Moving to Costa Rica (with kids) ?

[walker1983]

The wife & I have been kicking around the idea of moving to Costa Rica.
We have 3 kids under 8, and feel this would be a good cultural experience for them while they are young, and also be a change of pace for our family.

I have been to Costa Rica a half dozen times, and spent a semester in San Jose with a Tico family while in college. Really enjoy the country and the people. Admittedly, I have not been back to CR since we had kids, and a lot of areas have seen new development – so I am sure most of the beach towns I have been to, have changed. (Outside of SJ, I have been to Jaco, Quepos, Nosara, Tamarindo, & Playa Hermosa))

We want to start with a vacation this year to check out some real estate, and just get some more exposure to different areas. Realistically any move would be a year or more out.

I am casting a fairly wide net, as the only must-haves – are Pacific side, a good bilingual school, and access to beach/good fishing, (I wouldn’t live in the central valley/SJ area). The map/circle below are towns that fall within the school my wife really liked in Brasilito, Guanacaste.

Again - I'd take input on any areas on the pacific coast, but other major considerations would be driving distance to either Liberia or SJ, and access to high-speed internet for work. I’m more of an inshore/nearshore guy than an offshore guy, but might look into buying an existing charter business, to cover some costs of boat ownership.

Looking for areas we should look into – with an eye towards buying something. Lots of VRBO options all over the pacific coast.


Thanks for any input.
-Walker

[TexaRican]

Wow, that sounds so cool. We spent a week in Tamarindo last year and looked at some of the real estate flyers just out of curiosity. Housing was pretty expensive but we loved that town. Definitely a spring break party destination though but I doubt you'd be worried about the nightlife and tourist areas.

Drive to Liberia was easy and I think I recall doing it in less than an hour. Easier, faster and safer than my grind to DFW for sure! Good luck in your search.

[kingranch]

Walker,

I am very familiar with this area. If you are serious I can connect you w my friend that is a realtor there. He is a native Texan but relocated there to raise his family many yrs ago.
I too have been looking for the right place to buy specifically in Guanacaste, or grande area. Its still within reach and such a great place to live imo.

Mike

[bowhunterhelm]

Hats off to you man. I've only ever been to the Quepos, Manuel Antonio area. We went about 10 years ago and then just a few weeks ago over spring break. Quepos has changed a bit but nothing drastic. We still remembered where to go and how to get around from our first trip. Everything was basically still the same.

I love the culture there, the people of Costa Rica are awesome. I could definitely see myself living there one day.

The only drawback is no hunting, I guess you could always travel to TX and do some hunting though.

Good luck to you.

[7sdad]

The only drawback is no hunting
Good luck to you.

And for this reason I'm out.

[Beerkat]

That's a good area. A buddy of mine had a house in that area but tourism has scaled up and real estate cost almost tripled and he ended up selling. Good luck. Lots of good things can be said about CR. But like most hidden treasures, they eventually get found, exploited, then ruined.

[miket]

I have never been there, but my stepsister lived there for years ( at least 10yrs ). I havent talked to her in years, ( we dont keep touch, she was an adult when my mom married my stepdad ) but she said crime was getting out of hand when she was there, so she moved back here. I dont even know what city she lived in, so I know this isnt much help.

[Playa]

And for this reason I'm out.

The 1st mate on the fishing charter we used would beg to differ. He showed me pics of deer he and his boy killed in the Santa Rosa national park. He claims he’s friends with the park agents that run the park and he gets special treatment when they need to cull the herd… but I couldn’t help but notice he used a 22 mag and all pics were at night… seemed a little “east Texas to me…”


Very cool opportunity. I didn’t see a part of CR I wouldn’t feel comfortable with my family.

[hooligan]

That'd be a dream move. Good luck, I need to get the wife out there and see if I can talk her into it depending on what the budget would need to be to live out there. I can do most of my work remote

[OldRiverRat]

I have some friends that moved to jaco right after college, they got married there and spent like 6 years teaching expat kids out of there house. When they decided to have kids they moved back here to Houston. They go back every summer


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[HOOKNBULLET2]

I have several friends and numerous acquaintances that have made that move.

All claim to be happy. The further you get away from the tourist areas, the more affordable the housing is. Many claim to be able to live comfortably off of $20,000/year due to the low cost of housing. An architect friend built a really nice place down there an hour south of Quepos and he said the construction cost was a fraction of what it is here in the USA.

The charter operation DoubleNickelCR which was Capt Nick and his brother. Moved both their families with a half dozen kids down to the Quepos area. The said the schools were great. But when Covid hit they came back to the states, since all their revenue was derived from the charter business.


In the area you are looking at, the Flamingo Marina has just opened. I haven’t seen it in person yet. But it appears to rival Marina Pez Vela.

Check out Nomad Capitalist for information on citizenship, taxes, and real estate ownership.

[PYBUCK]

Will you still be able to work as a landman from CR or would you change professions?

[SmTx]

I know some folks that did this. All I hear is about the terrible schools and blah blah blah for their young kids. I don't know where they live specifically in CR. I was just looking forward to a cheap vacation out of it

[walker1983]

Will you still be able to work as a landman from CR or would you change professions?

Yes,
That would be my plan and would have some logistical hurdles but it should be doable in my current role.

Been with a small team for a long time and already have some working remotely. Lots of group chats, zoom calls, and emails.

[Beargrasstx]

And for this reason I'm out.

Yep, I concur. I could never leave in a place where hunting wasn't allowed. It's a deal breaker. Awesome country to visit though

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