costaricalearn.com blog: June 2014

Monday, June 30, 2014

Costa Rica Learn

Problems with Buying Real Estate in Costa Rica

Posted: 29 Jun 2014 09:12 PM PDT

This is a testimonial from Jean McNight
I wouldn’t recommend buying land in Costa Rica unless it is already developed and has infrastructure. I bought 2 pieces of property in different places in 2006. The developer abandoned both properties. One of the properties was taken over by a Mafiosa guy who burned down the caretaker’s house an locked up the access road. The other piece of property is trying to be developed by an owner’s group but the government is dragging their feet with a well drilling permit. Apparently a neighboring property has waited 5 years so far. Real Estate in CR and all the associated legal business is a cottage industry. There is no incentive to resolve ownership or development issues. You just keep paying the taxes and attorney’s fees until you decide to give up, and they sell the property again to some other fool.

I have written several post related to buying property in Costa Rica. And the main thing I emphasize is absentee ownership. Even if you property is “managed by someone”

You should NOT leave your property unattended unless you have someone living on it–someone that you know and trust.

And as Mr. McNight states raw land that is not yet developed–well that is a No, No.

Land and home prices in Costa Rica are highly speculative..making it difficult to determine the “market price for a property” There are no multiple listing like we have in USA to help investigate the going market price for property. And real estate sale persons are not licensed by the government.

Please read this: http://costaricalearn.com/learn-your-lesson-problems-with-buying-real-estate-in-costa-rica

Poas Volcano in the Central Valley Costa Rica- Big Tourist Attraction

Posted: 29 Jun 2014 09:00 PM PDT

The Poas Volcano is putting on a show. Here are some photos of it’s recent activity. This activity is not severe enough to cause any harm to tourist who come to view the beautiful geyser.

If you are vacationing in Costa Rica and want a wonderful day outing in the central valley, then take a tour to the Poas Volcano National Park. It is only thirty five minutes from Alajuela. The walk from your vehicle to the crater is around 10 minutes and the eco system is gorgeous with dozens of huge “poor man umbrella” plants along your path. There are two hiking trails within the park. One takes forty five minutes and leads you up to the picturesque old crater lake. The other path gives you a brisk hike through a dense rainforest and this one takes thirty minutes. Be sure to stop at the park coffee shop for a delicious cup of Costa Rican coffee. Also there is a small natural history museum of the volcano and its surroundings.

On the way back down from the National park stop at one of several “Tico” Restaurants for a delicious typical Costa Rican lunch . My favorite is Freda Fressa-a family owned small restaurant which serves very typical food such as rice and black beans with grilled chicken, fried plantains, tortillas, and cabbage slaw. Natural fruit drinks are also their specialty. My favorite is Papaya in milk made into a smoothie.

If you would like to arrange a day outing to the Poas Volcano National Park, contact Ann, The Costa Rica Expert. www.costaricalearn.com

vocano062614 290x300 Poas Volcano in the Central Valley Costa Rica Big Tourist Attraction

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Costa Rica Learn

Vacation in Costa Rica Plus Cheap and Excellent Dental Work

Posted: 17 May 2014 06:13 PM PDT

I just came back from spending two weeks in Costa Rica. My name is Denise Simms. I went primarily for extensive dental work which cost me one fourth of the estimate I got here in southern Florida. I was very very pleased with the results and with the dentist and her staff who were friendly, courteous, and professional.

I stayed at Xinia’s Costa Rica Vacation Homestay located 4 miles north of Alajuela in the Central Valley 6 miles from San Jose’s International airport. I learned about it through Ann Cabezas Creed www.costaricalearn.com

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Costa Rica Learn

It’s A Long Way from Abbeville, Alabama-USA to Gautusa, Costa Rica

Posted: 16 Jun 2014 05:49 PM PDT

It's a Long Way from Abbeville, Alabama, USA to Gautuso, Costa Rica

It was the first week of June and very hot. We traveled in a northeasterly direction out of the shadow of the mighty Arenal Volcano. Our destination was the small rural farming community of Guatuso in northern Costa Rica. The original inhabitants of this area were the Maleku. Today only six hundred and fifty of them remain making their living by hand carving wood in different shapes of animals, birds, and flowers and then hand painting them in very bright colors. These beautiful works of art are sold to tourist who come to hike the trail along the Blue River.
Yes, the River really is blue taking its color from the minerals in the water. The river has its birth place deep underground the Tenorio Volcano.

I along with my friend Paulette came to visit the Tujankir School located at the end of a long winding dirt road ten miles outside the small village of Guatuso. Here sixty kindergarten and grammar school students from the surrounding area attend along with four teachers. The student body is a mix of Costa Ricans, Nicaraguan immigrants, and Maleku Indians. Our mission was to deliver seventeen soccer uniforms and four soccer balls donated by the Abbeville United Methodist Church in Abbeville, Alabama. Also we delivered school supplies – card games, color crayons, writing paper, legos, and pencils and pens.

Dressed in their new uniforms the boys and also the girls eyes lighted up with great enthusiasm as they began to play a game of soccer. And we cheered from the sidelines.

Afterwards we were invited to a delicious lunch at the Tujankir School prepared by a young Costa Rican woman who welcomed us with a big smile.

The school was recently built, only one year before and painted a bright blue color. Bright sunlight filtered through large windows and into the classrooms. Children sat at wooden desk and used notebooks to copy lessons as the teacher spoke. They had no books.

Friday, June 13, 2014

Costa Rica Learn

Rainforest-Costa Rica’s Greatest Treasure

Posted: 12 Jun 2014 06:52 PM PDT

Joyce Kilmer. 1886–1918

TREES

I THINK that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

COSTA RICA’S RAINFOREST

Twenty per cent of Costa Rica’s land mass is protected by national parks or wildlife preserves.