Video

In 2001, Aaron and a friend purchased a rental property in Costa Rica. Since then, there have been lots of ups and downs. In this video, we discuss what it’s like to own and manage a short-term rental property in Costa Rica, why you might want to do the same, or why you might avoid it.

Northern Costa Rica is a haven for nature enthusiasts and thrill-seekers, offering a vast range of activities. Lake Arenal is known to have some of the best windsurfing and kitesurfing in the hemisphere. And, after a day on the water, you can unwind in geothermal hot springs or get massages at one of the numerous boutique hotels in the region, including in expat and tourist destinations such as La Fortuna, which has the largest international community in the area and Nuevo Arenal, which features uniquely European mountain vibes.

Escazú, Costa Rica, is often referred to as “Beverly Hills” of Costa Rica due to its upscale diversity of shopping, dining, and nightlife. Along with a large number of embassies along “Embassy Row,” Escazú boasts luxury amenities such as country clubs, world-renowned medical, and all the creature comforts of other international cities. It’s location next to capitol city, San José, can’t be beat. Due to this reputation, it’s not surprising Escazú is one of the most expensive cities in the country but also one of the most expat friendly.

Tamarindo, Costa Rica, stands out as one of the most breathtaking coastal cities, offering an unparalleled experience to its visitors and residents. It’s a surfer’s paradise that attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world. It’s no wonder that Tamarindo has earned the nickname “TamaGringo,” given the massive influx of tourists and expats who flock to this vibrant town.

In this video, Patrick and Aaron discuss expat living in Tamarindo, why you might want to move there, and why you might want to considering moving elsewhere in Costa Rica.

In recent years, the Central Pacific has undergone significant development, with luxury hotels, marinas, shopping centers, golf courses, and fine restaurants emerging as centers of tourism and expat living in the area.

Here are our thoughts on living in this region.

Atenas, Costa Rica, is a popular place for North American and European expats due to its pleasant climate, scenic beauty, and welcoming community. It is commonly regarded as having the “best climate in the world” due to its consistent temperature and humidity levels throughout the year. The town is situated on the western edge of the Central Valley.

The majority of all expats living in Costa Rica will eventually move out of Costa Rica. Yes the majority! Why? What is it about Costa Rica that makes it not a good fit?

In this video we explore the reasons why expats leave Costa Rica, all reasons you should consider before making Costa Rica home.

Most non-retired expats who move to Costa Rica need to work online to make a living. But how easy is it to work from Costa Rica? In this video, Patrick and Aaron explore getting your home connected, mobile phone plans, buying equipment, and more!

Driving in Costa Rica isn’t like driving in North America or Europe. It can be a little crazy, and even terrifying at first. In this video we discuss our opinions on driving in Costa Rica and what we think you need to know before you get behind the wheel. Disagree? We’d love to hear your opinions in the comments.

Many Americans, Canadians and Europeans looking at moving out of their countries consider moving to Costa Rica and Mexico. For us, we chose Costa Rica, but in this video, we compare and contrast the two popular expat havens, talk about why we chose Costa Rica and why you might chose Mexico over Costa Rica.

Many Americans, Canadians and Europeans looking at moving out of their countries consider moving to Costa Rica and Panama. For us, we chose Costa Rica, but in this video, we compare and contrast the two popular expat havens, talk about why we chose Costa Rica and why you might chose Panama over Costa Rica.

Many Americans, Canadians and Europeans looking at moving out of their countries consider moving to Costa Rica and Portugal. For us, we chose Costa Rica, but in this video, we compare and contrast the two popular expat havens, talk about why we chose Costa Rica and why you might chose Portugal over Costa Rica.

Ooof! We’ve made some massive mistakes when we moved to Costa Rica. Let’s talk about them and what we would have done differently so that you can learn from our mistakes.

Let’s talk about the ins and outs of car ownership and insurance in Costa Rica.

If you move to Costa Rica full-time and live in an area without public transportation, you’ll definitely want to buy a car. But what happens when you’re a part-time resident? Should you rent or buy a car? We breakdown the numbers.

When you are considering moving to Costa Rica, there are a few ways most people research how to make the big move. Some people go on group tours, while others come to Costa Rica and take seminars in a hotel meeting room. In this video, Patrick and Aaron discuss the pros and cons of each method and talk about Your Pura Vida’s Explorer service which gives you the power to explore if a move to Costa Rica is the right fit for your lifestyle.

Is living in Costa Rica safe?
Can I work there?
Are the schools good?
Can I get a visa?

We answer your questions about moving to Costa Rica in 2023!

Find us:
📬 Email us your questions: hola@yourpuravida.com
🤔 Are you ready to move to Costa Rica? Take our 60-second assessment: https://www.yourpuravida.com/ready
💻 Blog posts and other resources about moving and living in Costa Rica: https://www.yourpuravida.com/links
🧭 Get our help to move to Costa Rica: https://www.yourpuravida.com/explorer
🏠 On-the-ground support for living in Costa Rica: https://www.yourpuravida.com/membership/

This is a fun one! Nope, Costa Rica is not an island in South America. That’s just one of the myths we bust in this video. Others include:
– is the food good?
– what’s with the roads?
– can you visit Jurassic Park?
And more!

Find us:
📬 Email us your questions: hola@yourpuravida.com
🤔 Are you ready to move to Costa Rica? Take our 60-second assessment: https://www.yourpuravida.com/ready
💻 Blog posts and other resources about moving and living in Costa Rica: https://www.yourpuravida.com/links
🧭 Get our help to move to Costa Rica: https://www.yourpuravida.com/explorer
🏠 On-the-ground support for living in Costa Rica: https://www.yourpuravida.com/membership/

Hey, we’re Patrick Jager and Aaron Bailey, two friends from the US who moved to Costa Rica, separately. Together we developed Your Pura Vida to help others considering a move. Patrick lives in Atenas and Aaron lives in Rohrmoser, San José. In this video, we talk about why we moved to Costa Rica, what made us choose the places we settled, how hard (and easy) it has been, and the horror stories and mistakes we’ve made since moving here.

Our goal is to support the dreams of others to move and thrive in this country we call home.

Find us:
📬 Email us your questions: hola@yourpuravida.com
🤔 Are you ready to move to Costa Rica? Take our 60-second assessment: https://www.yourpuravida.com/ready
💻 Blog posts and other resources about moving and living in Costa Rica: https://www.yourpuravida.com/links
🧭 Get our help to move to Costa Rica: https://www.yourpuravida.com/explorer
🏠 On-the-ground support for living in Costa Rica: https://www.yourpuravida.com/membership/