Statistician Nic Marks talks about the Happy Planet Index in his Ted Talk.
Is measuring a countries finances a true measure of a country's wealth? What do people want, is it money or happiness?
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
Costa Rica tops the polls for Single Travellers
The magazine Travel and Leisure in a recent survey places Costa Rica at number 1 as the best country in the world for the solo traveller.
Travel and Leisure Magazine assessed a number of factors to prepare its listing of the 15 best destinations for solo travellers - safety, happiness of the people and many more.
Using a combination of the Global Peace Index (Costa Rica ranks 26th of 149 countries surveyed) which ranks countries for their peacefullness and the Happy Planet Index (Costa Rica ranks number 1 of 143 countries suveyed) which compares the happiness of a nation's population to its ecological footprint, the magazine prepared a listing of the 15 best destinations worldwide for solo travellers.
And number one on that list was Costa Rica.
Travel and Leisure Magazine assessed a number of factors to prepare its listing of the 15 best destinations for solo travellers - safety, happiness of the people and many more.
Using a combination of the Global Peace Index (Costa Rica ranks 26th of 149 countries surveyed) which ranks countries for their peacefullness and the Happy Planet Index (Costa Rica ranks number 1 of 143 countries suveyed) which compares the happiness of a nation's population to its ecological footprint, the magazine prepared a listing of the 15 best destinations worldwide for solo travellers.
And number one on that list was Costa Rica.
If you're planning a trip to Costa Rica (either singly or in company), don't forget that our company's travel arm Everything Costa Rica can help you with accomodation, car hire, tours and much much more. If you'ld like Everything Costa Rica to assist you just click here and you can contact us.
To see the full article in Travel and Leisure Magzine click here
To see the full article in Travel and Leisure Magzine click here
Monday, August 23, 2010
What makes Land Valuable
Tim Alexander from PRG discusses just why land becomes valuable, explains how to value land and the concept of residual value.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Nature Walk Summer Newsletter released
The NatureWalk Summer newsletter has been published and you can download your copy here or by clicking on the image below.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Webinar - Buy Land they aint malking any more of it
| Join us for a webinar on Thursday August 19th (1:00pm Eastern, 6:00pm BST, 5:00pm GMT) Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/718958275 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Friday, August 13, 2010
Costa Rica country profile
By: BBC News 
Saturday, 8 May
For decades Costa Rica has stood out for its stability and has benefited from the most developed welfare system in the region.
It has no standing army, and its citizens enjoy one of the highest life expectancy levels in the Western hemisphere and better living standards than their war-torn neighbours.
Overview
Traditionally dependent on coffee, banana and beef exports, Costa Rica has diversified its economy. The opening of a large computer chip plant in the late 1990s was a fillip to the economy, but its fortunes have been subject to the fluctuating world demand for microchips.
Tourism is Costa Rica's main source of foreign exchange. Its tropical forests are home to a profusion of flora and fauna, including 1,000 species of orchid and 850 species of birds, such as macaws and toucans.
Politics:
Costa Rica's first female president, Laura Chinchilla, succeeded elder statesman and nobel laureate Oscar Arias on 8 May 2010
Economy:
One of Central America's most affluent countries; Costa Ricans voters narrowly approved a free trade deal with the US in 2007.
Timeline
Tourism is Costa Rica's main source of foreign exchange. Its tropical forests are home to a profusion of flora and fauna, including 1,000 species of orchid and 850 species of birds, such as macaws and toucans.
The Caribbean coast with its swamps and sandy beaches is also a big draw. But Costa Rica is trying to shake off its reputation as a destination for sex tourists.
While relatively free of crime, Costa Rica has been used as a transit point for South American cocaine and there have been allegations that drug-tainted money has found its way into the coffers of the two main political parties.
Once dubbed the "Switzerland of Central America", the country's self-image was badly shaken in 2004 when allegations of high-level corruption led to two former presidents being imprisoned on graft charges.
Facts
•Full name: Republic of Costa Rica
•Population: 4.6 million (UN, 2009)
•Capital: San Jose
•Area: 51,100 sq km (19,730 sq miles)
•Major languages: Spanish (official), English
•Major religion: Christianity
•Life expectancy: 76 years (men), 81 years (women) (UN)
•Monetary unit: 1 Costa Rican colon = 100 centimos
•Main exports: Coffee, bananas, sugar, textiles, electronic components, electricity
•GNI per capita: US$6,060 (World Bank, 2008)
•Internet domain: .cr
•International dialling code: +506
Leaders
President: Laura Chinchilla
Laura Chinchilla won a landslide victory in February 2010 to become the country's first woman to be elected president. She took up office in May 2010.
Ms Chinchilla is the first presidenta in a long line of Costa Rican presidentes
Ms Chinchilla is a career politician who was born into a political family and served as public safety minister, congressional deputy and most recently as vice president and justice minister in the cabinet of her predecessor, Nobel peace laureate President Oscar Arias.
She promised to continue Arias's moderate free-market policies and expand Costa Rica's web of free trade agreements. She has also backed liberalization of Costa Rica's state-controlled electricity and telecommunications sectors.
Married with a teenage son, Ms Chinchilla is a social conservative, opposing gay marriage, abortion and any change to Roman Catholicism's position as the state religion. Supporters regaled her with rosaries during her campaign, including one she wears constantly for good luck.
During her election campaign she promised to boost education spending as well as increase funding for law enforcement and create an anti-drug czar to oversee the growing struggle against drug smugglers who are using Costa Rica as a transit route.
The election of Ms Chinchilla follows an increasingly common trend in many Latin American countries: Nicaragua, Panama, Chile and Argentina have all elected women as presidents.
In the simultaneous parliamentary polls, Ms Chinchilla's centrist National Liberation Party failed to win a majority in the 57-member Congress, making the forging of alliances a necessity.
"Dialogue has to become a permanent instrument for the exercise of power," Ms Chinchilla commented after her victory.
For decades Costa Rica has stood out for its stability and has benefited from the most developed welfare system in the region.
Media
Costa Rica enjoys a vibrant media scene, with nine major newspapers, private and public TV stations and a busy FM radio dial. Cable TV is widely available.
Press freedom group Reporters Without Borders describes the country's media as "fairly free". Libel laws and a law which ensures the right of reply for individuals criticised in reports are in force.
The press
•Al Dia - daily
•Diario Extra - daily
•El Heraldo - daily
•La Nacion - daily
•La Prensa Libre - evening
•La Republica - daily
•The Tico Times - English-language weekly
Television
•Teletica (channel 7) - private
•Repretel (channels 4, 6, 11) - private
•Conexion (channel 2) - private
•Canal 13 - public
Radio
•Radio Reloj - popular national radio
•Radio Columbia - news and talk
•Radio Monumental - news and talk
•Radio Nacional - public
•Radio Faro del Caribe - religious
•Radio Uno - commercial
•Radio Dos - commercial
•Radio Eco - news
By: BBC News
Saturday, 8 May
For decades Costa Rica has stood out for its stability and has benefited from the most developed welfare system in the region.
It has no standing army, and its citizens enjoy one of the highest life expectancy levels in the Western hemisphere and better living standards than their war-torn neighbours.
Overview
Traditionally dependent on coffee, banana and beef exports, Costa Rica has diversified its economy. The opening of a large computer chip plant in the late 1990s was a fillip to the economy, but its fortunes have been subject to the fluctuating world demand for microchips.
Tourism is Costa Rica's main source of foreign exchange. Its tropical forests are home to a profusion of flora and fauna, including 1,000 species of orchid and 850 species of birds, such as macaws and toucans.
Politics:
Costa Rica's first female president, Laura Chinchilla, succeeded elder statesman and nobel laureate Oscar Arias on 8 May 2010
Economy:
One of Central America's most affluent countries; Costa Ricans voters narrowly approved a free trade deal with the US in 2007.
Timeline
Tourism is Costa Rica's main source of foreign exchange. Its tropical forests are home to a profusion of flora and fauna, including 1,000 species of orchid and 850 species of birds, such as macaws and toucans.
The Caribbean coast with its swamps and sandy beaches is also a big draw. But Costa Rica is trying to shake off its reputation as a destination for sex tourists.
While relatively free of crime, Costa Rica has been used as a transit point for South American cocaine and there have been allegations that drug-tainted money has found its way into the coffers of the two main political parties.
Once dubbed the "Switzerland of Central America", the country's self-image was badly shaken in 2004 when allegations of high-level corruption led to two former presidents being imprisoned on graft charges.
Facts
•Full name: Republic of Costa Rica
•Population: 4.6 million (UN, 2009)
•Capital: San Jose
•Area: 51,100 sq km (19,730 sq miles)
•Major languages: Spanish (official), English
•Major religion: Christianity
•Life expectancy: 76 years (men), 81 years (women) (UN)
•Monetary unit: 1 Costa Rican colon = 100 centimos
•Main exports: Coffee, bananas, sugar, textiles, electronic components, electricity
•GNI per capita: US$6,060 (World Bank, 2008)
•Internet domain: .cr
•International dialling code: +506
Leaders
President: Laura Chinchilla
Laura Chinchilla won a landslide victory in February 2010 to become the country's first woman to be elected president. She took up office in May 2010.
Ms Chinchilla is the first presidenta in a long line of Costa Rican presidentes
Ms Chinchilla is a career politician who was born into a political family and served as public safety minister, congressional deputy and most recently as vice president and justice minister in the cabinet of her predecessor, Nobel peace laureate President Oscar Arias.
She promised to continue Arias's moderate free-market policies and expand Costa Rica's web of free trade agreements. She has also backed liberalization of Costa Rica's state-controlled electricity and telecommunications sectors.
Married with a teenage son, Ms Chinchilla is a social conservative, opposing gay marriage, abortion and any change to Roman Catholicism's position as the state religion. Supporters regaled her with rosaries during her campaign, including one she wears constantly for good luck.
During her election campaign she promised to boost education spending as well as increase funding for law enforcement and create an anti-drug czar to oversee the growing struggle against drug smugglers who are using Costa Rica as a transit route.
The election of Ms Chinchilla follows an increasingly common trend in many Latin American countries: Nicaragua, Panama, Chile and Argentina have all elected women as presidents.
In the simultaneous parliamentary polls, Ms Chinchilla's centrist National Liberation Party failed to win a majority in the 57-member Congress, making the forging of alliances a necessity.
"Dialogue has to become a permanent instrument for the exercise of power," Ms Chinchilla commented after her victory.
For decades Costa Rica has stood out for its stability and has benefited from the most developed welfare system in the region.
Media
Costa Rica enjoys a vibrant media scene, with nine major newspapers, private and public TV stations and a busy FM radio dial. Cable TV is widely available.
Press freedom group Reporters Without Borders describes the country's media as "fairly free". Libel laws and a law which ensures the right of reply for individuals criticised in reports are in force.
The press
•Al Dia - daily
•Diario Extra - daily
•El Heraldo - daily
•La Nacion - daily
•La Prensa Libre - evening
•La Republica - daily
•The Tico Times - English-language weekly
Television
•Teletica (channel 7) - private
•Repretel (channels 4, 6, 11) - private
•Conexion (channel 2) - private
•Canal 13 - public
Radio
•Radio Reloj - popular national radio
•Radio Columbia - news and talk
•Radio Monumental - news and talk
•Radio Nacional - public
•Radio Faro del Caribe - religious
•Radio Uno - commercial
•Radio Dos - commercial
•Radio Eco - news
By: BBC News
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Costa Rica and Offshore Investment
By: The Costa Rica News
Online English News Paper
Aug 9th, 2010
Costa Rica’s offshore investment has increased steadily over the past 15 years.
The largest areas of growth is still real estate, but new growth sectors in Biofuels and Medical Travel has seen a sharp rise in the past 5 years.
Costa Rica is a country that is reputed to be the safest and most business friendly of tax havens in Latin America for new businesses, offshore investments and offshore incorporation. Costa Rica treats onshore and offshore businesses in the same manner. The basis of taxation is territorial, with both residents and non-residents paying tax on Costa Rican income, while foreign-source income is not taxed.
Costa Rica is located in the centre of the American Continent and lies just above Panama. The capital and financial centre is San Jose. Costa Rica is one of the most discreet offshore centers in the world and enjoys economic and political stability making it a popular tax haven. Its legal system is based on the Spanish Civil Law.
Features and advantages of offshore incorporation in Costa Rica
Territorial taxation
Provided that the offshore company activities are carried on outside of Costa Rica, the offshore company will not be subject to any income taxes. There is no double tax treaties, thus no information exchange regarding the goods and services transferred. There is no reporting or accounting requirements for offshore company in this tax haven.
Tax free trading with the US
The recently approved Central America Free Trade Agreement with the United States will enable any Costa Rican company to trade with the US markets tax free, which opens to any company one of the biggest markets in the world. Similar Agreements were signed with Canada, Mexico, Chile, China and EC are being discussed.
Name Restrictions
Offshore companies names can be in Spanish and English and must end with S.A., to denote limited liability.
Trading Restriction
A Costa Rican company is not permitted to carry out banking, insurance, mutual fund management, public investment management or any associated activity.
Gaming Activities. Gambling license
In Costa Rica there is no specific gambling license for gaming activities or Casinos online. Corporation that execute online gambling or online casino activities work under a ”data processing license”. To obtain this license the corporation must have a physical location in Costa Rica.
Disadvantages
Costa Rica is not a member of the Hague Convention. This complicates the legalization of the corporate documents if the company plans opening bank accounts or representative offices outside Costa Rican tax haven.
Privacy of incorporation
To maintain offshore company owners’ privacy your lawyer or private corporation service company will form a company with their nominees – board members. Although the owners’ details will not be registered at the Registrar, they will be able to manage and control the company using a General Power of Attorney.
Fees
Incorporation of offshore company in Costa Rica ranges from $300 to $1500. This amount may include provision of board members for the first year; notarized Power of Attorney in favor of the company owner in English; the corporate package of documents in Spanish with notarized translation of main documents in English; services of registered agent and registered office for the first year of the offshore company existence and registering the company at the Revenue Office as an “inactive company”.
Some clients may need to legalize corporate documents for opening representative offices, bank accounts and similar purposes. Legalization fees depend on the rates of the consulates.
The following information is required for the incorporation:
1. Three alternative company names.
2. Full name and address of the manager(s), certified passport copy and proof of address.
3. Full name, address, and phone number to ship the corporate documents by a courier (DHL and FedEx).
Additional services related to the incorporation. Listed briefly they look as follows:
■assistance with opening an offshore bank account (funds can be controlled remotely via Internet. Credit cards are available);
■provision of mail forwarding address in Europe, USA. Mail is collected and forwarded (such an address may be necessary to receive sensitive business and private mail, e.g. bank correspondence, etc.
Provision of space on a web server - offshore WWW hosting. For active Internet users Costa Rica can offer anonymity in their Internet activities: sending email messages, browsing the Internet, electronic banking. All these activities can be conducted in complete privacy using advanced technology.
By: The Costa Rica News
Online English News Paper
To read more Articles like this please click Here.
Online English News Paper
Aug 9th, 2010
Costa Rica’s offshore investment has increased steadily over the past 15 years.
The largest areas of growth is still real estate, but new growth sectors in Biofuels and Medical Travel has seen a sharp rise in the past 5 years.
Costa Rica is a country that is reputed to be the safest and most business friendly of tax havens in Latin America for new businesses, offshore investments and offshore incorporation. Costa Rica treats onshore and offshore businesses in the same manner. The basis of taxation is territorial, with both residents and non-residents paying tax on Costa Rican income, while foreign-source income is not taxed.
Costa Rica is located in the centre of the American Continent and lies just above Panama. The capital and financial centre is San Jose. Costa Rica is one of the most discreet offshore centers in the world and enjoys economic and political stability making it a popular tax haven. Its legal system is based on the Spanish Civil Law.
Features and advantages of offshore incorporation in Costa Rica
Territorial taxation
Provided that the offshore company activities are carried on outside of Costa Rica, the offshore company will not be subject to any income taxes. There is no double tax treaties, thus no information exchange regarding the goods and services transferred. There is no reporting or accounting requirements for offshore company in this tax haven.
Tax free trading with the US
The recently approved Central America Free Trade Agreement with the United States will enable any Costa Rican company to trade with the US markets tax free, which opens to any company one of the biggest markets in the world. Similar Agreements were signed with Canada, Mexico, Chile, China and EC are being discussed.
Name Restrictions
Offshore companies names can be in Spanish and English and must end with S.A., to denote limited liability.
Trading Restriction
A Costa Rican company is not permitted to carry out banking, insurance, mutual fund management, public investment management or any associated activity.
Gaming Activities. Gambling license
In Costa Rica there is no specific gambling license for gaming activities or Casinos online. Corporation that execute online gambling or online casino activities work under a ”data processing license”. To obtain this license the corporation must have a physical location in Costa Rica.
Disadvantages
Costa Rica is not a member of the Hague Convention. This complicates the legalization of the corporate documents if the company plans opening bank accounts or representative offices outside Costa Rican tax haven.
Privacy of incorporation
To maintain offshore company owners’ privacy your lawyer or private corporation service company will form a company with their nominees – board members. Although the owners’ details will not be registered at the Registrar, they will be able to manage and control the company using a General Power of Attorney.
Fees
Incorporation of offshore company in Costa Rica ranges from $300 to $1500. This amount may include provision of board members for the first year; notarized Power of Attorney in favor of the company owner in English; the corporate package of documents in Spanish with notarized translation of main documents in English; services of registered agent and registered office for the first year of the offshore company existence and registering the company at the Revenue Office as an “inactive company”.
Some clients may need to legalize corporate documents for opening representative offices, bank accounts and similar purposes. Legalization fees depend on the rates of the consulates.
The following information is required for the incorporation:
1. Three alternative company names.
2. Full name and address of the manager(s), certified passport copy and proof of address.
3. Full name, address, and phone number to ship the corporate documents by a courier (DHL and FedEx).
Additional services related to the incorporation. Listed briefly they look as follows:
■assistance with opening an offshore bank account (funds can be controlled remotely via Internet. Credit cards are available);
■provision of mail forwarding address in Europe, USA. Mail is collected and forwarded (such an address may be necessary to receive sensitive business and private mail, e.g. bank correspondence, etc.
Provision of space on a web server - offshore WWW hosting. For active Internet users Costa Rica can offer anonymity in their Internet activities: sending email messages, browsing the Internet, electronic banking. All these activities can be conducted in complete privacy using advanced technology.
By: The Costa Rica News
Online English News Paper
To read more Articles like this please click Here.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Costa Rica: The People Make the Place
By Janet Grosshandler“Nemo,” the bright orange 1978 Land Rover my son Jeff purchased for his months in
This was our first trip out after Nemo came back from Carlos the mechanic's “shop”—a tin-roofed fenced-in overhang in his backyard. Jeff’s fluency in “mechanic Spanish” reassured him that it now had new shocks, new tires, and all fluids checked, and was ready to go.
Five minutes along the winding mountain road, Nemo began belching black smoke and the temperature gauge shot to super hot. We pulled over on the tiny shoulder of the dusty two-lane road across from a grocery store. Since it was Sunday, a non-working day for Costa Ricans, several came out from the small store and offered to help.
We were given a ride home and Jeff was left on the side of the road, baking in the hot sun, borrowing someone’s cell phone to call Carlos.
An hour later, Jeff found us at the beach and he was in Carlos’ old SUV. Carlos, whose wife was at English school for the whole day, had his two-year-old son Leonardo in his care, but loaned Jeff the SUV car to come get us. Carlos then offered drive us around for the day because he wanted us to be happy.
And what a beautiful day! Leonardo was shy and sweet. He wasn’t very interested in us, but would glance out the side of his eyes, checking us over. Carlos took us to a Tico section of Conchal beach area, a turquoise, warm bay where we snorkeled and saw many species of tropical fish while he and Leonardo waited patiently at the beach bar/restaurant.
Costa Rican mountains and lush green vegetation surrounded the horseshoe shaped bay. The Tico music wafted from the open dining room, as Sunday was the day to relax and drink beer.
After we emerged from the fabulous snorkeling adventure, I looked around, amazed to see we were the only non-Costa Rican people there. Carlos had taken us to the Bar y Restaurante El Encanto, a local place, giving us a unique, non-tourist experience.
He spoke Spanish to Jeff all day, helping him practice his language skills, while pointing out multitudes of native trees, flowers, and animals. Carlos took us to “off the beaten track” local beaches. We drove the rural dirt roads to and from the beach, pulling over to watch some howler monkeys in the trees. Beautiful birds, armadillos, horses, and cattle lined the roads along the farms. It showed me the “real life” of these friendly, laid back natives of
And when Carlos dropped us off at home much later that day, promising he would get the part needed for Nemo mañana, Leonardo waved a shy goodbye.
Costa Rican living has its small challenges, but its people are national treasures who, like Carlos, will stop his day to make yours better.
From International Living Postcards
Friday, August 6, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Specialist Teak Webinar
Money Grows on TEAK trees?
Join us for a Webinar on August 5
Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/619188035
James Cahill, Costa Rica Invest, discusses timber and specifically teak, the investment opportunities, the upsides and the pitfalls to avoid.
By the end of the webinar you will know more about Timber's economic trends and pricing and specifically lots more about Costa Rican Teak.
Nature Walk, a combination investment opportunity in Teak, Development Land with Ecological Advantages will also be introduced.The opportunity is also suitable for those with a medium term plan of having a home in Costa Rica.
Title: Money Grows on TEAK trees?
Date: Thursday, August 5, 2010
Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EDT (that's 6:00pm UK time or 5:00pm GMT)
After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.
System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP, 2003 Server or 2000
Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.4.11 (Tiger®) or newer
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