Photo Credit: kansasphoto HD Sunset, Costa Rica

Periodically CRTraveling accepts articles about areas of Costa Rica other than where Tyler is from (La Fortuna/Arenal) and general tips for living or traveling in Costa Rica by contributing authors. This article was contributed by Jason Mueller.

Costa Rica is a beautiful area for anyone to visit and enjoy. During your visit, you may want to check out every little bit of the land, but if you’re not there for a long length of time then certain things will go overlooked. However, if you fell in love with it on the first visit then perhaps you’re considering a move to this beautiful area with white sandy beaches as well as white water rafting and other great outdoor activities to partake in. You may want to know how much it will cost and the level of work that is needed to make the change.

Choosing to Move to Costa Rica

When you choose to move to Costa Rica, you’re choosing beauty outside your window for the rest of your life. With waterfront property available, as well as many forested areas or cities to live in, you can find a home that truly speaks to you. Could you imagine sipping coffee out on the patio or enjoying some of the best craft beers in the world? How about strolling to the market to grab fresh fruits and vegetables for dinner? You can have all of this and more when you move to Costa Rica. National parks are plentiful, as well as beaches and nature walks throughout this fruitful country.

Shipping Vehicles 

Vehicles are large and you cannot possibly bring them with you on the plane ride. Therefore, it is important to speak with a reputable shipping company that can provide you with the shipping that is needed. Shipping vehicles requires a few documents to safely transport the items.

• Title to the vehicle, which should be clean
• Passport for personal identification
• Bill of sale if necessary
• Pay taxes on the vehicle for shipment – which can run anywhere from 59% to 79% the cost of the car
• Insurance if necessary

Vehicles should be shipped with a reputable shipping company and can be shipped in a container or outside of one. The costs for shipping inside a container are slightly higher than shipping outside of one. According to a1autotransport.com, the costs can run anywhere from $600 to $2500 or more to ship the vehicle to your preferred destination. However, keep in mind that vehicles in Costa Rica hold their value well, so you will have a vehicle that can be worth a decent amount. Additionally, you should check to find out if you can access parts and repairs for the specific vehicle you’re having shipped.

How About Personal Items?

Personal items can also be shipped within a shipping container with or without your vehicle. This is essential if you’re going to be moving into your own home. You need to ensure that these items can come with you. Chances are, you do not have a small amount that can be taken just by a flight. Throwing furniture and other boxes and items into a container can save you time and money on your move. This can cost anywhere from $500 to $2,000, depending on the size of the home you’re moving.

You will need to provide a declaration of goods to move your items from the U.S. to Costa Rica. This is to ensure that you’re not bringing anything that is prohibited into the country such as ammunitions or explosives.

Shipping household belongings, as well as a vehicle can take anywhere from a week to two weeks to arrive at the destination. However, in some cases the shipment might be able to be done within a couple of days. This is dependent on the number of items placed on the shipment and when the next one goes out. Leaving some time for your move can put you in the best position to make sure everything is set and ready to go.

When it comes time to make the move, you will be glad you did when you find out what Costa Rica offers. You can ensure that you make new friends, new memories and get more out of life because of this move. Find a home that you love, bring all your items and start settling into the new place that you now call home. Don’t forget to walk the white sandy beaches!

by Jason Mueller