“Costa Rica seduced the young solo traveler me in the mid-1990s with visions of tropical beaches, smoking volcanoes, abundant wildlife, and friendly locals.”
- Wendy Yanagihara
Costa Rica is a beautiful rainforested Central American country with approximately more than 5 million people. This country’s youth accounts for up to 22% of the country’s inhabitants.
Some reports suggest that the total population of Costa Rica is expected to reach 5.08 million inhabitants by the end of 2026. This place is recognized for offering all required essential services in a blink of an eye.
Living in Costa Rica –
If you are interested in spending your leftover lifespan in a beautiful country like Costa Rica, don’t forget to educate yourself about this country in detail. The reason why it’s important to know everything about this country is the rituals and living conditions may be different from your current location. For instance – Ticos tend to consider it rude if you point out a finger at them. As per their policy, you should be using the whole hand to highlight an object or individual.
Residing in a tropical country like Costa Rica for many travelers and expats is no less than a dream. Driving and easily accessible public transportation options permit the residents to spend their weekends calmly in the lush rainforest while sunning in the middle of the beach. From the cultural norms to the other social taboos, there is a lot to know about Costa Rica and enrich your living experience.
Surf through some of the pros of living in Costa Rica –
Do you know Costa Rica’s slogan? It’s “Pura Vida,” which means “The pure life,” which symbolizes living a chill lifestyle or a carefree life. That’s why, when explaining a complicated task, you must have heard local Ticos say, “Mañana,” which means “tomorrow.” Despite these carefree lifestyle practices, the country offers you plenty of opportunities and reasons to make it your home forever.
For this, you need to read the pros of being a Costa Rica’s resident –
- Unarguably, It’s a beautiful country to live in. no matter if you love to lounge on one of the beaches or swim in the warm water like a happy water baby, there is a lot to explore in this country. Moreover, there is a series of adventurous activities to perform, including – plunging underwater and hiking on the giant mountains.
- Costa Rica is a tropical country having a temperature revolving around 12 to 27 degrees Celsius throughout the year. So, if you are someone living in Death Valley or Yuma or Miami, you will fall in love with Costa Rica right from day 1.
- Buying properties in Costa Rica is super easy and hassle-free. All you need is to know the right way to find valuable properties in the vicinity. As soon as you start the online hunt, you may end up seeing several ads flashing Costa Rica Homes For Sale or so on. Look for a reliable source to search a property using different search filters like – price, location, property type, etc. Prefer pitching for personalized services offering you deeper insight into the property. Moreover, you can have a professional real estate agent by your side to help you crack the best deal for your dream home.
- The low crime rate is one of the biggest reasons you should trust this country to live in. It is a safe paradise for solo female expats; however, standard safe practices are always advisable.
- Believe it or not, but Costa Rica is the best country to retire abroad in. All thanks to multiple visas allowing expats to remain in the country without having a full-time job or any source of income. However, you may be asked to show sufficient savings or a source of pension to stay. This makes it a perfect after-retirement destination for everyone.
- Expats who moved here need not worry about communal support. This is the reason you may get to see an expat in almost every corner of the country. As far as becoming a part of this country’s social life is concerned, you can join hands with any social networking platform giving you ample opportunities for the same.
Some practiced information extracted just for you!
When shifting to a new place or country, or even traveling, it’s essential to seek ample practical knowledge about it. From the emergency numbers to the basic protocol, having a good grip over everything possible is important. So, here is everything you should know.
Some emergency numbers to jot down –
If you see a troubling situation putting you in danger in Costa Rica, call 911 immediately. That’s the biggest helpline number for expats working throughout the country. It’s available in English and Spanish too. Some other numbers include –
- Cops – 117
- Ambulance – 128
- Fire department or paramedics – 118
Embassies –
You can contact the embassies or consultants in the capital of San Jose. Different addresses to the embassy offices are easily accessible via the internet. You can find embassies for different countries, including – Germany, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, etc.
A quick brief on the social etiquettes –
Having a grip on the social and cultural norms of Costa Rica will only help you improve your social life in this country. Thus, it’s a good idea to know the basics at least.
Greeting someone –
Shaking hands is the common way of greeting and beginning a conversation with someone. This may change due to the pandemic situation we just survived. If you happen to meet a Spanish person, use the formal word ‘usted.’ It’s used when you meet someone for the first time.
Interactions –
Ticos are considered welcoming people. Public confrontations in Costa Rica are rare. Thus, you should be mindful not to begin arguments with anyone.
The final takeaway –
The thought of relocating to Costa Rica is thrilling. The country offers almost everything one can wish for. Still, there is no harm in reaping insights about the country’s norms and traditions. It only makes your relocation or stays more effortless and confident.
