Blog Posts About Life in Costa Rica Expert time-tested advice on how to live, retire and invest in Costa Rica.
Costa Rica’s Farándula revisited
Part of this article is from a previous piece I wrote about 7 years ago. If you listen to the news in Spanish or know enough of the language to read the Diario Extra, La Teja or La Nación newspapers, you may have seen or heard the word “farándula.” La farándula” is a group of local characters consisting of figures […]
Retired expats should be wary of some of their fellow countrymen – buyer beware
During the 41 years I have lived in Costa Rica I have had the opportunity to observe expats in a variety of different situations. Most Americans, Canadians and Europeans who relocate are honest hard-working people who are living their Costa Rican dream. However, a few “leave their brain on the […]
Costa Rica ranks as the best destination for retirees in the global index of 2021
Costa Rica was placed in the first place as a destination for retirees in 2021, according to the annual ranking of the International Living.com publication, surpassing countries like Panama, Mexico, Colombia and Portugal. According to the 2021 Global Retirement Index, which has existed since 1979, Costa Rica advanced, as it was in third place […]
Costa Rica offers hiking (senderismo) for retired expats
Costa Rica has oodles of outdoor activities for retirees. Hiking is just one that is growing increasingly popular among Costa Ricans and expats. Here are two popular scenic hikes that should be considered. The first option is a long treck but definitely worthwhile because of the amazing scenery. El Camino […]
Retired and future expats should know about Costa Rica’s new plastic currency
No, I am not talking about credit cards but the plastic bills that will replace the paper money (papel moneda in Spanish) that has been circulating. But first let’s look at how to calculate the rate of the local currency, the colón, in dollars. On my monthly exploratory retirement tours […]
Good news for retired expats with disabilities; Costa Rica is an accessible destination
Under Costa Rica Law No 7600, Ley de Igualdad de Opportunidades (The Equal Opportunities Law for People with Disabilities), no person can be discriminated because they’re disabled if they are equally capable as another person. This law also promotes that public places and transport should have facilities that enable people with disabilities […]
Costa Rica’s new Legislative Assembly — the one hundred and fifty million dollar “chimney” that isn’t working like it should
In case many retired expats do not know, Costa Rica new legislature building was inaugurated on October 19, 2020. It replaces the old building located nearby that had been in operation since 1958. The government spent about $150,000,000 on the project. The new structure rises 18 stories above street level, […]
A Tale of two real estate conmen in Costa Rica
Many foreigners who come to Costa Rica seem to leave their ‘Brain on the plane’ and make foolish investments by doing things they would never have dreamed of at home. They basically fall in “lust” with the country. So, it is always wise to ‘test before you invest before you […]
Costa Rica’s Isla del Coco is one of the few places in the world that is free of corona virus
Coco Island (Isla del Coco in Spanish) is an island in the Pacific Ocean administered by Costa Rica. It is located approximately 550 km or 360 miles southwest of the Costa Rican mainland. The island has an area of approximately 9.21 square miles, and is more or less rectangular in shape. Coco Island has been a Costa Rican National Park since 1978, and has no permanent inhabitants except […]
An educational cultural activity for Retired Expats
In Costa Rica you will never be bored unless you want to. Despite being a pint-size country, Costa Rica offers 100s of activities and interesting things to see and experience. For example, it is now possible for expats to visit Isla San Lucas (San Lucas Island) on a tour one […]