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Costa Rica/Questions Answered by Expert Tucker Comstock
| Subject | Date Asked |
| attitude toward expats | 6/1/2011 |
| Q: I know CR has a thriving international and expat community and is a tourism destination. If my ... A: I live "above" Turrialba, in countryside. Small houses rent from $190-$350/month farther up the ... | |
| attitude toward expats | 6/1/2011 |
| Q: I know CR has a thriving international and expat community and is a tourism destination. If my ... A: My neighbors know nothing of finance... dollar strength vs colones or vs. wan (China currency). ... | |
| attitude toward expats | 5/29/2011 |
| Q: I know CR has a thriving international and expat community and is a tourism destination. If my ... A: I AM who you HOPE to be. I know I will always stick out, but I also know I will always be a ... | |
| pensionado | 4/24/2011 |
| Q: I have just received after 3 tries in 2 years my: BIRTH CERTIFICATE from Massachusetts, BACKGROUND ... A: So sorry for delayed response -- I have been out of contact with internet for 2 weeks. My residency ... | |
| Customs tariffs, etc. | 11/2/2010 |
| Q: We own a home in Playa Grande and will be traveling there in November. We would like to bring a ... A: My experience is ONLY with Juan Santamaria airport in San Jose. If you arrive after 6 PM there is ... | |
| Buying a car and insurance in CR | 10/13/2010 |
| Q: I`m a brazilian that loves CR. This time I have more time and plan travel with my wife and 4 years ... A: My experience is only going from USA to Costa Rica. I bought insurance 22 years ago from an agency ... | |
| my child leaving CR | 9/14/2010 |
| Q: i have one question....im a U.S. citizen and i had a child and the father is Costa Rican we were ... A: You are beyond my capability. I suggest connecting an immigration lawyer specialist. From A LOT ... | |
| Place to Relocate in Costa Rica | 8/30/2010 |
| Q: I'm searching Costa Rica to find places to possibly relocate for part of the year in a small home. ... A: Several places come to mind... Ciudad Quesada, north of San Jose, and Turrialba, east of San Jose, ... | |
| car | 8/3/2010 |
| Q: Hola, we are 2 Belgians who live most of the time in Mexico. We bought a Ford Expedition and are ... A: Apologies; I have been out of contact with internet for 6 weeks. CAR IN COSTA RICA: you can have ... | |
| buying an investment/retirement property | 7/6/2010 |
| Q: My husband and I would like to buy a retirement property in the Caribbean or in Central America. ... A: There is no organization such as you mention, but the website www.arcr.net/ will be the most ... | |
| visiting Costa Rica | 6/22/2010 |
| Q: How long am I allowed to stay in Costa Rica on a passport, and can oxygen be arranged thru a medical ... A: For USA, you can stay up to 90 days, and your passport can't expire within 30 days of arrival: ... | |
| COSTA RICA | 6/1/2010 |
| Q: I am 54 years old and on a limited income. I have been to Mexico Baja, 5 times, but not recently. ... A: If you live moderately you can live for $1000 a month in Costa Rica, but (1) health insurance from ... | |
| Costa Rica Trip June 21ish | 5/25/2010 |
| Q: I'm taking an 8 day trip (not all of it will be in Costa Rica as the 8 days include travel time by ... A: Your best plan is to bring $300 cash and convert it at a bank -- ALL AT ONE TIME (it takes 2 hours ... | |
| U.S. to Costa Rica exchange | 5/22/2010 |
| Q: I am going to Costa Rica for 8 days in the middle of June. Exchanges rates change daily, so the ... A: The exchange rate fluctuates wildly. When using debit cards from USA, individual debit card ... | |
| U.S. to Costa Rica exchange | 5/22/2010 |
| Q: I am going to Costa Rica for 8 days in the middle of June. Exchanges rates change daily, so the ... A: The exchange rate varies within a range set by the Central Bank. We who live here use the rough ... | |
| Weather, living costs, getting by/around without a car, beaches | 4/12/2010 |
| Q: I appreciate your service to AllExperts! I’m in initial stages of researching Costa Rica as a ... A: Contact info for ARCR: http://www.arcr.net/contact.html -- try giving them a call or send an e-mail. ... | |
| Weather, living costs, getting by/around without a car, beaches | 4/11/2010 |
| Q: I appreciate your service to AllExperts! I’m in initial stages of researching Costa Rica as a ... A: You will have a thousand questions about relocating to Costa Rica. Fortunately there's a great ... | |
| marriage | 4/7/2010 |
| Q: my question is if a permanent resident marries a canadian in costa rica does the canadian ... A: No. Permanent residents qualify ONLY for the person who receives the residency, not any dependents. ... | |
| Citizenship for Adopted Child | 4/7/2010 |
| Q: My biological mother was an American teaching English in Costa Rica. After being impregnated by a ... A: By far the easiest way is to contact your biological father and ask that he declare you his child, ... | |
| Costa Rican woman's rights | 3/29/2010 |
| Q: I was wondering what the options were for a pregnant Costa Rican-born woman who didn't want the ... A: Yes. Regardless of where child is born, if mother hopes to receive permanent visa, or remain in USA ... | |
| Costa Rican woman's rights | 3/28/2010 |
| Q: I was wondering what the options were for a pregnant Costa Rican-born woman who didn't want the ... A: See a lawyer for details. To declare a father the male must sign the registry as the father. If ... | |
| Costa Rican woman's rights | 3/25/2010 |
| Q: I was wondering what the options were for a pregnant Costa Rican-born woman who didn't want the ... A: IN COSTA RICA as well as USA you have the right to NOT identify the father on birth certificate. By ... | |
| married in us | 2/12/2010 |
| Q: i married a Costa Rican girl in Costa Rica and a year later she decided she didnt want to be married ... A: You can get divorced in USA, and she has to take a copy of divorce papers to Costa Rica to prove her ... | |
| Tamarindo Oasis | 1/20/2010 |
| Q: I purchased a pre-construction condo in Tamarindo (Tamarindo Oasis)in 2006 and I think you may be ... A: I STRONGLY SUGGEST you contact Tico Times (the only address I have is info@ticotimes.net). ATTN: ... | |
| Permanent Residency | 1/17/2010 |
| Q: My husband and I want to move to Costa Rica in approx 4 years after we finish college because we ... A: I know at least one set of parents from Argentina who have two children, and did not receive ... | |
| Permanent Residency | 1/14/2010 |
| Q: My husband and I want to move to Costa Rica in approx 4 years after we finish college because we ... A: If you have a child in Costa Rica, the child has citizenship (both in USA and Costa Rica, if you go ... | |
| becomming a resident of costa rica | 12/29/2009 |
| Q: Can I become a resident if I have a police record from a long time ago? Drug related over 20 years ... A: You need to obtain a letter from the local government (your county sheriff office) that states there ... | |
| Ship a vehicle to Costa Rica, then sell at end of vacation? | 12/5/2009 |
| Q: I want to snow-bird in Costa Rica next year. I wonder my costs if I ship my van or motorcycle into ... A: You can DRIVE a car into Costa Rica and keep it with USA plates for maximum 90 days. If you ship, it ... | |
| Working in US but living in Costa Rica | 11/30/2009 |
| Q: I'm considering moving to Costa Rica within the next 6 months, I'm a graphic designer with some ... A: There is no requirement to report income from USA -- in fact, residents of Costa Rica qualify in ... | |
| snake antivenom | 11/17/2009 |
| Q: I was wondering if you know where in costa rica most venomous snake bites occur. I am hoping to ... A: This is one of my FAVORITE topics! When I first came to Costa Rica I was TERRIFIED I'd encounter ... | |
| Working and living in Costa Rica | 10/29/2009 |
| Q: The wife and I are wanting to relocate to Costa Rica from Canada .Now my question is about ... A: Costa Rica has no certified mechanics for automobiles. Everyone "kmows a good mechanic" -- repair ... | |
| health insurance / crime | 10/13/2009 |
| Q: two questions; we are a couple in our 50's. is private health insurance available and what is the ... A: Crime TENDS to be opportunistic and non-confrontational. Increasingly crimes take place as bank ... | |
| health insurance / crime | 10/12/2009 |
| Q: two questions; we are a couple in our 50's. is private health insurance available and what is the ... A: Crime is a major problem in cities, as there is little true police protection. Gated communities ... | |
| Tour Operators | 8/31/2009 |
| Q: Can you recommend Selva Mar Tour Operators as a dependable, trustworthy, reliable company to work ... A: You have done much sleuthing on Selva Mar. I only went to their website www.selvamar.com, which is ... | |
| Tour Operators | 8/30/2009 |
| Q: Can you recommend Selva Mar Tour Operators as a dependable, trustworthy, reliable company to work ... A: No one in our office has ever heard of or dealt with Selva Mar. I went to their website, and see ... | |
| non-toursity places and general advice | 7/14/2009 |
| Q: My husband and I are coming to Costa Rica in late July. We have rented a vacation home near Neuvo ... A: You are asking a VERY broad question on travel. This is not the kind of question I could answer in ... | |
| Driving the Pacific Coast | 3/31/2009 |
| Q: We are planning to fly into Liberia and driving the coast highway to Dominical. How is the road and ... A: From Liberia to Dominical on the Pan American Highway (NOT the coastal highway -- there is no such ... | |
| Costa Rica trip | 3/24/2009 |
| Q: My boyfriend and I will be traveling to Costa Rica in May for a week - 10 days. We've been trying ... A: In May the weather is wonderful everywhere. For supreme solitude, away from tourist crowds, the ... | |
| relocation | 3/20/2009 |
| Q: ...If I live off of $900 USA social security and want to move from the USA to Costa Rica, do they ... A: Amy, I can't really promote illegal residency. I know a few "illegals" and they get along fine -- ... | |
| relocation | 3/20/2009 |
| Q: ...If I live off of $900 USA social security and want to move from the USA to Costa Rica, do they ... A: The immigration laws are VERY porous. You can qualify for permanent residency with minimum ... | |
| Have you heard anything about a garmin gps map for cr? | 2/10/2009 |
| Q: I have located this link ... A: AS I have only seen the unit in the rental car agency I cannot guess how well it works on highways. ... | |
| Have you heard anything about a garmin gps map for cr? | 2/10/2009 |
| Q: I have located this link ... A: This map dataset is not a Garmin product but I believe it is the one installed on NUVI products sold ... | |
| Tamarindo Development Problems | 2/6/2009 |
| Q: I was wondering what you know about the problems of development that are occurring right now in the ... A: I have heard of hotels which have been closed because of land use violation. Older hotels wishing ... | |
| october in costa rica | 2/3/2009 |
| Q: I am interested in going to Costa Rica this year and have a chance to go in October. I know it's ... A: October is beautiful in the Caribbean weather zone (and is, in fact, high season... and a favorite ... | |
| Tamarindo Development Problems | 2/2/2009 |
| Q: I was wondering what you know about the problems of development that are occurring right now in the ... A: Sorry, I know of no place where you can follow up. Most of what we know about what is going on is ... | |
| Tamarindo Development Problems | 1/30/2009 |
| Q: I was wondering what you know about the problems of development that are occurring right now in the ... A: It sounds as if you may be caught between developers who had overconfident construction plans and ... | |
| Foreign Checks | 1/15/2009 |
| Q: I have an insurance rebate coming to me by check, in US$ from a US bank. I am in Costa Rica, and I ... A: When our guides receive checks from U.S. clients in their names, they sign them on the back and we ... | |
| Happy New Year, Tucker! | 1/13/2009 |
| Q: Tucker, Happy New Year and many more to come! Gina and I would like to escape from Uvita and to ... A: I just got back to Turrialba and found your message. Come on up to see me! I will be away until ... | |
| costa rica | 12/16/2008 |
| Q: We will be living somewhere in the central valley because her children live in Atenas, I am hoping ... A: Afraid we can't help much in that part of Costa Rica. Of course it depends on your job skills, ... | |
| sell car in costa rica | 10/28/2008 |
| Q: I am David from Vienn, Austria. If I got it right you try the same thing like we will! We just ... A: David, We only know about sale of U.S. registered vehicles. The lawyers/car dealers in Costa Rica ... | |
| Calling Costa Rica from the US | 9/26/2008 |
| Q: Did something recently change where I need to dial something differently for the call to go through? ... A: All phone numbers now have 8 digits instead of 7 -- so if a cell number (previously started with "3" ... | |
| selling mexican car in costa rica or panama | 8/9/2008 |
| Q: 3 months ago some friends and i purchased a car in mexico and have since driven down to costa rica, ... A: Can't help with MEXICAN registration - all my experience is with US registration. However, if ... | |
| vende el caro | 8/7/2008 |
| Q: i have been told costa rica is the best place to do this? i need to know about the paperwork needed ... A: As a matter of fact we have an Ozzie with us now, who has tried to sell her van for the past 4 ... | |
| info on documents for residency application | 7/11/2008 |
| Q: Can you please provide us with some information on the following: 1/ If we were not born in ... A: Peter, This is Embassy level type question, and ONLY the embassy staff will have the most accurate ... | |
| contacting Costa Rican Consulate in Canada | 7/11/2008 |
| Q: We are haveing a hard time contacting Costa Rican Consulates in Canada. Website is dead link, email ... A: Only advice I can give is to contact the Costa Rica consulate in New York and ask them "what's ... | |
| costa rica report | 5/8/2008 |
| Q: My name is Rebecca. My friend Kyra and I are doing a report on Costa Rica for our Spanish class. Our ... A: Costa Rica is a very diverse country, and has an interesting history as well. The space provided to ... | |
| Driving from La Fortuna to Liberia | 4/18/2008 |
| Q: I would like to drive my 4 wheel drive rental car from Tabacon hotsprings around La Fortuna to ... A: The road is fine, and passable year round. That is a standard bus route for the BIG buses, so ... | |
| Stolen Items Recovery | 3/25/2008 |
| Q: Comstock, "I hope you can help me. On March 17, at 1:00 PM my rental car was broken into in ... A: I've been on vacation -- sorry for the slow response. There are 2 national newspapers in Costa ... | |
| Stolen Items Recovery | 3/24/2008 |
| Q: Comstock, "I hope you can help me. On March 17, at 1:00 PM my rental car was broken into in ... A: I wish I could help. Theft from parked cars is so common that most Costa Ricans do not report it to ... | |
| immigration | 3/21/2008 |
| Q: I was planning on just a 30 day vacation (which is the time allotted to me) However I met someone ... A: As a Honduran citizen you will need to leave Costa Rica within 30 days. If married you need to ... | |
| selling U.S. car in Costa Rica | 2/21/2008 |
| Q: me and my girlfriend are traveling from Arizona to Panama in a Jeep we bought in Tucson. Our first ... A: Costa Rica has INS, a government monopoly on insurance. They offer a roadside policy for breakdowns ... | |
| selling U.S. car in Costa Rica | 2/20/2008 |
| Q: me and my girlfriend are traveling from Arizona to Panama in a Jeep we bought in Tucson. Our first ... A: Costa Rica has essentially 100 percent duty on used cars, based on Blue Book Value, car and ... | |
| costa rica | 2/18/2008 |
| Q: My daughter is going to Costa Rica this summer with the education class at our University.She is ... A: "Soy allergia a nuez" (pronounced: Soy All-er-HIC-ca a NO-ESS). Almost all food has palm nut oil ... | |
| Phone Calls and What to Wear | 12/29/2007 |
| Q: Wondering the best way to call the united states from costa rica. I have an AT&T prepaid card but ... A: Phone calls using prepaid cards FOR COSTA RICA will work.Be sure COSTA RICA is mentioned in the list ... | |
| Licence to practice medicine in costa rica | 12/13/2007 |
| Q: I am a family Physician from India with 24 Years of experience in the field at present I am in USA ... A: Sorry for the delay -- I needed to check medical licensing requirements. You will need to pass the ... | |
| Car rental insurance/deposit | 11/1/2007 |
| Q: I rented a Terracan from economy rent a car in San Jose in July and returned it at the end of the ... A: If the FUNDS left your account, AND you have contacted Economy to verify the funds will be returned ... | |
| Car rental insurance/deposit | 10/30/2007 |
| Q: I rented a Terracan from economy rent a car in San Jose in July and returned it at the end of the ... A: Was the deposit done with a credit card voucher you signed (with amount of $1500)? Do you have a ... | |
| property buying | 10/22/2007 |
| Q: I am planning on purchasing property (either raw land or possibly developing something that is ... A: Only buy land with Registered title and current land survey, and only buy land AFTER speaking with ... | |
Costa Rica
Answers by Expert:
Tucker Comstock
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
Can answer any questions about Costa Rica from perspective of a resident - weather, driving times/distances, things to see and things to avoid, what you should be nervous about and what is really not a problem, except in your head. I have lots of experience with government regulation, banking, property ownership, legal structures, insurance issues, employing people.
Experience
Resident of Costa Rica. Operating a business in Costa Rica sine 1991. Designer and publisher of technical information on Costa Rica travel. Experienced world traveler, so have grasp of travel standards required by many types of people
Publications
OUTSIDE Magazine, BALLOONING Journal,
Education/Credentials
Bachelors degree, University of Colorado
Masters, University of Michigan
Commercial balloon pilot (flown balloons in 20 countries)
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