Sorry to say that due to an onset and unexpected bout with what appears like carpal tunnel syndrome I’ll be off the computer for a couple weeks.  This time will allow me to recoup and do even more research into the topics you want most on transiting and investing in Costa Rica. Until then.

Street singer in Alajuela with his colorful banjo.

My name is Christen Adolfi and I investigate every aspect of Costa Rica from cultural issues to investing issues. I don’t like rehashed rumors on the internet and so I seek out primary sources to prove or disprove what’s being said – particularly about investing. So join in as a skeptic explores Costa Rica!

It is my great pleasure to announce the premier edition of the Costa Rican Gateway HD video newsletter! Monday May 2nd it goes out to anyone signed up. The first several newsletters (one per month) will be information regarding the third international airport and its impact on investing. I have exclusive footage of the actual location and proof of whether they have heavy equipment already on location as some people have said. So join up if you haven’t and tell your friends!

UPDATE MONDAY MAY 3rd  - DUE TO A COMPUTER CRASH THE NEWSLETTER WILL GO OUT TOMORROW.

Due to technical difficulties I couldn’t post my Friday video blog until now.

There are many wonderful reasons to buy real estate in Costa Rica. First, foreigners can own land in CR with the same rights and responsibilities and do citizens. It is a beautiful, peace loving, low violent crime, politically stable country. You can drink the water. You can choose any type of climate you could want since there are 14 different micro climates there.

However, buying real estate in Costa Rica has unique difficulties. There are many things to consider:

Are you going to live there year round? (If not who will be watching your property when you are not there?)
Do you have to worry about squatters?
What kind of damage does a tropical climate do to homes & property?
Do I have to worry about hired help stealing things?

I will be introducing you to each of the 7 provinces of Costa Rica in the coming months – the climates, people, safety and many other factors of each. For now I would like to give you some basic information on the Puntarenas province. This is an interview I did in December 2009 with a real estate agent near the Osa Peninsula. He answers some of the most commonly asked questions about real estate – particularly in his area and compares it with the popular Guanacaste province in the North of Costa Rica.

I thought I’d share with you a compilation of the animals I saw on my most recent trip. If you are planning your first trip to Costa Rica, you’re in for a real treat. For nature lovers it is amazing. I kept pulling over to see more animals along side the road – at least in the Osa Peninsula area.

If you’ve already been to Costa Rica, feel free to share Your Story on the Your Stories page which I’m launching soon or as a comment below this post. I’d love to know what was the strangest animal you saw!