Mike
@samramon
American expat in Costa Rica
Forum posts
1338
Contacts
19
About me
American
Lives in Cant贸n de San Ram贸n,
Speaks Spanish and English and Pig Latin
Registration: 11 January 2011
About
My expat journey
Cant贸n de San Ram贸n, Alajuela, Costa Rica
We have 5 lots for sale near San Ramon at 2850 feet, West of town on Magallanes Road. We continually plant more and more trees, bushes and flowers to beautify our property. Our goal is to create an area where people will enjoy living as much as we do, a place for nature lovers who love birds, trees and wildlife in a tranquil private quiet area.
I do some web site building and internet work but am retired.
People are friendly, it's abundant with nature, there is almost no crime and San Ramon has everything you need so you don't have to go to San Jose'.
Like anywhere, the government has its hand in your life. You have to have yearly car inspections, you have to join the health care system and pay for car insurance etc.
San Francisco County, California, USA
I worked for many years in California but never loved it there.
Would prefer not to share my occupation for privacy reasons.
California has great weather and it's easy to find great prices on quality products.
People are not all that friendly where I lived in Calif. and it's a very high cost of living with many regulations and fines, too much traffic and too many people.
Activity
Border-free crossing to Panama and Nicaragua by Vanillacello
So my question is this: Is there anywhere on/near the Pacific coast where one can cross the borders to Panama and Nicaragua without going through a border-crossing?Ok, hear me out! In our family we have a competition where the goal is to have been ...
@Vanillacello聽you can cross into Panama by San Vito without legally crossing . I don't know how but I know that people do, to buy gas. Once you get down that way just ask somebody how to buy gas. Read More
Why do so many people leave Costa Rica after moving there? by samramon
This question is often asked because while there are no absolute numbers it seems to be generally agreed that 30-60% of people move back to their home country within the first 5 years or so. I hope the moderators will allow this discussion because ...
Is this forum now being moderated so that posts are not posted immediately? I just made two posts which did not appear here... ?? Read More
Why do so many people leave Costa Rica after moving there? by samramon
This question is often asked because while there are no absolute numbers it seems to be generally agreed that 30-60% of people move back to their home country within the first 5 years or so. I hope the moderators will allow this discussion because ...
Actually, not all areas are good for growing crops. Some areas get to hot, some too wet, some in a windy area, some due to a lack of water as in some communities they will ration the water to be used for farms. The heavy seasonal rain does wreck ... Read More
Why do so many people leave Costa Rica after moving there? by samramon
This question is often asked because while there are no absolute numbers it seems to be generally agreed that 30-60% of people move back to their home country within the first 5 years or so. I hope the moderators will allow this discussion because ...
Actually, not all areas are good for growing crops. Some areas get to hot, some too wet, some in a windy area, some due to a lack of water as in some communities they will ration the water to be used for farms. The heavy seasonal rain does wreck ... Read More
Getting Medication in Costa Rica by Symmetry01
How do americans get the medications they need? What are the average costs of medications compared to costs in USA. For example, my wife needs Percocet for sciatica and that runs up to 30 dollars a month after our insurance coverage. What is the ...
i just got home late last night from my trip to CR.聽 but I found property!!!!聽 30 acres about 45 minutes from Uvita. view of the San Luis waterfall, the Whales tail and a river!! Now here's hoping due diligence pans out.聽 I'm trying ... Read More
Why do so many people leave Costa Rica after moving there? by samramon
This question is often asked because while there are no absolute numbers it seems to be generally agreed that 30-60% of people move back to their home country within the first 5 years or so. I hope the moderators will allow this discussion because ...
Yes, I left CR over 3 years ago, however this 'saga' has been going on for many more years. I, am only a very small cog in this story and so it isn't something I want to discuss in the forum at this time. - @kohlerias@kohlerias:聽Understood. Read More
Why do so many people leave Costa Rica after moving there? by samramon
This question is often asked because while there are no absolute numbers it seems to be generally agreed that 30-60% of people move back to their home country within the first 5 years or so. I hope the moderators will allow this discussion because ...
Deleted by author Read More
Why do so many people leave Costa Rica after moving there? by samramon
This question is often asked because while there are no absolute numbers it seems to be generally agreed that 30-60% of people move back to their home country within the first 5 years or so. I hope the moderators will allow this discussion because ...
I don't agree with the idea that there are no negatives in Costa rica. That is ridiculous. As someone else said the way people drive and the bad roads alone are two huge negatives.On the other hand, there definitely are movie theaters outside of San ... Read More
Why do so many people leave Costa Rica after moving there? by samramon
This question is often asked because while there are no absolute numbers it seems to be generally agreed that 30-60% of people move back to their home country within the first 5 years or so. I hope the moderators will allow this discussion because ...
@kohlerias聽 Care to share the story?Didn't you leave CR? Read More
Best SUV car rental by carolz
hi we are planning to arrive in late march and April of 2012 5 adults traveling. After the ACRC seminar we want to renta car for 10 days - recommendations for a car rental place?
Be prepared to deal with the fact that your car rental company may not have your car ready when you get there even though you have reserved it. They just aren't good at managing their cars...Also even though it is very expensive, get full coverage ... Read More
Getting Medication in Costa Rica by Symmetry01
How do americans get the medications they need? What are the average costs of medications compared to costs in USA. For example, my wife needs Percocet for sciatica and that runs up to 30 dollars a month after our insurance coverage. What is the ...
Costa Rica seems to be being very careful about not having an opioid problem.I used to take valium about once a month for anxiety. I used to be able to get it without a prescription in Costa Rica. Then they made it available only through the ... Read More
Playa Lagarto Eco Developement by Brooksy
Looking for any info on this project which is being spearheaded by a Toronto based company called Recap investments...Any body else who has experience with this company and is or has bought land or housing there??? :/
@CostaPatty聽don't is my advice.聽 Read More
Cost of living in Costa Rica in 2022 by Cheryl
Hi everyone, Two years after the start of the pandemic, it is time to take stock of the evolution of the cost of living in Costa Rica or more specifically, in the region where you live. The idea is to help people get ready for their expatriation ...
All I know is that they are raising the price of the national health insurance (CAJA) for expats a lot this year.聽And I assume they are going to raise it for Ticos as well.聽Every year they are raising all sorts of government fees making it ... Read More
The driving force of your expatriation in Costa Rica by Diksha
Hello everybody, Moving abroad, to a destination such as Costa Rica, is often the result of careful consideration. It is a major life decision and one that should not be taken lightly as the implications are so diverse. We would like to know what ...
@Ziminar聽I suggest you look into sip panels. I used panacor for my house, and their panels were great to build with, and I highly recommend using some form of sips.You send them the architect design for your house, and they create the panels ... Read More
Costa Rican cuisine by Priscilla
Hi, When living abroad, tasting the local cuisine is part of discovering the country. What is your favorite food in Costa Rica? What is the local speciality? Share with us the local tastes of Costa Rica and why not your best ...
In Jaco there area lot of restaurants, and very few good ones. One good one is called El Cafecito by El Mono Verde. After I found it I ate there everyday for breakfast. But I heard from various people that their dinners are excellent as well. ... Read More