New Office opened in Toronto

Economic Sustatainability vs. Eonomic Sustainability

Recording of our most recent webinar Economic Sustainability vs. Ecological Sustainability is now available in the Free Downloads and Media Area of our website.

During the webinar you'll learn more about Costa Rica, Teak, Timber and Land. Further we discuss whether Economic Sustainability and Ecological Sustainability are mutually exclusive or whether they can work together to create a better, stronger and safer investment alternative.

New entry level investment opportunity in Nature Walk

A new type of hybrid investment is now available starting at US$5,000.00 sponsored by NATUREWALK Projects in Costa Rica. This entry level investment allows individuals to participate in the NATUREWALK sustainable investment program and achieve investment and socio-economic goals that have only previously been available to larger scale investors.

Different from a pooled investment format, each US$5,000.00 investment receives a secure, titled interest in real estate as well as a proportional investment in teak forestry grown on the lot. These real estate interests are title guaranteed by Chicago Title Company, a multi-billion dollar U.S. based title company through its exclusive agent in Costa Rica, Latinamerica Title Company.

Investment Lots offered in this program have been selected on the basis of superior location, amenities and views of the ocean and have been categorized in terms of length of investment period. Participants select the investment term that fits their individual investment goals. Each lot is different in size, outlook, number of interests, pricing and length of investment giving the participant a range of selections.


We have created 3 categories of investment terms to suit individual strategies:


Short Term (Three Year), Medium Term (Five Year) and Long Term (Seven Year)


Each lot and its common ownership is governed by a Trust Investment Plan which is jointly administered by Trust Latinamerica Title acting as Title administrator trustee and Naturewalk Sales Trust 1 administering the maintenance and resale of the Property. The Trust Investment Plan contains instructions to the joint Trustees governing the maintenance, security and disposition of the real estate at the end of the investment period.

Tim Alexander, from NATUREWALK projects, commented "we have had huge interest in our new NATUREWALK development, and many smaller investors had inquired as to how they might get involved. This new titled interest share opportunity is ideal for smaller investors with a desire to be involved in an eco-friendly, sustainable, profitable project."

James Cahill from Costa Rica Invest added "we are delighted that NATUREWALK has responded to the needs of smaller investors by creating this new opportunity and with each shareholder receiving a secure titled interest in Real Estate with their title guaranteed by Chicago title they know that their shareholding is backed and underwritten by their land".

The eco-aims of Nature Walk,

It is not a mystery that sustainable investments are becoming the buzz word in governmental, corporate and institutional investments. This trend has been building over the last 10 years but lately increased emphasis has been focused on this because of the attention to global warming.

For many of us that need to be refreshed, Global warming is attributed to the build up of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels chiefly from industry and transportation. (factories and cars). As a result you will see whole countries now moving to adjust their carbon output and achieve carbon neutrality. Ie: what they make in Carbon Dioxide they offset with carbon absorption.

Costa Rica has stated that it aims to become the first carbon neutral country on the planet and will do so by 2020. On of the principal ways it will do this is by Planting Trees. Trees especially tropical varieties sequester (use ) a lot of carbon dioxide because they are growing 12 months of the year versus trees in northern climes that grow slowly or not at all for months of the year..

So we have harnessed something as simple as the power of the TREE and in doing so created a socio-economicly friendly and a responsible vacation investment model in support of the Costa Rican governments initiative for carbon neutrality and for eco-touristic development.

Our aim is not only to be ecologically successful but also economically sustainable. To this end we have created a complete sustainability cycle that grows the trees, harvests and processes them into teak homes producing economic value. Environmentally the teak trees have done there job and the teak homes hold carbon for a very long time and then teak trees re-grow renewing the cycle.

So we think we have taken this sustainability idea one giant step forward encorporating good investment, vacation use and local economic benefits to Costa Ricans that are not a one time event. The result of this is a responsible model for future development in tropical tourism areas. We hope others will incorporate these ideas elsewhere.

The direct result of the sale of the first 6ha of launch offer lots being sold is that over 30,000 new trees will be planted.

Water Preservation and Protection at Nature Walk, Costa Rica

NatureWalk has provisionally agreed to incorporate the installation of the “advanced enviro septic” waste water treatment facilities on its site in Turrubares Costa Rica, to protect ground water and preserve the eco integrity of the project.

NatureWalk has provisionally agreed to incorporate the installation of the “advanced enviro septic” eco-friendly waste water treatment facilities on its site in Turrubares Costa Rica.

NatureWalk is an existing teak plantation, subdivided into serviced development lots of 1,000m2 and upwards. PRG Group Canada are the developers.

Tim Alexander from PRG Group said “the eco-friendly integrity of the project as a whole is very important to us. We have investigated a number of waste water treatment options and sought out an option which does not require electric pumps and so does not further contribute to the planets carbon dioxide load.”

James Cahill from Costa Rica Invest added “The treated waste water will be relatively superficial to the grounds surface and will help to water the tropical trees and shrubs growing on the lots. This will ensure that Nature Walk is the literally “greenest development” in Costa Rica.”

NatureWalk is an ecological subdivision in which purchasers benefit not only from the ownership of the serviced development lots but also the teak growing on them. The teak from the lots will be harvested at maturity and used by Tropical Teak Homes, a division of PRG Group, in the build of teak homes on site.

The offcuts of teak will be used in furniture manufacture on site. Each lot has an “ecological easement” attached requiring the replanting of at minimum 50% of the surface area with trees. The installation of the eco friendly waste water treatment will serve not only to preserve water, but will also ensure that ground water is protected and preserve the ecological integrity of the project.

The ecological subdivision – a new concept in Real Estate

Costa Rica Invest and PRG Global Realty have recently launched Nature Walk close to Jaco, Costa Rica.

This development represents a totally new concept in real estate - the ecological subdivision.
Costa Rica Invest and PRG Global Realty have recently launched Nature Walk close to Jaco, Costa Rica.

This development represents a totally new concept in real estate - the ecological subdivision.
Fully serviced development lots in Nature Walk, come with the added benefit of 12 year old teak growing on them.

This teak growing on the lots provides additional security and returns for the purchasers of these lots.

James Cahill, from Costa Rica Invest comments “Nature Walk provides an ideal opportunity for both straightforward investors, wanting to benefit from future increases in land prices in Costa Rica, and also for those investors with a medium term plan to build a home in Costa Rica. When investors look at land banking as an investment opportunity, they are entirely dependent on an increase in land prices to generate a return on their investment and that return is only realized when the land is sold. With teak growing on the land, the returns from the teak combine with the appreciation of land prices to provide a double return.”

Tim Alexander, from PRG Global Realty adds “not only is Nature Walk ideal for pure investors, providing an attractive entry into the Costa Rican land market with the added returns and benefit of teak., but it is also ideal for those seeking a second home in Costa Rica. The return from the teak harvest on one or more lots will cover the entire costs of land purchase and provide a significant contribution to the building costs of your home in Costa Rica.”

Nature Walk has launched with a very attractive launch offer, offering initial lots at half the retail pricing with a 10% pa yield paid for 3 years by the developer.

Under the initial launch offer, purchases can be structured to provide full capital purchase cost repayment in 4 years, leaving initial purchasers with 60% of the initial land purchased and the added benefit of 16 year old teak trees growing on their fully serviced lots.

The teak can then be sold and the land developed or sold on in another 4 years.

Returns from the teak and any partial land sale at that time can be used to finance the building costs of a home on the remaining land

Why I'm Becoming A Tree Hugger by Chris Hunter

This great article was published in International Living and written by Chris Hunter

On Saturday, December 6, 1941, few Americans had any idea that their country was about to be plunged into war.

The following day, Japan’s “Operation Hawaii”—what became known as the Pearl Harbor attack—killed 2,402 Americans and plunged America into war against Japan and Nazi Germany.

Right now, mainstream investors have a similar view of the world as Americans did before that fateful day in December 1941. Although they know a crisis has struck (back then it was the outbreak of war between Germany and Britain; today it is the 2007-2008 stock market crash) they feel safe in the knowledge that everything is “under control.”

This is why so many investors are choosing to place their savings in U.S. government bonds—traditionally thought to be “safe havens.”

Unfortunately, given the jaw-dropping rise in America’s national debt (which is predicted to exceed the nation’s entire economic output in just two years) these traditionally “safe havens” are about as safe as Pearl Harbor was in 1941.

The fact is we tend to base our view of the future on past experiences. And if you were born during the two decades after the war, the past has been, broadly speaking, good to you.

In the great bull market the 1980s and 1990s, stocks trended upward and handsomely rewarded buy-and-hold investors. And America’s debt was relatively stable.

This is the pattern boomers naturally expect to resume once this crisis is over.

The problem is this resumption to “normality” is a pipe dream. Take a look at this chart from David Rosenberg, chief economist and strategist at Gluskin Sheff. It shows that, for the last 12 years, U.S. stock markets have been extremely dangerous places to put your money—swinging wildly from extreme highs to extreme lows.

My beat is long-term wealth protection. That means finding sustainable wealth-building alternatives to volatile stocks and soon-to-be toxic U.S. government debt.

One solution is timberland, for two reasons.

1. Timberland is a great hedge against inflation. Over the last century timber prices have outrun inflation by an average of 3.3%.

2. Timberland is a great way to diversify your investments. Timberland does not move in step with stocks. So when stock markets dive, timberland remains relatively stable. For example, in 2008 the S&P 500 index of U.S. stocks plunged 38%. But timberland rose by 9.5%.

In other words, timberland is great portfolio insurance. It gives you peace of mind that if we do get another leg down in stocks—another Pearl Harbor-style surprise attack from, say, a default by Greece or a blow-up in China’s real estate market—your investments won’t take a big “hit.”

There are a number of publicly traded companies that allow you to invest in timberland, such as Plum Creek Timber (NYSE:PCL) and Rayonier (NYSE:RYN). But these carry significant risks, particularly their tendency to use large amounts of leverage.

I’m exploring a much more direct way to invest in timberland through one of our strategic partners at Bonner & Partners Family Office, the wealth protection society set up by IL’s founding publisher last year.

It’s a Latin American investment company that manages not only timberland, but also vineyards. And it means our members will have the opportunity to buy timberland for up to one hundred times less than in North America.

Editor's note:Bonner & Partners Family Office is a wealth preservation forum for people who are serious about their money. If you think you could make use of the research and contacts available to Bonner & Partners Family Office members, let us know.

To read the full article in International Living just click here

If you would like to diversify your investment portfolio have a look at Nature Walk our most recent project, which combines the safety of a teak timber investment with the huge potential of development land with seaviews close to Jaco.

Costa Rica - A Good Medium Term Investment Opportunity?

Join us for a Webinar on September 2

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/296345586

James Cahill from Costa Rica Invest will talk about Costa Rica, land in Costa Rica, development land, the Costa Rican economy and the future plans of the principal emerging economy in Central America.

James will touch briefly on Costa Rica Invests current project.

Judy Ferguson will be available throughout the meeting to answer all your questions.

Looking forward to meeting you there.

Title: Costa Rica - A Good Medium Term Investment Opportunity?

Date: Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EDT


After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista

Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer

Press Release Listing

Below are a listing of recent Press Releases from Costa Rica Invest. To see the press release just click on the link:



Arenal Volcano and National Park

Arenal Volcano National Park is one of the treasures of any visit to Costa Rica and a must visit destination



Buried Treasure on Cocos Island Costa Rica.

Cocos Island Costa Rica, boasts an incredible diversity of plant and animal life, the best diving in the world and buried pirate treasure!



IMF predicts Costa Rica and Latin America will be first to recover from the global economic crises

Positive predictions from IMF representatives about Costa Rica are great news for investors in Costa Rica.


30 Rare Endangered Scarlet Macaws Released on the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica

Los Delfines Golf and Country Club set an ambitions target in 1996 - to develop a successful breeding program for the endangered scarlet macaw, and repopulate the Nicoya Peninsula with these beautiful colourful birds.


What sets Costa Rica Apart?

A truly integrated holistic approach to the environment and the country’s economic development is what sets Costa Rica, the principal emerging economy in Central America, apart from every other country worldwide.



Timber the Best Performing Asset of the last 100 years!

Timber has outperformed inflation by 3.3% since 1910 and offers a secure high yield investment despite the global downturn, reduction in construction and reduced consumer demand for timber products.


7th Most Politically Stable Country World Wide Located in Central America

A recent report by The Economist Intelligence Unit lists Costa Rica as the 7th most politically stable country worldwide. Further it is the 7th least likely to encounter social unrest as a result of current global economic conditions.


Price Increase In Finca Di Pacifico Dos Early Investors See the Value of Investments Rise by 142%

Prices in Finca Di Pacifico Dos our premier project have increased further with immediate effect. Early investors have now seen the value of their investment rise by 142% over the past 24 months.


Investors and Businesses in Costa Rica to Benefit from New Tax

Costa Rica has introduced new taxation to benefit business and encourage continuing investment into Costa Rica.


Costa Rica and France Work Together in the Battle Against Climate Change

Costa Rica and France have agreed to cooperate closely in the battle against climate change.



Prospects for Costa Rica Remain Attractive for Investors

Costa Rica has been affected by the global economic downturn, but it has not been as badly affected as many other countries and the prospects remain attractive.


Great News for the Environment, Costa Rica Continues on its Eco Friendly Path

Costa Rica aspires to be the world’s first carbon neutral nation by 2021 and it is right on track.


Is Costa Rica Paradise on Earth? “La Pura Vida” is Good for You and Helps You Live Longer.

Costa Rica has the longest life expectancy in the Western Hemisphere and building your dream home in Costa Rica may actually be good for your health and help you live longer.


Costa Rica chosen as the headquarters of the US Food and Drug Administration in Latin America.

The USA has chosen Costa Rica to locate the headquarters for the Food and Drug Administration in Latin America, because of its strategic location and also because of the excellent relations that already exist between the two countries.


Purchasers in Di Pacifico Dos, Costa Rica, to see the value of their investment rise by 112%

Di Pacifico Dos is a unique opportunity to invest in land and teak in Costa Rica. The land registration process is on track and today price increases for the remaining land are announced.


Good News - Green Investments are the only way forward?

The UN recommends, Deutsche Bank agrees and HSBC’s figures show that green investments will help avoid a severe recession. So you can make a green investment, make a great return and help the global economy.


Recession, What Recession?

3000 new jobs were created in Costa Rica in 2008, with 30 new companies established and US$428.6 million invested. 2009 will present its challenges but the early signs for economic growth in Costa Rica during the forthcoming year are encouraging.


Costa Rica Invest Launches New Website

Costa Rica Invest launched their new website today. The reformatted and redesigned website is designed to be a major information source on teak, development land and Costa Rica.


Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining

Costa Rica Invest’s latest project has sold all of its smaller plots but there are still opportunities available. In particular the re-release to the market of a group of sea view plots represents a “not to be missed” investment opportunity.


Costa Rica is the Second Most Globalized Country in Central and Southern America.

The Latin Globalization index ranks Costa Rica as the second most globalized nation in Central and Southern America. Foreign inward investment will increase due to their increasing trade and tourism combined with a highly educated workforce



More Great News About Trees

We know trees are good for the environment, removing carbon from the atmosphere and reducing global warming. A recent discovery shows that a chemical released by trees helps to cool the planet further by thickening cloud cover over forests.


Costa Rica’s Carbon Neutrality Will Affect Land Prices

Costa Rica aims to be carbon neutral as a nation by 2021. A series incentives have been introduced to achieve this goal. As more land is reforested and preserved, development land will become scarcer and will increase in price


7 More Reasons to Invest In Costa Rica

Costa Rica, has been described by CNBC as “the hottest real estate market on the face of the planet” and Costa Rica Invest lists 15 reasons for investors to consider investing in Costa Rica.


8 Good Reasons to Invest In Costa Rica

Costa Rica, has been described by CNBC as “the hottest real estate market on the face of the planet” and Costa Rica Invest lists 15 reasons for investors to consider investing in Costa Rica.


Early Investors Receive An Unexpected "windfall"

Early investors in a unique teak and development land project received an unexpected “windfall”. The first the thinning of the teak on Finca Di Pacifico Dos has generated a greater than expected return of $86,684


Costa Rica Invest announces that the land registration process is on track to commence in March 2009

Costa Rica Invest announces that the process of preparing for Cadastral registration of the land plots in Finca Di Pacifico Dos is on time to commence registration of the individual land plots in March 2009.


73.6% of Finca Di Pacifico Dos, a unique investment in teak and development land, is now sold

Costa Rica Invest announces that 73.6% of Finca Di Pacifico Dos is now sold. This is an absolutely unique opportunity to invest in development land in Costa Rica with the added advantage and security of teak.


Second Funding Round for Di Pacifico Dos Ltd.

After a fully subscribed first round, Costa Rica Invest announces a second round of fundraising for Di Pacifico Dos Ltd. which is structured for self administered pension fund investments in Ireland.


Costa Rica Invest announces alliance partnership with Peter Quealy, IFG Mortgages Dungarvan, Ireland

Costa Rica Invest today announced a successful launch of their alliance partnership with Peter Quealy of IFG Mortgages Dungarvan. Together they held a successful presentation to Peter’s clients on Thursday the 6th of November.


The Trees are Growing – The Time is Now: 14 year old teak plots sold out already

Diversify. Diversify. Diversify. Smart investors saw the opportunity. They invested in Di Pacifico Dos in Costa Rica at an early stage and have bought all the plots with the oldest teak trees. They are now watching their investment grow. The race is on!

Why is timber a great investment?

Timber is extensively promoted as an economic crises "friendly" investment.

But why, who wants to buy timber right now - sales from furniture shops have fallen, construction has fallen and neither of these are likely to rise any time soon.

But of course investing in timber is not about the price of timber today.

Forestry analyst George Nichols, in a recent study has shown that the price of timber itself only accounts for a third of the return an investor makes on it.

The most important aspect of timber investing is the growth of the trees themselves.

Nichols points out that steady long-term biological growth accounts for 61% of the returns an investor makes on timber. Meanwhile, the quality of the land a forest covers accounts for just 6% of the return – it only really matters to the extent that it allows the trees to thrive (unless that land is development land as in our unique investment opportunity Finca Di Pacifico Dos)

In other words, if the forestry investors are not satisfied with the prevailing timber prices at the time of the proposed harvest, they can of course choose to allow their timber to continue to grow. And the longer they grow, the more valuable they become.

Trees do not know about banking crises, and global economic conditions, they just continue to grow on regardless.

Timber also has a great long-term track record between 1910 and 2000, timber prices rose at an annual rate of 3.3% above the rate of inflation. So if you’re prepared to wait, timber will be a very rewarding investment.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation estimates that world consumption of wood products will rise by 60% over the next 25 years. China alone has increased its appetite for wood 16-fold in the last 12 years.

China’s building boom may be tapering off for now. But building homes, and panelling public offices for an urban population that is forecast to swell from 530 million to 875 million by 2030, will still put pressure on the world’s supply of timber. China’s growth has already contributed to deforestation that has seen one tenth of global forests disappear in the last 25 years.

Burning wood for biofuel will also tax timber resources. Burning wood pellets or chips has proved a useful source of renewable energy, creating little in the way of polluting waste.

So the outlook for timber as an asset class is excellent.

The outlook for teak within that timber asset class is even better. Currently less than 5% of the world's teak production comes from plantation sources. The balance comes from natural jungle sources. World opinion has moved against the logging of our natural jungle reserves creating a shortage of teak.

Combining an existing teak investment with development land in a fantastic location in Costa Rica may just be "the perfect" investment and Finca Di Pacifico Dos, our premier project offers the best of both investments - development land and teak.

Guanacaste Tree - The National Tree of Costa Rica

The unusual Guanacaste Seed Pod

The Guanacaste Tree is the National Tree of Costa Rica. It is an evergreen (or briefly deciduous tree), known especially for its superlative proportions. Becuase of its immense size and the shade it provides from the sun it is one of the best known trees in Costa Rica.

In Finca Di Pacifico Dos, our teak plantation, with land for future development, 60 ha will remain as natural park or forest reserve. Within these preserved areas are a number of these immense Guanacaste trees, including one giant specimen of over 200 years of age.
The Guanacase tree also has unusually shaped seed pods, resembling mushroom caps filled with seeds which rattle when the seed pods are shaken.

The Guanacaste trees typically flowers from February through to May and the flowers have an intense and beautiful aroma.


Humberto Camareno, the manager of Matenimiento Forestales our recommended foresty maintenance company poses beside our largest Guanacaste tree - over 200 years of age and a magnificent specimen








One of our beautiful 200 year old jungle giants

Has there been a better time to invest in land and teak?

Well in a nutshell no! - in our opinion (although we might be slightly biased) there has never been a better time to invest.

Why - I hear you ask....

Well, as many of us are now discovering to our cost, those intangible assets like stocks, bonds, contracts for difference, options are not as secure as we thought them to be!

Even the banks and bankers in whom we placed our trust are not as trustworthy as we imagined them to be.

Warren Buffett said that "when the tide goes out we find out who has been swimming with no shorts" and it turns out that many of our banking and financial institutions were skinny dipping!

Here in Ireland financial scandal seems to come on financial scandal. Anglo Irish Bank, the states third largest bank, has just been Nationalised. It's share price collapsed as a direct result of investor loss of confidence when it was revealed that Sean Fitzpatrick, the banks previously respected CEO and Chairman, had deceived the banks auditors, the financial regulator, the banks board and the banks shareholders for 7 years, by "bed and breakfasting" a personal loan of €130million with another financial institution whenever the bank was being inspected or audited.

The result significant losses for the banks shareholders which can never be recouped.

An extraordinary tale of deceipt!

The upshot of the current financial crises is that many of the assets in which we had placed our financial hopes and dreams have been devalued to a fraction of their previous value with little or no hope of recovery.

The advantages of a development land and teak investment are:

1. These are tangible real assets.



2. Teak does not know about the global credit crunch or banking crises - it continues to grow regardless.



3. Although teak prices have fallen back from the highs they reached in mid 2008, our teak will not be ready for harvest for another 6-10 years and the growth in world population will ensure that demand for teak continues to rise.



4. Supply of teak continues to fall as world opinion continues to move (quite rightly) against logging our natural jungles.



5. As for land - well they just ain't making any more of it.



6. Costa Rica's aims to be carbon neutral by 2021 will reduce development land in Costa Rica, pushing up the price of existing development land.



7. The US Baby Boomers start to retire in 5 years and many will seek their piece of paradise in Costa Rica.



8. Interest rates are at historic lows and your bank savings are actually losing money when compared to inflation.



9. Good stock picks seem impossible in the current climate.



10. And I repeat - these are tangible real assets!

The bottom line - there has never ben a better time to invest in development land and teak in our opinion (although as I mentioned we might be slightly biaised!)

Have you seen our new website, it has lots of downloads and we hope it is easier to navigate and will become an important source of information for teak, development land and Costa Rica - have a look: http://www.costaricainvest.ie/ and we would love to get your feedback on how we might improve it further, just e mail us at info@costaricainvest.ie

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.