Friday, December 14, 2007
The True Cost of Moving to Costa Rica
It had always been a dream of mine to live somewhere warm and tropical, far from the cold winters of Alberta, Canada, so when I was given the opportunity to move to Costa Rica for a year, I jumped at the chance. I had never visited Costa Rica before and wasn’t quite sure what to expect, even after hours of “surfing the web” for information. I was pleasantly surprised and almost instantly fell in love with the country. A year didn’t seem long enough to experience all the wonders Costa Rica had to offer, so I decided to sell my home in Canada and move here. There are so many websites, articles and forums dedicated to the subject of “Moving to Costa Rica”, and I read hundreds. I was seeking answers to “what I should and should not bring or ship here.” My endless hours of research resulted in confusion, frustration, and eye strain. Thankfully, I found The Association of Residents of Costa Rica (ARCR) website and started reading the forum posts. This was a huge help, and after reading the good advice of several posters, I sat down and made a list of what I could and couldn’t live without. I submitted my list of “Things I Can’t Live Without” to three international moving companies. After receiving their quotes, all around $5,000.00 plus shipping and calculating the taxes, insurance, and duty I realized that I could actually live without or replace the many of the items here for much less. For example if a product with a CIF value (new cost + insurance + freight) of US$500 is being imported to Costa Rica, the Customs Import Duty is approximately 5%. The consumption tax for the category is approximately 15%. Based upon these figures we would be landed with a bill of $187.89 on only one item. [$25 import duty + $ 78.75 consumption tax + $5.00 Law 6946 + 79.14 sales tax]. When people move to Costa Rica they assume they can bring their car into the country with minimal expense. The reality is very different. To import a car you need to estimate that you will be paying 53% on the value of the car, plus shipping costs. There was a time that I couldn’t imagine a life without the icemaker in my fridge, the big screen TV, and my shoe collection (a close second to Amelda Marcos), but life is much simpler here. I discovered that I could live without a different pair of shoes for every outfit (and an outfit for every pair of shoes), the TV’s and stereos, my deluxe range and the endless supply of ice. I have decided to sell or store most of my worldly possessions and go on a shopping spree here. I can replace the furniture I left behind with furniture made from gorgeous tropical hardwoods which is much more suited to my new lifestyle, and a fraction of the price. I’m sure I’ll will miss some of the things I’ve left behind, but as I sit on my patio, drinking some of the best coffee in the world and listening to the howler monkeys and birds, I can’t imagine what they would be. For help with moving to Costa Rica and furnishing your new home visit
History
When the first European settlers arrived in what is now Costa Rica in the 16th century, there were an estimated 19 indigenous chiefdoms with about 400,000 inhabitants. Little record is left of that life, and Costa Rica is bereft of the pyramids that dot Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras.
Costa Rica stands apart from its Central American neighbours, not least because it has no army. Armed forces were abolished after the 1948 civil war--since then no administration has come to power by force and Costa Rica has avoided the despotic dictatorships, frequent military coups and internal turmoil that have plagued other countries in the region.
However, President Oscar Arias, who won the Nobel Prize for his peacekeeping efforts in Central America, was recently confronted with an embarrassing fact: Costa Rica--hailed as 'the Switzerland of Central America'--has sent nearly 2,600 students to the former School of the Americas, for military training, since it opened its doors in 1946. This school, renamed Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Co-operation in 2001, is notorious for having taught some of the worst human rights offenders in 20th-century Latin America and Arias had to agree to stop sending Costa Ricans to the military training facility after he was shamed by human rights activists.
A history of peace, strong exports and a thriving tourism industry has allowed Costa Rica to enjoy the highest standard of living in Central America, although 23 per cent of the population still lives below the poverty line.
But the fact that Costa Rica is the most advanced democracy in Central America means little to indigenous people, who account for two per cent of the population. Disparities between the country's indigenous and non-indigenous population in terms of human development are shocking.
A third of indigenous people lack access to basic services such as healthcare, education, public transport and potable water, and their life expectancy is 15 years less than non-indigenous Costa Ricans.
Largely to blame is a deeply ingrained racism that exists within most Latin American societies, exemplified by politicians' attitudes towards indigenous peoples--a useful source of votes, but easily ignored once in office.
This could change, though, with the approval of a bill granting autonomy to Costa Rica's indigenous population, which seeks to change the balance of power but has yet to be ratified due to bureaucratic hurdles and lengthy debates on the issue.
Costa Rica also stands out as the only country in the isthmus that has signed the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), with the United States--though it has yet to ratify the treaty. The debate over CAFTA is now three years old and a public referendum on the treaty is imminent.
CAFTA's opponents have vowed to fight the treaty tooth and nail, and argue that its clauses on intellectual property would endanger the production of generic drugs and that the national health service would all but disappear, leaving the poorest sectors of society with little or no coverage.
President Arias recently came under fire after he signed an executive decree authorizing the production of high-calibre weapons and nuclear fuel on Costa Rican soil--part of the adjustments being made to the country's legal framework to bring it in line with CAFTA regulations.
The arms scandal has allowed the anti-CAFTA camp to score political points against the Government. Critics have argued that, should CAFTA be ratified, the treaty will open the doors to US weapons manufacturers wishing to take advantage of cheaper labour and production costs and will tarnish Costa Rica's image as an island of peace amidst a sea of violence.
Costa Rica stands apart from its Central American neighbours, not least because it has no army. Armed forces were abolished after the 1948 civil war--since then no administration has come to power by force and Costa Rica has avoided the despotic dictatorships, frequent military coups and internal turmoil that have plagued other countries in the region.
However, President Oscar Arias, who won the Nobel Prize for his peacekeeping efforts in Central America, was recently confronted with an embarrassing fact: Costa Rica--hailed as 'the Switzerland of Central America'--has sent nearly 2,600 students to the former School of the Americas, for military training, since it opened its doors in 1946. This school, renamed Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Co-operation in 2001, is notorious for having taught some of the worst human rights offenders in 20th-century Latin America and Arias had to agree to stop sending Costa Ricans to the military training facility after he was shamed by human rights activists.
A history of peace, strong exports and a thriving tourism industry has allowed Costa Rica to enjoy the highest standard of living in Central America, although 23 per cent of the population still lives below the poverty line.
But the fact that Costa Rica is the most advanced democracy in Central America means little to indigenous people, who account for two per cent of the population. Disparities between the country's indigenous and non-indigenous population in terms of human development are shocking.
A third of indigenous people lack access to basic services such as healthcare, education, public transport and potable water, and their life expectancy is 15 years less than non-indigenous Costa Ricans.
Largely to blame is a deeply ingrained racism that exists within most Latin American societies, exemplified by politicians' attitudes towards indigenous peoples--a useful source of votes, but easily ignored once in office.
This could change, though, with the approval of a bill granting autonomy to Costa Rica's indigenous population, which seeks to change the balance of power but has yet to be ratified due to bureaucratic hurdles and lengthy debates on the issue.
Costa Rica also stands out as the only country in the isthmus that has signed the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), with the United States--though it has yet to ratify the treaty. The debate over CAFTA is now three years old and a public referendum on the treaty is imminent.
CAFTA's opponents have vowed to fight the treaty tooth and nail, and argue that its clauses on intellectual property would endanger the production of generic drugs and that the national health service would all but disappear, leaving the poorest sectors of society with little or no coverage.
President Arias recently came under fire after he signed an executive decree authorizing the production of high-calibre weapons and nuclear fuel on Costa Rican soil--part of the adjustments being made to the country's legal framework to bring it in line with CAFTA regulations.
The arms scandal has allowed the anti-CAFTA camp to score political points against the Government. Critics have argued that, should CAFTA be ratified, the treaty will open the doors to US weapons manufacturers wishing to take advantage of cheaper labour and production costs and will tarnish Costa Rica's image as an island of peace amidst a sea of violence.
Costa Rica Vacation Package, And Why You Should Take One
A Costa Rica Vacation Package is something to be thought about very carefully, even if you have never considered Costa Rica before as a vacation destination. Apart from the fact that Costa Rica is both exotic and tropical, the fact that it is a dream destination for a lot of people ought to make you check it out, because it could be just the right thing to do to book a Costa Rica Tour package this year. There are good reasons for this not the least of which is that Costa Rica is one of the most naturally beautiful places you could ever wish to visit. A tiny South American country has got everything you need for the ultimate in getaway holidays. When you consider the variety of sights to see and places to go, including fiery volcanoes, lush green tropical jungle with lots of unusual and exotic plants, animals and birds. This is not to ignore the beautiful beaches lining the Pacific coast. A Costa Rica Vacation package can include any or all of these things, and then there is the huge variety of places to stay with accommodation to suit every budget. Be a little careful and don’t arrive during the high season between December and April hoping to find a good hotel. You need your Costa Rica vacation package in place before you arrive. Private lodges, all inclusive resorts, expensive hotels especially in remote areas should always be reserved in advanced to avoid any problems at all times. If however you are looking for a luxury vacationcosta rica then the Golfo de Papagayo is gret. This part of Costa Rica is where the most expensive hotel in Costa Rica is, and that is the Four Seasons. If you want something within your budget, then you could do worse than go to the Nicoya Peninsula. There are fantastic beaches here, and all types of accommodation and prices. To find lower prices on your Costa Rica Vacation Package try the rainy season between April and November. The weather will still be pretty good just interspersed with short sharp rain showers, so you can save yourself quite a bit of money. One thing to beware of is the mandatory sales and tourism tax of 16.39% on everything!! Nevertheless a Costa Rica Vacation Package can be very good value for money.
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