At first sight, Costa Rica seems almost too good to be true. The attractions of this tiny nation are so many that an estimated 30,000 North American citizens have moved here in recent years and now call Costa Rica home. Costa Rica has been blessed with remarkable equilibrium: few extremes of wealth and poverty, no standing army, and a proud history as one of the region's most stable democracies. Ticos, as the warmhearted Costa Ricans are known, pride themselves on having more teachers than policemen, a higher male life expectancy than in the United States, and a strong commitment to peace and prosperity. (from expedia.com travel conference Main Menu