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If you are researching the best places to live (or visit) in Costa Rica, with just a few keystrokes of an online search you’ll be presented with hundreds of suggestions. But on the flip side, there is not much warning about places to avoid. General safety? Yes. But you will find few suggestions of places not to live or even visit.
Back in the U.S., David Krueger, a nuclear engineer in the medical field, worked gruelling hours, spending much of his 36-year career on the road. “I remember I was at a Hilton and they celebrated my 220th night at one of their properties that year. Realizing I was never home really bothered me,” says David, 61. “I was sick of working so much.”
When my husband and I moved to Tamarindo, Costa Rica, we had a plan. We designed a life with our main residence in Costa Rica, and a smaller one in Austin, Texas (returning each autumn for football, family, and frivolity). We also allotted two or three months of each year for international travel.
Although Costa Rica is no longer considered a “cheap” place to live like it was in the previous century, there are thousands of expats living comfortably on conservative budgets all around the country. Most will tell you their monthly spending is less than the overall cost of living in numerous cities around the U.S., Canada, and Europe.
When you dream of a vacation (or living) in the tropics, often the first thing you imagine is the coastline. Long sandy stretches of palms swaying in the sea breezes. The waves gently lapping the shore. Playing in the surf or donning a mask and exploring the colorful submerged world. Yes, it is easy to talk about beaches, but it is...
International Living has been reporting on the splendor of Costa Rica for over 40 years. And even after a challenging year like no other, the thousands of expats who call it “home” can share plenty of rationale why Costa Rica remains a winner.
We often receive queries about safety in Costa Rica. Since it is a worldwide issue, I would like to dispel some of those rumors and arm you with a little information to make your experiences of traveling and living in Costa Rica a bit more stress-free...
Suburban Santa Ana is nestled in the hills west of Costa Rica’s capital, San Jose. It is conveniently located on the tollway next to the popular upscale suburb of Escazú. Two decades ago Santa Ana was just a small dot on the map in the Central Valley’s mountainous landscape. But now it has grown into a popular...
As with everywhere, regulations and mandates are changing at lightning speed. I commend the Costa Rican government for taking bold steps to try to flatten the curve quickly by declaring a national state of emergency on 16 March. All schools and churches are closed...
Shoulder Season was a term coined by the travel industry in the 1960’s to promote off-peak travel. It specifically targets Europe’s “light heating” season or spring and fall. If you are looking for bargains and less tourists, this is the time to trek to Europe...