Costa Rica Tourism is back on the rise after a relatively flat 2010. Costa Rica Tourism Board (ICT) reports that total number of visitors is up 7% or 45,000 more visitors in the first quarter of 2011. This is great news for tourism and there are even bigger changes on the horizon. Tourism is Costa Ricas’ number one industry and if the size and scope of many projects and initiatives on the table … [Read more...]
Costa Rica and China Make Another Free Trade Deal
06/07/2011 by 3 Comments
One of the biggest bummers in Costa Rica is their infamous import tax, a horrendous tax that is applied to so-called luxury items, such as boats, vehicles and electronics. A tax that makes these items VERY expensive. Anyone that has tried to import a vehicle knows how a $10,000 vehicle can quickly become a major investment and/or headache. However, this week may have changed that. It is no … [Read more...]
Tipping Now Taxed In Costa Rica’s Restaurants and Bars
05/31/2011 by 4 Comments
A tip (also called a gratuity) has always been a special thanks to a server for good service. Such payments and their size are a matter of social custom and etiquette and usually are around 10% plus of the total bill. Tipping varies among cultures and by service industry. In Costa Rica, those that provide services in restaurants and bars or unskilled labor make less than $2/hr (more like $1/hr … [Read more...]
Apple – ICE – iPhones – Costa Rica’s Newest Monopoly?
05/22/2011 by 3 Comments
Beginning this week the new Apple, iPhone G4 will start selling in Costa Rica. Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) the state’s telephone, and Internet monopoly, officially became the NEW monopoly distributor and exclusive seller for Apple's new iPhone G4s. Retailers who have iPhones for sale in Costa Rica, unless it is an ICE authorized agent, are not authorized by Apple to sell … [Read more...]
IRS Goes After US Income Expats in Costa Rica
05/06/2011 by 2 Comments
Once again the media hammered the public with the new IRS threat, that they are going after US expats that have failed to pay US income taxes! Back in February of 2011 the IRS announced a program for U.S. taxpayers who have overseas accounts, income, or other foreign assets that have not been previously reported and/or taxed. This is called the “2011 Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Initiative,” … [Read more...]
The Future for Guanacaste – Vacation, Invest and Retire
04/26/2011 by 4 Comments
Guanacaste has posted some great numbers in 2011 however things still seem to be slow in talking with many hoteliers, restaurateurs and retailers. Our real estate friends in Guanacaste are positive and things seem to be picking up a bit, but our friends in Atenas are talking about a slump. Their situations were completely reversed a year ago. Many other factors on the table are very positive for … [Read more...]
Online Poker Gambling Seizures – PokerStars, Full Tilt, Absolute Poker
04/17/2011 by 6 Comments
Last Friday (at around 1:30 pm), I got a call from a private investigator in Costa Rica, who said the U.S. Government's FBI just killed Costa Rica today! This is huge news! My friend continued with the outraged about how the FBI put over 4,000 Costa Ricans (we heard reports that this may be up to 20,000) out of work when the online poker world was shaken as the owners of the three largest online … [Read more...]
Taking Professional Photos in Costa Rica – Traveling
04/12/2011 by 3 Comments
Costa Rica offers some of the most stunning imagery for photographers. On the Osa Peninsula, I've swam with sailfish, cavorted with crocodiles, and photographed monkeys, butterflies, and rare birds in the span of a single day! To capture all the incredible things you'll see on camera, you should follow a careful game plan. Here are some essential elements to consider. PLANNING Bring the … [Read more...]
Travelers Checks, Credit & Debit Cards, Cash, Traveling to Costa Rica
03/30/2011 by 2 Comments
One of the questions we get asked all the time, what is the best form of money to take, travelers checks, credit or debit cards, or cash when traveling to Costa Rica? Travelers checks are probably the worse, because in Costa Rica, many establishments don't take them anymore and when you do find one that will, some places have been known to charge a outrageous fee. Banks are still the … [Read more...]
Marketing Your Business in Costa Rica – Articles
03/20/2011 by 6 Comments
There are many ways to market ones Costa Rica business and one of them was to submit articles. There are websites called, article directories (dubbed, Content Farms) that accept numerous articles from numerous authors. A couple of well known places are EzineArticles.com and Buzzle.com. These Content Farms helped send traffic (by your author and/or business link) over to your website. But … [Read more...]
Are Costa Ricans Influenced by Technology? – Tech Poll
03/07/2011 by 1 Comment
A couple of months ago the above question was asked in Yahoo answers, and even if we answered, "yes,” and gave our reason(s), we were totally surprised that one answered, "NO." Our second surprise, it was voted best answer! Hummm ... pretty clear those people had no idea of Costa Rica's technology growth, or probably still think Costa Rica is still a, Third World Country. Five years ago, … [Read more...]
Fast Food in Costa Rica – Junk Food & Poster Child for Ad Pollution
02/09/2011 by 3 Comments
I can not remember when the first US fast food joint opened up in Costa Rica, but when it did, I first thought, "Well, there goes a country." And since that time (I/m thinking around 1982 and a McDonalds) the tiny Central American country has been overrun with American’s fast food joints. Cruising San Jose, and driving the main drag in Jaco, and even in San Jose Airport , I swear nowadays, … [Read more...]
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