Costa Rican Pure Life

Tourist’s days seldom pass in Costa Rica without someone telling them “pura vida, which means “pure life” the trademark slogan of this country, which is nestled between Panama to the South and Nicaragua to the North.

Costa Rica is a Democratic Republic that gained independence from Spain in the early 19th Century. So named rich coast this nation saves a portion of its public wealth by not having an army, navy or airforce. Costa Rica is considered the Switzerland of the Americas.

As is well known among naturalists, about one-third of Costa Rica is set aside as protected natural habitat. U.S. Quakers seeking to escape the draft in the early 1950’s established the community of Monteverde and contributed to that passive preserve and the conservation ethic found throughout Costa Rica.

Lush tropical vegetation provides habitat to exotic animal species ranging from elusive microscopic ones to the mega-species including jaguars, crocodiles and the Costa Rican signature primate the endangered white-faced monkey. An estimated 20 percent of the earth’s biodiversity resides in the wilds of this country that is merely the size of West Virginia.

The Costa Rican ecotourism boon coupled with cold weather abroad results in a flood of tourists from North America and Europe during the dry season from December through May.

The resident Tico (native resident of Costa Rica) population is a 95 percent mestizo amalgam of European ancestry dating back to Spanish colonization that’s mixed mostly with those who arrived in waves of German, Swiss and Italian immigration. Increasingly notable is the presence of North American real estate and tourism related business operators and retirees. These new immigrants are drawn by the year-round moderate climate, inexpensive healthcare, stable economy, low crime rate, and allowance of 100 percent property ownership without fear of government expropriation. And Costa Rica is only a few hours plane ride from family back home in the states.

Dominical morning surf break

Friendly Steve Fisk took $100,000 with him down the South Pacific shore to Uvita de Osa in 2000 and started the Toucan Hotel (www.toucanhotel.com). After building the business to the point of earning five to six thousand dollars each month he is selling it for nearly $400,000. He plans to pack his backpack and trek further up in the cloud forest to relax with his increasing wealth and a view even better than he had in California before leaving the states.

Though the Costa Rican climate provides moderate temperatures property values there are catching fire. However, bargains can still be had particularly if you purchase directly from a Tico.

Podria llamar a un doctor, por favor? If you need to call a doctor in Costa Rica there are plenty to chose from.

Costa Rica is a popular destination for safe and affordable cosmetic surgery and dental procedures. Who are the best doctors? Which resort should I recover at? How much should I pay? Find such answers among the daily discussions about surgical procedures in Costa Rica at Internet groups such as http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Rosenstock_Lieberman_Clinic_Costa_Rica_Plastic_Surgery. Such procedures are carried out for a fraction of the expense charged at U.S. based facilities. Costa Rica has national healthcare for residents. Plus, expats from elsewhere on the globe can obtain supplemental insurance for about $30 per month.

There is plenty to keep a person busy in Costa Rica aside from the Surgical Safaris and passive nature viewing. World-class sport fishing for sailfish, marlin and tarpon are par for the CR course. White water rafters shoot the rapids that abound among the raging waters sloshing through mountain passes. Twenty percent of the tourism base is made up of surfers. They fly in on surfer-friendly airlines such as Martin Air that charge nothing extra for two surfboards per surfer. Costa Rica has world-renowned left breaking surf at numerous locations on the Caribbean and Pacific coasts.

San Jose, the capital city of Costa Rica is nestled in the mountainous terrain of the Central Valley. Estoy buscando el museo. If you are looking for a museum there is quite a selection of them in San Jose. The pre-Colombian gold collection and artifact displays at the Gold Museum are among the best in Central America. There are numerous other museums worth a visit that one can canvas in a single day.

The spices are nice, but not so hot in Costa Rican dishes as can be had in some other Spanish communities. Traditional dishes include rice prepared numerous ways and with the signature black beans (frijoles) or many other varieties. Chicken (pollo) and seafood are popular including ceviche (marinated raw fish and seafood). Palmitos, the heart of palm served in salad with a vinegar dressing is a delectable treat and your entree supports local farmers that can be seen for example along miles of road between Dominical and Quepos.

Quiere bailar? Do you want to dance? There are many nightclubs throughout the country that cater to locals and their international guests. One can get their proverbial groove on starting in San Jose at the football field sized dance floor of El Tobogan. Then one might wear out that last bit of shoe leather in one of the Pacific coast’s party towns such as Playa de Jaco or Tamarindo Bay. Lounge Lizards abound at numerous venues throughout the country where liberal laws allow legal casino gambling and prostitution. Gracias, pero no quiero mas. Between their legal and the U.S. illegal prostitution both countries have the same 0.6 percent rate of HIV/AIDS according to the CIA Factbook.

U.S. contraband in the form of Castro’s Montecristo cigars abound, but maybe you would prefer Cohiba Esplendidos? Costa Rican cigar shops have affordable prices on some of the world’s finest quality cigars. Marijuana is a misdemeanor even though floating rumors claim that the street corner ganga sales are legit. Cocaine possession is a felony. The government has prevented Costa Rica from becoming a haven for traffickers traveling through from Colombia to the U.S.

The median Costa Rican age is 26 years and their standard of living and education is the best in Central America. Tico’s per person share of GDP is about $10,000 and less than 20 percent of Ticos live below the poverty line. The Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) is expected to provide more benefit to neighboring poverty-wracked nations such as Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador than to Costa Rica. Panamanian income is approximately $7000 per year and Nicaraguans about $2300, which unfortunately creates some tension in Costa Rica between Ticos and Nica (Nicaraguans) immigrants who many believe are economic refugees akin to Mexican immigrants streaming over the border along the Southwestern U.S.

Former Costa Rican President Oscar Arias is running for reelection in 2006 and is a favorite to win. “As President, he intervened against the activities of U.S.-backed Contras on Costa Rican territory,” according to the Nobel Prize Organization. “Although critical of the political system in Nicaragua, Arias has concentrated on engaging Nicaragua and the other Central American states in a peace-making process. In May 1986, he met the Presidents of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua to discuss the proposals for a peaceful solution that had been worked out by the Contadora group. They did not reach full agreement, but early in 1987 Arias succeeded in calling a new meeting at which he submitted his own peace plan, departing in some respects from the Contadora plan. The accord approved by the five Presidents in Guatemala on August 7 was based on President Arias's plan.”

With so much good news about a country one might conclude “por supuesta pura vida.” Absolutely pure life!