Guide to Costa Rica

Overview

The Republic of Costa Rica is located in Central America, bordering Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south, with the Pacific Ocean on its west coast and the Caribbean Sea on its east coast. The vast majority of the population are of Spanish descent.

Compared to many other Central American countries, Costa Rica is relatively affluent and politically stable, and has as a result become a popular retirement destination particularly for North Americans, and also many European nationalities. It is also a very popular tourist destination, and the government has taken advantage of the country's environmental and wildlife assets to promote the growth of eco-tourism. Around a quarter of the land consists of national parks and other protected areas in which there is an abundance of wildlife and plant species. Tourists and expatriates alike are also attracted by the pleasant tropical climate, diverse landscapes and many sandy beaches along the long coastline. The country has eight active volcanoes which are also tourist attractions.

The bustling capital of Costa Rica, San Jose, is an interesting mix of modern high-rise blocks and traditional Spanish architecture, with many shopping malls, restaurants, nightclubs, a number of museums, theatres and cinemas, and a cathedral.

Climate and weather

Costa Rica has a mild tropical climate and this is one reason it is very popular among retirees. Temperatures in the Central Valley (San Jose) only vary from 18 - 27 degrees Celsius (64-80 degrees F) during the year. Along the coastal areas, temperatures are higher, with the Caribbean side being slightly cooler at between 25 - 27 degrees C (77-80 degrees F) and the Pacific Coast being the hottest, averaging 31 -38 degrees C (88 -100 degrees F). Costa Rica only has 2 seasons, the rainy season ("winter") which runs from May to November and the dry season ("summer") from December to April. These seasons are relative, as each has a transition period and the sun often shines intensely in the mornings of the rainy season and thunderstorms are not unknown during the summer or "dry" season.

Speaking the language

Most Ticos (i.e. natives of Costa Rica) place a high value on education, 96% are literate. Over the past few decades, the ability to speak English has been a great advantage in the job market, so a very high percentage of Ticos speak some English and an amazing number are fluent. Ticos are famous for their hospitality and kindness, so tourists have very little trouble and don't need to speak Spanish.

If you are going to live here, however, learning Spanish is an excellent idea. Knowing basic phrases before you come will help a lot, and once you arrive there are a great many language schools with reasonable rates to help you progress further.

Culture

Costa Rica is not just a land of beaches, black beans, and coffee. It is a treasure trove of natural landscapes, exotic birds and mammals and cultural diversity.

Costa Rica's socio-political, cultural, and religious consciousness was significantly shaped by the Spanish colonial rule and the Catholic Church. Most Costa Ricans are of Spanish descent. There are remnants of the Amerindian cultures that lived here before the Spaniards came, and a very small portion of the population is Amerindian.

Costa Rica is a developing country and the smallest country in Central America. It is divided into five distinct geographical zones: the Central Valley, the Caribbean coast, the Central Pacific, the Northern zone, and the Northern Pacific.

The Central Valley is Costa Rica's most populated region, as it includes the country's cosmopolitan capital, San José. Costa Rica's coffee boom began in the valley, with the first plantations tilled on the slopes of the dormant Barva Volcano. Coffee is still the country's best-known export. It made many local planters rich, and they not only shaped the country's economy, but handed down a magnificent and significant legacy: the Teatro Nacional, widely considered Costa Rica's most beautiful building, built from coffee taxes. The Central Valley continues to witness an increase in residential and commercial real estate development.

The Northern and Central Pacific coasts have some of the most beautiful beaches in the country, and the Caribbean Coast has a Jamaican beat that is unique in the country.

Costa Rica is the most visited nation in Central America. It receives about two million visitors every year, many of them eco-tourists drawn to the country's beautiful and protected marine and forest areas. Costa Rica has built up one of the most successful ecotourism industries in the world. It is the country's second largest source of the income after silicon chip production. However, large developments such as high-rise hotels and the growing number of tourists to protected sites have begun to have a negative effect on the environment.

The government strives to protect and preserve the country's rich biodiversity through the establishment of national parks. These protected areas include volcanoes and virgin forests, wildlife reserves, and several beaches.

Internationally, the most famous artists from Costa Rica are musicians, particularly the group Editus who won a Grammy for their work with Panamanian Ruben Blades. Another recognized artist is sculptor Jorge Jimenez Deredia, who in 2005 placed a work in the Vatican, a sculpture of Saint Marcellin Champagnat. commissioned by Pope John Paul II as part of his plan to fill the niches.

While the art scene is not up to European levels, you will find a surprising variety of theaters, art galleries and performances by international artists considering the size of the country and its small population. There are also numerous museums, the most popular being the National Museum, the Jade Museum, the Gold Museum and the Children's Museum.

Getting there

Costa Rica's main international airport is San Jose's Juan Santamaria International airport, 23 km northwest of the city, with a second, recently upgraded international airport at Liberia. The national airline is Taca International Airlines, which operates direct flights to Costa Rica from various cities in the United States, Canada and Central and South America.

Other airlines operating routes to Costa Rica from North America include American Airlines, Continental, Air Canada and Mexicana. Approximate flight times to San Jose are seven hours from New York, six hours from Los Angeles and twelve hours from London.

It is possible to travel by road into Costa Rica from the USA, via Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, on the Pan-American Highway.

Many cruise lines stop in Puntarenas on the Pacific side and in Limon on the Caribbean side. Most of these cruise itineraries include Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama and one or more Caribbean islands.

Residency and Documentation

Most tourists don't need a visa. Only a passport and can stay for up to 90 days. Some long time visitors live there as 'perpetual tourists', leaving the country every 90 days for 72 hours or paying the nominal fines for overstaying. Recent crackdowns by immigration have made it advisable to acquire a more formal residency or work permit if you plan to own a business or real estate.

While technically you may apply for the residency yourself, it is wise to get a lawyer specializing in these matters to make the application for you. You must hire a lawyer registered with the Costa Rican bar association. A good lawyer will charge from $1000 to $1500 for the process.

Retirement in Costa Rica

Many foreigners retire to Costa Rica because of the tropical climate, lower cost of living and good health care. There is a well established community of expatriates, at least 50,000 Europeans and North Americans live in Costa Rica. That makes it easy to find suitable housing in communities that are magnets for expatriates and where many of the services you take for granted back home will be available.

You can buy a home on the beach or in the mountains for much lower prices than a comparable home in Florida or California, or most urban areas in the U.S. and Europe. Land too is inexpensive in many areas. Some developing areas have condos on or near the beach for as little as $40,000. More established areas commonly offer ocean view or beach front condos for $150,000. Prices for homes and condos in beach areas commonly run to as much as $450,000, depending on their fixtures, living area, lot size and other extras

Health Care and medical treatment

Costa Rica has universal health care and one of the best health systems in Latin America. The main drawback to this service is the red tape and waiting lines, but once you receive treatment or medicine, it will be of high quality. Employees pay 9% tax for this health insurance and the employer pays an additional 18%.

Private care providers are very reasonably priced and world class, with many doctors that speak excellent English and who have studied abroad in Europe, Canada or the US. There are 3 large, private hospitals that most expatriates use: CIMA hospital in Escazu [ http://www.hospitalsanjose.net/ ], Clinica Biblica in San Jose [www.clinicabiblica.com], and Clinica Catolica in San Jose (Guadalupe) [www.clinicacatolica.com]. Consultations begin at $60 and rooms have a basic rate of $180 per night.

Retirement in Costa Rica

Banking

Anyone may open a bank account in Costa Rica, you will need your passport or residency card. Tourists are not prohibited from opening an account, but most banks require a current utility bill as proof of your address and residency. Banks are subject to many of the 'Know your customer' reporting requirements to prevent money laundering, including the $10,000 transaction reporting limit. However, banking secrecy laws are in effect, so no government (or private) agency may get access to your specific account information without a court order. This makes Costa Rica a frequent choice for foreigners who would like to keep their assets protected from frivolous civil litigation in their home country.

Costa Rica's financial sector includes the Central Bank, 3 state-owned commercial banks, 12 private commercial banks, 1 workers' bank, 1 state-owned mortgage bank and 3 mutual house-building companies, 9 private finance companies and 28 savings and loans cooperatives. In addition, there are 2 money exchange houses, 30 investment and retirement funds or trusts run by both state and private commercial banks and the state insurance company.

Leisure, Entertainment and Sports

Eco-tourism is the main activity which attracts visitors to Costa Rica from around the world hoping to enjoy the country's biodiversity. It is one of the world's best venues for bird-watching in particular. Others come to Costa Rica to take advantage of its excellent conditions for surfing, diving and snorkelling. The best beaches and conditions for water-sports can be found on the Caribbean coast. Deep-sea fishing is popular off the Pacific coast.

Mountain biking is popular in the forests and national parks, where there are well-marked trails. Horseback riding is another popular pursuit, and one of San Jose's annual attractions involves a parade of more than 1000 horses through the city during Christmas week. Rodeos and bullfights are also held in some parts of the country.

Costa Rica has many facilities for extreme sports, including 'zip lining' across the jungle canopy on flying foxes, bungee jumping and white water rafting. Golf is also becoming very popular here, and there is a world-class 18-hole course, Cariari Country Club, where international tournaments are held.

Driving

Tourists can drive with a license from their home country as long as their passport entry stamp is s valid. If you have a work permit or residency, then you can more than likely use your license until it expires. However, you should go to the Ministry of Transport to obtain a Costa Rican license. You must present your valid license and a 'medical' exam (which you should readily pass if you have a heartbeat and are not legally blind!). If your license is expired you must pass the medical exam and a driving test, but do not have to take the written exam.

Food and drink

Costa Rican cuisine can be described as simple but wholesome. The spiciness often associated with Latin America has typically originated in Mexico, most Costa Rican foods are not spicy but as they simmer in a large pot, the flavors are blended.

Gallo pinto is a mixture of rice and beans with a little cilantro or onion thrown in. While more common at breakfast, it can also be served at lunch or dinner.

Casado, which means married, is the typical lunch in Costa Rica, containing rice and beans with meat, chicken or fish, always served with salad and fried plantain.

Plato del dia, is the 'Plate of the Day' and is often a Casado, but has the meat or fish selection of the day. Usually around 3.00 USD and includes a natural juice.

Good, fresh fruit is abundant in variety and low in cost. Mercados provide an excellent place to sample fruit and other Costa Rican fare, with many including sit-down snack bars. You are encouraged to experiment because some of the local fruits do not "travel well" as they are bruised easily and or have a short shelf life. The Mango found in store in North America are much more fiberous and less sweet then the Mangos found in Costa Rica. THe fingerling bannas are much more creamy and less tart then the ones found in North America.

Be sure to stop off at a rest room along any of the roads: a casado and beer will cost ~$3.

Don't forget to try the Salsa Lizano that you will surely find at any restaurant. It is a mild vegetable sauce that has a hint of curry and is slightly sweet. It's often referred to as Costa Rican ketchup. It tastes good on just about anything! Bring some home with you! You can find smaller sized bottles at any market.

Communications – phones and internet

The state-owned monopoly ICE (Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad) is in charge of electricity and telecommunications. About 97% of the country's population has electricity. Today, the telecommunications infrastructure is improving and telephone lines (fixed and mobile) are more readily available, particularly in business districts, large office buildings and urban areas. It is still a good idea when renting a home or small office to make sure a telephone is provided, since delays are still common in many areas.

International calls may be made from many Internet cafes and with calling cards. Some phones are equipped with scanners for the prepaid calling cards. Make sure that the scratch off security paste is intact when buying the prepaid cards .

Costa Rica - Utilities (Electricity, Gas, Water)

For an average household expect to pay approximately Water: $20 per month; Power: $25 (without air conditioning, heating, pool); $25 Cable TV: basic service; $50 DirecTV: deluxe package; Internet: $15 RACSA (state ISP) Unlimited home user plan; Internet: $30 Amnet Cable Modem; $8 telephone, base rate plus connection time; No public gas mains exist, most people use small LPG tanks for gas stoves or grills.

Pets

To enter Costa Rica, pets need a completed, approved health certificate. These certificates are obtained from the Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud), and completed by your veterinarian at home. To get the authorization, forms should be presented in person, but may be faxed if necessary. At Customs, you must present the authorization (valid for 30 days) and your pet will be released into your care. Be aware that in order to return you will need an additional form that is completed by a Costa Rican vet and authorized again - this may take a few days so don't leave it until the last minute.

Costa Rica Guide

Costa Rica - Utilities (Electricity, Gas, Water)

Costa Rica Guide