This comes as no surprise because year after Costa Rica has been at the top or near the top of the list due to its friendly people, its near perfect year-round weather, unequaled lifestyle, lack of a military, good healthcare, proximity to the U.S., an abundance of activities for expats […]
Relocation to a new country can be a daunting task. Not doing the correct research can most often mean the difference between success and failure. According to unofficial statistics, forty percent of the expats who move here return home. Why? There are a variety of scenarios based on what I […]
Christopher Howard has just finished updating the new 19th edition of his 750-page guidebook, “The New Golden Door to Retirement and Living in Costa Rica — the official guide to relocation.” Like all of Howard’s other works, this new edition will by published by his company, Costa Rica Books S.A. The book […]
The world-wide pandemic has devastated the world’s health care systems. Poorer and underdeveloped countries have specially been hit hard by the current health crisis. For years relocation organizations have been promoting Panama as a retirement haven. Panama’s drawing card is its low cost of living and perks that it offers […]
In March 1992, a change in the pensionado law eliminated many tax privileges that retirees had enjoyed since the program started in 1964. Under the old system, foreigners with official pensionado or rentista (permanent retiree) status were required to live in the country four months a year. They were entitled […]
In 2018 the publication rated Costa Rica as the best place to retire. Just because the country is ranked third this year instead of first is really no big deal. But the fact that Panama is ranked ahead of us, is absolutely ridiculous. If Panama was better I would certainly […]
Let’s face it! It is terrible to be poor anywhere in the world. In Costa Rica about 200,000 thousand people live in extreme poverty and 700,000 thousand more are below the poverty line. To put this into proper perspective the total population of Costa Rica is a little over 5 […]
Since I am in the relocation business I deem it necessary to paint a realistic picture of how things really are here. I try not to sugar coat anything as many retirement organizations and those with a hidden agenda tend to do. Costa Rica’s saving grace is that you never […]
Anyone thinking of relocating to Costa Rica will be happy to know that the Good Country International Index rates Costa Rica as the best place among the countries of Latin America. After visiting all of Latin America and living in Mexico and Costa Rica, I couldn’t agree more with the […]
Last week I received an ad announcing International Living’s annual Costa Rica conference. It does not surprise me that they are promoting Costa Rica, given all that the country as to offer as a retirement destination. I know someone who always speaks at International Living’s events. She related to me […]