The
EscapeArtist Costa Rica Portal & Newsletter is unique in its quest
for honest, real life stories from people working and living abroad in
Costa Rica. We live in Costa Rica, we know Costa
Rica, we believe that Costa Rica is the expat haven of choice. We look
for the opinions, the advice, the I wish I would have known this then,
and the down and dirty truths from the mouths of those who have experienced
it all firsthand. Escapeartist Costa Rica is dedicated to this true-to-life
portrayal of the country we love. All of our articles are written by people
who work, invest, love, explore, and live the *pura vida* here in Costa
Rica. Do you live or have you lived in Costa Rica? We are always looking
for new writers to share their experiences. If you want to live in Costa
Rica, this is the right place and also check out our new Costa Rica portal
to find out everything you need to know about moving to and living in Costa
Rica.
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Real Estate Marketplace Real Estate In Costa Rica - Current Listings
- Costa Rica is a world known destination for vacation, investment
and retirement. Costa Rica's beauty goes beyond paradisiacal beaches, magnificent
mountains and great weather year around... it's major beauty lies in its
people. Costa Ricans are worldwide recognized for being authentically friendly
and helpful people. It seems like Costa Rican ancient democracry and peace
is deeply interiorized in its culture and the idiosyncrasy of its people.
Adding all this elements into an equation, the natural result is expected:
Costa Rica is the hottest destination in the Americas... and therefore,
real estate in Costa Rica is booming!
We
found a magical place in the Diamante Valley, overlooking the tallest waterfall
in Central America. As soon as we saw this place, we knew we had found
our new home. My husband and I went back to the
states and gushed to our friends and family. They thought we had lost our
minds, but we just knew it was the right move for us. I know it seemed
impulsive, but we had been planning for 10 years, really. We sold almost
everything we owned and shipped a small container of household items to
our new home. 30 days later, with 2 dogs and our 21 year old son in tow,
we arrived in Costa Rica to begin the rest of our lives. We began remodeling
the house as soon as we hit the ground. We installed a swimming pool, which
the contractor dug by hand. We installed a wall-to-ceiling window on the
back of the house, because the house had been completely open before, and
I found that to be a little too much nature for me. We gutted the kitchen
and turned it into a gourmet kitchen for almost no money. The next project
was an outdoor kitchen, with pizza oven, grill, sink and refrigerator,
and a nice bar overlooking the pool; all great for entertaining. We finally
added 2 cabanas, for visiting friends and family. When you live in Paradise,
people want to come and visit. - Eberharts
Living in the Diamante Valley, Costa Rica
The
Jacó Learning Center and Library in Jacó, Costa Rica was opened in 2011
by CornerStones Education Foundation, a US based non-profit.
The Center strives to improve access to written materials and to create
opportunities for educational growth in the community of Jacó, Costa Rica.
The Learning Center and Library is a lending institution, and was recently
accepted in to the Costa Rican National LIbrary System (SINABI). It is
important to understand that libraries in Latin America do not typically
loan materials, so the concept of a lending institution is radical to most
of our local patrons. Since opening, the bi-lingual collection has grown
to over 8,000 titles, and services offered to the community have expanded
to include English classes, a literacy program, and computer access. As
a registered member of SINABI, we now have access to tremendous discounts
through local suppliers that publish the works necessary for the local
curriculum. These works are certain to have an impact on local students
and teachers, and will enable us to serve the needs of the community more
efficiently. - The
Jaco Learning Center and Library in Jacó, Costa Rica
People
always ask me how I selected Jaco Beach as my home away from home. Like
many Expats seeking an alternate lifestyle to the last 30 years of corporate
America, I originally had a very short list of criteria:
oceanfront, eco conscious, lower cost of living at a higher standard, and
a happy, stable country. This article first appeared in our Costa Rica
Information Portal in the Living in Costa Rica section. After driving all
the way through Costa Rica, Panama, and Nicaragua in search of titled beachfront
property, I eventually stumbled upon and purchased a fabulous 2 bedroom
2 bath oceanfront condo at an Oceans by DayStar property in Jaco. Walking
distance to town, smack on the beach, great neighbors, huge pool this was
a casual condo with a residential feel on the south end of town. Why
Live in Jaco Beach Costa Rica?
THE
COSTA RICA TEAM AND COLDWELL BANKER JACO are proud to announce the release
of their second phase in their Monterey Estates sustainable living project
on Costa Rica's Central Pacific Coast. Located
in Esterillos, just between the well-known destinations of Jaco Beach and
(world famous) Manuel Antonio, Monterey Estates Homes plans to become the
premier Eco-friendly community in the Central Pacific. Monterey Estates
homes for sale boasts sustainable practical homes with lake and mountain
views, as well as lush tropical surroundings with an array of local wildlife,
such as scarlet macaws and toucans frequenting the area. Join this sustainable
living community and escape to the healthful, peaceful paradise that is
Costa Rica. - The
Premier Sustainable Solar Community Comes to the Central Pacific Coast
of Costa Rica
Medical
Cure In Costa Rica! - I can't remember anything but I know for sure that
I'm scared to death. I go to speak but feel my jaws are wired shut.
I try to get up to find help, but my left arm and leg are paralyzed, so
I fall to the cold tile. Then the vertigo sets in and the whole world begins
to spin. I know I'm going to be sick, but my jaws are wired shut. I'm faced
with an epic choice either rip my jaws apart so I can breathe or lay there
and die. I chose the first option. Two weeks after my 18th birthday I found
myself reborn. While I was asleep at a camp-out, a drug-crazed lunatic
repeatedly kicked me in the face and stomped on my head leaving me for
dead. I couldn't walk, talk, or go to the bathroom by myself. My situation
re-defined the word alone. In addition to the mental anguish that comes
from amnesia, I had suffered a brain trauma to my right Temporal Lobe,
which is the area that manages short term memory. So not only had I forgotten
everyone and everything from my past, I had now lost the ability to make
new memories, meet new people, continue my education. -
Blakes
Story: Where am I? Who am I? - Medical Cure In Costa Rica
Today,
Costa Rica is no secret for the Fortune 500 companies. More than 200 of
the world´s leading high tech companies have already invested in the country.
Costa
Rica attracts investors because of its strong value proposition. Costa
Rica has already a proven track record, a young, talented, and bilingual
labor force; a strategic location with a preferential access to 1/3 of
the world´s population and 2/3 of the global GDP; an excellent business
climate, high quality infrastructure and high quality of life. More than
200 high tech multinationals in sectors such as advanced technology medical
devices, manufacturing and services already operate in Costa Rica. Among
other, Fujitsu, P&G (NYSE: PG), HP (NYSE: HPQ), Abbott Vascular (NYSE:
ABT), St Jude Medical (NYSE: STJ), INTEL (NYSE: INTC), Hospira (NYSE: HSP),
Baxter (NYSE: BAX), Boston Scientific (NYSE: BSX), VITEC (LSE: VTC.L),
Western Union (NYSE:WU), and Emerson (NYSE: EMR). These companies represent
the many attributes found in Costa Rica, which allow them to consolidate
operations, grow and diversify. Additionally, the growth that the companies
have undergone is reflected in the constant growth that foreign direct
investment in Costa Rica has had over the last 10 years, growing at an
annual rate of 15.7%. - Costa
Rica: A Premium Location for Foreign Direct Investment
Costa
Rica Real Estate is pleased to announce the opening of The Palms, Private
Residence Club, the newest and most innovative vacation ownership offering
in Costa Rica. Unlike most typical fractional
offerings, this residence club offers deeded ownership, in categories of
either 1/8th or 1/10th, and boasts UNLIMITED usage and an extremely flexible
reservation policy. The project, located directly on the sand in Playa
Flamingo, offers a total of 25 luxury 2 bedroom villas, equipped and fully
furnished with the highest end finishes and furnishings, including Subzero
and Viking appliances, marble and hardwood floors, spacious balconies,
and each and every villa has direct ocean access and panoramic ocean views.
The club was structured by a group who are the leaders in the industry,
with 35 clubs over the past 25 years in destinations such as Vail, Colorado,
Deer Valley, Utah, Bermudas, Florence, Italy..- The
Palms Private Residence Club in Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica
Alan
Flores, now serving his second term as Costa Rica's Minister of Tourism,
feels more comfortable in his shoes. With several projects continuing over
from his last term, as well as many plans for future marketing and improvements,
the Costa Rican Tourism Minister has a lot to be excited about. As
the tourism industry recovers from the impact of the economic crisis, Flores
plans to focus on offering support to investors in order to develop more
small businesses throughout the country. In addition to this, Flores is
heading plans for a new airport infrastructure, a new conference center
to be built in Heredia, and multiple campaigns to attract new airlines
to Costa Rica.- Costa
Ricas Tourism Minister Improves Tourism
Before
analyzing the potential benefits derived from investing in Costa Rica,
it is pertinent to understand the way the Costa Rican tax system works;
since not every income received or every activity executed, shall be levied.
Costa Rica has a system based in the territorial principle; which implies
that the only taxable income by the country's Tax Administration is the
one only obtained from services, capital, or assets which are located or
used inside Costa Rica, regardless of the nature, residence or nationality
of the taxpayer. Therefore, any revenues obtained from an activity executed
by a Costa Rican National or any foreigner located abroad, will not be
taxed in our country; as neither any activity developed by a Costa Rican
company outside our borders with no relation to our economic structure.
- Costa
Rica: A profitable destination for foreign investment
I'm
snorkeling off the coast of Punta Uva and observing two crabs clutched
in a heated battle. Their claws are locked together, each trying to shove
the other one back like a Sumo wrestler.
I don't want to come up for air fearing I will miss this incredible moment.
They continue until they disappear under a rock; it's then that I swim
to shore and realize what an incredible thing I just witnessed. Costa Rica
is rich in experiences like this. Whether it is at the top of a volcano
or lying on the sandy beaches of the Pacific, nature is the boss here.
Subsequently, it is a welcoming host allowing you to participate in the
wonder that makes this county so special. When CNN.com contacted me about
my book Happier Than A Billionaire: Quitting My Job, Moving to Costa Rica,
& Living the Zero Hour Work Week, I was eager to share my story with
others. I was not unlike many other people who were caught in the rat race
and couldn't find a way out. When I decided to make a bold move, Costa
Rica was the perfect place to relocate. - Happier
Than a Billionaire Living in Costa Rica
Nestled
within that vast cordillera which defines the east and west of Central
America lies a charming little town called San Antonio de Escazu. Everyone
in Costa Rica knows it. Only a select few know what lies along a precipitous
dirt road which climbs the mountain behind it. There, in the third of five
humble row houses edging a ravine, is where I can be found. Or rather,
it's where I live with Susan - a tall, rather prepossessing redhead of
a roommate with the regal demeanour of a Romanov. For a time we had two
Susans here, the latter an accomplished fabric artist who blew in from
the States over Christmas. Susan had spent some months last year in Guanacaste
where she dated a young Tico named Jose. But as frequently occurs in the
minds of transplanted gringos, she suffered the impression that she was
better off in the States. After making the rounds of her grown children's
lives last summer, and even accepting a teaching position in Florida, she
decided she wasn't and so took flight to San Jose. The three of us - with
children raised, spouses gone, and the greatest challenges (we thought!)
behind us - spent Christmas week socializing and having a wonderful time,
all the while a teeny bit curious about what was going to happen next.
Adventures
In Costa Rica - A Tale Of Two José's
50,000
Americans Have Escaped to Beautiful Costa Rica
- Next year, the first of the 79 million Baby Boomers will turn 65, an
age which is generally considered to be 'retirement age'. Many Baby Boomers
thought they would be able to retire comfortably, but in the sobering economic
downturn of the past three years, they have now faced the hard-cold-fact
that they may not be able to retire at all, in the US. But Boomers will
not settle for just a 'cheaper place to live', they want to live in a safe
and stable country (Costa Rica is a politically neutral democracy), live
in a supportive community, have excellent and inexpensive healthcare, and
be able to hire affordable household 'help', which many cannot do in the
US.
Pura
Vida de Osa Mountain Village, Costa Rica
- As your flight pulls into the terminal in San Jose, Costa Rica, you are
immediately greeted by the lush rolling hills that surround you.
An updated airport, clean and nice, welcomes you to a land of adventure.
You will exchange a little cash for Colones at the airport bank, enough
for tips and gas, though many places take US dollars and the exchange rate
at a real bank is much better. You grab your bags and snag your rental
car (In August 2010 was $392 at Budget for 7 days, 4×4 Automatic, includes
supplement liability insurance and the must have GPS navigation system
as many roads are in good condition but poorly marked) and then venture
on your way!
More
Articles On Living & Investing In Costa Rica
- and thousands of articles on living and
investing overseas in countries around the world; including numerous articles
on international real estate - Most of our articles start in our international
relocation magazines; but we keep them in an archive so that visitors can
access them - - access is free, and free is a very good prices -
Click
here to visit our relocation reference library - This library is filled
with facts, contacts, suggestions, inside information & offshore information,
artist havens & tax havens .... We sincerely hope you make your
escape and that you find your Shangri La, or your Shangri Lil ... and that
special place in the world that sets your heart on fire... We're
willing to show you the routes
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Pacific
Lots In Costa Rica - A dynamic place to retire
at a bargain price. Less crime, less hassle, less traffic, and more time
to play and relax. Plus your money will go significantly further than in
the US. Enjoy a quality of life we have forgotten in the US. Step away
from the stresses of daily living, traffic jams and a lack of a sense of
community. - Behold
such a place, Pacific Lots of Costa Rica
Guess
what makes Escape Dates different ?
- Single, Married, interested in growing your international
network of friends, now you can travel the world, and make money searching
for the perfect mates with EscapeDates international singles and social
networking community. EscapeDates has fused an online dating and social
networking community, with a unique income opportunity that pays members
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launched EscapeDates and is well position to becoming a leader in the international
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Introducing
Spiritual Journeys - Enlightened Experiences for the Soul! By Mahira Amir
Khan -
I am honored to announce the launch of our new magazine SPIRITUAL JOURNEYS.
The birth of this online publication arrives perfectly timed for the advent
of the year 2012. The year that has been prophesied and spoken of as a
turning point in humankind's evolution. The ancient cultures of the Hopis
and the Mayans, speak of the window of divinity that opens for us now,
a shift of the ages that will activate our deepest potential. Life as we
know it today, will never be the same again.
Travel
can become a place lived; and a place lived can be a form of travel -
This Chronicle by Michele Kohan should therefore be a Godsent to those
moms who find themselves with children but with no prospect of living any
sort of life that presents the challenge of personal and geographic exploration...
The question becomes, 'are my children safer and better off in the suburbs
where one meaningless day blurs into the next, or in a tropical rain forest
where each day presents a new challenge and a new learning experience?'
It isn't an easy task for a mom to decide on the tropical rain forest;
such decisions fly in the face of conventional wisdom... But conventional
wisdom has worn thin, today's so-called civilized suburbs with their shopping
malls and weapon-filled schools are no safer than a tropical rain forest.
Add to that the stifling intellectual atmosphere of the USA that wilts
and crushes the qualities of independent judgment that every child should
develop....
Nestled
within that vast cordillera which defines the east and west of Central
America lies a charming little town called San Antonio de Escazu. Everyone
in Costa Rica knows it. Only a select few know what lies along a precipitous
dirt road which climbs the mountain behind it. There, in the third of five
humble row houses edging a ravine, is where I can be found. Or rather,
it's where I live with Susan - a tall, rather prepossessing redhead of
a roommate with the regal demeanour of a Romanov. For a time we had two
Susans here, the latter an accomplished fabric artist who blew in from
the States over Christmas. Susan had spent some months last year in Guanacaste
where she dated a young Tico named Jose. But as frequently occurs in the
minds of transplanted gringos, she suffered the impression that she was
better off in the States. After making the rounds of her grown children's
lives last summer, and even accepting a teaching position in Florida, she
decided she wasn't and so took flight to San Jose. The three of us - with
children raised, spouses gone, and the greatest challenges (we thought!)
behind us - spent Christmas week socializing and having a wonderful time,
all the while a teeny bit curious about what was going to happen next.
