Liberia Airport - New Terminal Opens for Increasing Arrivals

February 2, 2012

The fabulous new $41 million dollar International Liberia Airport (LIR) expansion opened on January 12, 2012. Now passengers from around the world enjoy even better access to our spectacular Gulf of Papagayo beaches, which are all located just 15 minutes - 1 hour from Liberia Airport

The expansion is well-timed, since the number of passengers traveling through the Liberia Airport is up significantly over 2010 and 2011. During December 2011, 63,279 passengers traveled in and out of the Liberia airport; 35.5% more than in December 2010 (46,689 passengers), and 56.9% more than in December 2009 (40,338 passengers).

The schedule for Liberia Airport of incoming flights for February/March 2012 shows 84 regularly scheduled flights each week on the following airlines:

Air Berlin

Air Canada

Air Transat

American

CanJet

Continental

Copa

Delta

Frontier

Jazz

Jetairfly

Jet Blue

Sun Country

Sunwing

Taca

United Airlines

US Airways

USA 3000

Why live in Costa Rica?

Discover how to make a dream your reality, live and retire in style by moving and investing in the Magical Paradise of Costa Rica!

Moving and living in Costa Rica is on the rise today. A lot of people are opting for Costa Rica as one of the best places to spend the best years of their life. Costa Rica is an enthralling country located in the isthmus of Central American between the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea. When this country was discovered by Christopher Columbus in the 1500s, he named the country “Costa Rica” which means “rich coast” in English. This is because this lovely country has a rich and vast coastline.

Let’s look at what makes Costa Rica so attractive for expats. A very low rate of crime (no society is crime free), a low cost socialized health care system, inexpensive housing, a wealth of every imaginable activity to stay busy and happy, with a few excellent online English newspapers (top10costarica.com (#1), amcostarica.com, and ticotimes.net), cable and Direct TV with all of the U.S channels, high speed internet, wonderful state of the art malls to go to the latest movies (lucky for us all the movies here are kept in English with Spanish subtitles), buy whatever new cloths you need from brand name chains, all the fast food chains from North America (Pizza Hut, KFC, MacDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, Subway to name a few), state of the art hospitals and cosmetic surgeons, lots of bilingual college students at the bars, great surf for the novice beginner to the veteran surfer (competitions going on yearly), simply put there’s plenty to do. This is the land of unlimited and exciting business opportunities for enterprising a foreigner. Moreover, most people can live on less than $1,500-2,000$ monthly excluding rent. Some live for less and some for more depending on their lifestyles.

When you take into account all of these factors and such intangibles as a more peaceful and laid back way of life – no price is too high to pay for living in a unique tropical paradise like Costa Rica. Housing is only a fraction of the cost and it is in most prime area of Central America not to mention hired help to keep that house tardy is a steal.  A full-time maid costs around $10-20 per day.  Utilities such telephones, electricity and water are much lower than in North America (much, much lower).  Public transportation (taxis) is excellent and very inexpensive, so you don’t really need a car.

Faced with the spiraling cost of living, oppressive taxes and a slew of government regulations in the U.S., people of all ages including baby boomers and entrepreneurs, are searching for an affordable place to reside outside of the United States without sacrificing their current lifestyles. Costa Rica may be the place you are seeking.

You may also form a tax sheltered corporation and write off most of your business expenses. Foreigners are not required to pay taxes on external income. Internet connections average around $25 a month and the service is excellent making it very feasible to do business on a global level.

For those who wish to buy, housing prices can start around $35,000 with financing available.  Beach front property may be purchased but is usually more expensive (depending on the location).

This beautiful little country has the warmth and flavor of Mexico, without the anti-Americanism and fear of expropriations, the physical beauty of Guatemala without a large military presence and climate of fear, the sophistication of Brazil without the abject poverty or violent crime and more winter sunshine than Hawaii of Florida with fewer people.

Combine this political stability and year round spring-like weather in the Central Valley (72 degrees average), the friendly people who actually like Americans and it is easy to see why Costa Rica has become tops on the list of expatriate havens.  There are more Americans living there per capita than any other country outside the U.S.  The country has become very Americanized, so Americans should feel right at home.

IMPORTANT: There are also certain legal aspects that you need to keep in mind while moving to Costa Rica. There are two types of legal status that is given to a foreigner who settles down here depending on their monthly income. One status given is the “pensionado” if the monthly income of the person is a minimum of $600. The status of “rentista” is given to people who can show a monthly income of $1000 each month for the last five years.

Costa Rica satisfies every need of any individual. This country is truly considered paradise on earth and you must see it for yourself. It is worth spending your hard earned money to buy your home in this wonderful land.

Are you starting to plan your retirement and worrying about how the state of the economy will affect your life style after you turn 65? Are you watching your friends make plans to cash in their paper assets, move to a smaller home, and cut down on spending? This is what many people are doing in the face of a recession in the United States right now. But you imagined having a little money to travel, visit Paris maybe, or go on a cruise. Is all of that just a fantasy now?

Well some people have discovered out how to make the dream a reality and retire in style by living and investing in paradise! It all begins with the real estate market. Those who know say the real estate market in Costa Rica is one of the most stable in the world, and prices are easily comparable to US property or lower. You could easily find a beautiful beach house for $250,000 overlooking the ocean. Or buy a piece of land near the beach for $100,000 and build your dream home. Imagine spending your days walking on the beach, a drink on the terrace, watching the sunset, and socializing with your new friendly friends who share the same enthusiasm.

You may think it sounds crazy, that people only go to Costa Rica on vacation, but that’s no longer true. More and more foreigners are living in Costa Rica, especially Europeans, Canadians, Americans and other foreigners. And they are all doing it the same way by investing in property which will only go up in value for years to come, all while living in the sunshine!

The following are just a few examples of the things that make it so easy to live the dream and retire in Costa Rica:

ONLY 2 HOURS AWAY Costa Rica is only 2 hours away from Florida and all the comforts of home. Take a log weekend in Miami and do some shopping, or grab a connector flight to visit your family, and have them come visit often! And be careful who you invite to come visit you, it is so easy to get to Costa Rica that they will certainly come!

ESPANGLISH Maybe not everyone speaks English (unless your in Lemon), but no matter where you are, there is probably someone around who will be able to translate if need be. A large majority of the population can speak at least some English, and most of the private schools are English Immersion, so from a young age many of these kids are bilingual. And hey, why not take some Spanish lessons yourself? Stretch your brain a little and make some friends while you are at it. Please try a great military product if you feel learning a new language is to tuff known as “Rosetta stone”.

COST OF LIVING The cost of living is comparable to the US if not much lower. There are some items which are shockingly inexpensive, while others are what you are used to at home (fast food chains (KFC, MacDonald’s, Burger king), cloths etc). Groceries, restaurants and shopping tend to be what as you are used to, however workers such as a maid or gardener are much less expensive than in the US (labor is cheap all around from mechanics to whatever else you can think of). It truly can be a blessing to have people around to help you with the daily choirs of life.

HEALTH CARE Health Care in Costa Rica is known for its quality and inexpensive price tag. Many of the doctors are trained in the US or Europe, and hospitals are very modern with all the latest equipment and technologies. Not to gossip but Costa Rica is known for its movie star plastic surgery!

MEDICARE Both the Costa Rican government and Medicare and are making it extremely easy for ex-patriots to receive their Medicare cheque in Costa Rica through a network of banks in now offering direct deposit to your Costa Rican bank account.

VISAS & LEGAL ISSUES Do I need a visa, or how does it work? If you are 45 years or older you can apply to be part of a retirement program set up by the Costa Rican government to encourage foreigners to come to Costa Rica. Benefits include tax exemptions and other incentives, but the greatest thing is that you don’t have to pay tax on your retirement income in Costa Rica!

CAN I OWN PROPERTY IN COSTA RICA? In Costa Rica foreigners are in no way penalized when purchasing property. Foreigners have the same rights as a Costa Rican and the law will treat them as an equal. You can also incorporate your own company and purchase the property through your company for additional tax breaks.

OF COURSE THE BEAUTY… The words Cost Rica actually mean Rich Coast, a name Christopher Columbus bestowed on this country overflowing with natural beauty, lush rainforests, mountains, cloud forests, and sandy beaches. Costa Rica is world famous for its diverse natural habitat and beautiful sunsets.

So there you have it, not a bad list of reasons to rent out your house, cash in your paper assets, and retire to a beach house in Costa Rica! There may be a coming recession, but you don’t have to live in it, or let it spoil your long awaited liberation from the rat race.

Playas del Coco Boardwalk Open!

August 11th 2011

Tourists and residents of Playas del Coco Costa Rica are now able to enjoy a leisurely stroll along the pristine beaches on their  very own boardwalk!  The Amor de Temporada (Seasonal Love) boardwalk extends for 420 meters along the sandy beach coast and offers visitors fantastic beachfront views of the surrounding landscape as well as the world famous sunsets seen from Playas del Coco Guanacaste. Resident artisans will be given permanent installations along the boardwalk to promote locally made Costa Rican arts and crafts.

The total investment for The Amor de Temporada boardwalk project in Guanacaste is an estimated $500,000 and is been completed in two stages. Almond, olive and palm trees are already planted for the first stage and an
irrigation and underground lighting system has also been installed. The boardwalk also has small terraces, specially designed lampposts, picnic areas as well as a basketball court and two beach volleyball courts.  A pier which leads out to the Gulf of Papagayo will be built for the second stage of the Amor de Temporada boardwalk project in Playas del Coco.

The Amor de Temporada (Seasonal Love) boardwalk is named after a song composed in 1930 by Guanacastecan  Héctor Zúñiga Rovira, which is about a love story that begins in Playas del Coco Costa Rica

Is Guanacaste medical tourism's next hot spot?

Posted: Friday, May 06, 2011  - By Matt Levin  

At Costa Rica's annual medical tourism congress, businesses emphasized a the soaring potential of the country's northwest province. A $125 million CIMA hospital set to open before the end of this year looks to be the cornerstone of Guanacaste's medical tourism future.     

Medical tourism companies, doctors, hotel managers and tour operators piled into the Hotel Ramada Plaza Herradura for two days, touting Latin America’s medical tourism benefits from the industry’s most popular site, San José.

But on Wednesday, the last day of Costa Rica’s second-annual Medical Travel Summit, organizers opted for a change of scenery. Carloads of attendees headed to the northwestern province of Guanacaste on Tuesday night. There they received a four-hour tour of the Papagayo Peninsula, including Marina Papagayo, an elegant Four Seasons Resort and also a newly constructed CIMA hospital.

“This is an opportunity to involve different areas of Costa Rica in medical tourism,” said Massimo Manzi, executive director of PROMED, a company that promotes medical procedures in Costa Rica. “Until now, the [Central Valley] is just having the benefits of medical tourism because this is where the hospitals are.”

The excursion was an opportunity to promote a growing Guanacaste, which has new medical facilities, an expanding airport and a sprawling 900-hectare retirement community under development, called Sun Ranch. Even as the tour took place, a new luxury hotel, Sol Melia Paradisus Conchal, announced plans to open in Guanacaste in 2013.

The trip helped flaunt Guanacaste’s glossy future to medical tourism leaders. It also showed potential tourists what Guanacaste is not – San José.

Costa Rica’s grubby capital remains the leader for medical tourism in Central America, with its state-of-the-art hospitals and U.S.-trained doctors. But Guanacaste hopes for a share of that market. And for an obvious reason, industry insiders think it’s possible.

“Let’s face it,” said Jerad Portner, marketing director for Sun Ranch. “If you have the choice to go to San José or the choice to do the same exact work by the same top professionals and you’re a 15-minute drive the from the beach, I think it’s a pretty easy decision to make.”

Guanacaste’s medical tourism push highlighted the three-day Medical Travel Summit. The congress hosted more than 40 international speakers, 150 companies and nine countries from North and South America and Thailand.

Dental clinics outnumbered the rest of the booths at the conference. Medical suppliers, plastic surgeons and bariatric doctors also promoted why those looking for cheap, quality medical service should head to Latin America.

In 2009, 30,000 medical tourists visited Costa Rica. Almost all of them received their treatment in San José, and patients recovered through vacation packages that took them around the country. The medical tourism industry brings in $60 million annually to Costa Rica, and the projected figure for 2011 is a hefty $100 million, according to PROMED.

If Guanacaste can become the next medical tourism hotspot, the number will continue to rise. The key to the region’s growth will be a cutting-edge $125 million CIMA hospital opening in the fourth quarter of 2011 (TT, Jan. 29, 2010).

CIMA hospitals are international medical facilities built in underserved parts of the world. Both locals and foreigners are treated at these hospitals. Approximately, 5,000 medical tourists were treated at the San José branch in 2009, Manzi said.

Joseph Barcie, president of CIMA Centralized Services, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, in the U.S., emphasized that a contemporary hospital can help develop a city. He pointed to the current CIMA building in San José, for example.

“When CIMA San José was built, around that entire hospital was nothing but fields and grass,” Barcie said. “Now, 12 years later, Escazú is a hub and they’re still building.”

He imagines the same type of growth in Guanacaste in the next decade. Nearby, in the province’s capital city of Liberia, the Daniel Oduber Airport is adding a new terminal. The airport continues to add direct flights to the United States, making it easier to fly in and arrive at a hospital that’s less than an hour from the beach. Other hospitals also have tentative plans to build in Guanacaste.

One hospital already settled in Liberia is adding a new wing that will serve medical tourists. Ronald Guerrero, administrative manager of Hospital San Rafael Arcángel, said the hospital takes in 90 percent Costa Rican patients. However, the hospital is equipping itself for the influx of tourist that could be coming to the region.

Guerrero has lived in the area for 15 years, and he deemed Guanacaste ready to make a big leap in the tourism market.

“[I lived in Guanacaste] when it was a small place,” Guerrero said. “Well, now it’s a little bit more people, more crowded, more noisy and everything but still a much better place to live and to recover from surgery than San José. A much better place.”

Other businesses are banking on that attitude. The massive Sun Ranch community will include a $35-$40 million Hospital Clínica Bíblica, a $12-$15 million resort and a professionally designed golf course on its property. Portner said Grupo Do It, Sun Ranch’s development company, has not yet begun heavily promoting the property, as they’re waiting for more positive signs from the real estate market. Yet the land has piqued the interest of doctors.

Portner stood in front of an elaborate model of the Sun Ranch property in the Hotel Ramada exhibition room, as he explained that San José doctors have called him to ask about buying office space there. The doctors intend to semi-retire there – practicing medicine part-time and fishing and golfing the rest of the week. If CIMA turns Guanacaste into a medical tourism hub, then dentists and other physicians could see the coastal province as a place to open offices.

Manzi said next year’s Medical Tourism Summit could highlight opportunities in La Fortuna, Manuel Antonio-Quepos and Jacó. But the consensus this year is the next great destination for medical tourism will be in Costa Rica’s northwest.

Said Manzi: “Guanacaste is absolutely ready to be a leader in medical tourism.”

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RIU building second hotel in Guanacaste

August 11 2011

The Spanish Chain of Hotels Riu Hotels and Resorts decided to invest in a second hotel in the North Pacific of the Guanacaste Province, next to the already existing Riu Hotel in Playa Matapalo, this time with the category of Riu Palace, the most luxury of the four types of Riu Hotels. It will also be a 5 stars hotel. The construction started recently and it is planned to open end of 2012 or beginning of 2013. The new hotel will have some differences, it would be 538 rooms in compare to the 701 of the already existing Riu Hotel. Another difference is the architecture and decoration, which Riu Palace characterizes to look like a palace. Also the market of this hotel will focus also on couples looking for a romantic vacation. It is estimated the new hotel will bring jobs to 450 people. In the world their is 19 of these hotels in 7 different countries. Costa Rica will be the third in Latin America with a Riu Palace. Their is 4 in Mexico, 3 in Dominican Republic, also in Aruba, Marruecos, Tunez, Spain and Portugal.

Liberia airport adding new terminal

Posted Wednesday April 13, 2011 - By Debbie Martinez

The airport expansion includes a sports bar, making Daniel Oduber Airport the
first airport in Costa Rica to have a bar inside the structure.