I am Canadian, but I now live in Southern California. I didn't move because I had any aversion to Canada - I moved because it was darn cold in Winnipeg, which is where I lived.
I can't say that I'm alone in this sentiment though, as every year, thousands of Canadian retirees make the trek South to warmer climates - Arizona, Florida, Canada, Texas, and even a little further south to Mexico.
There is also a small subset of this group that has been fortunate enough to discover Costa Rica, and have made it their winter home for 4 to 6 months out of the year. So why did this small group of Canadians choose Costa Rica versus the more familiar and closer retirement spots in the US?
Perfect Weather
Lots of reasons. The first and most obvious is the unequaled climate. As it turns out, the weather in Costa Rica is at its best during Canada's winter. From mid-November to June is the "dry" season in Costa Rica. Don't expect the Sahara though! It will rain during this time, but it will be pleasant, warm showers.
High Quality Healthcare
Another reason that Canadians (and other foreigners) have chosen Costa Rica for their retirement home is because of their fantastic, high quality healthcare system, a hybrid of a private and public system providing healthcare to all. Many of the private healthcare facilities work hard to accept many foreign health insurance plans, but even when they don't, the fees are extremely affordable for foreigners.
Safe Living in a Foreign Country
Safety is another important issue that many Canadians consider when looking for a place to retire - domestic or foreign. Costa Rica shines in this area with very low crime rates. They do however have a high level of petty theft, but that can be avoided by using some common sense, not flashing money or valuables in public, and staying in well-lit, well known areas. Besides, most places where North Americans live in Costa Rica have numerous security precautions, like gated, guarded entrances, on-site security, and other security measures.
Hassle-Free Immigration
Another draw that Costa Rica has for retirees is its lenient residency rules. To enter Costa Rica requires no more than what you would need to cross the border into the US - a passport. In fact, with your passport you can stay up to 3 months in Costa Rica. If you want to stay longer, all you need to do is cross the border out of Costa Rica and then re-enter 72 hours later - a good opportunity to visit Panama to the south. Upon your return, you can stay another 3 months which should be more than enough time for snowbirds to wait out Canada's winter before their return.
Looking to stay in Costa Rica a little more permanently? Costa Rica actually has a special visa just for retirees called pensionado. Obtaining this residency status is within the reach of most retirees, allowing them to stay year-long.
Unlimited Activities
And of course, I have to mention the wealth of activities, sights, sounds, and tastes that Costa Rica has to offer - fishing, golf, parks, water activities, shopping, dining, rainforest tours, and so much more. Of course, if you are looking for relaxation, you can find that too.
One of the major objections to choosing Costa Rica over some US destination actually has to do with the distance and the travel time to reach Costa Rica. When you really sit down and think about it though, is travel time to a retirement spot a determining factor, when you have all these others to consider? How does a 3 hour flight versus 8 hours travel time really differ? Are you really going to get more out of your retirement spot with those extra 5 hours? Think about it.
If you have decided to make Costa Rica your retirement home, I would love to hear why. Leave a comment and share your reasons why you chose Costa Rica!
And if you are considering Costa Rica for a retirement spot, but still have some questions, let me hear from you.
Copyright 2007 The Costa Rica Real Estate Expert
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