Vehicle Taxes in Costa Rica: The Marchamo, DEKRA and Import Duties
What the marchamo actually pays for, the Digital Marchamo arriving November 2026, DEKRA inspection dates by plate number, and the 52–79% vehicle import tax tiers.
More Costa Rica Guides
More reading from CRIE about Costa Rica and life abroad. For a focused starting point, explore our residency requirements and essential guides.
Start here: Residency requirements · Frequently asked questions · Ask CRIE
Is Starlink Available in Costa Rica? Availability, Cost and Whether You Need It
Starlink has been licensed in Costa Rica since December 2023 and has 33,000+ subscribers. What it costs, how it performs, and why most people should take fibre instead.
Duty-Free Shopping in Golfito: Registration, Allowance and Planning
The Depósito Libre de Golfito explained — the real saving, the annual limit, the category quotas, and the 24-hour rule that was abolished in 2021.
Downtown Playas del Coco: Visiting and Living in the Beach Town
Playas del Coco is 30 minutes from Liberia airport and the most convenient beach town in Guanacaste — with a mediocre beach. The real picture, downsides included.
Costa Rica Cultural Etiquette: Essential Tips and Customs
How Costa Ricans actually expect you to behave — usted versus tú, hora tica, quedar bien and the soft no, tipping, dress, and the mistakes foreigners make most.
How to Survive a Rip Current in Costa Rica
Rip currents are the biggest killer of visitors to Costa Rica. Why the calm patch is the dangerous one, why “swim parallel” is outdated, and what actually works.
The Sonesta Project in Jacó: History and Property Questions
The Sonesta Jacó tower has stood abandoned for 16 years and roughly 155 buyers lost about $16 million. What happened, and what it teaches about buying pre-construction.
Celebrities Who Have Lived or Worked in Costa Rica: Documented Connections
Which famous people genuinely have homes in Costa Rica, and which are internet myth. Documented cases separated from the rumours that real-estate blogs recycle.
What Are the Jails Like in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica’s prisons are 46% over capacity and pretrial detention has doubled since 2022. The real numbers, conditions, and what foreign nationals should know.
CBD and Cannabis Regulations in Costa Rica: What Is Actually Legal
What Costa Rican law really says about CBD and cannabis — the 1% THC hemp line, medical prescriptions since June 2025, and why the “personal use” gram figures online are fiction.