Your Move to Costa Rica Guide

14/05/2026

SAFETY WARNING! Before parking on the street, you should know that "cuida carros" (informal attendants) are not legally recognized in Costa Rica. Parking outside of private lots exposes you to car break-ins and theft (according to OIJ data, these incidents have increased this year).

While this is a common street culture practice, here is what you need to know to stay safe:

Legality and Fines: The Constitutional Chamber recently confirmed that public streets are state-administered. If you park in a yellow zone because an attendant "cleared" it for you, the fine is your responsibility and cannot be appealed (Source: Teletica.com).

Theft Risk: An informal attendant is not a guarantee of security. Never leave valuables in sight and always prioritize "Parqueos Públicos" (private gated lots) whenever possible.

The Golden Rule: If you choose to park on the street, always pay at the end. If someone is aggressive or demands payment in advance, stay calm and find another spot; your safety comes first.

Social Etiquette: A voluntary tip of 500 to 1,000 colones is standard, but remember there is no legal obligation to pay for public space.

Have you ever faced a risky situation while parking on the street? Share your story below.

14/05/2026

The Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno)

One of Costa Rica's most iconic birds, the Resplendent Quetzal is a living symbol of ecological and cultural heritage, found in the high-altitude cloud forests of the country.

Habitat
They primarily inhabit the cloud forests of high-mountain regions, between 1,500 and 3,000 meters above sea level. Key locations in Costa Rica include Monteverde and Los Quetzales National Park, where protected areas offer a vital refuge for the species.

Best Time to See
The ideal season for sightings is during their breeding period, between February and May, when activity and visibility are at their highest.

Diet & Ecological Role
Their diet is largely based on the aguacatillo (wild avocado), which they swallow whole and later regurgitate the pit. This makes them critical seed dispersers, playing a key role in the regeneration of cloud forest ecosystems.

Physical Traits
Males are easily recognized by their brilliant emerald plumage, bright red chest, and twin tail feathers that can grow up to 60 cm (24 inches) long. Females, by contrast, have more subdued, brownish-green plumage and lack the elongated tail feathers, a clear example of sexual dimorphism.

Nesting Behavior
Quetzals nest in cavities of dead trees, which they enlarge using holes previously made by woodpeckers or toucans. This dependence on standing dead wood makes them especially vulnerable to deforestation.

Conservation Status
The Resplendent Quetzal is classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, primarily due to deforestation, habitat loss, and illegal wildlife trade. Its estimated population is around 20,000-50,000 individuals worldwide, though the remote nature of its habitat makes accurate assessment difficult.

Cultural Symbol
Regarded as sacred by ancient Mesoamerican civilizations, including the Maya and Aztec, its vibrant feathers were used exclusively by royalty and priests in ceremonial attire and capturing or killing the bird was strictly forbidden. Today, it remains a powerful symbol of freedom, biodiversity, and conservation throughout the region.

13/05/2026

Save these numbers when you enter Costa Rica; they will be useful in case of an emergency. This page is free for expats traveling to Costa Rica who want to know more about this beautiful country.

www.yourmovetocostaricaguide.com is available for any inquiries at all levels, in both English and Spanish, covering Visa Guides, Housing, Finance, Health, Education, Culture, and Transportation. In the Blog, find interesting articles on the cost of living in Costa Rica for one person up to a family of five, airline route reports, and insights into geography and healthy places to live away from crowds.

07/05/2026

Healthcare in Costa Rica 2026: What Americans and Canadians Need to Know About the CCSS.

Medicare doesn't cover you abroad. Canadian provincial plans expire. Here is what the CCSS costs, what it covers, and how to enroll as a pensioner or rentier in Costa Rica.

07/05/2026

Real cost comparison: living at the beach vs. the Central Valley in Costa Rica. Housing, electricity, food, transport, healthcare. 2026 data for expats.

04/05/2026

✈️ BIG NEWS for Costa Rica travelers & expats

Two major airline updates you need to know about:
🚨 Spirit Airlines is GONE — As of May 2, 2026, Spirit permanently cancelled ALL flights to and from Costa Rica, including the daily SJO–Orlando and the SJO–Fort Lauderdale route. If you had a ticket, check your card for automatic refunds. Agency bookings: contact your agency directly. Florida–Costa Rica fares are expected to rise with less competition.

🆕 Porter Airlines is coming — Starting December 2, 2026, Porter flies direct from Toronto Pearson (YYZ) to San José (SJO), 4 flights per week through April 30, 2027. No middle seats, free Wi-Fi, complimentary drinks. Great news for our Canadian community! 🇨🇦
We keep our Transport page updated with every new route, airline change, and travel alert affecting Costa Rica — so you're always in the know.

👉 Visit the Updates section at:
🌐 https://www.yourmovetocostaricaguide.com/blog/porter-airlines-toronto-san-jose-direct-flight-2026.html
Bookmark it. Share it. Stay informed. 🌴

28/04/2026

tinyurl.com/grocery-prices-costa-rica

Are groceries breaking the bank? You're probably shopping at the wrong place.

We walked the ferias, hit the supermarkets and checked the butcher shops — here's what we found:
A full bag of veggies at the feria: $8
The same items at the supermarket: $22
That's not a typo.

Our 2026 price guide compares real April prices across the GAM so you know exactly where your dollar goes furthest. Farmers markets, organic markets, supermarkets and butcher shops, all in one guide.

Shop smarter. Save more. Live better.

21/04/2026

Market Alert: Get informed about rental prices

This essential update is for both expats and locals planning to move to San Jose. We have verified the actual market costs for 1, 2, and 3 bedroom properties across San Jose’s West Zone for 2026.

All rental prices on this page are reference ranges based on research across more than 18 active listing platforms as of April 2026. This is the first of a 4 part series covering the East, North, and South zones.

Find this and other essential articles in the Blog section of our free Your Move to Costa Rica Guide. Read the full report in the link provided in the first comment below.

16/04/2026

Costa Rica, one of the most stable, safe and biodiverse countries in the world, remains the top choice for those looking for a better way to live.

Something is shifting in Canada. More and more Canadians are choosing Costa Rica not just as a vacation destination, but as a place to live. The numbers back it up: 1 in 4 international tourists arriving in Costa Rica is Canadian, with direct flights from Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa and Winnipeg.

We are glad to welcome them. Every visitor or resident who arrives with their documents in order and a genuine desire to integrate contributes to the local economy, consumes Costa Rican products and services, and generates jobs in tourism, healthcare, construction and commerce.

And for those thinking about staying: Costa Rica has incredible regions, just as beautiful as the well-known ones, but less crowded, where you can truly connect with Costa Rican culture and people. Discovering them is the best decision you can make.

If you stay, do it legally. Costa Rica welcomes you with open arms when it is done right.

16/04/2026

Please read and inform yourself before jumping to conclusions about this article.

A note to our Costa Rican friends: Your Move to Costa Rica Guide is made up of Costa Ricans and residents who believe in what is best for this country, support national artist groups, and are committed to promoting local culture as part of what real integration looks like.

We understand that gentrification is a real and legitimate concern. That is exactly why this site exists: a poorly informed foreigner arrives without proper documents, concentrates in the same overpriced areas out of ignorance, and ends up contributing to the very problems everyone wants to avoid. But misinformation also hurts the foreigner, who becomes exposed to scams and abuse from not knowing the system.

Being well informed benefits everyone. We also collaborate with local businesses by allowing Costa Ricans to publish their services and products directly to the expat community, because we believe the best way to contribute to the country's economy is for foreigners to consume Costa Rican products and services from day one.

Costa Rica lives off tourism and those who choose to settle here, and a well-informed visitor or resident contributes more, spends better, and integrates with respect, whether they stay to live here or not.

Something is shifting in the United States and it is bigger than politics or economics. For the first time in nearly a century, more Americans are choosing to leave than to stay, and they are not leaving out of desperation. They are leaving by choice, with a plan, and with their savings intact.

For a long time, moving abroad was seen as something only the very wealthy could do. That is no longer the case. The people making this move today are regular professionals, teachers, nurses, small business owners and retirees who worked their whole lives, built their savings, earned their pension, and decided there was a better way to live the next chapter. Not millionaires. Just people who planned well and made a decision.

Costa Rica keeps coming up as the answer. Not because it is exotic or cheap, but because it makes sense. The healthcare works, the legal system protects foreign residents, the geography keeps you close to home, and the lifestyle delivers what so many people stopped believing they could afford in the US.

We wrote this article because the numbers are real, the sources are verified, and the stories are happening right now. If you have been thinking about it, or someone you know has, this is worth reading.

Full article in the first comment.

08/04/2026

Thinking about moving to Costa Rica?

Before you pack your bags, you need real numbers. Our 2026 Cost of Living Guide covers everything from rent in different zones, groceries at the farmer's market, internet providers, healthcare, education options and monthly budget estimates for singles, couples and families. No guessing, just honest reference figures to help you plan.

https://www.yourmovetocostaricaguide.com/blog-articles/April-2026/blog-single-article6.html