Why Costa Rica?

Costa Rica is one of the oldest democracies in the Americas; it doesn't even have a standing army. The economy is the most stable in the region and the standard of living is good. Everyone is free to own property and pursue an education and good job. The country is famous for it's friendly people, it's breathtaking natural beauty, one of the best climates in the world, it's environmental policies and it's dedication to peace. Over a quarter of the country is protected for National Parks or reserves and this is growing all the time. Costa Rica is often referred to as the Switzerland of the Americas.

Government

Costa Rica's government is divided into four branches: The Executive (the President and two vice presidents), the Legislative Branch (Legislative Assembly and 57 deputies) the Judicial Branch (the Supreme and lower courts) and the Electoral Tribunal. The country's two main political parties are the National Liberation Party and the United Social Christian Party.

Climate:

Costa Rica only has two seasons; the summer which is from December to April, and rainy season which runs from May to November. During Rainy season the mornings are usually sunny and clear and it rains for a few hours in the afternoon. October is usually the wettest month of the year. The temperatures don't fluctuate much through out the year. The Caribbean Coast has a lot of rain fall and tends to be wet all year round.

The temperatures fluctuate with altitude; the higher you go the colder it gets. Lower elevations have temperatures that range from the upper 70s to the high 90s. Temperatures at sea level range from the high 80s to the low 90s.

To see what the weather is like right now click here

Airports

The main Costa Rican airport is Juan Santa Maria in San José. Now the Daniel Oduber Airport in Liberia, the capital of Guanacaste is receiving international flights.

Facts

Geographically diverse areas:
The Northern Central Plains
the Northwest Peninsula
the Tropical Lowlands on the Pacific and Caribbean coasts
the Central Valley

Provinces:
Alajuela
Cartago
Guanacaste
Heredia
Puntarenas
Limón
San José

Population: 3,500,000

Size: 19,730

Official Language: Spanish

Political System: Democracy

Currency: Colón

Foreign Population (U.S., Canadian and European): Over 50,000

Longevity: 77.49

Literacy: 95%

Time: Central Standard (U.S.)

Official Religion: Catholicism

Residency

To qualify for either the pensionado or rentista residency status, one must have a guaranteed income. To qualify for residency under the inversionista rules, a feasibility plan must be approved by both the Costa Rica Tourist Board (ICT) and the Center for the Promotion of Exterior Commerce (PROCOMER). If an investment is to be made in certain "key" segments - tourism, special agricultural products, etc. - it need not be more than US$50,000. For general investment the figure is US$200,000.

Medical care:

In a United Nations study conducted in the 1980s, Costa Rica's medical system was first in Latin America and ranked near the United States and Canada among the 20 best in the world. Things are pretty much the same today.

Restrictions

Anyone can buy property in Costa Rica. Costa Rican laws and Constitution protect private ownership of land, and foreigners enjoy the same rights as citizens. There are almost no restrictions to ownership of private land - you do not need citizenship, residency, or even a presence in the country, to own property or land.