Costa Rica is a small Central American Country of 19, 730 square miles, which is bordered by the Pacific Ocean on the West, the Caribbean on the East, Nicaragua to the North, and Panama to the South.

Costa Rica is no more than a day’s journey from anywhere in North America. It is located just 3 hours from Houston or Miami International Airport.

Costa Rica is a gorgeous country which offers beautiful beaches; the majestic Arenal volcano, lush, exotic, fantasy-green rain and cloud forests, and a seemingly never ending range of tropical plant and animal life.

Its strategic position in the heart of the Western Hemisphere, its government’s positive attitude and the quality and cost of labor make it an ideal place both to live and to do business.

Costa Ricans are very proud of their democracy – one of the oldest in Latin America – and peaceful history.

Several political parties exist and over 80 percent of the citizens participate in the political process.

While it is common for one party to replace another in power following general and presidential elections, the transitions are peaceful. Costa Rica has been able to successfully avoid the widespread violence that has plagued most of Central America.

The unit of currency is the colon (CRC), which trades around 503 to the U.S. dollar; currently 756 to the euro.

Costa Rica stands as the most visited nation in Central America region and has a population of 4,133,884 of which 94% are mestizo or white, 3% black, 1% Amerindian, 1% Chinese and 1% other. Costa Ricans, or ‘Ticos’, are happy, friendly and gracious people.

There is little abject poverty and a thriving middle class.

Their national greeting is “Pura Vida!”.