Information herein is authorized through the courtesy of Christopher Howard, author of the best selling Costa Rica information source, The Golden Door to Retirement & Living in Costa Rica.

For the full text and to have a handy fingertip guide you may purchase the book in it's entirety. Please see links throughout this site.

Index of Content

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
FOREWORD - WHY LIVE IN COSTA RICA?
INTRODUCTION - WELCOME TO THE BEAUTIFUL COSTA RICA

CHAPTER I
COSTA RICA'S LAND, HISTORY AND PEOPLE

• THE LAY OF THE LAND
• MAPS
• WEATHER
• COSTA RICA'S UNIQUE HISTORY IN BRIEF
• GOVERNMENT
• ECONOMY
• THE PEOPLE
  

CHAPTER II
WHERE TO LIVE IN COSTA RICA

• CENTRAL VALLEY
• THE NORTHERN ZONE
• THE NORTHERN NORTHE PACIFIC ZON
• THE CENTRAL PACIFIC
• THE SOUTH PACIFIC
• THE CARIBBEAN ZONE
• ONE-OF-A-KIND TOURS
• CONCIERGE SERVICES

CHAPTER III
SAVING MONEY IN COSTA RICA

• HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO LIVE IN COSTA RICA?
• MONEY
• BANKING
• TIPPING
• PAYING BILLS
• HOUSING AND REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS
• AFFORDABLE HIRED HELP
• HEALTH CARE
• TAXES
• PANAMANIAN OFFSHORE CORPORATIONS
• INSURANCE

CHAPTER IV
MAKING MONEY IN COSTA RICA

• INVESTING IN COSTA RICA
• INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES ACCORDING TO RISK
• FINDING WORK
• STARTING A BUSINESS
• COMMON BUSINESS SENSE
• BEWARE OF THE SO CALLED EXPERTS AND OVERNIGHT GURUS
• WOULD YOU BUY REAL ESTATE FROM A TOURIST
• THE BEST WAYS TO MAKE MONEY IN COSTA RICA
• COMMON SPANISH BUSINESS LINGO

CHAPTER V
RED TAPE

• DEALING WITH BUREAUCRACY
• UNITED STATES EMBASSY SERVICES
• PURCHASING AN AUTOMOBILE
• CALCULATING THE TAXES ON A VEHICLE
• DRIVING AN AUTOMOBILE TO COSTA RICA
• BRINGING YOUR BOAT OR PLANE TO COSTA RICA
• SHIPPING YOUR HOUSEHOLD GOODS
• WAYS TO BRING YOUR BELONGINGS
• HOW TO FIND A LAWYER
• HOW THE JUSTICE SYSTEM WORKS
• LEGAL TERMS
• COSTA RICAN CONSULATES AND EMBASSIES ABROAD
• EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES IN COSTA RICA

CHAPTER VI
RESIDENCY AND RELATED MATTERS

• HOW TO BECOME A LEGAL RESIDENT OF COSTA RICA
• THE NEW INMIGRATION LAW
• ADDITIONAL METHODS OF OBTAINING COSTA RICAN RESIDENCY
• CEDULA RENEWAL
• IMMIGRATION AND OTHER MATTERS
• Work Permits
• Student Permits
• Perpetual Tourist
• Extending Your Stay
• Leaving the Country
• Children's Exit Visas
• Costa Rican Citizenship
• Getting Married and Fiancée Visas
• Getting Divorced

CHAPTER VII
STAYING BUSY AND HAPPY IN COSTA RICA

• SOME SOUND ADVICE
• ENGLISH BOOKS, MAGAZINES AND NEWSPAPERS
• TELEVISION AND RADIO
• VIDEO AND DVD RENTALS
• SHOPPING
• COSTA RICAN PASTIMES
• GOLF IN COSTA RICA
• MUSEUMS AND ART GALLERIES
• EXCELLENT FISHING
• PRISTINE BEACHES
• SURFING AND DIVING
• BOATING
• PARKS FOR NATURE LOVERS
• WHERE TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS
• LOVE AND PERMANENT COMPANIONSHIP
• A WALK ON THE WILDSIDE
• NIGHTLIFE AND ENTERTAINMENT
• GAMBLING
• MOVIES AND THEATERS IN SAN JOSE

CHAPTER VIII
COMMUNICATIONS

• TELEPHONE SERVICES
• INTERNET SERVICES
• MAIL SERVICE
• RECEIVING MONEY FROM ABROAD
• PRIVATE MAIL SERVICES

CHAPTER IX
EDUCATION

• HOW TO LEARN SPANISH
• LANGUAGE SCHOOLS
• COSTA RICA'S INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING
• OUTSTANDING PRIVATE SCHOOLS
• EXCELLENT BOOKS FOR LEARNING SPANISH
• USEFUL REFERENCE BOOKS
• BUSINESS BOOKS

CHAPTER X
GETTING AROUND

• AIR TRAVEL TO, IN AND AROUND COSTA RICA
• TRAVELING BY BUS IN COSTA RICA
• BUS TRAVEL AROUND COSTA RICA
• BUS TRAVEL TO AND FROM COSTA RICA
• TRAVELING BY TRAIN
• COSTA RICA'S TAXIS
• AUTOMOBILE RENTALS
• DRIVING IN COSTA RICA
• KEEPING YOUR BEARINGS STRAIGHT

CHAPTER XI
MORE USEFUL INFORMATION

• WHERE TO FIND AFFORDABLE FOODS
• WHERE TO EAT
• RELIGION
• COSTA RICA´S HOLIDAYS
• BRINGING YOUR PETS TO COSTA RICA
• SERVICES FOR THE DISABLED
• FOR OUR CANADIAN READERS
• UNDERSTANDING THE METRIC SYSTEM

CHAPTER XII
PARTING THOUGHTS AND ADVICE

• PERSONAL SAFETY IN COSTA RICA
• HANDGUNS
• DEATH OF A FRIEND OR LOVED ONE
• LIFE AS AN EXPATRIATE AND CULTURAL DIFFERENCES
• M.R.T.A. OVERSEAS ADAPTABILITY TEST
• 23 THINGS EVERY PROSPECTIVE EXPATRIATE SHOULD KNOW
• COSTA RICA MOVERS CHECK LIST
• FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
• INDISPENSABLE SOURCES OF INFORMATION ABOUT LIVING IN COSTA RICA
• DISCUSSION GROUPS
• USEFUL WEBSITES
• SUGGESTED READING
• IMPORTANT SPANISH PHRASES AND VOCABULARY
• TIQUISMOS
• IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS
• GOVERNMENTAL AND AUTONOMOUS INSTITUTIONS
• ZIP CODES BY CITY
• INDEX
• NOTES

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