Thanksgiving has arrived and for many decades, it has been a holiday that has been celebrated greatly in Costa Rica given the large number of ex-pats living over here. Slowly but surely, the essence of the autumn harvest has been incorporated in many ‘Tico’s’ home but in a rather tropicalized fashion (fresh fruits & vegetables of the season).

If you are planning a visit to Costa Rica around these dates, we got you covered because there are many traditional Thanksgiving activities you can do. In the capital, San José, or popular beach towns like Jacó or Tamarindo, several restaurants have made it easy to enjoy a typical Thanksgiving dinner for example.

Roast turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and of course, amazing apple pie is just a few of the staples that you will find for just about 20 US dollars. Some people even opt for a cheaper ‘Costa Rican’ version of the Thursday dinner if you will by substituting the turkey for chicken and buying some fresh sweet potatoes and herbs from the

farmer’s market to make a delightful stuffing. Also, another pro-tip if you are wanting to keep your costs on the low is to switch pumpkin pie for ‘ayote’, which is basically a squash that is similar to pumpkin in both flavor and color.

This November period is also great in terms of weather, with the rainy season coming to an end and the start of one of the lowest temperatures of the year (ranging from high 70s to low 80s). The breeze from the ocean and the beautiful food is just a perfect combination to enhance the celebration of the holiday with family and friends.

It’s important to remember that even though it is a national day in the US, it is not a paid holiday here in Costa Rica.

Undoubtably, with the amazing food experience, remember to keep an eye for online and store discounts for Black Friday and the shipping deals and discounts from Aerocasillas and Mailboxes in case you feel like buying something from US retailers.

Whether you want to spend November 24 th relaxed on the beach or zip-lining through the forest, there are plenty of options available to help you make of this day an unforgettable experience filled with thankfulness and appreciation.

As always, thank you for reading,

Properties in Costa Rica 🇨🇷

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Costa Rica has been for a long time a destination that attracts millions of tourists on a regular basis and this year, it is no surprise that this beautiful country has been crowned as “The Most Desirable Country of 2022” in the Wanderlust Travel Awards taking place in the Tower of London. 

Received by William Rodríguez, Costa Rica’s Minister of Tourism, and other Costa Rican Tourism Institute representatives, this award is truly a reflection of the hard work that is put in year after year by all Costa Rican citizens (specially those involved in Touristic activities). In order to win the gold category for “best desirable country”, Costa Rica had to go past other big finalists such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United States, Japan, Peru, Jordan, and South Africa. To be involved in a ceremony hosted by one of UK’s most established travel magazines (Wanderlust) speaks highly of the way in which tourism is handled in the country, especially when it comes to Costa Rica’s position as a leader in responsible and sustainable practices. 

In fact, an important part of the ceremony was dedicated to highlight Costa Rica for being a pioneer in the field of ecotourism, knowing well that the development and implementation of these practices are essential to the world as a response to the ever-growing climate change issues we’re all facing. The discussion of these topics along with the back and forth that takes place in an event such as this ultimately benefits everyone, given that both Costa Rica and other countries implementing ecotourism can feed of each other’s trial and errors and hopefully strive for better and more successful practices. 

Costa Rica has now established itself as a distinguished place for traveling and through its years of experience it has developed a system that is now being properly rewarded in the international stage. Be it pristine beaches, more than 500.000 animal species, active volcanoes, or simply it’s amazing people, you can be sure that booking a flight and experiencing for yourself the wonders of the ‘Pura Vida’ lifestyle is a great vacation idea. 

As always, thank you for reading,

Properties in Costa Rica 🇨🇷

Photo: El Observador

References: 

1. TCRN Staff (Ed.) (2022, November 10). Costa Rica Won the Award for “The Most Desirable Country of 2022” in a Special Ceremony at London. Retrieved November 21, 2022, from https://thecostaricanews.com/costa-rica-won-the-award-for-the-most-desirable-country-of-2022-in-a-special-ceremony-at-london

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The current United States and global economic market is having a rough time after the Covid pandemic and more importantly the increasing pressure of inflation and interest spikes. Needless to say, the housing market has also been affected by this context, with rising mortgages and inventory shortages making it truly hard to invest in a home in the United States.

Pros on the subject insist on the fact that elevated home prices are here to stay because of the combination of high demand and elevated mortgage rates, resulting in dreadful scenario for potential buyers.

The good news is that there are other investment options out there, more specially located abroad, in Central America.

We all know that this small country has a high touristic attraction but what about its housing options? Given the uncertainty and unrest regarding home investment in the US, Costa Rica has now become a more viable option, with places such as Guanacaste, Jacó, Atenas, Grecia and Dominical gaining lots of attraction as places for retiring comfortably at a discounted price (as low as USD $50,000 for a decent home in certain areas). Additionally, a huge plus for those looking to swoop a house in the Guanacaste region is the recently renovated Liberia airport, which allows travelers a more direct access to these locations. The key takeaway here is that buyers are now comparing similar beachfront estates in California and Costa Rica and are seeing a drastic difference in value, resulting in a noticeable shift towards investment in the Central America gem.

Also, quality of life here in Costa Rica is known to be a guarantee. With impeccable all year-round breezy climate, kind and loving people, lower home taxes, and of course, stupendous beaches only 45 minutes away from the capital, you won’t miss a thing once you arrive and settle up.

As always, thank you for reading, catch you guys in the next one.

Properties in Costa Rica 🏡🇨🇷

References:

1. Delmendo, Lalaine. (09/11/2019). Costa Rica’s thriving housing market. Retrieved 10/07/2022, from:  https://www.globalpropertyguide.com/Latin-America/Costa-Rica/Price-History
2. Popescu, Roxana. (03/20/2022). House Hunting in Costa Rica: Pools, Ponds and a Glassy Heart Near San José. 10/07/2022, from:   https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/30/realestate/costa-rica-house-hunting.html

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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

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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.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Reese Witherspoon (@reesewitherspoon)

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Costa Rica and its wonders is showcased yet again in the new Netflix produced series called “Our Great National Parks”. This time, viewers embark on a journey where they can get to know the world’s most stunning natural environments, narrated by former US president Barack Obama, and featuring Costa Rica’s very own Manuel Antonio National Park. The depiction of the flora and fauna found in these mesmerizing places is caught in full colors and motion, providing the audience with a raw experience of what these places are really like when they are healthy and well.

Specifically regarding Manuel Antonio, episode 1 focusses on the importance of one of the area’s most important creature: the three fingered sloth. What is so important about these sloths you ask? Well, it turns out that the ecosystem they foster in their fur produces a specific dye that scientist have learned can be used to fight off diseases such as cancer, malaria, and superbugs. (Fernández, 2022). The narrator even refers to the park as a “pharmaceutical factory” that scientists can utilize to look out for medical alternatives to common medical issues we see in our current world.

The problem that this environment faces is in terms of the increasing effects of climate change and this all stems from manmade disasters and indulgences, meaning that it is our job to reverse the situation and act as rapidly as possible to save the natural wonders our world has to offer. It is because of this situation that the show aims to highlight in breathtaking fashion the importance of preserving our natural parks, specifically when they look so vibrant and alive when fully prosperous. Don’t forget to pay Manuel Antonio a visit in your next trip here in Costa Rica and see for yourself the famous three-fingered sloths, white faced monkeys, and unique beaches this place has to offer.

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