Great Reasons To Move To Costa Rica

Move to Costa Rica

There Are Many Reasons to Move to Costa Rica

Expats are moving to Costa Rica for its beautiful views, fantastic lifestyle, and low cost of living

Why would you want to move to Costa Rica? As thousands of expats will tell you, Costa Ricaoffers a fantastic lifestyle at a reasonable cost. Not to mention that Costa Rica is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, with a modern capital city, long stretches of deserted tropical beaches, cool mountain getaways, and pristine lake regions.

Moving to Costa Rica

Moving to Costa Rica is particularly appealing because Costa Rica is a long-established democracy and politically stable, and, for the most part, it is safe. There is a low incidence of violent crime here; and outside the capital city of San Jose, there isn’t much crime of any kind. Costa Rica is known as one of Latin America’s most peaceful nations (and one of the most politically stable–it has enjoyed over 60 years of uninterrupted democratic rule). José Figueres Ferrer, who led an armed uprising that ended a 44-day Civil War, was glorified for abolishing the army and drafting a constitution that guaranteed free elections with universal suffrage. Unlike many of its neighbors, Costa Rica never had another civil war.

Because the country has no army to support, it is able to provide money for universal medical care and free and subsidized educational programs. The well-run national health care system means that the country’s people are strong and healthy. The average life expectancy is 76 years–one of the highest in the world. The country has an up-to-date medical system with hospitals, clinics, and complete medical services in all major cities and some towns. Costa Rica is considered to have one of the best low-cost medical care systems in the world. Dental care and cosmetic surgery is affordable, and Costa Rica’s plastic surgeons are considered among the world’s best.

You Don’t Have to Leave Much Behind When You Move to Costa Rica

You’ll find a wide variety of inexpensive housing in Costa Rica, and a wealth of every imaginable activity to keep you busy and happy. There are two excellent English-language newspapers, cable and DirectTV with all of the U.S. channels, and a myriad of exciting business opportunities for the enterprising entrepreneur. And consider this: If you move to Costa Rica, you can live comfortably on $1,000 to $2,000 per month, depending on your lifestyle. A full-time maid costs around $10 per day. Utilities, like telephone, electricity, and water, are much lower than in the U.S., Canada, or Europe. Public transportation is excellent and inexpensive, so you don’t really need a car.

There are also many tax advantages you can enjoy after moving to Costa Rica. Investors pay no capital gains taxes on real estate, business taxes are minimal, and high-interest bank accounts are tax free. Property taxes are also reasonable compared with the U.S. and elsewhere.

Moving your household goods: No matter where you move to, transporting household goods and personal belongings can be challenging. For a move to Costa Rica, for example, you can choose an American moving company, but that firm will still have to deal with a local relocation company to deliver your goods in Costa Rica, a process that can entail tedious dealings with bureaucracy. To avoid this problem, experienced expats say the best strategy is to first select the Costa Rican company. This firm will then choose the American company that it wants to work with.

Moving with your pets: A rabies vaccination is required for pets that enter Costa Rica, and it must be administered between 30 days and one year before departure.You’ll also need to have your veterinarian fill out and sign the APHIS 7001 International Health Certificate from the United States Department of Agriculture stating that your pet is in good health. Birds require additional paperwork.

Firearms:The admission of firearms and ammunition into the territory of Costa Rica is subject to restrictions and import permits approved by Costa Rican authorities. Applications to import non-military weapons into the country may be filed by or through a licensed importer, authorized dealer or a particular person. You must register your weapon at the Ministry of Public Security’s Department of Firearms and Ammunitions once you arrive in Costa Rica.

When you take into account all of these factors and the fact that in Costa Rica you will surely enjoy a more peaceful and laid back way of life, it’s hard to understand why everyone isn’t moving to Costa Rica

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Costa Rica Chosen as Top Retirement Destination for 2014

One of the biggest dreams for retirees is moving to a warm, sunny place where you can relax and enjoy the “golden years” of life with no stress. Lower costs to stretch your savings and having good quality health care available are also top considerations.

In the Americas, Costa Rica continues to be one of the most popular retirement destinations.

HelpAge International, an index that measures the well-being of older people, named Costa Rica fourth best overall for 60-or-older residents in Latin America, and at the top in Central America. International Living Magazinealso selected Costa Rica as a top retirement haven for 2014, designating it as “among the best for health care.”

Costa Rica’s year-round warm weather and longtime political stability have made it a prime retirement destination for more than 30 years. Infrastructure and services are well-established and high quality and very affordable medical care is readily available. You can become a legal resident as a retiree (pensionado) with a monthly income of $1,000 from Social Security, disability benefits, a pension, or other source. Only one person in a couple has to show that income; their spouse is included as a dependent.

And Lake Arenal is the  best of the best of not only Costa Rica but all of Central America. Contact us for our Discount Discovery Tour - You will thank me you did

Terry Moran

Swept away in Lake Arenal

Ashley Harrell

A windsurfer rides the legendary wind of Lake Arenal. 

By the tenth fall I started to think I was in trouble. I hoisted myself from Lake Arenal’s cold water and climbed back onto my windsurfing board, barely managing to stand. My arms failed me as I tried to raise the sail. I tugged hard, lost my balance and toppled back into the choppy waves.

Before leaving shore, I had been given one warning: If I strayed too far downwind, I would be unable to sail back. Over my shoulder, the volcano loomed. With every fall, the waves pushed me closer to it and closer to the point where I could not sail back.

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Lauded as one of the best windsurfing spots in the world, Lake Arenal has long attracted windsurfers from all over the globe. From November to April, the trade winds funnel through Costa Rica’s northern highlands. During that time, Lake Arenal has the most consistent and strong winds in the northern hemisphere.

I heard about Arenal’s legendary windsurfing before I ever imagined I would live in Costa Rica. As a teenager, I spent part of every summer on a windsurfing board in northern Michigan’s Torch Lake, where my grandparents lived.

Though not nearly as consistent as Lake Arenal, Torch Lake occasionally sees some powerful winds, and once my sister, two cousins and I learned to harness it, we were hooked.

Out in the middle of the lake, a strong gust could take your board out of the water, throttling you across the lake at speeds up to 25 miles an hour. Sometimes we raced, but more often we would meet in the middle, lay our sails across each other’s boards and dive into the lake’s deep water.

It was my Torch Lake windsurfing instructor who told me about Lake Arenal. She said it was some of the best windsurfing she had ever experienced. I always remembered that, and though it had been years since I stepped onto a sailboard, last year I finally got the chance to take on Lake Arenal.

Wind turbines spin on the west side of Lake Arenal.

Ashley Harrell

The wind turbines on Lake Arenal’s west side seemed to be spinning faster than they should when Tico Times Weekend Editor Ashley Harrell and I left our hotel. Ashley had never windsurfed before and we had scheduled a lesson with Lake Arenal’s only windsurfing outfit, Tico Wind.

Pulling up to Tico Wind’s lakeside headquarters, it seemed we had stumbled upon the area’s most popular picnicking spot. Families on blankets scattered the lakefront and children in wetsuits ran around the lawn.

Windsurfing reached its peak in popularity the 80s and 90s. Many of those who started the sport at that time now have children and grandchildren of their own. Though long-time windsurfers still frequent Lake Arenal’s shore, its popularity amongst the young has waned.

These days, some adrenaline junkies seeking thrills on the water are more likely to turn to windsurfing’s more intense younger cousin, kite surfing, which along with stand-up paddleboarding makes up most of Tico Wind’s business.

We found our instructor Tom Rentschler near the snack booth lathering on sunscreen. By his own count, Rentschler has given 680 people windsurfing lessons. From a 10-year-old boy to a 72-year-old woman, Rentschler said that by the end of just one lesson, every person was able to stand up and sail on the lake.

We started on the simulator, a windsurfing board screwed to a swivel on the lawn. With a sail attached, the simulator’s board moves as it would in the water, allowing us to practice without waves to battle.

With Rentschler’s demonstrations and directions, Ashley quickly learned how to hoist the sail, steer and tack (turn around). I was nervous when my turn came, having talked up my windsurfing prowess considerably for someone who hadn’t windsurfed in six years. But my muscle memory kicked in. After a half hour on the simulator, Rentschler decided we were seaworthy.

We started out on a wide beginner board with a small sail. As promised, Ashley was able to sail right away. We took turns sailing out, turning around and sailing back. The whole time Rentschler had a firm grip on a tether tied to the board.

With each hoist of the mast, every turn and every tack I grew more confident that I could windsurf as I had before. But with its tiny sail, the board plodded slowly through the lake’s shallows. I looked out at the sailors deeper in the lake and I started to grow restless. After a few more successful loops on the tether, I was starting to think the lesson was beneath me. I had gotten cocky.

After a short break, I had convinced Rentschler that I was ready to go out on my own. As Tico Wind Owner Peter Hopley assembled my new gear, he looked worried.

“It’s a pretty windy day out there,” he said. “You don’t want to have to get rescued.”

On the lake’s shore, a Jet Ski sat ready for action. If a guest were to get stranded, Tico Wind would perform a rescue. Getting stuck out there would not be dangerous, but after my overconfident display, it would be embarrassing.

While Tico Wind instructors carried my gear down to the lake, Rentschler gave me the lay of the land. I needed to sail toward the middle of the lake, away from the volcano. He drew an imaginary line up the shore. Beyond that line, it was too difficult to get back.

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I climbed into the water towing my new rental gear. Without a problem, I pulled up the sail, grabbed a hold of the boom and took off toward the middle of the lake. The sail filled with wind and I began to pick up speed. I leaned back over the water gaining confidence and setting off to the middle of the lake, confident I would never see the back of the Jet Ski.

When windsurfers talk about the Lake Arenal’s rough conditions, they often fail to mention just how beautiful lake is. Being in the middle out in the water is a treat, let alone flying over it on a sailboard. The feeling brought me back to my times on Torch Lake, to swimming in the water with my sister and cousins.

I let go of the sail, turned to face the volcano and jumped into the water. I dove down deep then returned to the surface to float and take in my surroundings. I paid a price for those few minutes of relaxation.

Lake Arenal’s waves were higher than any I had dealt with in Michigan. Once my sail was down, I was too unsteady to get back up. Fall after fall I moved closer to Rentschler’s invisible line.

When another windsurfer came help, his pink and white sail fluttering near my board, I started to worry.

“Do you need help?” he said.

At that point I knew I wouldn’t make it to shore myself. But maybe this man could get me to shore discretely, allowing me to avoid a humiliating Jet Ski rescue? He told me to grab a foot grip on the back of his board. I held my own equipment with my other hand, and he towed me a short distance.

I tried my best to hang on, but the strain was too much. I lost my hold on the man’s board several times, but he stayed with me. Each time he looped back around and slowed down, allowing me to grab his board again. But by now, everyone on the shore was aware of my struggle.

Rentschler had been watching me from shore. He knew I was done. He sent the Jet Ski.

My two-minute ride felt more like an hour. I clung to my rescuers life vest as Ashley snapped photos from the shore. I returned to the Tico Wind base embarrassed and exhausted, but still elated from my adventure on the lake.

Maybe next time with a little more practice – and a lot more humility – I can take on Lake Arenal.

Going there: Tico Wind is located on Lake Arenal’s west side off of highway 142, 20 minutes north of the town of Tilarán. The season extends from Thanksgiving weekend to April. Windsurfing rentals start at $50 for a half day to $770 for two weeks. A one-hour individual lesson is $50.  Stand-up paddleboard rentals range from $5-$40. Kite surfing rentals start at $58 for a half-day and run up to $385 for a week. Tico Wind offers three-hour kite surfing lessons for $200 and a complete nine-hour beginner course for $530. Call 2692-2002 or 8383-2694, or emailinfo@ticowind.com or visit www.ticowind.com.

INVEST IN YOUR FAMILIES FUTURE - OWN A COSTA RICAN FARM AT LAKE ARENAL

The case for owning farmland in one simple statistic.

In investing, it’s often said that nothing goes up or down in a straight line.

Stocks, bonds, commodities… they all go through periods of growth, correction, collapse, mania, etc.

We’re seeing this right now with respect to a substantial decline in the nominal gold price after more than 12 straight years of gains.

But I’ve just recently come across an investment trend that has posted the same results for more than 20-years straight. And it’s actually quite alarming.

Every human being on the planet requires sustenance… typically measured in Calories per day.

What’s interesting is that the global average of per-capita Calorie consumption has increased a whopping 24.6% since 1964.

So over the last fifty years, the data clearly show that human beings are eating more… now to an average of roughly 2,940 Calories per person per day.

As you can probably guess, most of the rise has taken place in East Asia just over the last two decades, owing to the increased wealth in that part of the world.

Roughly a billion people have been lifted out of poverty in Asia alone. And as people begin to generate income and accumulate savings, their dietary habits have invariably changed. They eat more, i.e. demand more Calories.

As we eat more, we require more resources from the world. And in the case of food, this means more arable land to grow crops.

But there’s another twist to this trend. As people become wealthier, they not only eat more, but they also begin to consume more resource consumptive foods– especially meat.

It takes a lot more land to grow a kilogram of beef than it does to grow a kilogram of tomatoes. The difference can often be an order of magnitude greater.

So when you look at the demand side of this equation, per capita food consumption is increasing… and we are also consuming a vastly greater amount of land-intensive foods.

In short, the global trend is that we are demanding a much greater amount of arable land per person.

Yet the data on the supply side show the precise opposite.

According to World Bank data, the global average of arable land per person has been on a one-way decline since 1992.

In fact, since 1964, there has only been one year that the global average of arable land per person has increased. In every other instance over the last five decades, arable land per person has declined.

This is an astounding trend.

Our modern ‘science’ is stepping in to address this trend. It’s why much of what we eat is now concocted in a laboratory rather than grown on a farm. It’s why McDonalds puts pink slime in its hamburgers instead of… you know… beef.

But even still, science only goes so far.

Yields for many staple crops (like wheat) essentially hit a wall about ten years ago. After decades of miraculous gains in the amount of tons, bushels, and kilograms per acre we have been able to extract from the Earth, productive capacity has largely plateaued.

In other words, we have maxed out what we can pull out of the soil for now. And the amount of soil per person that’s in production is in serious decline.

To me, this spells out an obvious case for investing in agriculture… and even more specifically, to own farmland.

Check our web site for some great farms for sale starting at just $1000 per acre, the greatest insurance policy you will ever buy

Lake Arenal/Fortuna Top Destinations - Trip Advisor

TripAdvisor selects La Fortuna as a 2013 'emerging destination' for travel

Mónica Quesada

Arenal volcano and Lake Arenal is one of the region's most prominent attractions.

Popular travel site TripAdvisor chose La Fortuna de San Carlos, located north of the Alajuela province, as one of the “Top Ten Emerging Destinations of 2013."

La Fortuna placed second, trailing only Havana. The site praised La Fortuna’s proximity to landmark destinations such as Volcano Arenal, Lake Arenal, waterfalls and various hot springs.

Economic activity in La Fortuna de San Carlos, which revolves around the now quieted Volcano Arenal, had been affected in previous years by low tourism numbers due in part to the worldwide economic crisis.

Pablo Rodríguez, executive director of the Northern Zone Tourism Chamber, said the designation “came as a direct result of both local and international promotion efforts of regional businesses.”

The current high season began Nov. 15 and the Costa Rican Tourism Board expects hotel occupancy to reach 75 percent for the Northern Zone.

The rest of TripAdvisor's Top Ten featured Kathmandu (Nepal), Jerusalem (Israel), Cuzco (Perú), Ambergris Cave (Belize), Sapporo (Japan), Hanoi (Vietnam), Corralejo (Spain) and Fortaleza (Brazil).

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Worlds Best Retirement Location

Costa Rica has been a top retirement destination for more than three decades. An estimated 20,000 North Americans call it home today (more if you count part-timers and “snowbirds” who come for North American winters). And it continues to be a favorite of retirees for the same reasons it always has been: low cost of living; idealclimate; natural beauty; a stable government; friendly locals; safety; easy residence requirements; and bargain real estate.

No wonder HelpAge International recently ranked Costa Rica 28th in the world (1st in Central America) for the supportive and enriching environment it provides older citizens. The rating took into account life expectancy, available health care, psychological well-being, public safety, and the quality of social life, among other factors.

A huge benefit of retiring to Costa Rica is access to the high-quality but affordable health care. Those with pensionado (retiree) residence pay a low monthly fee based on income–usually between $60 to $150 per couple–to join the universal healthcare system known asCaja. After that all the care is free, from doctor’s visits to prescriptions to diagnostic testing to major surgeries. Even the private system, in which you use insurance or pay cash, is much cheaper than the U.S., with procedures costing a half to a third…or even less.

Thanks to the country’s long history of welcoming expats, it’s even easier now to make the transition to a new life in Costa Rica, especially for the older retiree. Things are “set up,” so to speak.

• There are active expat communities throughout the country who gather regularly for parties, dining out, playing cards, crafting, and other social activities. This is especially true in expat-heavy areas like the central Pacific coast (towns like Jaco and Manuel Antonio), the Central Valley (towns like Atenas and Grecia), and the northern Pacific coast (towns like Tamarindo, Playa Flamingo, and Playas del Coco).

• Many Ticos (as Costa Ricans call themselves) speak English, especially those in industries in contact with expats—like real estate agents, attorneys, taxi drivers, shopkeepers, and others.

• You can find a lot of items you are used to from back home. Grocery stores stock imported foods. Clothing and electronic stores carry name brands from the U.S.

• It’s easy to get around with an extensive highway system (although rural areas have rougher infrastructure), inexpensive but good public transportation, and a pair of regional airlines that can get you anywhere within an hour.

• All the modern conveniences like high-speed Internet, cable or satellite TV, and 3G cell phone service are available just about everywhere–even in the middle of the jungle.

For all these reasons, retirees find Costa Rica to be a comfortable place to live. But perhaps the most important is the true respect Costa Rican culture has for the older generation. By law, those over 65 receive head of line privileges at banks and government offices and seats on the bus. By custom, seniors are extended the same privileges in stores and most places of business.

Retirees over 65 are also eligible for a Ciudadano de Oro (Gold Citizen) card, which entitles them to discounts on eyeglasses, clothing, groceries, medication, and much more at participating retailers throughout the country.

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Best Retirement Countries in The World

They’re two of the best retirement countries on our beat...and when it comes to deciding on the ideal retirement destination, it can be hard to choose between Costa Rica and Panama.

These two stunning countries don’t just border each other on the map; in terms of which is the better place to live, the results are neck and neck.

In our 2013 Global Retirement Index—our pick of the 22 greatest havens worldwide—Panama came out ahead of Costa Rica by a small margin. But those who favor Costa Rica weren’t happy with that. To them, Costa Rica is the best retirement destination in the world—no matter what anyone says.

So to settle things once and for all, we’re putting the question to you. Please take a moment to let us know what you think: which is the better place to retire—Panama or Costa Rica?

Over the next few days, our in-country experts will help you decide, sharing what they feel makes each the Top Retirement Haven.

Meantime, we’ve put together a unique package of resources on each country that you can get with a big discount only while the Panama vs. Costa Rica showdown takes place.

Why Panama?

On the strength of its retiree program alone, Panama deserves its place in our Index as one of the top places in the world to retire. Called the Pensionadoprogram, there is no other benefit program in the world that comes close to matching it. If you have any sort of pension that guarantees an income of at least $1,000 a month, you can qualify for the Pensionado program—even if you’re not of "retirement" age.

With that, the Panamanian government will grant you residence—and you’ll be able to avail of the massive discounts on offer to retirees across the country. That means you’ll get 50% off the cost of movies, theaters, concerts, and sporting events, at least 30% off hotel stays, 30% off bus, boat, and train fares, 25% off restaurant prices, 20% off medical consultations and much more.

But a low cost of living is only the start of what makes Panama great for retirees. The country is steeped in history but its bustling capital city offers modern amenities and cultural events, on a par with any city in the States. It has a range of little mountain towns, like Boquete and El Valle, for those who prefer a quieter, slower of pace of life...and both Caribbean and Pacific coastal towns for those who prefer a beach lifestyle.

Best of all, as the country is so small, you can have a change of scene whenever you want one—within driving distance.

That’s just the start of what Panama has to offer. Here’s how you can get free reports on retiree benefits in Panama, healthcare in Panama and more.

What Makes Costa Rica Better?

Costa Rica has so much going for it, too—including, according to one massive global survey, the happiest people in the world. From what every expat tells us about the Costa Rican lifestyle, it’s easy to understand why.

The Costa Rican lifestyle epitomizes the idea of laid-back, tropical living. So much so that its people have come up with a name for this happy-go-lucky attitude: pura vida. Literally meaning "pure life," this attitude is all about slowing down, eliminating stress and taking the time to value what’s important in life.

Costa Rica is so easy-going that it doesn’t even have a military. The country’s army was abolished in 1949 when the people decided to put that money into education instead.

The "pura vida" attitude contributes to the wellbeing of all the expats we speak to...as does the wide availability of affordable, healthful, fresh foods, and the top-class and very inexpensive medical system. For just $10, you can fill your basket with locally grown fruits, vegetables and herbs...spend another $20 and you can have top-quality seafood, like snapper or tuna, to feed a couple for a week.

And, for as little as $30 a month, you can purchase health care to cater to all your medical needs: from prescriptions to doctor visits to testing to surgeries.

The government’s dedication to preserving Costa Rica’s diverse and plentiful flora and fauna and reducing its carbon footprint—99.2% of all Costa Rica’s energy comes from renewable resources—means you’ll always have fresh air in your lungs there, too.

And though pricing for housing has risen in Costa Rica’s most popular tourist towns in recent years, it’s still affordable—even more so if you look to the country’s largely untapped Caribbean coast.

And the best of the Best is Lake Arenal Costa Rica

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