What Makes Costa Rica So Special?

By Kevin Champagne – kevin@osatropicalproperties.com

Many people ask me, “what makes Costa Rica so special or unique that made you want to live here?” 

I instantly know that these people are curious because they are thinking about making that shift in their lives, too.

Theoretically, Costa Rica is a tropical nation like many others all over the world. But there is a feeling about my adopted country that those who visit come to know and it’s almost indescribable. As a real estate broker in the South Pacific region of Costa Rica, I see people with the pura vida twinkle in their eyes and a desire to keep those feelings going.  People visit Costa Rica expecting a vacation like they’ve had in many other places before.  Instead, they unexpectedly fall in love and find themselves questioning their life path. They had no idea that there was any place like this in the world and now they want more.  So what does this feel like? Here are a few of the things that I know, from many years of experience, that make Costa Rica stand out from the crowd. 

​The environment. The most outstanding quality that most people think of when they think Costa Rica is the biodiversity. Costa Rica only accounts for around 0.03% of the world’s total landmass but almost 5% of the total biodiversity on the planet. That makes this small country one of the most densely packed with unique wildlife and plant life.  As soon as you leave the capital city, you will see spectacularly colorful beings like the scarlet macaw or the electric blue morpho butterfly.  Or you might see some more intimidating species like a jaguarundi or a coral snake.  And the reason why you can see them so prevalently is because their habitats are protected in Costa Rica.  Over 25% of this country’s land and marine environments are protected by national parks and reserves. Plus, many who have made this phenomenal nation their home choose to keep big parcels of their land wild so that they can maintain biological corridors for their zoological neighbors.

​The people.  Costa Rica is allowed to remain as remarkably bio-diverse as it is because the people of this country recognize the importance of preserving nature in its cleanest, wildest sense. The ethics of this country as a whole are not perfect but there is an underlying value for harmony that is prevalent in most of its people and makes this Latin American nation a bastion of freedom and democracy that is unique in this region.  Costa Rica abolished its army in 1948 and redirected these funds towards better schooling and universal healthcare.  There is something so genial in the Costa Rican spirit and their smiles and laughs are completely infectious.  To live amongst them and witness their patient, caring ways is a blessing that warms our cold, expat hearts and shows us that there is another way to live than speeding through life’s list of errands.  We learn how to stop and smell the flowers and how to share those small but potent experiences with our friends and neighbors because we know that they get it, too.

​Safety.   The reason why I, as a real estate broker, feel so confident representing Costa Rica to my international clients is because I know for a fact that Costa Rica is one of the safest nations to invest in. This is a country that prides itself in its tourism offerings and so the government, the police force, and the business community all strive to keep Costa Rica safe and beautiful for all to enjoy. Those tourism dollars account for around 8% of the country’s total GDP and bring a continuous slew of travelers eager for the distinctive holiday experience that Costa Rica has to offer. People want to stay in a gorgeous ocean view home on a verdant green private property like you can in my mountainous yet coastal communities of the Costa Ballena.  This growing trend in the ‘experiential holiday’ means that I represent a lot of investors who buy properties here to use as income generating rentals.  More than just the tourist dollar, expats living in Costa Rica value the style of life present throughout the country. There is a sense of community in the small towns and villages that is warm and welcoming.  People care about their neighbors and about what’s happening in the area.  They want to support local businesses and farmers and want to make sure that everyone in their community is well taken care of.  Those who move to Costa Rica for these reasons know the full value of owning a piece of property here is more than just numbers. I am proud to help them make their investment in Costa Rica something they feel proud of, too.