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Hola, traceymartin. It has been our experience that you do not need to have CR residency or an SA to set up a bank account at ScotiaBank, a private bank with English-speaking staff. You can keep your account in dollars or colones. You do need to have two banking references where you have had accounts in the US and three personal references and perhaps a couple of other small requirements. It is very easy to wire money from the US to ScotiaBank. They seem to have offices in many areas of Costa Rica. You will also get a debit card for your account. Their website is http://www.scotiabank.com/cda/content/0,1608,CID7_LIDen,00.html
Serf, we have had a positive experience setting up a Cash Management Account (CMA) with Merrill Lynch in the US and using the Visa debit card here in CR. There are no exchange or use fees and the exchange rate has been very fair. The daily withdrawal limits are also higher than most debit cards. You do need a minimum amount as an initial deposit, but it may be a good place to park the money you have set aside for property while you look around. We primarily use the debit card at ScotiaBank and you can easily get colones or dollars as you need them. ATM instructions are in English and Spanish. Good luck!
We drove the section from San Ramon to Puntarenas two weeks ago without any roadway problems. Bear in mind that the traffic is slower on this section as it is almost all one lane in each direction, and you will always be behind a slow-moving truck going either up or down the mountains. Plan about an hour and fifteen minutes minimum for the 30 miles or so.
