The Costa Rica Gringo

Tips for Gringos using Bus Travel in Costa Rica

March 22nd, 2009 | Costa Rica - Travel Tips | 1 Comment »

Buses are one of the most popular ways to travel around in Costa Rica, and most definitely the main form of transportation for Ticos. They are, in fact, a great way to travel! They are cheap, and reliable, meaning they always run, not that they always run on the same time!

When you travel by bus always make sure to head to your bus stop just a little early because a bus might arrive five minutes early and take off… or it might be five minutes late. When on a bus always keep your luggage with you or in your line of sight (preferably with you, but this isn’t always possible). Sometimes depending on how much luggage Read more

GPS in Costa Rica… Why not try PPS?

March 19th, 2009 | Costa Rica - Culture, Costa Rica - Travel Tips | No Comments »

“Where in the world am I?” If you don’t have GPS this is a question you will be asking yourself time and again as you travel around Costa Rica. Costa Rica, like many foreign, countries doesn’t really have many street signs, especially out of town, so then the question arises: how do you find your way around?

We use a system developed in Costa Rica called PPS (People Positioning System). To use this system, if you have rented a car you will first need to pull over where you see a group of people standing around and ask. (Don’t worry, throughout Costa Rica you will be able to eventually find someone that speaks English.) In general Read more

Moving to Costa Rica with Pets

March 18th, 2009 | Costa Rica - Relocation | No Comments »

If you’re planning on moving to Costa Rica and you want to bring your pets along it is important that you have all the correct paperwork in order. The following is the basics on what you need to do to bring your pets to Costa Rica. Before you come, however, it is best to check with the Association of Residents of Costa Rica to make sure that the rules haven’t change. (Get in touch with them no later than 3 weeks before you are set to arrive!)

Cats and dogs coming into Costa Rica do not need to be quarantined upon arrival. You do, however, need to make sure that you get a certificate from your vet Read more

Retirement Tours in Costa Rica

March 15th, 2009 | Costa Rica - Business, Costa Rica - Relocation | 1 Comment »

George Lundquist is a retirement and relocation guide who knows what he is talking about. He spent a whole year researching Costa Rica from the States. He toured with Real Estate agents, he joined the ARCR. It was all helpful, he says, but it did not introduce him to what would eventually become his life in Costa Rica.

So now, George has developed tours to help real people relocate to Costa Rica. His no nonsense tours show people what it is like to live in Costa Rica. One of the reasons why George’s tours are so great is that he shares his firsthand experiences from living there.

He can answer the most common questions about the country: electricity, the Read more

Arenal rainforest reserve night time river adventure

March 12th, 2009 | Costa Rica - Adventure, Costa Rica - Family Friendly, Costa Rica - Gringo Favorite, Costa Rica - Must See or Do, The Best of Costa Rica | 3 Comments »

Arenal Reserve has much to offer for the adventurist, but one of my favorite activities is the night time rainforest raft tour. When I thought of doing this tour I expected to have several people with me, as we sat waiting at my hotel I saw several busses of people going off to their adventures. Pretty soon after a van with a raft in tow pulled in, I realized my group would be the only one going on this adventure.

On the way to our location we came to realize right away that our tour guide spoke pretty good English. We arrived at the river and loaded the raft into the water. Very quickly day turned into Read more

Volunteer Teaching English in Costa Rica

March 10th, 2009 | Costa Rica - Business | 2 Comments »

A year ago Costa Rican president Óscar Arias Sánchez announced the Costa Rica Multilingüe program, with its goal of having all high school graduates in Costa Rica speak English by the year 2017. (Currently only approximately 10% of Costa Ricans speak fluent English.)

A year later the program has called for some adjustments, with one of the major focuses being the improvement of the quality of English speakers.

The Casa Presidencial has decided to enlist the help of English speaking volunteers to train adult Costa Ricans who are learning English. With some 33.500 residents from the United States, Britain, and Canada living in Costa Rica, the program has an expansive resource at their fingertips.

The program is voluntary, Read more

Costa Rica Tops Latin American Countries for Tourism

March 5th, 2009 | The Best of Costa Rica | No Comments »

The World Economic Forum has released its newest Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index, and Costa Rica is up in the rankings from last year.

This year Costa Rica ranked 42nd on the list, which was released last Wednesday, up two places from last year. It also makes Costa Rica the highest ranking Latin American country on the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index.

Costa Rica placed ahead of other popular Latin American destinations such as Panama, Mexico, and Puerto Rico when it comes to tourism infrastructure, education and training within the tourism sector and enthusiasm and encouragement for travel and tourism.

The overall ranking of 42nd combines a number of individual rankings, such as tourism infrastructure, in which Costa Rica Read more

Shop for Organic and Natural Food in Costa Rica

March 3rd, 2009 | Costa Rica - Best Shopping | No Comments »

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 Read more

Diving Cocos Island with Okeanos Aggressor

February 27th, 2009 | Costa Rica - Business, Costa Rica - Must See or Do, The Best of Costa Rica | No Comments »

I previously posted about taking the 8 day, mostly land trip to Cocos Island with the Friends of Isla de Coco Foundation and Organization for Tropical Studies, but let’s get real. Most people do not go to Cocos Island just to hike around or snorkel. The diving is where it’s at!!!

One of the two main companies who handles dive trips to Cocos Island is Okeanos. The 110–foot Okeanos Aggressor is part of the worldwide Aggressor Fleet, and has been departing from the Pacific port city of Puntarenas to Cocos for the last 20 years.

The trips are open to non-divers, but are geared towards divers, and experience is recommended, as Read more

Quick Tip for Discounts on Booking Costa Rican Hotels and Travel Services

February 26th, 2009 | Costa Rica - Travel Tips | 2 Comments »

If you are making a reservation for a hotel or a tour in Costa Rica and are able to pay in cash ask for a discount.

Many hotels and other service providers add upwards of 23% to your total bill in order to cover the taxes charged for reported bookings (16.93% for hotels) and the additional 7% most banks charge for merchant account credit card services.

Therefore, if you are looking for an additional discount, when making your reservation mention that you will be paying in cash and ask if there is any discount in doing such. The hotel or tour company should be willing to discount the price of your reservation at least somewhat, since they will not Read more

Tips for Gringos using Bus Travel in Costa Rica

GPS in Costa Rica… Why not try PPS?

Moving to Costa Rica with Pets

Retirement Tours in Costa Rica

Arenal rainforest reserve night time river adventure

Volunteer Teaching English in Costa Rica

Costa Rica Tops Latin American Countries for Tourism

Shop for Organic and Natural Food in Costa Rica

Diving Cocos Island with Okeanos Aggressor

Quick Tip for Discounts on Booking Costa Rican Hotels and Travel Services

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