March 2019
A majority of the expats I know have at least one corporation registered in Costa Rica. Everyone has their own reasons, but two of the most common are for starting a business and opening a bank account.
IL's Costa Rica Insider
February 2019
Once you get to know the local systems and "secrets," you can find all the modern equipment you need at any store… But the way of doing business hails from a time that's now gone by in North America. It requires some adjustment from the expat. That's why I'm here to help…
January 2019
When you visit the grocery store in Costa Rica—perhaps you should leave your expectations at the door. You'll discover many products here that you wouldn't expect…and products you're familiar with that are packaged and presented in unfamiliar ways. That's why grocery shopping in Costa Rica can be an adventure!
Days Filled With the Beauty of the Country in Lake Arenal
As a 71-year-old, retired from careers in education and real estate, I have always worked within a strict budget. It’s no different here. We have no expenses for heat or air conditioning, because the temperature is always between 65 F and 85 F. The electricity we use runs about $50 a month. I pay $75 a month for internet and another $50 a month for TV and cable. Our cellphones cost us $140 a month, because we do make quite a few international calls.
December 2018
When I was a kid, the only food trucks around were seedy jalopies parked outside construction sites. But today, they're everywhere. Food trucks have become a part of the new meal culture. There are TV shows devoted to them; they are given as prizes… There are even food truck races!
Dental Care in Costa Rica: My Story
I am resigned to the fact that, as I get older, my body will react to its long-term usage. Things will give out. Parts will need to be replaced. Tune-ups will have their own section of my calendar. I have gone way beyond the youthful need of a gynecologist, to seeing every “ist” known to man: dermatologist, cardiologist, orthopedist, internist, and dentist. And with the dentist, my story takes a turn.
November 2018
Costa Rica continues to grab headlines around the world. It's been called the happiest place on earth...the world's number one place to retire... But this small nation of 4.8 million people is not content to rest on its laurels. Costa Rica has set itself a new, ambitious goal for the next few years: to become carbon neutral by 2021, and hence the first country in the world to achieve this.
October 2018
While the country's tourist industry is booming, those of us who live here know that, beyond those exquisite resorts and fine hotels, Costa Rica is still a developing country. And so, there are plenty of opportunities for expats to help out their local communities if this is important to you.
September 2018
Costa Rica is full of surprises. It is not an island, though some folks seem to think so. And though it is famed for its beaches, the majority of the country is mountainous. The numerous microclimates allow for incredible changes in ecosystems—often just minutes apart. From super-sunny ocean shorelines to volcanic crater lakes; from eerie cloud forests to patchwork farmlands; from towering cascading waterfalls to flatlands full of pineapples.
August 2018
The little community of Los Pargos is in Play Negra, about a 40-minute drive south of my home base in Tamarindo. Negra is a surfers' paradise, renowned for its waves. But the community that's settled here numbers only a few hundred—with expats from all over the world, who've come to enjoy the water.