Guanacaste Celebrates Anniversary
Though it is a holiday marked on the calendar, it is not a holiday celebrated by all Costa Ricans.

July 25 is the anniversary of the Anexión del Partido de Nicoya, formally making the province of Guanacaste part of the Costa Rica.  The annexation took place in 1821, 185 years ago.

It would be hard to imagine today a Costa Rica without Guanacaste, the province with the greatest development in tourism.

In fact, many believe that Guanacaste is living its greatest real estate boom ever following having been a poor and far away province for many years, dedicated to the raising of livestock and agriculture, tourism has allowed Guanacaste do a 180 degree turn.

The biggest change is noticeable in the once small town of Liberia that has now grown into a small city, with a shopping centres and hotels. Liberia has undergone over the last few years a dizzying change.

Development in Guanacaste has grown 152% according to the experts. "It is a growth that was never once imagined", said Randall Murillo, of the Cámara de la Construcción in Guanacaste.

Development has not only concentrated in Liberia. The small town of Santa Cruz is now becoming an important commercial centre. Papagayo has attracted developments like the Four Seasons Hotel, a world class hotel charging up to us$500 per night.

Tamarindo has seen a real estate development explosion. Flamingo, Brasilito and Conchal all have grown during the last five years. Playas del Coco, Hermosa and Panama are keeping pace with the growth since the expansion of the Daniel Oduber International airport that now has daily direct flights from the U.S.

Tourists to the far away province once had to land in San José and then spend another 5 or more hours to reach their beach destination. Now, within less than an hour of landing, tourists can now be on the beach.

Many local businesses have seen the opportunities of Guanacaste. Major retailers who once only catered to the San José market have sprung up almost overnight. Law offices and accounting firms are now establishing roots in Guanacaste.

An banks have seen the benefits. In Liberia, for example, where only the Banco Nacional and Banco de Costa Rica - both state banks - had branches, now there are six banks. Private banks are opening branches in beach communities where only the state banks would be present.

According to the Cámara de Turismo de Guanacaste (tourism board) the majority of visitors to Guanacaste are single men over the age of 45, earning between us$71.000 and us$300.000 and university graduates. 77% of all visitors to Guanacaste come from the United States, according to tourism board statistics.

The tourism board says that these visitors not only come for the beach and relaxation, but also in search of business opportunities. According to figures of a study by the Área de Balanza de Pagos del Banco Central, in the last two years, foreigners have invested us$147 million dollars in property in Guanacaste.

Many come because there is much talk about Guanacaste in the United States, especially of the real estate opportunities.