It sounds like you both have skills that are very much in demand here. Business owners can make good money here, your revenues are lower, but wages you pay and other expenses are lower as well. There is certainly plenty of construction and landscaping going on!
For hiring into a company, the best way is definitely to get hired from abroad. Many manufacturing and service companies are relocating here. But obviously one reason is that the salaries are lower. So staff hired from the US, Canada or Europe as high level management or experts would make salaries comparable to what they could earn there. Mid level managers and consultants hired here would more than likely be hired on a local pay scale.
Although given your CV, it appears you may be able to find consulting work here with companies that have facilities here and need your expertise. They would probably be happy to pay international rates, since they would be saving other expenses like hotel bills and meals. Some places you can begin looking for ideas:
La Nacion is the big local daily and sponsors El Empleo, a human resources site. Most executive positions are advertised in this paper and online.
http://www.elempleo.co.cr/clientes/ La Republica is trying to become the local business newspaper -
http://www.larepublica.net/They should be reporting on companies opening facilities here.
English Newspapers:
AM Costa Rica (online only)
http://www.amcostarica.com/ The Tico Times -
http://www.ticotimes.net/index.htm The Government Offices that help companies relocate here and promote Costa Rica :
Ministry of International Commerce
http://www.comex.go.cr/Office of Promotion of Exports
http://www.procomer.com/So that should get you started, let us know what you find out.
