If you are seriously considering moving to Costa Rica, one of the first questions you will face is deceptively simple: how do I actually research this? There is no shortage of information available, from blog posts and Facebook groups to week-long relocation seminars and guided tours. But not all research methods are created equal, and the approach you choose will shape how you see the country.
We are Aaron Bailey and Patrick Jager, co-founders of Your Pura Vida. We have helped hundreds of people navigate this exact question, and we have seen every approach imaginable. In this post, we break down the most common ways people research a move to Costa Rica, what works, what does not, and what we believe gives you the best chance of finding the life you actually want.
The “Just Move” Approach (And Why It Rarely Works)
Some people skip the research entirely. Aaron recently spoke with a woman from Canada who had never visited Costa Rica, loaded up her car with her boyfriend and two dogs, and drove south. When she arrived, her boyfriend broke up with her and flew home. She stayed and is loving life. That is the exception, not the rule.
Others come for a one-week vacation, fall in love with the sunsets and the Pura Vida lifestyle, and decide they can live here. The problem is that vacation is not the same as daily life. The infrastructure challenges, the cultural adjustments, the logistical realities of grocery shopping, healthcare, and transportation are invisible when you are relaxing at a resort.
Patrick did something similar early on. He came on vacation, assumed life would be just like that vacation, and bought a house. It is a decision he openly advises others not to repeat. The lesson is clear: do not commit to a life in Costa Rica based on a week of tourist-mode experiences.
Starting with Online Research
Most people begin their Costa Rica research online, and that makes sense. There is a wealth of information available through blogs, YouTube channels, and social media groups. You can learn about residency options, cost of living, healthcare, and the best places to live without leaving your couch.
Facebook groups are popular, but approach them with caution. The information is crowdsourced and often contradictory. One person will swear a particular town is paradise while another will warn you to stay away. Both are sharing their personal experience, and neither may reflect what your experience would be.
Online research is a solid starting point for building a knowledge foundation, but at some point, you need boots on the ground. No amount of reading will tell you how a neighborhood feels at 6:00 in the morning, what the traffic is like on a Monday, or whether the local grocery store carries what you need.
Relocation Seminars
One of the more established ways to research Costa Rica is through relocation seminars. These are typically week-long programs where you fly in, sit in a hotel ballroom (often in the Escazu or San Jose area) with 20 to 40 other people, and listen to a lineup of presenters cover topics like immigration, real estate, banking, and schools.
After the classroom sessions, the group gets loaded onto a bus to tour specific areas and properties.
There is nothing inherently wrong with this format, and some people genuinely enjoy the structure. But here is what you should know going in:
- You are seeing Costa Rica through someone else’s lens. The itinerary is predetermined. You visit the places they have selected, which are often based on partnerships and referral agreements with local businesses.
- It is a one-size-fits-all experience. Your needs, priorities, and lifestyle goals may be completely different from the person sitting next to you. A seminar does not account for that.
- The profit motive is worth questioning. Many seminar organizers earn revenue from the service providers they parade in front of you. That does not make them dishonest, but it does mean you should think critically about the recommendations you receive.
If you are the type of person who wants structure and does not want to navigate logistics on your own, a seminar might be a reasonable starting point. Just understand that it is not personalized.
Custom Tours
A step up from seminars are custom tours. These are typically run by individuals in a specific region who offer to show you around their area. You might find someone who specializes in Guanacaste, or the Nicoya Peninsula, or the Southern Pacific.
The word “custom” can be misleading. In many cases, these tours follow a script. The operator has established relationships with specific restaurants, hotels, and realtors, and those are the places you will visit. It is the localized version of a seminar. You are still seeing Costa Rica through someone else’s eyes.
That said, if you have already narrowed your search to a specific region and you want a local guide who knows the area, a tour can provide some value. Just be aware of the limitations and ask yourself whether you are getting a truly customized experience or a polished version of the same tour everyone else gets.
Relocation Consultants
Then there are relocation consultants who work with you one-on-one to understand your specific situation before you ever set foot in the country. This is the category we fall into at Your Pura Vida.
The key difference between a consultant and a tour operator is the starting point. A tour starts with an itinerary. A good consultant starts with you.
When we work with someone through our Scouting Program, we begin with a 124-point questionnaire designed to uncover the details that matter. Do you have children who need English-speaking schools? Is proximity to healthcare a priority? Do you love the beach or prefer the cooler climate of the Central Valley? Do you want to be close to stores, or are you comfortable with a more rural lifestyle? Is your faith community important to you? Do you prefer not to drive?
Each of these questions shapes where you should be looking, and the answers are different for every person.
We also play Devil’s Advocate. If someone tells us they want to live on the beach in an isolated area but also needs specialized dietary options and an English-speaking school for their child, we are going to push back on that. Those three things may not coexist in the same location. Our job is to help you think through the tradeoffs and find a scenario that works for the whole you, not just one part of your wish list.
What Makes Our Approach Different
We do not make money from referral kickbacks. We do not earn a commission when you hire an immigration attorney, buy a house, or book a hotel. We work for you. That distinction matters because it means our recommendations are based entirely on what we believe is right for your situation.
After we work through the questionnaire and identify the regions of Costa Rica that align with your priorities, we connect you with the people and resources you need. That might include realtors, faith leaders, restaurants, or places to stay. We put you in contact with them and let you explore on your own terms.
If you want a guide or a driver, we can arrange that too. But the goal is not to sell you on a particular area. The goal is to help you see Costa Rica as it actually is so you can make an informed decision about whether it is right for you.
And sometimes the answer is that Costa Rica is not the right fit, or not the right fit right now. We would rather tell you that than watch you move here with unrealistic expectations and end up leaving within two years.
What You Do Not Need Before You Move
One of the biggest traps people fall into during the research phase is getting pressured into services they do not need yet. Two of the most common:
Residency. You do not need residency to live in Costa Rica when you first arrive. The overwhelming majority of people who move here start on a tourist visa and figure out residency later, if they pursue it at all. Do not let an attorney or service provider convince you otherwise before you have even decided where you want to live.
Buying a house. Do not buy property before you plan your life. Figure out what you want, where you want to be, and what daily life looks like in that area before you make a financial commitment. Renting first is almost always the smarter path.
Be Intentional About Your Research
Regardless of which approach you choose, the single most important thing you can do is be intentional. Think about what you want from your life in Costa Rica before you come down to look. The more clarity you have about your priorities, the more productive your scouting trip will be.
Do not let someone else define what Costa Rica should look like for you. The best grocery store in Costa Rica is a matter of personal preference. The “right” neighborhood depends entirely on your lifestyle, your budget, and your values. The person on a bus tour or in a Facebook group is sharing their truth, not yours.
Come with a plan. Ask hard questions. And if something feels like a sales pitch, trust that instinct.
How to Work with Us
If you want to explore working with Your Pura Vida, book a free consultation at yourpuravida.com/scouting where we will get to know you at a high level, share the questionnaire, and show you which region of Costa Rica aligns with your needs
Even if you do not work with us, we hope this post and our other resources help you approach your research with intention. There is no single right answer. One person’s perfect community is another person’s worst nightmare. The key is figuring out what is right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to research moving to Costa Rica?
The best approach depends on your personality and comfort level. We recommend starting with a deep personal assessment of your priorities — healthcare needs, budget, climate preferences, proximity to schools or stores — and then planning a scouting trip built around those specific needs rather than following a generic tour or seminar.
Are Costa Rica relocation seminars worth it?
Seminars can provide a broad overview of topics like immigration, real estate, and daily life. However, they tend to be one-size-fits-all experiences. You sit in a ballroom with dozens of other people and follow a predetermined itinerary. If you prefer a more personalized approach, a relocation consultant or self-guided scouting trip may be a better fit.
Do I need a residency attorney before moving to Costa Rica?
In most cases, no. The vast majority of people who move to Costa Rica do not need residency when they first arrive. You can live in Costa Rica on a tourist visa while you determine whether the country is the right long-term fit. Do not let anyone pressure you into paying for residency services before you are ready.
How does a relocation consultant differ from a tour company?
A tour company typically follows a fixed itinerary and earns revenue from partnerships with hotels, restaurants, and service providers along the route. A relocation consultant works with you one-on-one to understand your specific needs, priorities, and lifestyle goals, then helps you build a personalized plan for exploring Costa Rica.