Jaco is famous as Costa Rica’s wildest party beach. The beach at Jaco isn’t great for swimming – it’s too rough. The waves are big, and have called to surfers all around the world for years. Nearby Playa Hermosa has some of the best waves in the country for surfing, and a black sand beach. There is now an annual surf tournament at Playa Hermosa. When the surfers are done for the day, the party begins at night. If you’re looking for young partying surfers and backpackers, foreigners and Costa Ricans coming down from the city, then Jaco is where you want to be. Lots of celebrities choose Jaco as a vacation spot. You never know who you might Read more
While you are here you may find that want to bring part of Costa Rica back with you. How can you do that without breaking the bank? Where should you go to find the highest quality of souvenirs from local artisans and painters? The are two places in Costa Rica that are perfect to find anything from trinkets for your friends or the perfect art piece to bring part of Costa Rica into your home.
The Mercado Central (Central Market) is literally at the heart of San Jose and it’s a perfect place to observe daily Costa Rican life. It’s located at between avenues central and 1 and Calles 6 and 8, occupying a whole block. Inside you’ll Read more
When I first got to Costa Rica many foreigners told me that I needed to buy a dehumidifier. I didn’t really see the importance since I was home a lot at first and I didn’t notice any problems with mold. Then one week I left for only four days and upon arriving back home I found mold had grown on all my clothes, wood, couches and basically anything made of cloth. After that I decided to get myself a dehumidifier and it has been a life saver and a killer.
One reason I love the dehumidifier is I noticed when I mopped the house the water would not dry on the floors, now with the dehumidifier I don’t have that
Most of what we do in a bed is sleep. Yet we all know how hard it can be to find the right kind of mattress. Though mattresses are cheap in Costa Rica it is not going to be any easier finding a bed here than it is in the United States.
For example when you buy a bed here in Costa Rica you will find that it comes covered in plastic that they use to ship the mattress. I would recommend not removing the plastic from the bed after you purchase it. The reason is when you buy a frame in the United States normally there are metal cross bars that hold your bed up. In Costa Rica instead Read more
After I moved to Costa Rica one of the things I missed the most was the abundant supply of Costcos and Sam’s Clubs that we have in the states. In Costa Rica you can find a ton of mom and pop stores and at most of these can find all most everything you want, but what happens when you don’t what to travel to four different stores to go grocery shopping? Or what if there is an item that you just have not been able to find anywhere else.
In San Jose you can find your one stop shop called Price Smart. Just like Costco or Sam’s Club you need a membership to shop there and just Read more
As airports go, San Jose international (SJO) is one of the best that I have ever had the pleasure of flying in and out of. Though a rather small airport in comparison with other travel destinations, it is very well maintained. The bathrooms are very clean and well kempt as routine cleaning is done regularly. As far as food goes, don’t expect the dozens of choices you would find at most larger airports but it is modestly equipped with a Burger King, Church’s Chicken, Papa John’s Pizza and a small salad and sandwich shop. As is normal with most airport food, expect to pay extra for the “convenience” of having options within the airport. If you do decide to eat Read more
Often people think it is better to pay everything with a credit card. This is true in many cases because most credit cards have reward systems. So there is a benefit to paying with a credit card and then paying off your statement each month.
In Costa Rica you may find using your credit card to be a little more complicated than using it in your country of origin. When paying for different items in Costa Rica one reason you may not want to use a credit card is because most credit cards charge you a foreign transaction fee. What this is basically is your credit card company is going to charge you a percentage of your Read more
There are a ton of different ways to go about getting information regarding traveling to and living in Costa Rica. But how do you know the information is reliable? Plenty of you have e-mailed asking for information, but as you know… I don’t always find the time to answer, and sometimes I just don’t have the answers! I can, however, connect you with the people who do have the answers!
I, together with all the other Gringo writers (see my blogroll for affiliate sites) have worked to create a database that puts you in contact with the people you need to reach in Panama (and Guatemala, Costa Rica, Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador and more!)
If you are looking for legal services, real Read more
When I first arrived to Costa Rica and people said, “Would you like to go to the mall?” I found what I was thinking is completely different than what they were thinking. I was thinking of a two or three story building with tons of stores and a movie theater. What they were thinking of was three mom and pop stores right next to each other in an outside plaza. So when someone told me about Escazu Multi Plaza Mall I thought it was just going to be another compilation of mom and pop shops. I was so pleasantly surprised when I arrived.
In the Multi Plaza you can find a wide variety of shops. On Read more
Goat’s raw yogurt… almond oil… kelp… organic fruits and veggies… the list of natural and organic products available in the Central Valley of Costa Rica thanks to Natura Style is quite long.
Living a natural life style and being in touch with the land are two things that attract many people to Costa Rica. By using natural and organic products from Natura Style you can shop for all the best foods for your body. After all, what is the point of getting in touch with nature externally and not internally as well?
Natura Style makes it possible to receive the best natural and organic ingredients and foods for cooking at home in Costa Rica. You can order online Read more
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