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 […]
On my monthly relocation/retirement tours my clients have the option of visiting the Central Valley, Central and South Pacific beach areas and parts of Guanacaste. I do not offer tours to the Caribbean side of the country because the majority of my clients are not interested in living there. In […]
Costa Rica’s natural beauty attracts both tourists and potential retirees. Part of the country’s lure are its many beaches on both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. Recently, FlightNetwork put together a list of the World’s Best Beaches for 2018 with the help of over 1200 journalists, editors, bloggers and agencies […]