Would I retire in Panama City, Panama? Or should I stay in Costa Rica when I retire? After a visit to Panama City and getting a good feel of what Panama City has to offer, I decided to tell you more about it. If you are looking for a nice lifestyle when you retire or…
This is the real story of TJ and Cinde buying property in Tamarindo. This extraordinary couple recently moved to Costa Rica and bought a hotel in Tamarindo. If you are dreaming of moving to Costa Rica, like TJ and Cinde did, starting a new life and buying a property, check out Tamarindo first. It’s as…
The final part of the Caja Saga, a real story about a Canadian getting her Caja carnet. I recommend you read my other blogs about the Caja saga, as you will understand better what is involved for a Canadian to get your Caja carnet for your Costa Rican social security up to date nowadays. In the…
Want to join the Caja del Seguro Social? I did, so I decided to tell you about it. When a foreigner wants to become a resident in Costa Rica, it is mandatory to join the Caja del Seguro Social. In the last two weeks, I have been telling you all about my adventure of getting…
See how Paula gets a new Caja carnet. Paula is a Canadian who moved to Costa Rica with her husband quite a few years ago. The Easy Times has had numerous requests from readers to help find a solution to the problem of getting or renewing the Caja carnet. The Caja carnet is necessary to…
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes Public Health insurance is mandatory for foreign residents (CAJA), but private health insurance is also available. If you move to Costa Rica and get your legal residency, you will also have to apply for the C.C.S.S. The C.C.S.S. is the Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social or the Costarican Department of…
Wondering what to do when you have a car accident in Costa Rica? If you are a tourist, citizen, or legal resident in Costa Rica, and you have a car accident, no matter how small or ugly the accident is: DO NOT MOVE YOUR CAR. If you are blocking traffic in the middle of a…
Costa Rica has an amazing Senior Citizen Discount program. In my blog “what do Costa Rica expats want” I suggested a 65+ program for retirees without knowing such a program already existed. Other countries like Panama do have a senior citizen discount program widely advertised but the Costa Rican government advertises their program only to…
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes The private hospitals in Costa Rica accept quite a few international healthcare insurance. If you plan to move here soon, you want to search for options for international healthcare insurance as part of your due diligence process. Medicare cannot be used here; therefore, you must find other options. If you…
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Can U.S. citizens enjoy their Medicare Benefits after moving to Costa Rica? What options are there for health care insurance? Deciding to move to another country requires a lot of due diligence. Checking if your existing medical insurance covers you outside your home country is very important. Many expats move…
Before it’s too late, let me tell you where NOT to stay when you look at Costa Rica real estate. Most clients who visit for the first time before moving to Costa Rica don’t have an idea where they should stay when they look at Costa Rica real estate with our agents. I don’t know…
Learning Spanish, or at least the basics, is a must before you arrive in Costa Rica. Traveling to another country is always an exciting adventure full of new sights, sounds, and experiences. However, this experience can be challenging due to the sometimes subtle, and sometimes obvious differences in culture. Add in an unfamiliar language, and…
We were asked to come up with 21 top activities for active retirement in Tamarindo beach. It amazing how most enjoy life at the beach and others get bored fast. Well, Tamarindo Beach is one of those Costa Rica beach areas where you should never get bored because there is plenty to do. No matter…
An expat in Atenas tells all about her experiences of moving to Costa Rica. Some weeks ago, I posted a very nice blog by guest blogger and expat in Atenas Judy on my other website. Two sisters (Judy and Roxi) are creating a whole new life in Costa Rica post-retirement from the United States. Hear about their…
Once you have decided to become an expat in Costa Rica, you’ll be checking your email often for email messages from Costa Rica. Moving to Costa Rica and doing your due diligence on buying Costa Rica real estate means nowadays being able to use the internet as well as your email. Email is part of…
Estimated reading time: 8 Minutes Like everywhere else, there are advantages and disadvantages to living in Costa Rica. This clearly shows in a letter from an expat in Atenas to his friend George. Hello George, I received the engine part you sent. But well, I must not have been clear when we talked about the…