Blog Posts About Life in Costa Rica Expert time-tested advice on how to live, retire and invest in Costa Rica.
Exciting news for those who plan to move to Costa Rica
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 […]
Poor USA! ¡Viva Costa Rica!
It seems that the more I watch news from the U.S., the worse the situation seems to be getting there. My home state of California is plagued by forest fires once again. Apparently, this is the new normal. Seasonal fires have destroyed hundreds of people’s lives and homes. Add the […]
Good news for retired expats who like to fish in Costa Rica
One of the good things about living in Costa Rica is that there so many activities for staying busy and happy. Sportfishing is just one of them. Fisherman can practice their piscatorial pursuits at Lake Arenal or on the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. Recently, the Instituto de Pesca y Acuicultura […]
New hope for retired expats who want to live in the Golfito area
There are some expatriates who live around the port of Golfito on Golfo Dulce Bay. Despite being sort of drab and somewhat abandoned. It remains a place of tico homes, colonial buildings, a few small hotels, and several large parcels of land outside town. The surrounding scenery is beautiful. There are several restaurants and gringo hangouts in town where […]
Yes, Costa Rica does have a national fire department
When I relocated to Costa Rica in 1980 I was asked a lot of naïve questions by my friends and family back in the U.S. One acquaintance asked if there were stores down here. Come on! Another person asked if there was a war going on. And there was a […]
Expat retirees should know about Costa Rica’s new national symbols
A couple of months ago I wrote an article about Costa Rica’s national symbols: The coat of arms, the nation’s famous three-colored flag, the Guaria Morada (flower), the Guanacaste tree, the Yigüirro (a type of bird), the national anthem, the oaxcart, the whitetail deer, the torch for independence, the Crestones […]
Retirees should know about Costa Rica’s new banknotes
On my monthly relocation tours I am always asked about the different denominations of Costa Rican currency and how to calculate the exchange rate. It is easy to figure out the exact exchange rate by going to: XE Currency Converter USD to CRC The 1 mil bill is about two […]
Not just for the Birds
As many of you know Costa Rica is one of the best spots in the world for bird watching. Birders (pajareros) from all over the world visit the country every year to observe the country’s numerous species of birds. The sound of birds’ chirping, their colorful plumage, the uniqueness of […]
Costa Rica stands out in its fight against corruption
For the last couple of months I have written about the country’s effort to contain the Corona Virus. As of Friday June 26 there have been a little over 2,000 cases with about half having recovered and only 12 deaths. B utwe are not out of the woods yet. Tourism […]
One Important Reason Costa Rica Is A Better Retirement Choice Than Panama
After the U.S. pulled out of Panama on December 31, 1999 a gap was left in the country’s economy. One of the ways the Panamanian government tried to compensate for the loss of U.S. revenue was to try and attract foreign retirees by offering them a whole slew of incentives […]