WHY COSTA RICA?
Costa Rica is a remarkable venue for filmmakers. As a tropical destination, Costa Rica offers an incredible amount of diversity in a country the size of West Virginia. Solitary beaches, majestic volcanoes, lush rain forest, and spectacular waterfalls are all easily accessible. Costa Rica's long tradition of eco-tourism and conservation has promoted the development of an impressive number of premium accommodations in the cities and in rural areas, making it easy to access remote locations throughout the country, which offer the natural and preserved scenery that filmmakers seek in a tropical country.
It has been the perfect country for directors like Ridley Scott, Frank Marshall and Robert Rodriguez in their search for new world locations. Costa Rica can easily be labeled the fastest-growing tourist destination and the best tropical location closest to the United States. This and the current airline battle for survival has provided an abundance of inexpensive travel alternatives for crew and equipment. Costa Rica’s main airport, Juan Santamaria, is in the final stages of modernization, and a new international airport was recently inaugurated in Guanacaste, a short drive from most of the beautiful beaches of the Pacific.
Although Costa Rica has no formal film commission, the government, through several different agencies, has always been very supportive of film activities. Non-union Costa Rican crews, no minimums on foreign crews, competitive rates on hotels, and easy international access offered by all major airline carriers make Costa Rica a location destination you should consider for your next film project.
Costa Rica, is a haven of peace and stability in Central America (we have no army!) and provides foreigners not only with impressive natural resources, but also its spectacular mountain scenery, waterfalls, natural history, beaches (Pacific and Caribbean for more than 755 miles of coastline), rivers, lakes, volcanoes, hot springs, protected national parks (25% of Costa Rica’s territory is officially protected), rain forests, and urban architecture.
The main tourist attractions include:
- jungle adventures
- surfing
- canopy tours
- diving
- golf
- sport fishing
- mountain biking
- sea kayaking
- windsurfing
- white-water rafting
- bird watching and appreciating the amazing biodiversity of its flora and fauna.
Finally, be assured that more of your money will go into your project by working with our professional and competitive service. We understand your values, your requirements and we are determined to work efficiently to live up to them. We don’t promise what is impossible but we have much to offer and want to give the best of ourselves and of our country. Film and related media are the art and great communication forms of our time. These are the stories of our time on earth – from all over the world, and we want to share with you and the world, the amazing natural resources we have been blessed with and the warmth of our people that will most probably greet you with a cheerful “PURA VIDA”!COMMUNICATIONS:
Direct dial phone services, cellular phone service, international long distance services, facsimile, telex, radio and cable television, as well as Internet are all available in the cities and rural areas.
Mobile phones: CRPS can help you rent cellular phones for you and your clients.
Costs for your calls and your clients calls will not be covered by CRPS.
ELECTRICITY
110-volt AC is available nation-wide.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:
Citizens from Canada, the US and Panama can enter with just a tourist card and an ID. Citizens of all other countries require a valid passport. Visas are needed by certain nationalities so check ahead with us before traveling.
GOVERNMENT:
Costa Rica is a democratically elected republic. Elections are held every four years. Costa Rica is the oldest and most established democracy in Latin America. The armed forces where abolished in 1949 and the resources once allocated for the military are now used to promote education and provide free health care services. This is one of the many reasons why our country tends to have a better standard of living than most countries in Latin America.
HOSPITALS:
Health care in Costa Rica is very, very good and sanitary standards are high. First class hospitals, like CIMA San José, are found throughout San Jose and in many of the larger cities.
LANGUAGE:
Spanish is the official language but English is spoken in tourist areas throughout the country.
TIME ZONE
Costa Rica is the same as US Central Standard Time (GMT -6) but does not observe Daylight Savings Time.
PORTS:
Costa Rica has one main port on each coast. Caldera lies 5 miles south of the city of Puntarenas on the Pacific side. Limon is on the Caribbean/Atlantic coast and handles approximately 80% of ocean freight exports.
ROADS:
Costa Rica’s highways and roads are well maintained and link the country from coast to coast. An intercoastal railroad system is also in operation, facilitating the transportation of large shipments.