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Bella Tierra - Frequently Asked Questions
Here you will find the answers to some of the more frequently
asked questions when buying property in Costa Rica:
Where is Bella Tierra?
Samara is close to a bustling town filled
with tourism. There is also a great real estate market.
We want to be your source for Costa Rica
lots, Costa Rica Oceanview Lots, Costa Rica Property. We have
Costa Rica Properties for sale in a residential
community. Property for you to build custom homes.
What is Costa Rica's Geography like?
The country is divided by a backbone of volcanoes and mountains,
an extension of the Andes-Sierra Madre chain which runs along
the western side of the Americas. Costa Rica has four distinct
cordilleras or mountain ranges - Guanacaste and Tilaran in the
north, Central and Talamanca in the south. Costa Rica is part of
the Pacific "Rim of Fire" and has seven of the isthmus's 42
active volcanoes plus dozens of dormant or extinct cones. Earth
tremors and small quakes shake the country from time to time.
The last major quake hit on April 22, 1991. Centered on the
Caribbean side southeast of San Jose, it measured 7.4 on the
Richter scale. The country's highest point is Mt. Chirripo
(3,797 meters). The capital, San Jose, and the neighboring major
cities of Alajuela and Heredie lies in the middle of the Meseta
Central (Central Valley). Almost two-thirds of the nation's
population live in this small, fertile valley. The Pacific
coastal plain is much narrower than its Caribbean counterpart.
Both coasts are lined with white and black sand beaches. (CentralAmerica.com)
Can You Briefly Describe Costa Rica's Climate?
Costa Rica is a tropical country which contains several distinct
climatic zones. There is no winter or summer as such and most
regions have a rainy season from May to November and a dry
season from December to April. Annual rainfall averages 100
inches nationwide with some mountainous regions getting as much
as 25 feet on exposed eastern slopes. Temperature is more a
matter of elevation than location with a mean of around 72
degrees in the Central Valley, 82 degrees on the Atlantic coast
and 89 degrees on the Pacific coast. (CentralAmerica.com)
Does Costa Rica's Government
Guarantee Equality?
Costa Rica is a democratic republic. Under the 1949
constitution, all citizens are guaranteed equality before the
law, the right to own property, the right of petition and
assembly, freedom of speech and the right of habeas corpus. The
constitution also divides the government into independent
executive, legislative and judicial branches. The executive
branch is composed of the president, two vice presidents and a
cabinet. The legislature is the National Assembly, composed of
57 members (diputados) elected by proportional representation.
National elections are held every four years, on the first
Sunday of February. Under a constitutional amendment enacted in
1969, a president may serve only one four-year term during his
lifetime. Diputados also are elected for four years and may
serve a second term four years after the first ends. The largest
political party is the National Liberation Party (PLN). Its main
rival is the more conservative Social Christian Unity Party (CentralAmerica.com).
What are the Health Issues in Costa Rica?
You are unlikely to encounter any serious diseases in Costa
Rica. Sanitary standards are high and the health system is
excellent. During the past two wet seasons there have been
several outbreaks of the mosquito-borne disease dengue but so
far there have been no reported cases of the more serious
hemorrhaging dengue. No vaccinations are required to enter Costa
Rica as epidemic diseases have been all but eradicated
throughout the country. Infectious hepatitis, a serious problem
throughout Central America, is reported only rarely in Costa Rica.
Several private hospitals in San Jose offer emergency medical
services to foreigners are reasonable prices: Clinica Biblica (avenida
14, calles central & 1, tel. 223-6422) also has a 24-hour
pharmacy. Costa Rica's Social Security system (the Caja) offers
a medical insurance assistance program for foreigners needing
emergency medical assistance. The coverage can be bought at
travel agencies, language schools or through tour companies. (CentralAmerica.com)
What banks are there in Costa Rica?
There are two types of banks in Costa Rica: State or National
Banks and Private Banks. National Banks have some security as
deposits are insured in a very similar way the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation (FDIC) in the USA secures deposits. There
is no deposit insurance on private banks. The local market in
Costa Rica is mostly short-term loans, high interest rates, and
high spreads between deposit lending rates. (VacationCity.com)
Who can I finance through in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica’s banking system consists of the central bank; three
state-owned banks, which account for nearly half of total
banking assets; a state-owned mortgage bank; 18 commercial
banks; four mutual house-building companies; 12 private finance
companies; and 27 savings and loans cooperatives. In addition,
there are 30 investment and retirement funds or trusts run by
both state and private commercial banks and the state insurance
company.
The Central Bank of Costa Rica is in charge of establishing
banking policy. It is then up to the SUGEF (the General
Supervisory Agency of Finance) to enforce compliance with
Central Bank policies. All banks (both public and private) are
subject to the policies dictated by the Banco Central de Costa
Rica. (InfoCostaRica.com)
What is the Language in Costa Rica?
Spanish is the official language of Costa Rica. English is
taught as a second language in Costa Rican schools. Your Caravan
Tour Director, local guides and most hotel receptionists are
bi-lingual, speaking both English and Spanish. (experts123.com)
What Type of Government is There in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica is a democratic republic with a very strong system of
constitutional checks and balances. Executive responsibilities
are vested in a president, who is the country's center of power.
There also are two vice presidents and a 20-plus member cabinet.
The president and 57 Legislative Assembly deputies are elected
for 4-year terms. In April 2003, the Costa Rican Constitutional
Court annulled a 1969 constitutional reform which had barred
presidents from running for reelection. As a result, the law
reverted back to the 1949 Constitution, which permits
ex-presidents to run for reelection after they have been out of
office for two presidential terms, or eight years. Deputies may
run for reelection after sitting out one term, or four years. On
January 1, 2009, the U.S.-Central American-Dominican Republic
Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) entered into force in Costa
Rica.
The electoral process is supervised by an independent Supreme
Electoral Tribunal--a commission of three principal magistrates
and six alternates selected by the Supreme Court of Justice.
Judicial power is exercised by the Supreme Court of Justice,
composed of 22 magistrates selected for renewable 8-year terms
by the Legislative Assembly, and subsidiary courts. A
Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court (Sala IV),
established in 1989, reviews the constitutionality of
legislation and executive decrees and all habeas corpus
warrants. The next national elections will take place in
February 2010.
The offices of the Comptroller General of the Republic, the
Solicitor General, and the Ombudsman exercise oversight of the
government. The Comptroller General's office has a statutory
responsibility to scrutinize all but the smallest public sector
contracts and strictly enforces procedural requirements. Along
with the Sala IV, these institutions are playing an increasingly
prominent role in governing Costa Rica.
There are provincial boundaries for administrative purposes, but
no elected provincial officials. Costa Rica held its first
mayoral elections in December 2002, whereby mayors were elected
to 4-year terms by popular vote through general elections. Prior
to 2002, the office of mayor did not exist, and the president of
each municipal council was responsible for the administration of
his/her municipality. The most recent nationwide mayoral
elections took place in December 2006. Autonomous state agencies
enjoy considerable operational independence; they include the
telecommunications and electrical power monopoly and the state
insurance monopoly (sectors opened to competition by CAFTA-DR),
the state petroleum refinery, the nationalized commercial banks,
and the social security agency. Costa Rica has no military and
maintains only domestic police and security forces. A
professional Coast Guard was established in 2000 (state.gov).
Photo: Samara Jungle
Costa Rica's Coastline
There are so many coastlines in Costa Rica that it goes without
saying that properties with an ocean view are plentiful. Land is
much cheaper in Costa Rica than in other parts of America, so
many people are vying to get their piece of paradise.
THE LOCATION IS AWESOME BECAUSE...
Surrounding Bella Tierra Development Where Land is for Sale, you will
quickly realize how amazing the natural beauty and how diverse recreational
activities are! For instance, Samara Beach offers perfect surfing
conditions, romantic nightlife, sports fishing, diving, reef snorkeling,
swimming, wind surfing, horseback riding, golfing, as well as awesome
restaurants. So, come and enjoy Costa Rica's irresistible white sand beaches
lined with beautiful tropical coconut trees, and consider building a home in
Samara, Costa Rica. If you are interested, please contact Coldwell Banker
Samara and ask for Angelina (contact information is listed in the footer of
each Webpage). |
ENLARGE MAP:
Bella Tierra Map
Samara, Costa Rica
Lots for Sale
FOREIGN RELATIONS
Costa Rica is an active member of the international community
and, in 1993, proclaimed its permanent neutrality. Its record on
the environment and human rights and advocacy of peaceful
settlement of disputes give it a weight in world affairs far
beyond its size. The country lobbied aggressively for the
establishment of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and
became the first nation to recognize the jurisdiction of the
Inter-American Human Rights Court, based in San Jose. In 2007
Costa Rica was elected for the third time to serve as a
non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council
(January 2008-December 2009).
During the tumultuous 1980s, then-President Oscar Arias authored
a regional peace plan that served as the basis for the
Esquipulas Peace Agreement. Arias' efforts earned him the 1987
Nobel Peace Prize. Subsequent agreements, supported by the
United States, led to the Nicaraguan election of 1990 and the
end of civil war in Nicaragua. Costa Rica also hosted several
rounds of negotiations between the Salvadoran Government and the
Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN), aiding El
Salvador's efforts to emerge from civil war and culminating in
that country's 1994 free and fair elections. Costa Rica has been
a strong proponent of regional arms limitation agreements.
President Arias has publicly supported self-determination in
Cuba and expressed concern about eroding democratic institutions
in Venezuela. In 2007 Costa Rica established diplomatic ties
with China, ending nearly 60 years of diplomatic relations with
Taiwan. (state.gov)
U.S.-COSTA RICAN RELATIONS
The United States and Costa Rica have a history of close and
friendly relations based on respect for democratic government,
human freedoms, free trade, and other shared values. The country
generally supports the U.S. in international fora, especially in
the areas of democracy and human rights.
The United States is Costa Rica's most important trading
partner. The U.S. accounts for almost half of Costa Rica's
exports, imports, and tourism, and more than two-thirds of its
foreign investment. The two countries share growing concerns for
the environment and want to preserve Costa Rica's important
tropical resources and prevent environmental degradation. In
2007, the United States reduced Costa Rica's debt in exchange
for protection and conservation of Costa Rican forests through a
debt for nature swap under the auspices of the Tropical Forest
Conservation Act. This is the largest such agreement of its kind
to date.
The United States responded to Costa Rica's economic needs in
the 1980s with significant economic and development assistance
programs. Through provision of more than $1.1 billion in
assistance, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
supported Costa Rican efforts to stabilize its economy and
broaden and accelerate economic growth through policy reforms
and trade liberalization. Assistance initiatives in the 1990s
concentrated on democratic policies, modernizing the
administration of justice, and sustainable development. Once the
country had graduated from most forms of U.S. assistance, the
USAID Mission in Costa Rica closed in 1996. However, USAID
completed a $9 million project in 2000-01 to support refugees of
Hurricane Mitch residing in Costa Rica.
For decades, Peace Corps volunteers have provided technical
assistance in the areas of environmental education, natural
resources, management, small business development, microfinance,
basic business education, urban youth, and community education.
Between 30,000-50,000 private American citizens, including many
retirees, reside in the country and more than 700,000 American
citizens visit Costa Rica annually. A few vexing expropriation
and U.S. citizen investment disputes have hurt Costa Rica's
investment climate and have occasionally produced bilateral
friction.
The U.S.-Costa Rica Maritime Cooperation Agreement, the first of
its kind in Central America, entered into force in late 1999.
The agreement, which facilitates cooperation between the Coast
Guard of Costa Rica and the U.S. Coast Guard, has resulted in a
growing number of narcotics seizures, illegal migrant rescues,
illegal fishing seizures, and search-and-rescue missions.
Bilateral Costa Rican law enforcement cooperation, particularly
against narcotrafficking, has been exemplary. (state.gov) |
