| Whether in search of the perfect vacation, | | | | developed tourism industry has had to quickly |
| business opportunities or simply an inexpensive | | | | adapt to the close to a million tourists that visit |
| and enjoyable place to retire, more and more | | | | the country every year. Even so, you won't find |
| people have found Costa Rica to be the ideal | | | | hordes of tourists and cookie cutter resorts |
| place for fun in the sun. Its strategic location, | | | | dotting the landscape. Costa Rica's is still a land of |
| friendly people, warm climate, abundant natural | | | | virgin rainforests, unspoiled beaches and friendly |
| attractions and a very competitive standard of | | | | smiles. |
| living continue to draw people from all over the | | | | Location |
| world who come looking to enjoy its many | | | | Costa Rica's proximity to the United States |
| wonders. | | | | makes it one of the most visited eco-tourism |
| People | | | | destinations as well as a favored retirement spot. |
| 'Pura Vida' is the expression that probably best | | | | You're just two and a half hours from Miami, five |
| sums up the tico (as Costa Ricans are also | | | | hours from New York, four hours from Houston |
| known) outlook on life. Roughly translated it | | | | and about six hours from L.A. Add political stability |
| means "life is great, everything is ok, don't worry | | | | and year round spring-like weather and it's no |
| be happy". This happy go lucky attitude is readily | | | | wonder that the U.S. contributes nearly 49% of |
| apparent to visitors exploring this friendly nation, | | | | Costa Rica's foreign visitors with another 9% |
| and this combined with its wealth of natural | | | | traveling down from Canada and Mexico. |
| resources probably explains why so many | | | | Cost of Living |
| travelers end up making this oasis their home. In | | | | Known as the Switzerland of Central America |
| a region that historically has been a hotbed of | | | | because of its high growth rates, economic |
| conflict, the Costa Rican people, for the most | | | | stability, and low crime rates, Costa Rica enjoys a |
| part, have experienced relatively little bloodshed. | | | | per capita GDP of $6,700, literacy rate of 95%, |
| This is due in part to the country's unique | | | | and female life expectancy of nearly 79 years. |
| historical, geographical and cultural circumstances, | | | | Costa Rica may not be a cheap place to live |
| as well as to the peace loving nature of its people. | | | | compared to most other Central American |
| This coupled with a large middle class has made | | | | countries, yet, if you consider its superior |
| Costa Rica one of the most democratically stable | | | | infrastructure, comparatively low crime rate and |
| and prosperous countries in Latin America. | | | | high standard of living, it is still probably your best |
| Natural attractions | | | | option. Expect to pay less than the U.S. and |
| In recent years Costa Rica has developed one of | | | | Canada for properties, rent, utilities, health care, |
| the world's most successful ecotourism industries | | | | help and basic transportation. Most people can live |
| and has been praised for its attention to | | | | on less than $1,000 monthly excluding rent, and |
| conservation. Costa Rica's natural diversity is | | | | this does not necessarily mean giving up on your |
| reflected in the wealth and range of its wildlife. | | | | 'northern' comforts. For better or worse, Costa |
| With just 0.03% of the earth's surface area, | | | | Rica offers visitors many of the same fast-food |
| Costa Rica possesses 6% of its species. Almost | | | | chains, stores and services that one would find up |
| 9,000 plant species have been found here as well | | | | yonder. These include McDonalds, Burger King, |
| as 800 species of birds. About 27% of the | | | | Taco Bell, KFC, Office Depot, Payless, as well as |
| country is protected within national parks and | | | | inexpensive Internet and cable services. |
| protected zones. In Costa Rica it is possible for a | | | | Why not? |
| person to spend the night in a scenic mountain | | | | Still not convinced? Then why not head down |
| lodge, then head to a lovely Pacific beach for an | | | | here and take this tiny nation for a test drive. |
| early afternoon swim before ending up at a | | | | Explore its pristine beaches, majestic volcanoes |
| Caribbean village partying the night away. Some | | | | and exotic rainforests. Enjoy its friendly people |
| of Costa Rica's most popular attractions are sport | | | | and peaceful ambience as you savor its |
| fishing, white water rafting, canopy adventures, | | | | world-famous coffee. |
| jungle lodges, volcanoes and beaches. A well | | | | |