Retire in Costa Rica

"Retirement in Costa Rica and its surroundings is often seen as an ideal choice for many considering relocating from North America. There is a well-established expat community and excellent infrastructure to accommodate retirees. There are many cultural attractions, including colonial-Spanish architecture, a vibrant art scene, and historic sites peppered across the country. For recreation, outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, rafting and bird-watching are abundant; and nightlife can be found in major cities such as San Jose. Retirees also enjoy access to great healthcare, an affordable cost of living, and warm and friendly people. In other words, Costa Rica is a great country for retirees looking to live an active and fulfilling life," said one retiree in living in Costa Rica.

"I am retired and live across the estuary from Tamarindo. While I find Tamarindo too touristy for full-time living, I prefer the quieter beach communities nearby, such as Playa Grande, Playa Brasalito, and Playa Avellanas. I have settled in Playa Grande, enjoying its tranquility and natural beauty. Although I visit Tamarindo almost weekly to take advantage of its amenities and activities, I love returning to the peacefulness of my smaller, quieter community away from the hustle and bustle," explained a retiree in Tamarindo.

"The weather is truly perfect in Escazu, great amazing restaurants with so many choices, live music at Jazz Cafe, 2 great movie theatres showing films in English, lots of expats & English speaking Tico's, great public golf course close by in Santa Ana & perhaps best of all a great little casino close by," explained one retiree living in Costa Rica.

"For me there is not enough cultural activity in San Jose and you really, morally have to pay attention or you'll miss an event, show, performance. Things are poorly promoted here. I don't go in for nightlife but in general Costa Ricans are not late night partyers like other Latins. I do not mingle with expats, but I know there are a LOT of them. My routine is walking all over the city, taking pictures, soaking up the atmosphere," said one member in San Jose.

"Make sure you have a plan. Research everything. Don't come with vices like drugs, heavy drinking. And make sure you keep busy. Hobbies, events, etc. I don't sit around," remarked one retiree in San Jose.

"My wife and I retired to Costa Rica in 2013. Something we did that we felt helped was to prepare some "lists" before our scouting trips to CR: The first list was of things that we considered "essential" for where we planned to live (including housing, nearby conveniences, such as stores and restaurants, proximity to the beach and to an airport, etc.) The second list included items that would be nice to have but would not be essential; and the third list was of things we would like to avoid. It helped us to agree on what we wanted and helped us narrow down areas to look in," said a retiree who moved to Tamarindo, Costa Rica.

"Finding a place to live. Since Costa Rica does not have addresses, it was difficult finding my way around at first and trying to find an apartment based on an ad that said "200 metros detras del Pali."," explained one retiree living in San Jose.

"One of the most challenging aspects of retiring in Costa Rica is adapting to the lifestyle, culture, and language. Learning Spanish can be difficult, and there may be a period of acclimation and adjustment to the country's slower pace of life. The cost of living can also be relatively high compared to other Central American countries and wages may be lower, meaning that retirement savings may need to be managed carefully. Additionally, Costa Ricans are proud of their culture and customs and there may be a social expectation that expats adopt part of the culture in order to feel accepted," said one retiree in living in Costa Rica.

"The best part is the Ticos as neighbors and friends. Also the weather where I live no need for air conditioning or heat. Living a more simple life which involves a simple lifestyle where I have favorite taxi drivers in lieu of owning a vehicle which can be frustrating and expensive. I also am not a drinker and rarely eat out much by choice. Am able to have all I need, give generously and have left over. Would never be able to do this in the US on my pension," commented one retiree living in Costa Rica.

"Making new friends in Costa Rica. Not expats so much, but Ticos. I also enjoy traveling around the country on the buses which are safe and comfortable. I have my own routine. I walk a lot, eat healthier food," explained one retiree living in San Jose.

"Costa Rica provides comprehensive and affordable healthcare services to its citizens and expatriates. The country has an extensive network of public and private healthcare facilities, including hospitals and clinics, offering a wide range of medical services. Costa Rica makes a special effort to ensure that free or low-cost services are available to those who cannot afford private healthcare. Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers in Costa Rica are highly trained and knowledgeable. The country also has modern medical equipment and facilities, as well as efficient emergency services. Costa Rica is one of the few countries in the world to offer universal healthcare coverage to all citizens, and its healthcare system continues to improve over time," said a retiree who moved to Costa Rica.

"My insurance provides coverage at Hospital Biblical, a private hospital with an excellent reputation. It is not close: two buses and a short walk. Or a 6,000 colon cab ride ($11.50). Minor things like colds, infections, etc I go to the pharmacy," said one retiree in San Jose.

"If you know how to play an instrument, I recommend volunteering your time with the SINEM children's orchestra, a lot of expats teach in this program all through out Costa Rica," explained one retiree living in Montezuma.

"Welcome to San Ramon! Yes, lots of organized and also informal gatherings for philanthropy and recreational activities. Start by googling Community Action Alliance and check out their recent archived newsletters. Also look for Gringo Central which provides info on Central Valley groups and other useful info. And, every Thursday an expat group meets for breakfast at a local restaurant near the downtown park, come and go as you please. The Community Action Alliance has details on where. Finally, a few kilometers west of downtown past Magallanes, there’s a growing expat neighborhood with a very nice recreational center used by many expats, called El Palme (I think it’s called that, anyway). Can be found via Google," said one retiree in living in San Ramon, Costa Rica.

"Family is everything as with all Latin American cultures. Ticos make very good friends and once you are introduced into their families you become part of it. They will go out of their way to help you in every way possible," said a person in San Jose.

"hmmmmmm...take a vacation here first, spend a few months and get a feel for the scene here. Also, online research is an option too," said a retiree who moved to Montezuma, Costa Rica.

"Montezuma, Puntarenas, Costa Rica is not Anywhere, USA that's a given. Living here is finding a new balance for your lifestyle. It totally has been for me. I see that someone has posted what not to expect. I feel that the best attitude here is not to expect a thing. There is much good that you will find here. Beautiful, fresh, and clean air. Reasonably clean ocean water. Be watchful The water here is drinkable usually. I say this because mineral content can be high. When the sign reads Rip Currents, they mean it. Truth in advertising. Very warm or hot temps with high humidity. Lovely fruits and vegetables at very reasonable prices. Clothing minimal. Tshirts/shorts and sandals most of the time will do nicely. No need to wear expensive anything - it doesn't fit the terrain. Friendly people. There is internet service and cable television depending on where you are in Montezuma. The power will go out and yet, it does come back on. If you don't mind taking the bus from Montezuma to Cobano where Banco Nacional is located along with its outside ATM's, all two of them at the main office, it will only cost 400 colones. There's cost efficiency for you. If you love nature this can be a paradise. Every day is an adventure. You can be negative about things here, you can be positive about things or you can just be. I prefer to be. Pura Vida," said one retiree in Montezuma.

"My wife and I lived in Tamarindo for 5 years. (We now live in southern Nicaragua near our daughter, son-in-law, and two granddaughters.) When we first visited Tamarindo, it felt like driving into a California beach town from the 1960's. We liked the beach front road and string of beach restaurants. But it is also very popular for tourists, so the town is often packed with tourists, which can get a bit annoying. However, there are also low tourist seasons when the town is very pleasant. We liked that we could easily walk to many restaurants in town, And we owned a nice condo with a great view of the bay," commented one retiree living in Tamarindo, Costa Rica.

"We (US/UK retired couple) are in the process of settling in Escazu. We will be applying for the rentista visa, having ruled out the pensionista because of how the Caja charge is calculated. We have chosen the central location in preference to the coast for reasons of climate (warm days, slightly less warm evenings, need for little, if any a/c). Also, San Jose/Central Valley offers accessibility to the variety of experiences Costa Rica has to offer. Proximity to the airport is also important for us. The downsides experienced so far have been the heavy traffic and the serious sticker shock in the supermarkets and restaurants. Nowhere is perfect and we are happy to adjust our daily routines to these local realities. We will be happy to share our experiences as we go through the retirement process here," explained one retiree living in Escazu.

"Be ready to live, love and relax. This is a beautiful country and we live in paradise," said one retiree in living in Playa Hermosa de Jaco, Costa Rica.

"Costa Ballena Women's club, a poker club, an airsoft group, a few local bands and music groups, surfing, etc," remarked one retiree in Ojochal.

"Recreational activities include surfing on all levels from beginning to highly advanced. Playa Jaco has no shortage of surf schools due to the outstanding conditions in the area. Hiking is common in the area. Miro Mountain is one of the most popular hiking activities as the trail wanders through jungles with a great opportunity for wildlife spotting. The Miro Trail climbs to an elevation of 1,100 feet with spectacular vistas of the Pacific. Miro Mountain Trail is also popular with mountain bike enthusiasts. The area has many mountainous trails so ATV is very popular to reach the higher elevation views and local restaurants. Yoga is popular in the area with many studios and profesional instructors. Art classes are popular in a new facility in Jaco. Golfing at a top course in Playa Herradura is just ten minutes north of Playa Jaco. Playa Herradura Los Suenos Marina boasts one of the best in the area for excellent sport fishing known world wide. Bird watching and nature loves enjoy the Carara National Park just 20 minutes north of Jaco and the Manuel Antonio National Park just one hour south of Playa Jaco," explained one retiree living in Playa Jaco.

"Playa Jaco has two large "big box" stores Mas x Menos and Maxi Pali. These stores are affiliates of Wal=Mart Corporation. Jaco also has many carnicerias, pescaderias, panaderias, (butcher shop, fish shop, bread/pastry/cake shop) There is a feria (farmers market) in Playa Jaco on Friday morning. There is also an organic market on Wednesday at a local restaurant. A visitor or tourist will find everything needed in Playa Jaco! Other stores feature souvenirs, clothing, surfing supplies, art/crafts and larger appliances stores," said one member in Playa Jaco.

"I recommend joining Price Mart which is owned by Costco. Walmart has stores and owns two big chain stores there - Max X Menos and Maxi Pali. Auto Mercado is an upscale market chain which is also very good. Amazon barely works here and its Import duties and shipping cost are OUTRAGEOUS. ," explained one retiree in Santa Ana.