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I have just begun to look at Costa Rica as a possible retirement destination. Can you folks tell me where the more desirable areas are? Things that are important to me would be affordablity, safety, being near other Americans, a major airport within a couple hours. Thanks, Dan
About 75% of the population lives in the Central Valley. When we began thinking about Costa Rica, we were living on the coast of North Carolina where it’s very hot and humid about six months of the year. While we loved the beach environment, the climatic data suggests that the coastal areas are too hot for us. And they tend to be expensive.
There are many areas in the Central Valley that are reasonably affordable, safe, and within reasonable driving distance of the airport and the gringoland shopping in Santa Ana and Escazu. Grecia, San Ramon, Naranjo, Sarchi, etc all come to mind. In these and similar locales, you can find gated communities populated by some Americans and other real estate options. If what you’re trying to accomplish is a totally American lifestyle, complete with a totally American community, then you’ll need to look closer in toward San Jose — Santa Ana, Escazu, etc come to mind.
Here in CR you can pretty much dial in your climate preference and be within a reasonable drive from other regions that may interest you as well. I’ve attempted to describe the various regions for you, so you can decide where to start your exploration. Have fun!
Central Valley – San Jose – Escazu – Santa Ana – Belen – Alajuela – Heredia – Moravia – Guadalupe – San Pedro – Curridabat – Tres Rios – Cartago – Desamparados – Unlike the Pacific and Caribbean coasts, the Central Valley of Costa Rica lies at an elevation of 3,000 to 5,000 feet… and has the cool temperatures to prove it. In the Central Valley, you can find many small towns well-known for their beauty and charm. Expats with second homes in the Valley enjoy going to art galleries, handicraft shops, boutiques, bars, restaurants, flower markets, and friendly village churches.
San Jose – Area: 4,965.30 sq. km. Population: 1,345,750 (2000). Climate: Moderate.Central Pacific Coast – Puntarenas – Caldera – Jaco – Esterillos – Quepos – Manuel Antonio – Dominical – Uvita – Ojochal – Coronado – Palma Sur – Spectacular ocean views, gorgeous beaches, world-class surfing, sport fishing, bird watching, scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, and horseback riding make the Pacific Coast a prime attraction for adventuresome tourists. Today it’s also becoming a Mecca for property shoppers. And remarkably, there are still places along the Pacific Coast that aren’t overcrowded. In fact, you can still find small fishing villages and stretches of beach that may remind you of a completely wild tropical island. That’s because there are several national parks and wildlife preserves nearby that are home to dozens of exotic animals – including leatherback turtles that haul themselves ashore to lay eggs.
Puntarenas – Area: 11,266 sq. km. Population: 357,483 (2000). Climate: Hot and humid. Average Temperature: 28 CGuanacaste – Northern Nicoya Peninsula – La Cruz – Liberia – Guardia – Sardinal – Coco – Santa Cruz – Tamarindo – Flamingo – Nicoya – Samara – Area: 10,140 KM2 or 6,300 square miles – Population: 224,631 – Capital: Liberia, population 32,951. 175 miles from San José – Climate: Warm, average temperature 83 F – Altitude: 25 meters or 82 feet above sea level
Guanacaste is one of the largest and least populated of the seven provinces of Costa Rica. The province is known primarily for its cattle production, and it is often compared to the State of Texas for this reason. This comparison is not altogether erroneous as Guanacaste shares with Texas the long stretches of plains, which are ideal for cattle ranches.
The government has designated this region as a preferential tourism development area. In order to facilitate access, the Liberia airport has been upgraded to become the second international airport in the country. Foreign pensioners and investors have chosen the area for retirement. In Flamingo Beach there are mainly USA citizens, in Tamarindo and Playa Grande many Europeans and in Potrero mostly Canadians. Guanacaste, like the rest of Costa Rica, has interesting national parks, which boast of lush flora and fauna, bird and wildlife.
Southern Nicoya Peninsula – Paquera – Tambor – Montezuma – Santa Teresa – Mal Pais – Long a secret in Costa Rica, the Southern Nicoya Peninsula is home to a small but thriving community of artists, actors, singers, writers, celebrities, models, musicians, and other creative visionaries that have made this undiscovered paradise their new home away from home. This area is also home to Costa Rica’s oldest protected piece of land, the Reserva Natural Absoluta Cabo Blanco and the Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Curu, which includes a great variety of wildlife. In this area deer, monkeys, and wildcats roaming through the forest are a common occurrence.
Osa Peninsula – Golfito – Pavones – This is an area of incredible biological diversity and quite different from the Costa Rican mainland. In fact, this historic peninsula and it’s port of Golfito are unlike most places you’ll ever see in your life. There are an extraordinary number of animal and plant species found nowhere else on Earth. Quite simply, it’s one of the most pristine and awe-inspiring natural wonders you will ever see. Imagine a “floating island” with a thousand shades of blue and green saturating its rolling hills. If you’re craving adventure and getting in touch with nature on the grandest scale, there are still places along the Southern Pacific Coast that aren’t overcrowded. In fact, you can still find small fishing villages and stretches of beach that may remind you of a completely wild tropical island. That’s because there are several government protected, national parks and wildlife preserves nearby that are home to dozens of exotic animals, including leatherback turtles that haul themselves ashore to lay eggs.
Caribbean Coast – Limon – Tortuguero – Cahuita – Puerto Viejo – For many decades, tourists have been attracted to the Caribbean Coast, where the commercial port of Limon is located. Here you can enjoy superb surfing, sport fishing, and opportunities to get a close-up look at nature in an area where tropical rainforest’s extend to the white-sand beaches. The Caribbean Coast is also home to several wildlife refuges and parks, including the Tortuguero National Park, where turtles go to nest.
Limon – Area: 9,189 SQ. KM. Population: 339,295 (2000). Climate: Hot and humid
Average Temperature: 29 Ccrhomebuilder – what a great recap and “cliff notes” study of all of the location choices in CR. But please do us a favor – don’t mention the Samara area anymore…..we’re still trying to keep it a secret! For anyone considering our area, it is HOT & HUMID, the roads are really bad, a lot of areas suffer from water shortages, the prices are too high (and going up), permits are difficult to obtain, etc., etc.
Actually, almost all that is bogus. Although it is hot & humid (like coastal areas throughout the tropics) Samara & Carrillo are great little towns with a wonderful selection of restuarants, cabinas, hotels, B&B’s, hostels, etc., great roadways, delightful & friendly people (locals & expats), etc. Similar to other areas of Guanacaste, we do have a water problem, but the municipalities are working to overcome that, and well permits are time consuming but available.
Unfortunately, we have been discovered and our lifestyles are changing, but not necessarily suffering because of the changes.
Come visit us, and if you choose to stay, you will be welcomed!Hey Costaricabill, I am in the same frame of mind about trying to keep Samara a secret. My wife and I recently spent some time there and completely fell in love. We have been talking back and forth with a real estate ‘agent’ there and have been looking to buy and move down there. I was hoping that you might be able to give me your email address so I can talk to you in further detail about Samara and what it’s like to live there.
It would be very helpful and very appreciated for any info you might share, about building, crime, permits, the people etc. Or from anyone else who lives in Samara, I would love to hear your thoughts.
Thank you for your time,
Pura Vida
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