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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...
Costa Rica’s established beach community of Playas del Coco—simply known as “El Coco” or Coco Beach—earns the distinction of being one of the closest beach communities in Costa Rica to an international airport. You can grab your suitcase at baggage claim at Liberia Airport in Guanacaste, jump in a taxi, and have your toes in the sand...
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...
Like many admirers of the Jimmy Buffett lifestyle, North Carolina native, Chip Little has long dreamed of owning a tiki beach bar in the tropics. His wife, Jennifer, remembers the exact moment the idea was introduced...
"Costa Rica kept calling," remembers Ashley Sprinkle, an elementary school teacher from the Washington, D.C. area. "I was working at a charter school in Maryland and it was the worst job I ever had. It was physically and mentally exhausting...
These days, the word “magical” is often overused when defining a place or an ambiance, however, Costa Rica’s Monteverde (meaning ‘green mountain’ in Spanish) truly lives up to this description in every way.Monteverde sits on top of the continental divide high on the Tilarán Mountains...