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

[1:11]

Accomodations such as services, close to the beach, good fishing, and safe for a gringo, infrastructure, opportunity for some growth. Would like to be rural but not remote. Just prefer some space and not a subdidivision per se.

Where is the best place to live or visit in Costa Rica? Is there anything going on in Honduras right now that should be of big concern for CR?? I could look this up myself, but i spend so much time researching other subject matter, im just hoping to gain some insight from the locals or those who have traveled to costa rica and how it compares to places like Cabo, or La Paz, or Hawaii, Panama, PV, etc?

thx!

[willsurf02]

Depending on where you go in CR, the place is freakin beautiful. Are you planning on moving there? Check out the Nicoya Peninsula-Mal Pais, Santa Teresa, etc. Also, the more south you go the more tropical it gets. It turns from a "Dry" Jungle to a "Wet" Jungle and the landscape becomes a lot more tropical and lush. Just avoid places like Jaco and Tamarindo as they have become nothing more than a tourist trap!!! Let me know if you need more info on fishing or surfing!

[5150]

I lived there for four years and moved around a bit. The best of them all was a small area called the MONKEY BAR!!!!!

[kinembe]

check out panama before committing to costa rica, they seem to have a more solid infrastructure and less of the "fuck the gringo" attitude that costa rica seems to have.

[mrbill]

Stay as far away from San Jose if possible. If you have to spend one night in SJ, don't leave your hotel. Extremely high crime rate.

[paradiselodge]

i lived in costa rica for two years . i have now lived in panama for 5 years.
i loved costa rica when i went on vacation, but living there was a total different thing. if your intrested in moving there i would rent a place and stay for a bit to see if you like it before investing money. most of the people that i know from costa rica have moved to panama. i personaly found living there to be a very decision.

[1:11]

Originally Posted by kinembe

check out panama before committing to costa rica, they seem to have a more solid infrastructure and less of the "fuck the gringo" attitude that costa rica seems to have.

Hey Chris, from what ive read, CR has the most sophisticated and modern infrastructure in the region and ive read that the people are very friendly. Do you feel that there is a big F-the gringo tude in CR? Rated one of the best places to live in the world. Are you just saying that because you dont want every gringo with a clue to come to CR or is there some real concern of danger. I dont do high risk things, i dont go out much, and i keep to myself. I live in Las Vegas, NV so danger and attitudes are of very little concern for me. Please let me know if im being naive about that.

Do you run a fishing charter operation in CR?

[billspen101]

"Check out the Nicoya Peninsula-Mal Pais, Santa Teresa, etc".. not so fast..!

I did this but found it a LITTLE too isolated, dusty (dry season), calling what they have roads is a BIT of a stretch, most of the people were cool, but there is still a certain desperation in some them... and contrary to advertisements, there are those that strictly HATE Americans.

It IS truly beautiful and a great place to head out from though, because you are closer to were the boats out of Los Suenos ride out to, but sportfishing is not well established there... except in a tourist-y, tour boat kind of fashion...

A great place to visit, but after a week we were all ready to leave.

Next time I'm going to check out coffee country or maybe pass and do Panama.

[tap]

I've made over 20 and 40 trips to Costa Rica and Panama, respectively, and there are some bad areas in both countries to avoid, such as Calle 12 in San Jose or Zona Rojo in Panama City (I could give you some bad spots in L.A. also). My generalizations:

1. Panama has better infrastructure (roads, utilities, medical care, etc.)
2. Panama has modern shopping centers and bulk stores (Costco, etc.)
3. Panama has a much better tax (property, import) incentive program for foreigners wishing to retire
4. Panama has a more progressive, conservative, non-socialistic government (although there is corruption in EVERY government as far as I can tell)
5. Costa Rica has more upscale waterfront and coastal homes although this is changing rapidly as Panama turns to more coastal development.
6. Costa Rica has a reputation for crimes OUTSIDE the bad areas including the upscale coastal homes that are isolated and secluded for privacy which is an open invitation for criminals to exploit. I have personal experience on this subject.
7. Panama has better fishing with the possible exception for sailfish numbers-everything else Panama wins. Panama has some of the best popper fishing in the world to go along with reliable blue and black marlin, yellowfin tuna, etc.
8. Costa Rica has prettier, indigenous women (the best in Panama are from Colombia) which is a very subjective, personal statement.
9. Costa Rica is very expensive if you want to retain your "American" standard of living.
10. Costa Rica does a much better job of self-promotion (e.g. the "Switzerland of Central America"; no army; friendly country; best wildlife viewing, etc.) but most of this is because they NEED tourism to survive after their socialistic government chased off the big corporations such as United Fruit and other reasons. Panama historically had problems with image due to the Noriega years and frankly didn't need much tourism due to the Panama Canal, U.S. Military presence and banking and is only starting to recognize the value of visitors and new residents.
11. Panama City, Panama vs. San Jose, Costa Rica. Compare. Need I say more?

P.S. I like Costa Rica and have had wonderful times there.

Tony Pena
"The Roving Angler"

[getoffmyback]

Panama is a better deal, spent lots of time in both countries and liked Panama a hell of a lot better.

[JACKPOTER]

This is a very interesting thread to me, and if you don't mind a little brain pickin, I am sure I could get some useful feedback from you gentlemen. I am 25 and embarking on my last year of business school. I currently live on Oahu and am attending the Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawaii. A little background...grew up in Encinitas and that is where my passion for fishing began to grow, spent some time in Todos Santos (Baja California Sur) and decided that that was where I wanted to end up for the rest of my life, I then moved to Hawaii and I like it, but haven't made the right connections or had enough spare time to enjoy the fruits of the island, and then there was Costa Rica. I spent 3 weeks traveling the Pacific coast and really enjoyed what the land had to offer. I did some research and realized that, as a non citizen and the stability of the government, residing in Costa Rica was looking like a smarter decision than Mexico. Now, hearing the comparison between Costa Rica and Panama has really got me thinking. So here is my question...what advice could you traveled gentlemen give to me as I am about to make some big decisions in my life. I will have a business degree, school debt, and lots of passion for this sport. What kind of living or business should I look for to survive in these countries? Is the fishing business stable enough for a young kid to come in a make a living? Yacht sales? I want to center my career around the water and or fishing, so, any advice would be very helpful. Aloha, Dave

[willsurf02]

You know what man, I've been thinking of doing the same thing for a long time. The only thing holding me back is a little capital. All I want to do is start up a nice little business where I can run fishing and surfing and diving trips! I have the people with boats already to start but I just need to find a decent location. Maybe we can work together...!