Are you considering relocating to Costa Rica? Do you feel like a real estate investment in San Jose is a great choice for your financial future? Or maybe you are more drawn by the endless ocean views and white-sand beaches travelers love the most about Costa Rica?
Costa Rica is a spectacular destination! From its larger vibrant towns and luxurious gated communities by the sea to its luxuriant rainforests, perfectly maintained national parks, and glorious beaches even during the rainy season, Costa Rica is the ideal place to find your dream house and live happily ever after!
But is Costa Rica safe? Researching the country’s safety level is only natural, especially if you’re considering moving here for a longer period of time.
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Practical Information about Life in Costa Rica
To give you a clearer idea about the safety and comfort of living in Costa Rica, it’s a good idea to start out with some general information.
Costa Rica’s Quality of Life
Costa Rica is a land of opportunities. If you’re looking for luxurious life, you’ll find it, especially in the popular tourist destinations awaiting by the sea. Places like Tamarindo and Playa Flamingo house posh residential communities ready to pamper their residents with glorious ocean views and all the comfort one can dream of.
Costa Rica is considered one of the world’s “happiest” countries, a World Economic Forum report suggests. A stable democracy, high levels of private education, a focus on protecting the environment, and consistent efforts to boost the local economy have all helped the Latin American country achieve significant progress over the past few years.
And a happy country with a high quality of life could never feel or be a country that allows crime rates to grow or personal safety to be an issue!
Driving in Costa Rica
You can drive using a foreign license for the first 90 days of your residence in Costa Rica. After that, you’ll either have to leave the country and get a new entry stamp or get a local license. For this purpose, you’ll have to pass a written exam in Spanish, and you’ll also need to undergo a medical exam.
You need to be 18 or older to drive a car in Costa Rica. If you intend to use rent-a-car services, you may come across an age requirement of 25 or older.
Medical Services in Costa Rica
Speaking about living in Costa Rica, we simply can’t ignore the importance of excellent medical services. Various reports suggest that Costa Rica has some of the best medical services among all Latin Americancountries.
Expats are granted access to various private healthcare plans, including an impeccable system of private hospitals and high-end medical facilities.
What Are Costa Ricans Like?
People in Costa Rica are considered friendly and welcoming. Obviously, your perception of culture in Costa Rica will depend on your country of origin. But if you’re not from a place where friendly people routinely greet each other on the street, you may feel amazed by social interactions in Costa Rica.
The entire country has embraced the charm of Central America and Latin culture. Costa Rica will feel like home very quickly for most people who relocate here. Chances are that you’ll enjoy the honesty, open communication, and helpfulness of local people as soon as you arrive.
And if you ever experience an emergency, you will understand why so many tourists have great things to say about locals in Costa Rica. There is always someone ready to help!
The Safety of Living in Costa Rica: Main Factors
Costa Rica is considered a safe place to live. Especially when you’re living in a luxury private community such as the one in Senderos, where you can benefit from 24/7 security and the highest level of safety.
This is one of the reasons why so many Westerners decide to relocate to Costa Rica after retirement (this and the splendid nature, the joy of endless sunny days during the dry season, and the fleeting nature of the rainy season too).
A Few Costa RicaSafety Tips
It’s easy to conclude that Costa Rica is a great choice for a first or second home. In order to increase your safety even further, you can count on a couple of practical tips.
Do get in touch with other expats living in Costa Rica, especially if you know people who have been in the country for a while. This is a great way to gain confidence and a sense of security. People who know local specifics can offer practical tips to keep you safe and help you make the most of your brand-new home. Also, you may find out about expat activities and events that you’d like to attend for the purpose of building your own community.
Write down the local emergency numbers. These include 911 for the Costa Rica police assistance and 128 if you’re having a medical emergency and need an ambulance. Hopefully, you’ll never have to dial these numbers. But having them on your phone and learning some Spanish as soon as you arrive can help you feel empowered.
There are a lot of amazing opportunities you’ll get to enjoy in Costa Rica as long as you use your common sense and do your research in advance. If you learn more about your local area in a meaningful manner, you’ll soon have no worries about safety in Costa Rica.
