costa rica expat tour Archives - Costa Rica Expat Tours

I have lived a relatively fast-pace life and now I live a slow one. I prefer the slow one.

A Costa Rica escape from the rat race may not have been the intended result on my first visit back in 2001, but ultimately it did become a “fringe benefit.”

In Costa Rica we have a name for the fact that time just kind of slows down, especially outside of San Jose (which has become increasingly infected with the North American minute-counting mindset).

We call it “tico time.”

Technically it means that being “on time” is to be obnoxiously early. Here 30 minutes late is considered “on time” and only if you are at least 30 minutes (to an hour) behind schedule are you officially “late.”

And it’s those nuances of punctuality here in Costa Rica that can really get us gringo expats steamed to the gills. But on a deeper level it means that ticos just refuse, on general principles, to be in a hurry.

Why be in a hurry? Are we actually trying to race time? The sad fact is that time will always win.

We liken this fast-pace style of living to a “rat race.”

Well, do we really want to be rats….in a race? And a race to where?

Where is this illusive destination that we all run to every day of our lives? And fly into rages when anyone gets in our way. I guess that’s where the concept of road rage originates, doesn’t it?

Hey, you cut me off…on my way to a very unnecessary meeting on customer service with a smile. So, BANG you’re dead!

Here in the southern zone of Costa Rica things are a bit different, to put it mildly. People here just amble about slowly, taking it all in. Heck, it took them about a 100 years to pave the 30 kilometer stretch of Costanera (coastal highway) from Quepos to Dominical.

I can’t imagine myself in a place like New York City, where my daughter lives. When I visit her “they” trample over me….the rats….on their race out of subways, cars, buses and trains, down the streets and escalators, up the elevators and down again, only to repeat the process over and over.

My god, my hands are moving faster and faster just writing about it!!! Holy shit…slow down! Breath deep. Relax…it will all be okay.

Well, I guess I should thank god that those people need a Costa Rica escape from the rat race every once in a while to maintain some semblance of sanity. So, they come to Costa Rica and for a brief moment in time, slow down and take it easy.

And some, like me…stay forever!

Do we really want the only time that we ever slow down and actually enjoy life to be when we’re “on vacation?”

Take the Costa Rica Expat Tour and experience what a Costa Rica escape from the rat race is all about.

Have you ever considered the idea of investing in Costa Rica, or maybe even moving to Costa Rica? If so, you really need to take the Costa Rica Expat Tour – before you buy.

Here’s why…

I probably don’t need to tell any of you intellectually gifted readers this, but you can get yourself in a world of hurt investing in Costa Rica without “doing your homework.”

There are investor graveyards littered with the corpses of bad investment decisions in all corners of the country.

Usually it’s the result of thinking that the tip from a “friend”, or slick marketing schtick of an unscrupulous developer, who’s goal is to get in, make the big hit, and leave poor suckers like you with a lot that you need a helicopter to reach, is all you need to drop your hard earned cash into a piece of Costa Rican paradise.

Some do so without ever having even set foot on Costa Rican soil! That’s a very bad idea.

A good way to ameliorate your risk is to take my Costa Rica Expat Tour. It’s like taking a working vacation.

First, I find out what it is you really want from your investment in Costa Rica, i.e., what are your specific objectives?

For instance, many tell me they want to operate an online business here, while living somewhere deep in the jungle, with a great ocean view of course. Well, wouldn’t that be nice…to have high speed internet while conversing with the howlers (those are monkeys) each morning?

Problem is, there ain’t no high speed internet in the deep dark jungle, silly!

So, knowing your objectives is the first step in planning the tour.

Do you want mountains, or beach, or a little bit of both? Do you need to be close to civilization, as in a real city, or town? Is access to the highest quality medical care important? What kind of climate do you want to live in? Does it matter that traveling to and from your new home is always an experience that knocks a few “fillings” loose on one of Costa Rica’s famously bad roads? Do you need to make a living while you enjoy your new life?

You see, these are only some of the considerations that go into planning the tour and, ultimately, your new life in Costa Rica.

During the tour I serve as your private guide. We will spend time in areas that I believe present opportunities that best fit your main objectives for buying in Costa Rica. In each area of interest, I will set up a few showings of properties that are a good fit with a local real estate expert. Being a member of the Coldwell Banker network helps in that regard, since we have 10 offices throughout the country.

I also make sure we have a lot of fun – just ask Susan and Michael Duell, who did my tour. In addition to great investing information, Michael learned firsthand that the best rum in Costa Rica actually comes from Nicaragua!

The idea is to design and manage an experience that you go home raving about. And one that helps guide you in making this very important life decision the right way.

Everything is completely customizable to find that perfect fit that’s just right for you.

If you’re interested in taking a Costa Rica Expat Tour click here to learn more and then give us a call!

Costa Rica Escape from the Rat Race

Take the Costa Rica Expat Tour – Before You Buy

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