Costa Rica
Essay Preview: Costa Rica
Report this essay
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
It is every ventures desire to gain market share and increase revenue. Both of these goals can be reached by expanding to a new market. It is our hope to bring new ventures to the developing country of Costa Rica. Costa Rica is a central location for the U.S. and South America. With its position on the Caribbean Sea and North Pacific Ocean there is easy access for both freight and cruse ships. To our satisfaction Costa Rica has had a very stable government, reducing some political risks we could encounter. Initially Costa Rica seems to be a good market to enter and we feel would be very promising with research collected and reviewed.
Physical Setting and its impact on business
Location/Map
(www.travelgrotto.com)
Located at 10 00 N, 84 00 W
In Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama (Costa Rica)
Easy Access by ship by both the Caribbean Sea and North Pacific Ocean.
Topography
Area is 51,100 sq km (roughly about twice the size as Vermont) (Background Note: Costa Rica, 2004)
Terrain is coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major volcanoes
Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m(Costa Rica)
Divided into 3 geographic division
Meseta Central
Rich agricultural valley is cradled by the flanks of the Cordillera Talamanca to the south
San Josй, the capital, lies at its center
Measures about 40 km north to south and 80 km east to west (Baker,2001)
Northern Lowlands and Caribbean Coast
Broad, pancake-flat, wedge-shaped northern lowlands are cut off from the more densely populated highlands
Impenetrable hardwood forest
Low-lying plains or llanuras, which make up one-fifth of the nations land area, extend along the entire length of the Rнo San Juan, whose course demarcates the Nicaraguan border
Jungle ascending the steep eastern slopes of the central mountains, which run along a northwest-southeast axis
Beautiful beaches, many of gray or black sand, line the Caribbean coast (Baker,2001)
(iii)
Pacific Coast
Deeply indented with bays and inlets and two large gulfs–the Golfo de Nicoya (in the north) and Golfo Dulce (in the south)
Slender coastal plain is only a few kilometers wide
orth of the Golfo de Nicoya, the coastal strip widens to form a broad lowland belt of savanna–the Tempisque basin (Baker,2001)
Transportation
Airport
In the capital city of San Jose (Staff, 2000-2005)
San Josйs Juan Santamaria international airport
(iii)
Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia, 217km (135mi) northwest of San Josй
Departure tax of around US$17 on international flights (Costa Rica Travel Tips, 2000)
Trains
Service is extremely limited in Costa Rica
Usually run in the Atlantic region (Staff, 2000-2005)
(iii)
There is no passenger train service except for commuter trains near San Jose. (Relocation in Costa Rica, 2002)
Automobiles
Roads are in generally poor condition (Relocation in Costa Rica,2002)
Potholes abound in main streets in major cities lately, the roads have been well-marked (Staff, 2000-2005)
(iii)
Legal
Driving age is eighteen and over but if youre a foreigner, you must be 21 years old and always carry a passport; a tourists drivers license is valid only for three months after arrival, after which he/she has to apply for a Costa Rican license.
Speed limit