The New Golden Door to
Retirement and Living in Costa Rica
Table of Content
(Browse Sample Contents)

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

"Baby boomers are redefining retirement - and leading the move to a new generation of dream countries"

AARP Magazine

Christopher Howard's The New Golden Door to Retirement and Living in Cost Rica, is important when doing research about moving to Costa Rica.

By Hillary Chura
New York Times
July 30, 2005