Costa Rica Academy Awards

Well, the votes have been cast and counted…and now the results are in!  No, not for this year’s Academy Awards, but rather for the annual list of top retirement havens compiled each year by International Living.  As usual, Costa Rica has found itself near the top of the list.

Coming in at #5, Costa Rica was lauded in the article as being politically stable, conveniently close to the US, and as having high-quality, affordable health care.  The article cites expats who are enrolled in Costa Rica’s “Caja” or universal healthcare system, who give high marks to local doctors and medical facilities.

And of course Costa Rica’s famously large and welcoming expat community also got International Living’s stamp of approval.  Many expats here list the sense of community, and the huge number of groups and activities geared towards foreigners, as motivation for choosing Costa Rica for retirement.  There are groups for bird-watching, politics, wine-tasting, newcomers, animal welfare enthusiasts, community service, expats under 30, creative writing, and many, many more.   With so many diverse groups to join, it’s easy for newcomers to make new friends and connections.

For the full list of International Living’s choices for retirement havens, read the entire article