Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes Will you be in trouble paying for expensive public and private healthcare as soon as you retire? Ivo Henfling of the American-European Real Estate Group gets loads of daily emails. Clients always ask for more information on healthcare in Costa Rica, so he asked me to help with this. Good…
“Living Costa Rica IS Expensive – So What “. This is what I hear all the time, “we thought it would be much cheaper in Costa Rica compared to where we live…” My response always is “Really? What gave you that impression?” The first clue should be when you book your flights and see that tickets…
Did you know that the sleepy surf town of Nosara is now a most desirable spot? Recently the Costa Rican grapevine has been awash with stories regarding renewable energy. The country has been powered solely by renewable energy for the past 75 days. This represents yet another victory in a long line of accolades bestowed…
It’s amazing how many expats find out too late that they bring too much household. When you move to Costa Rica, deciding what to ship and what not to ship is a big decision. Almost as big as the move itself. Before you ship your household, I recommend you get rid of what you don’t…
Can a surfer become a real estate agent in Costa Rica? It is vacation time again. After a couple of weeks of surfing and living on peanut butter sandwiches, who would want to abandon paradise? Usually, after such a vacation, nobody wants to go back home and thinks of making a living as a real…
The next boom is on. Costa Rica tourism and Costa Rica real estate are ready to be in the mind of millions. Thanks to the Costarican national soccer selection, the world is talking about Costa Rica. The first time that happened was in 1987 when President Oscar Arias Sanchez won the Nobel Peace Prize for…
Yesterday, we moved to our new house in Costa Rica. It is located in a nice gated community near San Mateo de Alajuela. We are trying to get installed and unpacking things after moving company Mudanzas Economicas Arpo S.A. didn’t give us the service we expected, as I explained in another blog last week. In…
Before you choose a moving company, hear me out first. The dreaded day has finally dawned. We are to move into our new house, which is in a warmer climate. Santa Ana is warm enough, but the community we were looking for is located ½ hr. from the beach, which means it is pretty darn…
The Gay flag was hoisted together with the national flag of Costa Rica. Last Friday, May 16, 2014, was possibly a big day for many locals and expats living in Costa Rica. Especially for the gay community. The Catholic and Christian communities might not agree but the recently elected President of Costa Rica, Luis Guillermo…
What is the Costa Rica lifestyle like? It’s what you make it yourself. Costa Ricans like to work, but not as much as they like to enjoy their beautiful country, their friends, and their family. The fact is that the Costa Rica lifestyle is truly an amazing adventure with breathtaking moments mixed in all around.…
Is it easy to renew a driver’s license if you don’t have legal residency in Costa Rica? In the past, just about anyone (residents and non-residents alike) could get a driver’s license in Costa Rica. Once it expired, it was easy to get a renewal. But, last year, everything changed. The government announced that new…
If you are asking yourself if you can buy or rent with a pet in Costa Rica Condos, the answer is “depends”. If you are in the market to purchase or rent a Costa Rica condo and you have a pet, you should tell the realtor what kind of pet you have before looking at…
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Have all homes in Costa Rica hot water? Would you think of checking for it? When looking to purchase a home in Costa Rica, you might assume that all homes have hot water. Well, you’re wrong. Hot water is one of those cultural customs that make buying a home…
Moving to Costa Rica and trying to meet new people? Here at InterNations, we welcome expats in Costa Rica from all over the world to join together. Our events and activities are organized by both the members and the events team. InterNations is a fantastic way to meet new people in Costa Rica, and in…
Toad toxin is a fast way to lose your dog in Costa Rica. Most foreigners bring a pet with them when they move to Costa Rica or with the availability of so many street dogs will adopt one, once they’ve found a home to live in. If you have dogs or plan to have them,…
Estimated Reading Time: 3 Minutes Did you know that several private hospitals in Costa Rica have Joint Commission International accreditation? Healthcare is one of the most important issues when you move or retire to another country. How good is healthcare in Costa Rica? Is the standard of healthcare here such that you can feel safe…