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I was wondering too about Puerto Limon and the crime scene there. Is is easy to get lost navigating around it in the dark? (we had that trouble around Alejuela and San Jose in daylight!) Or is it more like the pacific side where there is really only one major road when you get to the coast? We have our eyes on a few larger “resorts” by Puerto Viejo so finding them should not be a problem. I know we got lost over by Montezuma once in the dark looking for some obscure rental and it was not fun! Ok, not really lost but totally misjudged the amount of time it takes to take the ferry over there and then drive. But, then this all becomes part of the adventure and keeps the trip interesting. The reason I say this is, getting lost does not bother me but driving in the dark, lost, in areas that have high crime with a 4 year old makes me pause and remind myself how hard I try not to be a stupid Gringo. So all in all do you recommend trying to drive from San Jose Airport to Puerto Viejo? When is sunset and how long should we expect the drive to be? It just kills me to waste a day in San Jose when we could be out exploring new places that are more our style.
My husband, 4 year old and I will be going to the carribean coast (6th trip to CR, first to the carribean side) and are planning to drive there. We should have our rental car by 2:30 at the latest and were wondering if we could make to the Carribean side by dark, hopefully south of Limon? We want to make it to Puerta Viejo. Any thoughts or advice? Or if needed, is there any cool place to stay on the way that would be worth the overnight. Frequent flier miles are dictating the length of our stay to 9 days and we plan to spend 4 on the Carribean and 4 by Jaco to attend to some business. By the way, we always get AC and a pool when we are in CR because we have had many a sleepless night tossing and turning in wet sheets because of the heat. Of course that was on the Pacific side in April. HOT, HOT, HOT! We are from WI and I guess we get hot easily. By the end of our trips we get acclimated to the heat and end up missing it. Any advice on fun things to do and places to stay. we are looking for a kind of funky town with a Carribean pulse that is safe to walk around at night with restaurants etc. and places my son could have fun .
We heard that the reason the road does not get fixed is because the Palm oil plantations refuse to put any money into the road and they are the ones that will benefit most from it as well as cause the most wear. I guess the government and the plantation are at a stand off. I wouldn’t hold my breath!
Koty
Thanks for the information about Casa Pura Vida. Looks nice, although I have been spoiled by the Hermosa Bungalows. We always go there last so we can wash and dry our clothes and just stick the dishes in the dishwasher. Its decorated like pottery barn so we always feel a little luxurious there. I agree with Scott as well. We are looking for something we maybe someday could get some rental income from or pay some expenses while we figure out how to move there or spend some more time there, if we had a successful rental pool going. Jaco is getting too commercial. We are patient. We’ll see as the real estate slows down in the states if people will be selling down in CR. Then we will jump in.
Koty
We stay in the bungalows on the beach, those little raised houses on stilts just south of Hermosa. They are individual houses and BEAUTIFUL but kind of spendy and almost always deserted. I keep hoping they will lower their prices to be busier. Love them though and we have a 4 year old so we like having 2 bedrooms and a separate living and kitchen etc. Also the pool and ocean. We also stayed at the Timarai resort in Palo Seco last time and we were only one of 2 couples there for the whole resort. Again kind of spendy, small. We have stayed in Jaco quite a few times as well and only one time during my Spring Break was it busy (I am a teacher). We have been there 2-3 times per year now for going on 3 years. I don’t know, it makes you kind of go HMMMMM. Love the idea of a rental place but I wouldn’t bet on it. Bet the upkeep on anything in that climate is horrible too. Salt air and humidity. Hey dont mean to be negative but I know when we have been looking at investments they really try to push the rental income thing as a way of justifying the cost etc. But then most rental agencies also take 60% or more on top of fees etc. HMMMM….
I also wanted to comment because when we were there right before Easter (5th trip). The caretaker for the house we usually rent in Hermosa when we were there said that he was in Jaco talking to several of the Hotel owners and they said Jaco has been very quiet lately. He said the house development we rent from may need to reconsider the prices it is charging. He was saying that prices will need to be downward adjusted both in Jaco and Hermosa because they are not getting the occupancy rates they want. Of course makes you wonder with the development of hundreds of more rooms and condos going into Jaco, what kind of rental income could you expect? We too are interested in investing in the area but are waiting to see what happens with airplane prices going up etc. You can get to Hawaii much cheaper these days on a charter and with Jaco turning into a big city you might as well go to Oahu. Just a thought.
We are looking into “Hills of Esterillos” by costa Rica Limited company in Esterillos Oeste. What are you doing and what are your thoughts? We are thinking about putting money down on a lot.
Koty
We visted the the gardens in Bejuco and there are quite a few houses completed with most if not all houses started. There is no landscaping yet. They have built the bridge to where the pool area is to go but there is no pool yet, I guess because they just got the electricity for it. Sorry, no pictures. We too are looking into the Hills of Esterillos project. The house plans they offer are a little funky but ok. They have cut the roads in but have not yet staked the lots. Based on the proposed plano we are reserving a lot, probably this week. However, we are waiting for advice from our lawyer who has already pointed out that there is a civil claim against the company. Anyone out there know what this is about? Also, the developers stated that the front lots on the road are titled and the rest of the lots have yet to get titled but will be within 1 and 1/2 years. They can be built on them based on something called a “condominum law”. Anyone have any information on this?
Koty
Hey, just thought you may like to know. We just back from a 10 day trip to Costa Rica. I had absolutely no allergies there down by dominical etc and then by hermosa. However, when I got back to Minnesota I got absolutely slammed by allergies here. Never even had them before. I think its pollen not mold though. Also, I agree with Scott, there are a ton of dogs roaming around, some pretty mangy looking so I would be careful with your dog! Obviously many are not cared for or neutered. We always laugh when we are there because each area we visit the dogs have a certain look to them. Down by Dominical they were long Dachshound looking, up by arenal there were a bunch that were obviously part dalmation…….
I would be happy to recommend my lawyer. He has just starting looking into the Hills of Esterillos project and we do not have any results about that project back yet. We also have not bought anything there yet either. If you are still interested in my lawyers information, please reply and I will get it from you when I am home.
Koty
I have to agree with you. We went down to Dominical and by Hermosa and did not see one mosquito even though it rained a little each day. Lots of bats and geckos and toads to eat them all I guess. My parents went on a tour all over and were even up on the carribean side in Tortuguero and they said they did not see one mosquito the whole trip! I agree, save the pills!
Actually you buy the rights to the concession. They are granted in terms of 5 to 100 years. The zoning determines what can be built on the concession property and this is in a plan held by the local municipality. Some concessions were granted illegally or improperly in the past and yes there were instances where MINEA determined it should have been deemed a natural reserve and these houses have been torn down. Right now there is a hold on all building permits and concessions being granted because two agencies are fighting in the courts to see who should have the rights to grant them.
hi all, we dealt with both Jeff and Bob. we are still trying to consider what property to buy/ Concession property is any property that is ocean front/. It looks good to us. I would love to answer your questions.
Koty
Is there a serious concern with Malaria in this (or any) part of Costa Rica? I have only heard of concern near the Nicaragua border up by Tortuguera and perhaps a passing concern down by Panama Anyone else have any information? Going there in 9 days with my 3 year old down by Puerto Viejo and then again by Quepos.
Koty
