Haysaw,
Regarding Costa Rica, my girlfriend's family owns two small homes in the mountainous region of Ojochal. It is kind of primitive but they do have running water and electricity. There are monkeys in the trees surrounding their cabina style homes. The Ticos are friendly and I whooped a whole bunch of them in billiards at a local pub near their homes. The land is cheap and the buildings are equally as cheap. Their views are amazing and the beaches where they live are secluded and extraordinary. The only problems they encounter are usually in regards to the terrain to and from their homes during the rainy season and the length of time it takes to get something done by a Tico laborer. The fresh fish and ceviche is amazing but avoid the beef unless it is imported. Bird watchers are abundant as Costa Rica has the largest collection of birds in the world. The roads through the mountains are treacherous and time consuming. If you wish to avoid the shuttle ride you can opt for a small plane flight deemed the Fright Flight that only lasts 30-45 mins from San Jose to Ojochal. It is called fright flight for a reason as the they fly low and it is very bumpy. The bus ride takes about 6 hrs from San Jose through the mountains. Also, keep in mind that Costa Rica's rainy season is pretty much during our entire summer. If you want to see the mountains or the rain forest it is best to be avoided during the rainy season. There is a surfer town about 2 hrs north of Ojochal called Jaco. It is very cool. And if you enjoy beer and a smoke of the local foliage, it is worth a visit. Once you get to your destination near the beach, Costa Rica is amazing and could add years to your life if you spend enough time there. We were without internet, cell phones, and tv. It's also good to know spanish. Have fun and eat as much fresh fruit and fish as you can. Don't over pay for anything either... it is like Mexico in that regard although there are plenty of European immigrants that run cafes and such in the Ojochal area and they are priced to what you would expect to pay for dinner in the US.
