Blog - Costa Rica Relocation Expert

Clearing Up a Common Costa Rica Myth: PriceSmart vs. Costco

I wanted to clear up a common myth I see shared in Costa Rica Facebook groups... the idea that you can use your Costco card at PriceSmart here in Costa Rica. It’s an easy mix-up. PriceSmart feels a lot like Costco... the warehouse layout, the bulk sizes, even many of...

Is Costa Rica disability-friendly?

Q: Is Costa Rica disability friendly? A: Yes… and no. In some ways, yes... there are ramps, accessible parking spaces, and laws meant to support inclusion. But the reality on the ground can be uneven. Literally. Sidewalks aren’t always flat or well maintained, and...

Monkeys, motos and mindset

Yesterday, I was on Ruta 3 (route 3), a winding mountain road. Because of my disability, I always need to hire a driver if I’m going more than about 15 minutes from home. We rounded a curve and there, right in the middle of the road, was a white-faced monkey. Luckily,...

Working in Costa Rica: what’s legal and what’s not

You know those skits where it’s two people talking - but it’s actually just one person in two hats? Yeah… I made one. 😅 But behind the silliness is a serious topic I get asked about all the time: Can I work here? Start a business? Sell real estate? Teach at a school?...

Let’s put the REAL back in Costa Rica real estate

In addition to my relocation work, I’m now also a licensed REALTOR® here in Costa Rica. Having bought and sold properties in both California and Costa Rica, I’ve experienced the differences firsthand. Homes are built differently here. The buying process is different....

Mother’s Day in Costa Rica isn’t in May

(Prefer to watch versus read? Here's a 1 1/2 minute video.) Yesterday (May 11, 2025) I came across a Mother's Day post shared by a mostly foreign-owned, exclusive community selling overpriced lots and homes in Costa Rica. I'll give them points for posting in both...

What to Ask When Choosing a School in Costa Rica

Choosing a school for your child in Costa Rica is a big decision - especially with so many options, from local public schools to private international academies. To help make the process easier, here’s a list of key questions to ask when looking at both public and...

Celebrating the holidays in Costa Rica

My first holiday season in Costa Rica was a world apart from the chilly, foggy winters of Northern California. By that time, I’d been living here for about seven months. And while it was over 12 years ago, I still so clearly remember several things about my first...

On living in a collective society, and ¡que dicha!

Sharing two meaningful concepts that I encourage you to adopt as you settle into life in Costa Rica. Prefer to watch a video? Watch here. https://youtu.be/YW6sPZtrk3U 1. Life in a collective society. The first concept is the idea of Costa Rica as a collective society,...

How I celebrated my 50th birthday

How did I celebrate my 50th birthday? Well, not how I thought I would. I moved. Así es la vida (such is life).… I trust and believe wildheartedly that this move is a step towards healing my broken body, fostering a deeper sense of community, and stepping into a new...

MOVING TO COSTA RICA

LIVING IN COSTA RICA

COSTA RICA