Properties in Costa Rica Blog

Wellness Tourism is defined as trips that aim to maintain or improve personal well-being. It focuses on three main lines with alternative and therapeutic treatments such as thalassotherapy, thermalism and the development of spas or wellness centers, which provide multiple benefits for the human body.

According to a general study by the “Global Wellness Institute”, wellness tourism is growing by 7% a year and tourists seeking this type of experience are willing to invest up to 60% more than other types of tourists.

According to a general study by the “Global Wellness Institute”, wellness tourism is growing by 7% a year and tourists seeking this type of experience are willing to invest up to 60% more than other types of tourists.

It includes activities that provide physical benefits for the human being; such as hiking trails, hot stone massages, volcanic mud skin treatments, yoga and forest therapy; a slow and relaxed walk through some natural environment that awakens the senses.

The growing demand for wellness tourism represents an opportunity for tourism companies, to develop offers for these travelers that prioritize their mental and physical health, thus improving the economy of entire countries.

Costa Rica developed the “Wellness Pura Vida” strategy. A wellness tourism strategy, that seeks to differentiate and position Costa Rica as a global wellness destination.

Tourism is one of the main engines of the Costa Rican economy, a country that, before the COVID-19 pandemic, received around 3 million international tourists each year. Close to 500,000 people depend directly and indirectly on this activity in the South American country, which is home to around 5% of the planet’s biodiversity.

Costa Rica’s comparative advantages are its oceans, a great wealth of inland waters, volcanoes, hot springs with high potential to become wellness centers, competitive costs, beautiful and exotic landscapes, healthy food and the friendliness of its inhabitants.

In addition, the Central American country has a wide variety of facilities for purchase or rent throughout the national territory, which offer activities in harmony with nature such as: massages, thermal pools, relaxation spaces, Jacuzzis, steam baths, waterfalls, group physical activities, adventure, etc.

The ideal destination to connect body, mind and spirit.

Written by: Fabiola Andrew Cardoso

The annexation of the Nicoya party to Costa Rica is a national event. An event so relevant to Costa Rica that it would change its history forever.

The Nicoya party’s territory went from the West of the Tempisque River, to the Pacific Ocean, from the North of the Salto River to the La Flor River. And Lake Nicaragua, which formed the limit with the province of Nicaragua. The Nicoya party was conformed by the towns we know today as Nicoya, Santa Cruz and Villa Guanacaste, which today united we call “Liberia”.

Since the end of the 17th century, Costa Rica and the Party of Nicoya have had good commercial relationship, mainly due to the commercialization of Bait, Livestock and Tobacco.

In 1810, the “Courts of Cádiz” took place in Spain, who asked each Latin American country to send different representatives to these courts. However, to elect a representative, a certain amount of population was needed and Costa Rica did not have the required number of inhabitants in the country at the time. So they decided to temporarily unite with the Nicoya party and thus together, have enough population. The elected representative was Presbyter Florencio Castillo.

Until then, the Nicoya party depended politically on the Nicaraguan administration. In March 1824, the state of Costa Rica invited the Nicoya party to join their country. By holding an open town hall, the residents of Nicoya and Santa Cruz decided to vote democratically to make a decision. Therefore, elections were held in Nicoya, where the union was approved with 77% of affirmative answers.

Added to all of this, is the fact that Nicaragua was going through difficult times internally. There was a strong difference between the cities of León and Granada, on the verge of a civil war that generated negative impacts in Nicoya. This is why the regional elites had a greater interest in their incorporation into the “pura vida” country.

Contrary to the two cities mentioned above, Nicoya had a very good relationship with Costa Rica for being commercially linked by the Port of Puntarenas, which today is a key element for the tourist attraction because of its coasts and beaches.

Since then, the “Day of the Annexation of the party of Nicoya to Costa Rica”, is officially celebrated as a national holiday on July 25th of each year, this 2022 will mark 198 years of successful union.

This union presented great benefits for Costa Rica, such as the increase in the size of the country and with this territory, many beaches, volcanoes, jungles, among others. The increase in the population that included traditions, legends, foods, typical clothing, music, words, figures, objects that were reinforced in national symbols, such as the Guanacaste tree, architecture, etc., which have been perfectly integrated into the Costa Rican identity.

“From the homeland by our will”

“De la patria por nuestra voluntad”

Written by: Fabiola Andrew Cardoso

A digital nomad is defined as a professional that uses new technologies to work, and who leads a nomadic lifestyle. Digital nomads typically work remotely, rather than at a fixed workplace.

The term has gained popularity in the past years and the number of people who live by this type of lifestyle has grown exponentially after the COVID-19 pandemic, where teleworking has taken center stage in almost all companies worldwide.

The most common activities of digital nomads are usually related to new information technologies, digital marketing, the creation and dissemination of digital content, such as videographers, influencers, bloggers or youtubers, graphic and web designers, software developers, etc.

Costa Rica is just days away from implementing a visa that will help and benefit remote workers all over the world, the DNV. A digital nomad visa lasts longer than a tourist visa (90 days) and it’s designed only for people who work for foreign companies. The digital nomad visa lasts up to 1 year and has the possibility to renew it for another year, if the digital nomad worker has stayed in Costa Rica for 180 consecutive days, so you can eliminate the perpetual tourist status.

The digital nomad monthly income must be at least US$3,000 for an independent person and US$4,000 for families.

As for the requirements, anyone who works as a freelancer doing remote work can apply for this visa. The person’s country of origin does not matter, as long as they don’t work for a Costa Rican owned company.

Even though the digital nomad visa is not available yet, some of the basic requirements known are:

• Application letter digitally signed by the applicant.
• Application form you can get at the “Migration and Foreign Affairs Office” or the Costa Rican Embassy.
• Proof that you are a digital nomad.
• Proof of stable monthly income.
• Proof of health insurance (lasting the whole duration of stay in CR)
• Government filling tax of US$100.00 (personal) or the equivalent in another currency.
• Copy of the applicant’s passport.
• Additional documents required by the General Law of Migration and Foreigners.

According to the General Law of Immigration, digital nomad visa owners will not be required to pay income taxes. In addition, digital nomads will be exempt from paying taxes on all imported essentials tools they use for work, such as computers, telecommunication devices, or any other equipment necessary to provide remote services.

They will also have access to local banking and can use their country of origin driver’s license.

The General Migration and Immigration No 10008 “Law to Attract Workers and Remote Providers of International Services,” legislation was developed and approved around July 2021, but has not been officially launched for implementation yet. Nevertheless, Costa Rican president Rodrigo Chaves signed off on the legislation this week, following the inclusion of modifications to make it more accessible and easier to apply.

Costa Rica is one of the favorite countries for the remote workers all over the world. Because it’s known for being tourist friendly, it’s one of the safest countries in Latin America, it has access to a large supply of short- and long-term housing, hotels, and weekend rental options, almost anywhere in the country, healthcare service is excellent, is surrounded by beaches anywhere you go and has an amazing wildlife!

So what do you think of remote work in paradise?

Written by: Fabiola Andrew Cardoso