Moving abroad expert Erin VanRheenen released the first edition of her 432-page guide, “Living Abroad in Costa Rica,” by Avalon Travel Publishing, last September.
The guide does not focus solely on retirement, but provides information on how anyone can make the move to Costa Rica for study, work, travel or living purposes, from Van Rheenen’s perspective. It includes an introduction to Costa Rica, its history, religion, government, culture, ethnicity, social classes and people as seen by Van Rheenen.
She dedicates a section to making the move, with information on visas and immigration, what to bring on the plane, shipping by boat or if you’re driving or moving with pets. The lists of private Costa Rican elementary and high schools and Spanish language schools might prove particularly useful to those moving with children or interested in learning the language.
With a chapter on planning your fact-finding trip, the guide even contains a selection of sample itineraries with recommendations on restaurants, hotels and places to visit. The guide also includes sections on communications, finance, housing options, health care and transportation.
The relocation guide to Costa Rica is the first of its kind to be written by a woman. Van Rheenen counts with endless experience in the art of relocation. Her family first moved from Oregon to Nigeria when she was five and she has lived in Ecuador, Guatemala and Mexico. Van Rheenen moved to Costa Rica in 2002.
