Costa Rica Expat Forum

Charliegirl7
Joined 2014
Posts: 28

8 years ago

Yet another U.S. Couple considering CR for retirement!

8 years ago

Hello all,

I have been reading with interest a lot of the posts here on this forum and was hoping that I could ask a few questions ahead of our exploratory trip to Costa Rica this summer.

We are a youngish, mid 50's married couple looking to retire from the rat race of our lives here in the suburbs of Atlanta Georgia. Our kids are grown and we have grandchildren so we don't want to be too far from family. We originally went to Portugal on an exploratory trip and fell in love with the country, people and of course, the food and wine. We found it affordable and even found a few homes to rent upon our return. The only reason we haven't left yet and relocated there is the distance from our kids/grandkids.

My husband started researching closer alternatives and we came across CR. I've found in my research that I like the area of Nosaro, with its proximity to the water and healthy food and exercise. But my husband seems to favor the Central Valley area, with its cooler temps and proximity to shopping, and more modern conveniences. He also likes Dominical and Uvita as potential places to live. He says that I will tire quickly of washed out dirt roads and the 'off the grid' feeling. I don't want traffic and lots of neighbors though. I'm not trying to recreate where we live here, there. At any rate, we won't know how we'll feel until we actually hit the ground and begin exploring.

My questions to any of you are..
Is infrastructure really that horrible in the area that I like? Is it inaccessible to shops, restaurants etc?

Do you recommend we hire a tour guide if we only have a short window (a week) to explore the majority of the country?

We plan on renting when we do relocate, so we will have the time to see areas over a longer period of time once we're there. Also, we have three dogs (all German shepherds or size equivalent) so we definitely want land and privacy, but I guess we also want some access to modern conveniences.

I know I gave a lot of potentially irrelevant information, but my hope was that it would help to give me a better response from you if you reply.

Thank you for your help with us, and I look forward to your replies!

Allianz Care

Flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. Use Promocode: LIFE10 and get 10% off your international health insurance for life!
Get Quote

Allianz Care

Flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. Use Promocode: LIFE10 and get 10% off your international health insurance for life!
Get Quote

Living in Costa Rica Guide

Our Living in Costa Rica Guide is a primer on everything about living in Costa Rica: best places to live, cost of living, pros and cons, healthcare and insurance, and more.

Costa Rica Forum
Join our Costa Rica forum to meet other expats and talk about living in Costa Rica.

Contribute
Help other expats and newcomers by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Costa Rica.

Best Places to Live in Costa Rica

If you're dreaming about living in Costa Rica, here are the 15 Best Places to Live in Costa Rica in 2023.

Healthcare in Costa Rica

Costa Rica has both public and private healthcare systems. When you become a resident, you must enroll in the public healthcare system (CAJA). Many expats use the public system for routine healthcare and have private expat health insurance for specialists, surgeries and emergencies.

Cost of Living in Costa Rica

If you're moving to Costa Rica, you'll want to understand the cost of living in Costa Rica. Lifestyle, location and health insurance are part of the formula.

Moving to Costa Rica Guide

Moving to Costa Rica has become more popular among expats. Making this choice requires a lot of research to ensure the expat experience you hope for will be realized.

Real Estate in Costa Rica

Real estate listings in popular cities and towns in Costa Rica.

Pros & Cons of Living in Costa Rica

Take off your rose-colored glasses and learn what expats have to say about the biggest challenges and the greatest rewards of living in Costa Rica.

Retiring in Costa Rica

Advice for people retiring in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica Visa & Residency Guide

Applying for residency in Costa Rica can be a daunting process. Which type of residency is right for me? Do I need an attorney? Do I have to leave the country every 90 days? What is a cedula? This article answers these and many other questions.

10 Tips for Living in Costa Rica

If you've recently arrived in Costa Rica, here are 10 tips for digital nomads living in Costa Rica.

Additional Information:

Visit our Costa Rica Index for a Full List

Allianz Care

Flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. Use Promocode: LIFE10 and get 10% off your international health insurance for life!
Get Quote

Allianz Care

Flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. Use Promocode: LIFE10 and get 10% off your international health insurance for life!
Get Quote

Contribute
Help others in Costa Rica by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Costa Rica.