Faking Death and a Talking Sloth in Costa Rica

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Dear Reader,

Costa Rica is a hot spot for tourists. It's a beautiful country, packed with exotic wildlife, curling surf breaks, cloud-ringed volcanoes, deserted beaches and cool cloud forests. Many tourists fall in love with Costa Rica when they visit. They don't want to leave.

But one tourist took her love of Costa Rica to extremes. She enjoyed her vacation so much that she faked her own daughter's death to spend an extra week in this eco-paradise. It all back-fired when her employer compared the death certificate she gave them to genuine ones issued in Costa Rica. She got her extended vacation - but she eventually lost her job.

Costa Rica is quick and easy to get to from much of North America, with low-cost fares. So you can visit for short vacations...or for longer stays. When it's winter back home, with short days, gray skies and freezing temperatures, it's warm and sunny on Costa Rica's coasts.

Around 2.2 million tourists visited Costa Rica in 2011. That's an increase of 4% on tourist numbers in 2010. The tourism authority credits the growth in tourist numbers to new flight routes, and new advertising campaigns. One of the most popular campaigns involved a talking sloth.

The talking sloth campaign outlined four reasons why Costa Rica is the world's happiest nation: High biodiversity, two oceans, friendly locals and talking sloths. The talking sloth campaign, which gave away $1 million worth of free trips, boosted Costa Rica's profile with North Americans.

Costa Rica isn't just about tourism though. Large multinationals such as Hewlett Packard and IBM have bases in Costa Rica. And Costa Rica's economic growth hit 4% in 2011. Pineapple exports grew by 8%. Costa Rica is the world's largest exporter of fresh pineapples.

Costa Rica wants to expand its trade with China in 2012, taking advantage of its Free Trade Agreement with China. The country is negotiating free trade agreements with Singapore and South Korea to further expand trade in Asia. It also expects to become a member of APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation).

On the infrastructure front, the new terminal at Liberia (Costa Rica's second international airport) should open this week. Several new flights started to Liberia in 2011, including flights to Berlin, Germany, flights to New York with Jet Blue, and flights to Denver with Frontier Airlines. Panama's Copa will start flights to Liberia in 2012, offering flight connections through Panama to South America.

So it's becoming even easier to travel to Costa Rica. The government also plans a national convention center, with construction slated to start next year, to bring in business travelers.

Of course, you can spend as much time as you like in the world's happiest country if you own a second home here. And if you know where to look, you can find affordable property in Costa Rica.

Colinas de Miramar, a private residential community overlooking the Gulf of Nicoya, is ideally located. It's a great launch point for tours of Costa Rica's coffee country, cloud forests, and the Nicoya peninsula. You can swim and sunbathe on the beaches nearby...sea kayak, sport fish, or dive...perhaps try zip lining or canopy tours.

Colinas de Miramar is set in the Tilaran Mountains, surrounded by nature. Yet it's just over an hour on a new road to San Jose's big-city amenities. So you can enjoy country living, with mountains, beaches and wildlife on your doorstep, close to a capital city.

Until February 15th, you get a 10% discount on lot prices. That lowers the start price for mountain-view lots to $45,000. Ocean-view lots run from $89,100. The lots are a very generous 1.25 acres in size.

And there's a way to see this place for yourself and enjoy three days trying it on for size to decide if it's right for you. All you'll have to pay is your airfare.

Find out more here.

Margaret Summerfield