General Info

Hi all,

I've read this entire forum, and I have seen that most of you prefer Costa Rican girls (ticas) over the Columbian girls, because the Columbian girls give worse service. My question is, how do you tell the difference between a Tica and a Columbian girl?

Results from some basic research:

I have read on this board differing "facts" about tourist visas, etc. and so today called my local Costa Rican Consulate. For U.S. residents holding a valid U.S. passport, the maximum length of stay without jumping through some bureaucratic hoops is 90 days, not 30 as has been reported on this Forum. Extended stays of up to one year must be pre-approved by the Immigration Service, located in Barrio La Aruca, but you must show the reason for your stay (i.e. a letter from a Spanish school). Of course, you can still do as many others have done; leave Costa Rica at the end of your 90-day stay, visit Managua or Panama City for a long weekend, then return to C.R. and get a fresh entry stamp.

The $26.00 exit tax is paid only by international air travelers. If you're traveling by bus (to visit Panama, for instance), there is no exit tax.

Recent troubles with narcotraficantes at the Panama border have made bus travel through Paso Canoas a risky proposition, according to the U.S. State Dept. However, travelers with whom I have talked seem to disagree. Most however agree that Paso Canoas is the armpit of the universe, and that border mongering at the C.R./Panama border is simply not worthwhile.

Note: According to the C.R. Consulate in Chicago, if you want to retire to C.R. on a "pensionado" visa, the process takes up to two years, so plan ahead. Among other things, you will need to prove a continuing income stream of no less than US$600.00/month to acquire a pensionado visa. This amount is likely to increase to $800.00 in the near future, according to the consular representative with whom I talked today.

While we're on the subject of retiring to C.R., be aware that numerous scams exist, most notably ridiculously overpriced real estate. Many U.S.-based companies buy Costa Rica properties and then resell them at double, realizing a 100% profit. Carefully investigate the real estate situation before committing any cash. Hiring an honest local rep/agent to make the deals may save you $$$$$.

I'll be in CR the second week of Sept. 2004, and I hope to see some of you there.

BL

J.C.,

About the taxis: I thought that they were not required to use the maria after dark? Also, other guys have recommended that you set the price before even getting into the cab, particularly for short trips around the Centro. "?Cuanto a <destination>?" seems to be a good way to start negotiations, so why do you claim that asking is a license to steal? Also, how hard is it to hire a taxi for a full day (as suggested by Commanche, below), and what would you say is a fair price? TIA, amigo.

BL

Telephone Information: I recently made the costly mistake of dialing Costa rica direct from the U.S., and then found out that the rate on AT&T is $3.42 per minute, plus taxes! Ridiculous, but that's the cost. I also found out however that a prepaid AT&T calling card, available at Sam's Club or Wally World offers a rate of $0.21/minute to C.R. and $0.33 per minute from C.R. The direct-dial rate is 16 times more expensive from the U.S. than the calling card!

To call the U.S. from C.R. using a prepaid AT&T calling card, dial 0800-011-4114. This may not work at all telephones. Enter the card's PIN and then dial the number as you would any long distance call within the U.S. i.e. 1+(A.C) + XXX-XXXX. Hope this helps. I'll never again make the mistake of dialing C.R. direct; I'll use the prepaid calling card. -BL

Well In my experience the Colombian gorl was better than the tico. but she was paid 80 dollars but wow a great time the tico was just very simple get it over with

Whoa! Just ASK her! :)

And make no mistake--some of the Colombians are sweetiepies while some of the Ticas are hard asses.

All that said, you WILL come to recognize a certain Colombiana=TROUBLE look...she'll be blonde, a vacant, bored, or smirky look on her face, big fake tits, SMOKING bod, serious user of cell phones and cigarettes, yakking in a tight knot with her paisanas, and not even be CAPABLE of kissing your ass in conversation long enough to cut a deal (even if it's all in Spanish). This girl makes all her money off guys who lose their heads over her visual attributes.

Whoa:

The best way to know where the girl is from is just ask them. They are very proud of their country of origen and have no reason to lie. As far as which are better I have had great experiences with ticas (costa ricans) good to very good with nicas (nicaraguans) and good to so so with colombians. The colombians tend to be more business like and less GFE.

I do not get the girls at the gringo places (Del Rey, Key Largo). Mainly I go to the MP'S because the cost is 1/5 as an average of the gringo places.

I am not saying that the colombians are bad. I have had one of my best experiences with a colombian but in Colombia. Let me close with YMMV because I am sure that many felow mongers have diferent experiences this is only what I have found in 2 trips to CR.

Very soon I will be back for a 3 week research expedition (Aug 28 to Sept 18).

Happy huntings........

I've never negotiated with a taxi driver in CR in my life for short or medium length fares. If you go over a certain distance (10-20 kilometers), you may have to, but I repeat, by doing so for ordinary trips (day or night), you'll just be cheating yourself.

You might have to negotiate a trip to the airport. But always, always, ASK up front. Otherwise; license to steal.

If you're going to go in a pirate taxi (taxi pirata), you do need to negotiate with them. Usually they're the same, or maybe 10% less or 10% more. Not always cheaper. I've only gone in them with Tico's. I'd be a little hesitant if I were alone.

There are some taxes crossing the border. About $9 or $10 on the Nicaraguan side, and something coming back into CR. $3 or $5 seems about right. If you come back within a couple of days of leaving the country via the airport, you *don't* have to pay the airport tax. It's considered a transit, and you might pay $5 or maybe nothing. This was correct at least, as of last year when I did it.

I wouldn't bank on any of the info on Pesionados and Rentista's. They're fighting over a lot of it right now. And I think the suburb is probably la Uruca. I don't recognize the one you mentioned. Not sure if's a pronounciation thing with your voice synthisizer, or what.

j.c. - i stand erected, er, corrected. the suburb where the c.r. immigration is located is indeed la uruca. and yes, it was a pronunciation artifact of my speech synthesizer. as far as extended stays go, i'm not planning anything for the near future, but i have been warned by a number of ex-pats to watch the continuing soap opera from san jose, as factions fight to either stop or increase the pensionado program, the $60,000.00 "investment" visa program and others. furthermore, i'll take your taxi advice as gospel, as you've "been there, done them;" i was just asking for clarification. "oponga la maria" it is. -bl

Just checked Travelocity and found United Air has a sale at $276 round trip from Atlanta to SJO via Dulles. This is cheep cheep cheep. But it means an all day trip flying North then South.
Unfortunately it is $357 out of Dulles.
Other cities remain high: $335 from IAH, $814 from SDF, $485 from CHI.
$first born from SFO.

Delta starts TWO nonstops daily out of ATL starting in December and this may be United's competitive swipe at competition.
Bring on the competition.
Sort of like the competition between the Dominicanas and Colombianas at the Blue Marlin.

I absolutely will return in February with friends.
Not to mention in 12 days but who is counting?

Check Taca.com for flights out of SFO. They have a sale right now, always pretty cheap, and great flight times. They leave at 1am, arrive at 10am so you have all day there. Depart SJO at 5pm, no early morning flights to catch. And they're a pretty good airline, too, pretty latinas for flight attendants.

I booked my flight on AA for $377 out of Chicago for Oct 2 - 10.

I will be at the Presidente and hope to meet up with people there.

This will be the second trip this year and my third overall.

Shamas will you be around during this time frame? I will send you a PM.

Can anyone currently in C.R. comment on the transportation strike? Scheduled to head down next week and am getting reports that things are bad and getting worse.

Thanks

How are you gentlemen?

Long time enjoyer of WSG, though I seldomly post, this being my first time in any Costa Rica section.

I am planning a very spontaneous solo trip to Costa Rica in the next two weeks or so, and although I have RTFF (General Info only, so far due to time), I have a few questions. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Note worthy info: Money is fairly limited (looking at slightly less than $1500 USD to cover EVERYTHING), and narrowing my choices to Brazil, Peru or Costa Rica. Costa Rica is looking the best due to aitrline costs, unless I can find some stand-by tickets. Also, I am looking to stay at hostels more than hotels. I am fairly young (early 20's, possibly with a "younger face"). Will with out a doubt be looking forward to meeting many Ticas (?), and while p4p will likely be had, I am quite confident in my ability to meet non-pros, as far as my not terrible, yet far from conversational spanish will allow. Not overly concerned about safety, and am definately trying to avoid any not-fantastic encounters with law enforcement of any kind. Don't have too much of a problem with finding myself on-my-dick broke, at some point, as that is the condition I usually enjoy here in the states.

Firstly, I am wondering if anybody can recommend any urban areas outside of San Jose, where I will likely be flying in. I am looking for inexpensive-ness, locals (especially women, but dont like anything too touristy), beaches, must-see sites, etc.

Secondly, was hoping to get an idea of what season it will be through september - october. Aveage temp., rainfall, etc.

Thirdly, am wondering about the possibility of any money-earning opportunites. Legal only, with the exception of "under-the-table" if that is an issue there. I definately have a certain way with the richer folk, especially in the US, but have had luck in other countries as well, specifically private lessons to the kin of rich-folk, in the form of martial-arts (am an accredited instructor), english, etc. Is there a note-worthy richer area of SJ or anywher else I might want to frequent for this purpose?

Lastly (I hope), wondering about any sort of public transportation outside of taxis. Buses, subway, etc.? Also, Buses for longer routes (like Peter Pan/ Grey Hound compared with city buses), to get to any further destination that might be reccomended.

Sorry about the long post, guys, and I appreciate all the great info. I've read here so far. Definately very helpful. Any suggestions here would be great.

Thanks

when is the best time to visit San Jose as far as weather etc. Also what holidays to avoid so I don't get their when the girls are visiting their families.