Carry Your Passport with you at all times!!
I recently had the experience of traveling around Costa Rica with clients, and the Police at a check-stop stopped us. The Police officer asked for the Drivers License and Passport of the person driving. The driver handed over her Driver’s License, and realized she did not have her passport with her. She had made the choice that morning to leave it in her room.
The Police proceeded to chastise her for not having her passport…and went to his truck. We were thinking he was just going to give us a warning, and tell us to always carry our passports with us.
However; when he returned to our vehicle he handed her the equivalent of a $200 ticket. He then told us again, very sternly, that we needed to always carry our passports with us at all times while in Costa Rica….we even tried the “we did not know this” tourist card….he would not budge!
…the point of my story is ALWAYS, ALWAYS have your passport with you!!
Traveling To Costa Rica? Check Your Passport!!
Heading to Costa Rica? Or anywhere else abroad? When was the last time you checked your passport?
If you’re planning a trip to Costa Rica, take a look at your passport’s expiry date, even if it doesn’t expire during your travels, you might not be allowed into the country. Or any other country for that matter.
Costa Rica, like many other countries have three month or a six month minimum expiration for your passport, meaning that you have to have at least the minimum three or six months on that passport before being allowed in.
One case in the U.S. media is that being reported by KABC-TV Los Angeles, California, of Anna and Jason Protopappas, an Aliso Viejo couple on their way to Costa Rica over the Christmas break to visit friends.
“We arrived in Costa Rica at 12:45 Christmas morning”, Anna told KABC. “We had been flying all day Christmas Eve and we arrived about the last flight into Costa Rica to San Jose Airport”. The couple had taken an Aeromexico flight out of Los Angeles that had a long layover in Mexico City.
“No puedes entrar” (you cannot enter) said Anna were the words by the Costa Rican immigration officer. Jason got through, but Anna’s passport was close to expiring and that made ineligible to enter the country.
The story related by Anna to the Los Angeles television news channel was that the Costa Rican officer explained her how she and anyone else in her position could lose their job and even worse, go to jail, in allowing someone in.
Although an airline will allow a passenger to board it does not mean that you will be allowed in. It is the responsibility of the airline to ensure that a passenger meets the minimum requirements to enter a country, but is no consolation in the case like that of Anna and Jason.
Another requirement, overlooked by travel agents and airlines, is a ticket out of the country.
Costa Rica, like many other destinations, have a rule about requiring a temporary visitor about having a way out of the country – by land, sea or air.
According to Costa Rican immigration, a visitor arriving must have their return ticket. Although some airlines are not strict about this rule, the visitor could be denied entry. In such case, the airline will be responsible for flying the person home or their point of embarkation.
Airlines like TACA and COPA, although will sell you a one way ticket to Costa Rica, will refuse boarding if the passenger does not have a ticket out of Costa Rica.
So, if traveling abroad remember one to have at least three to six months validity on your passport and have a way out of the country.
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It is January of 2012…and “From Gringo to Tico” is a full 2 years old!
In Costa Rica there have been a lot more changes and improvements! It is amazing to me all of the changes that have gone on here in the past few years! The availability of things, services, infrastructure simply amazes me every day! In order to keep you, our reader, up to date, we have written this newsletter with updates for you to print out…
The Costenera / Caldera Highway saw a few problems over the last two years with the very heavy rainy seasons. The highway repair people have done a great job of keeping it open as much as possible. There are minimal remaining repairs ongoing, overall, travel is easy. There are few to no delays most days! This highway sure does make travel to the southern zone easy!
The southern Costenera from Jaco to Ojochal is being re-paved! The rough parts are getting better. Over all, it is now such a pleasant drive compared to what we used to deal with!
We have posted directions to and from the airport on the blog / website. Go there to print out the directions.
NEW “EPA” STORE
Across from the Cariari Mall, near the Country Inn and Suites, the DoubleTree Hotel, etc. there is now a new EPA hardware store…making 3 in total in San Jose. So if you stay at one of the hotels along by the Country Inn and Suites, the Double Tree, etc…there is now one of our favorite hardware stores close by!
CELL PHONES
You can now get “Pay As You Go” Cell phones in Costa Rica! The cost for usage of airtime is minimal, and cheaper than a “regular” cell phone. They are really easy to get! No more standing in line-ups, purchasing stamps and waiting months to get a number!
You can get one at any cell phone store. Then, take it to an ICE office where it will be activated, you will have your number, and it will be ready to go when you leave the office! I had the person at ICE set up my voice mail, because I had a hard time understanding the recording instructions in Spanish. The cost for the set up is c2,500. After having my phone for over a year, I am finding that the minutes seem to last forever…I put c1,500 on it most months and my balance keeps increasing, even though I make many ling distance calls to Canada, etc!
When buying your phone it is important to ensure that you are getting a 3G… they have better coverage over all of the country and cost about $120.00. And they are getting cheaper all the time.
All of the “Pay as you go” phones are allowed to make and receive international calls…. it is such a dream for us North Americans to be able to make and receive calls from home so easily.
….over all it is Easy, Breezy!
Crossing the Panama Border at Paso Canoas update….
I recently did the Panama Border/ Paso Canoas and shopping in David experience.The border crossing has had few changes from what we wrote on page 69 in the book.
When I entered Panama, the Immigration person wanted to see my parking ticket, to ensure I had traveled there in my car. They did not want to see the paper work for the car.
They also searched our bags in a room behind you, as you stand at the “enter Panama” window. They did not do this when we returned with all of our shopping!
When I exited Panama, I did have to buy a stamp for $1.00. A person came through the line selling them, and they only take US$.
Entering back into Costa Rica was no problem at all. I told her I had a house in Costa Rica. She said, “I thought so” and stamped my passport for the 90 days!
The process is getting so much better; I don’t think anyone should need the “help” of the people trying to get you to pay them to help you through the process any longer.
I did have a young man try to sell me his help, to get my 90 stamp without leaving the country for 72 hours, for $20.00. This is far less than what they used to charge…and now a lot of the folks who live here just do that on their own, when they don’t have time, or don’t want to go out for the entire 72 hours.
We took the bus, from the bus station a few yards from the Panama Customs to David for $2.00 each. We rode to the bus terminal in David. The buses are mostly quite new, 14 or so passenger shuttle busses. The seats are small, designed for tiny locals! They did not take our money till just before we arrived at the terminal. The bus ride took about an hour and a half. At the terminal we then took a taxi to our hotel for $2.00.
After we shopped for 2 days and filled our 2 large suitcases., we hired a taxi to take us back to the Fronterra for $30.00 – a 45 minute drive.
Staying in David
We made reservations online at Hotel Castilla without any problems; the cost was $39.00 for 2 people per night. The room was clean, the windows did not open, the air conditioner worked well, the beds were firm ….too firm for our liking! So we moved to the Best Western / National hotel 2 blocks away from the Castilla. There we paid $55 for our room. This hotel has been recently refurbished and the beds were wonderful! Everything is new, white and fluffy! The flat screen TV was a treat! There was no hot water in our room. The restaurant and bar were nice and the pricing not too expensive for being in a hotel.
Shopping in David
We love the Do-it-center! We bought new taps, some lights – good brand names for a lot less than we would pay in Costa Rica!
Conway, a larger department store in the same complex at the Do-it-center is also wonderful! They have American sizes, and brand names with good prices.
We found canning jars in Novey! Some of us have been looking for canning jars for years …. and now we know we can get them there! Yahoo!
Paso Canoas – the border town
There is now a department store on the Costa Rican side of Paso Canoas called “City Mall”. It is a two-storey building with a MacDonald’s in it. It is to the left when you come to the crazy intersection in the middle of Paso Canoas; after you pass the Costa Rican Immigration building and before the Panama one. You go up the street about half a kilometer, follow the MacDonald’s signs. It is on your right, and you can park in front and on the side of the building. There is usually a couple of young men there to help you park, watch your car and help you back out…for a small fee. Pay them a little before you go in – maybe 100 colones to ensure they do watch you car…and them some more when you leave.
The store has a lot of products, and brand names that we are used to in North America. We can get cheeses, canned soups, etc at good prices! A lot of us make the trip to the border just to go shopping here… it is a treat!
….A new shuttle / transfer service
More Than Transfers -www.morethantransferscr.com
They have an office in Uvita. I have had a few people use these guys and they tell me that they are first rate!
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Crossing the Panama Border at Paso Canoas update
…. I recently did the Panama Border/ Paso Canoas and shopping in David experience. The border crossing has had a few changes from what we wrote on page 69 in the book.
When I entered Panama, the Immigration person wanted to see my parking ticket, to ensure I had traveled there in my car. They did not want to see the paper work for the car. They also searched our bags in a room behind you, as you stand at the “enter Panama” window. They did not do this when we returned with all of our shopping!
When I exited Panama, I did have to buy a stamp for $1.00. A person came through the line selling them, and they only take US$.
Entering back into Costa Rica was no problem at all. I told her I had a house in Costa Rica. She said, “I thought so” and stamped my passport for the 90 days!
The process is getting so much better; I don’t think anyone should need the “help” of the people trying to get you to pay them to help you through the process any longer. I did have a young man try to sell me his help, to get my 90 stamp without leaving the country for 72 hours, for $20.00. This is far less than what they used to charge…and now a lot of the folks who live here just do that on their own, when they don’t have time, or don’t want to go out for the entire 72 hours.
Staying in David
We made reservations online at Hotel Castilla without any problems; the cost was $39.00 for 2 people per night. The room was clean, the windows did not open, the air conditioner worked well, the beds were firm ….too firm for our liking! So we moved to the Best Western / National hotel 2 block away from the Castilla. There we paid $55 for our room. This hotel has been recently refurbished and the beds were wonderful! Everything is new, white and fluffy! The flat screen TV was a treat! There was no hot water in our room. The restaurant and bar were nice and the pricing not too expensive for being in a hotel.
Shopping in David
We love the Do-it-center! We bought new taps, some lights – good brand names for a lot less than we would pay in Costa Rica! Conway, a department store in the same complex at the Do-it-center is also wonderful! They have American sizes, and brand names with good prices. We found canning jars in Novey!
Some of us have been looking for canning jars for years….and now we know we can get them there! Yahoo!
Paso Canoas
There is now a department store on the Costa Rican side of Paso Canoas called “City Mall”. It is a two-storey building with a MacDonald’s in it. It is to the left when come to the crazy intersection in the middle of Paso Canoas; after you pass the Costa Rican Immigration building and before the Panama one. You go up the street about half a kilometer, follow the MacDonald’s signs. It is on your right, and you can park in front and on the side of the building. There is usually a couple of young men there to help you park, watch your car and help you back out…for a small fee. Pay them a little before you go in – maybe 100 colones to ensure they do watch you car…and them some more when you leave. The store has a lot of products, and brand names that we are used to in North America. We can get cheeses, canned soups, etc at good prices! A lot of us make the trip to the border just to go shopping here… it is a treat!
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FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE SOUTH PACIFIC ZONE VIA THE COSTANERA HIGHWAY and the new CALDERA HIGHWAY
From the Airport, you will get on the Pan American Highway (Hwy. #1) going north, and follow the signs to San Ramon; pass a Dos Pinos factory and a Puntarenas Ferry sign – it is about 12 Kms.
You will pass signs for La Garita, Sarchi, RECOPE fuel storage tanks, and then see a sign for “ATENAS 14 KM”. This is where you turn right and curve around, following the signs to Quepos / Jaco.
YOU WILL NOW FOLLOW SIGNS TO THE CALDERA HIGHWAY, MERGING WITH IT AT THE “LA GARITA” TURNOFF.
You will pass through a number of toll stations and just before you get to the Jaco / Costenera exit, you will go through a Blue Pay station and pay the toll. Just past this toll station, you will exit off Hwy. # 27 by turning left and entering on to the Costenera highway. As you pass through the outskirts of Jaco and are on the north side, you will see the Crocodile Bridge. This is a great place to stop. You can see many Crocodiles hanging out in the river and there are some great shops. As you are driving though Jaco, you will pass Playa Hermosa – a famous surfing beach. It is on the right hand side of the road …a nice place to stop for lunch.
At Quepos, you will come to a Y intersection. Veer left. You will see the sign at this Y saying left to Dominical and right to Quepos.
Be sure to go left, otherwise you will go through the town of Quepos and it is longer that way; unless you want to visit the lovely beach town of Quepos and have lunch.
Keep following the newly completed Costenera Highway, passing a large Gas Station on your right at Baru, you will then come to a check point, a bridge, and now are in Dominical.
This Highway will take you to Uvita, Ojochal, Cortes, Palmar Sur and all points south.
FROM ESCAZU TO DOMINICAL AND ALL POINTS SOUTH
From here you simply follow Highway #27….this becomes the new Caldera Highway, and you follow it through the toll booths to the Jaco turn off. See directions above for Jaco / Costenera Highway.
FROM DOMINICAL TO the AIRPORT VIA THE COSTENARA HIGHWAY
The Costanera road, driving through Quepos and Jaco is becoming the best way to travel to San Jose. There are no dangerous mountain roads to drive this direction. At this time, there is about a three and a half hour drive from Dominical to the Airport. Highway 27 runs directly from San Jose near the airport to the Costanera.
Follow the new Caldera Highway till you come to the “la Garita” exit….this will take you through villages and eventually onto the PanAmerican highway.
The last turn will be on your right, at the Recope sign. (Recope Plant) You will see a San Jose sign to make a right at this same spot. Just a short way on this highway, the airport will be on your right or you can continue on the highway to reach San Jose.
FROM DOMINICAL TO SAN JOSE VIA THE CALDERA HIGHWAY / HIGHWAY # 27follows:
Get on the Costanera (only highway) in Dominical, go north towards Quepos. You will not turn into Quepos, but will continue on the Costanera towards Jaco. You will pass a very good grocery store in Jaco called the Auto Mercado. It will be on your left. Continue on the highway and you will cross over the famous “crocodile bridge” where many crocs can be seen. You can’t miss it as there are always people standing on the walkways on the sides of the Tarcoles Bridge to see the crocodiles.
Once you reach the other end of Jaco, in a few miles, you will come to a large sign on your right showing you the exit to San Jose, Atenas and Orotina. Veer right towards San Jose, onto the # 27. Follow this road, it becomes the New Caldera Highway; and you will come directly into Escazu, passing PriceMart, Cima Hospital, etc on your way into San Jose. This is so very simple!!
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It is January of 2011…and “From Gringo to Tico” is one year old!
….as we expected…In Costa Rica there have been a lot of changes and improvements! In order to keep you, our reader, up to date, we have written this newsletter with updates for you to print out…
The “new” Costenera / Caldera Highway saw a few problems over the past year with the very heavy rainy season. The highways people have done a great job of keeping it open as much as possible. There are repairs ongoing, but travel is easy. There are few to no delays most days! This highway sure does make travel to the southern zone easy!
The southern Costenera from Dominical to Ojochal saw more slides and washouts…that in the past would have shut the highway down for at least a week, and would have taken months to repair…this year was open in 2 days and all the repairs are completed! In 2 months! It was amazing to see the repair and construction equipment mobilized and repairs done so quickly!
We will post directions to and from the airport on the blog / website.
NEW “EPA” STORE
Across from the Cariari Mall, near the Country Inn and Suites, the DoubleTree Hotel, etc. there is now a new EPA hardware store…making 3 in total in San Jose. So if you stay at one of the hotels along by the Country Inn and Suites, the Double Tree, etc…there is now one of our favorite hardware stores close by!
CELL PHONES
You can now get Pay As You Go Cell phones in Costa Rica! The cost for usage of airtime is minimal, and cheaper than a “regular” cell phone. They are really easy to get! No more standing in line-ups, purchasing stamps and waiting months to get a number!
You can get one at any cell phone store. Then take it to an ICE office where it will be activated, you will have your number, and it will be ready to go when you leave the store. All you have to do is make sure you take your passport with you! I had the person at ICE set up my voice mail, because I had a hard time understanding the recording instructions in Spanish
When buying your phone it is important to ensure that you are getting a 3G… they have better coverage over all of the country and cost about $140.00. And they are getting cheaper all the time. I put the equivalent of $5.00 on the pay as you go; and it will last me a really long time!
If you want to make international calls, you may need to go to any ICE office and have them check your account to ensure that your phone is allowed to make and receive international calls. This may take some effort to get completed, you may have to stand in line ups, but is worth it for us North Americans to be able to make and receive calls from home.
…over all it is Easy, breezy!
NEW RESIDENCY LAWS
New Immigration Law effective March 1, 2010
Approved in August 2009 by the Asamblea Nacional, a new Costa Rican Immigration Law took effect as of March 1, 2010.
The new law, formally known as Law 8764, Ley General de Migración y Extranjería, made extensive and important changes to the requirements to apply for legal residency. The new income requirements apply to applications filed starting on March 1, 2010.
Pensionado – Income:
The new monthly pension income requirement is US$1,000. One pension allows both husband and wife to apply for residency
Rentista – Income:
The new Rentista monthly income requirement is US$2,500. The exact same amount of US$2,500 applies to all applicants, whether or not the applicant is single, or married, or married with children.
Inversionista – Investment Amount
The investment made must have a registered or verifiable value of at least US$200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand dollars).The investment of a lesser amount in tourism is no longer available.
Mandatory Membership in “La Caja”
The new law made it mandatory for all applicants to become members in Costa Rica’s medical system, La Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social, known simply as “La Caja.” The applicant must show proof of membership in La Caja at the time the residency identification card is issued.
Location where applications can be filed
Applications can now be filed abroad, in the applicant’s country of origin, or directly at Migración y Extranjería in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Residency applications under the Vínculo Program can only be filed in Costa Rica.
Applications for Vínculo Status by Spouses of a Costa Rican citizen
The application of the spouse of a Costa Rican citizen, filed under the Vínculo Program, will no longer be granted as a permanent resident if the marriage took place less than 2 years from the application date. Under the new law, spouses are granted temporary residencies for the first three years. At the end of the third year the spouse can apply for permanent residency.
Higher fees
The new law codifies the increase of the fees charged by Migración for the filing of the application, the review of the application, to file for change in status from temporary to permanent residency, and for many other services.
The Immigration law now in effect brought substantial changes to the application process and increased the complexity and time-consuming paperwork requirements built into the process. Working together as a team, Residency in Costa Rica helps you navigate the complex application process step by step.
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Just a few short months ago, Rita and I finished our first edition of From Gringo to Tico. This book gives you step by step instructions on just about every aspect of living in Costa Rica. Detailed directions, maps and pictures were added to help you navigate your way in and out of San Jose and to the Pacific coast.
When I first arrived to Costa Rica two and a half years ago it was exciting and yet, very overwhelming. I did not know the language and I had no idea where to buy what I needed to set up my home, how to get around or who to contact to accomplish even the simple things in life. The things that I had always taken for granted became difficult for me to obtain or accomplish.
I had read several books before moving to this beautiful country, and thought that I was prepared…but found out that many of my questions were not answered.
After being lost over and over in the maze of streets in San Jose, I started writing notes on how to get around using landmarks to help me navigate my way around. I then started writing down all of the good shops and stores, taxi drivers, information on obtaining cell phone service, shipping things from overseas, traveling with a pet, utility information and the list just went on and on.
As the months went by, I continued adding to my notebooks. Eventually, I began to share this information with others so that they would not have to suffer the experiences of being a newcomer as I had done. On several occasions, my friend Dave would run into something that he could not find or did not know the answer to. I would refer to my notebooks and get the answer for him. He mentioned several times throughout the months that I should write a book with all of my information. I would just laugh and put it out of my mind. I had never written a book and had no intention of doing so.
As the months went by, a couple of others suggested that I write a book. By this point, I had typed several of my notes in the computer as I was getting calls asking for some of the same information. I finally decided that maybe they were right. I began writing the book, but life kept getting in the way.
Right about this time, I met Rita. She told me that she was an editor and publisher and asked if she could publish the book for me. Nine months later, our book was in print.
It is my hope that “From Gringo to Tico” will be the guide that you are looking for! For more information on the book go to : www.fromgringototico.com or www.officialguidetocostarica.com.
