Estimated Reading Time: 7 Minutes Do you know what a MacGyver in Costa Rica means? When moving to Costa Rica, keep in mind that you should embrace an iterative, action-oriented mindset where “done is better than perfect.” Substitute ideal solutions by prioritizing speed, implementing “good enough” plans immediately, and iterating based on feedback. Maintain momentum…
Estimated Reading Time: 7 Minutes I’d like to share 8 Grocery shopping secrets with you. That’s because shopping in another country, like Costa Rica, is a science. In today’s blog, I’d like to give you a hand with your grocery shopping in Costa Rica. You know how to get started and what to look for. Costa Rica…
Estimated Reading Time: 7 Minutes It’s been more than 10 years since my wife and I bought a house in Costa Rica, thanks to the incredible GoDutch Realty team. Yet beneath the beauty lies a simple truth familiar to expats and locals alike: things don’t always go as planned. Whether it’s a leaky pipe, a…
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes I’m sure you’ll love these grocery shopping tips, which are just to make grocery shopping in Costa Rica easier for you. Every culture has different ways of doing things, and as soon as you move to Costa Rica, you will find out that many things are different from what they…
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes The pulpería and the polaco are two typical purchasing methods for Costa Rica’s working class. It is a pity that so much of the flavor of Costa Rica (and other countries) is disappearing with corporate business. I remember well when we walked to the pulperia to get our fresh bread…
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes You’d say, “What is so difficult about parking your car”? It seems simple, but let me tell you a few things. It might save you from getting a ticket, having your tag taken, or getting your car scratched all over. Once you move to Costa Rica and drive your own…
Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes Are you afraid to move to Costa Rica because you have a dietary problem or are disabled? Don’t be, although you should know a few things about it. I’ve tried to cover this important topic in this blog. I’m sure you’d like to cover this before you take the important…
Some expats do miss access to American products once they’ve moved to Costa Rica. Expats who live in the beach areas often find a drive into the valley not worth the hassle. Shopping around for days to NOT find the American products you’re looking for doesn’t make sense. Others ask around on Facebook groups, such…
Estimated Reading Time: 7 Minutes There are many ferias in the Central Valley, but are they all farmers markets? When people talk about going to the market, we assume this is the farmers market. Well, there are many different types of markets. The farmers market is probably the most visited because it’s every week. Any…
You’ll ask “what’s Guaro? And what’s Chiliguaro?”. Well, it all started with simple guaro. Guaro is a sugar cane – made clear liquor, similar to aguardiente. It was once the moonshine of Costa Rica. Now, it’s fabricated by the state-owned FANAL or Fabrica Nacional de Licores, in Grecia. It is marketed with the name Cacique…