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August 30, 2013 at 8:40 am in reply to: Safety in CR: traveliing alone (women, blond, tooooooo beautyfull, 44 years) #533386
JASON HOLLAND
ParticipantHi Martina,
Thanks for writing in. Costa Rica is safe for solo women travelers. I know many who’ve traveled all over by car, bus, plane, etc. Just use the same precautions as you would traveling in Europe.
ParticipantThe return flight shows that as a visitor on a tourist visa, you plan to leave the country when the visa expires in 90 days. So you’re return flight should be within 90 days of your arrival. Basically this is to discourage “perpetual tourists” who would stay long term without residency.
Once you are a legal resident of the country, you’ll have a “green card” known as the cedula and you won’t have to show a return flight.
ParticipantHi Lynn,
Low humidity areas include the Central Valley and Arenal. The Central Valley can reach into the 80s, although cools down at night. Arenal also can get into the 80s.
ParticipantShould clarify about #3.
I’m referring to the port city of Limon when talking about no need to visit. The entire province is also called Limon and parts of it are good to check out. Cool spots to visit in the province include Tortuguero to the north, where sea turtles lay eggs on the beach. And Cahuita and Puerto Viejo to the south, which have beautiful beaches and a laid-back vibe.
ParticipantHi Jack,
So glad you’re coming down for a visit. Let me tackle your questions.
1. San Jose isn’t a great city for tourists because there’s so much cool stuff to do elsewhere. But long term expats tend to visit often because it has great shopping, the best medical care in the country, it’s the site of main international airport…that sort of thing. So if you’re on a scouting trip, it might be worth an extra day or two to look around the city and its suburbs. But otherwise, you can skip it.
2. May – November is Costa Rica’s rainy season. So it’ll be pretty rainy throughout the country. Could rain only in the afternoons. Could have three cloudless days in a row. Could rain most of the day for a couple of days… you never know. Guanacaste will be less rainy than other areas. There’s not much humidity in the Central Valley or Arenal. But it can be quite humid in Manuel Antonio and on the Caribbean side. Guanacaste doesn’t really get humid because it’s very dry – but it’s also one of the hottest parts of the country.
3. On the Caribbean side, there’s no need to go to Limon. There’s nothing there of interest other than that’s where your household goods would come in on the container ship if you moved down. The Caribbean does have a reputation for crime but I wouldn’t say that the level of crime there is worse than other parts of the country. I’ve visited the area and never felt unsafe. And I’ve spoken with people who’ve lived there for many years and never had an issue. That doesn’t mean there is no crime. That said, in this area, and anywhere in Costa Rica, don’t leave valuables visible in cars, vans, or buses. Use hotel safes. Don’t leave bags unattended on the beach. Stuff like that. Crime in Costa Rica tends to be opportunistic – so don’t present opportunities.
4. About bugs…this is a tropical country. So there are all sorts of insects to keep you company wherever you go. Bring insect repellant. Mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn – so be wary at those times. And keep in mind the beach areas tend to have more biting insects. But overall, I wouldn’t say that you’ll be eaten alive. I attract mosquitoes myself and I haven’t had any worse a time than when I lived in south Florida.
5. My best resource for Costa Rica travel is TripAdvisor.com. Great reviews of restaurants and hotels and much more update than any guidebook.
ParticipantHi Scott,
Great questions. It is the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The requirements are basically the same as far as which vaccinations.
ParticipantHi Jed,
There are many good dental clinics in San Jose and its suburbs like Escazu especially – all within 30 minutes of the airport. I can’t recommend any clinic in particular. But you might try Googling “dentist escazu” or something similar and then calling the clinic and then checking their reputation online. Many clinics in this area cater to expats and medical tourists.
ParticipantHi Linda,
Atenas doesn’t have any cart or scooter rentals. It’s a very normal Tico town.
Tamarindo gets tourists so there are golf cart rentals – I think the Best Western Vista Villas has an agency on site: http://www.tamarindovistavillas.com/Tours-and-Activities/action-tours.html. For scooter rentals there are several places along the beach road that offer them.
As far as skeet shooting, I don’t of any places in particular, although there are some shooting ranges in and around San Jose, the capital. I did some looking around online and couldn’t find any skeet places.
ParticipantHi Linda,
First let me advise you to seek the advice of an accountant in the U.S. to be 100% sure on this information. I’m not a tax expert.
As far as federal income taxes, U.S. citizens are obliged to pay tax on any income they make anywhere in the world. I believe that includes Social Security and a pension if your income is above a certain level. You’re on the hook for state income taxes as well if you maintain a residence there, have a driver’s license in that state, that sort of thing. Again, let me recommend you seek the advice of an accountant, as I’m sure there are all sorts of exceptions/special rules that I don’t know about.
As far as taxes in CR, you won’t have to pay anything except property tax if you buy a home. However, if you start a business, you would have to pay tax on money earned from that business.
ParticipantHi Linda,
Unfortunately, vacation rentals/short-term rentals are about that price. But if you figure how much hotel rooms would cost for a week for five people and the convenience of having a kitchen, etc. it works out to be a pretty good deal. Plus, you get to be in a real community not insulated in a hotel.
Long-term rentals are much cheaper. You can find homes for more like $500 a month. But that requires a commitment of several months to the owner.
I would suggest checking out Craigslist Costa Rica. You might find an individual owner willing to deal on a month-long rental. Of course, buyer beware just in the U.S. and make sure the rental is legit before money changes hands.
ParticipantHi Lynn,
As far as Manuel Antonio Estates, I don’t know anybody who could speak on this development. Your best bet will be to seek out people living there and try to contact them, perhaps if you visit in person.
There is a public hospital in Quepos, as well as doctors and private medical clinics. San Jose, the capital of the country and where the best and biggest public and private hospitals and the most specialists are located, is about a two hour drive away.
ParticipantCorrect, Lynn. If you are a way legal resident you don’t have to worry about buying a ticket out of Costa Rica.
This rule only applies to those on a tourist visa.
ParticipantHi Vada,
Sorry to hear about your experience in Panama. Jessica Ramesch, IL’s Panama Editor, has invited you to get in touch with her about any concerns at: Panama@internationalliving.com. (Anybody is invited to get in touch with Jessica with Panama questions as well.
ParticipantHi Lynn,
There is a regional airport in Quepos with flights from San Jose and other parts of the country. The nearest international airport is Juan Santamaria in San Jose about an hour and a half away.
Sorry, I don’t know the builder for Manuel Antonio Estates.
The closest golf course is in the Los Suenos resort/development in Playa Herradura, about 45 minutes north. Apparently is a really nice course. And it’s close to the beach.
ParticipantHi Donna,
Great question. First of all, let me advise you to contact your airline first. Sometimes they won’t even let you on the plane to Costa Rica (or other countries with exit ticket requirements) with just a one-way ticket. Yes, the same airline sold you that ticket but that doesn’t seem to matter. I’ve seen people turned away or forced to buy a return ticket.
Anyway, as far as Costa Rica immigration goes, the official rule is you need to show proof you are leaving Costa Rica within 90 days, the length of your tourist visa. Stating that you plan to leave to Nicaragua or Panama won’t work. They’re getting stricter and stricter on the exit ticket requirement.
Technically, a bus ticket to Nicaragua or Panama should work. But many airlines won’t let you on the plane (you might have to speak with a supervisor). The immigration officer in Costa Rica might not accept it, preferring to see a outgoing plane ticket. (The border officials at the land borders are okay with bus tickets, but not their airport partners.) Plus, it can be tough to get bus tickets from outside the country.
Long story short, I recommend you buy an open ticket that let’s you reschedule without a fee. Or buy regular return ticket and then swallow the rescheduling fee. Better alternatives to risking not getting into Costa Rica at all. In the course, of your research you might run into stories of folks who sidestepped the requirement somehow. But they got lucky.
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