[JASON HOLLAND]

An update here. Costa Rica now has it’s own form for importing pets:

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel/by-country/pettravel-costa-rica

[JASON HOLLAND]

Hi Sue,

I would contact your nearest Costa Rican consulate for any updates. You can find the form here: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel/by-country/pettravel-costa-rica

Jason

[JASON HOLLAND]

Hi David,

Thanks for the update. And definitely keep us posted on life in CR!

[JASON HOLLAND]

Hi Thomas,

To get to Bocas by land is very easy. Your friend will pass through the Sixaola border crossing into Panama. Probably the easiest way to do this is to sign up for a shuttle or tour in a place like Puerto Viejo de Salamanca on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. They’ll get him onto Bocas del Toro quickly and easily, shepherding him through the border crossing and all the paperwork. He could also take the bus or taxi to the border and manage the crossing himself, then catch another bus/taxi and then water taxi to get to the Bocas Town.

As far as documents go, it’s important he have proof of onward travel out of Costa Rica within 90 days of entry. So a print out of his plane ticket out of Costa Rica. Costa Rican immigration will definitely want to see this when he re-enters Costa Rica. Panama immigration will probably want to see it when he enters as well. Other than that, the passport, of course.

[JASON HOLLAND]

Hi Steve and Teresa,

I’m not sure that Nick helps prepare taxes directly. But he probably has plenty of contacts in that area.

[JASON HOLLAND]

Congratulations on the move! Brasilito is a great place – love the seafood restaurants on the beach.

Nick Hodges, from NCH Wealth, speaks at IL conferences about expat financial matters. He’s based in California. But you can contact him here: http://www.nchwealth.com

I’ve also seen this agency, operating in San Jose, US Tax International: http://www.ustaxinternational.com

Also, the U.S. embassy here has a big info page on taxes, although they do not offer assistance with filing taxes: http://costarica.usembassy.gov/tax_info.html

[JASON HOLLAND]

Hi Christopher,

Thanks for writing in. I don’t know too much about this issue. But I have had friends (Costa Ricans with U.S. citizen kids) in similar situations. To visit the U.S., they had to apply for a visa at the U.S. embassy in San Jose, Costa Rica. The U.S. has all sorts of requirements and regulations about getting visas, as well as different visa categories, so I would encourage your friend to contact the embassy. http://costarica.usembassy.gov

[JASON HOLLAND]

Travel for a solo female is very safe. I would say that a rental car is the most convenient way to see the country. And with a GPS (available at the rental car agency) you will be able to get around no problem. There are about 10 different rental companies at or near the Liberia airport. It’s best to make a reservation online beforehand and they’ll pick you up in a shuttle to take you to get your car. Keep in mind that the insurance costs are pretty high, so that will add quite a bit to the price of the rental. As far as documentation, all you need is your passport and driver’s license from your home country/state. Most companies also require a deposit on a credit card of about $750 – ask the company you reserve with what their amount is.

From Liberia to Quepos there is quite a bit of coast to explore and you have a few options. If you were to drive straight through the trip would be about 7 hours, by the way. I’d say Tamarindo, which is an hour from Liberia, is a good place to start your trip. From here you can visit nearby beach towns like Potrero, Playas del Coco, and Flamingo. Some possible next stops are Nosara and Samara, which are on the Nicoya Peninsula about two hours south of Tamarindo. I would not recommend traveling any further south on the Nicoya Peninsula. Some of the roads are not in the best shape and once you’re there you would have to take a ferry to get further down the coast and that is a complicated process.

On the way to Quepos, you will pass through the Central Valley, which is a mountainous region that has a temperate climate. Some towns here include Grecia, Atenas, and San Ramon. They might be worth checking out. It’s not the beach but very popular with expats.

The next coastal towns are Herradura, Jaco, and Esterillos. They are on the road to Quepos, about an hour to 30 minutes north. Jaco is a bustling resort town, Herradura and Esterillos are quieter, smaller, and more residential.

If you don’t rent a car, I think taking the public bus for so long would be too inconvenient and you would take up too much of your time waiting at the bus station. But there are private shuttle vans that cost about $50 per trip that get you from door to door. Interbusonline.com and Graylinecostarica.com are two of the best.

As far as hotels, you will find a range at all the locations I’ve mentioned. From cheap hostels to mid-range hotels and B&Bs to luxury resorts. I would recommend making reservations prior to your trip so you make sure you get the hotel you want at the right price. TripAdvisor.com is a great source for finding hotels.

[JASON HOLLAND]

Hi David,

Congrats on your upcoming move! Potrero and Playas del Coco are both great beach towns. You’re going to have a great time. Let me suggest that for finding pet friendly rentals, you’ll want to contact some real estate offices and property managers. Both should have a stock of pet friendly homes and condos for rent. Make sure you tell them your move date and that you’re looking for a long term rental. I have two dogs myself and haven’t had too much trouble finding places to rent. Here are a few places to check out online and perhaps contact:

http://www.surfsidepropertiescostarica.com – Potrero

http://www.palmrealestatecr.com/rentals – Playas del Coco

http://kraincostarica.com/en – both

http://www.flamingobeachrealty.com – Potrero

Often they won’t list long term rentals on their sites, but they have listings or can refer you to an agency that does.

[JASON HOLLAND]

Hi Jeannette,

Let me try to help. I’ve located some holistic dentists in Costa Rica. I would recommend contacting them to see if they fit your needs.

Holistic Dentistry at Prisma Dental in Costa Rica

Home

[JASON HOLLAND]

Hi Nelson,

Nuevo Arenal is a big expat center. It’s a small village but has all the essential services like shopping, banks, etc. You’ll see expats around everywhere. But there are definitely specific places to go to meet people. Karacters Bar and Grill and Moya’s Place are on Nuevo Arenal’s main street. Big expat hangouts and great food and drink. Las Tinajas is a restaurant on the lakeshore with a great view. Big expat spot too. And you should also go to Gingerbread restaurant. Huge hangout at dinner time, especially on Friday and Saturday.

[JASON HOLLAND]

Hi Kelly,

Costa Rica is a great place to get dental work done. The best providers in the country are in and around San Jose, the capital of the country. I haven’t personally received treatment at these places but they are well regarded.

home

Home

Home

And I found this one in Liberia:

http://www.enriqueparradentalcare.com/en/

It’s important to call clinics and discuss treatment options and pricing prior to your visit.

[JASON HOLLAND]

For Cartago, you could try the folks at Go Dutch Realty – they’re active throughout the Central Valley. Also, http://www.American-European.net.

Liberia, which is the capital of the Guanacaste province, is a good sized city about an hour inland. Not many expats live there. But they head there for shopping, medical care (large hospitals and clinics), and the international airport. Most expats live on the coast, in towns like Playas del Coco, Tamarindo, Samara, etc. It is very hot and dry.

[JASON HOLLAND]

It shouldn’t be a problem to bring your medications or supplements when you fly in. Just make sure to bring any prescriptions and keep everything in original packaging.

As far as having items sent to you from New Zealand, it should be okay. There are some regulations set down by the Costa Rican government as far as types of supplements, packaging, and listing of ingredients. So I would recommend working with a Costa Rican shipping company. They know the exact regulations and will get your items through customs too.. Some items might even need special permission from the Ministry of Health. One popular service is Jetbox.com. I would contact them to get details related to your specific items.

Costa Rica generally does have most medications you find in the U.S., either the same brand name, another brand name, or the generic equivalent. I would contact the pharmacy at CIMA Hospital. If they have the medication in Costa Rica, it’ll be there or they’ll know about it. Usually there is someone who speaks English who can help. http://www.hospitalcima.com Call the main number on the site and ask to be connected to the “farmacia.”

[JASON HOLLAND]

Hi Val,

Great to hear about your time in Heredia. It’s a beautiful area, especially in the countryside and then you have the big city conveniences close by.

As far as contacts in those new places, I have some suggestions.

Arenal – Bob Lux at http://www.moranlakearenal.com sells real estate but also has a rental agency. Rentals are in short supply here, so reserve as early as you can. Also, Michael Karon at http://lakearenalrealestate.com

San Ramon – the folks from http://www.godutchrealty.com (real estate agency but they also feature rentals). And you might also contact Paul and Gloria from http://www.retireforlessincostarica.com (expats who speak at IL events. They don’t sell real estate but live in San Ramon)

Grecia – Cheryl at http://www.costaricalandtoday.com/ and the team at http://www.godutchrealty.com

Once you decide where you’re going next summer, let me know and I can send over some tips and expat hangouts for the community.

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