Guestbook about Costa Rica. I asked friends to tell what it is like to live there, whether it has washed away to wintering, what climate, what are the prices for everything about everything. In general, the typical questions that excite wintering men and immigrants. Yes, yes, there also emigrate It is possible, but the guys will not tell about it, since they drove exactly to time. Maybe someone else will tell 
The content of the article
- 1 About us
- 2 Pros and cons of life in Costa Rica
- 2.1 Cons
- 2.2 Pros
- 3 Life and Wintering in Costa Rica
- 3.1 Visa issues
- 3.2 Climate
- 3.3 Local population
- 3.4 Products and Prices
- 3.5 Our budget
- 3.6 Housing
- 3.7 Life
- 3.8 Fun for kids
- 4 Animal Travel
Contents
About Us
For most of our lives, we were creepy homebody. Travel started 5 years ago, after our daughter was born. Later, in Thailand, our son was born. He celebrated his first year in Cyprus the second is in Costa Rica. We spent the entire last year away from at home, traveling. First lived in Spain, Italy and the Czech Republic, They visited Europe and then flew from Frankfurt to Costa Rica. we lived in this wonderful country for 4 months with two children 4.5 and 2 years old and two cats. The first month was a real pura vida among green hills (pura vida – the motto of Costa Rica, literally “clean life “, but the meaning is closer to” life is beautiful! “). Then the stamp expired at the entrance, and it was decided to go to Panama. There we pulled back in Costa Rica, already then she sunk into the soul of her stunning nature, climate, friendly and friendly people.
The Pros and Cons of Living in Costa Rica
The decision to live in Costa Rica was spontaneous, just everything coincided. We were thinking about wintering in a warm country, and Thailand, which we love so much (we spent the winter there twice, living on Phuket in the amount of almost a year) seemed too familiar and cozy, I wanted something new. At that time, Ben, a student, came to us on couchsurfing. from USA. He taught Spanish and traveled to many countries in the South and Central America. Ben advised us to visit exactly Costa Rica. At that time, visas for Russians were canceled. Then me accidentally caught a cheap airline advertisement Condor flight tickets from Frankfurt. And finally, I found wonderful on Airbnb home among green unspoilt hills … We decided.
In our experience, life in Costa Rica has both pros and cons.
Minuses
- Expensive – this is probably the only serious drawback. Costa Rica for me at the moment. Affects the neighborhood with the United States. And Canadians also love to relax and live in Central America. it significantly increases prices for housing and food.
- The second minus – the usual for Latin America, and relaxation non-commitment of local residents. If something is not done, on quick elimination of the problem is not necessary
- Not as safe as, for example, in Thailand. Often you can see barbed wire and broken glass on the fences. Although in the country many expats, i.e. there is no particular crime in fact now. Some thievery and a bitterness in some way characteristic of all Latin American countries. Local offices This also applies, even large ones. So it is better not to relax.
Concerning the safety of us, many were afraid that even children can steal and rob right in the middle of the street. In fact, I had The impression is that San Jose is pretty safe. Lots of cops few dark personalities. Late 22:00 we, however, never walked
Once left just bought 4 pairs of crocs in supermarket, half an hour later the bag was in the same place. Still once a credit card was accidentally handed over to the laundry, they returned it to us in a separate plastic bag, slightly worn, but working. None There were no subsequent cash withdrawals from this credit card. In general, I would have felt completely safe if I hadn’t warnings, tall fences with barbed wire, armed guards at the bank entrance (one on each side from the entrance), metal detectors in buses and protected children site
- Poorly developed (compared to Europe) urban infrastructure, some general provincialism and parochialism. The country has chosen eco-tourism and conservation wildlife, so with world-class cultural life and other delights of civilization is not a lot here. Assortment of goods also not the richest.
pros
- Ecology, very beautiful and rich nature. Costa Rica Motto – pura vida. This country has relied on eco-tourism, growing organic fruits and vegetables, on farms. On the one hand, Costa Rica is very agrarian, rural, on the other – focused on tourism, with mostly from the United States. There are many nat parks, reserves. All sights are mostly natural. A lot of places to visit. There are also coasts with deserted beaches and warm water and waterfalls and rain forests and mountains and volcanoes.
- Friendliness of the local population. With that, the crime the situation in the country is not very good, the people on the streets are very friendly and smiling, open.
- Pleasant climate. Despite the fact that the area of Costa Rica very small, it fits many climatic zones. there is and hot tropical coasts and highlands with eternal spring and cool
- Not difficult for Europeans and common in the world language The local population is Spanish. At the same time, the country is focused on tourism, so English is also understandable to many. Unlike neighboring countries where it is almost impossible to communicate without Spanish and from the countries of Southeast Asia, where without knowing the local alphabet one cannot even read signboard on the street.
In general, Costa Rica is suitable for those who want to live in harmony with nature, values environmental friendliness and cleanliness, positive people, silence and privacy.
Life and Wintering in Costa Rica
Visa issues
According to recently changed rules, Russians enter Costa Rica up to 30 days stamped, may expire upon expiry up to 90 days. Back in Costa Rica, you can enter with a valid visa in one of the EU countries.
We had a visa, but ended in 5 days. Having read forums, which according to the rules require upon entry to submit the reverse ticket, we ordered them from the local airline Avianca (because the tickets were completely refundable, we were not embarrassed by the price of a thousand bucks — well, and then for a long time, butted for a very long time, so that these rogues They returned money to us and, in the end, six months later, when we returned to Russia, and returned the money at last. The airline itself is the money return, it seems, was not going to).
Upon arrival, no one asked to return tickets – this is on discretion of the border guard. And even if he asked, – they are not check, everything fits like a ticket. When you re-enter Costa Rica, from Panama, did not check the return tickets again – to families with children are treated differently there, they make all sorts of concessions and concessions.
This is the border of Panama and Costa Rica.
Although the decision to abolish visas for Russians has been published officially, in fact, no one knows anything and the officers act rather on their discretion. As already mentioned, now for the Russians in Costa Rica entry visa for 30 days. But for the first time we were stamped on 40 days, and on the border with Panama, for the second time, for 90 days.
For citizens of the United States / Canada and other decent countries at the entrance Stamped for 3 months, which can be extended for another 3, so that the issue of visas there few people care. Citizens of the Russian Federation after expiration the first term on the idea can extend the immigration stamp for another 2 of the month (we didn’t use it, whether it really works – a question). To make a vizaran, you need to go at least 3 days, but to scoop up can be infinite, and in Nicaragua (the easiest option), in principle, should not be very expensive, maybe 60 bucks for round-trip (bus prices here you can watch: http://www.ticabus.com/.
For overstay 100 bucks for each month, but no one really knows what to do if less than a month – we had overstay for 12 days, at the airport they didn’t even ask about it.
Climate
The climate in Costa Rica is wonderful. On the coast – tropical wet and hot, there we were just passing through (on the Caribbean side). Very reminiscent of Thailand, but much less secure. AT the capital, San Jose, at night +18 C, in the daytime + 25– + 30 C, there are strong wind and even chilly. In the mountains it’s generally cool – eternal spring. It is warm during the day, cool and fresh to sleep at night. Rains in san jose not It happens from November to March approximately, it pours in the mountains anyway.
Local population
Costa Ricans call themselves tico or tica, depending on gender. They love and accept such a name themselves, there is even a steady The concept of tico style is for example the tico brand cheese.
Children are very positive and welcoming. Everywhere the local walk with babies, they are always in the hands of moms and dads, strollers practically no (but there’s not much of a train; there are open hatches, sometimes no sidewalks).
Tiki live in families in their homes. Usually around the house a lot land. Trees, grass, pets all sorts, there is where to run children Adults do not need children to entertain themselves separately, they find a lesson themselves. Lifestyle rather rustic.
All people are very, very nice and open, necessarily hello, if you looked at them, they will surely smile at you and children Our children became very sociable after the winter in Costa Rica, before that they were more enslaved, they smiled less. In costa rica in the bus we always gave way. But in the Czech Republic, for example, – not inferior, we often went standing. Yes, even in San Jose, the sweetest and Kind taxi drivers, which I just met.
It’s funny that Russian speech will be recognized on the street, they rejoice: “Russo, Mucho Frio “(Russian, very cold). In general, Russians are good friendly
Locals often behave themselves, like children, all of which There are emotions – all on the face, and as a rule, positive emotions. But Those tiki, who lived in the US, and then returned, they like smile, but forever background something to think and soar about something.
Products and Prices
A lot of shops, sharpened just for “farang”. Everything’s there, neat and beautifully arranged, especially for expats. Them in Costa Rica very much. I am pleased with eco labels on many fruits and vegetables, insanely tasty strawberries, mango.
Milk is cheap, because the price is regulated by the state and in all The stores are the same: 1 dollar per liter. Bread 1-2 dollars per loaf, chicken – $ 8, turkey leg – $ 4, a good kilogram processed beef – 8 dollars, tomatoes 3-4 dollars, potatoes 3-4 dollars (all prices – per kg). Bananas, coconuts, mangoes are as cheap as in Tae. Avocados are incredibly tasty, we ate them every day, about 1.2 dollars apiece.
With bread, however, trouble, that’s really real trouble – they don’t know how to bake delicious, and so-so flour. There was only one store where we bought delicious bread.
As for seafood, for example, the shrimp topic in Costa Rica is not disclosed at all. In Tae, there were several kinds of ice every day in Tesco, and in Costa Rica 1-2 species. Sometimes just cleaned, dumped in the fridge and looks well, not very fresh.
Costa Rican cuisine: fried coconut chips and rice with beans in coconut milk
Our budget
Without giving up anything to yourself – 1200-1400 dollars a month for a family with two children + 2 cats.
True, food prices are not encouraging at all. This is celebrated and residents of the United States, come to Costa Rica. They say they live cheaper.
By the way, in Panama there is not a damn thing at all, but still we spent 1000 bucks for food per month, so the high cost of food is not a problem only Costa Rica, and any tourist places close to the USA and Canada.
Housing
Families with children and cats are not so easy to find housing, much depends from primary contact with the hosts. It happened that we did not expect anything Good, and found warmth, comfort and warm welcome. It also happened cancel the reservation because the hosts suddenly began to behave not fair or unclear. We have no special requirements for homes, for all time. travel conditions were different from a huge mansion where It was difficult to count the number of rooms, and to a small room in home of a large noisy family with a dog.
The first accommodation in Costa Rica we found a few months before Arriving at Airbnb, here it is, $ 700 per month. Tried and others options, including searching locally, but Airbnb is the best way get a complete picture of future housing and future owners. There was a case when we extended the lease personally, after Airbnb contract ended, and the attitude of the owners has changed dramatically for the worse.)
It was a cute two-bedroom house with homemade bamboo. furniture. He stood alone on a high hill and pleased with stunning the views of untouched nature from the windows, especially admired the sunsets, when in the distance, the lights of San Jose were lit. Life has stopped, admire I wanted to do all this endlessly, and also to wander around the neighborhood, rejoice in the swift hummingbird, watch the mist descend from mountains, then to burst rain.
During a trip to Panama we missed civilization, therefore settled directly in San Jose, which doubled the price tag on housing. The capital of Costa Rica, San Jose, seems at first glance not best place to live. However, the Eskazu region, where we lived, was just beautiful We rented the top floor of a very funny house with a huge hanging bed, a bunch of different hammocks, and with the hostess, which has been fishing in Alaska for 10 years. Surprisingly, in some 200 meters from the house, civilization began, with vanity, shops, cars, but once we returned to this house – only gurgling brook and squirrels, jumping on the thickets of bamboo, dragging unripe mango from a tree.
Our last home was a condo with a pool and other benefits. civilizations (their website is http://www.casareflejos.com/). We did not want change the area, and it was the most expensive housing in our lives, sharpened specifically for expats. There was absolutely everything, including daily cleaning and laundry.
Affordable housing in Costa Rica is, and not small, but closer to Christmas and New Year, all more or less decent dismantled. I never seen so much “grandmother’s houses”. This is usually houses that rent locals. The house itself will most likely not new, something in it may not work, and it is unlikely that it will soon be repaired – Tiki pretty frivolous people (and this is perhaps the recipe for them happiness).
Usually houses are not united in settlements with a common fence, a common platform, security, etc. Site, if there is – separately, the fence each his own, high-exceeded and necessarily entangled with barbed wire (something where under voltage).
The cheapest accommodation is probably 400 bucks, the most expensive (as our last) – 1400, but in quality it is worth it.
Life
Houses are capitalized. These are not just concrete boxes, inside is comfortable, there will almost always be ceiling fans on case of heat in the afternoon, love the bar counters and do the kitchen with a large panoramic window – very nice to cook with these types of.
For all the time only small insects were eliminated from the house, but by neighbors crawled scorpion. They have an eco cabin, like a wooden house, not capital, right in the middle of the wild.
In houses, there are usually aluminum windows, usually mosquito nets everywhere, even in low-cost housing. In san jose mosquitoes were not noticed by us.
Water almost everywhere is central, they save on heaters, cheap housing will not be, there will be a tank on the roof. Sewage is quite civilized. Where we were, nothing along the drainage canals flowing.
Tiki believe that they have clean tap water. For cooking It definitely suits, but in my opinion a bit too much chlorine. Although many of her tiki drink right like that, so drinking water is not cheap, 3-4 dollars for 5 liters.
Children’s entertainment
In Costa Rica, we walked a lot, in the rolling hills it was nice to do. Another pair of playgrounds was close. Old their sites resemble ours – everything is iron, rude is. But New put wooden, cool. There are still entertainment centers we went to the largest, Multiplaza, – there are 2 free sites and constantly some kind of fun, such as pedal machines, trampolines and other things. Costing inexpensive: 1 dollar per trampoline, 2 dollars for a huge circle on a pony.
In San Jose we went to the city park La Sabanna, we are very liked. Large in length, with a bunch of playgrounds, ponds, football and basketball fields, skateboard and rollerblades, riding ponies and horses. There are many people, but everyone always has enough space to have a picnic. And further there eucalyptus trees – I got cold a couple of times, we went there, Lying, breathing, and everything took off like a hand.
Animal Travel
We paid 100 euros for an animal up to 6 kg at Condor, in Europe paid 50 euros for the flight for each animal. Not very cheap but not as a person. According to the documents, the requirements in the EU are identical. export of cats anywhere from Russia. With those papers, which from Russia We were released. But then the difficulties began, because flying back from Costa Rica to the European Union is not so easy. Need test for rabies, passed in the official laboratory (which Costa Rica is not). Veterinary takes blood for analysis, sends it to US costs from 300 to infinity bucks on an animal and wait as at least a month. And that’s not all: you need heatlth certificate a certain sample costs 100-150 bucks per animal depending on the arrogance of the vet. Condor only required scans test, not the original. We paid only for help, the test is not did.
In general, in Latin America for the cats fight in full. We also have a lot of bus companies to go to Panama with cats phoned and only one hardly managed to persuade to take us with animals, from the rest – no categorical.
In Europe, too, everywhere was different: the Spaniards, even in public transport is not allowed with cats, the Germans can even be on the bus, at least to the train, and it’s free and no information is needed, the Czechs on the train You can, the bus – it is impossible, and in Italy we were almost turned on flight because they were not satisfied with plastic containers, must be rag handbags and that’s it. We loaded everything in soap, in 5 minutes before dispatch, after the personal permission of the crew commander.
In general, in terms of transportation, traveling with animals more complicated than traveling with children.
Olga and Sergey, with children Tanya and Denis.
Life hacking 1 – how to buy a good insurance
Choosing insurance is now unrealistically difficult, therefore, to help everyone travelers, I make a rating. To do this, constantly monitor forums, I study insurance contracts and use insurance by myself.
Insurance Rating
Life hacking 2 – how to find a hotel 20% cheaper
First, choose a hotel on Booking. They have a good base offers, but the prices are NOT the best! The same hotel is often possible find 20% cheaper in other systems through the RoomGuru service.
Discount hotels
