.

You can download the full report here.

The news for forestry investment is good.

Teak has outperformed softwood foresty and timber, combine an investment in teak with development land and you may have the "perfect investment".

Combine that forestry investment with development land in Costa Rica and you have the perfect investment.

Friday, December 12, 2008

More great news about trees!

We already know that trees are good for the environment - they remove carbon from the atmosphere, helping to reduce global warming.

It now turns out they are even better for the environment than we thought!

COFORD , the National Council of Forest Research and Development (Ireland) have recently announced in their Forestry and Wood December update 2008 that a chemical released by trees can help to cool the planet.

Scientists from the UK (Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science at Leeds University) and Germany have discovered that trees release a chemical that thickens clouds above them, thereby reflecting more sunlight and cooling the Earth.

One of the scientists, Dominick Spracklen said ""We think this could have quite a significant effect. You can think of forests as climate air conditioners."

The chemicals are Terpenes (which give pine forests their distinctive smell) and there release had puzzled scientists for years, with some believing that the trees released them to communicate, while others say they could offer protection from air pollution.

The research team found the terpenes react in the air to form tiny particles called aerosols. The particles help turn water vapour in the atmosphere into clouds. Spracklen said the team's computer models showed that the pine particles doubled the thickness of clouds some 1,000 m above the forests, and would reflect an extra 5% sunlight back into space.

He said: "It might not sound a lot, but that is quite a strong cooling effect. The climate is such a finely balanced system that we think this effect is large enough to reduce temperatures over quite large areas. It gives us another reason to preserve forests."

Because trees release more terpenes in warmer weather, the discovery suggests that forests could act as a negative feedback on climate, to dampen future temperature rise. The team looked at forests of mainly pine and spruce trees, but Spracklen said other trees also produce terpenes so the cooling effect should be found in other regions, including tropical rainforests.

So trees not only remove Carbon from the atmosphere but also thicken the clouds above them, helping to further reduce global warming.

Read the full COFORD document here

Thursday, December 11, 2008

What are others saying about the investment opportunities in Costa Rica

Low Risk Investments

Investments can be a big decision, and only worth it if they provide a high return. This is why so many people ask if it is possible to get a low risk investment, and the answer is yes!

By John Nolan

Copyright (c) 2008 John Nolan

Investments can be a big decision, and only worth it if they provide a high return. This is why so many people ask if it is possible to get a low risk investment, and the answer is yes!

Property has always been a high return investment with low risk if you know where to buy and find something affordable. There are now many Americans investing in properties in Costa Rica due to the fact that there are large growth rates as well as a low entry cost from around $30,000-$60,000.

You might be unsure, but here are a few reasons why this is such a low risk investment. Firstly, the growth rates of the last ten years have stood at around 300% on average. This means that many people have been able to double their money. Not only this, but the properties of Costa Rica cost up to 70% less than properties on the south coast of America.

Another great reason why you might choose this as your investment is due to the fact that you can really enjoy it, using your property as a holiday home if you wish, or renting it out whenever it is not in use. Costa Rice itself is a beautiful location, cheap to live in as well as containing some great tax advantages, scenic places of interest, educational institutions and much more!

A big question that many are starting to ask is will prices continue to increase? All evidence shows that yes they will, and there is huge demand making more and more Americans jump on board this unique investment opportunity.

The best investment opportunities at the moment include locations near the freeway to the major cities, around the general location of a new international airport that is being built, or next to the largest marina of the country. Choose an area such as this and you can get your investment before everyone else learns of the great opportunity.

Location really is the most important factor here, so choose wisely to get the most out of your investment as you possibly can. This is a solid low risk investment opportunity but does require you to do some research before you take the plunge. However, this could be the opportunity that you have always dreamed of so start thinking now about how you could use that dream home in Costa Rica and what you might do with the money that you make when you eventually sell this property on.

If this sounds like a great opportunity then you can either choose to go it alone or get some advice on your investment, such as where to buy, how much to invest and so on. Do a simple internet search and you can learn about those willing to help, as well as learning about the local area itself. This is not like investing in stocks or mutual funds, this really is an investment that you can enjoy without all of the associated risks!

What's great about our investment?

What's great about our investment?

Trees don't know about credit crunches and banking crises!

They continue to grow regardless.



Better still you they are a real investment: you can see your trees, touch your trees, hold on to your trees.







They don't dissapear into the night like stock prices, securities and bonds!






Demand for Teak continues to rise, supply continues to fall - leading to continuing price rises






Combine your teak trees with development land in Costa Rica and you have what we modestly believe to be the "perfect investment"





Remember you own the land, you own the trees, you are in control


Have a look at our website http://www.costaricainvest.ie/, send us an e mail or give us a call +353 1 272 4184 and speak with one of our consultants and see how we can make your investment dreams come true.

What is the recipe for our investment?

As many people are now discovering an investment in stocks, bonds, securities (and pensions) is not as secure as they may have thought.

The ingredients of our investment recipe are:

1. Take an investment in timber (the basic ingredients).



2. Combine that investment with a spoonfull of development land (the yeast to make the investment rise)



3. Add in Costa Rica (the icing on your investment cake)

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And what have you got

The recipe for the "perfect investment"

COMPETITION!


We have 5 wine vouchers (UK only sorry!) to give away: £60 vouchers, £50 vouchers and £25 vouchers.

If you would like to win a voucher identify the frog shown above (the common name or scientific name)

Hint: it was thought extinct but was recently rediscovered by a goup of researchers in Costa Rica.
Hint number two: the eye colour is important.
Hint number three: have a look here (ok this is a fairly broad hint)

e mail us with your answer, name and address and the first correct entries will receive a voucher.

Competition closes on the 18th of December.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS FROM COSTA RICA INVEST

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Costa Rica Carbon Neutral by 2021

Costa Rica aims to be fully carbon neutral by 2021 when it celebrates 200 years of independance.

The strategy will build on Costa Rica’s decision to tax fossil fuels in 1996 with the money raised allocated to the National Forestry Financing Fund. This 3.5% tax on gasoline in the country is used for payments to compensate landowners for growing trees and protecting forests and its government is making further plans for reducing emissions from transport, farming and industry.

These are part of a ‘payment for environmental services’ programme that pays landowners who manage forests for their carbon sequestration and storage alongside management for water production, biodiversity and scenic beauty.

In 2007 Costa Rica planted more than five million trees or 1.25 per person making it the highest per capita planting in the world. Various industries are supporting the initiative including a C-neutral plan by Costa Rica’s banana sector.

Other elements of the strategy include increasing the percentage of renewable energy generation to well over 90 per cent and action on energy efficiency including energy saving appliances. In 2004, 46.7% of Costa Rica's primary energy came from renewable sources while 94% of its electricity was generated from hydroelectric power, wind farms and geothermal energy in 2006.

What does mean for investors in land in Costa Rica?

Costa Rica's plans to become carbon neutral will require the encouragement of exiisting initiatives and a range of further initiatives.

Those initiatives include incentivising the further planting of trees and further preservation of land. These incentives will, by definition, reduce the amount of developable land. This in turn will push up land prices.

From a macroeconomic standpoint there has never been a better time to invest in development land in Costa Rica.

Combine a development land investment with the security of teak growing on your land and you have the "perfect investment".

To see more about this opportunity to invest in land and teak in Costa Rica call us on +353 1 272 4184, e mail us or have a look at our website http://www.costaricainvest.ie/

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Why is now a great time to invest?

The Bank of England has cut interest rates to 2%, their lowest since 1951.

The inflation-adverse European Central Bank cut its benchmark interest rate by 75 basis points, the largest cut in the monetary authority's 10-year history. That means the key lending cost in the 15 countries for which the ECB is the central bank now stands at 2.5 per cent.

The Swedish Riksbank also cut its key interest rate — by even more that the others — a record 1.75 percentage points to two per cent. This reduction is the bank's biggest cut since June 1994.

The Federal Reserve cut their rates to 1% at the end of Ocotber 2008.

Intrest rates are running at historical lows. If you have savings you are earning less in interest on your savings now than ever before.

The cost of borrowings has dropped.

Now is a great time to invest.

Teak prices are rising at 8.5%per year over the past 10 years. Land in Puntrenas rose by 31% in 2007. Will this combination outperform the rates you are getting on your deposits?

Contact us and we would be delighted to show you how an investment in teak and land in Costa Rica, the hottest real estate market on the face of the planet" (CNBC Europe) - see the clip here.

"We simply attempt to be fearful when others are greedy and to be greedy only when others are fearful"Warren Buffett

We can be contacted by phone on +353 1 272 4184, by e mail on info@costaricainvest.ie or apply for a FREE brochure here

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

15 Good Reasons To Invest In Costa Rica Now

Costa Rica Real Estate Investments
15 Good Reasons to Invest in Paradise Now!



  1. Foreigners are encouraged to invest and own real estate in Costa Rica.
  2. Private property in Costa Rica is inviolable and guaranteed by the constitution even for foreigner nonresidents in the country.
  3. Costa Rica is a booming tourist destination (more than 400 weekly flights; a Mecca of sport fishing and surfing; championship golf courses; fine-dining; eco-tourism and world class surfing).
  4. Costa Rica is a true eco-paradise (26 National Parks, 13 live volcanoes, endless mileage of coastline, primary forests, and much more).
  5. Costa Rica has a very good medical infrastructure (public and private hospitals and clinics) excellent doctors and surgeons (all trained in the US and /or Europe) and medical insurance is available for foreigners (individuals, families, retirees) at very low cost when compared to the U.S.
  6. Located just a few hours away from your doorstep with daily flights serving all major U.S. and Canadian cities.
  7. Real Estate in Costa Rica is very affordable compared to the U.S. and international second home markets.
  8. Costa Rica is located out of the hurricane belt, therefore no hurricanes, storms or other natural hazards in the country.
  9. Costa Rica is a tax-friendly destination when it comes to real estate investments (extremely low property taxes and no tax on capital gains or inheritance).
  10. Very affordable and manageable lifestyle. Services and labor cost (maids, gardeners, nurses, assistants,...) is very low when compared to the U.S. or European standards.
  11. High-quality construction standards (anti-seismic buildings, high-end finishes, exotic local and foreign materials).
  12. Safe and controlled legal environment (National land register, title insurance and escrow services available throughout the country).
  13. Local financing available for foreigners investing in Costa Rica.
  14. According to recent studies and surveys, Costa Rica has been ranked as the most stable and reputable country in all of Central America.
  15. Costa Ricans are very friendly and educated people, always ready to help or to share their culture with local visitors and residents.

You can see Eric Carvajal's top 7 resons to invest in Costa Rica on Christopher M. Knight's website here

You can See Coldwell Bankers views on investing in Real Estate in Costa Rica here

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Arenal Volcano



The Arenal Volcano is one of the the ten most active volcanoes in the world.

It is a fascinating natural wonder and must visit destination for many travelers to Costa Rica.

On almost a daily basis, red-hot rocks crash down its steep slopes and volcanic grumbles produce huge ash columns above the crater.


Located in north-western Costa Rica (10.5N, 84.7W), around 90 km north-west of San José, in the province of Alajuela, canton of San Carlos, and district of La Fortuna, it is the most active volcano in Costa Rica. Recognized as a volcano since the 19th century, it was known by foreign investigators as Volcan Costa Rica, Rio Frio, Canastos Volcano and Cerro de los Guatusos. Arenal is the youngest and most active of all the mountains in Costa Rica. Scientists have been able to date it back to more than 4000 years ago. The area remained largely unexplored until 1937, when a documented expedition took place to reach the summit.

Once locally known as Cerro Arenal (i.e. Mount Arenal) it was presumed extinct until July 29, 1968 when an earthquake caused it to erupt after approximately 400 years of dormancy. The eruption wiped out the town of Arenal and killed 87 people [1]. It lasted for several days, and during that time destroyed crops, property, livestock, and forests. 15 square kilometers were buried and the explosion affected over 232 square kilometers. The eruption caused three new and active craters to form. Before the eruption, there was a wide variety of plant and wildlife on the mountain. It has been active since the explosion and can be reported to have minor eruptions every 5-10 minutes.

Arenal rises 1657 metres above sea level and overlooks Lake Arenal; both are part of Arenal Volcano National Park. The volcano heats several hot springs nearby, including Tabacon, a popular tourist destination.

This is one of seven historically active Costa Rican volcanoes: Poás, Irazú, Miravalles, Orosí, Rincón de la Vieja [complex], and Turrialba.

To see more amazing pictures of the Arenal volcano just click here.


To organise a trip to the Arenal volcano or one of the many other interesting and exciting activities in the area such as rafting or visits to the hot springs have a look at http://www.arenal.net/
Additional pictures courtesy of http://www.costaricaphotos.com/


Monday, December 1, 2008

Costa Rica continues to spend on Education and health

CostaRica has continued its policy to invest in education. Oscar Arias administration has approved a 24.3% increase in the education budget for 2009.

This increase brings the budget for education to $2 billion (more than a quarter of the entire budget of $7.45 billion.

The other big winners in the 2009 budget are Health with an increase of 23.4% and Culture with an increase of 37.5%.

To read more about Costa Rica's 2009 budget click here.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Newsletter October 2008


Newsletter November 2008 Finca di Pacifico-2

The “Association of purchasers of plots of Pacifico Dos”, an association for purchasers participating in the Pacifico Dos project, was established in August of last year. The objectives of the association include representation of the interests of the members in connection with the acquisition by members of the relevant plots of land. We welcome this initiative and we are confident that it will benefit communications between ourselves and the plot owners. The management board of the association will also provide regular reports on the progress of the Pacifico Dos project.

Intermediate Harvest

The intermediate harvest was completed in full last month. The timbers involved included teak and melina. During the intermediate harvest the poorest and most bent trees are removed so that even better growth can be expected among the sound trees which remain. Since only the most bent and poorest quality trees are harvested at this stage it is to be expected that the yield per m3 is relatively low. The total return is $ 86,684.48, with costs of cutting, loading etc already deducted, which is more than we had initially calculated. The best, that is to say the straightest trees have been left in place, at around 300 - 400 per hectare.

Before the intermediate harvest could be completed it was necessary to carry out certain maintenance tasks. A number of temporary roads are laid to provide access to the area for the selection and cutting teams and their equipment. This task involved around 45 forestry workers. With the cost of hiring a bulldozer, wages, chainsaws and fuel and the expense of selecting the trees for cutting, this operation cost around $84,120. We will provide the VKK with a detailed breakdown of costs for this operation. Rio Grande Verde y Azul s.a. will bear an element of these costs themselves, namely $ 34,000.As reported above, the return on the intermediate harvest is $86,684.48. An element of this return will go to Rio Grande (in relation to the as yet unsold plots), and the remaining $ 26,911.46 will be transferred to the association in Costa Rica. The association will decide how these funds are to be allocated.

73.6% of the project has been sold, so that 73.6% of the return is destined for the association.26.4% of the project is as yet unsold, so that 26.4% of the return goes to Rio Grande.
The next intermediate harvest will take place in around 3 years, and will deliver appreciably higher profit per m3. In order to avoid any conflict of interest the next intermediate harvest must be organised by the association. It is amazing how quickly the remaining trees respond by expanding their crowns to fill the newly created space. This leads in turn to a rapid increase in the girth of the trunks.

Licences

A meeting was held recently with the team engaged in the implementation of the phased plan relating to the licences. Huite Zijlstra attended on behalf of arte Verde s.a., also present were Ing. J F Nicolas, Topographer Jose Orozco, Geologist Felipe Leon, Dr Alan Astorga and Jos van Veen. All the remaining steps came under discussion during the meeting. A company will be set up to manage the provision of water to the project. This is a statutory requirement in Costa Rica, and a private water supply company will therefore be set up for this purpose. The association will be shareholders in the company. Geologist Felipe Leon has investigated the quantity of water available on the Finca and in the immediate environment, and his findings indicate that there is ample water available for a large-scale project. The expectation is that steps 1 to 11 will be completed during the month of November (see the organigram included in the previous newsletter). If we can continue at this pace we will have completed all the necessary stages by March 2009, and we can make a start with the individual registration of plots on the land registry.

Maintenance

Maintenance In technical forestry terms, the Finca is currently in very good condition. We have experienced some difficulties in receiving the payments for forestry maintenance to Costa Rica, and it is probably a good idea for the association to jointly collect the as yet unpaid maintenance monies for 2008 (which will also save on bank charges), and then to swiftly transfer these to the maintenance company in Costa Rica. This is important because lack of maintenance can result in excessive weed growth between the healthy trees. This means that the vital moisture and nutrients are shared with the elephant grass, with negative consequences for the healthy trees. Maintenance is also important to allow the topographer to carry out his measurements, which are needed for the recording of the plots on the land registry. We would therefore urgently call your attention to the need to get the maintenance funds together as speedily as possible.
Prices Despite the international financial crisis, land prices in Costa Rica continue to increase. Costa Rica continues to be the most popular investment destination in Central America. We have observed this over a period of years, but we also hear similar reports from a variety of Chinese and American financial news sources. The prices of plantation timber have also risen explosively in the last year. Timber is a scarce resource, just like oil. It is also one of very few raw materials which has shown a steady increase throughout the last century, at around 6% per annum. In view of the fact that world population continues to increase, together with the pressure on raw materials from the new economies, you can anticipate that prices will rise with demand rather than falling. We can think in this connection with continuing expansion of economies like China, Russia and Brazil.

Questions from plot-holders: In this section we respond to questions from plot-holders.

  • Q- What will be the arrangements for distribution of profits if the trees are harvested again in a couple of years?
  • A- Because building will already be taking place on some plots by 2009, the profit from harvesting from a plot will go to the plot owner.
  • Q- What about water and power connections and so on?
  • A- Around $ 1,300 will have to be paid for each connection, regardless of the size of the plot. This is a one-off payment. The water and electricity consumed will also have to be paid for.
  • Q- When will harvesting be required again?
  • A- The next harvest will need to be done in around 3 years.

    To receive a full copy of this newsletter by e mail, with included images and tables, please just send an e mail and we will be delighted to forward you a copy by return



Costa Rica ranked number 4 in The Move Channels Investment Property Watch Chart for October 2008

The move channel, one of the worlds largest investment properties websites runs an investment property watch chart. Here is what they ahd to say about Costa Rica this month

"At number four on our investment property watch chart was property in Costa Rica, which is fast becoming the next property hot spot with international property investors eagerly anticipating a big boom in the country.

Costa Rica’s popularity has been growing for numerous reasons. With the slow down in the US economy, many US investors are looking abroad for safer markets with bigger potential profits.
The climate and beautiful natural scenery which includes everything from rainforests to volcanoes to beaches ensures that tourism in Costa Rica looks set to remain a prosperous industry for the foreseeable future which drives up demand for property.

Costa Rica is considered by many to be the strongest democracy in Central America with an independent judiciary ensuring the rights of investors. Unlike many other countries, Costa Rica also allows 100 per cent foreign ownership making it easy for US citizens buying investment property in Costa Rica."

To read the full article, click here.

To see more news about investing in Costa Rica and why it is an excellent investment opportunity click here

To have a look at our investment opportunity in Costa Rica which gives you a double investment in teak and development land have a look at our website http://www.costaricainvest.ie/ or give us a call on +353 1 272 4184.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Don't buy into these 3 investment myths

I came across an interesting article on the Motely Fool Blog talking about preparing for retirement titled "don't buy in to these 3 investment myths"



It makes for amusing and interesting reading and stresses the importance of a medium to long term approach to investing.



Those who dare win (at least over the medium to long term!!)



Enjoy the article

New round of funding for Di Pacifico Dos Ltd. launched

A new round of funding for Di Pacifico Dos Ltd. has been launched.

Di Pacifico Dos Ltd. is a vehicle set up specifically for self administered pension fund holders to invest in Finca Di Pacifico in Costa Rica. The minimum investment is €25,000 and thereafter multiples thereof. The term of the investment is 8 years and the projected return on Investment (ROI) is 23% per annum (CAR).

The investment is in development land in Costa Rica which comes with the added value and security of teak growing on the land.

Click here to read the recent press release.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Contact Marina Villatoro








To Contact Marina, just fill in Your Contact Information below

Marina Will be in contact ASAP.

Have a great trip to Costa Rica!
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Volcano

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Car and bilingual driver

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Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Finca Rosa Blanca earns perfect score in sustainable tourism certification

The Costa Rican Tourist Board and National Accreditation Commission run a sustainable tourism certification program which measures tourism developments sustainability in four particular areas.

It ranks performance in each of these areas on a five stage marking system with a maximum score of 5 green leaves in each area. Your overall sustainable tourisn score is the lowest score you have received in any of these areas.



Finca Rosa Blanca has achieved five green leaves status with an unprecedented 100% score in each area.


Located close to Santa Bárbara de Heredia and now in operation for over 20 years, Finca Rosa Blanca received an upgrade and facelift last year.


Chrisopher P. Baker in his Moon Handbook: Costa Rica mentions“Finca Rosa Blanca is one of Costa Rica’s—nay, the world’s!—preeminent boutique hotels, opened in 1989.Inspired by Gaudí’s architectonics and the Santa Fe style, the hotel is conceived as if from a fairy tale. Qué linda!".

To read a full report you can read the Tico Times article here


Related: Sustainable Tourism in Costa Rica

Sustainable tourism program

Costa Rica runs a sustainable tourism program and this program provides certification for sustainable tourism developments in Costa Rica. T

The Certification for Sustainable Tourism program categorizes and certifies tourism companies according to the degree to which their operations comply with a model of sustainability. Four fundamental aspects are evaluated:

  1. Physical-biological parameters: interaction between the company and its surrounding natural habitat.
  2. Infrastructure and services: management policies and operational systems within the company and its infrastructure.
  3. External clients: interaction of the company with its clients in terms of how much it allows and invites the client to be an active contributor to its sustainability policies.
  4. Socioeconomic environment: interaction of the company with local communities and the population in general.

Companies may score up to five levels in each category. The final rating of “green leaves” corresponds to the lowest level achieved in any of the above evaluation areas (so if you score 5 green leaves in four of the areas and only three in one area your overall rating is 3 green leaves). This is to encourage companies to advance toward a model of sustainability by giving the same degree of consideration and importance to each of the four areas evaluated.
For more information, visit the Certification for Sustainable Tourism website.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Peter Quealy IFG Mortggages Alliance Partnership.

We had a very succesful launch of our alliance partnership with Peter Quealy of IFG mortgages in Dungarvan yesterday evening (6th of November), with a presentation to Peter's clients in the Park Hotel, Dungarvan.

The weather was terrible but people still braved the elements and thank you to all who attended.

It was great to meet Peter's clients and to talk to them about our investment opportunity.

We had lots of questions on the night and plenty of positive feedback. People clearly liked the "difference" of our investment and the double investment opportunity.

We are looking forward to our partnership with Peter and his team.

Click here to read our press release.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Do you live close to Dungarvan, Ireland?

Do you live close to Dungarvan and would you like to see a presentation of our investment in teak on development land in person.

If so we would be delighted to invite you to the The Park Hotel, Dungarvan on Thursday the 6th Nov at 7.30pm.

We are holding the presentation in association with Peter Quealy IFG Mortgages, Dungarvan our local repersentative in the Dungarvan area.

There will be a short presentation (20 minutes) followed by questions and answers, and tea and coffee will be available afterwards.

If you would like to come just give John McKenzie in our office a call on +353 1 272 4184 or drop him an e mail to johnm@costaricainvest.ie. Alternately you can drop Peter an e mail to peter.quealy@ifgmortgages.ie or call Peter on 058 20060

When are Costa Rica's public holidays?

Costa Rica Culture

Costa Rica's Holidays

Costa Rica is a Catholic country and it’s holidays are mostly church-related. Most businesses, including banks, close on official holidays. The country closes down entirely during the biggest holiday time, Easter Holy Week, but only during Holy Thursday, Friday and Saturday, by Holy Sunday, some services might be available, but don't count on it in remote parts of the country. Buses stop running on Holy Thursday and Good Friday. Banks and offices are closed. And hotels and car rentals are booked solid weeks in advance as everyone seems to head for the beach. Avoid the popular beaches during Easter week. Most Ticos now take the whole Christmas holiday week through New Year as an unofficial holiday. Easter is a perfect opportunity to see colorful religious processions. Individual towns also celebrate their patron saint’s day: highlights usually include a procession, plus bullfights, rodeos, dancing, and other parades. Fireworks and firecrackers are a popular part of local fiestas and church celebrations.

This is the list of the main and official holidays in Costa Rica:

  • January 1st: New Year’s Day, celebrated with a big dance in San Jose’s Parque Central.
  • March 19th: St. Joseph’s Day, patron saint of San Jose and San Jose province.
  • Easter: Holy Week, Semana Santa. Dates vary annually but businesses will often close for the entire week preceding Easter weekend.
  • April 11th: Juan Santamaria Day. Public holiday to commemorate the national hero who fought at the battle of Rivas against the American invader William Walker in 1856.
  • May 1st: Labor Day. Dia de los Trabajadores.
  • June: Corpus Christi
  • June 29th: St. Peter and St. Paul’s Day
  • July 25th: Guanacaste Day. To mark the annexation of Guanacaste from Nicaragua in 1824.
  • August 2nd: Virgin de los Angeles Day. Patron saint of Costa Rica.
  • August 15th: Mother’s Day and Assumption Day
  • September 15th: Independence Day, with big patriotic parades celebrates Costa Rica’s independence from Spain in 1821.
  • October 12th: Dia de la Raza (Columbus Day). Limon province only, marked by carnival, which take place in the week prior to October 12.
  • November 2nd: All soul’s Day
  • December 8th: Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary.
  • December 25th: Christmas Day. Family-oriented celebrations with trips to the beach. Much consumption of apples and grapes.

Article Provided By infostarica.com

Friday, October 31, 2008

Partner Website

One of our Irish Partners, Michael Fox, has created a great little website of his own spreading the good news about our investment opportunity in Di Pacifico Dos.

You can see Michael's Tropical Investments website here

Not all is Doom and Gloom!

Inside Costa Rica reports that a major Multinational Looking To Hire 200 in Costa Rica:

Not all is doom and gloom for Costa Rica in the face of the international financial crisis, as one UK company is beginning its operations in the country, located in the Zona Franca Ultralag in Lagunilla de Heredia, and is looking to contract 200 professionals.

Experian, an international service company, with a presence in 35 countries, provides information, analytics, decision-making solutions and processing services, helping organizations to find, develop and manage customer relationships to make their businesses more profitable.

Experian already has a presence in Latin America. Costa Rica will be the fourt office in the region.

The company has already hired 80 employees since last month and is looking to fill the rest of the position by the end of the year and with a possible hiring of another 100 people next year.

The international company will join the large number of companies that already operate in the services area, companies like Sykes and HP. The services sector has grown considerably in the country.

The director of the Coalición Costarricense para el Desarrollo, Gabriela Llobet, applauded de arrival of Experian and asserted that "it is a commitment we made as a country, and we need to improve road and airport infrastructure in order to continue attracting foreign investment."

Those interested in working with Experian can send their resume to: jobs.costarica@experian.com

Thursday, October 30, 2008

What are REDD's

REDD's are a UN backed process and the acronym stands for Reduced Emmissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD). Under this program rich nations would meet some of their emissions reduction targets by buying carbon credits from developing nations, whose forests soak up vast amounts of planet-warming carbon dioxide (CO2).

How does Costa Rica benefit?

The World Bank's Forest Carbon Partnership Facility aims to gather $300 million in contributions from rich nations to help more than a dozen developing countries, including Costa Rica prepare for REDD schemes. The program aims to help nations figure out credible estimates of their national forest carbon stocks as well as offer technical aid to design individual REDD projects.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Escape the Economic Crises: Move to Costa Rica

Claire Saylor, writes about her experiences of moving to Costa Rica in her blog entry "Escape the Economic Crisis: Move to Costa Rica". Claires is the editor of the Costa Rica Pages Blog and works in the travel industry in Costa Rica.

You can read Claire's full article here

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Mexico Invests in Costa Rica.

Mexico and Costa Rica have operated under a North American Free Trade agreement for thirteen years, and their bilateral trade has almost doubled each and every year in those years. Mexico's trade with Costa Rica is now eleven times more than it was in 1995.

Mexico has now announced that it is investing more than US$400 million in Costa Rica building further on this well stablished trade agreemen.

The emphasis is on finance, food communications and construction industries.

More monetary support for Costa Rica’s construction efforts will inevitably lead to enhanced telecommunications, roads, and an overall improvement to Costa Rica’s transportation systems.

This added boost to the ecomony has to be good for Costa Rica's real estate market
since an increased construction budget means Costa Rica real estate will become even more desirable.

How many European Tourists Visit Costa Rica?

According to CANATUR data, in 2007 some 271,631 European tourists visited Costa Rica



The majority of these tourists came from




  • Spain

  • Germany

  • the United Kingdom

  • the Netherlands

  • France

This repersents growth of about 15 percent compared to the previous year.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Climate change may threaten Biodiversity in the tropics

Robert Colwell of the University of Conneticut analysed almost 2,000 varied species in Costa Rica and has fouond that a significant number will move from their normal environment to a completetely new area if temperatures increase significantly.

We are all responsible for releasing carbon into the atmosphere, a significant driver of climate change.

If you would like to check your carbon count just click here.

Did you know that 1ha of forestry removes about 3.5 tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere per year. An investment in forestry is not only good for your pocket it is good for the environment too.

The full article titled "Climate change may threaten biodiversity in tropics", By Julie Steenhuysen Reuters, is below:

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Climate change may soon make the tropics too hot for many native species, which will be forced to head for higher ground to escape the heat, U.S. researchers said on Thursday.

The study suggests climate change is not only threatening polar bears and other cold-loving species. It is putting heat-loving species at risk as well.

"We know the climate is getting warmer," said Robert Colwell of the University of Connecticut, whose research appears in the journal Science.

"If things continue as projected, there will be a 3 degree Celsius (5.4 degree Fahrenheit) warming in the Costa Rican tropics within the next century," he said.

Colwell and colleagues predict that as the climate in the tropics warms, thermal bands will move up the mountains by about 600 meters (yards) in elevation. "The current climate at 100 meters will be at 700 meters," he said in a telephone interview.

Colwell and colleagues analyzed data on nearly 2,000 species of plants, insects, and fungi in Costa Rica. His team thinks about half of these species would have to move to completely new territory, well beyond the upper ranges on the mountainside.

"If species are stressed by the heat, they will do better in their accustomed climate zone. We expect ranges to move up the mountain as has been documented already in Europe and the United States," he said.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

14 year old teak plots sold out

All of our plots with 14 year old teak are now sold out, but the great news is that we still have plots with both 12 and 10 year old teak. (We also have one plot remaining with the rare and expensive tropical hardwood pochote).

The even better news is that in these uncertain times, you can be certain that if you invest in teak on your development land that your wealth like your teak continues to grow.

If you would like to see more about our development Di Pacifico Dos just log on to our website www.costaricainvest.ie or why not drop us an e mail and we'ld be delighted to give you more information on Di Pacifico Dos.

"Teak on development land, the perfect investment"

Monday, October 13, 2008

The over 50's show!


We had a great time at the over 50's show over the weekend.

Everyone is exhausted and John Douglas is hoarse!

It was great to meet so many people.

We sold a number of plots and have lots of people who want to talk with us over the coming days.

In fact we were so busy that we ran out of prepacked brochures. Our apologies to everyone who didn't get a brochure yet - we will get them out in the post to you later today.
The current economic situation has clearly generated a lot of nervousness. And who can blame people for being nervous- stocks are falling, bond yields are declining, even bank deposit accounts look shaky!

But we are delighted that so many people we met at the show recognised Di Pacifico Dos as a fantastic investment opportunity - with the security of teak growing on your development land.

We are delighted that so many people availed of the investment opportunity at the show and we look forward to talking with everyone who expressed an intrest over the coming days.

Here are some pictures of Judy and John at the show, exhausted but looking forward to a great week talking to every one we met.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

What is my carbon count number?

Where can I find my carbon count number?

Change.ie an Irish Government run website has an excellent carbon count calculator which quickly and easily shows your carbon count number.

Your carbon count number is an estimate of the number of tonnes of carbon you and your lifestyle emit into the atmosphere per year.

You can then compare yourself to the EU average over a number of areas, home, travel, air travel and it also makes suggestions as to how you might change your lifesatyle and reduce your carbon count number.

Are you aware that 1ha will take in about 3.5 tonnes of carbon per annum.

An investment in Di Pacifico Dos will:

1. Help reduce your carbon footprint
2. Help reduce jungle logging of tropical hardwoods
3. Give you a great return

If you would like more information about Di Pacifico Dos - "teak on your development land, the perfect investment" - just drop us an e mail, apply for a brochure or give us a call on +353 1 272 4184

Monday, October 6, 2008

What are the risks?

Of course with any investment there are risks.

What are the risks to an investment in Di Pacifico Dos?

Well there are two aspects to the investment the teak and the land.

1. The teak: Anything which affects either the teak yield or the price of teak will have an impact on the return on your investment.

Listed below are some of the factors which could affect your teak yield:

a. Hurricane - no hurricane has been recorded on the pacific coast of Costa Rica

b. Forest Fire - teak trees of more than 8 years of age are resistant to forest fire, careful management of the teak plantation, fire breaks, removing debris all help to minimise the risk of fire damage.

c. Disease - again careful management, disease prevention and early removal of any diseased trees reduce the risk of disease.

d. Adverse weather conditions - teak does not grow well in either very wet or cold conditions and a significant change in climate could afffect the teak yield.

Teak is a traded commodity world wide and some of the factors which would affect the price of teak are listed below:

a. Oversupply of teak - currently less than 5% of the world's teak comes from plantation sources. The rest comes from jungle sources. As world opinion and international laws move to restrict the logging of this natural resource the supply demands will fall to teak plantations.

b. Reduced demand - currently demand for teak is increasing year on year largely driven by huge demand from India and China. The likelihood is that demand will continue to increase.


2. The land: a reduction in land prices in Costa Rica will also affect the return on your investment

Some of the factors which might affect land prices are as follows:

1. Reduced demand: A reduction in demand from North American and Canadian holiday makers will reduce land prices and whilst the world economy is at a low at the moment, remember that this is a 6-10 year investment. Ask yourself this question - "do I really believe North American economy will be as bad or worse than it is now in 6-8 years"?

2. Political Instability: Political instability would certainly affect tourism to Costa Rica, however Costa Rica is the oldest democracy in central and Southern America, with more teachers than policemen, no army and huge foregein inward investment by mulitnationals.


If you are intrested in an investment in Di Pacifico Dos but are worried about the risks to your investment ask us to prepare an investment return showing a 0% land price increase, a 0% increase in teak prices and a poor teak yield.

The return still beats the bank! Just drop us an e mail or give us a call on +353 1 272 4184.

Friday, September 26, 2008

Who are Ticos?

Below you will find an article by John McKenzie, sales consultant. If you would like to contact John just drop him an e mail on johnm@costaricainvest.ie or give him a call on +353 1 272 4184

The Costa Ricans (Ticos)

Costa Ricans (Ticos) are gentle, spirited, friendly, educated, polite, and kind people. They like visitors from other countries and treat them well. There are, of course, exceptions, but on the whole, you can expect to be made welcome wherever you go.

Ticos is the collective common name that Costa Ricans call themselves. More specifically, a Tica is a female Costa Rican and a Tico is a male. They are extremely family orientated and they love music and dance. In fact Costa Ricans, like almost all Latinos, love to party and really enjoy each others company.

Ticos are extremely polite and most will try to avoid a confrontation or appear rude in any way.

Holidays are dear to the hearts of most Costa Ricans. Traditional holiday celebrations offer visitors an insight into the culture and beliefs of Costa Ricans. Ticos are renowned for their gregarious nature which is apparent during the numerous fiestas, horse parades, and carnivals celebrated throughout the country.

Costa Ricans feel distinct from their neighbours by their "whiteness" and relative lack of indigenous culture. Ticos identify themselves first and foremost as Costa Ricans and only Central Americans or Latin Americans, as an afterthought.
Democracy is their most treasured institution, and the ideal of personal liberty is strongly cherished. Costa Ricans are intensely proud of their accomplishments in this arena and show it at 6 p.m. on each 14 September, on the eve of Independence Day, when the whole nation comes to a halt and everyone sings the national anthem.


You won’t find a people more deeply committed to the preservation of their natural wonders. Their country is small, yet within the country they have no less than one fifth of the world’s total biodiversity. They have set aside 26% of their total land area as national parks and reserves and they plan to be carbon neutral by 2021.

If you would like to contact John McKenzie, just drop him an e mail on johnm@costaricainvest.ie or give him a call on +353 1 272 4184

Over 50's show.

Thursday, September 25, 2008
Ethically Responsible Investment for the over 50s.

If are you 50 or over you should ask yourself the following questions:
  • What age do I want to retire?
  • How much income do I want in retirement?
  • Where is the money going to come from?

Once you have answered those questions check out Costa Rica Invest Ireland.

For a modest investment of only €6450 you could have an return in excess of €50,000 in 8 years time.

If you would like to set up a review of your needs come and see us Costa Rica Invest stand no 65 at the RDS over 50s Show on Oct 10th through to Oct 12th

We are an Irish company that can help you achieve a great return through an Ethically Responsible, Environmentally safe Investment.

Contact John Douglas for your complementary ticket at

Costa Rica Invest

Seaview Court,

Strand Road,

Bray, Co. Wicklow, Ireland.

Tel: +353 1 272 4184 (ext.203) Mobile: 0857734478 Fax: + 353 1 272 3013

www.costaricainvest.ie johnd@costaricainvest.ie

We look forward to seeing you there.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Cost of Living in Costa Rica

So you've maqde the decision and decided to move to Costa Rica, so how much does it cost to live in Costa Rica day to day, well Costa Rica AM offers guidance with the following article:


Costa Rica is affordable even for low-budget folks
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff


As the belts are tightened in the United States and elsewhere, more eyes turn to Costa Rica as a cheap place to live.The first question usually is what is the cost of living there. And there is no easy answer.Retirees range from the person squeaking by on $700 a month in U.S. Social Security to someone who can write a check for a $450,000 oceanside condo.But those short on funds usually want to know how low can you go.

Because Costa Rica is a socialist country, great attention is paid to the costs of public services. In simple terms, they are a steal. And they will continue to be.

Want a cell phone? The Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad will charge you a base rate of 3,375 colons or about $6.15 a month. A land line will cost 3,220 colons or $5.88 a month.

Basic Internet hookup can be had for 8,350 colons a month or $28.25. But then there also is the charge for using the telephone to connect to a server. The alternative, a cable hookup, can cost about $18 for basic service which usually is sufficient for one household. And there is an obligatory purchase of cable television. The price also depends on which company has the service contract for the specific geographical area.

Columnist Jo Stuart frequently mentions prices in her Friday column. She also is an astute shopper at the various weekend ferias where vegetables and other agricultural products are sold far below supermarket prices.

Even in the supermarket, some products are price controlled. Milk is 1,430 colons a gallon or $2.61.Those who simply have to have imported U.S. goods will pay handsomely. They shop at Pricesmart. Jo Stuart also notes that the best seats in the Teatro Nacional for a major orchestra performance can be just 8,000 colons or about $14.60. But she usually goes a little higher in the building for a whole lot less. The cheap seats are 3,000 colons ($5.50) and all tickets are subject to a 10 percent discount for senior citizens.The ciudadano de oro card is accepted universally and can mean deep discounts. To get one, an expat has to have a pensionado, rentista, inversionist or residencia cédula. The government has decided to dispense with the bus coupons for the elderly. They were subject to resale and caused a lot of woe. So shortly seniors will simply have to show an identification specifying their age, including the ciudadano de oro card, to get a discount.The bus fares are a steal to begin with. The fare from San José to Tamarindo on the far Pacific coast is 3,055 colons or $6.23. That's nearly an all-day ride. And in the city few routes are more than 250 colons (about 45 cents).

Taxis also are a deal, although recent increases have Costa Ricans unhappy. The first kilometer of a taxi ride is 420 colons or about 77 cents. Additional kilometers in the city are still 380 colons (69 cents). Those are definitely not New York City prices.There are the apartments. Even after paying the informal tax levied on those who do not speak Spanish well, a decent two-bedroom, secure unit can be had for $450 a month. An A.M. Costa Rica reporter just vacated a one-bedroom with loft where the rent was $275 a month. And this was no slum.

Electrical and water bills are designed for the low-end user. The Compañía Nacional de Fuerza y Luz rates favor low use. The current rate is 43 colons (8 cents) for each kilowatt for the first 200 kilowatts of use. Each of the next 100 kilowatts is 66 colons (12 cents). Larger consumers pay more per unit.

The government water company just got a 25 percent overall raise but the actual rates have not been set yet. Company officials promise to favor low users.

Then there is free. Like nearly all the country's beaches from high water to 50 meters inland. And the parks. And frequent entertainment.

Again, prices and use of utilities depend a lot on where the expat lives. Air conditioning can add a lot of an electric bill. So can alcohol or cigarettes. Remember, socialist countries like to control your bad habits.

Beer is about 800 colons a can, about $1.45. Local beer is cheaper by the two-liter bottle, but still it is no bargain.

On the other hand, a glass of decent Chilean or Italian wine in a four-star hotel restaurant will cost between 3,100 and 3,500 colons (from $5.66 to $6.39). Better to buy by the bottle (4,000 to 6,000 colons or $7.30 to $10.95) except for infrequent sprees.

Bars that cater to expats will reflect that in their beer prices where 1,200 colon beer means nearly $2.20 a bottle.

The big ticket items here are automobiles because the government levies a gigantic tax. So an expat can figure paying twice for what a vehicle costs in the States. But the insurance is very reasonable, again based on coverage and type of vehicle. But $100 a year is possible.

A lot has been said about the Costa Rican health system. And one must accept the fact that most U.S. medical benefits do not extend outside the States. An exception is the health plan for retired military and some federal employees.

Patients in the government system probably do not have their own assigned physician. And the waits are legendary.


So a beautiful country with a cheap cost of living, Costa Rica here we come!
However, older patients of the ciudadano de oro category usually get to go to the head of the line. Expats find they can obtain very reasonable health insurance from the only provider, the Instituto Nacional de Seguros. Some group plans reduce the cost even more.

Costa Rican employees are covered because the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social takes 10 percent of their gross pay as a salary deduction. Employees add to the total.

Monday, September 22, 2008

More input from our sales consultatants

As per some earlier posts we have asked our Sales Consultants to contribute to our blog. Here is a contribution from our Judy Ferguson. If you would like to cvontact Judy just e mail her at judy@costaricainvest.ie or give her a call on +353 1 272 4184.

Why join our investment club?

Over half of the latest development ‘Di Pacifico Dos’ has already been sold to our club members. Why?

  • Access to future developments 3 months before they are launched on the open market
  • Plots sold at a discounted price before any price increases are integrated
  • An established rapport with a trusted developer
  • Very strong products
  • A structure set up to serve investors through the ‘Association of Owners’, set up to maintain the public areas of your domaine, with the advantage of potentially collaborating together on future projects

What’s different about Costa Rica Invest?

We are loyal to our members and care about your investment going forth. We keep you informed on anything that’s happening within your development, and stipulate contractually that you must maintain your teak (to protect all our investors). We can facilitate the setting up of a company in your name in Costa Rica (for tax-efficient purposes), and the resale of your land if you so wish. The maintenance company sends newsletter updates to keep you posted and advises you on when to benefit from harvesting the teak to reap the biggest profits.

The key to our success is our personal investment in these developments, we don’t take on too many projects simultaneously and are very particular with whom we work. We have a tight-knit quality structure set up internally and pride ourselves on our company ethics. That is actually what led me to come on board, it’s very satisfying to work in such a sound company that you wholeheartedly believe in.

If you would lilke to contact Judy, just drop her an e mail judy@costaricainvest.ie or give her a call on +353 1 272 4184

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

An Insiders view

We have asked some of our sales consultants to contribute to our blog and below is John Douglas's first contribution - if you would like to contact John you can e mail him on johnd@costaricainvest.ie or alternately give him a call on + 353 1 272 4184

Ethically Responsible Investments


Fed up with the traditional boring investments in failing economies, have you ever considered investing in a valuable commodity that’s actually growing on your land.

This concept new to the Irish market is already very popular in other parts of Europe & the United States; we deal in Land (Freehold) with 10-12yr old Teak trees already growing on it.

The cost of the investment is €6.45 per sqm our plots range in size from 1000sqm to 10,000sqm at these prices the plots are being snapped up quite quickly, and 70% of this current project has already been sold.·

  • There is no capital gains tax to pay on land in Costa Rica.
  • Land in Costa Rica is currently increasing in price by more than 20% pa.
  • Teak typically grows and creates 12m³-20m³ usable teak per hectare per annum and therefore yields 240m³-400m³ usable teak per ha at 20 years.
  • Teak currently sells @ $650 per cubic meter and has increased by 8,5% per annum over the last 10 years.
  • Costa Rica is stable economically and politically, the economy has been growing at 7% pa.
  • This investment conservatively estimates a 33% pa return over the 8-10 yr investment cycle.
  • You own the land you buy as it’s freehold
  • Your land and trees are managed in Costa Rica at very little cost to you.
  • You don’t have to travel, as the Notary comes to Ireland to register your plot in your name.
  • The investment is in Euro`s, however the return on the Teak is in US$ as this commodity is traded in Dollars and the exit strategy for the Land has exposure to Dollars as one of the target markets is the USA.

Just sit back and watch your money “Grow”.Timber is a solid commodity with steady demand that does well during stock market declines because it is not correlated to the market. Its returns reliably outperform the market, and its value increases over time, even without investor input. The land acts like principal, and the timber acts like a perpetual dividend. In the past 20 years, the timber index has produced average annual returns of more than 15 percent. Timber brings a stabilizing influence to a portfolio and indeed log prices have historically increased around 2 percent in real terms over and above inflation so this means that timber investments can protect investors' capital as well as provide significant returns on investment.

These teak trees are grown on managed plantations “helping to sustain the Worlds rain forests” Ethically Responsible, Environmentally Friendly investmentCosta Rica Invest, Block B. Office, Seaview Court, Strand Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow.T: +353 1 272 4184 F: +353 1 272 3013 E: johnd@costaricainvest.ie W: http://www.costaricainvest.ie/

Friday, September 12, 2008

Travelgirl becomes a devoted eco-tourist on her first trip to Costa Rica

Jan Butsch Schroder, editor of travelgirl magazine became a devoted eco tourist on her first ever vist to Costa Rica. She says:

"My first-ever trip to Costa Rica turned me into a devoted eco-tourist, as I flew through trees, covered my entire body in warm, drippy mud, watched a butterfly emerge from its chrysalis, visited an active inner crater volcano, and smelled fresh-picked coffee beans on a plantation. But let's start with the leather diaper."

"A trip to Costa Rica brings a heartfelt reminder of why we should focus on saving this amazing planet. Other worthy destinations have surely risen in the eco-tourism ranks, but Costa Rica is one of the "original" spots, and despite huge growth during the last 20 years - from 329,000 visitors in 1988 to 2.1 million in 2008 - it still maintains its role as a leading example of a place where nature and tourism have found a happy marriage. "

Read the full storyof Jan's adventures here

If you would like to investigate an investment in this amazing country with the security of teak trees growing on your land, have a look at our website http://www.costaricainest.ie/ and contact us.

Monday, September 8, 2008

Can Costa Rica become Ireland?

The similarites between Costa Rica's future aspirations and Ireland's achievements over the past 20 years are striking.

A highly educated work force, tax breaks to encourage foreign inward investment and government policy to encourage an economic transformation.......a background very similar to Ireland's just 20 years ago.

This very comparison is addressed in the book by Eva Paus, Foreign Investment, Development, and Globalization: Can Costa Rica Become Ireland? New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005.


You can read a full review by Bruce M. Wilson here

You can see comments about the publication on MacMillan, the publishers website here

The Heinz school review of this publication is here

To those familiar with the property boom which took place in Ireland as a direct result of the success of the Irish economic vision and policies this makes Costa Rica an instant lucrative investment opportunity.

If you would like to benefit from the rapidly rising land prices in Costa Rica with the added security of teak growing on your land have a look at our website www.costaricainvest.ie or give us a call on +353 1 272 4184

Rare frog filmed for the first time in Costa Rica.

The Red Eyed Stream frog (Duellmanohyla uranochroa) is critically endangered worldwide. This vividly coloured frog has been flimed for the first time by a team from the University of Manchester whilst on a field trip in Costa Rica.



This inceredibly rare find was captured on film by a BBC news crew which was following the work of the team.

You can see footage of the find here.

Costa Rica is one of the world's most environmentally friendly nations. Containing 5% of the world's biodiviresity Costa Rica has made a committment to becoming carbon neutral as a nation by 2021.

With more teachers than police and the highest life expectancy in the Western hemisphere Costa Rica is a true paradise on earth. If you would like to invest in "paradise" and have the added benefit of teak trees growing on your land have a look at our website http://www.costaricainvest.co.uk/ or give us a call on +353 1 272 4184.

Costa Rica Invest - growing your wealth naturally