Costa Rica Real Estate by Paradise Brokers

Got questions about the logistics of life in Costa Rica? Here are some facts that will make you feel at
home in your tropical getaway:

1) Where is the nearest medical facility to property owned by Paradise Brokers?
	A new 80,000 square foot medical complex is currently under construction on the Costanera Highway near Cortez. Click here for photos. There is a regional hospital available in San Isidro (1.5 hours away) (011.506.771.0922) that offers medicine, surgery and OB-GYN services. A pharmacy is located in Palmar Norte (approx 20 minutes from the developments)
2) How far away is the closest grocery store to property owned by Paradise Brokers?
	A "MegaSuper" grocery store is located in Palmar Norte. It is approximately 5,000 square feet in size. There are numerous convenience/grocery stores that carry all of the basic necessities throughout the area.
3) What is the distance to the closest city with a population of at least 100,000 people?
	San Isidro del General – 1.5 hours
4) What companies are available to insure my house and auto?
	All insurance in Costa Rica is provided by the government – they have a legal monopoly. Insurance costs on a 2,000 square foot house are approximately $750/yr
5) Where are the nearest churches? How far away are they?
	Costa Rica is predominately a Catholic nation. Churches are located throughout the country.
6) How much does gasoline cost/gallon?
	Most of the vehicles in Costa Rica use diesel instead of gasoline. As of October 2006, a gallon of diesel costs approximately $2.50/gallon.
7) Are there restaurants close to property owned by Paradise Brokers? What are they like? What is the price range? Are you supposed to tip?
	There are numerous restaurants throughout the area offering a wide range of menu items. French, German and Latin fusion are just some of the many options available, as well as New York style pizza, lobster, mahi mahi and other well known . Prices range from a couple of dollars per serving up to $30 serving. A 10% service charge is included on every bill so tipping is not necessary, although it is always appreciated - especially if you plan on visiting again. In general the food is very good and is one of the better kept secrets of the region.
8) Is the water safe to drink? Can I eat the fresh fruit at restaurants and at the roadside stands?
	YES! The water is safe to drink, although bottled water is also widely available. The fruit throughout the Southern Pacific region is safe to eat.
9) What should I bring on my first trip to Costa Rica?
	Regardless of what you have planned for your trip to Costa Rica we recommend that every visitor bring the following: Passport (a MUST to get into the country). Click here for passport information if you are a citizen of the United States. Comfortable walking shoes Hiking boots/footwear to wear on trails Long pants Shorts A hat to protect yourself from the sun Sunblock Insect repellent Swimwear Camera For your first trip to Costa Rica please contact us (see link on left side of web page "Contact Us") for the essential checklist to Costa Rica.
10) What are the roads like?
	The Costanera Highway is the newest highway in the country and is located in the Southern Pacific region. This paved road is in terrific condition and speeds can reach in excess of 60 mph. Roads throughout the country vary from very good to very poor. Most roads in Costa Rica, not including highways, are unpaved and generally speaking, roads are not very good compared to standards in the United States and Western Europe. That is part of the adventure!
11) Where is the nearest golf course?
	There are several developers in the immediate region discussing opening a golf course, however, as of now the nearest golf course is located in Jaco – approximately 3 hours North of Palmar Norte. It is expected that the region will have a golf course operating within the next 5 – 7 years.
12) What air travel is available?
	Flying to Costa Rica There are numerous airlines that offer direct flights to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San Jose, Costa Rica: Continental Airlines Delta Airlines American Airlines Taca The fastest way to visit the land owned by Paradise Brokers is to fly from San Jose to Palmar Sur (PMZ) regional airport which is located between 3 and 20 miles from Paradise Brokers property. The government has announced plans to open another international airport in the region - located within 30 minutes of most property owned by Paradise Brokers. Roundtrip airfare from most U.S. cities ranges from $400 - $600 depending on the day of the week and the month of travel. Flying within Costa Rica There are two regional airlines that fly throughout Costa Rica: Sansa Nature Air Both regional air carriers in Costa Rica fly from San Jose to Palmar Sur (PMZ). Sansa flights in San Jose depart from the regional terminal at Juan Santamaria International Airport. Nature Air flights depart from Pavas. Flights from Nature Air and Sansa run everyday and depart in the morning. Airfare is approximately $150/RT
13) Who is the leader of the country?
	Nobel Peace Prize winner, and previous President, Oscar Arias was elected in February 2006 and began his 5 year term in May 2006.
14) What is the typical Costa Rican like? What is their attitude towards Americans?
	The typical Costa Rican is very friendly and very hard working. They generally work long hours at their occupation and take great pride in cleanliness of their possessions. Historically, the people of the Southern region of Costa Rica were farmers (cattle, rice, bananas, palm oil). The region is now experiencing a change to a service economy due to the increase in tourism and development taking place in the region.
15) Can cell phones be used?
	Cell phone are widely used throughout the country. For your U.S. based cell phone to work in Costa Rica you will either need to use a world phone (Verizon and T-Mobile offer them) or have an unbranded GSM cell phone with an an account in both Costa Rica and the USA. You simply switch the country specific SIM card when you enter either country. There is only one cell phone provider in Costa Rica - ICE. If you use your U.S.A. based phone expect to pay approximately $2.00/minute.
16) Is Costa Rica dangerous?
	Crime in Costa Rica, and specifically, the Southern Pacific region is very low. Life expectancy is 76 years (by way of comaprison, in the United States it is 77 years) The homicide rate for Costa Rica is 6 per 100,000 people. Below is how U.S. cities compare: Washington D.C. 69 Kansas City 18 New York City 17 Columbus, OH 15 Minneapolis, MN 12 Omaha, NE 9 COSTA RICA 6
17) Does Paradise Brokers have any property located near the rainforest or near the Pacific Ocean?
	Paradise Brokers owns property that includes rainforest portions (Amelia’s Estates) and property that is anywhere from 10 – 45 minutes from the ocean.
18) Does Paradise Brokers have any property in the mountains?
	Amelia’s Estates is located at 1,700 f to 3,100 ft above sea level. Serenity Gardens is located at near Ojochal and Pejibaye. Project San Buenas is located between 100 ft and 500 ft above sea level
19) Do I need to speak Spanish to travel to Costa Rica?
	It is not necessary to speak Spanish to naviagate throughout the country. Most locations will have a bilingual employee who can assist you. The Costa Rican people are very friendly and patient and will do their best to understand you if you do not know Spanish. Paradise Brokers has a staff of several employees who are fully bilingual (English and Spanish) and can assist you with your travel plans.