Comments on: Trip To San Jose, Costa Rica

By: Don Ray

Don Ray — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:55:34 +0000

Hi Randy. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. There are trade offs to living anyplace. Some people, including me prefer the heat of David to the cold dampness that is year round in Boquete. I enjoy my mornings, evenings and nights better than I did when I lived in Boquete.

By: randy

randy — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:22:45 +0000

i just got back to san joaquin, cr (where i live) from david yesterday after spending 5 days there. very hot this time of year in david. sun is intense most of day. cooler up in mountains at boquette and much prettier.

By: Chiriquí Chatter » Blog Archive » Pura Vida – Part 2

Chiriquí Chatter » Blog Archive » Pura Vida – Part 2 — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 12:40:20 +0000

[...] again. I am not going to cover much about the actual bus trip, because it pretty well resembles a previous post I did going to San Jose. I will talk about some of the [...]

By: Don Ray

Don Ray — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:31:51 +0000

Hi John. Thanks for taking the time to drop by Chiriqui Chatter and for leaving a comment.

By: John

John — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:06:01 +0000

I was interested in getting some info on how to get from San Jose, Costa Rica to David, Panama and ran across your this site. I enjoyed the photos and I truly appreciate some of the tips you’ve given. I’m sure some things have changed from what they were 2 years ago. I have just recently made a very short trip to David (I flew into Tocumen International Airport and then caught an early afternoon bus from the Albrook Bus Terminal to David and made the reverse trip a week later.) I’m now considering making another trip to David but this time from the opposite direction.

By: Don Ray

Don Ray — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 17:11:36 +0000

There is no conversion for money between the US and Panama. 1 US dollar = 1 Panamanian Balboa. You can use all US currency in Panama without worry.

Costa Rica has Colones and at the present 556Colones = 1 Dollar. http://indicadoreseconomicos.bccr.fi.cr/indicadoreseconomicos/Cuadros/frmVerCatCuadro.aspx?idioma=1&CodCuadro=%20435

Currently the exchange rate for dollars to colones is going the wrong way for the dollar. It seems like each day you get less for a dollar in CR.

Just about everything in CR is more expensive. Many Costa Ricans come to Panama to buy things. Gas costs more in CR. A car costs a fortune in CR. Many US retires are leaving CR and moving to Panama. That is my 2 cents.

By: Charles Johnson

Charles Johnson — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 16:21:07 +0000

Thank You Don and Michael, but I thought that American and Panama currency was alwayz equal? What parts of Panama are you talking about because I may be wrong. So wouldn’t you think it would be more expensive to stay in Panama than Costa Rica? Once again thank you for the very valuable information!

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 03:18:33 +0000

In addition to the Yahoo groups, you might do some google searches for Costa Rica blogs. Hopefully, you can find a blog as helpful as Don’s blog is for those moving to and living in Chiriqui.

By: Don Ray

Don Ray — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 22:08:18 +0000

Hi Charles. I can’t speak for what it will cost to live in Costa Rica and I don’t know what CR’s rules are for immegration. You should check the CR governmental sites to get that information. I know it is a lot more expensive to live in CR than Panama.

Anytime I quote a price it will be in US dollars. I am sure there are a lot of Yahoo groups dedicated to Costa Rica. You may want to check them out as well.

By: Charles Johnson

Charles Johnson — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 21:51:40 +0000

Hello Don,
For the little time being I am living in Detroit, Michigan. Unfortunately not too long ago my mother passed and now I must move to San Jose,Costa Rica with my father. Could you please give me some valuable information on this very difficult transition for me. I wanted to know are there school’s there where you can learn to speak spanish? Plus, I dont have very much money as well, only about $15,000.00 is in my bank account and i wanted to know is that enough for me there? I see in one of your pictures you showed a platter of food and said that that and another dish costed less then $5. Is that $5 in American money or the Colones? I hope I will be alright in this transition but I am asking for anything you can give me. Do they have clubs, cars, and malls like they have here in America? Please Help!