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Costa Rica: Arriving with 8-10 suit cases:
The most we have brought in at any 1 time was 6 large bags and 4 carry on bags. We flew American business-class which allowed 3 checked bags each at 70 lbs. We didn't have a problem because it was late in the evening and the line was long. The only thing they have ever really stopped us for was an apple.. having a baggage man help us seemed to make it go through easier. But you never know...it just depends on whether they are actually interested in doing their job at the time you go through customs.
Costa Rica: Expats near Montapolo:
There is an English speaking (actually bi-lingual) church in Uvita. The name is Iglesia de la Costa. It meets on the 2nd floor of the building where the restaurants Lick-It and Wing-It are. The pastor's name is Payton McKiethan. Service starts about 10:15am on Sundays.
Costa Rica: 4wd vs awd:
I live in the Southern Pacific area by the beach...but at about 1200 ft. elevation. I have 2 cars...a RAV4 which is on demand 4WD and a 1978 Land Cruiser. The RAV4 works for most things, but is a little under powered for some of the steeper slopes and doesn't have a 4WD low range but the Land Cruiser can go anywhere. If you are planning to do any treking in the mountains (which is highly likely if you live outside of San Jose or want to explore), I would recommend a true 4WD with low range...not a 2WD or AWD solution. Steve
Costa Rica: Yet another U.S. Couple considering CR for retirement!:
My wife and I are also a mid-50s couple. We lived 16 years in the suburbs of Atlanta and I am an avid golfer. We retired and moved to the Ojochal/Uvita area 7 months ago. We rented a house in Ojochal for 6 months and are now in a 6 month house rental in Uvita. After the Uvita rental, we have a 6 month house rental the mountain above San Buenas. We are renting in each are to evaluate the community, roads, water, temperatures, etc. I can tell you that the San Buenas golf course is more than acceptable to me (a 10 handicap). It is currently 9 holes, but they are working on the 2nd 9 holes now so I think it actually will get done some time.
The roads in this area (other than the main "highway" are not paved and it is a big consideration you should make. The key is the type of car you have and how far up the mountain you live. It is much more comfortable to live above 1000 ft altitude here...a difference of 5 to 6 degrees Fahrenheit. So little to no air conditioning.
If you are "foodies", Ojochal, Uvita, and Dominical have many excellent restaurants.
PM me if you would like some more information and my impression of the area. Steve
Costa Rica: Serving where need is greater in Costa Rica:
There is an English/Spanish church in Uvita named Iglesia de la Costa.
Costa Rica: Prescription Med availability:
valentinaduran,
My wife has migraines and is currently being prescribed Imitrex (Sumatriptan) for it. This provides her with significant relief. Could you tell me whether or not this medication is available in Costa Rica? This is a concern of ours as we are going to be spending several months in CR starting next November.
Costa Rica: Satnav in Costa Rica:
I have rented cars several times in Costa Rica and have rented the GPS from the rental company a couple of times. Both times it was the EZFind GPS map from NavSat. For my last trip (this past November) I purchased and downloaded the EZFind CR map from NavSat onto my personal Garmin Nuvi and took that with me. It worked perfectly. I have used the EZFind maps in the Arenal area, Gaunacaste, Central Pacific, and the South Pacific/OSA areas and they have worked really well.
Costa Rica: 1st trip to Costa Rica:
I don't know any expats in that area, however I did spend some time there last year. I would recommend that you visit the Gingerbread Hotel restaurant near the town of Nuevo Arenal. It is not only the best restaurant in the area, but also a popular hang out with expats. I suggest sitting at the bar, that is where you get the best conversation :)
You can find out information about it here: gingerbreadarenal.com
Costa Rica: cant decide where to live:
bon313,
My wife and I are in a similar position. We are planning to relocate to Costa Rica within the next 2 years. We are also in our 50's. We have visited the country several times over the past 2 years and are planning another 10 day trip this coming November. We have investigated 3 specific areas of the country to this point (Northern Pacific Coast, Arenal/La Fortuna, and the Central/Southern Pacific Coast). Our interests are similar to yours. We truly were inspired by each of the areas we visited, however, we have made the decision to investigate the Southern Pacific Coast further. Specifically the Uvita area. While much less developed, this is an extremely beautiful area and the expat community is relatively established there. While it is more humid with more wet weather that the Northern Coast, it is the only area where the mountains drop onto the beach. Therefore, you can pick your altitude in order to control your temperature and still have the ocean views and a short trip to the beach.
However, as you will discover from many of the experts on this forum (and other forums), it is advisable to rent before buying property and that is what we intend to do. In my research, there are many long-term rental options in this area that range from $750/mth and $3000/mth. It is simply a question of what you want, what you want to pay for and what you can afford. Everyone is different.
Further, I would strongly recommend (again based on the expert advice) that you commit to learning Spanish and the culture of the people in Costa Rica with a goal of assimilating as much as possible. While it is possible to live an enjoyable life without doing this, you will have to pay for that decision, in more ways than one.
Fill free to ask any other questions or even private message me if you want to know anything else about my research so far. I would love to get your perspective as well.
Costa Rica: Family reunion:
My wife and I spent a few days in La Fortuna in early March of this year. We stayed at the Lost Iguana Resort which is very close to Lake Arenal. Although expensive, we found this resort to be exceptional. We also visited the Tabacon Hot Springs (also expensive but very nice). The best restaurant we ate at (actually the best place we ate in all of Costa Rica was the Gingerbread House just outside of Nuevo Arenal. They are only open Monday through Wednesday (I believe). You should definitely go to the Arenal Volcano National Park and hike up to the old lava flows. But I must tell you that the best experience we had in the area was volunteering for a half day at the Proyecto Asis Animal Rescue Center. Here is the web site: http://www.institutoasis.com/index.htm. It is about 40km south of La Fortuna. A great experience for both children and adults.
Steve
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