Blog Posts About Life in Costa Rica Expert time-tested advice on how to live, retire and invest in Costa Rica.
An alternative or supplement to International Living’s June 2019 Costa Rica Conference
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 […]
More beer and less beer belly for expat retirees
We say in jest that beer and soccer are two of the most important things in a Costa Rican man’s life, but not necessarily in that order. There is saying here, “Con cerveza, no hay tristeza” (with beer there is no sadness). Beer is omnipresent in Costa Rica. It seems […]
More ways retired expats can save money in Costa Rica
Americans and Canadians tend to complain about the cost of clothes in Costa Rica. Here are a couple of solutions. I always try to give tips about how to save money in Costa Rica. One way is to find businesses that can repair broken items inexpensively. In the U.S. people […]
Once again Costa Rica is among the happiest countries in the world
In 2008, 2010 and 2016 the Happy Planet Index ranked Costa Rica as the happiest country in the world. There is more good news for the country. This year(2019) another organization, the World Happiness Report, named Costa Rica as the happiest country in Latin America, second happiest in the Americas […]
Why is it necessary for expat retirees to insure their home?
Buying a home is one of the largest investments you make during your lifetime. Some expats who relocate to Costa Rica choose to become homeowners. Those who are among this group should definitely have full insurance coverage to protect their investment. Let’s see why this so important. Getting over the […]
Violent Colombia vs. Peaceful Costa Rica
In the last two years about 25 Americans that I know have moved from Costa Rica to Medellín, Colombia. You are probably asking why? There are two main reasons for them relocating. First, the cost of living in Medellín seems to be about 30 percent less than Costa Rica. Most […]
Puerto Viejo as a Possible Retirement Spot
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 […]
Retirees and cookies in Costa Rica
Chiky is the best selling cookie in Costa Rica; So much so that over 130,000 are produced daily by the Pozuelo cookie factor to meet the demand. For decades both Costa Ricans and expat retirees have savored a delicious variety of cookies made by the bakery. In fact, the company […]
Costa Rica Among the 5 Easiest, Most Welcoming Retirement Havens in the World
Costa Rica was included among the 5 Easiest, Most Welcoming Retirement Havens in the World by International Living Magazine. “A new report from International Living points to the top 5 retirement destinations across the globe where it’s easiest to fit in. The Fitting-in category of the 2019 Annual Global Retirement […]
Costa Rica’s Mafia
When the word mafia is mentioned, the first things that usually comes to mind are the likes of Al Capone, La Cosa Nostra, The Mob or Pablo Escobar. Well the government mafia in Costa Rica is not as evil as those just mentioned but perhaps is more insidious. Basically, over […]