New members of the Costa Rica forum, introduce yourselves here - 2021

Hello - Media (television & digital) executive in Colorado looking to relocate to Costa Rica.  Assuming that most of my business will remain remote but also interested in opportunities and potential collaborations/partnerships in Costa Rice.

PATRICK2791.......The partnership,collaboration thing people use coming into Costa Rica,is an old scam.Have you ever been here before ?

I have.  Several times.  Maybe I phrased that wrong.  I'd like to start meeting people in the business community and look at ways to collaborate.

Hey y’all
I’m actually here on a fact finding mission for myself and to be able to convince hubby and close friends this may be a viable option. We are beach dwellers who love to have fun and want to live a less stressful life than the current American climate can provide. I’m a disabled /retired mortgage underwriter and hubby is a survey manager for heavy highway construction. He also is a Jack of all trades and could start a home improvement biz if that is an option. He does plumbing, electric, woodworking, etc. He’s done irrigation systems before as well. From what I’ve read, my disability more than covers my $1000 minimum but hubby would need a job or start a business, correct? This is really new for me. I actually thought I’d never consider this but here we are! Thank you for your time!!

Hello Julien, I am new to your site and have been doing some research on Costa Rica. I am 57 years old and my wife and I have talked about retiring to the south. I live in Nova Scotia Canada and would likely be looking for something like an apartment or condo, preferably 2 bedroom for family or friends to visit. We are not quite in the position to take the leap just yet as we want to visit different areas. Something fairly close to a beach would be nice, have looked at some spots around the del coco beach area.

Thank You
Bob Russell

Hi Bob,
I am Aline, we currently live in Montreal and plan on moving to CR.
We were thinking about the Tamarindo area too.
Will you be travelling alone?
Do you know other people there?

Hi!
Nice to read your message.
I am in the mortgage business too
Have you thought about areas that you could be interested in?
Do you plan on moving in the next future or is it currently a dream to realise?
Do you know other people in CR?

Melozimek...Im 62 and i have been a mortgage originator for over 30 years. I visit costa rica at least four times a year and have visited different areas over the past 8 years. Please realize the average Tico makes $400 a month. Labor is cheap so you will most likely make much less then up north.  My daughter is in the home improvement business and wanted to move here during her first visit ( not uncommon) and convinced her to wait until she would had about $2000 as a budget. You can do $1000 but you will be tight

Bobbaluba.....Great idea to check out different areas.  So many choices.  Coco Beach is a nice area.  I have fished out of there several times.

OK, I'll be the one to say it.  If you have never lived at a beach before (lived, not visited) then I'd suggest you just rent there first.  What they don't tell you is about the never ending sweeping of sand out of the house and if you have pets (especially if they are long haired) the sand that will stay in their fur - not to mention sand fleas.  It's hotter at the beach than inland in the mountains and do not forget about storms that could put your home in danger.  I used to live in Laguna Beach and these things I know from experience - yes, I have visited some beach areas here, but they really are not any different than what I had in CA.  I suggest you talk to some residents that speak English (unless you are fluent in Spanish) who live at the beach and see what they have to say about it.  Like I said, living there by renting will make it much easier to pick

Melozimek....You two are coming down for a less stressful life but still have to work.To ship all those tools and to be rolling the dice into a country that you never set foot in,what an intro ! We live at beach,most of our guest say the same thing on arrival day"We can live here forever! It is so beautiful and people are so nice !"By the time they have to leave,they realize that genetically,the lowland tropical heat,allergic reactions to mold and insect bites does them under. The biggest fraud here is,nobody is going to tell you how difficult your intentions are being that you don't have enough money or that you have to provide for your own security,so nobody will steal your things.Police do not get paid enough to care,especially if you are a gringo.

Melozimek......take your time and explore this beautiful country.  There are hundreds of you tube videos describing good and bad and the different areas to visit. This will  give you a good idea where to start.  Costa Rica is a beautiful country and their people very kind and helpful.  I decided to buy a farm and give back to needy costa ricans in my retirement which will happen in two years.  In the meantime, we do smaller helpful projects each trip we take while our farm is being develped.

Looking for a handyman for a location in ciudad colon, must be reasonable priced and know what he is doing

Yea I agree totally about beach area.  We built in the mountains - way too busy and lots of issues with living in beach areas.  Lovely to visit but not the place to settle down.  Also agree with the police - we've had 2 break ins and got cleaned out (totally) - we had pictures of where they broke in with broken windows, etc.  Cops said the only way they can do something is if they catch them inside your home.  And home insurance...........what a scam that is!!!!!  We were paying a lot of money to insure our home and then when the break ins happened, they told us we were out of luck as they only go by what the police say.  As much as this country is beautiful, it is a bit of a magnet for random people escaping "something" - so be careful.  There are a lot of scams and most fall prey to them.  It is a totally different way of life.

Warm Greetings ALL!
I'm a retired lawyer, 55, wife is Korean American, 50, and we have been through the merry-go-round of countries to which we will retire. First was CR, then Thailand, then Vietnam, then Serbia (still attractive, but no easy path to Residency/EU nonsense) and now full circle back to CR. Why? It's close to the USA, easy to get to, not ruled by a over-arching federal authority (e.g. the EU or the Feds), has great medical care, and cool mountain towns. I'm not opposed to a town full of expats (after all, I'm one) and look forward to meeting those from around the world. We are looking at Grecia. We have been to many Central American countries, but not Costa Rica, which we will visit, before making the leap in May of 2022, most likely. I have an attorney lined up and it's nice we can put $60,000 in a Costa Rica bank, and let it sit, as the dollar will likely collapse within a few years. With no kids, I'd rather not stick around to see America take the final blow into tyranny. Costa Rica is also accessible by boat and car, so if the airlines go full Weimar, we can still come and go, but I'm sure we will be exploring CR and other countries before coming back to the USA. We will be bringing in gold, so I'm still trying to figure out how that works.

denovoinnc2......You haven't stepped into Costa Rica yet,to take off your pura vida blinders off.That $60,000 good luck getting it back when you need it ! Speaking of your gold and other assets you want to bring in,there is a simple formula for protecting that,do not bring into Costa Rica what you can't afford to lose.May God forbid you have a medical emergency because the "Caja" does not work that good for a life threatning situations.Another thing,for long term living here,you will have far more obligations than rights ..

Edwin
          Well said. CR has far more risk here with banking and precious metals. Even your back yard grill
I flew back this Friday only to find all our hand painted pots and flowers missing from around the house and our new grill. We live on a mountain top in a gated community in Puriscal. So no one is safe from petty theft here
Remember most Gringos only last 1 to 5 years, I myself lasted 3 years and last month decided to head back to New York
Although I married a Tica we will still bounce back an forth to CR
The money doesn’t go as far as most think

Please believe the Hype Costa Rica is not a cheap place to live

But I definitely think everyone should dip their toes in CR and see if it’s for them

Peace

If the USD collapses, the CR colones won't survive. You can't trust the government here but, I believe, you should try anyway. I've built a house here and arrived 6 weeks ago to Osa (Puerto Jimenez area) running away from fascism in Canada. Took my chances. It is too early to say anything, you can live here, the nature is wonderful but this is not a paradise. At this point, I like ticos but try not to lose the sense of reality. Besides, you don't know what will take place here, as they depend deeply on the IMF, UN

I am also very worried about the current state and future of the US and that is why I want to have a home in CR to be able to escape to. I plan to spend time in the Osa and Corcovado on my next trip there and explore the most remote areas.

Hello All,
    I'm looking for any kind of help on visiting Costa Rica. I've done my "research" but it's different to get it first hand. I'm wanting to visit within the next few months, in Quepos, but would like advice on the area. This will be my first trip to CR, and don't know where to start! Thank you!

Hello,

I currently live in Paris area and I prepare my retirement.

My wife and myself would like to discover, first Costa Rica in order to expatriate.

Of course, I have many questions because I would appreciate the back-up experience of the members.

Many thanks by advance

Hello,

A warm welcome to all of those who have joined us recently.

Most of you seem to be curious about a lot of subjects pertaining to Costa Rica.

Subsequently, I would recommend that you start a new thread on the Costa Rica forum to get the right answers to your potential questions.

Good luck in your future plans,

Diksha
Expat.com team

I am trying to connect with the Philippine community that has moved to Costa Rica.  I am trying to move to Costa Rica myself.  I have been traveling there for 15 yrs now.  Botton line is who can tell me how to fly to and from Costa Rica to the Philippines?

tks -Steve

Hi all
we are a Canadian couple looking to come over this January for the 1rst time would like some advise where to rent for one month trying to be away from places that hurricane can hit < what is the hurricane season?> looking for walking distance from beach not expensive but safe . I been in Dominican Republic Las Terrenas I like it but wants to look for more option where my Canadian dollars can go far. can I bring Canadian dollars when coming over? what is the exchange rate?
lot of questions sorry guys
Thanks a lot

Free...There is no such thing as economical by the beach in Costa Rica.If you have to rent a car here,you are doomed.

I live in Osa, 20km north of Puerto Jimenez, 3km from Playa Blanca. I personally walk there every morning to swim but this is not for everyone. There are other multiple beaches nearby.
This is a very small Canadian community, secure and in easily accessible location.
The builder, who has built it lives also here. They have a new, nice house for rent, including internet and everything. If you are interested, you may send me a private message and I can inquire and provide further details.
I visited CR last year before moving here, used a rental vehicle and had no issues. I can also advise on a good rental business in San Jose if needed. You won't be able to see much without a vehicle.

Henry

Freeperson, as a Canadian who lived in CR for 18 years, realize that your Canadian $$$ won't go far as it used to, and the US$ is worth so much more  so you 'lose' approx 25% of your funds.  Imported food items are more expensive.

Basic fruit and veggies, if purchased at local markets are usually cheaper.

And no, you cannot use Canadian $$$'s there.

Hi
So I need to convert my Canadian to USA before traveling.?
Where can I rent with a walking distance to beach and local store and supearket am not looking for expensive one
Thanks

Hi
Am not looking to rent a car
Like am looking for a walking distance to the beach as for rent
What you suggest as a safe location
Thanks

Thanks for the reply
I only need a safe place to rent with walking distance to beach not expensive one where I can buy my food locally

Thanks for the reply
I only need a safe place to rent with walking distance to beach not expensive one where I can buy my food locally

You may want to consider Playas del Coco which is a popular beach that many Canadians visit.

You would be best to change your Canadian $$$'s to American $$$'s at your Canadian/local bank  or use an  ATM in CR. Don't carry too much cash. You can use US dollars, colónes or use a debit card at stores. Most stores will  take nothing higher than a $20 note.

If you wish to use the local currency, get it at a CR bank rather than one at the airport for a better rate.

Playa Blanca in Osa, 20km to Puerto Jimenez. Tons of rental facilities right on the beach. I swim there every morning. This is a quiet bay.

Greetings everyone, I just posted a new topic in the forum but thought it would be good to introduce myself. I live on the east coast of Canada. Coming to CR this February to see if it might be the right place to buy a winter home. Tulum was the plan until recently, the shootings and population growth have made that not ideal. I am interested in the Nicoya Peninsula as I have always been on the ocean. There seems to be a nice golf course in Tambor with reasonably priced homes but I might want to be on the west side of the peninsula. Panama is also an option. Buying or importing a vehicle to leave there is another consideration and I have found out that cars are very expensive in CR. I'm hoping to learn lots on here! Thanks

Blackwatch........Reasonably priced homes,that close to the ocean usually means,it is in a nebulous ownership structure.The corporate share sub-division,proceed with caution,the equivalency of owning a file of pillow feathers.

In April, the wife and I will be visiting Costa Rica. Later in the year, we will be moving to somewhere outside San Jose. We are excited about our latest adventure as well as moving yet again to another place on this planet.

Unlike the past, where she was military and I relied on punk and underground fanzines to communicate with folks afar, the Web has provided this opportunity to reach out and get a figurative feel for the folks living where we'll land. As such, it's exciting!

Hello,

Please note that we had to remove some off-topic posts from this thread. Kindly remain polite and friendly to one another while conversing on the forum.

@ metrohopper: Welcome to Expat.com, and thank you for introducing yourself I would invite you to create threads on the Costa Rica forum in preparation of your imminent move.

Best,

Diksha
Expat.com team

Hi!!!!

New here My name is Kylah, I'm 21 years old, South African born and currently living in Florida in the United States. I'm moving to Santa Teresa, Costa Rica in March 2022 and am hoping to make some friends before I get there

I'm self employed as a personal trainer and day trader and moving to Costa Rica has been a dream of mine for awhile, so I thought why not make the leap?!? I am SO excited to immerse myself in the community there, do lots of surfing, eat lots of local fruits, and just experience a much slower paced, nature-centered lifestyle.

If anyone wants to connect and be friends you will make my day!!! lol

Suggest you read the requirements of living and working here.

I am new to the expat community.  Actually I am an "expat to be". I retire in about 2-4 years and am not happy with what is going on here in the good ole USA. I have also always loved the vibe of both Mexico and the Caribbean when I vacationed. I would love to live my retired life keeping fit, learning Spanish, making both expat and local friends and able to live or walk to the beach or take a hike whenever I feel like it. I would also love to find some new and interesting hobbies.

I want to be apart of this community to learn more from existing retirees and aspiring retirees about places to consider living in Costa Rica.

Hi, my name is Ellen, and I'm happy to find this forum.
I recently retired in the US as a psychologist, and would like to return to
the country of my birth, Costa Rica. I've been reading this forum for a while,
but just registered.

I have been impressed by the good information here, and very practical. Great comments!
I hope someone has solved the problem I ran into.

I was born of American parents who were working in CR in the old days, before dual citizenship
was allowed. I was registered in the national registry, and even have a copy of my birth certificate.
Despite that background, I asked to get a CR passport recently, and was told that my parents had to declare me a CR citizen before a certain age, or I had to do it myself before a later age.  A lawyer in CR (not a specialist in immigration) said that I have to go through all the same steps as someone born in the US in order to become a CR citizen.   

The last time I traveled to CR with my husband, who is Brazilian, somebody at immigration saw on my US passport that I was born in CR, and told me I was in the wrong line.  I had to wait for a while and talk with an official. She looked me up on the big computer, and then said, "Oh, you're a Tica, no problem."  So now I'm confused.  I'd like to make this easier for myself by becoming an official Tica.   

Isn't there some workaround for those of us born in CR before dual citizenship was allowed, or we worked for the US government and would have had to give up our job, or our mother just forgot to register us?   

Thanks,
Ellen