Costa Rica
Costa Rica is known is a pro-American country located in Central America. Besides incredible beauty, friendly locals, a great location, and endless activities, it also has the most stable government and the best infrastructure of any Latin American or Caribbean country.
 
Costa Rica is situated in Central America, flanked by the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, with a distance of approximately 248 kilometers (155 miles) between coasts. With a total area of 51,200 square kilometers (20,480 square miles), Costa Rica is no larger than the state of West Virginia, yet it contains 6% of the world’s biodiversity.

Education and Healthcare
In 1949, Costa Rica abolished their army and allocated the defense budget to education and healthcare. Education has been a priority for the country of 4 million, and because of it, they boast the highest literacy rate in the western hemisphere at a whopping 94%.

The healthcare system is very modern, especially in San Jose, and the cost of living is extremely low compared to the United States and Europe.

Investment Opportunities
Land values in Costa Rica have been steadily rising over the past 10 years, and there is every reason to believe it has only just begun for this tropical destination.

Costa Rica’s past growth and obvious future growth ensure that real estate investors will continue to enjoy an excellent return on their investments and re-sale market, both in terms of increasing land values, and an ever-increasing amount of qualified buyers.

When comparing Costa Rican property on a global level, one finds property in Costa Rica is clearly a much better investment opportunity than any similar tropical destination.

Land Ownership
There are no restrictions for foreign ownership of land in Costa Rica. Foreigner ownership rights are the same as Costa Rica nationals and are protected by the constitution. There are regulations which apply to everyone if buying beach front property within 200 meters of the high tide mark.

Crime Rate
Costa Rica has a very low crime rate. Most of the crime is typically petty theft; the violent crime rate is one of the lowest in the Western Hemisphere. Costa Rica is a very safe place and the locals are warm and friendly. In addition, with the escalation of worldwide terrorism in the United States, Europe and Asia, Costa Rica has been recognized as a paradise removed from any threat.

Industry
Costa Rica’s industry mainly processes agricultural products. The production of other consumer goods is still just taking off. However, there are many business incentives to bridge these gaps. Many real estate investors fall in love with tourist projects, especially those related to ecotourism. Many hotels are being built, bought and managed by foreigners. Tourism has developed into a very important source of foreign currency. The national economy is made up of services (58%), industry (26%), and agriculture (16%).

Costa Rica has managed to create one of the most attractive investment environments in Latin America for the development of industries. Costa Rica’s unique characteristics-its strategic location, political stability, business incentives (including free trade zones), supply of high quality human capital-and its proactive promotion of these assets-have all contributed to an increase of investments by high-tech companies in the fields of power technologies, systems integration technologies and call centers.

Companies that have invested in Costa Rica:

• "Intel Marriott Hotels",
• "Microsoft Abbott Laboratories",
• "PricewaterhouseCoopers Baxter Healthcare",
• "CitiGroup Siemens",
• "Proctor & Gamble Dole",
• "Texaco Wal-Mart Stores",
• "Hilton Hotels Four Seasons Hotel".
 

Electricity
The country’s mountainous terrain and abundant rainfall have permitted the construction of a dozen hydroelectric power plants, making it largely self-sufficient in most energy needs. Costa Rica exports electricity to Nicaragua and has the potential to become a major electricity exporter when plans for new generating plants and a regional distribution grid are completed.

Roads and Highways
The country has an extensive road system of more than 30,000 kilometers, with many road improvement projects currently on the way. Getting around in Costa Rica is relatively easy although there are some areas which do require four-wheel drive. The main highland cities in the country’s Central Valley are connected by paved all-weather roads from the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, and by the Pan American Highway between Nicaragua and Panama, the neighboring countries to the north and south. The main highland cities in the country’s Central Valley are connected by paved all-weather roads with the Atlantic and Pacific coasts and by the Pan American Highway with Nicaragua and Panama, the neighboring countries to the
Communications
Modern communication amenities - From conducting a global business to staying in touch with family and friends, Costa Rica offers up-to-date means of communication. Easy Internet access, cellular phones, fax machines, and an efficient surface mail system are all available.

Television and Broadcasting
Costa Rica has thirteen local station TV stations. Currently the three cable TV providers in the country are: AMNET, Cable Tica and Cable América. These companies offer many of the channels available to US cable subscribers. DirecTV also operates in Costa Rica. The company offers 152 digital TV channels and 33 music channels. The country has 50 AM, 43 FM and 19 short-wave stations.