[Kathleen Evans]

Hola Lori,

Thanks for checking in regarding Costa Rica residency. This is Kathleen, the IL CR correspondent. That is very exciting you will be visiting soon and doing some research!

And the good news is yes! You can be a resident of a foreign country (not just Costa Rica) and receive your Social Security. As long as you keep your citizenship. However, make note that Medicare will not cover you outside the US.

Let me know if I can be of further assistance. My email is CostaRica@InternationalLiving.com.

All the best in your research and pura vida,
Kathleen

[Kathleen Evans]

Hola Bruce & Mary,

Thanks for being subscribers and for reaching out with your question. This is Kathleen here, the CR correspondent. It sounds like you are doing some important research in advance. Well done!

Many prescriptions are available here in CR, but fall under a different Latin American name – or a generic. There is larger pharmacy chain here that not only has a website (many don’t), but they have a search bar. If you don’t find what you are looking for, you can contact them through their website.

This is a link to get you there:
https://www.fischelenlinea.com/

Let me know if I can be of further assistance. And yes, the best way to contact me is via my IL email address: CostaRica@InternatinalLiving.com

Pura vida and happy planning!
Kathleen

[Kathleen Evans]

Happy to help, Ngareta. Yes, it is warm and humid in the Southern Zone – more during rainy season May-November. Heat is a relative thing, but yes it is not unusual to have highs in the low 30’s. But as you get up into the mountains close to the coast, you will find the slightly higher elevation and the sea breezes temperate the heat quite a bit. A lot of expats live at these higher elevations in the hills rather than right on the beach.

And yes, anywhere you find expats you will find chiropractors. I do not know the reputation of any of them since I have not lived there, but a quick question on the Southern Zone group will probably give you several suggestions. Between Dominical-Uvita-Ojochal you will find all the services you will need for basic day to day living – groceries, restaurants, banks, ATM, clinics, pharmacies, gas stations, Ferias (farmers market), chiropractors, etc.

Best of luck researching. I hope to see you in July!

Also, if you have further questions, you can email me at CostaRica@InternationalLiving.com. I check my email quite a bit more than this forum page. I would not want to leave you hanging!

Pura vida,
Kathleen

[Kathleen Evans]

Hola Ngareta,

Thanks for reaching out and for being an IL reader. This is Kathleen, IL’s coastal correspondent. Very exciting you are planning a longer-term visit to Costa Rica. I have been here 6.5 years and I am still in awe of the beauty here! Plus, your Spanish skills put you leaps ahead of many expats here.

Where to live is always a challenging question. Because what sounds good on paper, might not be what we find in real life. But if you like the beach and rain, you have done your research well in narrowing down the Southern Zone. I concur. Although the Central Coast, Playa Herradura-Jaco-Esterillos-Quepos-Manuel Antonio, also gets its fair share of moisture too. And it is closer to San Jose (airport, major shopping, best medical care) so I would narrow it down to those 2 regions. But for the upcoming 3-month plan, I would look into Uvita-Dominical-Ojochal. You can always explore northward during your stay or plan to come back again. You may want to join the Expats Southern Zone Facebook group. This is a great place to network and toss out questions about living there, any rental opportunities, etc.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/707768359266826/

As far as the Fast Track Costa Rica conference, I can tell you this: I wish my husband and I attended one before we made the move. So much research we did on our own is presented at the conference on a silver platter. You will learn about each region, the pros and cons of living there. You will also hear stories from expats in each region and why they love it there. Plus they are available the entire time to talk to you one-on-one. But it is not just their stories. You will hear about residency and buying property from our Costa Rican attorney. About medical options from a Costa Rican doctor. There are real estate specialists to help you navigate through the process. Moving specialists, unique small business ideas. “How-to” preparation. The list of resources you will walk away with is impressive in and of itself. Since you are planning on being here in July, perhaps starting in San Jose at the conference is a good option. I would love to meet you!

As far as safety, I have many single female friends here of various ages. None of them are very concerned. Yes, you must be aware of your surroundings – especially late night, like anywhere in the world. But overall I would definitely say it is safe here overall. This is an article I wrote about general safety here. It might ease any angst you possibly have.

Safety in Costa Rica

I hope that helps set you in the right direction.

Pura vida, chica!
~Kathleen

[Kathleen Evans]

Hi Gary,

Thanks for reaching out and for being an IL subscriber. This is Kathleen, the Coastal Correspondent for CR. The Dominical/Uvita area of the Costa Ballena is one of my favorite places in the Southern Zone. I hope you will find the warm hospitality and endless natural beauty to be a good fit for you! The expat communities tend to shrink a bit at the time of year when you will be visiting. Winter North Americans often leave during summer and rainy season – returning later in Nov or Dec. October does typically see the most rains and some business owners take advantage of low season and close for a bit to either travel, visit family and/or do maintenance and repairs on their buildings. This is a perfect time for scouting – prices are lower, tourist crowds are scarce, everything is green and you get to see if you enjoy the region as a “local”.

It is easy to meet expats in the area. Some of the local hangouts include:
The Dome Restaurant (Uvita)
Restaurant Los Laurales (Uvita)
The Bamboo Room, has live music most night (Ojochal)
Jolly Roger’s (Dominical)
Tortilla Flats (Dominical)
Fuego Brewing Company (Dominical)

Uvita has a farmer’s market or “feria” every Saturday morning 8-12. There you can not only buy local produce and other sundries at great prices, but you can check out the social scene. You will find expats there hanging out and catching up.

You also may want to pop into a local real estate office. Since it is slow season, realtors are not busy and they tend to be a wealth of information about the community. International Living partners with Pathfinder International. You can send them an email and they will help with a contact in that region: info@pathfinderinternational.net; website: http://www.pathfinderinternational.net

If you have a Facebook account, there are many groups you can join. This one is specific to Southern Zone expats and friends. All you have to do is join and post some questions or desire to meet up. You will also find postings about events going on in the area, things for sale, places to rent, etc.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/707768359266826/

This is another general expat page for the country:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/expatsincostarica/

I know some people do not like social media. However, I will say these Facebook pages and groups have been the absolute best resource for me to settle into life here. From advice to social events. Plus, many businesses here do not have a website – Facebook is the only place you can find location, business hours, phone numbers, etc.

I hope that helps point you in the right direction. I live in Tamarindo, Guanacaste – about 6 hours north up the coast. If you do some exploring up that way and find yourself in town, let me know. I would be happy to grab a coffee or lunch with you and answer some questions – if our calendars sync up! My email is CostaRica@InternationalLiving.com.

Have a fantastic trip, Gary. Pura vida!
~ Kathleen

[Kathleen Evans]

Hi Renee!

It’s Kathleen the Coastal Correspondent here. I absolutely echo everything that John Michael has shared with you. Since you are focusing on the Central Valley and only have a short time to get to the coast, you might want to check out the Central Coast – since it is closest. Just in case you want to do more research before you go.

The most popular expat towns there are Jaco and Quepos/Manuel Antonio. But there are also several charming smaller beach communities along the way in between them such as Playa Hermosa an Esterillos. A Google search for them will help better acquaint you, as well as a search on the IL site.

As a female, I understand your concerns about traveling alone. Costa Rica is a safe country. But one should always err on the side of caution no matter where you are in the world. Therefore I would suggest staying in a hotel rather than an Airbnb or a hostel. That way you have 24/7 hotel staff to look after you.

There will be a travel company at the conference who can help set up transport to one of the towns. You can also look into pricing on either Gray Line or Interbus CR. These are very dependable shared shuttle companies that can get you from the conference hotel to most of the beach towns (and much of the country, as well). That way you do not need to rent a car.

I hope that helps in your pre-planning. Feel free to stop by the booth and we can discuss it further if you have not yet made plans. I look forward to meeting you!

FYI, I live in the beach community of Tamarindo on the NW Pacific coast. We have just had 2 single retired ladies move into our condo building (one from Dallas and one from Portland). So you can feel confident to know many expat single ladies are taking the plunge!!

See you soon!
-Kathleen Evans
Coastal CR Correspondent

P.S. Please note I am currently on a cruise and have limited access to email. But you can direct any more specific questions to John Michael.

[Kathleen Evans]

Hi Gene,

Thanks for reaching out. Sorry for the delayed response. I am the Coastal Correspondent living up in Guanacaste, so life here is a bit further from “sophisticated” – at least the images I conjure up of a cultural metropolis such as Buenos Aires or New York City.

And yes, it is true there are many expats who enjoy their daily meet up at the local bar to knock back a few cold ones. However, there are also expats who enjoy the arts and taking in a performance or catching the latest museum exhibits. And the good news is these performances are usually at a fraction of what it would cost in the US.

Here is a link to the national theatre website: https://www.teatronacional.go.cr/

This link it to the musical performance calendar updated on the English online daily newspaper, the Costa Rica Star: https://news.co.cr/music-costa-rica/

Our Central Valley Correspondent, John Michael Arthur, will be able to weigh in about other options for the arts – as there are many in and around San Jose. In fact, he recently wrote an article about suburban Escazu. Although it is more about the lifestyle, rather than the arts specifically, it is definitely a place to consider visiting/living to find Costa Rica’s well-heeled crowd. https://internationalliving.com/escazu-the-beverly-hills-of-costa-rica

I hope that is a good starting point for you to explore what is available in the capital city. Please reach out if you have further questions!

Kathleen Evans
IL Coastal Correspondent

[Kathleen Evans]

Hi John,

Wow, February is nearly here. I bet you are getting excited about your upcoming trip to Costa Rica! Please let me know if you have any last minute questions before heading out. Safe travels and pura vida!

-Kathleen
IL Coastal CR Correspondent
CostaRica@InternationalLiving.com
+506-8722-6677

[Kathleen Evans]

Hi Lori,

How exciting you will get to spend so much time in Arenal. It is truly a beautiful part of the country. And in January you will have spectacular weather. It sounds like John Michael has covered everything thoroughly. I would like to second the challenges of taking the bus in the area. Perhaps you might want to consider renting a car for part of the time there. Also addressing your wind question… During my visits there I have found the western side of the lake to be windier. In fact around Tiliran is where you will find a wind turbine farm. But none of the winds I have experienced were overwhelming.

Best of luck on your new adventure!
-Kathleen

[Kathleen Evans]

Hi Robert,

Thanks for reaching out. It sounds like you are fairly versed regarding the healthcare in Costa Rica. Here are the latest figures.

Your monthly income (based on whichever of the three residence methods you qualified under) is used to calculate your monthly Caja payment. It’s based on a sliding scale:

$1,000 and under is 5.18%.
$1,000 to $2,000 is 6.24%.
$2,000-$3,000 is 8.02%.
Over $3,000 is 10.69%.

However, during your interview, you are given the opportunity to amend your gross income to a net income (deducting things like insurance, food costs, medical expenses, taxes, prescriptions, etc.). It is this new net amount that is then used to calculate your monthly Caja payment.

This payment is for you as a couple. And within the Caja a same-sex couple can qualify together under one income.

My husband and I applied as investors. The figure they used was our income based off of our previous year’s IRS1040 taxes (from the USA). Since that figure was MUCH higher than what we are making now in CR, we were able to get a CPA letter from here stating our new (semi-retired) income and after 2 years we were able to reduce our Caja payment with a more realistic reflection of our current income.

I hope that helps. Best of luck!

-Kathleen Evans
IL Coastal Correspondent

[Kathleen Evans]

Kelly,

I hope you are having a wonderful trip….meeting some expats, practicing your Spanish, and catching lots of trout!! Give us a report when you get home and have time.

Pura vida!
-Kathleen

[Kathleen Evans]

Hi Kelly,

Thanks for reaching out. And congratulations on your “near” retirement. You are doing your research right, exploring first before jumping in with both feet!

And if you like a quieter, rural lifestyle away from the heat, Orosi might be an excellent choice for you. My beat is coastal Costa Rica and my colleague, John Michael, covers the Central Valley. So he may be able to follow up with additional info.

In answer to your questions…
There are not many expats in Orosi, from what I understand. However, you might connect with a few in nearby Paraiso if you go to the bakery or have coffee. If you want to be more involved in the expat lifestyle, you would need to venture just a bit further to the city of Cartago, where you will find a larger population of expats. You can also do an online search for expat forums in the area.

There is a Spanish language school there called Montaña Linda and they have several different learning options. I suggest you research them in advance or stop by the school when you arrive and see if their style fits what you would be looking for.

I am not a fisher, but I have heard Kiri Tapanti Lodge has an awesome trout pond and they will cook what you catch.

I also found this information from a forum which might be helpful for your visit:
“You should also check out the Orosi Lodge, home of thermal hot springs or the “public hot spring baths” on the road by the Tapanti Lodge. The other really cool thing is the hanging bridge over the whitewater river as you circle the Orosi valley toward Cachi. The bridge used to have a voluntary toll, it is a walking bridge only but connects Cachi to Orosi in a short walk, The bridge is worth parking at and walking out on. The oldest church in Costa Rica is also in the center of Orosi and there’s a small museum there. For all who have not been to Orosi, it’s an easy day trip from San Jose and really cool to see. You pass the lancaster Gardens as you leave Cartago toward Paraiso, which houses one of the largest collections of orchids and bromeliads in the world. Sir Lancaster spent much of his life amassing the collection.”

Have a fantastic trip and best of luck finding the right place for you!
Pura vida,
Kathleen – Coastal Costa Rica Correspondent

[Kathleen Evans]

Hi Wendy,

Oh goodness. So sorry for the delay in getting back to you! Since I am new, I did not have a proper notification set up yet and completely missed your response. Please accept my apologies on behalf of IL and we hope we did not lose you as a subscriber.

If you are still here I would like to follow up…
Yes, the waters in Manuel Antonio are conducive for swimming. They have gorgeous beaches in that area. Tamarindo beach is wide and pretty, but sometimes the waves are fairly big – due to it being a great beach to learn surfing. Also, Tama does get crowded certain times of year, since it is a popular tourist destination.

You may want to look even further north up the coast. There is a place called Costa Rica Sailing Center in a popular expat beach town called Surfside/Potrero. They have a variety of different sailboats you can take out based on your skill set. Also, off the coast in that area, you will find great diving at Catalina Islands. Some of the best diving in the country.

And yes, this part of CR is going to be more expensive than the Caribbean side. But it does have a lot less rain and more amenities.

I hope that helps narrow the search!
-Kathleen

[Kathleen Evans]

Hi Kelly,

Thanks for reaching out. Sorry for the slight delay in getting back to you. I am Kathleen, the Coastal Correspondent at IL. And as you guessed, there is a lot less discussion about the Caribbean side of CR, due in part to less development and being a bit more isolated geographically. Wendy is correct also. Although I have not experienced any more power outages on that side than I do on the Pacific side – which are fairly minimal these days.

Last month I worked on updating a travel piece for our website and wanted to share with you some notes regarding that region, which you will find below in quotes.

“Tortuguero-Colorado Canals:
Located in the country’s northeastern Caribbean region, this area includes the Barra del Colorado National Wildlife Refuge and Tortuguero National Park. It’s a floodplain of amazing, interconnected canals, waterways and lagoons. One of the rainiest areas in the country, you can travel through the region by boat, canoe, or kayak, visiting such beautiful spots as Cano Palma and Penitencia Lagoon. The region’s lush cloud forest makes it a favorite spot for canopy tours, as well. On the coast is a large national park that protects the beaches favored by nesting sea turtles. Lodges in the tiny town of Tortuguero (reachable by plane or boat only) offer guided tours, meals, and accommodations as package deals.

Puerto Viejo, Limon:
Most of the Costa Rica Caribbean coast consists of the aforementioned national parks to the north. The remainder of the southern coast certainly deserves a mention too. The large and industrial port city of Limon (pop 60,000) is not a city on most tourist’s radar, however, there are a number of cruise ships sailing there (2018 cruises on Holland-America, Princess, Carnival, MSC, Norwegian Cruise Lines all port in Limon). Thus, creating several tour businesses to take tourists to all of the unique places in the area, such as the national parks, white water rafting, banana plantations and the sloth sanctuary.
Development has not taken over the southern wetlands and beaches where mostly you will find a few sleepy enclaves of fishing villages as well as the lively Afro-Caribbean beach town of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. This town offers visitors a variety of casual restaurants and bars, live music, along with accommodation for all budgets. Everything here has a flair of the islands, and this is where jerk sauces delightfully fuse with traditional casado plates. And reggae dances with salsa. A short drive south to the end of the road will take you to the border crossing with Panama.”

Best of luck with your trip planning. Pura vida! -KE

[Kathleen Evans]

Hi Wendy,

Thanks for reaching out! This is Kathleen and I am the new Coastal Correspondent for IL. Congrats on making a plan to visit Costa Rica and a long-term goal to retire here.

I, like you, find Caribbean blue-green waters to be beautiful. If this is your number one criteria, I would suggest you explore the area around Puerto Viejo, south of Limon. Most of the coast on that side of the country is comprised of national park (in the north), the big port city of Limon, and then smaller villages to the south, with Puerto Viejo being the largest. That is the main place you will find a variety of restaurants, nightlife, expats, and locals, etc. WITH Caribbean waters. However, keep in mind they get more rain than the rest of Costa Rica. Also, keep in mind the Caribbean side is a bit more isolated and difficult to get to.

I live on the Pacific coast and honestly, I find much more variety here in the towns/amenities than on the Caribbean side. No, the water is not sea-foam green. It tends to be a deeper Pacific blue. But there are beaches dotting the western coast which have shallow beaches also giving that lighter blue water look. You might want to search Playa Conchal – which comes to mind immediately.

Since you mention that you are single and looking for some nightlife and an expat community, you might want to look at places like Coco or Tamarindo in the north (LIR airport), Manuel Antonio in the central zone and Dominical or Uvita (SJO airport) in the south. All offer pretty beaches with nearby wildlife, great amenities, and enclaves of expat communities.

Obviously, on a short trip, it would be impossible to see all these places. So plan just to target one region and on future visits research more. I always recommend you do a lot of research online and in person before making a life-changing decision. The more you know, the better equipped you are to make a solid plan.

I hope that helps with your initial planning. Best of luck and pura vida.

-Kathleen

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