•Opera (Grieg, Martini, Bellini, Rachmaninov, Verdi, Gounod and Offenbach) - National Theatre, Nov. 17th at 5:10 p.m. For more information call: (506) 2221-5341

November 2011

•Band concert (music from the 19th and 20th centuries)- National Theatre, Nov. 3rd and 5th at 8:00 p.m. For more infor call: (506)2221-5341

OPERA

BAND CONCERT

•LILA DOWNS in concert (Mexican American singer): “Pecados y Milagros” - National Theatre, Nov. 9 and 10th at 8:00 p.m. For more information call: (506) 2221-5341

•LILA DOWNS

Welcome to LARM

Costa Rica Newsletter

San José, Costa Rica, October 4th, 2011- The Investigation and Intelligence Department of the prestigious editorial house Financial Times: FDI Intelligence has selected San Jose as one ofthe 10 best cities for future foreign direct investment due to its competitive advantages to promote business establishment and growth.

This is the first time that FDI Intelligence is conducting the “American Cities of the Future” ranking, for which it carried out a comparative analysis of around 405 locations in the continent, creating specific sub-categories based on each region. The group of analysts is also known for its “Countries of the Future” ranking, in which Costa Rica has ranked as one of the most competitive destinations in the continent on repeated occasions.

Rank City State Country

Santiago1 Santiago Chile

Lima2 Lima PerúMonterrey3 Nuevo León México

Bogotá4 Capital District ColombiaSan José San José5 Costa Rica

Guadalajara Jalisco6 México

Queretaro Queretaro7 México

Barranquilla Atlántico8 Colombia

Hermosillo Sonora9 México

Sao Pablo Sonora10 Brazil

TOP 10 LATIN AMERICAN CITIES OF THE FUTURE 2010/11

Upcoming events

It is our pleasure to re-launch our monthly Newsletter. The intention of this newsletter is to inform the expat community in Costa Rica and those who closely work with transferees on a daily basis on the latest news, events, changes in regulations that could be of interest.It is LARM Costa Rica and her sister company, Mudanzas Mundiales´ intention that you enjoy this newsletter and feel freeto reach us back with suggestions or ideas to be included on upcoming newsletters at costarica@larmgroup.com.

Ranked amongst the top 10 best cities

for foreign direct investment in America San Jose

Playa Tamarindo,

Playa Langosta, Playa Grande

•CRiterio Ambiental Film Fest - Magaly Cinemas, Nov. 15th. For more info: www.ccmcinemas.com

San Jose

• Malpaís Farewell Concert at the National Stadium, Nov. 18th. Pls. check: www.laboletería.co.cr

Ranked amongst the top 10 best citiesfor foreign direct investment in America.

OPERA•malpais concert

•2011 Santa Ana International Baroque Music Festival- Thru Nov. 6th at Centennial Parish Church. Check: www.emaicr.com

Latin americaleaders

The top five cities in Latin America are Santiago, Chile; Lima, Peru; Monterrey, Mexico; Bogota, Colombia; and San Jose, Costa Rica according to FDI Intelligence. “A group of specialized investment experts deeply analyzed the conditions for doing business in the country; this validates the importance of ranking as leaders in the region. Furthermore, we were compared with cities that are significantly bigger than San José. This proofs that we are successfully competing with larger scale economies and cities, with a sustained tradition in the area” commented Irving Soto, Promotions Director for the Costa Rican

Investment Promotion Agency (CINDE).Additionally, as part of the analysis, the researchers compared each country´s capital with other large cities. In this respect Alajuela, Heredia and Santa Ana were chosen as the Micro-Cities with the Best Economic Potential (a combination of quality and cost) for foreign investors. According to data from the Foreign Trade Ministry (COMEX), in 2010 the country attracted US$1450 million in FDI, surpassing the established goal by 12% (US$150 million). Costa Rica expects to attract US$1850 million in 2011.

•The researchers studied 405 American cities, analyzing hard data and incorporating the opinion of a panel of international experts.•The information was divided in six specific categories: economic potential, human resource, cost efficiency, quality of life, infrastructure, and business openness.

•A seventh category was analyzed for this ranking: investment promotion strategy.•To view the complete report please visit www.fDiIntelligence.com

** Taken from CINDE press release

Tamarindo Beach is part of a bay formed by a cape, Cabo Velas (velas is the word Spanish for sails, or sailfish). Playa Grande lies to the north of Tamarindo Beach inside the bay. The two beaches are separated by a natural salt water estuary, Estero Tamarindo. South of Tamarindo Bay there is another beautiful estuary and beach, Playa Langosta.

Both Playa Grande and Playa Langosta are protected nesting areas for the giant leatherback turtle, and are part of the Costa Rican national park system. These beaches are the major nesting areas worldwide for the turtles, which arrive from October to March to lay their eggs.

Costa Rican Getaways

About American Cities of the Future 2011/12 Ranking

Upcoming events

MALPAISEN VIVO

MUSICFESTIVAL

•Pearl Jam in concert- National Stadium, Nov. 20th, 8:00 p.m. www.laboleteria.com

•Culture and Sport Fair- Organized by the British Embassy, outside the Natinal Stadium, Nov. 5th at 3:00 p.m. Call: 2258-2025

music festival

Playa Tamarindo, Playa Langosta & Playa Grande

Tours led by official guides are available to take visitors to see this incredible spectacle. Another very special tour is the jungle boat ride. Small groups are ferried on locally built skiffs deep into the mysterious mangrove forest, where a breathtaking diversity of birds, mammals, and reptiles can be seen.

Tamarindo hosts an excellent variety of hotels and cabinas with A/C, some with kitchenettes. Tamarindo has several condominiums, private beach houses and B & B's. Maid and laundry services are available to make your stay a comfortable and relaxing one.

Tamarindo also a wide array of Costa Rican restaurants and International food restaurants as well. There are grocery stores, fresh produce and fruit juice stands, an ice factory, a variety of souvenir and clothing shops, an art gallery, medical clinic, pharmacy, hardware store, a full service bank with ATM machine, real estate offices, laudromats, internet cafes.

You can do plenty of activities there: sports fishing, surfing, scuba diving, snorkeling trips, beach cruises, water skiing, jet skiing, catamarans, ocean and river kayaking, wind surfing, sailing cruises and horseback riding. It is a place where you will definitely have fun with your family!For further info, visit: http://www.visitcostarica.com/ict

in concert

**Advice**

In these area you will find many unpaved roads that are easy to drive during the dry season (Nov – May). But please note that during the rainy season (May- November) it is recommend to drive it with 4x4 only.

From san jose

If you take the the Panamerican Highway #1 north, you will reach Liberia. At the main intersection turn left and follow the signs to Flamingo, Conchal, & Tamarindo. In this road just to follow the signs that will lead you to these beautiful beaches. After passing Filadelfia and Belen look for the road signs to Tamarindo, Flamingo, Conchal, Sugar Beach, Potrero, Avellanas and Langosta.

Tamarindo

How to Get There

Upcoming events

Paloma San Basilio

•Paloma San Basilio (Spanish singer)- Melico Salazar Theatre. Nov.3, 8:00 p.m. Call: 2207-2025.

music festivalour culture

getting to know

•English Language Theatre- The Little Theatre Group. Check: www.thelittletheatregroup.com

•La Paz Race (5K & 10K)- Playa Tamarindo, Nov. 19th. For more info: www.newton.co.cr

•AMNET Race (10K)- Forum 2, Santa Ana, Nov. 20th, 8:00 a.m.

la paz race

Upcoming events

Escazú• El Boyero, San Antonio de Escazu, 350 mts East from Church. Ph. 2289-9549 • La Casona de Laly, Escazu Center. Ph. 2288-5807 • Mi Tablita Campesina, Escazu Center. Ph. 2588-0406 • Mis Tacos, Escazu next to the Municipalidad. Ph. 2288-0785 • Tiquicia Restaurant, San Antonio de Escazu. Ph. 2289-58-39

Santa Ana• La Casa de Abel, 100 meters south of Hermanos Montes Gas Station in Santa Ana • Villa Antigua, Santa Ana Center. Ph 2282-6342

Want to Try Costa Rica Food?Following some recommended restaurants:

Househunting ProgramLook-See Trip (Orientation)

Tenancy ManagementDeparture PackageInmigration Services

LARM servicesLanguage LessonsCross Cultural TrainingFurniture RentalPet Moving & Moving Services

Contact us: www.larmgroup.com Phone. (506) 2219-8943 costarica@larmgroup.com GRUPO MUDANZAS MUNDIALES

MOVING TO LATIN AMERICA AND THECARIBBEAN HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER

COVERAGEIN

COUNTRIES24

Some Costa Rican Slangs

“¡Pura Vida!”: It is literal translation is “Pure Life!”. However, “pura vida” means a take-it-easy attitude, and is a wonderful feeling. It is also a common response to many questions (i.e. “how are you?” “how was your day?”), and it translates to “great!”

“Tuanis”: Pronounced “too-ah-nees”. It is used as an equivalent of “cool!”. “Diay”: It almost the equivalente to “hey”, although it may be used in many other different ways depending on the intonation you give to it.

“Que Chiva”: Similar to "tuanis," it is used as a slang word for "how cool" or similar words.

“Tico/Tica”: A Tico or Tica is another name for a Costa Rican born male of female (respectively). This term is ONLY used to refer to a person born in Costa Rica, not Spanish countries in general.

Argentina . Belize . Bolivia . Brazil . Cayman Islands . Chile . ColombiaCosta Rica . Dominincan Rep Ecuador . El Salvador . Guatemala . Haiti . Honduras . Jamaica . Mexico . Nicaragua . Panama

Paraguay . Peru . Puerto Rico . Venezuela . Trinidad y Tobago . Uruguay