| Retirement in Costa Rica may be the best | | | | government requires that foreigners retiring in |
| decision you've ever made. The cost of retiring to | | | | Costa Rica provide proof of a continuing income |
| this tropical paradise can be lower than retiring in | | | | of $1000/mo to qualify for Pensionado |
| the U.S. Housing costs, food costs, and even | | | | (retirement) residency. |
| medical costs are considerably less. | | | | Expatriate Americans can find world class medical |
| International Living, the magazine with a wealth of | | | | facilities throughout the country, alleviating a |
| information on living and retiring in foreign | | | | major concern of many retirees. A visit back to |
| countries has recently reinstated the country on | | | | the States for family, business, or fun is only a |
| its list of 'Retirement Havens' in 2009. IL ranks | | | | short flight away and can help make the transition |
| retirement destinations based on a wide variety | | | | to living here less traumatic. You really can have |
| of criteria including: cost of living, healthcare | | | | the best of both worlds when you retire in Costa |
| facilities, weather, government stability, and real | | | | Rica. |
| estate appreciation potential. IL ranks Costa Rica | | | | As a Costa Rican resident you have access to |
| in general and the Guanacaste region in particular | | | | world class medical facilities through the socialized |
| as a great place to retire. | | | | medical system at much lower rates than in |
| The Province of Guanacaste is part of the 'The | | | | America. Locally raised produce is available year |
| Gold Coast'. The area ranges from highly | | | | round, at very affordable prices, so you eat |
| developed beach front condos with a hot, tropical | | | | healthy and stay healthier yourself. Services such |
| climate to pastoral farm land in the hills with | | | | as cleaning, gardening, or repair work are available |
| tremendous ocean views and a drier, more | | | | locally for a fraction of what you would pay for in |
| temperate climate. While the cost of real estate | | | | the US. |
| overall is much less than a comparable property in | | | | When you retire in this dream locale, your options |
| America, this is even more true in the lesser | | | | are almost endless. Hiking in the rain forest, |
| populated regions of Guanacaste. Most Americans | | | | performing conservation work to help save the |
| would feel right at home in the mountainous | | | | planet, or you can stay happily busy as much as |
| regions which offer spectacular ocean views and | | | | you want. Lazy days on a sun drenched beach, |
| a great climate. | | | | reading or writing in the shade of towering trees, |
| Retiring in Costa Rica provides a host of | | | | or simply watching the world go by, you've |
| advantages for the American expatriate. The | | | | earned the right to relax. |
| cost of living here can allow most retired | | | | Retirement can mean doing everything you have |
| Americans, with a fixed income, to live a much | | | | always wanted to do, or doing nothing at all. The |
| better lifestyle than in the U.S. The Costa Rican | | | | choice is up to you. |