Students in some areas of Costa Rica work hard to get to school

Over the river and through the rainforest - the students of Bratsi & Amubri of Talamanca in Limon get to school every day by gliding on a cable over the river.

Why Hurricanes Don't Hit Costa Rica

All Hurricanes tracks 1958 - 2011,
note Costa Rica is not affected

We get asked all the time, does Costa Rica get hurricanes? Well, yes and no, meaning “yes” they do receive the tropical aftermath of one, like heavy rains  of what Tropical Storm Tomas did in November 2010 that caused severe damage and deaths.

In meteorology; a tropical cyclone (or tropical disturbance, tropical depression, tropical storm, typhoon, or hurricane, depending on strength and location) is a type of low-pressure system, which generally forms in the tropics. Hurricane is the term used to describe tropical cyclones that form in the Caribbean where we are located.

Hurricanes need the warm humid air above tropical oceans in order to develop. That’s why they form over ocean waters close to the equator. In addition, that’s why they form only during the summer and early fall, when those waters are about 80 degrees Fahrenheit or above. However, you won’t normally see hurricanes form right at the equator. That’s because at zero degrees latitude there isn’t enough turning of winds in the atmosphere to give tropical cyclones the “spin” they need to get started.

This turning of the winds is known as the Coriolis Force or Effect. Nearly all hurricanes form within 30 degrees of the equator and 87% form within 20 degrees of it.

Hurricane Tomas in November 2010 was downgraded to a Tropical Storm when it hit Costa Rica, but still caused a lot of damages including over 20 killed in a landslide.

However, because the Coriolis effect initiates and maintains tropical hurricane rotation, such hurricanes almost never form or move within about 10 degrees of the equator where the Coriolis effect is weakest. The Coriolis Effect initiates and helps maintain the rotation of a tropical hurricane. This rotational force is zero at the equator and increases as you travel away from the equator, being greatest at the poles.

Hurricanes can’t actually form within 4 degrees of the equator, because the Coriolis effect is just too small. Once a tropical revolving storm is formed though, wind determines its movement. There is very little cross-equatorial flow of wind, as the main winds steer the storm away from the equator.

In addition, hurricanes that form in the Caribbean are not likely to turn toward Costa Rica. Caribbean tropical storms either turn northward or continue westward due to the steering currents of trade winds from the east, then a clockwise flow around a semi-permanent area of high pressure to the north. This has a tendency to turn them northward away from Central America.

Costa Rica is located at 9.55 degrees north of the equator, below the path of most hurricanes. There are seven tropical cyclone zones “basins” where storms occur on a regular basis and Costa Rica is not located in the affected areas.

Above NASA map shows the tracks of all Atlantic hurricanes which formed between
1851 and 2005, so in reality Costa Rica never receives the blunt force,
but they sure can receive the effects when it is downgraded to a major Tropical Storm.

Here are some terms and definitions that relate to hurricanes:

Coriolis Force: 
An artifact of the earth’s rotation. Once air has been set in motion by the pressure gradient force, it undergoes an apparent deflection from its path, as seen by an observer on the earth. This apparent deflection is called the “Coriolis force” and is a result of the earth’s rotation. The Coriolis effect initiates cyclonic rotation, but it is not the driving force that brings this rotation to high speeds. That force is the heat of condensation. In the northern hemisphere, the earth’s rotation is deflected to the right by the Coriolis force. The amount of deflection the air makes is directly related to both the speed at which the air is moving and its latitude. Therefore, slowly blowing winds will be deflected only a small amount, while stronger winds will be deflected more.

Pressure Gradient Force:
Directed from high to low pressure. The change in pressure measured across a given distance is called a “pressure gradient.” The pressure gradient results in a net force that is directed from high to low pressure and this force is called the “pressure gradient force.”

Geostrophic Wind: 
Winds balanced by the Coriolis and Pressure Gradient forces. An air parcel initially at rest will move from high pressure to low pressure because of the pressure gradient force (PGF). However, as that air parcel begins to move, it is deflected by the Coriolis force to the right in the northern hemisphere (to the left on the southern hemisphere). As the wind gains speed, the deflection increases until the Coriolis force equals the pressure gradient force. At this point, the wind will be blowing parallel to the isobars. When this happens, the wind is referred to as geotrophic.

Read the full story on the Tico Times here

Climate change and El Nino affecting Costa Rica Amphibians

Costa Rica’s biodiversity is world renounced having approximately 5% of the worlds biodiversity, but climate change and in particular this years El Niño is effecting Costa Rica Amphibians

Global Amphibian Decline The past two decades, amphibians have had significant declines in their population worldwide. There is a great deal of evidence for such declines from North, Central and South America, Europe, Africa and Australia.

Global amphibian decline is attributed to the effects of habitat destruction; alteration, isolation pockets, climate change, chemical and other pollution, fungal, bacterial have contributed to declines that often have no obvious cause. 

Costa Rica Red Eyed Tree - Frog (Photo: Wikimedia)

 
The vast majority of the more than 6,000 species of frogs in the world lay eggs in water, but many tropical frogs make it out of the water environment to lay eggs. This strategy protects amphibian eggs from predators, but in times of insufficient rain fall and drought this strategy can destroy whole reproduction cycles because of dehydration, in some cases of endangered species it can wipe them out entirely.

Researchers report that climate change may be altering the evolution of some amphibians, causing these animals to alter behaviors to adapt to low rainfall.

Research in biological hotspots such as Panama and Costa Rica show that over the past 4 decade rain fall has declined but maybe more importantly it is frequency and consistence of rain periods that have changed. In Costa Rica there are approximately 175 amphibious species

The embryos of some amphibian are extremely susceptible to rain frequency in some cases they die in just a few days if there is no rain. Rainfall also triggers reproduction cycles, so the lack of rain in the period immediately after the egg laying phase has dramatic effects on population.

With climate change, amphibians are considered one of the most threatened species with approximately half of the more than 6,000 known species in decline and one in three in danger of extinction.

Amphibians are very susceptible to environmental conditions and pollutants because of their sensitive skin requiring certain levels of moisture to survive and reproduce.

Fungal diseases such as Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, sometimes called simply Bd, kills amphibians affecting their permeable skin, ultimately causing heart failure.

In Costa Rica and Panama the disease continues to advance, according to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (http://www.stri.si.edu/espanol/index.php) that has the Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project.

In Costa Rica this year there cause for alarm this year as El Niño has resulted in approximately 18% less rainfall nationally and as much 80% in some northern regions, some experts have stated the possibility of a “tropical drought” this coming summer season, which could have devastation effects of amphibious population and other species as well.
Read the full story on the The Costa Rica News (TCRN)

1,100 acre beachfront ranch Playa Bejuco, Guanacaste

FIRST TIME OFFERED. OCEAN FRONT WORK CATTLE AND MILK FARM, IDEAL FUTURE DEVELOPMENT PARCELS US$7,250,000

Parcel One: 94 hects (232 acres) on the west side of the Costanara Highway DIRECTLY FRONTING THE OCEAN. 1800 feet unobstructed oceanfront. Flat, buildable with electricity, internet, telephone on the Costanara Hwy.

Parcel Two: 351 hects (870.5 acres) of pristine ocean view pasture and hillside fronting the Costanara Hwy behind parcel 1. See pictures for incredible views up and down the ocean coast.

Playa Bejuco
Together, these parcel present a perfect ocean masterpanned community. Entitle this property and hold the property for the next property development cycle and you will see 100's of millions of dollars in earnings.

Located just 17 ​​kilometers south of Playa Carrillo, the air breathe the pure air of relaxing quiet Playa Bejuco. The beach itself is pristine and boasts a blue flag status, a coveted distinction reflecting the commitment of the place and its inhabitants towards environmental protection. 

With much of its surrounding areas relatively untouched, Playa Bejuco is a clear representative of the country's best beaches are located just outside the busy tourist routes. 

Tourists can experience first hand the beautiful scenery that Costa Rica has to offer, including its abundant wildlife and breathtaking landscapes. The brown sand beach of Playa Bejuco stretches for miles and visitors roam the area can not be perfectly to another person for the rest of the day. Bejuco 

The beach community is extremely small with only a few "sodas", small family managed cafes, where travelers can experience the traditional trade of the country. Most people from the local community are maintained by agriculture and fishing farms.

The Cattle Farm Includes 550 jersey bulls, 74 jersey milk cows, milking machinery, farm and ranch equipment and a  contract to supply milk to Dos Pinos.
 
For more information call us on call us now on USA +1-866-990-1123 (toll free) or Europe +353-1-272-418 or e mail info@costaricainvest.ie

12.75% pa Interest Eco-Development Loans

NatureWalk has just launched an excellent opportunity, Eco Development Loans.


The highlights are as follows:

1. Term 12 months or 18 months
    
   
2. Interest return of 12% per annum on loans of up to US$100,000 and 12.75% per annum on loans of over $100,000
    
   
3. Interest is prepaid for the full term. That's right PREPAID to the investor
    
   
4. Capital repayment is in 12 or 18 months
    
   
5. Loans are underwritten by development land at a 38% loan to value ratio.
    
   
6. Development land is held in trust for the investor by Latin American Title company until interest and capital have been paid.
    
   
7. Minimum investment US$30,000.
    
   
8. Funds paid to and managed by Latin American Title Company  

 
Or read more and get more information at  http://www.costaricainvest.ie/Eco_Development_Investment.html

If this program sounds like it may be of interest, act now and take advantage. Just drop us an e mail or give us a call and I will get a prospectus to you.

This offer is strictly time limited and will close 21 days from today or sooner if sold out early.


Don't let this opportunity pass you by. E mail or give us a call on USA +1-866-990-1123 (toll free) or Europe +353-1-272-4184.

Magnificent Trophy Home in Santa Ana

Magnificent trophy home in Villa Real

Price US$2.45 million

For more information e mail james@costaricainvest.ie or call us on USA +1-866-990-1123 (toll free) or Europe +353-1-272-4184

Refer your friends

The time may or may not be right for you to invest in Costa Rica, but you may have friends and colleagues or friends of friends who are seeking their ideal property in Costa Rica right now.

The Costa Rica Invest Referral Program for NatureWalk allows you to help your friends to find their ideal property and you can benefit financially too.

In fact your financial benefit from helping your friends or friends of friends may help finance your dream property in Costa Rica.

How does it work?

Our program is simple and straightforward. Visit our friends referral page

www.costaricainvest.ie/Refer_My_Friend.html

There you’ll see a description and straightforward agreement for involvement in our program. Fill out your details and enter the confirmation code and you're ready to go.

Think about which of your friends and colleagues might be interested in a dream home in Costa Rica, send them some details about NatureWalk (we’ll send you some links you can send to them once you have registered)

Send us your friends name, phone number and email address and we’ll contact them.

Perhaps the time might not be right for them right now, but perhaps they have some friends and colleagues who may be interested. If they wish to do so they can also register for our friends referral program. We’ll contact their friends and colleagues.

What’s in it for me?

Well firstly you may be able to help your friends find their dream property in Costa Rica.

Secondly if one of your friends buys a development lot in one of the NatureWalk developments, we’ll pay you commission. Better still if one of your friends friends buys in NatureWalk we’ll pay you  a commission. Better again if one of your friends friends friends buys in NatureWalk we’ll pay you commission and so on down to a fifth level friend.

What’s in it for my friends

Firstly you may help them find their dream home in Costa Rica

Secondly you are also giving them the opportunity to assist their friends and earn commission.

How much is the commission?

If one of your referred friends purchases in NatureWalk you'll receive 1.5% of the purchase price of the land

If one of your friends friends purchases in NatureWalk, your referred friend will receive 1.5% and you’ll receive 0.75% of the purchase price of the land.

If one of your friends friends friends purchases in NatureWalk, your friends referred friend will receive 1.5% and your referred friend will receive 0.75% and  you’ll receive 0.375% of the purchase price of the land.

And so on down to five levels.

See the table below to see the commissions payable:

Referral	Direct Referral	Second Level Referral	Third Level Referral	Fourth Level Referral	Fifth Level Referral
Commission payable to you	1.5%	0.75%	0.375%	0.1875%	0.09375%

How much might I expect to earn

Well if we take an average lot purchase of US$75,000.

If your direct referred friend purchases this lot, you will have helped your friend and you will receive 1.5% = US$1,125

If a friend of your direct referred friend purchase this lot, you will receive $562.50 (and your direct referred friend will receive US$1,125)

Third level referral you will receive US$281.25

Fourth level referral you will receive US$140.63

Fifth level referral you will receive US$70.31

When would I get paid?

You will get paid in the first week of the month following the month in which the sale closes.

How do I get paid?

We pay direct to the bank account of your choice by bank transfer, subject to a minimum transfer of US$100. For amounts less than US$100 they are rolled over into the next month.

How do I get involved?

Simply visit www.costaricainvest.ie/Refer_My_Friend.html, review the program, register your details, forward some information to your friends who are interested in Costa Rica (and let them know we’ll be in contact), send us their details and that’s it - very simple and straightforward.