Where is the best place to live in Costa Rica ???

panamasportfish · Jul-31-2009, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masonbo

Now that is funny John!!

Hey David,
I have been trying to avoid this thread since it started and I just could not help it anymore , as we know it is up to the individual person , to make the best out of a place , no matter where in the world it is located , check out both places for a good bit , then decide .

Surf2Dirt · Aug-05-2009, 01:58 PM

Having spent time in both Panama and Costa Rica I would say this: If you are looking to do the surf camp/fishing charter thing in Costa Rica - Good Luck. There are literally hundreds and hundreds of Gringo owned camps like this in every coastal city. Panama on the other hand (beside bocas del toro) is not dependant on tourism. In fact it ranks as a very very distant third/fourth GDP for the country. Take a look at the 20 plus tower cranes right now in Panama City go visit the locks and see the cargo that fuels the world go through all day, every day. Oh wait, they also use the good ole US dollar as well?

What I am saying is that there is a need in Panama for properly run businesses that cater to tourists (Gringos). If you have the vision, drive and dream then Panama is where you want to be. The factors listed above just allowed the Panamanians to not really care about tourism. Fortunately, for you, people are no longer stuck on just going to CR and the tourisim is spreading.

ZZZZZ · Aug-13-2009, 08:52 AM

Lend-a-Fish, Check your PM dude......

Keep it simple great place to live.

Create business monster or here for investment opportunity's only you might bang head against wall.

bfarley18 · Aug-22-2009, 08:09 AM

good answer brad. i live in playa hermosa and have had no problems. get to wake up to the monkeys, and beautiful country. as for you jason, you definately got a wide variety of answers! both are a great place to live. panama, more americanized, or c.r., neutral. the question is, wouldn't you hear the same stuff if you asked about any 3rd world country. hell the same problems in america. the best advice was try to learn their language, at least the basics, and you will get alot of respect. think of it reversed, when a latino comes to america and speaks no english, how far does he get. if a latino is trying, and speaks a little english, we tend to try back, and help them with whatever they are trying to do. this is the basics. best of luck on your adventures, and keep on fishing! where ever it may be!

PURA VIDA!

Brian Farley
www.costaricasurfcharters.com

pg60 · Aug-22-2009, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimfrogs

I have lived in Costa Rica for many years and know Chris Kinembe well. I have finally given up on Costa Rica. I watched many other people arrive with high hopes of living the great green life in paradise and then almost all of them leave within two years broke and or addicted to alcohol and or drugs. Don't get me wrong, you can have a good time there. Drugs, alcohol and prostitutes are readily available and fishing is often good but the country has priced itself out of the market lately. I now live in San Francisco Ca cheaper and better than I did in Costa Rica. Even as little as five years ago it was still fairly nice there but in the last few years florida developers have attacked it with bulldozers and concrete and destroyed most of the place. If you want to move there you need balls of steel, lots of money, lots of other money someplace other than in Costa Rica with no bank account ties to anything in Costa Rica so that when they clean out your bank account you can still go someplace else with a nest egg, lots of patience, be willing to negotiate for everything or pay top dollar for everything, must love to argue pointlessly with petty local government officials, must be willing to pay bribes for almost everything, drive a tank becasue the roads are the most deadly in the world (and pay twice the money for that same tank compared to what one would cost anywhere else in the world), you can't be a green tree hugger or you will go crazy when your beautiful green country that you read so much about turns out to be just the opposite chopping down the jungles as fast as they can and building ugly concrete condos and shit, (see south park episode 93 for a more accurate picture than all the government crap they push), oh and even more patience, more money, and little or no faith in humanity because everybody lies to you all the time, but you can still have a good time there for a short visit and Chris will even help you book a trip. You will love it, just don't think of moving there.

Well said.

Highflyer · Aug-23-2009, 07:00 PM

Let me just start by saying, that I have been living in Costa Rica for the last eight years. I would like to go on record as saying that moving to Costa Rica was one of the most exciting things I have done in my life. The first year was absolutely fantastic. But slowly, as I spent more time there, learned the language, and began to understand what the locals were really saying, I began to change my opinion. I am married to a beautiful Costa Rican woman and have a son with her. I would not change my life for the world. However, I have to agree with Jim, and Chris. Costa Rica, is basicly a pain in the ass to live in and do buisness in. Once the initial uphoria wears off, and you settle down into day to day life, you will find that simple tasks take twice as much time, and cost two or three times more than they do in the States. If you are running a buisness, it will be a constant wear on you and your resources. It is one thing to visit Costa Rica, and quit another to live there. I strongly suggest that when you find an area that you think you would like to live in, that you try it for six months, before you buy property. Central America, isn't for everyone. Don't be too trusting of the locals, especially in the begining. Not all Costa Ricans will try to rip you off, but there are plenty of bad apples out the there, so be carefull. All of the EX-Pats that I know, can bitch for hours about what is wrong with CR, but they still keep coming back every year. And so do I. I hope this helps you in you'r decision.

budman · Aug-26-2009, 05:41 AM

I lived in Puerto Jimenez on the Osa in Costa Rica . It is now over crowded, over priced and over fished. Panama is a much better choice. Better by far on all aspects of life. I'm now in Puerto Armuelles and have fished the world, this is the place!

SailFishQuepos · Oct-07-2009, 08:23 PM

I live in Costa Rica, and I think Quepos is the nicest place to live if you really like fishing! There are also areas up in the mountains like San Ramon which have super awesome weather and La Fortuna, if you like the weather a little bit warmer, but not hot.

fishrlady · Oct-08-2009, 04:24 PM

I'd sure like some advice on places to check out on the coast in Panama. I've only done research on the net aiming toward Osa Penninsula although have some family that moved to the NW coast of CR 3 years ago. I love them but they're not fisher types and didn't even know their was a marina near them. My plans are on hold while I help my Mom through medical issues, she's 83, and my daughter through some troubles. Once they're stable, back to my plan.

I have a well established fishing charter business in Wa State, mostly the east end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. I currently live in the foothills of the cascade mountains with cougar, black bear, etc...not what you'd call a city slicker but hope to be on the coast and not deal with hard winters and predators so much at home. I'd like to live and fish CR or Panama about 4 months in the winter then come back for the balance chartering here.

My hope is to have help figuring out the best fishing and place I might locate. More and more I'm hearing I should check out Panama. Probably, I'll get one vacation to see for myself if I like it. Don't know if I'd end up chartering there but it's what I do and might not be able to help myself. CG master near coastal captain so my credentials are good.

Any clues would be appreciated.

jpfilippi · Oct-08-2009, 04:38 PM

PANAMA !

Thums up · Oct-08-2009, 06:32 PM

I recommend the Osa pen. it is great but you will have to travel for a lot of things. Most legal stuff and large goods have to come from Golfito. Pavones is nice too! Panama while having the same fishing as the Osa Area is not at scenic. Don't get me wrong it is nice but it doesn't have the mountains right up to the water in most areas. I think the golfo dulce region is one of the prettiest places in central America. National Geographic agrees! Thay have pick it over and over again for it's beauty. Not to mention it is one of the top fishing places in the world. We have the great sailfishing of CR and the marlin and tuna of Panama!

fishrlady · Oct-31-2009, 06:30 PM

This is a great thread even if heated at times. I'm semi-retired and will use a few places suggested for vacation fishing and getting an idea what it's like. I've been able to write off my obsessive fishing habit chartering but want to enjoy my retirement in the winter, warmer and with good fishing. Panama I better check out. If any charters would like to do some trading please pm. My regulars up here are hoping I'll be able to set them up with winter fishing in CR or Panama.