The amount of information about Ciudad Colón available on the internet is surprisingly sparse, considering the growing numbers of ex-pats that move to the area each year.

Located about 23 kilometers west of San José (or a half-hour drive from the city), Ciudad Colón is the capitol of the canton of Mora (population ~20,000, about half of whom live in Ciudad Colón).

The weather in the Ciudad Colón area is generally warm and mild, though the city is likely to experience heavy downpours during rainy season. Someone once described Ciudad Colón to me as “an inland beach town,” and I think that really does describe it well.

Historically, Ciudad Colón was inhabited by local indigenous Quitirisí, and the area was part of Chief Pacaca’s kingdom. After the Spanish invasion in 1560, large herds of cattle were introduced to the area, which had previously seen only small scale, subsistence farming.

In the 1600s, Villa Pacaca was moved from the location of current-day Tabarcia and renamed after Columbus, to be known as Villa Colón (and later Ciudad Colón). Just before entering Ciudad Colón on the eastern side, you cross over what is still known as the Rio Pacacua.

Despite being a small city, Ciudad Colón is big on cultural events. An annual Orange Fair is held every February, and the fiestas populares are held in August, with the whole town coming out to join in the fun. Topes, or horse parades, are quite popular and you can count on a few to be held during the year (usually during big fairs and festivals).

On Independence Day, a parade is held during the day, complete with marching bands and dancers from local schools and organizations; at night, it seems everyone comes out for the annual Parade of Torches.

One word of warning, though: If you’re sensitive to the sound of fireworks, you might want to avoid Ciudad Colón during the holidays. Sonic blasts mark the beginning and end of every holiday throughout the year, from Mother’s Day to Easter to New Year’s, and the novelty can certainly wear thin after a while.

Costa Rica’s National Symphony has held concerts in the local Catholic church, and it is not unusual to see smaller orchestras and bands playing on the weekends in the converted market near the municipal building.

For foodies, Ciudad Colón is not the ideal gourmet shopping experience. A farmer’s market is held every Saturday morning on the street in back of the Catholic church, and there are a couple of large supermarkets in town (Super Mora and Palí); however, neither carries much more than the most basic of ingredients and supplies.

Still, Automercado in Santa Ana (Lindora) is just a hop, skip and a jump down the highway, making it easy to live in a small town while being near all of the conveniences that cities like Santa Ana and Escazú have to offer.

In fact, proximity to conveniences is one of the main reasons many people choose to settle in Ciudad Colón. Hospital CIMA and Multiplaza Mall are just a 15-minute drive east on the highway; Santa Ana/Lindora shopping only about 10 minutes, and Escazú about 20.

Currently, Ciudad Colón is the location of several restaurants worth mentioning. Downtown is Casa 76, a small, artistically-inclined Italian restaurant that serves up a delicious pizza. Another restaurant and bar popular with Norteamericano locals is Finca Bonanza, which is a beautifully converted home overlooking the town and a fantastic spot for watching the sunset. Steak house El Establo is another popular eatery, as is the chichirronera Meme Pajarito (on the highway leading into town).

Mexican food, Italian pizzas and pastas, seafood and bocas, too — Ciudad Colón has a surprisingly diverse selection of dining options located within just a few blocks.

You can read Part II of Wendi’s article about Living & Retiring in Ciudad Colon, Costa Rica here.

Written by Wendi Patrick. Wendi Patrick is a California transplant who currently lives in Ciudad Colón with her husband, son and ever-growing menagerie of animals.

Besides being the editor of Costa Rica Outdoors magazine, Wendi’s articles have also appeared in The Tico Times, and she is the author of several children’s stories. Her Costa Rica adventures have included falling in a muddy ditch while hitchhiking in Tamarindo, running from a troop of angry howler monkeys in Manzanillo and holding a baby crocodile in Atenas.

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Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.