Properties in Costa Rica Blog

Costa Rica is an exotic country with fascinating people, bright culture, and picturesque nature. This country often becomes the place for spending vacation for people from all over the world. There are also lots of people who decide to move and live the rest of their lives in this place because of its great views and white-sand beaches.

We want to dedicate this article to discuss the benefits of visiting Costa Rica. Besides, we would like to share the pages of the most popular Costa Rican influencers who attract attention to their culture via their personal online blogs on various platforms.

Why you should visit Costa Rica

Fascinating nature and many natural parks

Costa Rica is known as a country with numerous parks that make this location very green, providing a clean environment for people. There are different types of parks you can visit. Some of them are privatized and belong to local organizations or governments, where you surely can find marvelous views, but these parks are made for tourists mostly. If you like more extreme vacations, you can boldly visit wild parks with jungles where you will find lots of various plants, insects, and animals. However, you need to explore the right behavior in jungles to keep yourself away from danger.

Active and dormant volcanoes

As the writing service Top Writing Reviews claims, Costa Rica is also famous as the land of volcanoes. Basically, it counts six volcanoes that are active at the moment, and also more than 60 dormant volcanoes. The number is really huge considering the pretty small size of the country. All tourists can take a tour of all active and sleeping volcanoes while traveling to Costa Rica. The variety of tours is quite wide and suits people who love calm climbing as well as extreme one. In addition, active volcanoes are not only for climbing. Costa Rican citizens opened SPA complexes near volcanoes where people can have natural hot baths and other various procedures which are unavailable in other locations in the world.

Costa Rican cuisine

Costa Rica has a suitable climate for growing lots of exotic kinds of fruit. There you can try foods that you will hardly find in any other country due to their complex distribution, like peach palm fruit, soursop, starfruit, and many others.

White-sand beaches

Costa Rican beaches are very clean and white because local citizens care a lot about the environment they live in. They aim to protect nature including parks, beaches, forests, etc. Costa Rica has lots of long and very picturesque beaches around the country near the Pacific Ocean as well as the Caribbean Sea. You can have a rest, try surfing, and diving to see the citizens of the water.

Top Costa Rican influencers

Now we would like to share the popular Costa Rican influencers who focus their blogs on describing Costa Rica and their life in this country. So before attending or moving to this place, you can learn about their culture and people.

Roberto López

Roberto is a micro-influencer from Costa Rica who has an online presence on two different platforms—Instagram and YouTube. He is a travel blogger who travels to different locations in Costa Rica as well as throughout Latin America to show the beauty of nature to his followers. He posts great pictures from his trips on his Instagram, but if you want to know more details about the places he attends, you can find his YouTube channel where he posts vlogs about his journeys.

The Yellow Passport Blog

This is a young woman that comes from Costa Rica. She started a travel blog several years ago and is doing really great. The direction she promotes on her personal blog on Instagram and website is sustainable travel and adventures. She adores traveling and has been to many countries in the world, but she focuses on wild traveling, picking living in a tent instead of luxurious hotels.

Regan Hillyer

Regan Hillyer is a top Costa Rican influencer with a huge audience on her Instagram and TikTok. Her blog doesn’t have a single direction and can be mostly related to lifestyle. She is a successful young businesswoman who shares her experience with other young entrepreneurs who want to become successful in various business niches. She is also keen on traveling, however, she prefers vacations in luxurious hotels which she also describes in her blog providing her own assessment.

Antonella Alberti

Antonella is a micro-influencer on Instagram that originally comes from the USA, but several years ago moved to Costa Rica. Her occupation is to create unique video and text content for her blog as well as to order for her clients. She shares her great experience of moving to exotic Costa Rica from busy New York, which is a good source of inspiration for people who are willing to move but are not decisive enough.

Jeffrey Karnes

Jeffrey is the owner of an exciting travel blog with a wide audience, with more than 100k active followers. His blog is really different from other travel bloggers as his blog is very informative. He travels to different countries in South America and takes pictures of rare animals. After that, he explores all kinds he managed to find and describes their peculiarities in his publications.

Giulio D’ Angelo

Giulio is another popular influencer in Costa Rica who is a photographer by profession. He commonly tries to find unique and unexplored places in Costa Rica to take photos that nobody has seen before. Despite his posts not having much text content, his blog looks very appealing to people who would love to see the real Costa Rica before visiting the country.

Sam Newton

Sam is a quite popular Instagram and YouTube blogger according to writing reviews Rated by Students, whose occupation is filmmaking. Despite not spending much time in Costa Rica, he described his experience of living and shooting in Costa Rica, in its marvelous places with pure nature. Sam captured the best moments of his recent Costa Rican journey in the videos on his blog, so check it out.

Dayana Souza

Dayana is a travel writer from Costa Rica who is tasked with teaching other people how they can escape from their boring, routine life and make their job available while traveling. It is a great source of inspiration for people who are tired of working from the place in the office and want to completely change their lives. Along with sharing traveling experiences, Dayana controls other people who turn their travel dreams into reality in the short term.

In conclusion

Taking into account the exploration of Costa Rican influencers, we can say that all of them are really proud of the place they have been born, or they have moved to. Costa Rica is a bright and colorful country where people at their convenience know what real relaxation is.

If you have in your plans to come and visit Costa Rica, we are going to look at a few things to keep in mind before you arrive. It is clear to say that restrictions in terms of the entrance and paperwork needed to enter the country have been modified ever since the pandemic started, and over the last couple of months the restrictions have been steadily reducing and tourism has increased once again. 

 Luckily, like the previous entry requirements released back in May, folks from all over the world can enter the country. The use of masks is still no longer mandatory (except for first line health workers or people entering hospitals of any kind) and businesses and touristic locations like Santa Teresa, Tamarindo or Jacó are all running their normal hours as opposed to what was happening during peak Pandemic times. 

The updated decree is now in full effect, having started August the 16^th, and its main concern or change applies to Nicaraguan and Colombian residents who enter the country as tourists or with a transit visa as well as refugees who are residing temporarily in the United States and Canada. The new directive now changes the term of validity of Nicaraguan and Colombian passports from 6 to 3 months upon entering Costa Rica, meaning that if you are from any of these two countries and want to apply for a consular visa, previously your passport had to expire at least 6 months after applying and know this period has been reduced by half to 3, joining the other 37 nations who are in this group. For people who require the consular or restricted visa but have a standard a visa or residency (including refugees) in the United States or Canada, you can still enter the country without the consular visa but keep in mind that the document that accredits your conditions must have a minimum validity of 3 months. Regarding the term of stay, the 90 days period after entry will remain the same and this applies to all nationalities once they enter Costa Rica. We hope you find this information useful and that you can come and see what this beautiful country has to offer.

References

Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería. (2022). Cambios principales de la Circular DG-0018-07-2022-DG-UV, Directrices Generales de Visas de Ingreso y permanencia para No Residentes: , Recuperado el 17 de Agosto de 2022, de: Circular DG-0018-07-2022-DG-UV.pdf

Overview

Costa Rica is a diminutive country in Central America. Costa Rica is bordered on the north by Nicaragua and on the south by Panama, with a population of approximately 4.9 million people. The country is known for its lush tropical rainforests, stunning beaches, and unique wildlife. Costa Rica’s economy is largely based on agriculture and tourism. The country is a popular destination for eco-tourists and adventure seekers. 

Costa Rica is also home to several major multinational companies, including Intel and Procter & Gamble. The Costa Rican insurance market is relatively small, but it has been growing in recent years. Home insurance is one of the most popular types of insurance in Costa Rica. Home insurance policies typically cover damage from natural disasters, such as earthquakes and hurricanes.

Comparative Coverage

However, home insurance policies in Costa Rica often have high deductibles, and they may not cover all types of damage. For instance, most home insurance policies in Costa Rica do not cover damage from flooding. As a result, it is important to compare home insurance policies carefully before buying one. Be sure to read the policy carefully and understand what is and is not covered.

Costa Rican Home Insurance Types

There are two main types of home insurance in Costa Rica; fire insurance and comprehensive insurance.

• Fire insurance policies cover damage from fires, explosions, and lightning strikes. 
• Comprehensive home insurance policies cover a wider range of risks, including damage from theft, vandalism, and natural disasters.

Some home insurance policies in Costa Rica also provide coverage for personal belongings, such as furniture and electronics.

What to Look for in a Costa Rican Home Insurance Policy

When shopping for home insurance in Costa Rica, it is important to compare policies carefully. Be sure to pay attention to the following factors.

Coverage 

Make sure the policy you choose covers all the risks you are concerned about.

Deductible

Home insurance policies in Costa Rica typically have high deductibles, so be sure you can afford the out-of-pocket costs if you need to make a claim.

Premium

Home insurance premiums in Costa Rica can vary widely, so be sure to shop around for the best price.

Discounts

Some home insurance companies offer discounts for things like smoke detectors and security systems.

What to Do if You Need to Make a Claim

If you need to make a claim on your home insurance policy in Costa Rica, there are a few things you should do.

• Contact your insurance company as soon as possible.
• Give the insurance company all the information they need, including a detailed description of the damage and any repair estimates.
• Be prepared to pay your deductible.
• Keep all receipts and documentation related to the damage and repairs.

Making a claim on your home insurance policy in Costa Rica can be a stressful experience, but if you follow these steps, it should go smoothly. A home insurance company can help you get your life back to normal after a disaster strikes.

Conclusion

Costa Rica’s home insurance landscape is diverse and ever-changing. By understanding the different types of coverage available, you can choose the right policy for your needs. With a little research, you can find an affordable home insurance policy that will give you peace of mind. In fact, home insurance is an important part of owning a home in Costa Rica. Be sure to shop around and compare policies carefully before buying one. And if you ever need to make a claim, be sure to follow the steps outlined above.

Wellness Tourism is defined as trips that aim to maintain or improve personal well-being. It focuses on three main lines with alternative and therapeutic treatments such as thalassotherapy, thermalism and the development of spas or wellness centers, which provide multiple benefits for the human body.

According to a general study by the “Global Wellness Institute”, wellness tourism is growing by 7% a year and tourists seeking this type of experience are willing to invest up to 60% more than other types of tourists.

According to a general study by the “Global Wellness Institute”, wellness tourism is growing by 7% a year and tourists seeking this type of experience are willing to invest up to 60% more than other types of tourists.

It includes activities that provide physical benefits for the human being; such as hiking trails, hot stone massages, volcanic mud skin treatments, yoga and forest therapy; a slow and relaxed walk through some natural environment that awakens the senses.

The growing demand for wellness tourism represents an opportunity for tourism companies, to develop offers for these travelers that prioritize their mental and physical health, thus improving the economy of entire countries.

Costa Rica developed the “Wellness Pura Vida” strategy. A wellness tourism strategy, that seeks to differentiate and position Costa Rica as a global wellness destination.

Tourism is one of the main engines of the Costa Rican economy, a country that, before the COVID-19 pandemic, received around 3 million international tourists each year. Close to 500,000 people depend directly and indirectly on this activity in the South American country, which is home to around 5% of the planet’s biodiversity.

Costa Rica’s comparative advantages are its oceans, a great wealth of inland waters, volcanoes, hot springs with high potential to become wellness centers, competitive costs, beautiful and exotic landscapes, healthy food and the friendliness of its inhabitants.

In addition, the Central American country has a wide variety of facilities for purchase or rent throughout the national territory, which offer activities in harmony with nature such as: massages, thermal pools, relaxation spaces, Jacuzzis, steam baths, waterfalls, group physical activities, adventure, etc.

The ideal destination to connect body, mind and spirit.

Written by: Fabiola Andrew Cardoso

The annexation of the Nicoya party to Costa Rica is a national event. An event so relevant to Costa Rica that it would change its history forever.

The Nicoya party’s territory went from the West of the Tempisque River, to the Pacific Ocean, from the North of the Salto River to the La Flor River. And Lake Nicaragua, which formed the limit with the province of Nicaragua. The Nicoya party was conformed by the towns we know today as Nicoya, Santa Cruz and Villa Guanacaste, which today united we call “Liberia”.

Since the end of the 17th century, Costa Rica and the Party of Nicoya have had good commercial relationship, mainly due to the commercialization of Bait, Livestock and Tobacco.

In 1810, the “Courts of Cádiz” took place in Spain, who asked each Latin American country to send different representatives to these courts. However, to elect a representative, a certain amount of population was needed and Costa Rica did not have the required number of inhabitants in the country at the time. So they decided to temporarily unite with the Nicoya party and thus together, have enough population. The elected representative was Presbyter Florencio Castillo.

Until then, the Nicoya party depended politically on the Nicaraguan administration. In March 1824, the state of Costa Rica invited the Nicoya party to join their country. By holding an open town hall, the residents of Nicoya and Santa Cruz decided to vote democratically to make a decision. Therefore, elections were held in Nicoya, where the union was approved with 77% of affirmative answers.

Added to all of this, is the fact that Nicaragua was going through difficult times internally. There was a strong difference between the cities of León and Granada, on the verge of a civil war that generated negative impacts in Nicoya. This is why the regional elites had a greater interest in their incorporation into the “pura vida” country.

Contrary to the two cities mentioned above, Nicoya had a very good relationship with Costa Rica for being commercially linked by the Port of Puntarenas, which today is a key element for the tourist attraction because of its coasts and beaches.

Since then, the “Day of the Annexation of the party of Nicoya to Costa Rica”, is officially celebrated as a national holiday on July 25th of each year, this 2022 will mark 198 years of successful union.

This union presented great benefits for Costa Rica, such as the increase in the size of the country and with this territory, many beaches, volcanoes, jungles, among others. The increase in the population that included traditions, legends, foods, typical clothing, music, words, figures, objects that were reinforced in national symbols, such as the Guanacaste tree, architecture, etc., which have been perfectly integrated into the Costa Rican identity.

“From the homeland by our will”

“De la patria por nuestra voluntad”

Written by: Fabiola Andrew Cardoso

A digital nomad is defined as a professional that uses new technologies to work, and who leads a nomadic lifestyle. Digital nomads typically work remotely, rather than at a fixed workplace.

The term has gained popularity in the past years and the number of people who live by this type of lifestyle has grown exponentially after the COVID-19 pandemic, where teleworking has taken center stage in almost all companies worldwide.

The most common activities of digital nomads are usually related to new information technologies, digital marketing, the creation and dissemination of digital content, such as videographers, influencers, bloggers or youtubers, graphic and web designers, software developers, etc.

Costa Rica is just days away from implementing a visa that will help and benefit remote workers all over the world, the DNV. A digital nomad visa lasts longer than a tourist visa (90 days) and it’s designed only for people who work for foreign companies. The digital nomad visa lasts up to 1 year and has the possibility to renew it for another year, if the digital nomad worker has stayed in Costa Rica for 180 consecutive days, so you can eliminate the perpetual tourist status.

The digital nomad monthly income must be at least US$3,000 for an independent person and US$4,000 for families.

As for the requirements, anyone who works as a freelancer doing remote work can apply for this visa. The person’s country of origin does not matter, as long as they don’t work for a Costa Rican owned company.

Even though the digital nomad visa is not available yet, some of the basic requirements known are:

• Application letter digitally signed by the applicant.
• Application form you can get at the “Migration and Foreign Affairs Office” or the Costa Rican Embassy.
• Proof that you are a digital nomad.
• Proof of stable monthly income.
• Proof of health insurance (lasting the whole duration of stay in CR)
• Government filling tax of US$100.00 (personal) or the equivalent in another currency.
• Copy of the applicant’s passport.
• Additional documents required by the General Law of Migration and Foreigners.

According to the General Law of Immigration, digital nomad visa owners will not be required to pay income taxes. In addition, digital nomads will be exempt from paying taxes on all imported essentials tools they use for work, such as computers, telecommunication devices, or any other equipment necessary to provide remote services.

They will also have access to local banking and can use their country of origin driver’s license.

The General Migration and Immigration No 10008 “Law to Attract Workers and Remote Providers of International Services,” legislation was developed and approved around July 2021, but has not been officially launched for implementation yet. Nevertheless, Costa Rican president Rodrigo Chaves signed off on the legislation this week, following the inclusion of modifications to make it more accessible and easier to apply.

Costa Rica is one of the favorite countries for the remote workers all over the world. Because it’s known for being tourist friendly, it’s one of the safest countries in Latin America, it has access to a large supply of short- and long-term housing, hotels, and weekend rental options, almost anywhere in the country, healthcare service is excellent, is surrounded by beaches anywhere you go and has an amazing wildlife!

So what do you think of remote work in paradise?

Written by: Fabiola Andrew Cardoso

This Tuesday June 14^th, in the city of Al Rayyan, the clock marked 2 minutes of the Costa Rica vs New Zealand match, when Jewison Bennete overflowed from the left and, using his speed, managed to take advantage to pass a cross to striker Joel Campbell, who with a shot on goal would score the first goal of the game, which was enough for the ‘Ticos’ who won the ticket to their third consecutive World Cup and sixth in their entire history where they will be part of Group E along with Spain, Germany and Japan.

From that minute on, the New Zealand team began to fight the field. Constantly attacking the Ticos’ porter’s lodge in search of a goal. Goal that would take place in the 39th minute, when Matthew Garbet took a cross for Chris Wood, the All Whites most dangerous player; who finished off the ball against the goal of Keylor Navas and thus tie the game. However, judge Mohammed Salem Yoused Abdula Alali almost immediately annul the goal due to a previous foul on Óscar Duarte after reviewing the VAR.

Keylor Navas was the star of the second half of the game, protecting his goal from several shots by the New Zealanders. Already in the last minutes of the meeting in Doha, the Central Americans began to celebrate and feel like the winners of the last remaining quota for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

Luis Fernando Suarez’s team celebrated the hard-fought classification with hugs and tears. The striker and author of the only goal of the match, Joel Campbell could not contain the tears of emotion and, after a few seconds, he was able to offer his first words: “We have fought and fought for this moment. When we were bad, I said that we would all die or celebrate,” he said.

The Costa Rican people also took off to the streets to celebrate the classification of the “pura vida” country, all wearing the classic red jersey, characteristic of “la sele”.

Costa Rica, who reached the quarterfinals in Brazil 2014, will initially face Spain, followed by the Asian team and will finish against the Germans, to play the first World Cup to be held in an Arab country from November 21 to November 18. December 2022.

Written by Fabiola Andrew Cardoso.

The Covid-19 pandemic caused unprecedented and seismic shifts in society, most notably in the way we work, interact, and live with each other. Whether you’re a realtor specializing in Texas land for sale , a teacher, or any number of other professional careers, the way you perform the duties of your job is very likely different than it was before the pandemic turned the world upside-down. One way that workers are adapting to this new way to live and work is through co-working spaces, a more flexible shared workspace that can be utilized by different companies and workers.  

What is Coworking?

Co-working is a progressive and flexible form of renting out professional real estate, wherein numerous companies can share the same building or location. This provides many benefits, such as lower rent costs, greater flexibility on leases, and increased social cohesion and collaboration. Co-working has seen a rise in modern times due to the ability of companies to use technology to get more work done in smaller spaces, and an increase in operating costs necessitating a downsizing of the traditional corporate landscape.  

There are several different types of co-working environments, ranging from less structured “open workspace” to “private workspaces”, which can feature more dividers or private rooms. Additionally, there are “Industry-specific” co-working spaces, in which workers or companies from a particular kind of workplace can collaborate. Co-working has been shown to increase employee morale by providing a stronger sense of community, greater availability of tools needed to work and other perks, higher levels of socialization and special events, a higher degree of flexibility, and often a more convenient location.  

Social Distancing and Other Changes

Like most other areas of our lives, co-working spaces have experienced some major changes in the way they function since the pandemic happened, although they were perhaps better suited for them than a traditional office setup. Many employers found co-working to be a nice middle ground or balance between the full office setup and complete remote work, as a space where workers could still meet up and collaborate.

Some of the changes that were made in co-working spaces are increased social distancing and other forms of partitioning, such as plastic barriers or other forms of dividing rooms. In addition, like most stores, many co-working spaces implemented a mask mandate. Some of the other changes that may have occurred are:

• Covid-19 vaccination or testing requirements to ensure either protection or a negative test result before working.

• Increased access to sanitation services, such as hand-washing stations or hand sanitizer is available. 

• Enhanced cleaning and disinfecting routines to ensure high-touch surfaces remain clean.

• Increased ventilation in the space to make sure that air is recycled and moved efficiently.

• Contact tracing and other alerts to inform those who may have had contact with an individual who tested positive for Covid-19

Although many workplaces are returning to a sense of normality, co-working spaces will continue to rise in popularity as the world continues to grow and change, as they offer many tangible benefits for employers, such as decreased overhead and greater flexibility to respond to threats such as the pandemic. In this way, co-working spaces will lead to a happier, safer, and more productive world for us all.  

Real estate is a popular and often safe way to start investing, and when it comes to real estate investments, a vacation home can offer a lot of personal and financial benefits. With current housing rates being at an all-time low in an incredibly active market, it may be the perfect time to consider investing in a vacation home to rent out. From creating another source of income and building equity, to simplifying your getaways and planning for retirement, owning a vacation home rental has great potential for rewards. If you’re considering adding a new property to your real estate portfolio, here are the top reasons why you should consider buying a vacation home rental as your next real estate investment.

Great Income Potential

When you buy a vacation home and rent it out, you can easily create a short-term rental revenue stream. The income from your rental home can supplement your normal salary, allowing you greater income potential. Short-term vacation rentals also typically have a higher return on investment than long-term rentals in metropolitan markets. While the cap rate for a long-term rental is usually around 4-5%, short term rentals often have a cap rate of 10% or higher, making a vacation home a potentially lucrative real estate investment.

Home Appreciation

As with most smart real estate investments, your vacation home is likely to appreciate in value over time, especially if you make smart choices when it comes to renovations and refurbishing that can increase the value of your home. That way if you do decide to eventually sell your home, you have the potential to make a hefty profit.

Personal Getaway

Owning a vacation home allows you to have your own personal getaway home. While you may want to rent your home out most of the year, you can carve out time to visit while it’s empty for an easy and affordable vacation that can even save you money. 

Market Opportunity is Endless

While successful long-term rentals usually exist near major cities, vacation homes can be scattered all along with the globe, even in more secluded areas with vast income potential. Whether you’re looking to invest in a beach home, mountain home, or a cabin in the woods, there are endless opportunities and bound-to-be renters who will likely find your vacation home the perfect getaway. 

Build Equity and Reduces Homeowner Costs

Having multiple revenue streams and building an income property portfolio is an important investment goal for the majority of second homeowners. However, owning a home can come with many expenses such as mortgage payments, utilities, insurance fees, property taxes, HOA fees, and maintenance costs. Owning a rental property has great potential at counterbalancing these homeowner costs from the very beginning, even for first-time buyers. Consistent rental income can cover these monthly homeowner expenses and even help pay off the home in a shorter time than if you had chosen to live in it, allowing you to eventually create a nice profit from the rental. Vacation rental owners may also be eligible for specific tax deductions which can also help increase your potential income. 

Plan for Retirement

Whether retirement is a few years away or a few decades, owning a vacation rental can help you plan for a stress-free future. When choosing a vacation home to rent out, it’s important to think about where you may want to retire — a beach, in the mountains, or in your favorite city. As you move closer to retirement, the amount you may owe on your vacation home will be smaller or may even be completely paid off, allowing you to eventually make it your own home.

Written by: Fabiola Andrew Cardoso

“3 incredible days in Costa Rica with the most amazing women. I feel like a new person” is the tittle of the reel that the “Legally blonde” star shared on her Instagram account where she documented the best moments she lived last May 2022 in the beautiful country of Costa Rica.

The post, with almost 250.000 likes, pictures Witherspoon enjoying a delicious coffee, walking through the jungle on her way to hiking, crossing suspension bridges, visiting waterfalls and even swimming in the river accompanied by a group of friends.

In the video compilation we can see how she went to get a massage in the “amazing spa” where she took the time to relax, enjoyed a delicious meal and met some incredible women, her own words.

The Oscar winner for “best actress” in 2005, enjoyed 3 wonderful days in the country and ended the video with the phrase:

“I love Costa Rica so much, I had the best time”, followed by an image of her plane leaving the site.

The American artist, with almost 28 million followers on her Instagram account, joins the endless list of celebrities who choose Costa Rica as a destination to leave their hectic lives and have a very relaxing vacation surrounded by nature.

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