www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I have heard that the town of Gulfito is duty free. I need to buy some appliances that would cost around $1000.00 in San Jose. Does anybody have any experience with buying things in Gulfito? If so, are the savings that dramatic that I would save a lot by taking the time to go down there to by my appliances?
LVSteve

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Just an old horney, fat gambler.

LVS,

Ran across some info on the Costa Rica Bulletin Board: http://discoverypress.com/wwwboard/messages/19015.html Read the follow up link also. This site sometimes has some valuable info.

Pax,
Sluthog

Thanks, Sluthog, it looks like it might be worth it.
LVSteve

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Just an old horney, fat gambler.

A tica recently told me that it is duty free for residents only...and a limit of $350 per trip. Of course...this needs to be verified.

LV

Yes, Golfito Duty Free is for residents and the max you can buy is $500 per person. It is worth it. the best thing to do is to go with the small tour campanies since it is like 15k colones and the help you with everything. On top of that if someone has $$$ left on the card they can buy thing for you( in case you need it)

PM if you need further info

Mente

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Tico and Panama, let me know if you need any help down here.
Panamaexplorers.com

The trip itself can be a bit of an ordeal. You either fly, Sansa has several flights into Golfito a day, or you have to take the "Hill of Death" as one of the local Ticos called it. I guess if you are picking things up the flight is out, since they have weight restrictions on those small planes. I drove from Golfito to San Jose once, and it wasn't the easiest trek. About 5-7 hours, going into the mountains, then down, on windy 2 lane roads. Not fun. I was told there is a coastal road, but it floods out. Anyway something to think about.

I bought a VCR in Golfito at the duty free store a few years back. It was a good deal by CR standards, but way more than what Fry's would have charged here in CA. At that time it was NOT limited to residents, anyone could buy there.

I drove down there from SJ with a chica and made a nice two day trip out of it.

Paso Canoas on the border with Panama is also a very interesting town. I crossed into Panama illegally for a while then came back across the border without detection (just for the hell of it). On the way back my VW bus was stopped and searched by a joint DEA/CR drug team. I was really surprised to see a big white american van with DEA written on the doors and about 20 guys with submachine guns.

ElGamin