Costa Rica opened on November 1 to travelers worldwide, including from all 50 U.S. states, without the need for a COVID test. You now only have to fill out a health questionnaire online, and provide proof of health insurance, to gain entry.
There's a silver lining to 2020 if you're dreaming of a life in Costa Rica… In the true spirit of Pura Vida, the administration is searching for ways to lure new investors and create new revenue channels for the country.
Once the hotels announced their varied openings in early summer, my husband and I began exploring "staycation" possibilities. I remember thinking this could really be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If we could find a luxury "deal" at one-half or one-third the price not too far from home…we could swing it with our budget for a couple of nights.
For those planning a move abroad, this lengthy COVID pause brings uncertainty, restlessness, and concerns about what the global economy will look like when the dust settles. The entire world has been impacted, and quite frankly, nobody knows when the economic fallout will reach the bottom.
When I first moved to Costa Rica six years ago, my real estate broker helped me find a cute, new-build, two-bedroom condo in Hermosa Beach for under $100,000. I loved it and lived there for two-and-a-half years but during that time I realized that there were a couple of things that needed to change…
From all reports, it sounds as if the apple cart has well and truly been upset in the States due to COVID-19. And while it breaks my heart to hear what's happening with my kids and grandkids and friends, I'm so happy to know that we've been minimally affected in our day-to-day lives here in the Orosi Valley.
As if the legends weren't enough, there also are stories that fall into the realm of unexplained mystery. One of the most important of these is the story of the stone spheres of Costa Rica. This is not fiction; it's simply a true story that includes strange and as yet unexplained facts.
Since I wasn't a native Spanish speaker—and the only people I knew in Costa Rica were a couple of real estate agents from previous visits—I wasn't familiar with all the resources available to get reliable information.
Although the beaches are popular, an estimated 70% of the population in Costa Rica resides in the Central Valley, not on the coast. It is not really a "valley" per se, but more like a plateau across the middle of the country; in the higher elevations it reaches 3,000 to 5,000 feet.
For millions of people around the globe who share genealogical or cultural ties with Ireland, March 17 is a special day. The St. Patrick's Day celebration has been part of the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church since the 15th century. Costa Rica is an overwhelmingly Catholic country, so March 17 is traditionally celebrated as a religious day, with a Mass service in honor of St. Patrick on the day he died.