Costa Rica Blog

Why is everyone relocating to Costa Rica?

Posted by Steve Linder on Tue, Dec, 29, 2009

Okay I admit it, I'm really busy these days.  I leave tomorrow for Costa Rica to lead our 4 day Discovery tour running December 31 - January 3rd which is immediately followed by our 10 day country and property tour running January 4th - 13th.  In the meantime, International Living did another article about our developments so I've also had to answer hundreds of emails.  I am not complaining.  So here, for the last entry into our blog for 2009, is our UPDATED slide show.  We've worked over the last week to get it finished since our new video is not yet done.  Take a moment to view the show, I think you will enjoy it.  When you are finished, please comment about it via Digg, Delicious or Twitter.  We thank you all for your loyal support this year and hope 2010 is a great one for all of you.

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Tags: Eco Tourism, Real Estate Costa Rica, Economy, Costa Rica Infrastructure, moving to Costa Rica, animals of Costa Rica, Costa Rica

Coffee is King in Costa Rica

Posted by Steve Linder on Mon, Dec, 21, 2009

Economic Activity - What has been the most important factor in the economic activity of Costa Rica is the cultivation of coffee. Although it no longer has the prominence it once held, coffee production surpassed all other crops in importance in 1829 bringing Costa Rica out of poverty. Even though coffee is still an important export, in recent times electronics, pharmaceuticals, software development, and ecotourism have become the prime industries in the economy.

Coffee cultivation was first undertaken on a large scale by a small group of planters shortly after Costa Rica's independence from Spain in 1821.  Earlier, in the first half of the 18th century Costa Rica's trials with coffee were unsuccessful.  Relatively isolated, Costa Rica was on no important trade route nor was it a regular port of call. Furthermore coffee was processed in Chile and shipped to Europe where it was sold as Chilean coffee at prices which seemed exorbitantly high to the Cost Rican planters.  However in 1845 a British ship owner gave them direct access to the English market elevating Costa Rica from the country with the worst economic conditions in Central America to far surpassing the other nations in prosperity.  The British, in fact, were the principal purchasers of Costa Rican coffee until late in World War II.

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Tags: Infrastructure, food and drink, Economy, Costa Rica