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North Pacific: A Perfect Blend
This tiny jewel of a
country is an oasis of pristine sun-drenched beaches, tropical wet and dry
forests, and gentle smiling citizens. Costa Rica is home to 5% of the
planet's plant and animal species. Monkeys, quetzals, toucans, parrots,
giant leatherback turtles are among the exotic wildlife that you will find
in the well-known National Parks Reserves that cover over one-third of the
country. With 266 days of sunshine per year and Pacific Coastal temperature
ranging between 75 - 85 degrees, Costa Rica's beauty is accessible year
round.
New foreign investment is
in the growth in Costa Rica ...
Names such as MacDonald's, Pizza Hut, Burger King, KFC, Subway, TGIF, Tony
Roma's and others are seen across the country.
Intel, Unysis and Procter & Gamble have established operations ...
Costa Rica is the only nation in Central America with industries such as
Tourism and Technology that surpass agriculture as the main source of
revenue.
Guanacaste is the northwest part of Costa Rica. The capital city is Liberia with
35000 people. Since the last decade Guanacaste has become the most popular
destination in Costa Rica because of its naturals wonders, climate and tourist
facilities. Costa Rica's North Pacific is also well know for its folklore,
music, color and traditional food.
Location: The Republic of Costa Rica is located in Central America. Together
with Panama is an important natural bridge that unites North & South America. It
borders Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south, flanked by the Caribbean
Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west.
The country size is pretty much like West Virginia in the United States, Nova
Scotia in Canada or it is slightly larger than Switzerland. Costa Rica's
population is approximately 4 million people and it is mostly concentrated in
its capital city: San Jose.
The country is divided by 3 mountains ranges creating a great variety of
habitats and microclimates.
Climate: Costa Rica has a wonderful climate due to location ( Tropical Region ).
The weather varies throughout the year, most of the variation in temperature
comes from differences in elevation. However the Costar Rican territory has two
well defined seasons.
Dry season: Normally called Verano, It goes from November through May.
Temperatures are from 60 F to 95 F depending on the area. There is not much
rainfall, except in the highlands & the Caribbean area. In the Pacific lowlands
it rarely rains.
Rainy season: Normally called invierno, It goes from May through November.
Humidity is very high. Temperatures drop a little bit. Rainfalls increase
significantly. The Pacific side is usually dry & sunny in early mornings with
good probabilities of rain in the afternoon. In the Caribbean area rainfalls are
expected any time.
Language: The official language is Spanish, although many people speak
English as a second
language.
Religion: There is freedom of worship, however most of the population
practices the Catholic
religion.
Currency: The national currency is the colon, even though USA dollars &
major credit
cards ( Visa, Master Card, American Express ), are well accepted.
Democracy: Costa Rica is considered the purest democracy in the
region, it also has the highest standard of living, the fastest
population growth and the most advanced social welfare
system. The literacy rate is 97%. No army since 1948.
Airport Departure Tax: Departure Tax must be paid
cash (Costa Rican or USA money) and the costs
is $26 us dollars per person.
Infants and children must pay it, too.
Resort site maps, area maps and country
maps can be seen at the bottom of this page.
Christopher Columbus called it
the "Rich Coast". Rich in beauty, rich in ecology, rich in flora and fauna with
thousands of species plants, animals, birds and insects that live in magnificent
and sometimes mysterious tropical forests. It is so rich that it even exports
"oxygen" an essential nutrient for a better, healthier and cleaner life.
Some call Costa Rica "Switzerland of the Americas", others call it "Paradise on
Earth". You can call it what you like. One visit to Costa Rica and you can never
forget the memory of it. It will be etched in your mind forever.
Its 51000 square kilometres are filled with pleasant surprises at every turn you
take, and especially do not forget Costa Rica is a peaceful country that has a
Nobel Peace Prize winning ex president, Oscar Arias. Its Pacific or Caribbean
sides, oh yes, the best of both worlds with nearly 1500 kilometres of countless
virgin beaches among rocky bluffs, enclosed by numerous peninsulas and bays
offer unsurpassed scenic beauty, and will enchant you. Its mountains, forests
and natural heritage form one of the world's most outstanding biological reserve
and national park systems.
THE PEOPLE
Or "Ticos", as they commonly call themselves in an endearing way, are their
country's greatest assets; they are warm hearted, friendly, educated,
entrepreneurial and ready to cater for your every whim.
BANKING
The banking system in Costa Rica is very modern and offers all services national
and international including the issuance of credit cards, ATM's, personalized
and computerized banking system as sophisticated as anywhere else.
HEALTH SERVICES
Numerous excellent Hospitals operated by the National Social Security System
exist in strategic locations of the country. It is common to have your own
private and very inexpensive medical team highly educated in North America and
Europe. Privately operated hospitals with top facilities and multidisciplinary
Medical Corps, cater for the needs of many foreign visitors who frequently take
advantage of the better value, very professional medical care offered in Costa
Rica. Cosmetic surgery and Dental Care are in particularly high demand.
EDUCATION
There really isn't much to say. Costa Rica is the most literate country in
Central America and its literacy rate rivals that of many much larger and much
wealthier industrialized nations.
THE GOVERNMENT
Costa Rica is a free, independent and democratic republic. Costa Rica is a
peaceful country where the existence of a standing army is prohibited by its
Constitution. The Constitution provides for a President, elected by popular vote
for a period of four years and exercising executive powers. The congress is a
single chambered legislature, whose members are also elected by popular vote for
a four-year term. The Supreme Court is the most important judicial body in the
Nation. Costa Rica is one of the oldest, most stable and pacific democracies in
Latin America.
In 1869 primary education for both sexes was declared obligatory and free of
cost. The death sentence was abolished in 1882 as were the armed forces in 1948.
In 1983 Perpetual Neutrality was proclaimed. Prestigious International Human
Rights Organizations have their Headquarters in Costa Rica.
COMMUNICATIONS
Costa Rica's communications are among the very best in Latin American. There are
postal and telegraph offices throughout the country. Telephones, postal
services, facsimile services as well as electronic mail (Internet) are readily
available anywhere in the country.
TRANSPORTATION
Costa Rica is served by a major Intercontinental Airline network flying into and
leaving from its International Juan Santamaria Airport, located at some twenty
five minutes from San Jose. It's new Liberia International Airport, in the
province of Guanacaste, has begun operations over a year ago, receiving
international flights from the USA, Canada and Europe, catering essentially to
the tourist industry. A domestic network of internal airports also serves well
the needs of local and international travelers. Domestic Flights to popular
tourist destinations and other parts of the country leave daily from Juan
Santamaria and Tobias Bolanos International Airports in San Jose. There are
several private Airline Companies that offer Charter Flights to anywhere in the
country with a landing strip. Their equipment includes twin-engine aircraft,
helicopters and others.
BUS SERVICES
An excellent network of ground transportation exists in the country through
private enterprises. Regulated scheduled departures / arrivals from / to San
Jose and any part of the country run smoothly and are economical. There several
bus companies that offer scheduled departures to the rest of Central America and
Panama at competitive rates. Costa Rica counts with a good highway system most
of which is paved except in remote rural areas where a four-wheel drive would be
necessary. Some major highways have tollbooths. Gas stations are plentiful
throughout the country and many operate around the clock. There are no
self-service stations in Costa Rica.
CAR RENTALS
There is an impressive choice of car rental companies to choose from. Shop
around for the best all-inclusive deal.
HOTELS
Costa Rica has a great variety of Hotels catering for the most discriminating
needs. There are city hotels, mountain hotels, beach hotels and many self
contained resorts, offering almost everything Golf, Tennis, Racquet Ball,
Surfing, Fishing, Casinos... You name it, the choice is entirely yours
Opened on
November 25, 1995, the paved runway of the airport measures 2,750 meters
long and 50 meters wide, with a 22,500 square meter ramp to facilitate
international flights. The airport is equipped to offer full services for
fuel, cleaning, luggage handling, and can handle all types of aircraft from
Lear jets to Boeing 747s.
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The
Liberia International Airport is undergoing a new wave of upgrades and
expansion in the ongoing effort to make it a fully competitive and
equipped facility for international air traffic. Presently the airport
receives domestic flights and charter flights, as well as private
airplanes. There remain a few hurdles to overcome before the airport
can realize its full potential in servicing the expected tourism
demand. |
Officially named the Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport, after the
popular former president of Costa Rica and supporter of development in
Guanacaste, the airport is considered the linchpin to the thriving and
rapidly growing tourism industry.
Aside from the Juan Santamaria International Airport outside San Jose, it is
the only other airport in Costa Rica capable of handling international
flights.
The
enhancements of late are part of an expansion project aimed at meeting the
requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA sets standards
for international commercial airline traffic. An instrument landing system
is being installed, which will enable large commercial aircraft to land
using instruments at Liberia. In addition, modifications to the
passenger-waiting terminal have been made to meet FAA safety codes. These
improvements come on the heels of numerous others requested by the FAA which
include: fencing off the airport and upgrading its emergency plan.
Airport
overseers expect to push forward with still more enhancements this year,
including a plan to privatize the management of the airport. Private
operators from France, the US and Italy have already expressed interest in
the project. Given that it is an election year in Costa Rica, further
improvements this year will probably be limited to the extension of the
plane parking area.
With the
improvements already made, Daniel Oduber is a highly competitive facility.
Located at sea level, on the great extension of flatland called the “Llano
Grande’, 17 km west of Liberia, it is better situated than Juan Santamaria
to receive flights and grow over time.
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The
airport offers full services for fuel, luggage handling, and technical
service for weight and balance certification, while its fire
department is specially equipped with paramedic services. Inside the
terminal are immigration, customs, airport security and anti-drug
controls, as well as a bank, snack bar, restrooms and medical
assistance. |
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As a result, the facility is attracting an increasing number of charters that
fly directly into Liberia from the US, Canada, Europe and Latin America.
Hoteliers and other developers are clearly banking on the
continued improvements taking place at the airport. There are already 3,800
rooms among the hotels and resorts currently operating on the beach areas of
Guanacaste. Another 3,200 rooms will be added
over the next two years as others hotels under construction will open for
business. There are a number of large resort communities underway which
include four new golf courses. Additionally there are numerous restaurants and
other tourist businesses that are relying on the Liberia airport to bring them
the customers.
Three international airline companies
presently utilize the Daniel Oduber International Airport as an alternative
airport when the Juan Santamaria International Airport, in San Jose, is unable
to receive them.
As a
growth indicator, the significance of the increased use of the airport and the
“Green Season” use should not be missed. This is an incredibly strong indicator
of the growth of this area and an indicator for future growth. Real estate
values will inevitably mirror this growth.
International
Airports:
Domestic
Airports:
There are over
50 small, domestic airports throughout Costa Rica in
total.
Major
International Airlines:
Domestic Airlines:
Guanacaste
Guanacaste is the northern province
of Costa Rica on the Pacific Coast.
Its main city is Liberia, whose International Airport operates weekly
flights to Canada, US and Europe, among other destinations.
Because of its location and many tourist attractions, the government has
declared this area a priority for tourist development and offers great
investment opportunities in real estate and building development.
There are twelve major Pacific beaches in Guanacaste, each offering its own
beauty and characteristics ..
Playa Hermosa
If you are looking for crowds, nightlife, action, and a
large beach community, Playa Hermosa, Guanacaste will disappoint you. However,
the ever-expanding ex-patriot community that is choosing to reside in Playa
Hermosa are doing so for that exact reason.
A direct translation of Playa Hermosa is “beautiful beach”. There is no doubt
that Playa Hermosa is an incredibly beautiful beach, and one simply needs to
spend an afternoon on the beach to find this is true. The beach is just over a
kilometre in length, and over 50 meters in width at low tide. It is one of the
safest swimming beaches in all of Guanacaste, as it has small waves, no ripe
tides, and no rock. It truly is a swimmers paradise.
The residents of Playa Hermosa are people that appreciate the incredible natural
splendours of Costa Rica in a private tranquil setting. With the recent
development of private gated estate lot developments, Playa Hermosa is taking on
the character of becoming a very upscale affluent beach community catering to
those that wish to enjoy what Costa Rica has to offer in a quiet peaceful
environment.
In addition to the upscale peaceful community that is drawing ex-patriots to
Playa Hermosa, a second reason maybe that Playa Hermosa is the closest beach
area to the Liberia International Airport and as such the closest beach area to
most major North American cities which in addition to being served by charter
flights over the last seven years, will be joined by commercial flights
commencing December 2002.
Playa Hermosa is sprinkled with a small number of boutique styled beach hotels
with restaurants that offer residents a variety of specialized tastes and
recipes. The hilltop hotel Finisterra has Sushi night on Fridays.
El Velero has a mixed grill barbecue on Saturdays & Wednesdays. Aqua
Sport and other are beach front restaurants have international
menus and “Happy Hours”. Pescado Loco is great for a quick fix and the owners of
Villa Del Sueno in addition to having a lengthy tradition of serving fine
cuisine, will personally entertain you with live music. Gingers Restaurant
offers "bocas" in a fine cuisine atmosphere.
A unique aspect of Play
Hermosa is an active and cohesive residents association that has ensured that Playa
Hermosa was one of the first beaches to be recognized as a Blue Flag beach and
works to maintain this designation. In addition to a number of community
benefiting programs being developed by the association, we have a developed a
very special Christmas fund program and gift giving parade that has turned into
an annual tradition.
The residents of Playa Hermosa like the quiet peaceful life-style, and the
private character of their beach, so please, “ssshhh, don’t tell anyone about
it”.
See Our Maps!
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