Green hills, gentle valleys - that characterises the landscape around Hojancha. Like in the Bavarian foothills of the Alps. The highest waterfall in Central America is here with us. One of the most fascinating projects in Latin America is also located here, the "Monte Alto" project. While elsewhere, as in Brazil, tropical forests are being cut down, in Hojancha they have been reforested. Due to the deforestation that also took place here until the 1980s, the drinking water supply of the zone was endangered. With the help of international donors, hundreds of hectares were replanted with natural forest. In the process, it was discovered that nature repairs the damage caused by humans. Today, there is evidence that can be visited. A small guest house with display boards in the middle of a magnificent forest stands as a beacon of what we have to do: to restore nature as far as possible and to secure a basis of life for us and the generations to come.Today in Costa Rica we can assume a percentage of intact rainforest and nature of more than 90%, this does not exist anywhere else.

The area of Bavaria is 68,000 sq km, of Costa Rica 55,000 sq km with 6 million inhabitants.

Costa Rica has 2 coasts, Nicoya Peninsula is on the Pacific side, the coast opposite the Caribbean is a bit more turbulent in every way.

There are 112 volcanoes without worrying about them, the entire coastline is 1200 km long, here they basically build earthquake-proof, there are absolutely no structural defects due to earth movements.

For whatever reason, the beach is the first attraction for North Americans and Europeans. That is perfectly understandable. Most people think they know about the advantages of a beachfront property. As a rule, only those who have already lived on the beach can talk about the disadvantages: everything is overpriced (property and cost of living), the climate on the beach is more strenuous (more humid) in tropical countries, etc. We think: it is better to live in the perfect climate and go to the beach! From our properties you can easily reach e.g. the beaches Playa Samara and Playa Carillo in 30 minutes by car. These beaches fulfil the tropical dream: white sand, coconut trees, turquoise water (Pacific), small restaurants and very few people. Incidentally, Costa Rica has some of the most beautiful surfing beaches in the world! Generally, the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica are on the Nicoya Peninsula, on the Pacific Ocean. All these beaches are accessible by car from Hojancha. Various national parks are located here. From dolphins to humpback whales, from alligators to howler monkeys, a bird and butterfly world that is incredible. The area is like a big animal and plant park, only without fences and boundaries. Can you imagine that 5% of the world's species are native to Costa Rica! You won't be able to get out of your amazement.

You can live in complete isolation. But only very few people can do that. We have the perfect combination: peace and quiet without road, aeroplane or railway traffic - but in 3 minutes by car in the village of Hojancha. There you will find supermarkets, doctors, bakers, butchers, small restaurants, the Banco Nacional (Costa Rica's largest bank), the post office, a clinic, an ice cream parlour, a large church, lawyers and notaries, a town park with events and much more. And people who are happy to see a foreigner.... 20 minutes away is the provincial capital of Nicoya with all other shopping facilities such as hardware stores, Wal-Mart and many specialty shops. The Liberia International Airport is a good hour away, here the number of passengers has increased from 90,000 to 1.2 million from 2010 - 2019. Our province of Guanacaste has the highest potential for tourism in all of Costa Rica.

It is really hard to explain how to describe the Ticos (that's what Costa Ricans call themselves). Cosmopolitan, tolerant, down-to-earth, helpful, but also bound by traditions. We as Europeans have forgotten how to deal with each other like that. As a German, you will be welcomed completely openly everywhere!

According to the "Global Peace Index", Costa Rica is ranked 34th in the world, between countries like Croatia and Italy. By comparison, France is ranked 51st and the USA 114th (the higher, the less safe). Moreover, in Costa Rica, the canton of Hojancha is considered the safest! There have been no violent crimes for 15 years! As a result, you can move around completely freely and safely without ever looking over your shoulder. House or flat burglaries are also practically unknown.

Many tasty natural products are grown and harvested here all year round.

Pineapple all year round for 1.50 euros, mango in April for 0.80 euros, avocado is harvested in December and we have it for 1.50 euros in the large version, honeydew melon and watermelon are available in 5 pieces for 3 euros in February, papaya is offered for 1.50 euros in October, of course almost everything is available here, but some like apples, pears and peaches come from Europe and are therefore more expensive than usual. All the fruit and vegetables we know are available here and it goes without saying that they are of high quality.

You can read on the internet that the cost of living in Costa Rica is high. That's true, but you can live much cheaper here than in Germany if you adapt to the country and its people. This way of life would be healthier and more relaxed anyway.

Colones is the name of the currency here, 10,000 colones are 1.50 euros, but you can also pay in US dollars.

The Banco Nationale is at the park in Hojanca and has an ATM. Colones can be withdrawn from the German account at any time with Visa and Mastercard. It is possible to open an account at this bank in dollars.

The country of Costa Rica has long been considered a model country and is appreciatively referred to as the "Switzerland of Central America". The country has a long democratic tradition (since 1889) and the military was abolished in Costa Rica as early as 1949. The money saved was invested in the education system, so that the population has a relatively high level of education.

Costa Rica's legal system is comparable to that of Europe. The legislation guarantees the unrestricted right to property and ownership. The foreign investor is completely equal to the domestic investor. The land register and the commercial register are transparent, and it is possible to view information on owners, mortgages and encumbrances on the internet. Ergo, in terms of the legal framework, the security of an investment is equal to an investment in Europe.

The situation here is extremely stable, even if the president is not particularly liked by the population, there is no unrest. But if something is not introduced according to the wishes of the Ticos, the big trucks stand across and block the biggest road in the world, the "Panamericana", for days if necessary, until the government changes its decision for the good of the people.

From my point of view, there is no country that lives security like this: a reason why we came here with 2 teenage girls, also many female travellers can be met here in the country.

One of the biggest sins here is: molesting a woman or cutting down a tree. Both are punished with 5 years without further evidence.

The blue zone refers to the fact that the people here live to be the oldest. There is only a blue zone in the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica and in 4 other parts of the world. Due to the relaxed way of life and the contentment of the people here, we often meet older people over 60 who look like they are in their 40s and have no aches and pains and move through the mountain landscape faster than we can.

Diet plays a significant role, there is a dish here called "Casado", consisting of rice-bean-salad-pasta-meat or fish-baked-banana, it is very nutritious and eaten almost every day at any time of the day. Obviously it must be healthy as we don't know any sick people here.

The hospital is in Hojanca and Nicoya, the care is ranked 10th internationally and in the Central and South America area Costa Rica is ranked 1st.

Wi-Fi: Available from 2 providers and often better than we are used to in Germany.

5G: Not available here.