Costa Rica Today

25 Important Facts

1. #1 Choice for Hollywood celebrities to vacation.
2. 12 Championship 18 Hole Golf Courses.
3. 24 Hour Nightlife and 100's of Casinos.
4. Any foreigner can own property and / or a corporation without being a resident; passport is the only document required.
5. Canadian and U.S. Citizens do not require a VISA to enter Costa Rica.
6. Country of choice for all fortune 500 hi-tech head offices in Latin America i.e. HP, INTEL, Digital Solutions, CISCO Systems.
7. Current Prime Minister, Oscar Arias, won the Nobel Peace Price.
8. English is the unofficial second language and widely spoken.
9. Government banks in Costa Rica (Banco de Costa Rica, Banco Nacional & Bancredito) guarantee 100% of all deposits regardless of the amount.. Unlike CDIC or FDIC, which only guarantees up to a MAXIMUM of $100,000 CAD.
10. Highly skilled workforce comparable to countries like Canada, Germany and Great Britain.
11. Largest population of U.S. residents outside the U.S.
12. Longest standing democracy in Latin America.
13. Minimum wage for English speaking employee is $10 US / hour.
14. No Hurricanes. Below the hurricane belt.
15. No personal income tax. Excellent corporate tax incentives for relocation or opening satellite offices.
16. One of only three countries in the world with no military.
17. One of the safest countries in the world for the gay and lesbian communities offering over 32 gay and lesbian friendly hotels and resorts.
18. On-line gaming capital of the world employing over 20,000 people and earning over $10 BILLION US per annum.
19. Return on Investment for Guaranteed Investment Certificates or "Low Risk" investments are two to three times maximum rates offered in Canada.
20. The best climate in the world (National Geographic).
21. The highest literacy rate in the Western Hemisphere.
22. The highest percentage of geographical area as Preserved National Parks in the world.
23. The highest standard of living in Latin America.
24. The safest country in the Western Hemisphere.
25. Universal health care system comparable to the quality found in Canada.