This is what a friend of mine responded when asked, “What is it like to drive in Costa Rica?” Indeed, driving is certainly different here. The traffic rules are basically the same as in the United States but common sense on the part of drivers tends to be lacking at times.

Sometimes you will see the locals do some crazy maneuvers to negotiate the traffic and streets here. People love to use their horns, too. This can get pretty nerve-racking and irritating at times. All it does is create a racket and really doesn’t get slow moving traffic moving any faster. A friend of mine once stated, “It seems like Costa Rican drivers are born with horn in their hands.”

At times the drivers here ignore stop signs, so you should always give the other guy the benefit of the doubt when approaching an intersection. When you come to a narrow one-lane bridge on a two-lane highway be sure to yield to oncoming traffic if there is a large triangular shape sign that says “Ceda el paso.”  This means the cars coming in the opposite direction have the right of way and you have to let them pass before crossing the bridge. This situation is  usually encountered on back roads and not the most heavily traveled highways.

Driving in San José during rush hour can seem like a video game or a ride on the bumper cars at an amusement park. A lot of “stop and go” traffic, horns and stress. So, try to avoid San José during rush hour.

Costa Rica’s famous potholes or “huecos” as they are called here are another challenge. When you hit one at a good speed you will know it. Not all of the roads are full of these nasty critters but you should keep your eyes peeled for them. This is especially true during rainy season when a lot of streets fall into disrepair because of the constant bombardment of the rain.

The speeding drivers are hard to take at times. It appears that some Costa Rican men have to validate their manhood or “get their rocks off” by “putting the pedal to the metal.”  The police do cite these speeders but there isn’t always a cop around when doing their thing.

During the rainy season there can be afternoon deluges which seems like the whiteouts which occur in parts of the world where it snows heavily. Be very careful in one of these situations because of the lack of visibility. If you are on the highway or out in the boondocks where you are unfamiliar with the terrain, try pull off the road until the storm passes.

The good this is that you really don’t ever need to step behind the wheel of a car in Costa Rica during your retirement. Affordable buses and taxis can take you to every nook and cranny in the country.

When the people on my retirement tours ask me about driving in Costa Rica, I provide them with the information above.

I deal with a lot of people who are thinking of moving to Costa Rica and many who have already made the decision to do so. I meet most everyone on my monthly relocation/retirement tours and at lectures where I speak.

I really thrive on the feedback I receive from these potential expatriates. I have found out over the last 25 years in this business that people move here for a variety of reasons I have discussed in previous articles. They love the spring-like year-round weather. The affordable high quality health care can’t be beat. The beauty of the country is overwhelming. The country’s vibrant lifestyle really make them feel alive. The large expatriate community gives them a sense of community and connection. The wealth of activities to stay busy and happy is a deterrent for boredom. The country’s politics is even a big draw.

Many move to Costa Rica because the are fed up with the political and tax system in the U.S. They don’t like the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan. The threat of terrorism and the resultant scrutiny and loss of individual freedoms is another factor bringing people here. Costa Rica is a peaceful democratic republic which abolished its army over 50 years ago and a tradition of respect for human rights. Because of this unique political posture we have no enemies here.

Whether Obama or McCain win the election in the States some people will be very unhappy and want to move abroad. Costa Rica is one of the logical choices for all of the reasons above. So it is a win/win situation because we benefit either way. We even have local braches of Republicans and Democrats for those who want to stay politically active. They are two of the many clubs and activities Costa Rica offers for foreigners to enrich their lifestyles here.

Luckily my teeth are in good shape and other than check ups and cleanings I haven’t had to have a lot of dental work. Every six months I have my teeth checked and cleaned. The cost is under $40. I once had a dentist on one of my monthly retirement relocation tours and asked how I could keep my teeth forever. He suggested a check up every six months. Since that time I have followed his advice and haven’t had any major problems.

Although a couple of years ago one of my molars started to hurt and went to see my dentist Doctora Ana Cristina Brenes in downtown Heredia. It turned out I needed a root canal. I ended up having visit to her six times  to complete the treatment. The whole series of treatments only cost me $140. I imagine the same process costs well over $1000 in the States.

My son had to have four wisdom teeth pulled at the suggestion of his orthodontist. The total price was $150.

Affordable dental work brings many tourists come to Costa Rica to have their cosmetic dental work done.  The quality of dentistry in Costa Rica is equal to that found in Europe, Canada or the United States. On the average, dental work costs about 25 to 30 percent less than in the United States.  Most dentists charge about $35 for an initial exam.   Check prices with the dentist of your choice, since rates vary.

Costa Rican dentists offer the following services: implants, gum treatment, root canals, whitening, oral surgery, crowns, bridges and nitrous oxide sedation.  Orthodontics for children and adults are available and affordable in Costa Rica. Our son has braces. The total cost for a two-year treatment is about $1,500  which can be paid in monthly installments of $45.

One word of caution for foreigners, some Costa Rican dentists  advertise in English-language publications and cater almost exclusively to foreigners.  Patients will sometimes pay more for the dental services these doctors provide.  The Costa Rican Surgeons and Dentists Association (Tel/Fax: 2256-3100, E-mail: dentista@racsa.co.cr, www.colegiodentistas.org) will give you a list of dentists practicing in Costa Rica. Check with other residents for recommendations.

• The weather is definitely a huge factor. If you live in Florida or Arizona you come here to want to get away from the heat. If you are from Canada or any of the northern States in the U.S. It is probably the cold that drives you here. Costa Rica’s Central Valley has one of the best climates in the world.
• Affordable first-class health care is another reason folks come here to retire. I don’t know how many times I have seen reports on TV about people in the U.S. who cannot afford to buy their own medicines, have inadequate medical coverage or none at all. Seniors are even being forced to travel to Mexico and Canada to fill the prescriptions. Costa Rica offers inexpensive care through its public system and excellent private care through its private hospitals. The country’s doctors are well trained in their specialties and go to seminars all over the world to stay up to date. My orthopedic surgeon just spent a week at a seminar in San Francisco, California.
• The lifestyle is another huge draw. You’d have to come here to know what I really mean. Any country whose official motto is “pura vida!” or “pure life has to be the place to live. The people seem very happy and enjoy their lives intensely with a lot less than the average person from the States or Canada. This spirit becomes contagious and you soon find yourself having a better lifestyle for a lot less money than you did back home.
• A large expatriate community to make you feel at home. I have more friends and acquaintances than I ever has in the Sates. I am not a hermit or socialite but find myself meeting a lot of people here. Foreigners tend to gravitate towards each other when living abroad. There is a very large support system here for foreigners which makes them feel very comfortable. In addition, we have U.S. style shopping malls and TV from the States. The are more Americans living here proportionately than any other country outside of the U.S. There must be something they like about the place.
• Something for everyone and everything for someone. There is no excuse for being bored here. There are plenty of indoor and outdoor activities from which to choose. One retire once told me, “My days are so jam-packed  with activities, that every day seems like a whole lifetime.”
• Plus all of the intangibles that you will come to realize when you move here

I can see all of this on the faces of many of the people who take my monthly retirement tours. When they suddenly they realize the have found their Nirvana their faces light up and they radiate happiness. They begin to bubble  with enthusiasm and their whole demeanor changes.  I find it personally rewarding to help change people’s lives for the better.

Also read: Retirement – Think through the location

I  am inevitably asked about Costa Rica’s weather on my monthly retirement tours. Costa Rica’s Central Valley has one of the best climate in the word. If you like spring-like weather then this is the place for you. I live in Heredia and don’t have air conditioning or heat in my home. I rarely sleep with more than one blanket at night. Atenas, the sleepy little mountain town, purportedly has the best climate in the world. If it isn’t the best it certainly come close.

In the tropics the lower the elevation the hotter the temperature. Conversely, the higher the elevation the cooler the temperature. Anyone who lives in the mountains above Heredia can tell you at times they need to light their fireplace to stay warm. The nice thing about Costa Rica is that you can basically choose the climate you want. If you want tropical, there is the beach. Those who like climates with spring-like weather can live in the Central Valley. While people who enjoy living in a cool alpine-like environment can live at higher elevations.

Rain? Yes, it does rain here. When I came here more than twenty-five years ago it didn’t rain nearly as much as it does now. If you look at weather patterns around the world you will notice  an increase in the number of  hurricanes, floods and extreme weather conditions. For example, at last count there were four hurricanes in the Caribbean this week. What we get from the tropical storms is a lot more rain. With the world’s weather going crazy, it is no wonder we now get  rain from April to November with little respite. September and October are by far the wettest months of the year because coincide with the hurricane season in the Caribbean. At times I think I must be living in Seattle, Washington because the rain seems to put a damper on everything.

Summer is really a misnomer here. From December to March the weather is warm during the day, cool at night  and windy. Around Easter we do have a couple of weeks where it does feel like a real summer.

I am originally from Southern California so as far as weather is concerned I consider myself spoiled. So. Cal has by far the best weather in the world.  If you are from a place like Arizona with its blistering summers, Florida with its sweltering humidity or Minnesota with its subzero winters, Costa Rica’s weather is a blessing. It all boils down to personal taste. Most people who live here love the weather and considered it an important reason for making the move.  On my retirement tours I have never had a client complain about the climate in the Central Valley. Most people say it is perfect.