Costa Rican culture, like many Latin American cultures reflects their Spanish Heritage. There are also large Jamaican and Chinese populations in the country which help to shape the culture. Much of the artwork and traditional clothing is also influenced by the indigenous population, of which there are still small groups in remote areas of the country. Costa Ricans enjoy many national festivals where they don traditional folk dress and perform dances. Many of these celebrate Costa Rica’s rise to independence and how the nation has formed. The festival of the annexation of Nicoya is celebrated on July 25. The main festival is in the town of Nicoya, in what is now the province of Guanacaste. The streets are filled with thousands of spectators. Street vendors are out selling specialty Costa Rican drinks and foods, there are horse parades with special trotting shows, and Mascaradas. Mascaradas (also called Gigantas) are large puppet-like costumes depicting mythical characters. Their heads are larger than life, and the person inside stands on stilts!

If you’d like to see some real Costa Rica culture in action, plan a visit during the festival of the annexation. Nicoya is only about an hour away from some of the country’s best beaches. The province of Guanacaste is one of the best tourist destinations, with easy access to some of the highest speed internet, and top luxury hotels in the country. Come to Costa Rica to see a celebration put on by the happiest people in the world.

Hotel La Pradera is a family owned and operated bussines. They offer two kinds of small villas, Standard room and Mountain Cabin. All rooms have hot water, A/C, cable TV and a gorgeous view of the volcano. If you want to get to know the area more intimately you can go on their ATV tour to Arenal Waterfalls and through town to Lago Arenal, or take a tour to the foothills of the volcano and watch the mighty Arenal from a safe distance. You could also go on their rafting and whitewater kayaking tours. Prices range from $65-$100 USD.

Five minutes away from La Pradera is Hotel Baldì. This resort boasts 25 pools with 12 different temperatures, one of which even ha two slides which are great for families with children. The mineral water hot springs are of the most popular in the area and several packages are available. The hot water springs are also renowned for their health benefits.  Luxor rooms and Luxolex rooms range from $166-$199 USD per night. They also offer day pass packages with lunch or dinner ranging from $35-$45 USD per adult. Wether you stay overnight or spend the day at the relaxing hot springs, Hotel Baldi is worth a visit.

Enjoy a small comfortable cabin or a luxurious resort vacation, as well as some of Costa Rica’s most awe-inspiring landscapes in La Fortuna de San Carlos.

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 find plenty of sodas (small cafes), butcher shops, and  cheese shops but most importantly you’ll find an endless supply of souvenirs. Take the time to walk around the market before you buy anything. Try to take notice of the price differences and the selection available at each shop. Make a mental note of what you want to buy and how much you think it’s really worth, then you’re ready to start haggling and start buying. Try to buy most of the things that you want at one or two shops. The more you buy, the larger the discount that you’ll get from the vendors. In the end, this is the cheapest way to shop.

Small souvenirs like wallets, leather coin purses, key chains and shot glasses are usually $5 USD or less, especially if they are part of a larger purchase.  Souvenirs like small wooden ox carts, toy guitars, hand painted clay pots and feathers can be found for around $10 USD. Larger more ornate ox carts and intricate paintings depicting old Costa Rica, or the different panoramas including the various volcanoes and beaches can be as much as $40 USD. Beautiful, high quality, hand-crafted leather purses and briefcases are well worth the $40-$50  USD. (If you aren’t in Costa Rica, but still want to shop for Costa Rican goods, visit this web-site.)

Some of the things found at the market are the same as you would find at a souvenir shop by the beach or closer to your hotel, however the market offers greater variety and higher quality products. Make the time to stop by the Central Market where you can always find something uniquely Costa Rican.

For more on shopping in Costa Rica, check out these posts.

Costa Rica is famous for its beaches, volcanoes, rain forests, etc. However, if there is one place you should definitely visit in Costa Rica, it is the Central Avenue in San Jose. The Central Avenue is a pedestrian walkway that stretches through all downtown San Jose. Walking down the Central Avenue you will find many historic buildings reflecting the architecture of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.

One of the main attractions sits across from the Central Plaza, where artists gather to sell their work, and people sit on benches to feed the many kinds of birds as the day goes by. This building is The National Theater of Costa Rica. This ornate opera house was built in 1867 and has been in constant use ever since. There are shows at lunch time, in the early afternoon and in the evening almost every day. The shows usually range from $5-$10 USD, while a complete tour of the theater is $5 USD. Even if you don’t feel like taking the tour, go in for coffee and dessert at their wonderful cafe and enjoy a simple afternoon. The theater is open to the public from 9:00am to 4:00pm

As you continue your walk in downtown San Jose you can visit the old Post Office on Calle 2, between Avenidas 1 and 3. The Post office was finished in 1917 and is another gorgeous building worth visiting. In the second floor you’ll find the Philatelic Museum which holds a collection of Costa Rican and International stamps dating back to the first Costa Rican stamp. For more information on the Philatelic museum call (506)2223-9766.

Other landmarks are the National Art Museum and across from it, the National Park. The National Park  is an arboretum with a wonderful variety of fauna. Wherever you choose to go, you will have a great time in the Central Avenue of San Jose.

The Jazz Cafe offers quite an experience. There are live shows every night featuring national and several international musicians. The food is great and the display of various sculptures and art pieces by local artist gives this place a wonderful ambiance. There are now two venues, the original one sits  over 200 and is located in San Pedro and a newer, larger but equally enticing one is now open in Escazu. Check out the upcoming events and enjoy a show for $6-$8 USD. This cafe attracts a varied crowd and is guaranteed to please any jazz lover. So if you like Jazz and you’re looking for a place to have a good time and taste San Jose’s nightlife, make room for the Jazz Cafe.

Another attractive option is the News Cafe and restaurant in the Hotel Presidente.  A great place to meet new people and enjoy a quiet drink in  the Central Avenue, the News Cafe is becoming increasingly popular with many of the American and European expatriates. The menu offers a variety of exquisite Costa Rican and American dishes ranging from $10-$15 USD and their selection of wines and spirits is quite extensive. The dress code is business-casual as this cafe attracts the trendiest crowd in San Jose.

The Costa Rican people love to have fun and San Jose’s varied nightlife is proof. San Jose has a lot to offer so take your pick and enjoy a night out in the town. Expect to have a good time, in the land of Pura Vida.

Where should I eat in Costa Rica? The simple answer is go where the locals go. In any country a restaurant’s mark of excellence is how busy they are. You will probably find that there are an incredible array of options when it comes to food: European, Mediterranean, Asian, American, and local. How can you choose? Here are two local favorites that are sure to impress:

Restaurant Las Delicias del Maiz is famous for their delicious corn dishes and pork BBQ.  They are located in La Garita de Alajuela on the road to Jaco beach. This open air log cabin is decorated by typical Costa Rican ox carts, and wood sculptures. The atmosphere is relaxed and the scenery is beautiful. The best part of this restaurant however, is the food. They offer all the typical Costa Rican dishes, like Casado (rice and beans, plantains, salad and your choice of meat), arroz con pollo(chicken with rice), and seafood, but they are most famous for their inventive corn dishes. They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and their phone number is (506) 2433-7206.

However, if you’re looking for the best seafood around, El Banco de los Mariscos is regarded by most locals as the best seafood restaurant in all of Costa Rica.  Personally, it’s my favorite. It’s located 500 meters west of the plaza in Santa Barbara, Heredia. They serve a wonderful Tilapia, as well as their famous lobster in garlic butter sauce. The choices are endless and everything is cooked to perfection. The staff is friendly, the restaurant is large, the decoration is simple, and the atmosphere is welcoming. Anyone can enjoy a perfect meal for a very reasonable price. For more information call: (506) 2269 9090.

Costa Rican food is one of the best things about Costa Rica. Eat with the locals and enjoy good food and good times. You will not be disappointed.

The town of Monteverde is home to the famous cloud forest. The downtown area has a lovely down-to-earth, laid back atmosphere. So does the Hotel Fonda Vela located a few kilometers outside of downtown Monteverde. From its luxurious rooms with large windows you can enjoy the  magnificent view of the lush cloud forest and also the rest of the Nicoya Peninsula. A standard room with all the amenities starts at $99.00 USD a night. The hotel also has two gourmet restaurants, each with its own charm, The Fireside Room and The Gallery. If you want to tour the butterfly gardens or enjoy a canopy tour the hotel’s helpful staff will arrange this for you.

If a quiet getaway in the secluded mountains of Costa Rica is not what you are looking for, maybe an all-inclusive beach front resort will interest you. The five-star Hotel Barceló Tambor Beach specializes in pampering every one of their guests. For $156.40 USD a night you can enjoy a double room with king size beds and a view of the sea or their gardens. You can relax by the beach or take part in a dance class or shuffle board game. Eat at the buffet or have a drink by the pool. Relax with a massage or go horseback riding. The choice is yours and you can do it all, in Costa Rica.

In recent years more and more fradulent real estate dealings and investment scams. Therefore, it is important to keep your wits about you and don’t give anyone the benefit of the doubt. Many foreigners come to Costa Rica expecting things to run just as smoothly as they do in the States when it comes to business dealings, and sadly, that’s just not they way it is down here.

So, how can you protect yourself from being subject to a scam? If you are looking at property, here are a few things to watch out for:

• How does the property look? If it looks like it has been abandoned or not well taken care of, it is possible that the people trying to sell the property aren’t the actual owners.
• Check to make sure your agent has his residency or citizenship in Costa Rica, especially if he/she looks foreign. This adds to their credibility. You can also Google their name and business and see if any issues come up. And, if you are connected to Costa Rican forums, ask around on there about the specific agent.
• In high profile areas like Santa Ana, Tamarindo and Jaco, be very aware of scams. Since these are hotspots for new ones, and foreigners and dollars are commonplace, so are scammers.
• Lastly, get yourself a real estate attorney. You may not think you need it, but they can help you navigate the system. A good attorney, maybe from the list of bilingual lawyers that the US Embassy provides, will be able to make sure the property has a clean title and is a good sale.

That being said, there are two very important things to keep in mind if you are considering relocation or retirement in Costa Rica and planning on purchasing real estate.

1. The laws in Costa Rica are quite different than the ones in the United States and other first world countries. The government is honestly a lot quicker at handling violent, glorious crimes than they are with helping gringos get their money back. Taking matters through civil courts takes time and money, and no one in the Costa Rican government system seems to jump to do it.

2. In the United States if you want to become a real estate agent you have to take a test. This is not the case in Costa Rica. Anyone, literally ANYONE, can decide they want to be a real estate agent or broker. Ther are no permits, and no school is required. You actually don’t even need to be a resident or citizen.

1. When you greet a person, touch your cheek to theirs and kiss the air. Main mistake made by foreigners: actually kissing the cheek. To remember:Men kiss women, women kiss women, but men do not kiss men.
2. At smaller parties and gatherings greet everyone this way and do the same when saying goodbye. Main mistake made by foreigners: Only greeting the host, only greeting friends, and only waving goodbye. To remember: It is considered rude not to individually say hello and goodbye to everyone in the group in this manner.
3. When you arrive at someone’s home, wait for permission to be invited in, even if they are your good friends. Main mistake made by foreigners: Just barging on in. To remember: “Con permiso” is an appropriate way to ask for permission to enter. “Adelante” is an acceptable response. Make sure you use “adelante” with Ticos when they arrive to your home.
4. Pay the “watching man.” This is the man who sits outside and guards the cars when there is parking on the street. Main mistake made by foreigners: Not paying. “I didn’t ask him to watch my car, why should I pay him?” Bad move. These guys remember, and they have friends. To remember: You should tip the equivalent of about 50 cents for stays of longer than a half hour.
5. In business deals, always make good use of small talk. Main mistake made by foreigners: Getting right down to business. To remember: It is appropriate to discuss any neutral topic before going into business negotions. It is expected and considered proper.

Hopefully these tips for fitting in will have you acting a little bit more like a Tico soon, and maybe they will explain why you have been getting so many funny stares since you got here…

1. DO take your time in deciding where you want your home in Costa Rica to be. (Or if you want to stay here permanently at all… this is not something to rush into.)
2. DON’T buy the first piece of land or first house you see.
3. DO Rent a place in that area before you buy!
4. DON’T expect things to be the same as they are in the States.
5. DO travel around Costa Rica and get to know the country and the locals.
6. DON’T be gullible and use common sense!
7. DO learn Spanish, at least some before you come. (How else will you get to know the locals?)
8. DON’T think Costa Rica is the solution to all your problems, but have a positive attitude about live here!
9. DO research! Read the Tico Times, read everything you can find about moving to Costa Rica, try to connect with other expats.
10. DON’T worry. Pura Vida! Be cautious, but don’t be anxious.

Also, always make sure to stay legal, and stay under medical coverage. I can’t tell you how many people come here, overstay visas and have to pay exorbitant fines, or need medical care and find out that their insurance from the States is no good here.

Making a move to Costa Rica can be rewarding and fun, but it isn’t without its challenges. Approach such a big decision cautiously, and you will surely have success!