One day...my wife got this crazy idea. She said, let's move to Costa Rica.
I said, "Do What?"
I'm Allen Richard, and that was November of 2013. Now we're building an Off Grid Homestead...this channel is about YOU. Answering your questions and giving you the TRUTH about Living in Costa Rica as unbiasedly as possible as we share our perspectives.
In our quest to find the best place to live... we've moved 25 different times, rented and/or lived in 23 different houses (some houses twice), and traveled to visit locations all over Costa Rica.
If you're considering visiting, moving to Costa Rica or want to learn about the Off Grid Lifestyle... these videos can help!
I try to post videos weekly, and every Sunday, we have a "LIVE" broadcast, and you can ask questions and get answers. All you need to do is comment, and we'll do our best to answer every question as quickly as possible.
Schedule a Free 20 min Consultation. createdforsuccess.com/endorses/phone-consult
Hi Allen, I just found your channel and am moving down there this fall. I am hoping you can recommend a contractor who is talented and honourable to build a similar steel framed house for me.
I lived in Mexico for 8 years but had to come back 4 years ago. This is not America anymore, this is Dystopia with all the conveniences. I am waiting for the chance to get out again!
First time viewing your podcast. Enjoyed all the information and Wisdom you shared. I will definitely be visiting Cost Rica in the near future. I reside in USA/Maryland.
People Return to your country you will feel better, your country is so vast that you will surely find a peaceful place to live and you will have the advantage of the facilities that the United States offers.
Love the Podcast! I missed this week, because we had our Dachshund in a Wiener dog race today. On the chemical pesticides, some all natural pesticides are actually worse for you than the chemical ones.
@@eveliinatistelgren172keep in mind also, unless you live in the jungle like me….you will probably never encounter a big cat except those you see crossing the road as you drive safely pass. You are very safe from the big cats in CR.
I’ve started my research on CR , I’m in the US , lived in 3 different states 3 different climates , im looking nature and tranquil lifestyle , I’ve been researching all different areas , I’m looking for close to beach , nearby shops (necessities gas, supermarket , doctor, cafes & boutiques ) I live in small slow paced town now where I have to travel at least 30 minutes for most things, I have necessities (doctor , gas, food , post office in my town) mall is an hour from me now (metro area) … I lived city life (NYC & rural) would like to stay rural but not hours from metro any areas you can suggest
great question Nicole. Almost anywhere in San Isidro Del General will put you about 1 hour from the beach but near the 2nd largest city outside the Metropolitan area. Join us on today's Live Chat & Q&A Session. YOu can ask more questions and get more details on places to live. We'll be answering questions from everyone. Hope to see you there. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-I7i79nBLFYM.html
Hi why are some people saying Costa Rica doesn't have Comceal Carry? I just saw a video on my social media, you can find it by the Google search words " man sh*t in costa rica over water dispute" and it's basically a guy trying to do things the american way. It seems like he owned that thang legally, what do you think?
I couldn't find the video...but regardless...you can buy a weapon in CR legally, but you have to be a resident, go through lots of classes and background checks, IF I am correct on this issue. YEARS AGO...YOU DIDN'T have to be a resident. As for conceal and carry, I don't know about that, but highly doubt you can conceal and carry in Costa rica. Never heard about that. I know it is hard to legally get a gun in CR.
I tell you what... Your voice is so soothing and relaxing. Your message about CR is always exciting to hear. So glad we get the good, the bad and the ugly!
I don't know how many would agree with you on the soothing, and relaxing voice...I'm sure you are just having a bit of fun...but nearly everyone except the CON MEN will agree that people love "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly!" But I do appreciate your Kind Words!
@@OffTheGridHomesteadCostaRica Your personality is a gaslighter magnet. You speech pattern and syntax, whether joking, serious, or matter of fact, is effortless and exudes confidence, strength, and humility. You are a tuff nut to crack for any narcissist. Never change, you are blessed.
Hi i saw someone living in CR filming out of their window showing that they had a security guard surrounding the compound day n night. You said you "live in the jungle" do you just get a big dog? Has that been enough? Someone else said their dog was poisoned for this reason. Do you plan on getting animals (like chicken) how do you protect those?
Hi, my husband needs TRT, is this allowed there? It is prescribed by a doctor but I heard some people needed to bring medication from other countries and then found out that they couldn't. And because the roads are rough have you ever tried airless tires?
Yes...you can easily get TRT here. There are several clinics here, but you do have to have a prescription...which is easy to get from one of the clinics.
@@OffTheGridHomesteadCostaRica Yea, it's like a honeycomb or very hard sponge structure for a tire, so it's impossible for them to go flat. Great for bicycles, I don't know if you're into that
I have some logistics to work out. I'm so tired of the drama here where I currently live. I'm excited to explore the 3 areas I have interest in. I will know it when I feel it. I have absolute faith God will lead me where He wants me.
I still believe that the USA is the best in the world ,, I'm one to live in both countries i was born in Costa Rica 🇨🇷 and left when i was 4 yrs old, been in the armed forces for 18yrs now a disabled veteran, yes Costa Rica is not for everyone and i agree whole heartedly about renting first and yes Costa Ricans will ripp you off any chance they can in anything that involves money (anything you buy), imo Costa Rica crime is extremely high now with no laws really to protect you accurately, yes its extremely beautiful and some people are friendly but not all anymore,, and yes depending on where you live depends on the weather the higher up the cooler and in the anything in lower parts are hot,,if you are one that are not living like the locals like what pertains to everyday life yes its nice to hang out in your place and just pital around with stuff to just keep you busy but its not the same for locals they are in there own rat race ,crime has skyrocketed everywhere in the country,, its alot different for those that can come and go but no so for locals if and when the crap hits the fan we can just leave so there's that security ( if you know what i mean?) Costa Rica is still a underdeveloped country as much as they try to bring it up to speed , to many old and outdated laws and with much corruption its impossible,, now abt the food I've been to many places in the world and Costa Rica has to be the most unfavorable food there is,, been that i have some culinary experience i usually spice things up,, I travel alot to Louisiana and Texas i live in the panhandle of Florida and i have visited Bucee's( a gasoline mall)and Mambos is a great place you seafood go there everytime but thats because I'm familiar with the place ,, i love cilantro but not to over power the food so i get it on the side,, now for cajun food i also love it but not fan of to spicey either now i do go to all kinds of boils too,, Love gumbo but not a fan of okra in it not for me , but i do eat pickled okra ,, I love Mexican food and its one of the most flavorful food in the world I'm part owner of a Mexican restaurant in Lake Charles ,La. When it comes down to roads definitely Costa Rica is way behind on that (no lights,signs,markings on the roads, no one has common courtesy to follow basic driving laws,etc..) now another thing is the quality of household stuff definitely not that great and expensive for crap i usually run to the border to Panama where you can find prices and qualities similar to the USA but not everyone can just go and do that(locals)so locals pay the price...well i think thats my 2 cents of what my experience has been..glad you guys are back in Costa Rica and look forward to your next post,, btw do you have AdHd?😅
Hey....thanks for that awesome detailed comment. How about we do a video together? I would love for people to hear all this from the mouth of a Tico! Some people think I am being rude, or mean, but I am only trying to share my perspective and experience. I'd like to hear back from you. Send me an email here: Contact Us - Subscribe to our Newsletter - Get Updates for Next LIVE Broadcast (we NEVER Spam YOU) createdforsuccess.com/endorses/contact after you get an email from me by subscribing...you can reply and contact me personally.
@@gerohansalas9046 `hey buddy, we don't have to wait until you get here to do a video together. We can arrange to do a video together by meeting on a video call like `i do each Sunday with the `podcast.` if that sounds good...send me an email and let's arrange a time.
I've never seen or eaten any in Costa Rica. But I do want to get some seeds and plant some when I get my garden going, but gotta get in the house first. Lol
If you come across or see any around Puerto Viejo...send me a pic... It is possible...but I don't recall seeing any when I lived on that side for a year, but obviously...I can't be everywhere or see everything. LOL
I endured this for an hour. You are the silliest thing since jumping jacks. Type A personality on steroids. If not for Rebeca I would have turned you off and deleted you twice and run my CCleaner. She is your anchor. Your info may be valuable but hard to take. Not enough sugar to help it go down. Some say it takes all kinds and luckily for some, you are only one. Allen, luv ya man but you rub me the wrong way. Don't hate me for being a sloth. Like you, I am only one also. Have a great day!
Easy is the trap, the American dream is dead and now they want everybody to live in Smart cities with 100% surveillance and obedience to the government. If you don’t comply, that easy will stop. Give me a third world country all day. Pura Vida plus there’s real food here.🥩
Don't know if I could live full time in CR. Our summers up in Canada are usually so nice and so much to see. Since we are starting retirement, we want to travel across Canada in our 5th wheel trailer. Costa Rica is where we will spend our winters, because I can't handle the -30 temps anymore.
Everytime we travel down, we max out our checked bags also. The wife and I have these travel duffle bags with wheels. We usually head down from Canada with 4 times 50 lbs bags.
@@OffTheGridHomesteadCostaRica with our credit card and flight status perks, it is free for us on WestJet. Bringing our Dachshund in the plane is what is expensive.
@@OffTheGridHomesteadCostaRica we get 4 free checked bags between the 2 of us. We have already started to accumulate stuff to bring down with us in October. We also mule stuff down for our neighbors, if we have room.
Hey y’all! Sorry we are missing the live broadcasts. We have family in town for the he next five weeks! We will definitely watch the replays when it’s quieter.
Hi hope there's a live today. I wanna ask - before I forget - I was looking at a map of the largest foreign nationality per country in the americas. El Salvador folks seem to be he biggest group in Costa Rica. And I knew of someone who hired a maid from that country in Costa Rica and not a tica, it seems to me like it happens a lot and I wonder why that is.
Sorry, no LIVE this past Sunday. We did announce last Sunday that we would be traveling and would return this Sunday with another LIVE. AS for your question...EASY answer. A lot of expats (if they know better) hire people from other nearby countries to work for several reasons. #1 Hire a local...often times, they might NOT steal, but they tell people about how much you have and your schedule and then you get robbed. It's an inside job. #2 You are supposed to pay their insurance and if you don't...they get mad at you...report you and you are in a lot of trouble and owe a lot of money. #3 Hire a person from another country, NO PROBLEMS. Because most of the time...they are illegal and just need work. So they will not report you because they are illegal. Most of the time...no inside job...they need work and they don't have family or friends here to tell about your assets.
@@OffTheGridHomesteadCostaRica I thought that too (about theft)! But don't most all South Americans speak Spanish and end up talking to each other? And is there any penalty for hiring illegals?
@@eveliinatistelgren172 I don't know if there is any penalty...but who will know??? I know a lot of people who hire illegals...it's a safe bet, but nothing is for sure.
@@OffTheGridHomesteadCostaRica Here in Europe they'd chop your hands off as much as they can if you do something like that. It seems like LE is so much more relaxed in the Americas, even in the US - from what we see in the media, they always have hispanic staff thats illegal. Forget hot water! They'd be in hot lava for that in the EU
Hey guys! Finally got around to finishing the video! For some reason it showed that I had given it a thumbs down…NOT TRUE. Lol. BIG THUMBS UP!! Enjoy your time in the states! If you ever come through Pensacola give us a shout and we will buy you a meal! Or cook some crackling cornbread😜🤣😜🤣😜
The last time I checked...it wasn't done. The owner is a crook and extremely dishonest...so I am sure that has a LOT to do with it NOT being done. I left because he decided NOT to pay me after I did a lot of work. Owes me over $5k
She started her own Law Firm, click the link below: Contact Cristina - for your Legal needs, i.e. Residency, Real Estate, etc. Her Team can help you with whatever legal needs you have. Go here to download your Free PDF so you can learn how to Contact Cristina! createdforsuccess.com/endorses/atty-cristina
I would really like to meet you guys or yall being that yall are from Louisiana,, i would really like you to email me at wahaca69@yahoo.com so i can run some things by yall that i have experienced and learned from being there for about 8 yrs back and forth i to am prior sevice for 18yrs in an MP Unit ,, i would really like to have some cafecito or something,, let me know,, ill be there soon for a couple of months im in the Orotina area ....
There are so many animal rescue groups in costa rica but to each its own but for me i would would like to form a group or groups to give back to the people,, there are people that need repairs on their homes that cant afford to pay other ticos(plus they rip them off too) to fix things because of maybe not having tools to do the jobs,, etc..
I agree with you 100%...but be careful...many ticos need help, but at the same time will take advantage of your kindness. Just be discerning, but I do believe a lot of people need help and it's an easy way to give back to the community.
I live in Florida and I go to Lake Charles quite often and if you are still there try blue iguana bar and cantina excellent Mexican restaurant,, I'll be in Costa Rica 🇨🇷 in a few months for a couple of months
I have a question, Allen. I live in Vegas. I'm moving to Dominicalito in August. Should I apply for residency now, by contacting the Costa Rican Consulate in Beverly Hills, CA. Or wait until I move to Costa Rica, then apply?
I highly suggest you wait until after you move to Costa Rica. Really no hurry and so many people leave within a year or two of arriving in CR. They find out...CR wasn't like they Thought. However, if you KNOW without a doubt you want to get your residency, then I highly recommend contacting my recommended law firm. Contact Cristina - for your Legal needs, i.e. Residency, Real Estate, etc. Her Team can help you with whatever legal needs you have. Go here to download your Free PDF so you can learn how to Contact Cristina! createdforsuccess.com/endorses/atty-cristina In CR, a lot of people can't wait to rip you off. Be VERY CAREFUL of CRIE, owned by Glenn Teller and his Wife Johanna, found at crie.cr/. I paid them over $4,000 and 8 years later...still no residency. He and his wife kept putting off and lying to us for years. They look like a great business because of their huge website...but I've had a lot of my subscribers share horror stories about the service they got from them.
@@MichaelMiller-fq9xg My pleasure...one of the biggest reasons I started this channel was in hopes I could help other people avoid dishonest businesses and and avoid dishonest people. We lost Thouands upon thousands of dollars because we didn't know any better. We trusted people that we should not have trusted.
One time I got stopped in the bus going from San Jose to Nandayure bus by Border Coston police, looking for passports and checking people, I gave him my passport, he just looked at it for 5, seconds , and gave it back to me, and one day at the Alajuela airport going to Fort Lauderdale South Florida airport, C,R, Coston police told me you stayed 138,days is only 90,days , I told him oh I just fell in ❤love with this ❤️ COUNTRY, and the Liga soccer team, i had a liga soccer T-shirt on, and he told me , have a nice flight Liga Brother , and told him PURA VIDA, and Viva la LIGA 😊
Hey on this video on 16,00,mi,time , I said that I was getting a C,R, drivers license, and you said oh his getting his Resident papers, no I don't need it and don't want it all I need is 180,days and and fly back to fort Lauderdale South Florida airport, from Alajuela airport at 12:30 am, flight, and fly back from Fort Lauderdale South Florida airport at 11:30,am fight back to C,R, Alajuela airport with my LIGA TSHIRT on to get a free fast out , and get 180,days😊more, all less then 24,hrs with Spirit Air for less the $350,or less sometimes, sometime we stay in south Florida for 3 months to see my sons grandkids and our Doctors ,so I don't need it i don't want the Government to know where I am spying on me , it is only 2,1/2,hrs flight going and coming,
good....sorry, I misunderstood. I wish there was a way to get a CR driver's license without getting residency....but no way. But having a DL from CR makes life a lot easier.
@@eduardodiaz5877 saying that most ticos are short is NOT a negative thing. You have to understand the difference between a FACT and an opinion. It is very true...anyone goes to Costa Rica and you can easily see that most Ticos are short. That's a fact, so it is helpful to point that out, because when people are buying clothes here....if you are taller than most ticos...then you will have a hard time finding clothes. I try hard NOT to talk bad about ticos. I like ticos and I have a LOT of great Tico friends...but I do share the truth about living in Costa Rica. Thanks for your input.
@@OffTheGridHomesteadCostaRica but is aways have to say something about it, just say is hard to find it , in San Jose Downtown you can find anything you want, I can't find sweet potatoes the orange red kind inside, is hard to find only in framers marketplace, but I don't go saying things , one day you will understand it, but I still love you brother, your friend got pissed because I told him that you don't do that a friend is a friend, like gum in a shoe is hard to take of,👍😄, , and your x amigo he told to get oof his Y,T, what im saying Don't be like Frank from MASH that 70,s tv show on CBS,
@@OffTheGridHomesteadCostaRica what I'm trying to say is that you can say they don't have big clothes are you 6,1,6,4 or 6,5, or are you 5,10, or 5,9, like me , my wife tico son is 6,3, he bring his clothes from N,y, city where he stays works when he visit us , can you just say bring your clothes if your over 6,ft tall, not to meny stores for big mens ,that's is what I'm saying , I work with People for over 46+,yrs, talking to them moving them all over the World ,
Awesome...make sure to do your research. CR is great...but a LOT of people come and and then leave after a couple years when they realize it is NOT what they thought. Feel free to schedule a phone consult if you like to get some of your most important questions answered or address any concerns you might have. createdforsuccess.com/endorses/phone-consult
I have been doing my research since March 2020. I have watched your videos. Michael Allen's videos. And Sarah Elena's videos. I feel that I am prepared for another country, another culture, and another language. I'm going for 3 months during rain season to see if Costa Rica is what I'm looking for in my retirement
When I'm in Nandayure Carmona Guanacaste Costa Rica, I use my son and daughter address, is on my Florida Driver's license, all my mails go to that address in south Florida , never had a problem
Hey remember I told you I was getting ready for a strong HERICANE, well it may go a little north up when it enters the golf of Mexico, closed 100,+ , miles to Texas and Louisiana to 40%, chance, that it will, I got ready 3,days ago, in Key West Florida, in now cat,5, a bad one , HERICANES are like Democrats you can't trust then, please be safe, Louisiana getting ready to put HERICANES flags soon
@@OffTheGridHomesteadCostaRica hey brother, we got Lucky in Key West Florida, with the HERICANE, all we got was heavy Rian, remember i told you I was coming to close to you, 3,days ago, I hope you safe , South Louisiana water Level with bad storms, be careful, our Blessings to all South of the States,
@@eduardodiaz5877 Yep....the hurricane almost kept us from leaving on Sunday. It put is leaving late...but we were able to finally leave and make it. home.
@@OffTheGridHomesteadCostaRica hey PURA VIDA AMIGO, remember i told you last time that a bad HERICANE was coming by you that you were going to get about 40%,of it , this is why I told someone who told me about Key West Florida, I told him the Good the Bad and the Ugly, the good Key West is Beautiful, the bad one way in one out , and the Ugly is that you can lose everything destroys everything, that's telling The TRUTH about Key West South Florida by
