Cable Tica- Is it worth the hassle?

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Cable Tica- Is it worth the hassle?

September 30th, 2011 | Costa Rica - Relocation, Costa Rica - Travel Tips, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Everything in Costa Rica is a monopoly. One electrical company, one water company, even when it comes to cable or internet there’s not a lot of options. Cable Tica is one of those few options, but is it the best option?

Customer service is the mark of a successful company. In my opinion, Cable Tica is failing miserably when it comes to customer service. Recently I called their customer service line to ask a simple question, How many channels do you offer in English? I had to call six different numbers before anyone would even attemp to anwers my question. Then the only answer I was given was “All I know is that 6 channels are SAP enabled. ” Read more

How to get your Costa Rica driver’s license, the Easy way.

September 18th, 2011 | Costa Rica - Relocation, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Any legal paperwork in Costa Rica can be a real pain. Long lines, a million hoops to jump through and just when you think you have every document you could possibly need they ask for another one, original and certified photocopy. Getting your CR driver’s license could be another classic headache, but it doesn’t have to be. Here’s what you need to know:

If you have a valid driver’s license from a foreign country then the process is pretty simple. You need

Your valid driver’s license. Original and photocopy
Full physical examination. Just ask your doctor for a physical for your driver’s license and you’ll get exactly what you need.
Passport with a current tourist visa, permanent residency card or

Spice up your Costa Rica vacation

June 9th, 2011 | Costa Rica - Business, Costa Rica - Culture, Costa Rica - Gringo Favorite, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

What is it that draws so many visitors to Costa Rica? Typically, a culinary experience hasn’t been on most people’s list, until now. Two Eco-lodges have tapped into an unexplored yet highly successful venture, Culinary tours. Although Costa Rican food is not classified as fine dinning, most who have tasted it have fallen in love with it. Now you can take those delicious typical dishes home with you and have them as often as you want.

Inn at Coyote Mountain is a four room eco-lodge located in San Ramon. The grounds of the lodge are beautifully adorned by the many fruit trees and organic fruit and vegetable plantations. You may decide to enjoy the orchid garden or a tour Read more

Caribbean Deep Sea Fishing in Costa Rica

May 26th, 2011 | Costa Rica - Adventure, Costa Rica - Gringo Favorite, Uncategorized | No Comments »

This post comes to us via guest blogger Andrew Kolasinski:

Costa Rica’s largely unspoiled Caribbean coast has little development. But that means there are fewer services than on the Pacific side. Along the south Caribbean coast there is, as yet, no marina. The few fishing guides who operate must improvise their boat moorage, usually anchoring in sheltered bays.

While staying in Puerto Viejo I connected with a group of fishing-crazy American ex-pats who agreed to take me out on their boat.

Don, Lazlo and Sean had all permanently moved to Costa Rica’s Caribbean. Lazlo brought his 21 foot fishing boat from the U.S., and he’s happy just to have company on the water willing to share in the cost Read more

Expotur Costa Rica 2011

May 19th, 2011 | Costa Rica - Business, Costa Rica - Travel Tips, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Expotur is the biggest event of the year for the tourism industry in Costa Rica. Vendors and buyers have traveled from all over the country and all over Central America to Expotur for the past 26 years and 2011 is no exception. Hosted at the Herradura Ramada Hotel in San Jose, 248 stands were used for this massive exhibition held May 11-15.

The purpose of Expotur is to bring vendors and buyers together and create alliances in business. Participants come from all aspects of tourism including water sports, adventure tourism, sun and surf , business trips and conventions, cultural tourism, educational tourism and even medical tourism. Airlines, food vendors and hotels amongst others also participate in the trade show. Read more

2 Great Spas to Heal Yourself from the Inside Out

May 12th, 2011 | Costa Rica - Best Shopping, Costa Rica - Gringo Favorite, Costa Rica - Must See or Do, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Green lush forests, colorful exotic animals, towering volcanoes and a variety of other landscapes have made Costa Rica a top destination for nature retreats and eco-tourism. Also growing in popularity are Nature and Wellness Spas. These havens perfectly combine rest, indulgence and adventure. Pamper yourself in a truly healthy environment, surrounded by pristine forests and wildlife.

Samasati is a nature retreat spa located just outside the Cahuita National Park, about an hour from the Panama border. Bungalows and guest houses are located deep in the tropical forest. A variety of scrubs, wraps, exfoliation, reflexology and massages are available at the full service Samasati Spa. One-hour treatments at the spa cost $85USD. Yoga packages include yoga classes, a spa treatment, Read more

Why travel after the Holidays?

May 5th, 2011 | Costa Rica - Travel Tips, The Best of Costa Rica, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Holy Week is one of Costa Rica’s most important holidays. On Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter or Resurrection Sunday there are processions and special masses all over the country. During this week, however, there is an almost biblical exodus from the cities to the beaches. Primarily the Guanacaste area. The streets are packed full of travelers, the beaches are crowded and hotel rates are at their highest. To top it off, Most businesses are closed from Thursday afternoon through the weekend and even those that are open cannot sell alcohol because of the Holy Week dry law.

Check out this quick tip for getting discount on a Costa Rica hotel.

Traveling during Holy Week requires a Read more

Costa Rica Culture: Pura Vida

April 27th, 2011 | Costa Rica - Culture, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Ticos are known by their neighbors for their greeting Pura Vida. This expression, meaning pure life, sums up Costa Rican culture. Ticos are laid-back, friendly and hospitable people who just want to enjoy life.

Costa Rica has a little over 4 million inhabitants, most of which are white and mestizo. Most people are Catholic but don’t attend church regularly. However, Catholic traditions do influence their life. Many holidays, celebrations and festivals are linked to religion and often in honor of a saint or the virgin Mary. These festivals also feature a different aspect of their culture, Folk music and dancing. Dancers in their typical clothing perform to the music of a large xylophone played by two or three people. Read more

How to Order A Traditional Costa Rican Drink

April 19th, 2011 | Costa Rica - Places to Eat, Costa Rica - Travel Tips, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Enter a Costa Rican restaurant and you will find that in addition to serving the the usual coffee, sodas and beer comes a long list of fruit drinks called Frescos. Most of which you may have never heard of or seen before. This list changes according to season and summertime brings the most variety in these.

Common and easily recognizable frescos may include papaya, mango, banana, pia (pineapple), manzana (apple), limon (lime), fresa (strawberry), melon (cantaloupe),zanahoria(carrot) and even kiwi. Others are not so common or easily recognizable. Here are some.

Arandano (blueberry)

Mora (blackberry)

Marañon (cashew fruit)

Linaza (flax seed)

Maracuya (passionfruit)

Guayaba (guava)

Sandia (watermelon)

Flor de Jamaica ( hibiscus flower)

And some are simply not found in Read more

Gaia Hotel and Reserve, “2010 Mexico and Central America’s Leading Boutique Hotel”

April 7th, 2011 | Costa Rica - Adults Only, Costa Rica - Gringo Favorite, Costa Rica - Places to Eat, Costa Rica - Places to Stay, Costa Rica - Travel Tips, The Best of Costa Rica, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Located in Manuel Antonio, Gaia Hotel and Reserve has been awarded the World Travel Award for Mexico and Central America’s Leading Boutique Hotel 2 years in a row(2009 and 2010) and is currently nominated for the 2011 awards in that same category. In 2007 and 2008 this Hotel was also named Costa Rica’s Leading Boutique Hotel.

Evidently Gaia Hotel and Reserve has achieved an unmatched level of excellence on the Manuel Antonio coastline. The beach at Manuel Antonio is a blue flag beach. Blue Flag is a Costa Rican program by which the water and sewer institute monitors the water yearly to make sure the water is clean and safe. This 5-star hotel specializes in creating delicate balance between Read more