"Recently I led a group of prospective residents on a trip around Costa Rica" say Christopher Howard, "After a week of traveling and attending a series of informative seminars, most of my clients decided they would like to live here for at least part of the year. Some of them even wanted to invest in real  estate. It comes as little surprise that they felt this way."

Costa Rica has more Americans per capita than any other country outside the United States. Why do so many people want to live here? The most obvious reason is the climate. Costa Rica is called the Switzerland of the Americas. This unique little country offers a real paradise for the nature lover, fishing enthusiast and water sports fanatic as well as the retiree, all ages seeking to move to a new and exotic land outside the States  and Canada, as well as the energetic entrepreneur, the burned-out baby  boomer, those sick of long rush-hour commutes and anyone seeking an alternative way of life. This beautiful country is so appealing because it has the warmth and
flavor of Mexico, without anti-Americanism and fear of government expropriations; the physical beauty of Guatemala without a large military presence; and the sophistication of Brazil without the abject  poverty and with far less crime. Although much has been written about the high cost of living  here, what you spend depends on your lifestyle. If you must have a luxurious home, drive a late model car and buy imported goods, you  will spend as much or more than you would in North America. But if you live more like the locals and watch your spending, you will spend considerably less. Many Americans living below the poverty line in the United States can live in moderate luxury on a modest retirement or investment  income in Costa Rica.