The Tyrrells, who have been running ecotourism company Costa Rica Rios in Turrialba since 2007, have decided it’s time to sell up now their two sons Archie and Tana are getting older. However, they say they wanted to make it affordable for the right person to take over the company.
So, they are raffling off a new life in Costa Rica at $81 a ticket.
"Our inspiration came from seeing an Aussie family do the same thing in 2016 when they raffled off their dive company in Micronesia," says Jane Tyrrell.
"We thought it would be a really fun way to be able to let someone into this lifestyle."
The company, based on the Rio Turrialba near the Tapanti National Park, has been running adventure tours since 1995 and was bought by Jane and her Scottish partner Fraser.
"We would love the winner to be someone with an adventurous spirit," says Jane, who ideally would like it to go to someone in a situation similar to the one they were in when they took over the business.
"Ideally, someone who wants to move to Costa Rica to run the business."
The couple worked in tourism together in Queenstown after meeting as backpackers. 16 years later, they have two children and a tourism company in central Costa Rica.
Starting a new life as the owner of a Central American tourism business sounds like a pipe dream, but thanks to Costa Rica’s relaxed residency laws, the winner would qualify for residency.
The Inversionista-class visa requires holders to have US$150,000 in property, stocks, or a business in Costa Rica.
"Our real estate alone is worth over that value," says Jane Tyrrell.
"We feel this would make a great Christmas present/stocking-filler."
With a draw scheduled for February 1, it could make someone’s New Year a very exciting one.
They are hoping to sell at least 25,000 tickets for the company, which would value the company at around $2 million. However, if they fail to hit their target or cannot hand over the business, the winning entry from the draw will get at least 75 per cent of the proceeds, and their ticketing partner will get the remainder.
The Tyrrells hope that if the sale falls through for whatever reason, the winner can put a sizeable chunk of cash towards starting a new life in Costa Rica.
A new life in Costa Rica in 2024
Costa Rica has recently seen a green tourism boom thanks to its beachy lifestyle and the national jungle parks that cover 25 per cent of the country. The country’s "Pura Vida Pledge" for international visitors inspired many other national tourism boards, including New Zealand’s Tiaki Promise.
Thanks to a relaxed investor visa programme, it has become popular with retirees and expatriates. Costa Rica is also one of the few countries that observes jus soli - or unconditional citizenship for children born on Costa Rican soil - as one Australian tourist discovered recently.
