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Hi Walter,
There are basically three places to check out if golf is important to you in retirement: the Central Valley, Central Pacific coast, and Northern Pacific coast (aka the Gold Coast). This is where the most golf courses are concentrated, many of which are from top designers. Golf courses tend to be part of country clubs, residential communities, or luxury resorts. But usually anybody can play or become a member. I’m not a golfer, but from what I understand the greens fees tend to be higher in CR than the United States.
Here are some places to check out:
Northern Pacific – Hacienda Pinilla, Reserva Conchal
Central Valley – Carirari, Valle del Sol
Central Pacific – Los Suenos
Hi Nicholas,
Sorry to hear about the Error message. I’ll refer your query on that to the International Living tech crew.
In the meantime, let me answer your question about the exploratory trip. Your first step should be to check out the Travel Itineraries section of the Costa Rica Insider site: https://internationalliving.com/country_clubs/costa-rica/travel-itineraries/
We’ve put together some sample itineraries that should help you plan your trip and give a taste of the many different areas of Costa Rica. With two or three weeks, you should have a lot of time to explore.
Where you’ll explore should have a lot to do with what type of climate and lifestyle you are looking for. For example, if you want a temperate climate and the convenience of having the big city close by for shopping, large private hospitals, and cultural activities, you’ll probably prefer the Central Valley. For a laidback life at the beach and warmer weather, check out the Central and Southern Pacific coasts.
Let me know if you have any further questions as you plan your trip.
Hi Ronald,
Costa Rica is mostly Catholic – so religious celebrations play a large role for many. But Christmas is also a time when families take vacations, usually to the beach. So beach areas around the country are very crowded.
Increasingly Costa Ricans are decorating their homes with lights and Christmas trees – and Santa Claus is becoming popular as well.
Every year in December employees by law receive a “13th month” of pay as a bonus – just in time for holiday shopping.
A traditional dish is the tamale – eaten on Christmas Eve.
Hi Wendy,
February is high season. So to be safe, I would recommend booking car rental and hotel in advance to make sure you get the type of car and accommodations you want. There will be limited availability if you just show up, especially in off the beaten path areas.
Jason
Correct, your airline ticket will have to show a return date within 90 days when you first enter Costa Rica. What many people do if they plan to stay longer is change the date when they leave – as you are to Panama – and re-enter. You do, of course, have to pay change fees to the airline -and make sure your airline allows you to make changes to your ticket. The other option is to buy a refundable ticket. With those you can usually change the date without penalty. I wouldn’t risk buying an open return date ticket- the Costa Rican officials like to see a specific return date.
Hi Ken,
The southern Caribbean has a lot of safe swimming beaches. And great snorkeling right off the sand.
One disadvantage of the area is the lack of medical care. There a few small public and private clinics. But for anything major you have to head to Limon, which is about two hours north, or even San Jose, which is about four hours away.
Jason
Hi Stephen,
In your situation, leaving Costa Rica for week-long trip to Panama and then coming back to CR is just fine.
When returning to CR make sure to have a copy of your ticket out of the country to show the border officials. It’s a requirement. If you don’t have that to show them they might not let you in.
Jason
Hi Susan,
I’m not sure about swimming pool construction costs. I think it’ll vary depending on size and materials. I would recommend contacting several builders in Costa Rica to get estimates before starting construction.
Jason
Hi Susan,
Keep trying and keep practicing when in Costa Rica. It may be hard road at time but it’s worth it. And all the effort you’ve made is very admirable. You have to right attitude and Costa Ricans really appreciate that.
In my case, I am fluent but had the advantage of having a Spanish mother and growing up in Spain.
Jason
Hi Clark,
Check out these forums for expats in Costa Rica: welovecostarica.com and arcr.net.
The first is run by a business, so the site itself can be a bit commercial but the forum is useful and active. The second is run by the Association of Residents of Costa Rica.
Jason
Hi George,
San Ramon is about an hour west of the San Jose airport on the InterAmericana Highway. There are taxis available directly from the airport. And you should also be able to arrange a private or shared shuttle beforehand. Probably the best option if you’re planning to explore the area is to rent a car. There are several agencies at the airport.
Jason
Hi Wayne,
I don’t know about Ecuador. I would check with Dan Prescher and Suzan Haskins for details there.
You are correct about beachfront property in Costa Rica. Ownership is severely restricted within 200 meters of the shore. Basically, it’s not allowed unless your property was grandfathered in or you have a special concession. Both are tricky cases. Best be content with walking a short distance to the beach.
Jason
Hi Ken,
The Pacific coast can be pretty wild, with strong currents. But there are some safe beaches. The beach at Tamarindo is swimmable, as is the one at Playas del Coco. On the southern and central Pacific, you have Herradura and Manuel Antonio that I know of. There are many more, it’s just a matter of doing some research and asking locals as well when you arrive at a specific beach.
There are some great beaches and places to live on the southern Caribbean coast. Check out towns like Cahuita, Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo, as well as the surrounding areas.
Jason
Hi Thomas,
Building costs vary tremendously. But, in general, for a medium-high end home, I would say you can start at $50 per square foot, going up to $100, for the type of finishes you are looking for.
Jason
Hi Xakan,
I would recommend being very cautious in purchasing property with all those caveats. There is plenty of land with clear title in Costa Rica. No need to get involved in this sort of thing.
Roger Petersen, a Costa Rican attorney, might be able to clear some things up for you: http://www.plawcr.com.
Jason
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