The original Pan-American Highway heading south from San José once took a dramatic and daunting route. It passed through the old capital of Cartago...

Expat Living

Costa Rica’s Religious Culture Through the Eyes of a Non-Religious Expat

Don Mateo - July 15, 2025

Costa Rica is the only country in the Americas that has an official religion—Catholicism—enshrined in its constitution. While the Constitution recognizes freedom of worship,...

Expat Living

Costa Rican Economists Raise Alarm Over U.S. Cash Transfer Tax

Tico Times - July 14, 2025

In 2026, the U.S. government will impose a 1% tax on cash remittances sent from the United States to Latin America. Electronic transfers will...

Expat Living

Obesity in Costa Rica: A Growing Health Crisis After 35 Years of Change

Don Mateo - July 3, 2025

Recent studies claim that about one-third of adults in Costa Rica are considered obese and another third overweight. Which means about two-thirds of adults...

Expat Living

An Expat’s Take: 5 Burning Questions About Life in Costa Rica Right Now

Don Mateo - June 29, 2025

Have you been keeping up with the various events taking place in Costa Rica? There is always something interesting going down, and here are...

Expat Living

A Costa Rica Love Story: From Rustic Cabina to Separate Dreams

Don Mateo - June 27, 2025

My Tica wife and I have been together for over a quarter century. When we met, I was living a simple life here. Three...

Expat Living

Why Costa Rica Feels Like a Safe Haven for This Longtime Expat

Don Mateo - June 25, 2025

If someone asked me to sum up why I live in Costa Rica in 5 words or less, my answer could well be: “It...

Expat Living

U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica Mandates Public Social Media for Student Visas

Tico Times - June 21, 2025

The U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica announced a new rule for anyone applying for F, M, or J nonimmigrant visas, which cover academic students,...