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I’m 63 1/2 & can retire on my full SS of ~$2,000/month,in 2 1/2 years.I was born in Galveston & love the Texas coast,except for the oppressive heat & humidity & mosquitos.Is there somewhere in CR I can live up high enough to be comfortable during the day,yet w/in short driving distance to the coast where I can pursue my main love of nearshore kayak & small-boat fishing?I don’t want to have to spend my mid-days indoors in A/C if I can avoid it.I’m planning a trip down there in 3-4 months & would appreciate any suggestions as to where I should visit. I don’t care about night life or beaches .
The Best Area Period unless you are looking for something cheap and remote is the Arenal Area
Not only is there the only lake in Costa Rica, (which is excellent for kayaking and fishing) hot springs, pletiful clean water, lots of rivers (also good for kayaking) temperate comfortable climate (wish no need for heating or cooling) safe enviroment and access to larger cities for anything not found in the smaller more quiet areas.
Unless you have particularly expensive habits, once you buy a house and a car–you can easily get by on $1000 a month or less.
You can send me a private message if you would like more info
CheersI have to agree. In relation to the cost of living in the rest of the area, the Arenal area is better. Also, presently the real estate is more affordable in this area. Definately easy to do on Social Security. My wife’s family is from this area and we spend alot of time there. You can PM me if you’d like some more info.
and then there is the San Ramon area which is only 45 minutes to the ocean, the temps rarely get above 80, and the nights are cool enough to sleep under a down comforter. san ramon has everything — good doctors, a big hospital, dentists, good food shopping, good hardware stores. lots of good property available on which to build. if not, there are some good rentals in the mountains. i love it here. no heating, no air conditioning; i have ceiling fans and a fireplace for those cool nights.
[quote=”maravilla”]and then there is the San Ramon area which is only 45 minutes to the ocean, the temps rarely get above 80, and the nights are cool enough to sleep under a down comforter. san ramon has everything — good doctors, a big hospital, dentists, good food shopping, good hardware stores. lots of good property available on which to build. if not, there are some good rentals in the mountains. i love it here. no heating, no air conditioning; i have ceiling fans and a fireplace for those cool nights.[/quote]
thanks! did some research-looks very promising.I’d like to be a little closer to the coast,tho. Anyone familiar w/ San Isidro del General area?
I am also an avid sea kayaker and my first visit to CR was to see if I could find a place along the Pacific coast to suit my kayaking. I ended up buying in the mountains around San Ramon. There is no place there for a sea kayak and the drive to the ocean, while not far as the crow flies, is a bit daunting with curving and pot hole filled mountain roads. I suspect a bit more than an hour drive time is involved to get to a launch site.
Arenal has that wonderful large lagoon and spectacular volcano views. I imagine sitting in a kayak on the lagoon at night and watching Arenal burp up some orange lava would be a memorable experience. I see kayaks there at times. But it is a closed body of water and there is no shelter from wind as far as I can tell. I prefer salt water to fresh water paddling and I do like the mangrove creeks. But Costa Rica has some pretty big, aggressive salt water crocs…I have seen them as long as 14 feet. I am not sure where I will kayak yet…..
[quote=”sprite”]I am also an avid sea kayaker and my first visit to CR was to see if I could find a place along the Pacific coast to suit my kayaking. I ended up buying in the mountains around San Ramon. There is no place there for a sea kayak and the drive to the ocean, while not far as the crow flies, is a bit daunting with curving and pot hole filled mountain roads. I suspect a bit more than an hour drive time is involved to get to a launch site.
Arenal has that wonderful large lagoon and spectacular volcano views. I imagine sitting in a kayak on the lagoon at night and watching Arenal burp up some orange lava would be a memorable experience. I see kayaks there at times. But it is a closed body of water and there is no shelter from wind as far as I can tell. I prefer salt water to fresh water paddling and I do like the mangrove creeks. But Costa Rica has some pretty big, aggressive salt water crocs…I have seen them as long as 14 feet. I am not sure where I will kayak yet…..[/quote]
Thanks,sprite.did not think about crocs!may have to sell kayak & buy a small boat.I’m just not into freshwater fishing unless it’s something comparable to Peacock bass.Pics I’ve seen of fish in L. Arenal don’t excite me.I’ve fished BTB(beyond the breakers)in my kayaks & have caught bull drum(40-50#redfish)& Blacktip Sharks that head for Mexico. Now,that gets my adrenaline flowing. I want to catch some of CR’s roosterfish,wahoo,etc
[quote=”Dr Jeff”][quote=”maravilla”]and then there is the San Ramon area which is only 45 minutes to the ocean, the temps rarely get above 80, and the nights are cool enough to sleep under a down comforter. san ramon has everything — good doctors, a big hospital, dentists, good food shopping, good hardware stores. lots of good property available on which to build. if not, there are some good rentals in the mountains. i love it here. no heating, no air conditioning; i have ceiling fans and a fireplace for those cool nights.[/quote]
thanks! did some research-looks very promising.I’d like to be a little closer to the coast,tho. Anyone familiar w/ San Isidro del General area?[/quote]
San Isidro de General is nice. Known as Perez Zeladon too it is about 30 minutes to ocean in Dominical. That beach is more of a surfer beach.
What is nice about the coast a little further north of Dominical is that you can get in the mountains just as quickly where it is cooler from good elevation combined with ocean breezes and the surf calms down somewhat.
I would look into Atenas and Grecia as well. They both have the weather you are looking for and great views! I am sure David will chime in, he lives in the area and can give you many more details. He also has a guest house that would be a great place to base out of on your trip.
Fairly short, less than 30 minutes to the coast and there are some very good spots for fishing and sea kayaking. Playa Herradura has a nice calm cove that has good in shore fishing and no waves(I have fished there off a small Tico owned boat). On one side you have Los Suenas and its very modern marina on the South side a Tico beach with a couple of good restaurants and bars.
Also the first time you encounter the ocean after leaving the mountains there is a nice calm cove with a few restaurants and fishing boats, no waves at all. Not sure what they call that “beach”.
Thanks John. This will be my 1st due diligence trip.I will plan visits to Guanacste. Area & go from there.Nw coast sounds very good to me.
[quote=”Dr Jeff”]I’m 63 1/2 & can retire on my full SS of ~$2,000/month,in 2 1/2 years.I was born in Galveston & love the Texas coast,except for the oppressive heat & humidity & mosquitos.Is there somewhere in CR I can live up high enough to be comfortable during the day,yet w/in short driving distance to the coast where I can pursue my main love of nearshore kayak & small-boat fishing?I don’t want to have to spend my mid-days indoors in A/C if I can avoid it.I’m planning a trip down there in 3-4 months & would appreciate any suggestions as to where I should visit. I don’t care about night life or beaches .[/quote]
Hi Doc,
My wife and I have property in Platanillo which is in the mountains and a 15 minute drive from the Dominical beaches. It’s an ideal location because of it’s great roads, close proximity to the beach AND San Isidro which is 35 minutes away. We’ve built a small home there and don’t need AC, unlike at the beach, due to the altitude. We’re planning to move there full time within 2 years. I’m an also avid sea kayak fisherman. We LOVE to talk about our favorite place in the world!
Best,
Len & Vani GreeneTo all the fishermen out there, I’m looking for info on whether a person when they retire in Costa Rica do they have to buy a fishing license every year. And do they have to license the boat also. And if someone could tell me the cost if they do have to have a license. The only info I can find on the internet pertains to vacationers sport fishing. I am interested when I retire to Costa Rica to fish salt and fresh water. Thanks, John Ames
[quote=”CostaRicaDreamin”]To all the fishermen out there, I’m looking for info on whether a person when they retire in Costa Rica do they have to buy a fishing license every year. And do they have to license the boat also. And if someone could tell me the cost if they do have to have a license. The only info I can find on the internet pertains to vacationers sport fishing. I am interested when I retire to Costa Rica to fish salt and fresh water. Thanks, John Ames[/quote]
Check the Fishing Column in the Tico Times, he has written an article on this, you can also email him questions.
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