COSTA RICA - For all its popularity, many people are drawn to Costa Rica have a somewhat distorted view of what this beautiful country has to offer. If you are reading this, chances are you are already aware that despite lucking out with a disproportionate amount of coastal area for such a small country, Costa Rica is not an island. And only the truly Disneyfied would think that the super-natural wonders of this beauty can be switched on and off at will. You may be biased into thinking a life in Costa Rica will resemble vacationing in the state of Florida or Hawaii. You may believe that you can breeze into this back-water with your 1st-world moxie and make a fortune in real estate or tourism or the farming of teak.

Dreamers beware. Costa Rica is not like Florida. It is also no backwater banana republic and this is reflected in the pricing of real estate holdings. Check out the central west coast (around Jaco / Los Suenos / Quepos / Manuel Antonio) to get a reality check! Still there are deals to be found and on occasion a real bargain is happened upon. Being Costa Rica is potentionally the most politically and economically stable countries in this region, it has been long attracting serious international investment. Its relatively easy for foreigners to start up corporations here, you don't even need to be a resident and can do it on your tourist entry visa. Contact one of the lawyers on this page for more information. Running a successful business is another story, as it requires similar skills and good luck as any such endeavor needs anywhere else in the world. Doing business here, or just successfully hanging out (living in Costa Rica), may place a heavier demand on you than you might be expecting. No one thrives here without at least some humility, a fully functioning sense of humor, and a large degree of flexibility that would astound even the most accomplished yogi.

THE LAND

Talk about centrally located. Picture the bent elbow of land that connects North and South America: Costa Rica rests in the crook of that arm, at the northern edge of where North America funnels down into a narrow isthmus separating the Pacific and the Caribbean. The country lies at the hub of two continents and at the crux of two geographic plates the Cocos and the Caribbean. In millennia past, the isthmus served as a land bridge, allowing flora and fauna to come tip from the south and trickle down from the north. The resulting diversity of plant and ani¬mal life is staggering. Imagine 1,400 species of orchids and more than 100 kinds of bats and you get a taste of the huge feast spread on this small table of a country. At 50.000 square kilometers (19,305 square miles), Costa Rica is the second smallest country in Central America, after El Salvador. Its Caribbean coastline is a mere 160 kilometers (99 miles) long, while Elie Pacific coast, with more bays and peninsulas, measures 480 kilometers (298 miles) from the Nicaraguan border to Panama. At its widest-280 kilometers (174 miles)—Costa Rica is still a narrow country that can be traversed in a few hours.

EARTHQUAKES AND VOLCANOES

Costa Rica is the child of a volatile but enduring; relationship between sections of the earths crust that both want to have — or rather go — their own way. The Caribbean and Coco plates conic together just off Costa Rica's coast, and the resulting clash produces pent-up geological energy that finds release in earth¬quakes and volcanic eruptions. Of the county's many volcanoes, at least five are still active. Watching truck-sized hot rocks tumble down Arcnal Volcano's perfect cone is a sight not soon forgotten, but even the wisps of smoke issuing from Rincon de la Vieja are impressive reminders that the earth's surface is still very much a work in progress. Earthquakes have also played their part in teaching Ticos to respect the "fire down below". The colonial capital of Cartago was destroyed by quakes in 1841 and again 1910. More recently, in 1991 a 7.5 earthquake rocked the Caribbean and South-Central zones, destroying the San Jose and Limon railroad and countless roads and bridges. More gentle quakes are common, and geologists say the frequent tremors serve as relief valves to postpone the next really big one. Quakes have been happing here regularly for all recorded history

The environment is widely varied in Costa Rica. The Central Valley consists of slopes that are ideal for coffee farmers to grow their world famous beans. Coffee is a mainstay of the Ticos both for economic reasons and for personal. The mountains tops are just high enough to have the rare snowfall and are popular for those people who long for more moderate temperatatures than those found in the valleys or coastal regions. In these are can occasionaly be found pine trees and are a great growing area for strawberries. To the south and west of San Jose a dry region of almost desert like conditions can been seen as you pass through some of the hills. Horses are popular here and you will see people trailering their animals back and forth especially on the weekends. To the East and North along the coast is a very wet low lying area known as Torutugero. It is a famous National park area visited by many tourists each year. The wetlands and heavy jungles make this place unique in Costa Rica. Directly to the West along the central coast in the Jaco area is a hot and humid (but less so than the east coast) beach destination. It is extremely popluar amoung both foreign and local tourists and is becoming developed more with each passing day. The multi-million dollar Los Suenos Resort and Marina can be found in this area. Further to the North along the West coast lies the Guanacaste region. Long areas of beach both white and dark sand, beautiful parcels of lightly rolling land, and a somewhat more arid environment. Costa Rica has something for everyone.

FINDING YOUR WAY

For some strange reason, all the addresses are based on a personal geographic understanding of the layout of cities using well known landmarks as the major points of reference. For example in San Jose, 75 8th avenue may be: 200 meters north of the central Toyota dealer, 150 meters west, 300 meters north, and is the green house with a black fence. ( The Toyota being the main Toyota dealersip along Paseo Colon and west of downtown.) Another example would be, 500 south of the Kentucky Fried Chicken, 200 east, yellow house. Each city block is refered to as 100 meters which is wrong far more oftern than right. Every person you ask seems to judge distance differently so if you are confused it is safest to use a Taxi driver to help you find a place. I have done this on many occasions even when driving. I would a person with me to go hail a cab and ask the cab to find the location with me following. Sometimes it is the only way to find anything in the cities of Costa Rica.