The Jaco Blog » Travel Tips

More Tourists Prefer Costa Rica Condo Rentals

Editor — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 23:53:02 +0000

Increasingly, Costa Rica condo rentals are preferred over traditional hotels for vacation accommodations. A new study by the Costa Rica tourism board shows that condo rentals are increasing over hotels in tourist towns. With the increase in development of condos in Costa Rica a majority of them are located in prime beachfront locations. As a result tourists are choosing Costa Rica condo rentals for their vacations. This is good news for many Costa Rica condo investors who purchase for example, Jaco condos, so they can earn rental revenue to offset their mortgage payments or return on investment(ROI.) The expected ROI promised during pre-sales presentations has fallen short at some of the largest Jaco developers. This is music to the ears of those developers who have not been able to produce the expected rental revenues as promised.

Tourism and Costa Rica Condo Rentals

A few weeks ago, the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT) released a quarterly report that showed a 7% increase in tourism from the same first three months during the previous year and that Costa Rica condo rentals were on the rise as the chosen vacation accommodation. This is not a surprise to many real estate offices who in turn often get involved in Costa Rica vacation rentals as a service to their clients who have purchased beachfront condos or homes and have seen the upward trend of Costa Rica condo rentals. The rising inventory of luxury Costa Rica condo rentals in Jaco is putting pressure on typical hotels to compete. As a result, Jaco Beach hotels have turned to national tourism as a replacement of lost income due to condo rental increases.

Increase in Costa Rica condo rentals

ICT was relieved to show increase in international arrivals as pressure has been fierce on the national promotional entity to reverse the downward trend due to economic conditions worldwide. In comparison to other vacation destinations, Costa Rica vacation arrivals increased to 7.8% whereas the average for others was 5%.

Of the 685,959 international tourists that arriving in Costa Rica in the first three months of the year, of which 54.2% were from the United States. As the numbers have show a majority of the arrivals chose Costa Rica condo rentals as their vacation accommodations. Insiders link this Costa Rica condo rentals rise to greater inventory and aggressive pricing along with the maturing of the vacation condo rental business.

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Six Costa Rican Vacation Mistakes

Editor — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 07:31:56 +0000

When you embark on your Costa Rican dream vacation, there are some simple do’s and don’ts. Here is a small list of don’ts we thought was worthy of posting.

1. Driving – If you can avoid driving, it is best. It’s expensive, somewhat risky and time consuming. Better to fly and if necessary, rent a car once you’ve reached your destination. Many hazards exist that foreigners cannot predict and there is a culture of driving here that is very different from the carefully cultivated autopistas back home.

2. Believing Travel Forums - There are many sites, but don’t take one site or posters comments’ as the gospel. The majority of poster’s have never actually visited Costa Rica. There’s always one guy who hates ice cream and chocolate. Contact local hotels and ask them questions, many will give you straight and honest answers. For example, DayStar Properties, fields calls from potential guests who are asking basic travel questions. While many hotels will see this as a nuisance, many guests appreciate DayStar’s clerks help and often book with them as a result of their help.

3. Not exploring – Costa Rica is a country of rich and diverse landscapes, climates and wildlife. To sit in one location, in one hotel or resort, for an entire vacation would prevent you from experiencing this diversity. A great Costa Rican vacation is a balance between adventure and relaxation, in other words, between the beach and the rain forest.

4. No Pre-Booking A Few Tours – The best tours in Costa Rica often sell out, so it’s best to plan and pay for one or two tours in advance. Once you get here, it will be very easy to convince yourself to not get up at 7 a.m. for a rafting tour unless you’ve already pre-paid for it. Some of the best Costa Rican vacation experiences are the Canopy, Rafting, Rapelling and Sailing tours. Your local tour guides or front desk clerks are also great resources of information regarding how to spend your free time.

5. Not Packing The Right Stuff – Understand the season’s here and the different climates in Costa Rica. The central valley is often chilly and wearing long pants is customary. The higher elevations like Chirripo Park can be downright cold! The beach towns are always hot even when you see locals wearing sweaters. It is best to ask your hotel managers for suggestions of clothing to pack. If coming during green season, a rain jacket or poncho is a must. If you need special hypoallergenic sunscreen lotions, pack them along, you will only find the basic variety here. These simple suggestions help you avoid what many have experienced and that is the new airlines baggage wieght restrictions, so if you overpack you can be sure you will suffer a hit to the wallet.

6. Assuming All-Inclusive Is Better - Maybe in Domincan Republic or Mexico, but not here. Costa Rica is blessed because 80% of the hotels have 30 rooms or less. That is one of the major factors that makes Costa Rica one of the most sustainable, authentic destinations on earth. Coming all the way here just to stay in one of the few mega-resorts is a mistake, you could go to Mexico. Costa Rica is a country that is to be experienced and explored. You cannot do that behind the moat and draw bridge of all inclusive resorts. This country is far safer than Mexico or Jamaica, so staying behind the guarded walls of a disney-style resort just isn’t necessary. If you’re of the impression that you’ll save money at an all-inclusive, this is not the case most are very expensive. Dining out in the popular tourism towns of Costa Rica is reasonable and if you’re willing to explore “tico sodas”, they are cheap.

This article was edited and partially based on a posting from Costa Rica Pages.

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Costa Rica Medical Tourism

Editor — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 19:30:40 +0000

For many years Costa Rica Medical Tourism has demonstrated itself to be one of the top tourist destinations all over the world. The country is considered a mecca for nature tourists, with great diversity in wild animals and natural sites that made Costa Rica an excellent place for vacation. While more and more tourists come to the country because of its beautiful vistas and scenery, more and more are coming for Costa Rica medical tourism. In fact, a 1991 survey conducted by the University of Costa Rica concluded that 14.25% of all the visits for Costa Rica medical tourism come to search for medical procedures mostly in the form of dental crowns and dental implants surgery.

Costa Rica Medical Tourism – Dental Implants

Dental implants in Costa Rica is very popular for USA travelers that want to undergo inexpensive cosmetic dentistry. Dentists in Costa Rica are fully educated and certified by a national medical association. All are experienced in the latest and most advanced cosmetic surgery and non-surgical processes requireded for the patients medical procedure. Patients who plan to undergo affordable elective dentistry or other dental procedures in Costa Rica must investigate and consult the Costa Rica Plastic Surgery Board to verify the reliability of the practioner in Costa Rica that will perform their medical procedures. The association has listings of legal physicians for the patients verification.

Costa Rica Medical Tourism – Dental Implants Recovery

A normal scenario for Costa Rica medical tourism is to travel down to Costa Rica and stay in the country at least one week to receive their dental implant surgery, then recuperation and then travel the country. Usually, patients stay , for 7-10 days, enough time to for recovery while enjoying leisure and relaxing trips. Many times the first days are spent sightseeing, followed by the planned affordable dentistry in Costa Rica and then some more sightseeing during the dental implant recovery phase. High quality dentistry in Costa Rica can save recipients more than 50% of the original cost if taken in the U.S. or Canada. Currently a full row of dental implants costs in the U.S. approaches $8,000 while in Costa Rica, the same procedure with same outcome runs about $2750. Click here for information about Costa Rica dental implants.

Check back for more articles about Costa Rica medical tourism here in Costa Rica on The Jaco Blog

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Calling to and from Costa Rica

Editor — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 01:13:48 +0000

When calling Costa Rica from outside the country you must use the country-code which is 011. Because the United States and Canada use a country code 001 many people get confused about calling to and from Costa Rica.

Just be sure about this. If you are calling Costa Rica you must add the country code 011. If you are INSIDE Costa Rica and calling the United States or Canada, you must dial 001 and then your normal long distance number.

The area code for Costa Rica is 506 for the entire country but in 2008 ICE added an additional number to the exchange to prevent adding a new area code within the country. This means if you are calling a landline in Costa Rica, you must always add a 2 whether you are inside or outside the country. When calling a cellular phone, you must add an 8 in front of the exchange. This is only important if you are using an old directory for calling a person or business. Nowadays most people advertise and publish their telephone numbers with the correct numerical addition.

When inside the country, you do not need to dial the area code like back home since the whole country is on the same code but calling across the country does result in toll charges or additional costs, so do not be fooled by the lack of dialing a area code.

ICE sells calling cards labeled 197 or 199 calling cards. They are issued in various denominations but the 199 is dedicated for international calling and has different languages to help when calling. The 197 can be used to call international but is mainly sold for use inside Costa Rica. It is a good idea to have both and they are not costly. A 197 card can be brought for 1000 colones and will last a long time when used for in country calls. Calling cells phones in Costa Rica whether from outside or inside costs more per minute so be aware of that when using the 197 cards.

The typical calling set up looks like this when calling Costa Rica:

International code (011)+ Costa Rica code (506) + eight digit phone number

example for landline: 011 + 506 + 2643-5555

example for cellphone: 011 + 506 + 8319-5555

Since Costa Rica uses the same exchange system as most developed countrys you need begin a call on a private line by dialing the country code + your destinations regular long distance number. For example to call Chicago from Costa Rica on a private line, you would dial 001-312-555-1234

When you are using a ICE calling card, follow the direction on the back of the card to access international lines then the above example applies.

If you have questions or need help with calls inside Costa Rica, you can send us a email by using our contact form

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Links of Interest

Editor — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 07:27:42 +0000

Travelling with your pets to Costa Rica

Editor — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 02:10:33 +0000

There is MUCH confusion in the past couple of weeks on pets going into Costa Rica and worry that there is a new law in place because pets are being sent to the cargo warehouse rather than being cleared through the passenger terminal.

There is not a new law. This is an old law that the government is now enforcing on pets coming in on their own ticket or airway bill. The customs officials at the airport were not aware that Continental pets were not coming in as excess baggage until a very important woman (wife of someone high up in the government)threw her weight around on the 18th of April and flashed her airway bill at the customs officials demanding her pets.
This upset the customs officials and brought to their attention the fact that Continental was allowing pets to come through the passenger terminal with an airway bill when they should go directly to the cargo facility like all other pets arriving as manifest cargo with their own tickets.

Several meetings took place over the following days and the result of these meetings were that for now, only Continental would be affected by this ruling since all of the other airlines were already following this protocol. All pets arriving on Continental as quickpak on their own ticket (airway bill) will go directly to the cargo facility rather than be released in the passenger terminal as previously allowed.

Now you must acquire an import permit prior to arrival in order for your pet to be released when you arrive. This should be applied for at least 4 days prior to your arrival in Costa Rica through a broker so that your pet does not sit in the customs warehouse for many unnecessary hours unattended.

There will be taxes and customs duties charged as well as fees charged now that were never charged before as a result of the pets coming in through the cargo warehouse. The tax rate is 24.30% of the adjusted value. Pets are automatically insured at $50.00 above the amount shown on the AWB. Value is set at $50-$60 above the amount shown on the AWB and the taxes and costs are based on this amount.

You still must have a current rabies under one year and vaccinations (for a cat FVRCP, for a dog DHLPP) current within one year. Tick and tapeworm treatment prior to arrival as well. All of this must be documented on the APHIS 7001 International Health Certificate and it must be endorsed by the USDA within 10 days of arrival in Costa Rica.

I hope this information helps clear up some of the confusion that is out there about what is now necessary to bring your dog or cat into Costa Rica.

Originally posted here

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Continental Airlines increases routes to Costa Rica

The Great Escape – Jaco Costa Rica

Editor — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:54:21 +0000

There is no denying that Costa Rica is a great escape from work, stress, cold weather, you name it, but now we are starting to see many clients looking to escape something different.

Frustrated and fed up with U.S. domestic politics and agenda, we have seen the majority of our buyers looking at Costa Rica real estate as an alternative to living in the U.S. As an escape from the high taxes in the US, Costa Rica is fast becoming a business hub for corporations and the self employed. Multi-national corporations are opening up plants here because of the educated work force and the governments willingness to help provide tax relief. The government has the same attitude towards the self-employed which makes Costa Rica an ideal location to relocate.

As a result, more and more people are quickly discovering that with modern technology they can completely move their businesses to Costa Rica, keep all the comforts of their U.S. lifestyle and most importantly pay much less in both taxes: business tax and personal tax.

In addition, Costa Rica is a very short plane ride from the US, in fact it takes less time to fly from Boston to Costa Rica than it would take to L.A. With the certainty that taxes in the states will continue to rise, the tranisition costs associated with such a move are becoming affordable in lieu operating and living in the US.

If you are serious about exploring the tax benefits in Costa Rica property just give us a call and we would be happy to put you in touch with an accountant that can assist you more, once you are ready to make the move Coldwell Banker Jaco will be happy to help you find the right property, make the move, and join the party in Costa Rica!

Costa Rica tourism sector continues to grow

Editor — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 23:59:50 +0000

The Star Flyer ship, which is characterized by offering traditional sailing to its clients, will start travelling to Costa Rica in 2010. The trips will begin in the country as part of the operations of the Star Clippers Company.

The vessel offers spacious cabins and its decorated with old engravings and pictures of other ships. It is 115 meters long and has a traditional style with the deluxe amenities and the capacity to host 170 passengers.

Costa Rica is an interesting destination for the Spanish market and it is expected that the new route will be popular among those who love cruise travel. The cruise runs along the eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, and French Polynesia.

In two years, Star Clippers also wants to incorporate a new ship into the fleet. Currently besides the Star Flyer, the company has the Royal Clipper, which has capacity for 227 passengers in its 134 meters by 1800m2 deck.

Costa Rica is increasingly being added by international travel companies seeking to appease its client’s worldly desires. While Costa Rica is known for its “green” stance on global issues, many tourists flock to Costa Rica to see the last vestiges of wildlife in a democratic society. Security is an important point with travel companies because they want to focus on conducting tours not on security.

Many companies offer safari tours in Africa but a large percentage of the planning is security for its clients. Without a doubt, Africa offers greater variety of wild animals to be viewed by the public but its security problems hampers its growth. Costa Rica being a stable country in the central American isthmus has practiced democracy for the past 60 years and it tourism sectors recognizes this advantage over other destinations.

Where to Travel When in Costa Rica

Editor — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 10:52:38 +0000

Use this guide to make sure you get what you expect from your Costa Rica vacation.

The ecology of Costa Rica isn’t the only thing that’s diverse — so are the travel options: from the Caribbean to the Pacific, cloud forests in the mountain and white sand beaches on the coast, the list of activities to enjoy and places to visit is just about endless as well!

To help narrow down the options, here are top recommendations on where to go month by month:

	Central & South Pacific: whale watching, #1 fishing season (through March) & great weather Playa Grande, Guanacaste: Leatherback turtles, Surf season starts in region Poas Volcano: Great viewing Caribbean: Surfing
	Entire Pacific: Whale watching Central & South Pacific: Fishing season Playa Grande, Guanacaste: Leatherback turtles, surfing Cartago: Orchids blooming Caribbean: Surfing
	Entire Pacific: Whale Watching, surfing Central & Southern Pacific: Fishing Season Cartago: Orchids blooming Monteverde: Quetzals nesting Caribbean: Surfing
	Monteverde: Quetzals nesting and huge butterfly migrations Osa Peninsula: Best weather Guanacaste: Surfing Everywhere: Low season prices after April 15
	Guanacaste: Best diving in May (not too windy or too rainy) Everywhere: Spring bird migration lots of species Central & South Pacific: Best surf (through to November)
	Guanacaste: mix of rain and sun, means the coast gets a lot prettier (greener) Everywhere: Off season rates, lots of sun Central & South Pacific: Surfing
	Everywhere: Little summer means great weather throughout the country Tortuguero: Turtles nesting Central & South Pacific: Surfing
	Tortuguero: Turtles nesting Entire Caribbean: great weather in the Caribbean Arenal: good weather and great for viewing volcano Northern Pacific: Best month for fishing (sailfish, roosterfish, marlin, wahoo, snapper) San Jose: Peak rafting season begins on the Pacuare river (tours depart San Jose) Central & South Pacific: Surfing
	Entire Caribbean: Lovely weather, turtles nesting, end of month baby turtles hatching, also peak of fishing season for Tarpoon and Snook Arenal: Good weather and great for viewing volcano San Jose: Great rapids for white water rafting the Pacuare River Central & South Pacific: Surfing
	Tortuguero: Baby turtles hatching Entire Caribbean: HUGE Raptor migration on the coast, great weather Arenal: Great for viewing volcano Ostional: Olive Ridley turtles nest during new moon Everywhere ELSE: Lots of rain
	Everywhere: Low season prices, less visitors to National Parks means more wildlife to see Pacific & Central Valley: weather starting to improve (less rain), good rafting conditions Caribbean: Surf season starts (through March)
	San Jose – Lots of Christmas-related fiestas and celebrations Everywhere – High season means lots of visitors, great weather everywhere Guanacaste – Best surf season starts (through April) Caribbean: Surfing

Original Source

A Trip to Costa Rica is Good for your Health

Editor — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 10:44:51 +0000

Whether you visit a yoga retreat, try a surf camp or just get some much needed R&R on the beach, Costa Rica is an excellent heart-healthy destination for your next vacation.

With zero trans fat and a wealth of free vitamin D, a trip to Costa Rica might just be what the doctor ordered to get you in a healthy state of mind and body. According to Conde Naste Traveler’s September 2009 article “Your Next Vacation Could Save Your Life”, denying yourself vacation can lead to negative changes in your health and wellbeing.

Even the anticipation of going on vacation helps people to de-stress and improve their emotional health. While on vacation, travelers tend to get more sleep, try a broader range of foods, get out in the sun more and perform an increased amount of physical activity.

According to a 16-year study published by the State University of New York, Oswego in 2000, male patients at risk of heart disease who did not take an annual vacation had a 30 percent greater chance of dying from a heart attack than those who did.

Of course certain vacation habits like excessive drinking, self-inflicted sun poisoning, or spreading your time so thin you end up with no sleep or energy, are not exactly ideal when you’re in need of a recharge. It is important that you choose your destination and activities well and don’t forget to schedule in plenty of down time to relax.

So does Costa Rica fit the ticket for the perfect rejuvenating getaway? Taking the following points into consideration, the country might just be the perfect cure for depression, heart problems, obesity and more! It sure beats going to the gym…

1. World Class Spas & Yoga Retreats — From Arenal’s natural volcanic mud treatments to ocean front massage opportunities on the Nicoya Peninsula and yoga retreats paired with surf schools in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica is a health nut’s paradise. From the exotic to the tried and true, you are never too far from pure relaxation while traveling around the country. Sample Tabacon’s ayurvedic cuisine or a hot stone massage at Reserva Conchal and say goodbye to unwanted toxins and bad vibes.

2. A Jet Setter’s Dream — Costa Rica is less than 3 hours flying from main U.S. hubs like Miami and Dallas and direct flights leave from most of the major cities including Denver, Chicago, New York, Washington D.C., Orlando, Boston and more. That means instead of spending your first day dreary-eyed and jet-lagged, you can head straight to the beach or on a tour.

3.Sunshine – We weren’t joking about that vitamin C. As Brits will attest, a little bit of sun goes a long way! Let your body store up on this essential vitamin while you work on your jealousy-inspiring tan. There are worse ways to care for your health — just don’t forget the suntan lotion!

4. Fresh Air — Most visitors are shocked when they first witness the endless plots of undeveloped land that anchor this tiny eco-conscience nation. More than 25% of it is actually government protected in national parks and wildlife reserves, while so many more acres remain untouched. Be it a cool Guanacaste evening or a night of start watching on the Caribbean coast, you can’t help but breath deep and enjoy a heightened feeling of purity and freshness.

5. Fresh Food — The fruit salad you order here didn’t spend 3 weeks frozen in a cargo container before reaching your supermarket shelves. Costa Rica is known for its fresh produce which includes avocados, mangos, papaya, coffee, bananas and more. Local coastal cuisine is also infused with fresh seafood, while protein-rich black beans are a staple throughout the country.

6. Natural Thermal Hot Springs — The prevalence of active volcanoes in Costa Rica has brought with it naturally heated rivers throughout the center of the country. Imagine taking a dip in a natural river or one of the many landscaped hot springs properties. You can feel your worries melt away as the warm water and steam open your pores and relax your muscles. No wonder they are fabled to have healing powers according to local lore.

7. Adventure Sports – Depending on your level of fitness, a trip to Costa Rica doesn’t have to be just lounging around dining on fresh fruits — the dynamic landscapes and plentiful coastline have given way to a wide availability of adventure sports as well. Try your hand at surfing in Tamarindo, ocean or river kayaking, white water rafting down the Pacuare or even kite surfing on Lake Arenal. Even a refreshing hike to see exotic wildlife or a stroll down the beach may be an improvement on your regular home exercise regime!

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The Jaco Blog » Travel Tips

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