The Switzerland Of Central America



Your day starts with a strong coffee, and the delicate layers of a crisp pastry. The smooth surface of the lake beneath your terrace mirrors the blue sky overhead. Rich green mountain scenery surrounds you...revealing a tiny pointed church spire and a handful of chalets...
But you're not in Switzerland, or Austria. You're not even in Europe. You're in a little secret corner of Costa Rica, called Arenal.
And while the gorgeous lake landscape might remind you of Europe, the property prices certainly won't.
You can buy two and a half acres here, with fruit trees, your own private lake, a main house and a lake cottage, for $159,000...
Today's draw could win you a free tour of Arenal's hidden real estate gems...a boat ride on the lake...and a couple of nights accommodation and breakfast. It's an opportunity to scope out the area before the mainstream catches on. Click here to enter the draw...and read on below to find out more about Costa Rica's best-kept secret.
It was Costa Rica's best-kept secret. I first scouted here three years ago. I fell in love with the setting, and the scenery. I enjoyed good food, and good company. It reminded me of lake country in Europe...from the dramatic, rich green landscape, the warm bread and crisp pastries in the little Austrian bakery, to the mini Swiss village on one side of the lake.
I couldn't believe just how affordable property was here, either. Only a handful of expats had discovered this location, and they preferred to keep it to themselves. But word is starting to get out slowly about this hidden gem...
At International Living's conference in Costa Rica in August 2010, this place stole the show. Some attendees toured the area before the conference. They liked what they saw...and they couldn't keep it to themselves. We should have had two small tours of the area, one before the conference and one afterwards. That soon turned into four bigger tours...and a lot of excitement. There's something special about this location...

We're talking about Arenal, in north central Costa Rica. It's Costa Rica's lake country, and it ticks all the right boxes for a growing number of expats and retirees. The weather hovers in the high-70s year round. There's enough rain to keep the landscape fresh and green.
Arenal often reminds visitors of Lake Tahoe...without the crowds. If you love hiking, swimming, windsurfing, fishing, boating, bird watching, horse riding, or kayaking...this place is paradise. It's a secret part of Costa Rica, where you'll find gourmet food, good company, and property prices that seem to belong in a history book.
But the secret's slowly getting out...as more expats, retirees and property buyers uncover this hidden corner of Costa Rica.
Lakes, Rivers, Waterfalls, and Hot Springs
Let's start with the natural beauty. It's easy when you have the right ingredients: the country's largest lake (33 square miles), a lush landscape of soft rolling hills, lofty mountains, and a towering volcano. For much of the year, only fishermen and sailors break Lake Arenal's mirror-smooth surface; for a few months, stronger lake breezes bring in windsurfers.
The sharply pointed cone of the volcano reaches 5300 feet. It's live. That means a spectacular fiery display most evenings...and hot springs. Resorts offer a choice of outdoor pools, with different water temperatures, swim-up bars, and spa treatments--a perfect way to unwind at the end of a long day.

The volcano, the lake, and hot springs are major tourist attractions
The thermal water has reputed healing powers, and the volcanic mud is great for deep cleansing. There are a number of hotels that offer a variety of treatments...or you can simply soak contentedly outdoors in the heated water and relax.
Throw in crashing waterfalls, deep caverns, and misty cloud forests...and a total of 790 square miles of conservation area, parks and reserves...and "unspoiled paradise" sums this place up.
A Warm Welcome is Waiting...
The expat group in Arenal is small, but very active, and welcoming to newcomers. They meet regularly, often at the Gingerbread Hotel. Once you've dined here, you'll know why. The chef, Eyal, serves delicious, fresh, gourmet food. He prefers to use locally sourced products. On the taste front, his food ranks alongside the top restaurants in Europe or the US...and at much more wallet-friendly prices. It's by far the best food in Costa Rica.

The bargain-basement real estate is as mouth-watering as the food. Local-style three bed homes start at $55,000. For $179,000, you get fifteen acres of jungle, rivers, pasture, and a small house. A well-maintained 2-bed home in a private community is on the market for $89,000. A home with its own private lake set in two and a half acres is $159,000...
I could go on and on, but you get the idea. This overlooked area boasts a wide range of properties, from local "Tico" homes, to lake-view or volcano-view home sites, to US-style condos with a private marina overlooking the lake. They all have one thing in common: affordability.
If you want to check out Arenal for yourself...and see what's getting so many people buzzing about this place...then you

should enter today's prize draw.
Terry Moran is a real estate broker we work with in Arenal, and he's offering a free tour, two nights accommodation at the Gingerbread Hotel, including breakfast, and a boat ride on the lake.
He'll also show you a selection of properties in Arenal, based on your preferences...whether it's farmland, a second home, or a lake-view lot.
You'll meet other expats, who'll share why they chose this spot as their piece of paradise...
And you'll see just how far your real estate dollars will stretch here.
If you want to get a feel for Costa Rica's lake country, and immerse yourself in its charms for a few days, this is the easiest way to do it. Enter the prize draw today ...and discover this hidden corner of Costa Rica...before the mainstream catches on.
Margaret Summerfield
Pathfinder - International Living

http://internationalliving.com/ international Living - The greatest Name In World Real Estate Values

http://moranlakearenal.com/  Moran Real Estate Over 50 years of tropical real estate excellence

http://gingerbreadarenal.com/ Gingerbread The absolute finest restaurant and boutique hotel in Costa Rica


The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.
-- Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

7000 New Hig Tech Jobs Created In Costa Rica

An investment of more than $434 million and the eventual creation of more than 7,000 new jobs will result from foreign direct investment in high-tech industries announced in 2010, according to the Ministerio de Ccomercio Exterior.

The new jobs are roughly split amongst three categories, services (call centers), tech manufacturing, and life sciences.

The latter is usually referred to as medical instruments because that’s what has been the bulk of investment in Costa Rica, but the export promotion agencies are hopeful of attracting biomedical research as well.

Call centers provide more than 30,000 jobs to mostly

young people with English skills, though much Spanish- language support for large telecom companies in the United States is moving here. About 100 call center operators are now in the country, mostly in tax exempt free zones in Heredia. New companies include Teleperformance and National Instruments.

Medical instruments like heart stents and catheters are the main products associated with new entrants. Abbott Vascular recently announced a large investment. General Microcircuits is joining giant Intel in moving production here.

In 2011 a joint effort between the ministry and the private sector export promotion agency CINDE will take effect, with plans to seek investment from North America, Europe, and Asia.

Moran Real Estate Over 50 Years of Tropical Real Estate Excellence



If one advances confidently in the direction of one's dreams, and endeavors to live the life which one has imagined, one will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.
-- Henry David Thoreau

International Living Continues toTout Costa Rica



So why should you consider Costa Rica? It just makes sense for so many reasons.
After all, Costa Rica attracts more than one million visitors every year. Many already consider it to be the most attractive and diverse nation in Latin America. It's easy to get to and direct flights leave major airports in the U.S. every day.
Costa Rica has been the buzzword for overseas retirement and eco-travel for almost 20 years. It's a small, peaceful oasis of staggering beauty... a mysterious world of volcanoes and rare creatures found nowhere else on earth.
The cost of living is low (you can still live comfortably on as little as $1,500 a month)… you can enjoy warm, sunny, tropical weather all year… take advantage of a simple, straightforward residency program… and live among the best-preserved, most-spectacular scenery on the planet.
Costa Rica enjoys a stable government, plenty of foreign investment, a well-educated populace, first-rate (affordable) health care, and a thriving tourism industry. Many expats have started profitable businesses while living in this beautiful paradise.
It's no surprise when you consider the government support in these areas...

Continued Government-Supported Growth
“North Americans and Europeans are flocking to Costa Rica because of its biodiversity, peaceful lifestyle, democratic government, and growing economy. And, of course, there’s the climate... Many retirees we met are financing their retirement and keeping busy by starting businesses based on the booming real estate market... A property can net $20,000 to $100,000 a year in rental income, depending on housing type, style, and location.” ~ Kiplinger’s

With space running out in the most popular towns, the government is working furiously to open up previously inaccessible areas. But that’s not all they’ve been doing ...
Costa Rica now ranks as the most technologically developed country in all of Central America. The government has attracted several high-tech companies by offering tax holidays of up to 20 years. There are also many incentives for tourism companies.
The workforce is well educated and English fluency isn’t even an issue. Costa Rica offers investors and relocated businesses plenty of advantages. Among the companies to open branches there are Acer America, Baxter Healthcare, Intel, Panasonic, and many more.
The presence of offshore banks has grown exponentially in recent years. Within the last three years, the total amount of funds these banks have attracted has increased by 65%.
Yes, business is booming in Costa Rica, and there are several ways that you can profit from this boom—especially in the tourism sector.
You could:
Build and rent out your own eco-cabin: Because Costa Rica has become such a popular tourism destination, it’s desperately short of hotel rooms. So you could build your own rental cabin for as little as $5,000… and then rent it out for as much as $100 a day.
Some people have been reporting a 98% occupancy rate. At such levels as this it means your $5,000 investment could be making you $35,700 per year!
Build or buy two homes: Let’s say you build two houses – a large house and a small house. You could then offer to rent both houses out… and live in the house that isn’t rented. Since living expenses in Costa Rica are low – and rental prices are relatively high – with the right marketing strategy, you could easily make enough to live on... all while living in warm, tropical, beautiful Costa Rica full-time.
Build and sell properties: Because of the rapidly increasing land values throughout Costa Rica, you could buy a piece of land that’s large enough to subdivide, build a house on it, and sell the property for a good profit.
And, if that isn’t enough, it’s one of the few places where the dollar has actually risen in value in recent years! Americans now have about a third more buying power than they did five years ago. A dollar equals around 500 Costa Rican colones today compared to 360 back then.
Costa Rica could well be the most biologically diverse region on the entire planet. Every year more than one million tourists visit to explore some of the last unspoiled natural habitats in the world.
Covering only 1/10,000th of the world’s surface, it is home to more than 500,000 different species of plants and animals... including more than 850 bird species …160 known amphibians… 220 reptiles… and 10% of all known butterflies.

You’ll find high-elevation forests where clouds meander over the treetops … deserted black-sand beaches… lowland rain forests… mysterious mangrove swamps… protected coral reefs … expansive wetlands… and just about everything between.
And there are many exhilarating ways to explore its outstanding natural beauty:
Hike through a lush green coastal rainforest—and one of Costa Rica’s best places to spot wildlife. Keep your eye out for parrots, crocodiles, caimans, toucans, kingfishers, iguanas, and lizards…
Scuba dive or snorkel among thousands of colorful tropical fish and vivid coral reefs
Explore Costa Rica’s premiere ecotourism destination. Here you can find palm trees, orchids, primitive ferns, and an incredible variety of birdlife…
White-water raft down the exhilarating and adrenaline-pumping rivers…
Kayak down the Sarapiqui River, in the Pacific Ocean, or in the Caribbean Sea…
Surf world-class waves at one of the best breaks in the country and a draw for some of the best surfers in the world.
Enjoy horseback riding on the beach at sunset in Samara, Montezuma, or many other ideal places for horseback riding in Costa Rica…
Go sport-fishing for marlin, swordfish, snook, and tarpon in blue waters under blue skies.
Bird-watch and spot hummingbirds, scarlet macaws, toucans, kingfishers, trogons, and even the resplendent quetzal…
Mountain bike in a pristine nature reserve on the Nicoya Peninsula…
So remember to bring your digital camera, your sunscreen, your hiking shoes, your swimsuit, and your sense of adventure.

Quality Of Life... And Keep An Eye Out For The Rich And Famous
You might think that living in a country with all the advantages that Costa Rica offers would be expensive.
It isn’t!
The leading expatriate organization, the Association of Residents of Costa Rica, estimates that if a couple owns a house and a car they can live well on $1,500 to $2,500 a month.
When you shop at a supermarket in Costa Rica, you can expect to spend less than half of what you would in the U.S. The savings are similar at the country’s restaurants, nearly all of which serve food fit for royalty.
Taxes are low too. When you live in Costa Rica, there’s no tax on money made outside the country, and the highest income tax rate is 15%.
Annual property taxes are low, too. You’ll pay on a sliding scale from .25% to .55% of the value of your home or condo. And you pay only on the construction value…not the land value. According to a leading real estate company, if you pay $150,000 for a house, your taxes are likely to be just a few hundred dollars a year.
Best of all, when you go to sell your home in Costa Rica, you won’t pay a dime in capital gains tax. Zero, zip, zilch.
Plus, Costa Ricans readily boast that their country is so safe it has no need for an army. The country is so peaceful that schoolchildren oversee election parades, and there are more doctors here than there are police.
In fact, Microsoft founder and one of the world’s richest men, Bill Gates, vacations here with his family. Most recently, he and his family arrived aboard a private jet and stayed at the Four Seasons Hotel in Guanacaste for a week.
And that's not even the best part of living in Costa Rica...
Where Doctors Still Make House Calls!
Costa Rica’s health care is first-rate… yet shockingly inexpensive—on average about a third of what you’d pay in the U.S.


The leading expatriate organization, the Association of Residents of Costa Rica, estimates that if a couple owns a house and a car they can live well on $1,500 to $2,500 a month.
When you shop at a supermarket in Costa Rica, you can expect to spend less than half of what you would in the U.S. The savings are similar at the country’s restaurants, nearly all of which serve food fit for royalty.
Taxes are low too. When you live in Costa Rica, there’s no tax on money made outside the country, and the highest income tax rate is 15%.
Annual property taxes are low, too. You’ll pay on a sliding scale from .25% to .55% of the value of your home or condo. And you pay only on the construction value…not the land value. According to a leading real estate company, if you pay $150,000 for a house, your taxes are likely to be just a few hundred dollars a year.
Best of all, when you go to sell your home in Costa Rica, you won’t pay a dime in capital gains tax. Zero, zip, zilch.
Plus, Costa Ricans readily boast that their country is so safe it has no need for an army. The country is so peaceful that schoolchildren oversee election parades, and there are more doctors here than there are police.
In fact, Microsoft founder and one of the world’s richest men, Bill Gates, vacations here with his family. Most recently, he and his family arrived aboard a private jet and stayed at the Four Seasons Hotel in Guanacaste for a week.
And that's not even the best part of living in Costa Rica...
Where Doctors Still Make House Calls!
Costa Rica’s health care is first-rate… yet shockingly inexpensive—on average about a third of what you’d pay in the U.S.
World-Class, Affordable
Health Care
Hands down, Costa Rica’s universal health care system is one of the best in Latin America and, indeed, among the best in the world. Once you obtain legal residency in Costa Rica, foreigners are eligible (required, in fact) to participate in Costa Rica’s universal health care system, CAJA. It’s affiliated with ten major public hospitals in the country and many small clinics in almost every community.
You can also buy private insurance—most plans cover dental work, optometry, and cosmetic surgery in the case of an accident. Prescription drugs, certain medical exams, sick visits, and hospitalization are covered at 70% cost, and surgeon and anesthesiologist costs are covered at full cost. Private medical insurance in Costa Rica currently costs about $50-$100 a month per person, depending on age, gender and other factors.
And don’t worry about language issues—many doctors speak English and have received training in Europe, Canada, or the U.S.

The doctors, many of them U.S. educated and trained, rarely charge more than $50 a visit… and most of them charge less, even for house calls. That’s right! Many doctors in Costa Rica still make house calls!
Costa Rica has been named one of the top 5 destinations for health tourism worldwide. Thousands of people are now traveling to Costa Rica to have cosmetic surgery that is too costly back home.
“Patients can save as much as 80% on procedures done by medical professionals often educated and trained in the United States at hospitals increasingly accredited for meeting U.S.-like standards.” ~ Fresno Bee
Prescription drugs are also much cheaper in Costa Rica, especially at pharmacies outside the touristy areas of San José. And it’s good to know that you don’t have to worry about a prescription. Pharmacies don’t usually require them, except for strong painkillers that could become addictive.
Costa Rica’s health care isn’t just inexpensive... the quality is exceptional.
In fact, a recent study by the World Health Organization even ranked Costa Rica’s health services ABOVE the U.S.

Low taxes, high-quality low-cost health care, and booming property prices... Costa Rica is a land where dreams can still come true.

International Living The Greatest name In World Real Estate

Moran Real Estate almost 60 Years of Troipical Real Estate Excellence

Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough.
-- Oprah Winfrey

Expats on the move: Establishing residency in Costa Rica

Expats on the move: Establishing residency in Costa Rica

While health care debates, social security reform and higher taxes take center stage in Washington, D.C., more and more Americans seem to be seeking residency elsewhere in the world and the number one destination appears to be Costa Rica.

While health care debates, social security reform and higher taxes take center stage in Washington, D.C., more and more Americans seem to be seeking residency elsewhere in the world and the number one destination appears to be Costa Rica.
“We’ve seen a lot of passive inquiries about moving to Costa Rica and establishing residency there since starting our project,” commented Hacienda Matapalo Executive Vice President Brian Albury, whose company is building a 665-acre master planned gated community on the country’s South Pacific Coast. “But lately we’ve seen a dramatic upswing in serious interest – more so than any other time during this phase of our development.”
According to Christopher Howard, an authoritarian on Costa Rica and author of the recently released book "The New Golden Door To Retirement and Living in Costa Rica," there are more Americans living in Costa Rica per capita than any other country in the world. In an article on the Web site Costa Rica Outdoors, Howard wrote that Americans tend to feel more at home in Costa Rica than other Latin American country citing several reasons including health care, business opportunities, high yielding investments, tax breaks, real estate costs and security concerns.
There is much to know about establishing residency in Costa Rica. “For example, just like in the U.S. where there are several types of residency statuses, the same holds true for Costa Rica and whether we’re talking about a pensionado (retiree), rentista (legal resident), inversionista (investor), vinculo (relation to citizen) or any other classification, each has its own set of criteria.”

For this reason we recommend a good attorney to guide you through the process. We have used and recommended the same attorney for real estate and residency in Costa Rica for over 10 years, Gonzalo Viqyez {everyone knows him as Junior} and in all my years of doing business here I have not found anyone close to his efficiency, knowledge and attention to detail. You can reach him by phone at 506 8816 1681 or e mail at costaricanlegaladvice@gmail.com

Moran Real Estate Over 50 years of Tropical Real Estate Excellence

Costa Rica 4th Most Competitive Tourist Destination

A recent study by the World Economic Forum has ranked Costa Rica as the fourth most competitive tourism location in the Americas. Canada, the U.S. and Barbados in the Caribbean are the top 3. Analyzing 14 areas of tourism and travel, the study ranked 133 countries of the world on a 6-point scale to create the “travel and tourism competitiveness index”. Costa Rica was given an overall score of 4.42, ranking 42nd in the world and 4th in the Americas.

The 14 areas of travel and tourism rated included environmental sustainability, safety and security, health and hygiene, infrastructure, natural resources and human resources. According to the World Economic Forum, Costa Rica ranks sixth in the world in the category of natural resources and 27th overall for environmental sustainability. The study applauded Costa Rica for its high percentage of nationally protected areas and its diverse fauna.

“Costa Rica counts on a large amount of natural spaces, which attracts many tourists who are hoping to travel to destinations that are developing methods to contribute to the protection of the environment,” said Juan Carlos Ramos, the President of CANATUR. “The results of this study confirm that the commitment to maintaining the environment should be a strategy for the country to continue to work to become a sustainable destination, making Costa Rica an attractive destination for people from around the world.”

On the other end of the scale, Costa Rica ranked 72nd in the safety and security of travelers and 103rd in ground transportation, including roads and ports. The study referred to ground transportation in Costa Rica as “somewhat difficult.”

“Without security, we cannot develop tourism,” Ramos said. “The government should think about and implement actions that will allow the country to be considered in the future as not only a destination that focuses on sustainability, but also a place where vacationers can have a peaceful stay.”

According to CANATUR, in 2009 Costa Rica welcomed over 1,922 million tourists, who generated over $2 billion for the local economy.
  

Moran Real Estate Over 50 Years Of Tropical Real Estate Excellence   

Find your passion and make it your profession ... and you'll never work again.

Living and Working Part-time in Costa Rica…and Loving It

Living and Working Part-time in Costa Rica…and Loving It
By Rita Lucas

I first came to Costa Rica 11 years ago for my 25th wedding anniversary…and I fell in love with everything I experienced here.

I would leave the resort I was staying at, and wander the beaches to small villages to find great coffee and wonderful food. I loved the rural, simple, slower pace of life. And I loved the safety of being able to tour around and feel as safe as I do in Canada. Other things that suited me were the temperate climate, the friendly, helpful people, and the great “café con leche” (coffee with hot steamed milk).

When we got back to Canada, and into the cold dark days of winter…I decided "enough!" and purchased a lot near the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica near the village of Ojochal. I built a house as a B&B in the mountains up from the village.

I now spend at least six months a year in the wonderful rural area of Ojochal, leaving behind the cold winters of Alberta. Instead of the high pace of life and the high costs of winter…I wake up to the sounds of monkey, toucans and parrots in the trees and step outside to see blue morpho butterflies soaring through my rancho.

Getting around is easy on my quad—I use it most days to run errands, or to attend a Spanish or yoga class.

After spending a lot of time in Costa Rica over the past 10 years, I have found that you need to have a large amount of patience—things move slower than in North America. It is part of the charm…but can also cause us North Americans to get stressed when trying to get things done! I've learned how to stand in long lines and enjoy the people-watching that this can offer…and I've learned that proxima semana (next week) can mean anytime from a couple of days to a month, and be okay with that.

If I was living in Canada 12 months of the year I would have to work a lot more than I do now...I find that it is 1/3 of the cost to live in Costa Rica, allowing me to have more free time, to be semi- retired and have a flexible life.

I never forget that I'm living a dream that I used to only ever experience on vacation. It truly is the good life.

International Living - The Greatest Name in Retirement Living 

Moran Real Estate - Over 50 Years of Tropical Real Estate Excellence 

The future is not something we enter. The future is something we create. 

Costa Ricas's Lake District Is Causing Quite A Stir

It's no wonder—spectacular views, the best food in the country, and seriously affordable property

Costa Rica's Best-Kept Secret
By Margaret Summerfield

It's Costa Rica's best-kept secret—and it caused quite a stir at a recent IL conference. Some attendees had been there before and couldn't wait to share what they'd found. Word is slowly getting out about this hidden hot spot...

I'm talking about Arenal, in north central Costa Rica. It's Costa Rica's lake country, and it ticks all the right boxes for a growing number of expats and retirees.


The weather hovers in the high 70s year-round. There's enough rain to keep the landscape fresh and green. Then there's the beauty of this place...the friendly expats...the gourmet food...and the bargain-basement property prices.

Arenal often reminds visitors of Lake Tahoe...without the crowds. If you love hiking, swimming, windsurfing, fishing, boating, bird watching, horse riding, or kayaking...this place is paradise. It's a secret part of Costa Rica, where you'll find gourmet food, good company, and property prices that seem to belong in a history book.

Let's start with the natural beauty. It's easy when you have the right ingredients: the country's largest lake (33 square miles), a lush landscape of soft rolling hills, lofty mountains, and a towering volcano. For much of the year, only fishermen and sailors break Lake Arenal's mirror-smooth surface; for a few months, stronger lake breezes bring in windsurfers.

The sharply pointed cone of the volcano reaches 5,300 feet. Yes, it's "live". That means a fiery display most evenings...and hot springs. Resorts offer a choice of outdoor pools, with different water temperatures, swim-up bars, and spa treatments—a perfect way to unwind at the end of a long day.

Throw in crashing waterfalls, deep caverns, and misty cloud forests...and a total of 790 square miles of conservation area, parks and reserves...and "unspoiled paradise" sums this place up.

The expat group is small, but very active, and welcoming to newcomers. They meet regularly, often at the Gingerbread Hotel. Once you've dined here, you'll know why. The chef, Eyal, serves delicious, fresh, gourmet food. He prefers to use locally sourced products. On the taste front, his food ranks alongside the top restaurants in Europe or the U.S.—and at much more wallet-friendly prices. It's by far the best food in Costa Rica.

The bargain-basement real estate is as mouth-watering as the food—homes start at less than $60,000.

This overlooked area boasts a wide range of properties, from local "Tico" homes, to lake-view or volcano-view home sites, to U.S.-style condos with a private marina overlooking the lake. They all have one thing in common: affordability. 

Moran real Estate Over 50 years Of Tropical Real Estate Excellence 

International Living - The Greatest Name In Real Estate Values 

Failure is not always a mistake, it may simply be the best one can do under the circumstances. The real mistake is to stop trying.