Archives for November 2009

Costa Rica, Child Custody and Abduction Laws

Last week another U.S. father was in Costa Rica seeking a son for whom he had legal custody of.  Unfortunately, the father so far has struck out, forcing him to hired a private investigator. This is just another case of a U.S. parent running out on a divorce decision and abducting their child. The case originated over a year ago in Boise, Idaho and the mother is believed to have fled to Costa … [Read more...]

Costa Rica’s Income Tax – Expat Rules Are Now More Complicated

We were going to write about this  six months ago, but when it comes to the government of Costa Rica, it can be heresy until it really happens. Or just a procrastration until something major happens like the  bridge tragedy. But when talking to an U.S account doing business in Costa Rica, he pretty much cut our conversation short because he had an important meeting with his accountant. This … [Read more...]

Costa Rica’s Medical Tourism and Wellness – Health Care

Every time I'm in Costa Rica it always amazing me of how that country is developing into a First-World country. One of my meetings was about developing a Costa Rica medical tourism website and then I had a much respected meeting with one of our competitive Bloggers, who was getting ready to do the same. A few months ago we wrote about Costa Rica medical tourism, and then another about  stem … [Read more...]

U.S. Consulate – San José Embassy – Visa Problem

Attending a business meeting in Santa Ana a few weeks ago, one of the associates of a client rant and raved about his dealings with the U.S. Consulate at the San José embassy US Embassy. He was Costa Rican, his wife was American and they had two children. All they wanted was  to visit the U.S for a few weeks to see her parents. The kids had no problem (the duel citizenship thing) but he was … [Read more...]

Jaco, Costa Rica – New Development and Driving Through

I had not been to Jaco in a while, in fact, we wrote about how wild Jaco is and how I predicted that the desire for tourist bucks will change it. Those that experienced Jaco years ago had warnings about the lawless of the town. Druggies, prostitution, pickpockets etc, pretty much ran it.  I’m proud to say, my predictions is coming true. Jaco has changed. The last time I was there, old men with … [Read more...]

Fishing Dorado Out Of Costa Rica’s Los Suenos – Jaco

There are good days fishing and there are awesome days fishing. This Costa Rica fishing trip was awesome. For two days we fished out of one of Costa Ricas best marinas, Los Suenos, about 6 miles north of Jaco and out about 20 miles with the infamous  Richard Krugs, Americana Sportsfishing, who has been putting together fishing charter services for almost 30 years.  We went for the meat, over … [Read more...]

Costa Rica’s Drug Smugglers Problem – Crocodiles

As Costa Rica slowly but surely becomes the new hub for drug trafficking, and with San Jose now the place to smuggle containers of drugs to the US,  it now appears that drug smugglers have a new problem, which is not the US DEA, local police or competition, but crocodiles! It’s no surprise that the Central Pacific between Puntarenus to Quepos with the hot tourist spot of  Jaco between has … [Read more...]

La Ruta de los Conquistadores – Costa Rica Bike Race Shut Down

When I was in Jaco last week, the town was gearing up for an intense coast-to-coast bike across Costa Rica's rugged terrain known to all as La Ruta de los Conquistadores. To date, more than one decade later, “La Ruta” is considered to be the most difficult Mountain Bike multi-day race on the planet. However, this Costa Rica's coast-to-coast bike race which is suppose to begin in Jacó Wednesday, … [Read more...]

Chinese Drywall and Costa Rica Building Contractors

With China investing  in Costa Rica big time, there may be a problem with some of the building imports in the eco-minded country. When Costa Rica builders were busy a few years a go, many homes/condos and commercial projects were using Chinese imported drywall. In the US many class action lawsuits have been  filed. If you Google, "Chinese drywall," the pages are filled with the problems it has … [Read more...]

Costa Rica Arrival and Humor – San Jose

Something always happens that makes your trip a remembrance. This time, it started within an hour after arrival and very humorous. After getting up at 3am, blogging, last minute changes to clients websites, twitting, reading a zillion emails it was time to head to the airport. Coming from San Diego, with a 3 hour layover in Houston, one can figure about 12 hours before touchdown in San … [Read more...]