HOW ALEGRIA SPA NURTURES YOU

We use only organic, unprocessed, pure, natural, ingredients that are locally sourced as much as possible. We know that what is best for ourselves is best for you and our planet.

Many years ago on our first date we discovered we each shared a dream of moving to Costa Rica and opening a healing center. Now 11 years later we are finally making that dream come true. We are very grateful for your support in helping us realize our dream of living Pura Vida in Costa Rica.

At Alegria we work hard to be green and support our community as well as the world beyond.

We’d love to hear from you! Get in touch with us:

PHONE	EMAIL	WEBSITE
+506 2787 0210	info@alegriasoulspa.com	www.alegriasoulspa.com

LEARN MORE ABOUT ALEGRIA DAY SPA

• Personal Care

Alegria Spa

Our vision for Alegria Spa is to provide a service to our community by offering affordable bodywork as well as providing Ticos with a prosperous living wage. We believe…

1 minute read

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Costa Verde Surf Shop is surrounded by undisturbed and spectacular beaches.

New and used surfboards for sale.

Board accessories. Sun protection.
Women, men & kid’s surf wear, rashguards and casual wear.

Quality rental surf and boogie boards.

Avoid the hassle of travelling with a board;
Reserve a board in advance – travel worry free.

We’d love to hear from you! Get in touch with us:

PHONE	EMAIL	WEBSITE
+506 2743 8550	info@cvsurfshop.com	www.cvsurfshop.com

LEARN MORE ABOUT COSTA VERDE SURF SHOP

• Shopping

Costa Verde Surf Shop

UVITA’S FIRST FULL SERVICE SURF SHOP Costa Verde Surf Shop is surrounded by undisturbed and spectacular beaches. New and used surfboards for sale. Board accessories.…

1 minute read

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Building a new home in Costa Rica is not difficult. Not knowing what to do or being familiar with the building practices or the language in Costa Rica does not have to cause sleepless nights. There is a solution: Ballena Homes.

The key to a successful build is having an experienced team of professionals to manage and coordinate the build. Ballena Homes works in partnership with architects, designers, engineers and home construction specialists to deliver a complete range of professional skills. Our service involve managing every step of the process (including language issues) from concepts through to completion and delivery of the finished product. Our clients are our best referrals.

Ballena Homes – a reflection of you.

We’d love to hear from you! Contact us today.

PHONE	EMAIL	WEBSITE
+506 2786 5801	innovation@ballenahomes	ballenahomes.com

LEARN MORE ABOUT BALLENA HOMES

• Construction Contractors

Ballena Homes

FROM CONCEPT TO COMPLETION Building a new home in Costa Rica is not difficult. Not knowing what to do or being familiar with the building practices or the language in Costa Rica does not have…

1 minute read

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We are Century 21 Ballena Properties, the go-to real estate professionals based in Ojochal, Costa Rica. We offer ocean view estates, homes and condos in Ojochal, Uvita, Dominical, Herradura, Jaco, Carate, Puerto Jimenez, and La Palma.

All Costa Rica properties in our portfolio are carefully assessed and categorized in order to ensure we offer the best property match according to your criteria and requirements. We will work with you to ensure we only present options that meet your requests.

All Costa Rica properties listed with CENTURY 21 Ballena Properties, will be promoted through our different web portals, press, sent to our extensive database of clients and realtors; they will also be uploaded to CENTURY 21 local, regional and global web pages to ensure maximum outreach. This ample promotion combined with our extensive experience, will facilitate a sale in the least possible time at the best market price possible.

OUR PROMISE: We will handle every detail of the sale/purchase process, looking after the best interest of your investment.

We’d love to hear from you! Get in touch with us:

PHONE	EMAIL	WEBSITE
+506 2786 5801	info@c21ballenaproperties	c21ballenaproperties.com

SEE ALL LISTINGS BY CENTURY 21 BALLENA PROPERTIES

Exquisite Balinese Home with Tri-Level Waterfall

LEARN MORE ABOUT CENTURY 21 BALLENA PROPERTIES

• Real Estate Company

Century 21 Ballena Properties

WHO ARE WE? We are Century 21 Ballena Properties, the go-to real estate professionals based in Ojochal, Costa Rica. We offer ocean view estates, homes and condos in Ojochal,…

1 minute read

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Sanchez and Associates is a law firm built on the belief that legal advising and counseling is our way to become your partner in business.

Our expertise and our knowledge of the Costa Rican socio-economical culture and its legal system allow us to provide our clients with the most accurate and updated information about business in the country and with the legal instruments and solutions for the tasks and situations faced in their activities.

Sanchez and Associates has had permanent participation in the business community, since our beginning in 1988. Our relations with the different entities and leaders give us the capability to efficiently help our clients in their business in Costa Rica from the moment they start to the achieving of their goals.

AREAS OF LAW PRACTICE:

• Corporations and Acquisitions
• Real Estate Transactions
• Property Development
• Financial and Banking Solutions
• Estate Planning

We’d love to hear from you! Get in touch with us:

LEARN MORE ABOUT SANCHEZ & ASSOCIATES

• Business

Managing Uncertainty

If something is certain in this new world we are having to live in is the uncertainty that we are facing in most aspects of our lives. All of a sudden and without previous…

2 minute read

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At CRTropico, we understand real estate law like the backs of our hands. Unlike many countries, in Costa Rica foreigners have the same rights as citizens to buy and own property. The government operates a public National registry, which records the status of each property including information like the ownership of Costa Rica title to land, any existing liens, annotations and/or mortgages which might exist against the property. This information is important because it allows your lawyer to confirm that there is clear title to your property, as well as to discern if there are any restrictions on the property before the deal is completed.

A person can own property in their own name or in the name of a corporation they own. They do not need a local partner, except in cases of beachfront concession property, where special rules apply. There is nothing to prevent someone from purchasing Costa Rica property in their own name, but the majority of buyers form a corporation with the help of a reputable lawyer and then purchase property through that corporation which has benefits in terms of liability.

Another attractive aspect of buying property in Costa Rica are its very low property taxes which are ¼ of 1% annually. As an example, if you bought a home with an assessed value of $100,000, the property taxes per year would only be $250.

Because a potential buyer wants to be sure that there are no problems with the property they are interested in buying, a qualified lawyer is essential and a lengthy due diligence process is required. This process usually takes 40 (?) days to complete and is for the buyers safety and to spot any issues before the property is purchased. CRTropico specializes in doing due diligence for foreign buyers looking to buy property in Costa Rica and are intimately aware of all the issues that may arise, especially in the Southern Pacific region.

BANKING & FINANCE

Banking and finance law is a huge and diverse area of practice ranging from representing banking and financial institutions, mergers and acquisitions of large corporations, to representing individuals who may have had their bank accounts compromised by financial institutions that fail to follow federal regulations.

At CRTropico we specialize in helping individuals. Many people find they need help with banking and finance law when they are forming a new business. There are specific methods and practices that must be established when starting a business, and it is in these situations that it is helpful to have the advice of a lawyer who specializes in banking and finance law. There are many laws, regulations and contracts that may dictate how a new business spends and accounts for income and investments. This is why many individuals and small businesses feel that they need to hire a lawyer specializing in this area before they form their new business to make sure that they are in compliance with all the legal rules.

CORPORATE & COMMERCIAL

Commercial law, which is also known as business law or corporate law, is the area of law that refers to the rights, relations, and conduct of people and businesses engaged in commerce, merchandising, trade, and sales. It is often considered to be a branch of civil law and deals with issues of both private law and public law.

ENVIRONMENTAL

In Costa Rica, the environment is one of our greatest assets, and conserving and protecting it is very important to everyone who lives in our beautiful country. Environmental law is defined as the laws that regulate the impact of human beings on the environment. Environmental law covers a broad range of activities that affect the air, water, land, plants and animals. Environmental law includes laws that are concerned with:

• Protection of animals and plants
• Planning for the use and development of land
• Mining, exploration and extraction industries
• Forestry
• Pollution
• Fisheries
• Land and fire management
• Agriculture and farming
• Waste management
• Climate change and emissions
• Water resource management (lakes, wetlands, rivers and oceans)
• Chemicals and pesticides
• Weeds and invasive species
• Marine life
• Conservation of natural and cultural heritage

At CRTropico, we take these laws very seriously and with every legal decision we make, we always consider the potential impact on the environment. It is very important to us that we keep this country beautiful for our children and many generations to come.

FINANCIAL ADVISORY

CRTropico provides advice to clients who wish to enter in the Costa Rican and Central American financial system weather it is creating a new business entity, buying or developing land, investing, etc… (get examples)

IMMIGRATION

At CRTropico, we have seen a dramatic increase in people from all over the world relocating to Costa Rica because of its beauty, diversity and business and investment opportunities. Because immigration can be a complex process, we are able to help individuals to more easily move through the different stages of the process and eliminate many of the stresses of relocation and settling into a new culture. Because our team was born and raised in Costa Rica, we can help with every aspect of that relocation and be sure that every newcomer to our country will come to enjoy the “pura vida” attitude that makes Costa Rica such a wonderful place to call home.

LABOR & EMPLOYMENT

Labor law – which is also known as employment law – is responsible for mediating the relationship between workers, employers, trade unions and the government. Collective labor law relates to the three-way relationship between an employee, an employer and a union.

TAX LAW

Tax law is the body of law concerned with taxation and governs the rules, policies and laws that oversee the tax process. Taxation is an assessment made by the government that determines property value, transactions, estates of the deceased, licenses granting a right and/or income, and duties on imports from foreign countries. It includes all contributions imposed by the government upon individuals for the services of the state.

WILLS & MARRIAGES

A legal will determines the distribution of real and personal property at death and names a person to administer the estate. Jointly owned property will pass automatically to the surviving owner(s) and will not be affected by your will.

A properly prepared legal will determines how personal property is distributed after a person dies and names a person – known as the executor of the estate – to carry out the wishes of the deceased (the distribution of assets and property). Property that is owned jointly, for example by a husband and wife, passes automatically to the surviving owner and is not affected by your will.

Wills in Costa Rica are governed by the Costa Rican Civil Code. In the form below I have set forth the content of a standard will. This is the English translation of a simple will that complies with Costa Rican Law. This type of Will is known as a Testamento Abierto because the will is done before a Notary Public and the will gets filed in the National Archives (Archivo Nacional) of Costa Rica.

We’d love to hear from you! Get in touch with us:

LEARN MORE ABOUT CR TROPICO

• Living in Costa Rica

What is “Pura Vida” According to David Zuniga

Our “old timers” enjoyed a different lifestyle from ours. They were good and trustworthy people, raised in the sun, with lively cinnamon skin, of wild blood, proud…

5 minute read

The post CRTropico appeared first on Costa Pacifica LIVING.

WELCOME We are happy to announce that Costa Pacifica LIVING has been in business since January 2014 thanks to the support of our community. We know the quality of our publication is a direct reflection of the businesses and people we represent. Costa Pacifica LIVING print magazine has grown from a small local magazine to a nationally distributed and reputable print leader in luxury markets.  We Don’t Just Do Advertising, We Provide Meaningful Context & Connection We are continually dialling in our content to reaffirm that we are a trusted leader, referral, and news source for happenings on the Pacific Coast. With added call to actions, new maps, Team Picks and more, we are creating tangible and direct actionable connections for potential newcomers and visitors that entice people to visit, find out more, and join our wonderful community.  We provide both online and print advertising options. Advertising in both print and digital newspapers gives advertisers a high penetration rate with a desirable audience. Costa Pacifica LIVING is the only magazine in the Southern Zone where you can get the power of print and the ease of an online platform. OUR TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL MARKETING In an age of distraction, attention is considered a luxury. Magazines cut out the distractions and reaches a captive, targeted audience. Here are a few more advantages of advertising when it is done right: CONTEXT – Readers are more relaxed reading a magazine and therefore more receptive to advertising, especially if the advertising relates to the stellar content they’re reading they view ads as helpful resources. FEELING OF LUXURY – Because of the amount of time between issues, readers look at magazines as an indulgence; they don’t read them all at once. Rather, they take their time, and that means your ads are viewed not just once, but a number of times over the lifetime of the issue. SUPPLIES CREDIBILITY – Holding a magazine means the content is real and suggests credibility that extends to the brands that advertise. Readers are more likely to have a positive attitude towards the advertisers found within a publication, and tend to consider advertisers as leaders in their respective industries as a result. IDEAL BRAND PLATFORM – What magazines do very well is provide a quality environment for brand awareness. Glossy paper, high-quality print and the impact of full colour on a full page or double-page spread means customers are seeing a brand represented at its professional best. Studies and our results have shown affluent buyers read niche magazines and take action. ACCESSIBILITY – Readers don’t discard quality magazines in a hurry, meaning your ad hangs around much longer. More so if the reader then passes the magazine to family, friends, and colleagues. They are portable and can be carried around to read anywhere and anytime someone has a free moment.  LONGEVITY – If you continue to advertise in the same magazine, over time you’ll find many of those customers will become loyal and will seek out your business because of your exposure in ‘their’ magazine. What’s more, they will then recommend you to other like-minded people. COVER FEATURE Are you interested in a making a splash? You may want to consider the exclusive Cover Feature. We will help you create a tailored strategy to reach the most affluent clients in your market. We apply a contextualized approach, we create a targeted distribution, alongside step by step help in the creation and elaboration of your marketing campaign to ensure you get National coverage. QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? Would you like to talk about your advertising plans? Contact us via email at costapacificaliving@gmail.com. ABOUT US From a mere 2,000 copies for our first publication back in January 2014, to times when we print 10,000 copies during high season, we are proud to serve our coast time and time again.  The publication’s aim is to entice and inspire readers to learn more about living in the tropics. Is the dream possible? Of course it is! We showcase lifestyles and homes that highlight what people are doing and how they are doing it, answering some of those tricky questions and providing further resources that can help you find your own answers. We want to inspire all readers to create their own dream vacation, home and their dream life ~ PURA VIDA awaits! We are growing each year and plan to continue this growth for many years to follow. The Pacific coast of Costa Rica is a great place to live, an awesome community to take part of and an investment opportunity unlike no other, and we intend to show you why!

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Looking to purchase a new home? 

Avoid feeling overwhelmed and use my experience and knowledge to find the home of your dreams. 

Thinking of selling? 

Exposure is everything. Leverage my experience and marketing tools to turn ‘selling’ into ‘sold’. Have questions? 

ABOUT BLUE ZONE REALTY

We’re here to help find answers and provide insights into the local area. Blue Zone Realty International specializes in vacation homes, residential homes, investments, hotel sales, commercial sales, and developments. Whatever your real estate needs in Costa Rica, we are your concierge-style real estate experts.

MEET THE BLUE ZONE TEAM

Ricardo Bolaños

View Posts

• Places to Stay

Casa Ramon: Home Away From Home

byCosta Pacifica LIVING

July 5, 2020

We’d love to hear from you! Contact us today.

PHONE	EMAIL	WEBSITE
+506 8617 0677	janet@bluezonerealty.com	bluezonerealty.com

SEE ALL PROPERTY LISTINGS BY BLUE ZONE REALTY

MORE FROM BLUE ZONE REALTY

• Design

Invest in Your Dream Lifestyle

An investment in Costa Rica is what you will hear from many at the beginning of your research, and even during a tour of prospective properties. Sure, the real estate purchase is the first step…

2 minute read

• Real Estate Company

Blue Zone Realty

Welcome to Blue Zone Realty International, your source for real estate in Uvita de Osa Costa Rica and the surrounding area. The southern pacific zone of Costa Rica is quickly becoming the…

1 minute read

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Come get a photo with a dinosaur while you browse paint!

We’d love to hear from you! Get in touch with us:

PHONE	EMAIL	WEBSITE
+506 4702 0861

LEARN MORE ABOUT VENTANAS CENTRO DE PINTURAS

• Gas Station

Plaza Ventanas Gas Station

Ventanas gas station is located near Playa Ventanas, a few kilometers north of the Ojochal entrance in the Osa Peninsula. We have an exciting array of businesses joining our…

1 minute read

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OUR SERVICES

Corporate

• Corporations (SRL, SA)
• Associations
• Transfer of shares/stock, endorsements.
• Modifications to corporations (bylaws, members, location, passport numbers)
• Legal advice regarding any of the above
• Corporate Dissolutions
• Annual / Shareholder Meetings, minutes and updates
• Power of attorney

Contracts and Agreements

• Employment
• Construction
• Property Purchase (SPA)
• Rental agreements
• Commission agreements
• Letters of Intent / Offers to Purchase
• Mergers
• Rental -commercial /Residential
• Loans
• Settlements
• Mortgages, mortgage cancellations
• Trusts
• International experience

Title Transfers

• Property Title Transfers (Commercial, Residential, Condominium)
• Vehicle Title transfer
• Property (Developments, Lots)
• Guarantee documentation- Mortgages, liens and Trusts
• Title searches and analysis

Certifications and Notarizations

• Corporate Certifications such as Certification of Stock and corporate status
• Certification of passport or ID
• Affidavits & others
• Notarizations and authentications of signatures

Due Diligence for Property Purchase and Sale

• Investigation and research of property titles
• Review of easements, liens, annotations and encumbrances on property title
• Complete due diligence report
• Coordination with other professionals, such as Civil, Forestry and Topographical engineers, accountants, Escrow services, home inspectors, insurance agents, etc to perform studies on property.
• Creation of power of attorney to represent Buyer or Seller in purchase or sale transaction.

Residency

• Complete residency application assistance
• Review of already existing file in immigration
• Step-by-step explanation of each process and document required
• Consultation and recommendation
• Assistance with registration in the Social Security office once Residency is granted (where applicable) and obtaining CCSS medical card
• Assistance with obtaining a Costa Rican driver’s license
• Assistance with obtaining a work permit
• Coordination with ARCR affiliation, payments and residency through ARCR.

Marriage and Ceremony

• All documentation, marriage certificate
• Ceremony in English or Spanish at location chosen by Client
• May include rehearsal on site prior to ceremony
• Official translation and notarization to register marriage license abroad

Translations

• English to Spanish / Spanish to English
• Verbal and/or written
• Coordination for Official Translation services

Intellectual Property

• Registration of names
• Registration of brands & logos
• Registration of packaging model

Lawsuits

• Labor suits
• Boundary disputes
• Specific civil suits

Permits

• Documents needed for Building Permits (POA, affidavits)
• Environmental permit assistance (water concession assistance, affidavits)
• Commercial permit assistance (obtaining, renewal, advice, payment)
• Special events permits
• Liquor licenses and Municipal permits

Condominium Property and Residential Developments

• Creation of Condominiums (Built, raw land, residential, commercial, mixed).
• Modification of Bylaws for Condominiums.
• Condominium acts and assemblies, modifications in Condo Administration.
• Residential planning documents (CC&RS).
• Documents needed for approvals of the development with the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC)

Others

• Bank Account: Preparation of opening corporate or personal savings or checking accounts
• Divorce: When with mutual consent
• Prenuptial Agreements
• Titling Processes
• Foreclosure Procedures
• Wills and Testaments
• Probate

Goal Our goal is to ensure that we make your dealings, affordable and efficient as possible.

Effort We work hard to meet our clients’ needs through consistency, communication and honesty.

We’d love to hear from you! Get in touch with us:

PHONE	EMAIL	WEBSITE
+506 2743 8416	info@uvitalawfirm.com	www.uvitalawfirm.com

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE UVITA LAW FIRM

• Legal Services

Uvita Law Firm

Welcome to Uvita Law Firm. We are committed to being more than just a law firm. We are here to answer all of your legal questions and concerns about living in Costa Rica.…

2 minute read

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