About the Author

The author, Christopher Howard, has written the highly acclaimed travel guide, The New Golden Door to Retirement and Living in Costa Rica. His most recent work is the visionary Living and Investing in the New Nicaragua. Mr. Howard has lived and traveled extensively in Mexico, Central and South America. Therefore, it is not surprising that he has first-hand knowledge and insight into all aspects of living in Latin America.

Furthermore, he has a foreign language background, having earned a B.A. in Spanish and Latin American Studies from the University of California at Los Angeles, and a Masters Degree in Spanish from the University of California. He also has a  credential to teach Spanish at all levels from California State University, San Francisco.

Mr. Howard was the recipient of scholarships for graduate study at the University of the Americas in Puebla, Mexico and the Jesuit University of Guadalajara, Mexico.

He has been a columnist for the newspapers Costa Rica Today and Central America Weekly, the award-winning newsletter, Costa Rican Outlook and the Costa Rican Resident's Association magazine, El Residente.  He is currently a paid consultant for National Geographic and working on a screenplay  which takes place in Central America.

Mr. Howard resides in San José Costa Rica with his Costa Rican wife and 12 year old son.  He is one of the few writers of travel guides about Latin America who lives there full time.