In the province of Guanacaste, the expatriate and seasonal population is growing faster than anywhere else in Costa Rica. Thousands of foreigners from the United States, Canada, Europe, and other regions of the world have chosen Guanacaste as their home away from home, and they are increasingly turning to social media to share their experiences and stay up-to-date on matters pertaining to their new lives.

On Facebook, the Expats in Guanacaste group is quickly gaining attention among foreign residents in that region. This is a place where members can ask questions about the intricacies of living in Guanacaste and get answers from others who are willing to share their expertise. Although questions about how things work in the Gold Coast of Costa Rica are predominant in this group, many of the status updates in this Facebook group deal with current news, recipes, travel stories, business referrals, and more.

Although English is the most common language used by the Expats in Guanacaste Facebook group, many members are bilingual. A recent status update, for example, involved a veterinarian emergency:

Does anyone know a bird specialist/veterinarian who can treat an osprey with a wing injury? If so, please contact…

¿Alguien conoce un especialista de aves/veterinario que puede tratar un águila pescadora, con una lesión o herida en el ala? Si conoces a alguien, por favor póngase en contacto con…

On the instance above, unfortunately, the bird perished from its injuries.

Another recent exchange had to do with the dreaded subject of taxation beyond borders. A resident of California was faced with the unfortunate realization that long arms of the Golden State’s Franchise Tax Board and the United States Internal Revenue Service extend all the way to Guanacaste. This, of course, is a complex matter that cannot be solved on a Facebook group, but the member in question found out that she is not alone in this predicament.