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Greetings,
We are heading down to Costa Rica in July to look at two very different beach areas (Montezuma, Malpais, Teresa) and (Dominical, Uvita) to potentially purchase land and embark on the long “adventure” of designing and building a second home. Looking for current “on the ground” perspectives and opinions from locals on each of these two areas. Obviously, this is a very personal preference driven by what is important to each person. Our very basic criteria are, access to utilities, dependable high speed internet is a “must have”, four season access, water, a growing and interesting ex-pat community, local restaurants and services and some reasonable access to emergency medical services. Kids are grown and we live a pretty active lifestyle. Been through Costa Rica once before (Tamarindo north, not for me) and some other Central American areas and believe one of these two areas may fit the bill.
Thanks in advance for your input…
check out the esterillos area on the central pacific coast. 12 minutes to jaco, 50 mintes to quepos and 2:00 to san jose.
quepos has full hospital, jaco has clinics as does parrita 20 minutes to the south east.Hi West Coast,
I landed 11 years ago in Mal Pais/ Santa Teresa. I lived there 4 years and due to kids schooling and other reasons chose to move to San Jose. Have since traveled around the other beach areas of the Pacific coast and while the Dominical area is nice… My second choice if choosing beach area… nothing compares to Mal Pais/ Santa Teresa. Dominical is closer to a major urban area San Isidro/ Perez Zeledon and Mal Pais is certainly not close to anything. But in my opinion there is something special in Nicoya… and all my beach trips now are back to Mal Pais… right where I started!We have been to CR several times and recently purchased property in Esterillos Oeste. It’s a great area – about 15 min. from Jaco – 50 min to Quepos/Manual Antonio. Our community has a grocery store, meat market, sodas, local restaurants and great people. Most of all the Beach is awesome – just beautiful! If you are looking for reasonable accomadations while searching – there are several great places I can recommend.
Our very basic criteria are, access to utilities, dependable high speed internet is a “must have”, four season access, water, a Our very basic criteria are, access to utilities, dependable high speed internet is a “must have”, four season access, water, a growing and interesting eclectic ex-pat community with local restaurants and services, some reasonable access to emergency medical services. Kids are grown and we live a pretty active lifestyle. Been throwith local restaurants and services, some reasonable access to emergency medical services.
Pretty much rules out Montezuma. You will be the growing and interesting eclectic ex-pat community.
Make sure you read [url=https://www.welovecostarica.com/public/How_Not_To_Treat_Your_Realtor_in_Costa_Rica.cfm]Becky ClowerS article[/url] where she emphasizes the importance of visiting your desired areas first, before making this important decision. Be sure to visit for an [i]extended[/i] period, possibly renting a property.
Adventure? Been there done that. Building in Costa Rica is not like building where ever you live. Everything is for sale in Costa Rica and building costs are high. Consider buying instead of building. Buying will be an adventure. Building wil be a nighmare.
I’d choose a few places to hang out first and rent until you get the feel for the area. The places you mention are extremely humid compared to the North Pacific coast.
West Coast- sounds like you have narrowed you choices to two pretty remote places and if so you can disregard this post. But if you are open to a suggestion that ideally meets the criteria you detailed in your original post, I encourage you to take a look at the Samara/Carrillo area.
we bought in the uvita area four or five years ago, and are very happy with our decision. originally we were going to build, but when we looked at the costs, it was less expensive to buy an existing house. we bought at nice tico house that has “good bones” and are fixing it up over time. we still live in the states, but go down to visit often. the area has nice mix of amenities (lots of great restaurants, especially in ojochal! exotica is the best!) but the area isn’t over developed it still has a nice remote feel.
Just a thought – re-think the reliable hi-speed internet thingy – it doesn’t exist in Costa Rica. But on the other hand you do get used to the non-reliable part and it just adds to the laid back vibe that you will come to enjoy living in Costa Rica. 😆
John, just what do you mean by “high-speed” Internet? We have very reliable 2mb/1mb service. “Instant”? Well, no, but it’s a lot faster than what we had in the States, faster than what our guests have in Wisconsin, and a lot faster than what I can read. So where are you drawing the line?
Just askin’ . . .
[quote=”kshaler”]we bought in the uvita area four or five years ago, and are very happy with our decision. originally we were going to build, but when we looked at the costs, it was less expensive to buy an existing house. we bought at nice tico house that has “good bones” and are fixing it up over time. we still live in the states, but go down to visit often. the area has nice mix of amenities (lots of great restaurants, especially in ojochal! exotica is the best!) but the area isn’t over developed it still has a nice remote feel.[/quote]
Thanks much for the input kshaler. Actually, quite interested in this area as looking for the remote feel while still maintaining reasonable access to some community services. Will spend some time in both Nicoya and Dominical/Uvita and then probably rent something for a number of months to check things out on a more sustained basis to get our bearings and a little more clarity on the area and issues.
[quote=”DavidCMurray”]John, just what do you mean by “high-speed” Internet? We have very reliable 2mb/1mb service. “Instant”? Well, no, but it’s a lot faster than what we had in the States, faster than what our guests have in Wisconsin, and a lot faster than what I can read. So where are you drawing the line?
Just askin’ . . .[/quote]
Hi David, what area are you in and how are you getting your service? I am sure (similiar to Panama which I am very familiar with) that your service options obviously vary considerably (or may not exist) depending on community etc..
We live outside Grecia where we’re customers of CR Wi-Fi whose service is wireless but dependent upon a line of sight to one of their antennas. They have a license to serve the entire country but don’t as of this time. And they serve a significant part of the Central Valley. You need to contact them for more information. They’ve been very good.
Your other options include cable modem from one of the cable companies and whatever it is that ICE is offering where you are.
[quote=”DavidCMurray”]John, just what do you mean by “high-speed” Internet? We have very reliable 2mb/1mb service. “Instant”? Well, no, but it’s a lot faster than what we had in the States, faster than what our guests have in Wisconsin, and a lot faster than what I can read. So where are you drawing the line?
Just askin’ . . .[/quote]
I’m just refering to “my” experiences in the beach areas (which is the goal of the author I believe). I’ve had some great service in both Liberia and San Jose. Beach areas – not so much. 😆
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