Terms of Service
These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of costaricadecoded.com (the "Site"), the purchase and use of Costa Rica Decoded digital products, subscription to free resources and email communications, and the booking and use of advisory services.
The Site and Costa Rica Decoded are operated by Álvaro Lachner ("Costa Rica Decoded," "we," "us," or "our").
By accessing the Site, purchasing a digital product, requesting a free resource, or booking an advisory session, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree with these Terms, please do not use the Site or purchase our products or services.
1. Who We Are
Costa Rica Decoded is an independent educational content, digital product and advisory brand operated by Álvaro Lachner and based in Costa Rica.
Costa Rica Decoded provides educational information, digital guides and practical advisory services related to moving to, living in, investing in, developing real estate and doing business in Costa Rica.
Investment and development advisory services may also be provided under LINEUP, Álvaro Lachner's Costa Rica development advisory practice.
Neither Costa Rica Decoded nor LINEUP is a law firm, immigration agency, accounting firm, financial institution, securities or investment advisory firm, architectural or engineering firm, general contractor, or real estate brokerage.
When specialized professional services are required, clients should engage appropriately licensed professionals directly.
2. Use of the Site and Content
The Site is intended to provide general educational information about Costa Rica and access to Costa Rica Decoded products and services.
You agree to use the Site only for lawful purposes and may not attempt to interfere with its operation, gain unauthorized access to its systems, scrape or reproduce substantial portions of its content, or use its materials in a manner that infringes our intellectual property rights.
Information published on the Site may be updated, corrected, expanded or removed at any time without notice.
3. Digital Products
Costa Rica Decoded sells downloadable digital products, including PDF guides covering topics such as relocation, residency, where to live, real estate, business and related subjects in Costa Rica.
Guides may be purchased individually or as part of a bundle.
Digital product purchases are processed and delivered through Blink, which acts as the Merchant of Record for those transactions. Blink processes payments and manages applicable transaction-related tax obligations in accordance with its own terms and policies.
Costa Rica Decoded DOES NOT use Blink to sell or fulfill its advisory or consulting services.
Digital products are licensed to you for PERSONAL USE ONLY. Purchasing a guide does not transfer ownership of the intellectual property contained in the guide.
You may not:
Resell or redistribute a guide;
Share purchased files publicly or with third parties;
Upload guides to file-sharing services, websites, databases or artificial intelligence training datasets;
Reproduce substantial portions of a guide for commercial purposes;
Modify and resell our content as your own; or
Use Costa Rica Decoded materials to create a competing commercial product.
4. Free Resources and Email Communications
Costa Rica Decoded may provide free resources, including the Free Relocation Checklist, in exchange for an email address.
By requesting a free resource, you authorize us to send communications necessary to deliver that resource.
Where you separately subscribe or consent to receive Costa Rica Decoded emails, you may also receive educational content, practical updates, product information, guide announcements and other relevant communications.
You may unsubscribe from marketing communications at any time using the unsubscribe link included in our emails.
Transactional communications necessary to deliver a product, manage an advisory booking, provide a requested resource or respond to an inquiry may still be sent when necessary.
Our collection and use of personal information is governed by our Privacy Policy.
5. Advisory Services
Costa Rica Decoded currently offers private advisory engagements including:
Costa Rica Relocation Strategy Session
A $500 advisory package consisting of two private 60-minute online sessions focused on helping individuals and families develop a more informed and personalized strategy for relocating to Costa Rica.
Costa Rica Investment & Development Strategy Session
A $1,000 advisory package consisting of two private 60-minute online sessions for foreign investors, developers and entrepreneurs evaluating real estate, development or business opportunities in Costa Rica.Investment and development advisory may be provided through LINEUP.These advisory services are booked and paid for separately from Costa Rica Decoded's digital products through the scheduling and payment services presented during the booking process.
Advisory services are not sold through Blink.
The scope of an advisory engagement may include discussion of relocation strategy, market conditions, locations, properties, business or development concepts, feasibility considerations, project strategy, local processes, professional-team selection and other practical considerations relevant to the client's objectives.The advisory relationship does not include legal representation, tax preparation, immigration representation, regulated financial advice, securities advice, architectural or engineering services, brokerage representation, construction services or any other activity requiring a professional license unless separately provided by an appropriately licensed third party.
6. Refund, Cancellation & Rescheduling Policy
The following policy applies unless a different requirement is imposed by applicable law.
6.1 Digital Products
Because Costa Rica Decoded guides are digital products delivered electronically and access is generally provided immediately after purchase, we generally do not provide voluntary refunds once access to a digital product has been delivered.
Refunds may nevertheless be provided when appropriate, including situations involving:
Duplicate charges;
Technical problems that prevent delivery of the purchased product and cannot reasonably be corrected;
A product materially different from the product described at the time of purchase;
A refund authorized or required by Blink; or
Circumstances in which applicable consumer protection law requires a refund or right of withdrawal.
Approved refunds for digital products will be processed through Blink and are also subject to Blink's applicable terms, procedures and policies.
Nothing in these Terms is intended to waive any consumer right that cannot legally be waived.
6.2 Advisory Services
Purchasing an advisory package reserves professional time and availability specifically for the client.The following cancellation and rescheduling rules therefore apply to the Costa Rica Relocation Strategy Session and Costa Rica Investment & Development Strategy Session.
6.3 Cancellation Before Session 1
You may cancel your advisory package and request a refund if written notice is provided at least 48 hours before the scheduled start of Session 1.
Cancellations received less than 48 hours before Session 1 are non-refundable, except where otherwise required by applicable law or agreed to by Costa Rica Decoded in exceptional circumstances.
6.4 Rescheduling
Each individual session may be rescheduled once without additional charge when at least 48 hours' notice is provided.
Rescheduled appointments are subject to availability.
Requests to reschedule less than 48 hours before the scheduled appointment may be treated as a late cancellation and the affected session may be considered used.
Additional rescheduling requests may be accepted at our discretion.
6.5 No-Shows and Late Arrivals
Failure to attend a scheduled advisory session without providing the required notice will be considered a no-show, and the session will be considered used.
Late arrival does not extend the scheduled end time of the session.
If circumstances outside the client's reasonable control prevent attendance, Costa Rica Decoded may allow rescheduling at its discretion.
6.6 Refunds After Session 1
Once Session 1 has taken place, the advisory package is considered to have commenced and is non-refundable, including where the client subsequently decides not to schedule or attend Session 2, except where otherwise required by applicable law.
The package fee covers the overall advisory engagement and reservation of professional availability, rather than two independently purchased consultations.
6.7 Scheduling Session 2
Session 2 does not need to take place immediately after Session 1.
Clients may schedule Session 2 using the scheduling instructions provided after purchase or following Session 1.
Unless otherwise agreed in writing, Session 2 must be scheduled and completed within 90 days of Session 1.
An unused Session 2 expires after this period and does not create an entitlement to a full or partial refund.
6.8 Cancellation by Costa Rica Decoded
If Costa Rica Decoded must cancel or reschedule a session, we will make reasonable efforts to provide an alternative appointment.
If we are unable to provide the remaining advisory service within a reasonable period, the client may elect to receive a refund for any portion of the engagement that has not been provided.
7. Payments
Prices are displayed before purchase or booking and may be changed for future purchases at any time.
A price change does not affect a digital product already purchased or an advisory package already paid for.
Digital product payments are processed through Blink.
Advisory service payments are processed separately through the payment provider made available during booking.
Costa Rica Decoded does not directly store complete credit or debit card information submitted through third-party payment processors.
You are responsible for providing accurate billing and contact information.
8. No Professional Advice
Content provided through the Site, videos, emails, guides, checklists and advisory sessions is intended to provide educational information, practical guidance and strategic perspective.
It does not constitute legal, immigration, accounting, tax, regulated financial, securities, architectural, engineering or other licensed professional advice.Information about Costa Rica—including laws, regulations, government procedures, taxes, costs, market conditions, residency requirements, development rules, permitting requirements and other matters—can change.
You are responsible for independently verifying information relevant to any important decision with the appropriate government authority or qualified professional.Where necessary, Costa Rica Decoded or LINEUP may recommend or introduce independent lawyers, accountants, architects, engineers, brokers, contractors, consultants or other professionals. Such professionals are independent third parties and are responsible for their own advice and services.See our Disclaimer for additional information.
9. Advisory Decisions and Third-Party Professionals
Our advisory role is intended to help clients better understand opportunities, risks, questions and potential next steps.
The final decision to purchase property, invest capital, establish a business, relocate, hire a professional, enter into a contract or proceed with a development project remains entirely with the client.
Costa Rica Decoded and LINEUP do not guarantee that a property, investment, development, business opportunity, relocation plan, residency application or other project will achieve any particular outcome.
We may assist clients in identifying, evaluating or coordinating with third-party professionals, but unless expressly agreed otherwise in writing:
We do not guarantee the work of third-party providers;
We are not responsible for their professional advice, acts, omissions, fees or performance;
An introduction does not constitute an endorsement or warranty; and
Any engagement between the client and a third-party professional is a separate relationship between those parties.
10. Accuracy and Changes in Information
Costa Rica Decoded makes reasonable efforts to provide useful and accurate information.
However, information relating to Costa Rica can change quickly, including government procedures, laws, regulations, pricing, taxes, availability, market conditions, residency requirements, healthcare costs, property conditions, development requirements and business practices.
We do not warrant that every piece of information on the Site or in a guide will remain complete, current or error-free after publication.
Dates or edition years appearing on a guide indicate the period for which the guide was prepared or updated; they do not guarantee that every external rule, fee or third-party requirement will remain unchanged throughout that period.
11. Intellectual Property
Unless otherwise stated, all original content created for Costa Rica Decoded—including written material, guides, checklists, graphics, design elements, photographs, videos, branding, logos and other original materials—is owned by or licensed to Álvaro Lachner / Costa Rica Decoded and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws.
The Costa Rica Decoded name, brand identity and original materials may not be reproduced or used commercially without permission.
Purchasing a guide grants you a limited, personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and use that guide for your own personal planning or internal business evaluation.
No ownership rights are transferred to you.
12. Third-Party Websites and Services
The Site may contain links to third-party websites, service providers, booking systems, payment processors, government agencies, businesses or other external resources.
We do not control those websites or services and are not responsible for their availability, accuracy, policies, security, content or performance.
Some links may be affiliate or commercial links. Where legally required, relevant affiliate relationships or sponsored content will be disclosed.
Your use of a third-party service is subject to that provider's own terms and privacy policies.
13. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Costa Rica Decoded, LINEUP and Álvaro Lachner will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential or punitive damages resulting from or connected with:
Use of or reliance on the Site;
Information contained in our guides or free resources;
Advisory services;
Decisions made based on information or guidance provided;
Property, investment, development, business or relocation decisions;
Actions or omissions of third-party professionals or service providers;Loss of profits, opportunities, data or anticipated savings; or
Events outside our reasonable control.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, our total aggregate liability arising from a specific paid product or advisory engagement will not exceed the amount you paid for that specific product or engagement giving rise to the claim.
Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability where doing so would be prohibited by applicable law.
14. No Guarantee of Results
Costa Rica Decoded provides information and advisory services intended to improve a client's understanding and decision-making process.
We do not guarantee any particular result from using a guide, implementing a recommendation or participating in an advisory session.
Past experience, market observations, examples, projections or opinions should not be interpreted as promises of future results.
Investments, real estate developments, businesses and relocation decisions inherently involve risk, and clients remain responsible for determining whether a particular decision is appropriate for their circumstances.
15. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
These Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of Costa Rica, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.
To the extent permitted by applicable law, disputes arising from these Terms, the Site, our digital products or our advisory services will be subject to the competent courts of Costa Rica.
Nothing in this section is intended to deprive a consumer of mandatory protections or rights available under applicable consumer protection law that cannot legally be waived or restricted by contract.
16. Changes to These Terms
We may modify these Terms from time to time to reflect changes to our products, services, business practices, technology or legal requirements.
The revised version will be posted on this page with an updated "Last updated" date.
Changes will apply prospectively unless otherwise required by law.
Your continued use of the Site after revised Terms become effective constitutes acceptance of those revised Terms.
Terms applicable to a completed purchase or an existing advisory engagement will remain subject to any mandatory legal rights that apply to that transaction.
17. Severability
If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, unlawful or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in effect to the fullest extent permitted by law.
18. Contact
Questions regarding these Terms, digital products, refunds or advisory bookings may be sent to:
Costa Rica Decoded
Álvaro Lachner
Email: alvaro@costaricadecoded.com