Costa Rica: The Final Post

Well our time in CR has come to an end and off we go back to the US of A. All-in-all its been a good adventure for us, we’ve learned a lot about ourselves and Costa Rica.

This was an exploratory trip to see if we would like living down here during the winter months. Basically, no. There are too many things we have become accustomed to that are not convenient in Costa Rica. For example, if you need a part for an appliance, lets’ say a water line for the fridge. Well, to get that part may take two or more weeks depending on where you’re located in the country. There are no Home Depot’s just around the corner!

More importantly, what if you have a medical emergency. With the little woman getting on in years, that is a real concern. Hospitals are not plentiful and they certainly are not all on par with those in the US. And trust me, waiting for an ambulance to come from who-knows-where on dirt roads, may speaka de English or not, just adds an element of excitement not needed in a medical emergency. So for these two reasons, we have decided not to pursue a second home in Costa Rica.

Don’t get me wrong, we still love the Ticos and enjoy the raw nature of the country. Costa Rica can be a tourist haven for those needing to mingle with their own, or it can be remote and as isolated as you want. This was our third trip to Costa Rica so we were well aware of the pros and cons of a lesser developed country. Yet, when it comes down to it, we feel more comfortable with the modern conveniences of the US.

Notes and Lessons Learned:

1)  Our packing seemed to be about right except there was no need for dress clothes or long pants. This area of Costa Rica is mostly dirt roads and small “sodas” or snack shacks serving the locals. It wasn’t until we ventured off to the tourist areas of Arenal and Quepos that we wore anything other than casual shorts or swimwear and flip flops.

2) Our first aid kit was packed appropriately with common medicines and rubs. Sunscreen was an absolute must! We limited ourselves to full sun for no more than 5-6 songs per day! (We played music most of the day from my phone and a Bluetooth speaker system that we brought with us.) If we needed over-the-counter medicines, these could be found in the larger grocery stores, like Maxi Pali. There are also a few pharmacies throughout the area so we could have gotten other drugs if needed.

3) Money. Costa Rica is not cheap! Even with the exchange rate of 544.00 colones to the dollar, most restaurants and stores had prices that were on par with the US. Dinner at the development where we stayed, Aroma del Mar, on average was about $40.00USD. This was for a bottle of chardonnay, maybe a shrimp and rice dish and a medium size pizza. Although it was tasty, it wasn’t cheap. Just plan your budget well and don’t assume that just because you’re going to a lesser developed country, they haven’t caught on to the term “profit”.

4) Rental cars. Costa Rica is not as bad as Mexico. When renting a car in Costa Rica you do have to buy the “mandatory” insurances. Takes the price of the car from $19.00/day to about $60.00/day, no joke! But, there isn’t the hassle of scoping the car with a magnifying glass when you return. They do scan for any damage, missing parts etc. but not a shake down like Mexico. Best advice, make your car reservation over the phone while in the US. You can get better rates and they speak English.

5) Rental homes. For some reason rental homes have become more of an issue lately. Our rental in Ireland had the worst set of pots and pans on Earth. The house also had been cleaned by someone in a bit of a hurry, didn’t bother to go under cabinets, couches, chairs, tables, etc. The house in Costa Rica was disappointing to say the least. Lots of things that had we seen or known before renting, we would not have rented the house. For example, every screen had holes the size of a quarter or better. The walls had shoe marks, hand prints, luggage marks and I mean black marks, not just a scuff. Paint was peeling on the entry wall.

But the real issues with this home were the safety concerns. No railing around the deck and a nice 35’ drop off. No railing around the pool area and the same drop off. Indoor tile used outside so when it got wet, wow, what a ride! This would have been a deal killer if we had children with us!

So what to do? When renting a home, ask the manager / owner when the pictures were taken.  If the answer is more than 6 months ago, ask for recent pictures. Look carefully at the details. Is the furniture worn? Are there marks on the walls? Can you see any damage?  Are there decks without railings?  If possible, go to Google Earth and look at the property.  You can find a lot out about the neighborhood and the home.

Enough for now. We met a lot of wonderful people, had good friends visit and saw some amazing sites. A real positive experience for us. Costa Rica is a wonderful country with plenty to see and do, and it doesn’t have to be real expensive.  I would recommend Costa Rica for those who want to experience uncluttered beaches, jungles, rain forests, and if you must, tourist areas. They really have it all. Not to mention it was 95F or better every day February thru April!

Cheers.

Next:

Roaming Our Way in Hawaii!