Welcome to our forum on Costa Rica. We feel that Costa Rica is one of the most inviting countries to visit (or live in) anywhere on the planet. The biodiversity, friendly people, boundless natural wonders, and close proximity to North America make this Central American wonder a very popular place indeed. Please feel free to introduce yourself in here.

The closest beach community to San Jose. This unique town has everything you could want. It is a popular place for expats from all over the globe. A hotspot for real estate development, a multi-million dollar marina and hotel and real estate development that grows each year, several surfing beaches close by and so much more. This was my home for two years and will be again one day. If you have lived, spent time, or plan to vacation here, drop a note and lets share our experiences.

The peninsula of Guanacaste on the Northwest coast of Costa Rica is a tourist paradise. Most visitors for this area come in via the international airport in Liberia. It can also be reached by following the main highway from San Jose west and staying north toward Nicaragua. Or you can cross the border from Nicaragua itself to reach this tourist mecca. This forum is dedicated to posts related to the Guanacaste region.

Sometimes hot and humid, sometimes cool and pouring rain, the environment of San Jose and the Central Valley area can vary dramatically. Surrounded by rolling mountains (which can provide great vistas) with coffee plantations in most directions, a desert to the southwest, a volcano with tourist facilities just out of town, and some really unique shopping in the center of San Jose, this area offers something for everyone.

Looking for a different culture. Then this is it. Costa Rica's east coast port of Limon has a distinctive Caribbean flavor that many really seem to enjoy. If you like that east coast feeling and have something to say about the Limon area then this is the place for it.

If you like quiet beaches than this is the area for you. The south west coast of Costa Rica is a quieter approach to a vacation or a retirement lifestyle in CR. Golfito is tucked away along this coast and is famous for it's tax free goods. Many expats and locals alike travel to this community to purchase appliances, TV, clothes, recreational equipment, carpet ect. Have you spent time in this corner of Costa Rica? Have questions? Post them in here.

Most visitors to Costa Rica want to see at least one active volcano. If it is going to be just one Volcan Arenal should be it. It offers spectacular display from time to time. If you stay at one of the nearby hotels you can see the red glow from it's lava in the evenings and possibly while basking in the local hot springs. If you keep traveling north from the Central Valley you will eventually reach one of the most quaint border crossings into Nicaragua at Los Chiles. If you decide to cross there you can get to San Carlos and board a boat for a great trip to Granada over Lake Nicaragua. Have you spent time in the northern areas of Costa Rica? Would you like to travel to Nicaragua this way? Put your experiences in here.