New Insurance Program Starts March 1, 2010 – Expats Have to Pay for Caja Policy

Starting Monday, a new requirement for foreign residents (expats or permanent residents), must show proof of insurance from the government Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social. Often cited as a reason for the country’s stability over recent decades, the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social is the safety net for health care and pensions. Permanent residents are [...]

Buying A New or Used Car in Costa Rica

When someone moves to Costa Rica, one major decision they will have to make whether to buy a car and/or just use the excellent public transportation system. If  they plan on living in San Jose, it is a wise choice to use the public transportation until one gets the feel of things.
A common misconception among [...]

Costa Rica Shark Finning – Is It Being Monitored?

Around early 1980s a friend wanted to open up a fresh fish exporting business in Puntarenas. He found a packing house and cannery, got some investors and was ready to start exporting fresh Dorado and canned tuna. One of the things that were puzzling to him was Costa Rica fishermen were catching sharks in their [...]

Has Scott Brown’s Win Stimulated Costa Rica’s Economy?

In the last few years Costa Rica economy has really sucked with very few signs of recovery. That recovery worsen  by Americas uneasiness with the current Presidential democratic administration mucho-trillion dollars tax, health and stimulus bill that will be absorbed by U.S. taxpayers.
To put it bluntly, Costa Rica Tourism which was already suffering became in [...]

Costa Rica Toyota Recalls – Rental Cars and For Sale

Toyota has announced it will conduct another recall of 133,000 vehicles to update software in the vehicle’s anti-lock brake system (ABS). Toyota’s global recall ballooned to 8.5 million cars and trucks including 437,000 Prius and other hybrid vehicles worldwide to fix brake problems;  the latest embarrassing safety lapse at the world’s largest automaker. Toyota is [...]