Relocation – Guys in the Zone

What to Bring When You Move to Costa Rica

February 3, 2023November 17, 2016 by

This article is a copy and paste from an e-mail with a couple that have purchased a property here in Uvita. They are moving from Canada and are going to build a primary home for their own full-time residence. Plus, they are going to build at least 3 rental cabinas that they will run as … Read more

The Magic of Costa Rica – Rainy Season versus Dry

February 3, 2023December 3, 2015 by

Before moving to Costa Rica in 1999, my family and I had lived in Colorado for the previous 20 years. We lived in the gorgeous Aspen valley. There was one busy season there at that time: winter. Aspen was known as a ski town and that was why people went there. Us locals didn’t really … Read more

A Morning in “The Zone”

February 3, 2023November 22, 2015 by

At this writing, we are in the later stages of the rainy season here in the zone. Its a bit of a paradox why the rainy season here is called the “low” season. For those of us that live here, it is one of the nicest times of the year. There are flowers out like … Read more

Vegan Lifestyle in the Zone – Question From Reader

April 10, 2021February 12, 2015 by

Towns for the Vegan Lifestyle - Ojochal Uvita or Tinamastes

Preamble: this article is my response to question I received from one of this blog’s readers. Its a bit unusual, but I see it as demonstrating a growing interest in The Zone – wellness – in its many forms. This one is specifically “vegan”, but the principles apply to all aspects of wellness. Tinamastes is mentioned … Read more

The Costa Rica Expat Scene

April 26, 2017August 20, 2014 by

“Myopic” would probably best describe this post. The vantage that I have of the Costa Rica expat scene will be purely autobiographical, what I have seen and some of what I have heard in my 16+ years of living full time in Costa Rica both as a father of a family of 5, an Internet … Read more

Virtual Fly Over of Costa Rica’s Pacific Side

April 26, 2017August 5, 2014 by

This is a typical response that I send to inquirers who have hit our main website, www.propertiesincostarica.com, and who seem to know that Costa Rica is where they want to live. They have gone through the site which is admittedly not organized by the “where” of the listings. It is simply a site of available … Read more

How to Live in Costa Rica Transcript

April 26, 2017May 18, 2013 by

This is the outline that I used for my presentation.

May 11, 2013

Presented by Ben Vaughn & The Avid Reader

(Davis, California), free of charge for anyone interested in the topic of what is involved with living in Costa Rica as an expatriate.
Ben Vaughn:
• grew up in Davis
• spent 20 years in the Aspen valley in Colorado
• has lived in Costa Rica since 1999
• currently serves as a consultant for those that are interested in making Costa Rica their home

(POV Shift)
I come up to Davis every 6 months to visit my family who still reside here.
Regardless of whether I’m visiting Davis, or some other area of the country, I find that there is considerable interest in Costa Rica and what is involved with living there as a foreigner.

Today, my sister Audrey and I went to Whole Earth week out at U. C. Davis. In conversation there with the various venders, they would ask if we lived here in Davis or were just visiting. When they find out that I’m visiting, but not only that, I’m visiting from Costa Rica – well, now that involves some questions.

How long have you been there?
What area are you in? We went there for our honeymoon / family vacation / recently etc…
Is it expensive?
Can you own land?
What currency is used there?
Do you have to learn Spanish?
Are there lots of bugs?
Etc…

Is The Zone at the Tipping Point?

March 3, 2018December 31, 2012 by

One of the screaming ocean views in the southern pacific zone of Costa Rica.

The place is packed. More and more people who bought land in the past are building or have built (and are happy about it.) Travel & Leisure put The Zone as the #1 place to visit for 2013. What the heck is going on?

I was invited to a house christening last night by Richard & Debby up at Costa Verde Estates. It was a small gathering, made up primarily of migrators, most of whom have just recently built a house or are in the process of doing so. I observed and heard some rather interesting indicators of a tipping point there.

numerous statements of an obvious love of Costa Rica and The Zone in particular
they were happy with their builder and the process was relatively smooth
comments about the resources now available to a home builder in Costa Rica
comments about how many people are talking about The Zone back home
comments on how many people there are vacationing in The Zone
how packed the hotels and vacation rentals are
guesses as to what the next 10 years are going to be like here
the reality (or not) of the international airport going into Palmar Sur (majority – NOT)
the effect of the highway being paved between Quepos and Dominical

There was a palpable feeling of “we are at the tipping point” here.

The facts that alcohol consumption

Seeking Refuge in Costa Rica

April 26, 2017December 22, 2012 by

I met a fellow the other day who has just moved to Ojochal. He’s been here all of 5 weeks, but he totally sold out and has moved here to “simplify, and lead a self sufficient life”.

This gentleman is not alone and in fact, this is a growing scenario amongst those that move to Costa Rica in general, and The Zone in particular.

World conditions are such that this group of re-locators is making its presence known. These conditions are varied and not all negative.

As I mentioned in my last article in this series, there are pushes and there are pulls that cause people to consider a move to Costa Rica.