Property is now SOLD. Thank you for your interest. COSTA RICA HIGHLAND RETREAT LOCATION: In the mountains about 20 minutes from Turrialba, which is about 2 hours south of San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica. The elevation is about 3500 feet. PROPERTY DESCRIPTION: 28,656.62 sq. meters or 7.08 acres. Approx. 50 % previously cultivated for coffee and sugar cane production. The balance is primary rain forest. A stream with cascading waterfalls borders on the east and south. A small steam flows through the property on the north and a larger stream borders the east and south east. Most of the coffee and all of the sugar cane have been removed and a carpet of peanut grass (mani) and a resilient creeping fescue is established around the house. This grass, the locals call zacate, is the only grass that does well in the area and chokes out the weeds that would otherwise take over any bare ground. Many varieties of trees have been planted where the sugar cane and coffee have been removed. Plantings include a local variety of Laurel. A wood prized for it's grain and color. It is used extensively for much of the furniture in Costa Rica. Those trees that were planted less than 2 years ago have already grown to near 10 feet. A ponderosa pine seedling that was planted a year and a half ago as an experiment has grown close to 8 feet. There are enough banana trees on the property to supply several families year round. A variety of banana called a plantain were planted 2 years ago and are already producing. HOUSE DESCRIPTION: Approx. 1850 sq. foot split-level with attached 20' x 35' garage/shop located on a hilltop affording a view from three sides. Framework is all steel and the walls both inside and out are of fibrolit. The exterior has the appearance of clapboard siding and the interior has no texture. The roof is metal and the ceilings except for the lower level are finished with Laurel and Cypress tongue and groove planking. The lower level has grooved fibrolit on the ceiling. Care has been taken with 4' and 5' roof overhangs to keep the foundation dry. The foundation was based on undisturbed soil for stability. Main and lower floor levels are concrete with ceramic tile and the upper level is supported with steel joists, a inch fibrolit base and a ceramic tile surface. In other words, all of the floors including part of the back patio are ceramic tile. The garage/shop floor is concrete. The upper level is dedicated to bedroom and bathroom and are very open with walk-in closet, shower, toilet, corner tub and a two basin custom counter made of Laurel wood. The large corner tub allows a view of the valley on two sides. The balcony that surrounds east, south and west sides may be accessed from either the bedroom or the bathroom. The lower level is open with the exception of the bathroom and utility room. A 4kw electric heater is installed in the wall of the upper bedroom for chilly nights but has never been necessary. No air-conditioning is needed, for although the daytime temperature may exceed 80 F, a breeze flows readily through the house via the screened doors. Nighttime temperature ranges from 65 to 70 F and daytime is a comfortable 80 to 85 F. The house is wired for 200-amp service but the present kitchen stove is propane gas as is the water heater. The electric bill normally runs less than 5 dollars per month, as does the telephone. A Direct TV satellite dish is on the roof. Lighting is primarily fluorescent with a dim-able tracklight system in the entertainment area. Motion detector lamps are above exterior lower doors and the total house is protected with a security system consisting of motion detectors in all rooms and a siren inside as well as outside that is loud enough to alert the neighbors. Exterior doors are made of steel with glass inserts and metal grillwork. Locks/latches are keyed dead bolt. The water supply comes from the community above and although the pressure is high enough to open the pressure relief valve on the water heater a regulator keeps it within operating limits. The water has always been drinkable with no ill effects but a filter is installed on the kitchen supply as a safe guard. The septic system complies with the US code. PEX tubing is used for fresh water as per US code. ACCESSIBILITY: Primary access to the property is via an easement through the neighbors macadamia orchard. Two other access routes exist but have not been developed for normal vehicle use. The small community above the property is known as Sitio Mata. It consists of a few homes and a corner grocery story. The highway system in Costa Rica leaves something to be desired but the road from Turrialba to Sitio Mata is paved except for the last 2 miles. The one-third mile to the house from Sitio Mata is limited to 4 wheel drive vehicles especially during the rainy season. The public transportation/busing system is good and very inexpensive although the seats are a little too closely spaced for people with long legs. Buses run on a regular basis throughout the state and are possibly a safer mode of travel than driving a personal vehicle. The government encourages use of the system by charging high taxes, license and inspection fees for privately owned vehicles. The local bus parks at Sitio Mata and passes through 7 times daily except Sunday. FURNISHINGS: All of the cabinetry is custom made by local craftsmen and one would be hard pressed to find better quality in the US. The kitchen and bathroom cabinets are solid hand lacquered Laurel as is the dinning room set, entertainment center, bedroom dresser, desk, china closet and lamp stands and stools. There are two double beds; one with a bookcase headboard and the other standard, both made of Laurel. All of the bathroom and kitchen fixtures were brought down from the US. The love seat and chair are very high quality locally produced. The refrigerator is electric and there are two microwaves. The 25 inch TV is a Samsung. Everything is near new. Everything will stay including most of the tools used to build the house and to maintain the property. The shop is nearly complete for the handy man. Arc and oxyacetylene welders, drill press, skill saw, router, sander, and typical hand tools. Gardening tools include a near new Husqvarna weed/brush trimmer and a small Poulan chainsaw. POINTS OF INTEREST: The Irazu volcano is only about 35 miles from the house. It is considered dormant but there are still some steam vents and the view of the crater is breath taking. The Turrialba volcano is visible from the house but is not as spectacular as Irazu since it has been dormant for many years. Both rise to 11,256 feet and 10,951 feet respectively. Costa Rica is one of the few places where a person can go from sea level to over 11,000 feet in less than 70 miles. It takes about two hours to go from the house to the Caribbean beaches by car and a little longer by bus. The drive to the beaches of the Pacific take about 4 to 5 hours depending on the traffic and a person should consider staying overnight on the Pacific side if he is to make the trip worth while. Both the Caribbean and Pacific afford wonderful opportunities to snorkel, scuba, surf or just swim in the relatively warm water. There are many places to do white water rafting or kayaking around Turrialba. The Reventazon river is between Sitio Mata and Turrialba and Kayakers trained for the Olympics there five years ago. The valleys are deep and the mountains high and all is totally covered with vegetation. It is said that there is more bio-diversity in Costa Rica than any other place in the world. The birds and other animals are in abundance and the night sounds are typical of a tropical rain forest. Toucans regularly rest in the trees surrounding the house and their call is unmistakable. TAXES AND COST OF LIVING: The government makes it very easy to own property in Costa Rica. Taxes on the house and land for the 2003 year amounted to 12,725.70 colones or about $31.00. No mistake!! The monetary currency is the colon and presently there are 410 colones per US dollar. Since many local people live very simple lives, essential items are made available at a low cost. There are no taxes on groceries but things considered a luxury are taxed heavily. Electricity is cheap compared to the US due to the abundance of hydroelectric plants. Propane cost is about the same as the US. REASONS FOR LOCATING IN THE HIGHLANDS INSTEAD OF THE BEACH: The beaches in Costa Rica are beautiful but the temperature is nearly unbearable and property values are totally unreasonable-a nice place to visit but a poor place to live. The crime rates in these areas are high and privacy is hard to come by. I located in the highlands for peace, seclusion and the more temperate climate and I don't have to worry about a Tsunami wiping out my investment or my life. Terms: $89,000 cash (U.S) We have drastically reduced our price as original easement is lost, however a second legal access can easily be developed for approximately $500. Arnold B Walker 7755 Riverwood Dr. Cottonwood Heights, UT 84093 801 944-5173 e-mail: walkme@xmission.com