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Fleeing? Consider Costa Rica [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2025-01-07
Consider Costa Rica — I retired to its southern Pacific coast 8 years ago (Ojochal, Uvita and Dominical area) and couldn’t be happier. Most of us large numbers of US and Canadian expats live in the low mountains surrounded by jungle but with expansive views of the Pacific and gorgeous sunsets. Temperatures are about 73 to 88 every day all year with constant onshore ocean breeze (I have never turned on my ACs). Almost no rain Jan thru March and the rainy season extends for the rest of the year with beautiful clear mornings and 2 hours of rain starting about 3 in the afternoon. Great international restaurants along this Ballena Coast. No hurricanes because our many high volcanoes block them and redirect them toward the Gulf of Mexico and the US beyond. Each year this land of Pura Vida is ranked as the world’s #1 or #2 retirement destination and I think often also as a top tourist destination because of its extensive tropical rainforest (51% coverage and always expanding with conservation easements), abundant exotic wildlife (scarlet mcaaws, jaguar, humpback whales here from Antarctica for 3 months to give birth and Calif/Baja humpbacks here for another 3 months), snorkel and scuba diving is excellent, the whole coast is a world famous surfing mecca, frequent surfing and big game fishing tournaments are held. Big game fishing is the best in the world (my passion and expertise - for sailfish, marlin, mahi, roosterfish, tuna, ect.), famous Osa Peninsula with Corcovado Natl Park nearby with highest terrestrial biodiversity in the world according to Nat Geo, 25% of the country is protected in national parks, waterfalls everywhere, virtually no bugs surprisingly, scores of adventure activities within a 30 minute drive, extensive coconut-lined beaches with few bathers, low cost of living, stable government, no army, property taxes about 1/8 that in the US. English and Spanish spoken everywhere. Can start a business here. Pensionado residency available with $2000 maintained in your bank account initially, visitors can drive on valid driver’s license but have to cross the border every 3 months (we go back and forth into Panama the same day). Crime is as normally expected in any big modern city (San Jose) and we get just petty crime down here like any seaside tourist town. Medical and dental care is excellent and lots cheaper than US. Currency is dollars or colones, I speak NO Spanish (don’t need it). Lots of vacation rental homes available while you scout for property to buy or build. Local labor is inexpensive so really nice affordable homes are readily available. Views of the Pacific Ocean and its sunsets are spectacular. Consult Mr. Google and local realtors for tons of photos, etc. My fed annuity and SS are direct deposit into my US bank or they could be sent to my Costa Rica bank. I pay US taxes like everyone else. Everyone must participates in the local health insurance and I also have Medicare A and B plus my GEHA health insurance thru federal govt service (it pays 80% at any hospital here whereas Medicare is US only). I think our doctors and medical facilities are uniformly top rated.
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