Investing Abroad: Why Visit Before You Decide?
By Dario Mangano
Acquiring property, setting up a company, or simply considering a move to another country: before any decision, one question always comes up. How can you truly understand a territory from your desk? Brochures, articles, and figures are not enough. A discovery trip lets you see, listen, and meet people before committing.
This article is neither financial nor legal advice. It explains why taking the time to explore a country on the ground is often the first step of a serious reflection.
What a discovery trip helps you understand
On the ground, you pick up what no document shows:
• Everyday reality: pace of life, access to services, quality of infrastructure, distances between places
• The business environment: professional culture, the importance of relationships built on trust, ways of working
• The realities of the territory: access to water and resources, climate, natural risks, seasonality
• Personal fit: whether you can truly picture yourself in this place, beyond the enthusiasm of a stay
Meeting the right people on the ground
A well-designed trip connects you with people who know the terrain. It is important, however, to distinguish an information meeting from professional advice. Depending on the project, exchanges may include:
• Local lawyers and tax advisors
• Accountants and relocation experts
• Investors and entrepreneurs already established in the country
• Local players in sustainability and community development
These conversations help you understand the country's legal and administrative realities. But any binding decision should rely on independent advisors, chosen by you, who know your personal situation.
Questions to ask before committing
A discovery trip helps you frame the right questions, for example:
• What is my goal: investing, starting a business, acquiring a company, relocating, or simply exploring?
• Which legal, tax, and administrative framework applies to my personal situation? It varies by country and nationality, and it can change
• What impact will my project have on the territory and its inhabitants?
• What time horizon should I think in? A project abroad is a long-term matter, not something to settle during a single stay
An example: discovering Costa Rica from the inside
Through its Beyond Living approach, Sunshine Adventures offers discovery trips for entrepreneurs, business owners, and internationally minded people, in Costa Rica and elsewhere. They run in small groups of 5 to 15 people, or in a private version.
The goal is not to sell an investment product, but to explore the country from the inside, understand its ecosystem, and build relationships of trust before any decision. Sustainability, respect for the environment, and community development are an integral part of this approach.
What this kind of trip is not
A discovery trip is not a substitute for legal advice, tax advice, or investment advice. It guarantees no return and is not a recommendation to invest. Before any financial or legal decision, work with qualified independent professionals in the country concerned and in your country of residence.
See before you decide
Settling, investing, or starting a business abroad is a significant commitment. Taking the time to see the terrain, meet the people who live there, and test your ideas against reality lets you decide with more perspective.
Curious to explore a country from this angle? Get in touch with Sunshine Adventures to talk it through, or also read our account of a tailor-made trip to Costa Rica.
Let's talk about your project
A question about this kind of trip? Our team will answer with no obligation.
Updated on October 7, 2026
