Living in Costa Rica
Living in Costa Rica is a
totally unique experience. Many guidebooks, such as Lonely Planet
and Frommer’s, as well as countless websites have been devoted
to the task of educating people on Costa Rica’s charm. We recommend
that you research Costa Rica’s natural wonders, currency, customs
and basic government system before you commit to relocation
in Costa Rica. The only way to really experience it however
is to visit. We cannot count on both hands how many of our friends
and colleagues came for “short” vacation and ended up becoming
permanent residents. Costa Rica has many fine qualities that
make it so easy to fall in love with this beautiful country.
Costa Rica’s weather is definitely
one of the finest points of interest for anyone who lives with
months of sleet, snow, and ice. The weather in Costa Rica’s
Pacific Coast is near perfect, with no need for insulation or
heating in most homes. Half of the year is dry meaning that
it rains extremely rarely or not at all. This time would correspond
with our idea of summer in North America or Europe meaning that
it is the warmer and sunnier time of the year. This is usually
from late November until mid April or early May. December and
January are considered by many to be the best months of the
year. Rain is extremely rare in December and mostly unheard
of in January (except this year, 2006, when it rained for about
an hour on New Year’s Day!).
Following is the wet or rainy
season that would be similar to your winter, but nowhere near
as icy! It rains every few days at the beginning of the season
and then continues on to raining most every day but only for
a few hours in the morning or early afternoon. The only month
that has semi-constant rain is October. All of the other rainy
months also have sun for more than 50% of the day.
The days are hot and sunny
with a strong wind from the north that cools and cuts down on
bugs. Nights are fresh and perfect for getting a good night’s
sleep. July is also a favorite of many because the rain holds
off for a little while to let the sun come out more strongly.
It is commonly referred to as a mini summer.
Another point that many North
Americans and Europeans enjoy about the Costa Rican lifestyle
is the general friendliness of the local people. The tight knit
communities are exceptionally welcoming to both the foreign
traveler and new homeowner. Our development, Catalina Cove,
enjoys the colorful town of Brasilito as our home. The storeowners,
restaurateurs, and local families have become friends and allies
through many projects to better the area. A general love of
country and desire to help others can be found in Costa Rican
communities and families.
The Costa Rican economy is
of major concern to those who wish to invest in homes and businesses
here. We are happy to say that the economy here is strong with
large numbers of investments from multinational companies like
Coke, Intel and Pepsi to name only a few. In Addition, Costa
Rica boasts a booming tourism industry. Yes, there are boutique bed and breakfast hotels, like Casa Holanda and wellness, alternative medicine spas like AmaTierra, but more often now, you will find such hotel chains as Sol Melia, The Four Seasons, Best Western, Holiday Inn, Sheridan
Gardens, Hampton Inn and The Marriott Courtyards. In most major
towns you can find the brands of clothing, food, appliances,
and electronics that you are used to buying in North America
and Europe.
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