As a young surfer who had just experienced Costa Rica for the first time in 1998, I fell in love and was determined to find myself a little beachfront cottage and “waste my years away” catching the rides of my life along the beautiful palm covered beaches.

I returned to Costa Rica many times over the following years to search for my own personal paradise and after learning some things, I eventually realized that my dream had morphed, I actually wanted to live in the jungle covered mountains over looking that beach I had been dreaming of living on for so many years.

A major factor in the paradigm shift was the reality that you never fully own beachfront property. The “Maritime Zone” is a 200-meter wide strip of land that runs the entire coast of Costa Rica from the high tide watermark inland.

The first 50 meters is public land; the next 150 meters can be leased from the Government in 5-20 year terms with the government as your quasi-business partner always having a say in what you can and cannot do.

Another factor was the realization that for every 1,000 feet gained in altitude, the temperature drops an average of 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit. A steady breeze usually exaggerates this temperature drop making it a much more temperate and enjoyable climate. It is easy to hide from the heat just by going up into mountains.

Standing on the beach, the horizon is roughly 3.6 kilometers in the distance, which means that you can see roughly that far. When you go up 100 meters the horizon is 36 kilometers away; the views are much more expansive and encompass more area.

This was another factor that made me search for property in the hills. In the Dominical area it is possible to find views that reach from Drakes Bay and the Osa Peninsula to the south, Cano Island to the west and up to the Nicoya Peninsula and Manuel Antonio to the North. Try seeing all this from the beach!

My idea of paradise may not be the same as yours, but somewhere in between the 12,500 foot Mt. Chirripo and the low-lying tropical beaches, Costa Rica has a sweet spot for you. Take your time and relax knowing that our professionals will help you find it.

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Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

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.