Fast Food competition in Costa Rica

One of the best known fast food outlets in the world has direct competition in Costa Rica:

Mountain Biking

Naturewalk, Costa Rica is the home of Costa Rica mountain biking. But you may not know that mountain biking in Costa Rica comes with free fresh roadside drinks!

Full Residency Progam in place

In partnership with Law Central America, a full residency application program is now in place.

This residency program applies for residency in Costa Rica as an investor resident.

Naturewalk has a number of investment opportunities including its specifically designed CD Eco Mortgage program.

This investment gives security of capital, a great rate of return on investment and is ideal for residency application,

For more information visit our website here: http://www.costaricainvest.ie/CD_Eco_Mortgage-Residency.html

E mail us at info@costaricainvest.ie or call us now on USA +1-866-990-1123  (toll free) or Europe +353-1-272-4184

Living in Costa Rica

By the Costa Rica News, 22nd July 2012

Costa Rica is attracting record numbers of people that are looking to retire, buy a second home, or start a business. Called the Jewel of Central America, Costa Rica has become the destination of choice in Central and South America. Living in Costa Rica is far easier than you may think – with huge benefits and very affordable for everyone.

People choose to live in Costa Rica for many reasons and apart from being one of the most beautiful and stunning places on the planet, chalk full of wildlife and natural beauty with a wide variety of environment to choose from, people mostly come here because you get a lot bang for your buck.

While there is a lot of petty crime Costa Rica has very low violent crime rate. Infrastructure has improved tremendously over the past decade, and flights from major US and Canadian cities to San Jose and Liberia are being added at a significant rate.

Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why so many people are moving to Costa Rica.

Costa Rica Real Estate
The cost of property in Costa Rica is cheaper in comparison to the US with beachfront properties costing up to 75% less.

The cost of a three bedroom home begins around $70,000 mark, although some remote areas are even cheaper.

Property taxes are very low, and of course no capital gains tax when selling your Costa Rica property. Foreigners have the same rights as residents..

Labor very inexpensive, a full-time maid is approximately $400 per month.

Costa Rica real estate slowed during the economic downturn, but prices seem to be at or very near the bottom of the barrel, so now more than ever Costa Rica is an ideal place to buy a second home.

Cost of Living in Costa Rica
you get more for your money When you live in Costa Rica, with most things being cheaper than in the US and Canada . Further, low inflation means your money just goes further.

Medical care, food, utilities, rent entertainment are substantially lower than in the US and Canada.

By living in Costa Rica, you get access to world-class healthcare at up to 65% less than US and Canada.

In Costa Rica, you’ll have a comfortable lifestyle for around $2,000 a month.

Costa Rica Lifestyle
Many North Americans living in Costa Rica enjoy the slower paced, friendly lifestyle, but living in Costa Rica you can still find a great deal U.S. culture.

One of the major attractions of living in Costa Rica is the weather. Inland temperatures of 80 degrees during the day, and 60 to 70 degrees at night, make it a comfortable climate all year round. Coastal areas feel the heat and humidity much more.

Living in Costa Rica gives you a wide range of things to do and enjoy; golf, fishing, surfing, diving, white-water rafting, nature hikes, kayaking… to mention just a few.

Safety in Costa Rica
Latin America has become very popular, but if you’re choosing a country in this area, then living in Costa Rica has advantages over other countries.

Nicaragua, Belize, Honduras and Guatemala are cheaper – but the quality of life and infrastructure are not as good and safety is a major concern, as violent crime, kidnappings, as well as drug wars, are a problem in these countries.

In conclusion, living in Costa Rica gives you a better and safer lifestyle and has something for everyone.
Living in Costa Rica is an adventure and a lifestyle choice – they call it the ‘road less traveled’.

You’ll never be bored unless you want to be and there a place in Costa Rica suits people with any budget level.

If you’ve ever dreamed of living in a tropical paradise, then consider living in Costa Rica, the Jewel of Central America.

Read the full story in the Costa Rica News here

NatureWalk announces Costa Rica Residency and Eco Mortgage CD Investment Program

Naturewalk developments are delighted to announce the launch of their Costa Rica Residency and Eco Mortgage CD Investment Program. This offers investors a fixed rate of return (12%-12.75%) over a fixed term (12 months or 18 months).

Jaco Beach, Central Pacific, Costa Rica

For Immediate Release PRLog (Press Release) - Jul 17, 2012 -
NatureWalk developments is delighted to announce the launch of their Costa Rican Residency and Eco Mortgage CD Investment Program.

This offers investors an opportunity to invest in the NatureWalk brand, one of the most successful development brands in Central America. For those investors interested in residency in Costa Rica, this program can be used to obtain investor residency status.

Investments in the program are placed in a Certificate of Deposit investments in the largest federally chartered bank in Costa Rica and achieve a fixed rate of return of 12% (for investments of US$42,750 to US$100,000) or 12.75% (for investments of in excess of $100,000).

The investors CD is in their name and is underwritten by real estate in NatureWalk at a loan to value ratio of 63%.

Investors funds never leave the CD but are used to underwrite construction loans in the NatureWalk brand.

The trustees of the program are LatinAmerica Title Company, exclusive representative for Chicago Title, one of the largest title insurance companies in the world.

Tim Alexander, President of PRG Group, the developers of the NatureWalk brand said “we are excited to launch this opportunity to allow smaller investors to partake in the success of the NatureWalk brand of developments. This investment opportunity is ideal for pure investors, or for investors who have a medium term plan to have a home in Costa Rica but who are not quite ready to invest in a home at this time”.

Tim Alexander added “already we have had huge interest in the program from many US citizens who are unhappy with the economic and political climate in the USA. This program allows investors to invest in a secure program with an excellent rate of return and at the same time use the investment to obtain residency in Costa RIca”.

James Cahill, of Costa Rica Invest added “this opportunity has the further advantage that investors can convert their investment into a property purchase in NatureWalk at any time and can also convert their investment into the specific property underwriting their investment at a fixed agreed price”.

NatureWalk is a masterplanned series of developments throughout Costa Rica. Currently NatureWalk has 5 projects in developement. NatureWalk 1, 2 and 3 are located in Turrubares, NatureWalk 4 is located in Dominical whilst NatureWalk Paradise is located in Quepos.


Inquire about this program now here

See the full details here

Pacuare River Costa Rica Second Best In The World For Whitewater Rafting

By the Costa Rica News

Whitewater Rafting on Pacuare River Costa Rica

If you want to add some adventure to your Costa Rica vacation, whitewater rafting on the Pacuare River is definitely something you cannot miss.

According to renowned American journalist and travel expert, Peter Greenberg, the Pacuare River is in second place among the top five rivers in the world for rafting class II to IV.

Greenberg states that “A ride along the Lower Pacuare starts with a few miles of easy, fun rapids and then becomes a wet and wild adventure in the Huacas River Gorge.”

The Pacuare river travels unrestricted from its origin in the Talamanca mountain range 108 km to the Caribbean and it is located in one of the most important protected zones of the country. It is considered a quintessential tropical river and it spans some of the country’s most diverse terrain, passing through dense vegetation such as rain forest, lowland tropical forest and towering waterfalls, which shelter jaguars, ocelots, monkeys, sloths and several species of birds.

The Pacuare River has been recognized by National Geographic as one of the world’s top 10 river trips, not just due to its challenging rapids, but also because of the stunning scenery that lines its shores.
The Pacuare River is divided into about sixteen different sections, although the three sections most commonly run are known as The Upper Upper, The Upper and The Lower.

In the Upper Upper Section the run is approximately 16 miles (26 km) long and contains numerous class II and III rapids.

The Upper Section, which is a more technical section, consists of approximately ten miles of whitewater including multiple class IV and V rapids as well as waterfalls.

The Lower Section consists of class III and IV whitewater that the Pacuare River is most famous for. Running approximately 23 miles (and dropping approximately 1200 feet), this section of the Pacuare River can be done in a single day trip or as long as a three day trip.

The highlights of this section include the whitewater rapids and the waterfalls that flow into the river in the Huacas River Gorge.

Thousands of rafters come to Costa Rica every year to enjoy the clean water, fun rapids and magnificent scenery the Pacuare River offers.

Since Pacuare River has several sections, raging from easy to difficult, you don’t necessarily need to be a paddle expert to live this amazing and exciting adventure.

NatureWalk's adventure center will include white water rafting, tubing, canoeing and kayaking. Trips to the Pacuare river can be arranged through the adventure centre
 
River Difficulty Classification
Class 1: Very small rough areas, requires no maneuvering. (Skill Level: None)
Class 2: Some rough water, maybe some rocks, small drops, might require maneuvering. (Skill Level: Basic Paddling Skill)
Class 3: Whitewater, medium waves, maybe a 3–5 ft drop, but not much considerable danger. May require significant maneuvering. (Skill Level: Experienced paddling skills)
Class 4: Whitewater, large waves, long rapids, rocks, maybe a considerable drop, sharp maneuvers may be needed. (Skill Level: Whitewater Experience)
Class 5: Whitewater, large waves, continuous rapids, large rocks and hazards, maybe a large drop, precise maneuvering. (Skill Level: Advanced Whitewater Experience)
Class 6: Whitewater, typically with huge waves, huge rocks and hazards, huge drops, but sometimes labeled this way due to largely invisible dangers. Class 6 rapids are considered hazardous even for expert paddlers using state-of-the-art equipment, and come with the warning “danger to life or limb.” (Skill Level: Expert)

Read the full story on the Costa Rica News Here

NatureWalk CD Investment Opportunity

Costa Rican Economy to Grow by 5.5% in 2012

Costa Rica Central Bank

San Jose [TCRN] – Costa Rica was forecasted earlier this year to grow 4%, but Nomura Securities  International latest report shows Costa Rica’s economy is expected to grow 5.5%.

The Central Banks target of 5% inflation is on track, and consumer prices predicted to trails economic growth.

The report continues speaking very highly of Costa Rica macro-economics, and Costa Rica will see real GDP growth that exceeds inflation rate.

Nomura also stated that Costa Rica needs full fiscal reform to lower deficit, but economic growth should positive effect tax revenues.

Overall Nomura and Costa Rica Central Bank forecasts for Costa Rica economic outlook is very positive.
Central Bank of Costa Rica

International Reserves: US$ 4.763 billion (Source: IMF; Data updated: November 2011)
Gross Domestic Product – GDP: US$ 44.313 billion (2010)
GDP (Purchasing Power Parity): 57.955 billion of International dollars (2010)
Unemployment Rate: 2012 down to 7.5% from 8.3% in 2011 (estimated)
Sources: Bloomberg, Business Week, Central bank of Costa Rica
By the The Costa Rica News (TCRN), San Jose Costa Rica

Costa Rica Tours

 

Many clients are unsure whether Costa Rica is for them either as an investment, a retirement location or a holiday home location.

We have put together a series of tours of the Central Pacific area to help our clients answer their quesions and come to a decisiion.

At the end of the tour we hope to have provided you with the information for you to determine if Costa Rica is right for you.

The highlights of the tour are:

• 6 days / 5 nights - Personal guided tour of the beautiful Central Pacific region of Costa Rica. We meet you at the airport and personally conduct you to all the sites.


• Visit three completely different locations in the Central Pacific and view NatureWalk projects in each location. Understand why the Central Pacific region is a great place to invest.


• Meet lawyers, title companies, accountants. bankers and other people like you who now live and work in Costa Rica.


• Meet the prople, taste local foods, experience the culture, enjoy the nature. Find out if Costa Rica is right for you.


• Get a great introduction to business in Costa Rica: the currency, residency and immigration, bank accounts, cell phones, how to buy a car and the basics of real estate.


• Visit some of the best tours and attractions in the Central Pacific. Schedule extra tours for the adventurous.

Our current scheduled tours for 2012 are:

August 4 to August 10 - Friday to Thursday the following week

September 28th to October 4 - Friday to Thursday the following week

November 9th to November 15 - Friday to Thursday the following week

December 7th to December 13 - Friday to Thursday the following week


Cost Single Occupancy $1050 / Double Occupancy $1300 (includes all food, accomodation transport, flights and alcohoilic drinks are not included)

 

To find out more e mail us on info@costaricainvest.ie, call us on USA + 1 866 990 1123, Europe +353 1 272 4184 or visit our website herr

Coffee growing in the NatureWalk nurseries

How to Travel With Pets from the USA to Costa Rica

By Jason Holland for International Living

I'd never traveled with a celebrity before.

When we arrived at the airport in Costa Rica, it was a madhouse. People kept coming up to take pictures with my companion. Customs officials rushed us through the line after a cursory check of our documents. Baggage handlers competed to grab our luggage.

It got to be a bit much when a police officer stalked over determinedly as we waited outside for our rental car to be delivered. "All our documents are in order, right?" I thought to myself nervously as he reached us and then stooped down to give the "celebrity" a scratch under the chin… and then asked me to take a picture with his cell phone.

The celebrity in question, if you haven't guessed, is not human. It's my silver-haired standard poodle. And thanks to a trip to the groomer just before we boarded the plane in Miami, Jester was quite a sight when we arrived at our new home in Costa Rica.

It helped that poodles aren't all that common in the country – so everyone was curious.

Now, if you're considering a move to Costa Rica and have dogs (or even cats), I can't promise they'll get the "star treatment." But I can say that the process of bringing them over will be easy and hassle-free.

First off, there is no quarantine here. Your pets come off the plane and are immediately in your hands.

But you do have to take care of a few things before you leave. Go to your vet for a clean bill of health within two weeks of your departure date. And make sure they are up to date on their vaccinations for rabies and some other common diseases. You probably already have most if not all these shots. (The full list is here.)

Your vet should give you a health certificate indicating your pet is healthy and has all their shots. Then you get it endorsed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a nominal fee. Just send (or bring in person) a copy of the vet's health certificate to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service office in your region.

Once you have their sign off, you're set. No need to contact the Costa Rican consulate. Just make sure you have four copies of each document just in case any official wants a copy during your trip.

Small dogs can go in the cabin with you if they can fit in a carrier under the seat – be sure to let the airline know before-hand.

But larger breeds will have to go with the checked bags in a non-collapsible kennel with food and water.

In both cases, the airline will usually charge an extra fee. American Airlines, for example, requires $175 per animal.

For the health of your pet, most airlines will not let them travel when the temperature is forecast to be above 85 degrees anywhere on your itinerary. That's usually not a problem at Juan Santamaria International Airport in Costa Rica's Central Valley, where the temperatures usually stay in the 70s during the day.

But keep an eye on the temperatures in your departure city or at any connections. If it's summertime in Miami, for example, you might have to fly out early morning or at night to stay under 85 degrees.

Of course, check with your airline for their specific policies and restrictions before buying your tickets. For their safety, some breeds aren't allowed to fly during summer as checked baggage, including short-nosed varieties like pugs or boxers. And most of the "budget" carriers do not allow pets at all.

Another option is to ship your pet as "cargo." You don't even need to be traveling with them. It's great if you have a pet in the States but can't fly back. You can handle this through individual airlines or through specialized services that charge a premium but handle everything.

To read the full article visit the International Living site here