Whether you want to live, retire, invest, or just relax in Costa Rica, it is a comforting thought for you to live in a safe and peaceful demilitarized country that has been commended by the Dalai Lama, a country that enjoys the greatest political, social, and economic stability in all of Latin America.

Costa Rica enjoys a rich indigenous history, and Costa Rica’s civilization dates back to thousands and thousands of years. Historically, Costa Rica (means rich coast) has enjoyed greater peace and more political stability compared to other Latin American countries. However, back in 1948, Costa Rica endured what was dubbed the bloodiest, most brutal civil war in its history. The 44-day civil war resulted in more than 2000 casualties and was described as the bloodiest event in 20^th century Costa Rican history.

The Costa Rican Civil War was triggered by the Costa Rican government’s decision to annul the results of the presidential election of 1948, declaring the election of Otilio Ulate as president a fraud. A rebel army under Commander José Figueres Ferrer rose up against the government of President Teodoro Picado and defeated it. After the victory in the civil war, Costa Rica’s path toward democracy remained unchanged, and José Figueres ruled Costa Rica for eighteen months as head of a military junta before overseeing the new election and stepping aside to whom the Costa Ricans chose as a leader – Otilio Ulate. On December 1^st, 1948, José Figueres Ferrer abolished Costa Rica’s army, and 38 years later, in 1986, President Oscar Arias Sánchez declared December 1^st the Día de la Abolición del Ejército (Military Abolition Day). Costa Rica was the first country in the world to constitutionally abolish its army, and as a result, Costa Rica, unlike all other countries in Latin America, has not experienced any political violence or civil war since then.

Costa Rica has taken leaps and bounds from being described as “the poorest and most miserable Spanish colony in all Americas” by a Spanish governor in 1719 to a country that declared its independence from Spain in 1821, endured a brutal civil war in 1948, and currently enjoys a great economic stability and ranks 4^th among Latin American countries and 48th worldwide in terms of the 2007 Human Development Index, an index that measures human development – including life expectancy, literacy and education, and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita – for countries worldwide.

Costa Rica also ranks 5^th worldwide in terms of the 2008 Environmental Performance Index, an index that measures the environmental performance of countries’ policies worldwide, up from the 15^th place of two years before. Demonstrating broad and deep environmental awareness, the Costa Rican government unveiled in 2007 a plan that will make Costa Rica the first country in the world to become carbon neutral by 2021.

Costa Rica is a safe and peaceful haven that enjoys a lengthy, uninterrupted democracy that dates back to 1949. During that same year, the abolition of the military was introduced in Article 12 of the Costa Rican Constitution. Costa Rica has no standing army since then, and the budget that was previously dedicated to the military is now dedicated to Costa Rica’s security, education, and culture. In a time of war and political uncertainty in the States and many other European countries, it is very comforting for millions of people all over the world to know they are able to live in a country so peaceful that it doesn’t even need an army.

Costa Rica is now a democratic republic that enjoys a strong system of constitutional checks and balances and an independent judicial system. Since 1949, Costa Rica has held 12 presidential elections, the latest being in 2006, and all of them have been regarded as peaceful and transparent by the international community. The presidential election is held once every four years, on the first Sunday in February, and anybody over eighteen can vote.

Who wouldn’t dream of living in a country so peaceful it takes pride in having more teachers than policemen? In today’s war-torn world, it is very reassuring and comforting to know that we can all retreat to the beautiful, safe sanctuary of Costa Rica. As always, at CostaRicaLandToday, we can make your dream of living in Costa Rica a reality. Feel free to contact us at CostaRicaLandToday, and we will help you find your dream house, property, or land for building in the Central Valley, specifically Grecia, San Isidro, San Miguel, San Ramon, San Luis, El Cajon, San Pedro, Santa Rosa de Poas, and adjacent areas. Our wish for you is Pura Vida (The Good Life)!