Posts tagged Leaps And Bounds
Costa Rica – A Land of Peace
Sep 14th
Whether you want to live, retire, invest, or just relax in Costa Rica, it is a comforting thought for you to live in a safe and peaceful demilitarized country that has been commended by the Dalai Lama, a country that enjoys the greatest political, social, and economic stability in all of Latin America.
Costa Rica enjoys a rich indigenous history, and Costa Rica’s civilization dates back to thousands and thousands of years. Historically, Costa Rica (means rich coast) has enjoyed greater peace and more political stability compared to other Latin American countries. However, back in 1948, Costa Rica endured what was dubbed the bloodiest, most brutal civil war in its history. The 44-day civil war resulted in more than 2000 casualties and was described as the bloodiest event in 20th century Costa Rican history.
The Costa Rican Civil War was triggered by the Costa Rican government’s decision to annul the results of the presidential election of 1948, declaring the election of Otilio Ulate as president a fraud. A rebel army under Commander José Figueres Ferrer rose up against the government of President Teodoro Picado and defeated it. After the victory in the civil war, Costa Rica’s path toward democracy remained unchanged, and José Figueres ruled Costa Rica for eighteen months as head of a military junta before overseeing the new election and stepping aside to whom the Costa Ricans chose as a leader – Otilio Ulate. On December 1st, 1948, José Figueres Ferrer abolished Costa Rica’s army, and 38 years later, in 1986, President Oscar Arias Sánchez declared December 1st the Día de la Abolición del Ejército (Military Abolition Day). Costa Rica was the first country in the world to constitutionally abolish its army, and as a result, Costa Rica, unlike all other countries in Latin America, has not experienced any political violence or civil war since then.
Costa Rica has taken leaps and bounds from being described as “the poorest and most miserable Spanish colony in all Americas” by a Spanish governor in 1719 to a country that declared its independence from Spain in 1821, endured a brutal civil war in 1948, and currently enjoys a great economic stability and ranks 4th among Latin American countries and 48th worldwide in terms of the 2007 Human Development Index, an index that measures human development – including life expectancy, literacy and education, and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita – for countries worldwide.
Costa Rica also ranks 5th worldwide in terms of the 2008 Environmental Performance Index, an index that measures the environmental performance of countries’ policies worldwide, up from the 15th place of two years before. Demonstrating broad and deep environmental awareness, the Costa Rican government unveiled in 2007 a plan that will make Costa Rica the first country in the world to become carbon neutral by 2021.
Costa Rica is a safe and peaceful haven that enjoys a lengthy, uninterrupted democracy that dates back to 1949. During that same year, the abolition of the military was introduced in Article 12 of the Costa Rican Constitution. Costa Rica has no standing army since then, and the budget that was previously dedicated to the military is now dedicated to Costa Rica’s security, education, and culture. In a time of war and political uncertainty in the States and many other European countries, it is very comforting for millions of people all over the world to know they are able to live in a country so peaceful that it doesn’t even need an army.
Costa Rica is now a democratic republic that enjoys a strong system of constitutional checks and balances and an independent judicial system. Since 1949, Costa Rica has held 12 presidential elections, the latest being in 2006, and all of them have been regarded as peaceful and transparent by the international community. The presidential election is held once every four years, on the first Sunday in February, and anybody over eighteen can vote.
Who wouldn’t dream of living in a country so peaceful it takes pride in having more teachers than policemen? In today’s war-torn world, it is very reassuring and comforting to know that we can all retreat to the beautiful, safe sanctuary of Costa Rica.
Cost Rica Rentals – Great Bargains
Dec 27th
Did you ever wonder why so many tourists are drawn to Costa Rica every year? The close association with Nature and the warmth of the people are what bring people here, and if that’s not enough, the low cost of living and cheap rental properties definitely seals the deal!
Whether you are a tourist or a native you can find a rental property that will place you in the very lap of nature. It doesn’t take too much time for people to fall in love with this country. So it’s easy to understand why the rental real estate market in Costa Rica is growing by leaps and bounds each year.
Large Variety Of Rentals
There’s a large variety of properties for rent in CR, from lavish vacation rentals that include facilities like a spa, workout rooms, saunas and more to private lodges in the midst of isolated mountains. If you love the rainforest you can find neat lodges there. You can also find bungalows overlooking the beautiful beaches or the serene lakes.
On the other hand if you prefer an urban style of living you could easily opt for all those apartments and lodges in the main cities of the country. Basically, any type of rental you need is available somewhere in Costa Rica. From magnificent bungalows to humble cabins, from long term accommodation to short term ones and from accommodation in developed and oft frequented places to those in secluded regions.
Rental companies
As already mentioned, there are numerous options at your disposal when it comes to rental properties. However, you may not be in a position to locate the best rental option for yourself. This is when the rental companies can be helpful.
These companies are not the actual real estate agents, but individuals that can help find the perfect property for you in a very systematic way. Whether you are opting for a short stay or the long-term relocation you can find the most appropriate accommodation with their help.
They have researched resources and can therefore save a lot of your time, energy and money. These companies coordinate with real estate firms and owners and always keep an updated stock of properties. However, you need to verify the authenticity of information before venturing out seriously, as with everything in a high demand market, there’s likely to be some fraud.
Vacation rentals
Vacation rental properties are a great choice if you’re here on an extended stay and would like the creature comforts of home. This will give you the kind of freedom and privacy that you cannot get at even the best hotels and resorts.
Your choice of the vacation rental will depend on the way you would like to spend your time. For instance, if you are an ardent surfer you could opt for a rental close to the good surf breaks like Playa Tamarindo and Playa Grande.
Or you could enjoy the conveniences of the city and opt for a rental near the capital, San Jose. Besides all the urban amenities, you can enjoy the cultural aspect like the Jade Museum, Gold Museum and the National Center of Art and Culture.
Beach rentals
The coastal area is a major attraction for tourists as well as natives of Costa Rica, so there’s no shortage of rental choices near the beaches.
At the beaches you can enjoy a few days of solace and tranquility. The comforting sound of the waves breaking on the coast and a secluded walk along the coast can indeed fill you with a relaxing feeling.
Or, if you’re a bit more adventurous, there’s a ton of activities available at your fingertips, like snorkeling, diving, surfing, fishing and other fun water stuff.
Costa Rica rentals – A few types
There are various prominent areas in Costa Rica where you can find good rentals. The areas like the Northern plains, the Central Valley or San Jose, the Northern Pacific Guanacaste region and the Central Pacific Puntarenas region are some of the most popular destinations.
There are several types of rentals that you can find from simple family homes to villas, condos, estates, bungalows, beach houses, cottages, cabins, budget houses and many more.
The rental prices vary tremendously from one region to another and even from one neighborhood to the next. It’s easy to find a studio apartment, nicely furnished near a beach or in the city from only $300 per month and at the other end of the spectrum, you can easily find a luxury home with several bedrooms, bathrooms, pool and other amenities for upwards of $6,000 per week!
Your best bet is to find the rental property once you are here, the choice is much greater than what you will find online and the prices will also be easier to negotiate. The money you spend on a hotel for a couple of days will be worth it.
