Continental.com is running a special right now from the USA to Central America.
Sample fares:
Baltimore, MD (BWI) San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO) $335
Chicago, IL (ORD - O'Hare) San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO) $308
Cleveland, OH (CLE) San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO) $516
Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW) San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO) $458
Detroit, MI (DTW) San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO) $324
Houston, TX (IAH - Intercontinental) Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR) $458
Houston, TX (IAH - Intercontinental) San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO) $458
Los Angeles, CA (LAX) San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO) $304
Los Angeles, CA (LAX) Managua, Nicaragua (MGA) $549
New Orleans, LA (MSY) San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO) $538
New York/Newark, NJ (EWR - Liberty) San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO) $432
Oklahoma City, OK (OKC) Managua, Nicaragua (MGA) $646
San Antonio, TX (SAT) San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO) $439
San Antonio, TX (SAT) Managua, Nicaragua (MGA) $538
San Francisco, CA (SFO) San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO) $439
These fares are valid as of 7:00 a.m. Central, Wed., June 9, 2010 and are subject to change and availability.
See the full list of fares here.
Safe travels!
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
Nicaragua Ranked in Top 5 Latin American Real Estate Destinations
Congratulations Nicaragua on making the Top 5 Latin American Real Estate Destinations, even ahead of Costa Rica!
NuWire Investor recently published its rankings of the Top 5 locations for real estate investment in Latin America. In its analysis, NuWire considered a combination of geographic, economic and political factors; real estate values and rental rates; possibility of natural disasters; cost of living; growth in tourism and other industries; job markets and crime.
The governing parties of many Latin American countries have been historically considered volatile and corrupt, which has discouraged foreign investment in certain areas. As a result, many markets are still in their infancy and NuWire has carefully examined which governments have put forth a sincere effort to change this and attract foreign capital through legitimate means. Peru has, for example, increased its protective measures for private investors and eliminated all restrictions on money transfers in or out of the country. Brazil has a wealth of natural resources and has initiated several programs over the last decade to attract investors to the Northeastern coastal areas. Each country's market has its own unique strengths and every investor can find something of interest in these vibrant markets.
The Top 5 Latin American Real Estate Markets are:
1. Chile
2. Brazil
3. Uruguay
4. Peru
5. Nicaragua
To view the full article, click here.
NuWire Investor provides investment news on a range of alternative investment topics, such as U.S. and international real estate, tax liens and deeds, lending, franchising and others. For more information, and to access additional analysis, research, commentary and expert interviews, see www.NuWireInvestor.com.
Here is the text from the Article:
5. Nicaragua
Although Nicaragua is known for its history of political instability and conflict, the previously war-torn nation is desperately trying to attract foreign investment. Government incentives have made Nicaragua real estate appealing to investors, as Nicaragua’s attractions continue to draw more tourists and expatriates.
Nicaragua could become an ideal retirement and vacation destination for millions“Because Nicaragua has historically been overlooked by travelers and real estate investors [in comparison] to Costa Rica, Panama, and Mexico, prices have remained extremely affordable,” Henkel Smith, president of Water’s Edge International Realty, said. “Nicaragua's real estate market is definitely still in its infancy, but we see things changing as the number of foreign visitors and investors continue to buy up properties.”
The country has an abundance of natural resources , beautiful landscapes and a government that claims to be welcoming towards foreign investment and tourism. Assuming the government’s expressed attitude towards foreign investment is genuine, Nicaragua appears to be an investor's dream, offering an ideal retirement and vacation destination for millions of people, especially Americans and Europeans.
On the other hand, some investors might find Nicaragua’s political structure to be intimidating; those who perceive President Daniel Ortega ’s position of power as threatening have been discouraged from entering the market. Nevertheless, optimistic investors believe that Ortega’s personal investment in business and tourism projects around the country are a sign that he plans to take a different path this time in office, and that the President is now trying to make amends for his violent past as a young Sandinista revolutionary.
Nicaragua’s investment hotspots are Granada, a colonial town on the bank of Lake Nicaragua, and San Juan Del Sur, a booming fishing village located on the Pacific Ocean just north of Costa Rica. Although a profusion of new developments are happening along the Pacific coast, most of the country awaits significant advancements in Nicaragua infrastructure, providing investors with opportunities to buy property in almost any price range.
Author Information
Marie Langhout
NuWire, Inc.
NuWire Investor recently published its rankings of the Top 5 locations for real estate investment in Latin America. In its analysis, NuWire considered a combination of geographic, economic and political factors; real estate values and rental rates; possibility of natural disasters; cost of living; growth in tourism and other industries; job markets and crime.
The governing parties of many Latin American countries have been historically considered volatile and corrupt, which has discouraged foreign investment in certain areas. As a result, many markets are still in their infancy and NuWire has carefully examined which governments have put forth a sincere effort to change this and attract foreign capital through legitimate means. Peru has, for example, increased its protective measures for private investors and eliminated all restrictions on money transfers in or out of the country. Brazil has a wealth of natural resources and has initiated several programs over the last decade to attract investors to the Northeastern coastal areas. Each country's market has its own unique strengths and every investor can find something of interest in these vibrant markets.
The Top 5 Latin American Real Estate Markets are:
1. Chile
2. Brazil
3. Uruguay
4. Peru
5. Nicaragua
To view the full article, click here.
NuWire Investor provides investment news on a range of alternative investment topics, such as U.S. and international real estate, tax liens and deeds, lending, franchising and others. For more information, and to access additional analysis, research, commentary and expert interviews, see www.NuWireInvestor.com.
Here is the text from the Article:
5. Nicaragua
Although Nicaragua is known for its history of political instability and conflict, the previously war-torn nation is desperately trying to attract foreign investment. Government incentives have made Nicaragua real estate appealing to investors, as Nicaragua’s attractions continue to draw more tourists and expatriates.
Nicaragua could become an ideal retirement and vacation destination for millions“Because Nicaragua has historically been overlooked by travelers and real estate investors [in comparison] to Costa Rica, Panama, and Mexico, prices have remained extremely affordable,” Henkel Smith, president of Water’s Edge International Realty, said. “Nicaragua's real estate market is definitely still in its infancy, but we see things changing as the number of foreign visitors and investors continue to buy up properties.”
The country has an abundance of natural resources , beautiful landscapes and a government that claims to be welcoming towards foreign investment and tourism. Assuming the government’s expressed attitude towards foreign investment is genuine, Nicaragua appears to be an investor's dream, offering an ideal retirement and vacation destination for millions of people, especially Americans and Europeans.
On the other hand, some investors might find Nicaragua’s political structure to be intimidating; those who perceive President Daniel Ortega ’s position of power as threatening have been discouraged from entering the market. Nevertheless, optimistic investors believe that Ortega’s personal investment in business and tourism projects around the country are a sign that he plans to take a different path this time in office, and that the President is now trying to make amends for his violent past as a young Sandinista revolutionary.
Nicaragua’s investment hotspots are Granada, a colonial town on the bank of Lake Nicaragua, and San Juan Del Sur, a booming fishing village located on the Pacific Ocean just north of Costa Rica. Although a profusion of new developments are happening along the Pacific coast, most of the country awaits significant advancements in Nicaragua infrastructure, providing investors with opportunities to buy property in almost any price range.
Author Information
Marie Langhout
NuWire, Inc.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Costa Rica, Panama and Nicaragua Top List of Latin American Real Estate Investment Destinations
RealtyGuide.com ranks Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama as the top purchasing destinations for property in Central America.
I specialize in selling and finding property in these specific areas, in addition to Costa Rica's Central Valley for commercial real estate investors and the north west coast of Nicaragua.
2) San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua - This small fishing town is firmly on the radar for real estate investors. San Juan sits in a beautiful horseshoe bay with a perfect sunset orientation.San Juan del Sur is developed considerable over the past years. From a sleepy little fishing village to the most important tourism destination on the coast. Infrastucture improvements including road resurfacing, a port upgrade and a new pedestrian walkway have followed.
4) Guancacaste, Costa Rica - This area took off with the building of the Liberia international airport. Some of the worlds biggest hospitality brand names have set up shop including the Four Seasons. The area did experience a slowdown during 2008 following the global economic collapse but has since come back strongly.
5) Central Coast, Nicaragua - This area of Nicaragua’s coastline is under 1hr from the capital city, Managua and is emerging as the country’s most important golfing area.Golfing greats Jack Nicklaus and Mike Young are designing golf courses in the area and the first 9 holes of a third championship course are complete.Blue waters, crashing surf and secluded coves are the attractions here.
I specialize in selling and finding property in these specific areas, in addition to Costa Rica's Central Valley for commercial real estate investors and the north west coast of Nicaragua.
2) San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua - This small fishing town is firmly on the radar for real estate investors. San Juan sits in a beautiful horseshoe bay with a perfect sunset orientation.San Juan del Sur is developed considerable over the past years. From a sleepy little fishing village to the most important tourism destination on the coast. Infrastucture improvements including road resurfacing, a port upgrade and a new pedestrian walkway have followed.
4) Guancacaste, Costa Rica - This area took off with the building of the Liberia international airport. Some of the worlds biggest hospitality brand names have set up shop including the Four Seasons. The area did experience a slowdown during 2008 following the global economic collapse but has since come back strongly.
5) Central Coast, Nicaragua - This area of Nicaragua’s coastline is under 1hr from the capital city, Managua and is emerging as the country’s most important golfing area.Golfing greats Jack Nicklaus and Mike Young are designing golf courses in the area and the first 9 holes of a third championship course are complete.Blue waters, crashing surf and secluded coves are the attractions here.
First Visit to Isla Ometepe
With nearly 5 years of working and living in Nicaragua, I was finally blessed with the opportunity to visit the twin volcanoes (Maderas and Concepción) of the Island of Ometepe in Lake Nicaragua. I am now a "believer" in a beauty of Ometepe and a huge fan. My opinion is that everyone who is planning a trip to Nicaragua should make sure to stop here for at least 2 days en route to their next destination.
On Ometepe there are many activities if you have the energy to do anything besides lay in a hammock and gaze out over the green jungle canopy and infinite lake, or "fresh water sea" as the Spanish conquistadors called it. Ometepe is such a serene and magical place, it is easy to see how it remained peaceful and basically neutral during the Sandinista Revolution.
I traveled with some clients and a real estate developer and consultant named Mark Sullivan from Pro Nicaragua Development and El Camino del Sol development and yoga retreat center just outside of San Juan del Sur. We only had 2 days to spend on the island and decided to climb Volcán Maderas - a 5 kilometer vertical hike up and down, but well worth it. Since we went in rainy season, the hike took about 8 hours total due to mud and rain, but it was still fun and exhilarating. The view from different spots in the ascent is better than from the top, which is typically cloudy, but there is also the opportunity to descend into the crater and swim in this volcanic lake. Quite a surreal experience.
After all the hiking and exploring, visitors work up quite an appetite and there are a few authentic, local restaurants to choose from selling fresh, locally sourced food. My personal favorite was a place called "Natural" - a vegetarian restaurant right on the beach in Santo Domingo on the road to Balgue. The charismatic owner is from Managua but has been living on Ometepe for years. My clients and I enjoyed veggie stir fry, curry and pineapple-watermelon rum drinks - all homemade and with a fantastic ambiance and view of the beach and lake.
Real Estate on Ometepe: This island is so paradisiacal, anyone would wonder how to own a piece of this green gold. I may sell real estate, but I also like to buy as much as possible! There are no real estate offices on Ometepe that I have seen, but there are a lot of national brokers on the internet selling property. I would advise that anyone looking for property contact a trusted, referred real estate broker in Nicaragua to assist in an Ometepe property search and confirm that the titles and deeds of any potential properties are clean and clear. Even if you want to buy directly from a property owner and without buyer representation (although I do not recommend this for multiple reasons), make sure you use a trusted lawyer (oxymoron?) for reliable guidance and candidness throughout every step of the transaction. The secret is out, however, as hotel developers have quickly started to stake their claims throughout the island's coastline and the new pavered roads will help to catapult ecotourism over the upcoming years.
In my opinion, Ometepe is the perfect place for any sort of sustainable development project, retirement home, health and wellness retreat center location or farm. Despite relying a bit on deliveries from the main land, almost anything grows on Ometepe and residents rarely like to leave the island.
For those on a budget or interested in mid-long term volunteer work opportunities, there are quite a few organic farms looking for any sort of help:
Ometepe Zopilote: http://www.ometepezopilote.com/
Project Bonafide http://projectbonafide.blogspot.com/
Finca Magdalena: http://www.fincamagdalena.com/
Casa Campestre: http://ometepe.moonfruit.com/
Hotel Finca del Sol: http://www.vianica.com/hotels/306/hotel-finca-del-sol
Getting There and Away - Island of Ometepe:
Ferries leave regularly from a port east of Rivas to the main port on Ometepe called Moyogalpa. There is food and lodging here and it is a good place to stay the night before you leave on a morning ferry for the mainland. It is also a good base if you want to climb Concepción (1,610 meters alt).
Ferry passage is only 60 cordobas each way (about $3) for pedestrians while cars have to pay up to $30+ each way in taxes. There are gas stations on the island as well. I brought my car and it made the journey quite relaxing without having to worry about transportation. Enjoy a cold Toña or Victoria on the pleasurable 1 hour ride across the lake!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Nicaragua Primed for Renewable, Sustainable Energy Projects
There is a saying in Nicaragua, "The country is rich but the people are poor." Basically, Nicaragua is a country full of potential and natural resources despite being one of the most economically poor countries in Latin America. But for any individual, company or government looking to invest in wind, water or solar energy projects while helping philanthropically at the same time, Nicaragua is the perfect place.
A company owned by Centrans and AEI has recently constructed $90 million in windmills in south west Nicaragua, one of the windiest regions in the world. The project is said to be operating at 80% capacity, 60% higher than originally expected. With the first 19 windmills, over 6% of the country's energy needs were met.
The following is an excerpt from Commodity Online, proving Nicaragua's commitment to clean energy and wind power:
Nicaragua secured its commitment to green energy technology by awarding a 30-year license for wind farms in the country, advocates said.
The Nicaraguan Ministry of Energy and Mines granted Nicaragua's Blue Power & Energy a 30-year license for a 22-turbine wind farm that could produce 39.6 megawatts of electricity.
PRO Nicaragua, a non-profit economic advocacy group which has offices in Washington, notes that Nicaragua has the potential to generate 800 megawatts of power from wind energy, which represents about 17 percent of the current renewable energy potential for the country.
The Nicaraguan government in 2008 and 2009 awarded several wind energy licenses to bring to the total installed capacity to 100 MW. "This demonstrates the government of Nicaragua's commitment in working actively to promote renewable energy projects in the country in pursuit of transforming the current oil-based energy generation matrix," said the advocacy group.
Nicaragua also has an advantage when it comes to geothermal power, with an active chain of 25 volcanoes in the country. Geothermal power is one of the most reliable, cost effective, sustainable forms of renewable energy available and is limited to areas near tectonic plate boundaries.
This just in from a US-based news source:
Reno-based Ram Power Corp. and Nicaraguan natural gas company Disnorte-Dissur are negotiating a power purchase agreement for energy produced by a new geothermal power plant in Nicaragua. Disnorte-Dissur will purchase up to 157 megawatts of power to be developed from Ram Power's Casita San Cristobal geothermal concession.
Both final capacity and power rate figures are subject to approval by the Nicaraguan Ministry of Energy and the electricity regulator. The agreement is expected to be signed this year.
A company owned by Centrans and AEI has recently constructed $90 million in windmills in south west Nicaragua, one of the windiest regions in the world. The project is said to be operating at 80% capacity, 60% higher than originally expected. With the first 19 windmills, over 6% of the country's energy needs were met.
The following is an excerpt from Commodity Online, proving Nicaragua's commitment to clean energy and wind power:
Nicaragua secured its commitment to green energy technology by awarding a 30-year license for wind farms in the country, advocates said.
The Nicaraguan Ministry of Energy and Mines granted Nicaragua's Blue Power & Energy a 30-year license for a 22-turbine wind farm that could produce 39.6 megawatts of electricity.
PRO Nicaragua, a non-profit economic advocacy group which has offices in Washington, notes that Nicaragua has the potential to generate 800 megawatts of power from wind energy, which represents about 17 percent of the current renewable energy potential for the country.
The Nicaraguan government in 2008 and 2009 awarded several wind energy licenses to bring to the total installed capacity to 100 MW. "This demonstrates the government of Nicaragua's commitment in working actively to promote renewable energy projects in the country in pursuit of transforming the current oil-based energy generation matrix," said the advocacy group.
Nicaragua also has an advantage when it comes to geothermal power, with an active chain of 25 volcanoes in the country. Geothermal power is one of the most reliable, cost effective, sustainable forms of renewable energy available and is limited to areas near tectonic plate boundaries.
This just in from a US-based news source:
Reno-based Ram Power Corp. and Nicaraguan natural gas company Disnorte-Dissur are negotiating a power purchase agreement for energy produced by a new geothermal power plant in Nicaragua. Disnorte-Dissur will purchase up to 157 megawatts of power to be developed from Ram Power's Casita San Cristobal geothermal concession.
Both final capacity and power rate figures are subject to approval by the Nicaraguan Ministry of Energy and the electricity regulator. The agreement is expected to be signed this year.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Announcing New Website for Real Estate in Costa Rica-Nicaragua
Well everyone knows I love Nicaragua, but Costa Rica was my first introduction to Central America (besides Mexico & the Caribbean) back in 2002. Living and working in Costa Rica also became my eventual gateway to traveling and working and living in Nicaragua beginning in 2006.
Living centrally in Costa Rica also led me to travel in Panama, so I have a lot to thank Costa Rica for!
With that in mind, I have decided to expand my services throughout Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. Even a few times on this blog I may weave through topics that have to do with not only Nicaragua, but Costa Rica and Panama as well.
I hope you all enjoy and can use this info to decide where you might be most inclined to live or invest in the future!
The website is WWW.REALESTATECOSTARICA-NICARAGUA.COM
Check out more about me, stats and properties on each country and the Costa Rica - Nicaragua - Panama Photo Gallery, as well as lots of fun information and downloadable documents.
Tell your friends!
Northern Nicaragua at Sunrise
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Where to Spend the Holidays in Nicaragua?
Wow ~ Gran Pacifica is really raising the bar for Nicaragua luxury and lifestyle operators. Their new website, La Vida Nica, showcases their professionalism in the vacation rental and concierge area. Check it out when planning your next trip to Nica.
In case you are still trying to come up with a New Year's plan, the crew at GP is also offering a holiday feast for "Año Viejo" on December 31st on the grounds of Gran Pacifica. With Waldorf Salad, Roast Lamb and plenty of champagne on the menu, this party is bound to become a welcome tradition for expats and locals alike in future years.
The party will take place at beachfront restaurant Tasca: http://www.tascaontheocean.com/
Buen provecho!
In case you are still trying to come up with a New Year's plan, the crew at GP is also offering a holiday feast for "Año Viejo" on December 31st on the grounds of Gran Pacifica. With Waldorf Salad, Roast Lamb and plenty of champagne on the menu, this party is bound to become a welcome tradition for expats and locals alike in future years.
The party will take place at beachfront restaurant Tasca: http://www.tascaontheocean.com/
Buen provecho!
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