QUESTION:
I am interested in doing some extended cruising in Costa Rica. Do you have any souces of information as they seem to be rather limited. Also I understand that the only way to stay beyond 3 months is to either contract with Los Sensos Marina or pay the tax of over 50% on your boat and have the flag changed to Costa Rica'n--any comments or
knowledge? Thanks Charles & Elaine Sanger s/v Ancient Path IP38

ANSWER:
I just checked Noonsite's entry for Costa Rica
and it is as we found it in 1991 - 3 months visa, with a 3-month extension granted, which is what we did. But after that, one must leave Costa Rica for 9 months.

There's not a lot of information, I know, and there aren't a lot of cruisers who spend significant time in Central/South America, which, IMO, is a shame.

Considering the cruising options on the Pacific coast of Central and South America, I think you might find that you could make a nice circle from Mexico down to and through Costa Rica, then down to Panama, and on to Ecuador, and back again. We met a fellow who did just that for several years. I would have liked to do that again.

Do you belong to the Seven Seas Cruising Association? Their Commodore's Bulletins contain lots of information from cruisers about cruising destinations and other concerns. If you go to their
bookstore, you can buy a CD of the past 8 years' bulletins, that is indexed and searchable. Store address: http://www.ssca.org/viewstore/viewpublications.htm

Also, see entry at: http://www.knottydog.com/ (COVE HOPPING SOUTH to Panama has a section on Costa Rica.
CHARLIES CHARTS has a booklet on Costa Rica
PORTS Florida to California via Panama canal by JOHN RAIN also has some info.

Jeanne