Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes You must have heard about the famous marchamo in Costa Rica. If you own a vehicle in Costa Rica, you have to pay the marchamo once a year. This is paid before the end of December. Let me tell you what a marchamo is all about. Before you read on, check our…
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes If you have assets in Costa Rica, you should also have a will in Costa Rica. That’s the best way to save your heirs an incredible amount of problems. When you purchase a property here, get it done at closing so you won’t forget. If you use a foreign will…
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes How necessary is knowing everything about rain damage before you purchase property in Costa Rica, and how can you prevent it? The rainy season in Costa Rica starts in May and ends in November. The heaviest rainfall occurs during September, October, and part of November. So, yes, it rains quite…
Estimated Reading Time: 3 Minutes Who’d guess Costa Rica offers you a lot if you want active retirement? Rudy Johnston is a very active person, and one of his reasons for moving here was that he could stay active until he got really old. You guessed it right: Rudy is still in great shape. He…
Estimated Reading Time: 9 Minutes Probably you have decided that buying a car in Costa Rica is much easier than bringing your old one. Bringing your own car only makes sense when you ship your household anyway or if your car has low mileage. But the hassle of bringing your own vehicle is often not…
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes Let’s explain a bit about cremation in Costa Rica. I know it’s not a fun topic to discuss, but before we know, it’s our turn to find last-minute solutions. When a family member, or a friend, passes away, and you consider cremation in Costa Rica, taking the remains with you…
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Looking to retire yet? I know it really gets cold out there, especially in certain parts of the north. Are you fed up with the snow and other weather conditions? Then it’s time now to start working on that list of countries that are interesting to retire to. Of course,…
Did you know that happy living in Costa Rica is relatively easy? But you have to follow some rules. It is no secret that Ticos are some of the happiest people on earth. And no wonder they are so excited, they live in paradise! Happy living in Costa Rica starts with a gorgeous climate and…
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes Everybody who moves to Costa Rica wants to live the Pura Vida lifestyle. This expression is the national motto and it became world-famous after goalkeeper Keylor Navas started using it in all his TV interviews. But what does it mean? Basically, Pura Vida means “pure life” or enjoying life no…
Often, expats do not know that some funeral companies in Costa Rica offer pet cremation services. We found one who specializes in this beautiful service because we needed it for one of our dogs. What does the service include? The cremation of the pet, A wooden urn, Plaque with the data of the deceased pet,…
Estimated Reading Time: 3 Minutes Many expats and retirees in Costa Rica don’t think about passing away, their cremation, funeral services, or the repatriation of the deceased. But when a spouse dies, everyone starts running to find information. Few funeral services speak enough English for you to be comfortable arranging the deceased’s cremation, funeral, or…
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Do you think there is a need to learn Spanish before buying property in Costa Rica? The simple answer is no, you don’t if you hire a good real estate agent. Learning Spanish first is a good decision if you want to go FSBO. In this article, I am not…
Estimated Reading Time: 18 minutes Finding the right Facebook group when looking for information before moving or living in Costa Rica requires time and effort. However, here you have all the sources together. I published this blog for the first time in 2016 with 68 groups and pages, and I have now updated it. It’s…
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes Did you know that Tico construction is very different from US-built homes? I’ve seen opinions from expats who think they know but don’t. We DO have construction codes here in Costa Rica, BUT they’re only a bit different. If you don’t believe that, check out the INVU construction regulations. And…
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes A gap year is a great opportunity for students to mature, explore the world, and learn new skills. Whether you decide to take it after high school, between graduate and postgraduate education, or after graduation – there are plenty of opportunities. A gap year can be especially helpful for those…
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Does having smoking neighbors bother you with increasing awareness about respiratory illnesses and other health problems? Whether it’s cigarette smoke, general tobacco, or marijuana smoke, the smell from a next-door neighbor can be distasteful. Since 2012, we have had an anti-smoking law in Costa Rica. This law prohibits smoking in…