With news of the Kardashians visiting Costa Rica and receiving backlash for referring to the Central American nation as an island, it's beginning to feel like Costa Rica is really hitting the map. In recent years, we have seen beaches become more populated and infrastructure expanding. But with Costa Rica's national policies of ever-increasing environmental protection and renewably-sourced energy, locals and expats feel certain that this tiny, army-less nation is retaining its rustic charm and historic culture, which is heavily influenced by the dynamic wildlife and landscape in this small region in the Americas, also known as the most biodiverse nation in the world. Small-world charm Multiculturalism has always existed in Costa Rica since the time of the conquistadors, and big cities like San Jose and Cartago have long been hubs for a multitude of expats here on business. And in the last decade or so, international flavors have spread towards the coasts, with the rise and boom times of expats coming to enjoy the serene life in their later years. Most recently, a new generation of expats are coming to colonize Costa Rica. These are young couples from the tech generation who have spent the first decade or more of their working lives earning a decent wage and saving money, likely having begun small families. They are seeing the turn that their North American or European homeland is taking and they don't resonate with the direction their home politics appear to be heading. Opposition to environmentalism is growing and nationalism is on the rise, and these savvy and intellectual Gen-Yers have found Costa Rica to be a perfect mix of liberal environmental policies and pro-investment capitalism. With an open-door invitation for investors who can bring something to this nation, it is easy to make a new life and lifestyle in Costa Rica. Working from home is easy for this class of people, and their Costa Rican office has a view with which no city can compete. The broad reach of local success Locals are receiving the windfall from this new class of expats, who bring with them needs for expanded infrastructure (like better Internet, road ways, schools, hospitals) and of course money. The increase in capitol is evident in the Southern Zone of Costa Rica, where construction projects have been ongoing since the early 2000s. To those who have lived in this region for a variety of years, we have seen local families go from traditional make-shift structures to modernly-constructed (albeit modest) homes and disposable income for clothes, meals in restaurants and entertainment. In fact, the number of locals enjoying the beaches in the region has gone up due to more economic security, and crime rates have gone down proportionally. The harmony between locals and expats is growing, with expats also investing in expanding their language skills and taking in the local culture, rather than opposing it. Children can be educated in english-language schools; but with some of the best literacy rates in the world, the Costa Rican elementary and high-school education systems are highest-ranking in the developing world, with programs and testing for teens to prepare for entry into international post-secondary institutions. These opportunities are likewise more available to Costa Rican children, paving the way for a new, local intellectual class that is being prepared-for and educated around the world, bringing back with them new skills to bring to the local workforce. We all enjoy living in this pristine landscape and we do what we can to support the locals and their government at local, regional and national levels to continue the policies that keep trade flowing in while keeping the environment (the reason for Costa Rica's vast popularity) a center-stage priority. Contact our offices and speak to some of our agents about what it would take for you and your family to find yourselves living in a tropical and cultural paradise. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________