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The Central Valley, or Meseta Central, is the
center of Costa Rica due to its geographical location,
culture and economic activities. The valley lies at
an altitude of 3,000 to 4,000 feet above sea level.
It is surrounded by mountains and semi-active volcanos
such as Poás and Irazú. Its fertile volcanic
soil makes it an ideal place for growing anything,
including some of the world's best coffee. It is not
surprising that more than half of Costa Rica's 4 million
people live in this area because of its almost perfect
year-round spring-like climate. The capital city of
San José is located here as well.
The
Central Valley offers a wide range of housing.
Decent, affordable housing ranges from $50,000 to $100,000,
while mid-range prices are $100,000 to $250,000. Low-end condos
in the Escazú area start at $150,000 to $250,000. Luxury
apartments in Escazú can cost between $250,000 to $500,000.
To many this seems expensive but the same product would cost
several times as much or more in some places in the United
States.
Central Valley Maps |
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A recent boom in the construction industry has created
a wide variety of affordable new homes from which to
choose. Many gated communities have been built in Santa
Ana and in the Heredia and Grecia areas. Older homes
also abound and are sometimes a better deal because
they often have larger parcels of land.
Deciding where
to live
in Costa Rica depends on your preferences.
If you like the stimulation of urban living and spring-like
weather all year, you will probably be happiest living
in San José, Heredia or one of the adjacent smaller
towns and cities in the Central
Valley, such as Alajuela, Escazu or
Santa Ana.
As we mention later in this book, there are hundreds
of activities for everyone in, around and near San
José. The infrastructure is excellent, and the
area offers almost all of the amenities of living in
the United States.
Retirement is a big change for many people because
they find themselves with more free time than usual
and sometimes get bored. This should not be a problem
if you reside in the San Jose or the nearby
suburbs, since there is a large North American community
and it is always easy to find something to do.
Living
in San Jose proper has a couple of drawbacks.
Like most cities, San José is crowded, noisy
and suffers from some pollution from buses and cars.
There is also some crime in the downtown area. If you
own a vehicle it is hard to find a place to keep it
except for public parking lots. Despite these shortcomings,
we do know quite a few Americans who live in the center
of town because it is convenient and there is a lot
to do to stay busy.
One friend from Florida loves this area because he
is right in the thick of the action in the Gringo Gulch
area. Another American we know likes to spend all day
in front of the Gran Hotel Costa Rica seated
at one of the tables talking with other expatriates
and people watching. The latter is a favorite among
foreigners in the downtown area. A couple of groups
of gringos gather for coffee and conversation
most days at the McDonald's next to the Plaza de
la Cultura and National Theater. Newcomers can
make some instant friends there.
Recently the municipal authorities announced plans to revamp
downtown San José in an effort to draw more people
back to the city. The population of the areas which make up
the central San José area has dropped from about 70,000
people to 60,000 over the last 20 years, with many people
moving to the suburbs. Urban planners intend to transform
the city by building more parks and six new pedestrian walkways,
similar to the one now found on Avenida Central. The
National Water and Sewage Institute will improve the city's
water, sewage and drainage systems, and the Ministry of Transportation
plans to improve traffic in the city by placing major transportation
arteries outside of the 53 blocks that make up the heart of
the city, leaving the downtown area for pedestrians. The electricity
company has already placed electrical lines underground.
Here is an expatriate's take on San José: I find the
San Jose's air to be much cleaner than 11 years ago. I go
from San Antonio de Coronado to downtown San José everyday
Monday through Sunday. I have walked from Sabana Park to the
Central Market many days and then all over the downtown area
and never had a problem. Today I went to the U.S. Embassy
by taking two buses from central San José and then
back on another bus. I also did a few errands. Then I took
the bus back to my house and was home by 2 pm. I know about
20 words in Spanish. For me the city is great. You could not
pay me to return to the little town I came from in the U.S.
I have been living here less than a month and have accomplished
a lot in a little time a Costa Rican driver's license,
a bank, a post office box and a girl friend. So if a 66-year-old
man with no Spanish can do it, anyone can.
Here is another foreign resident's view of the city
of San Jose: I can understand every expat has a different
perspective about San José. After living in
New York City so many years without a car, I have no
intention of buying one to live in the suburbs of San
José. The city suits me fine. And buses and
taxis are always available if I want to travel outside
the city. I have a home just a block north of Torre
Mercedes, off Paseo Colón, and easily
walk to most things I need such as the weekend flea
market in the Cementerio district, theaters
and art galleries in San José Centro and Sabana
Park.
A block or less from my house there's a supermarket, several
interesting restaurants, a major bank and a few bakeries.
I know the neighbors on my little street as well as the guys
who knock on the door to offer the daily newspapers or a pushcart
full of vegetables.
Many North Americans who do not want to live too far
from town reside around the Sabana Park. Most of them
live in nearby Sabana Norte and Sabana Sur. Restaurants,
gyms, the new Más x Menos supermarket and a
variety of stores and services are all found in this
area.
Located at the west end of Paseo Colón, the
sprawling Sabana Park is the largest of Costa Rica's
urban parks and is within walking distance of San José and
neighboring Rohrmoser. It is right on the outskirts
of the center of the city and has nice upscale neighborhoods
on the north, south and west. La Sabana was
originally the site of the country's international
airport. It is now covered with tall trees and features
a museum, a lake, jogging trails, an Olympic-size pool,
soccer fields, recreational facilities and many more
attractions for the general public.
The fashionable suburb of Rohrmoser, on the northwest side
of Sabana Park, is very popular with people who want to
live in a suburban area close to San Jose. Living in Rohrmoser
is much like having a home near New York's Central Park
or San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. The main tree-lined
street or Rohrmoser Boulevard runs right through the center
of this neighborhood, virtually bisecting it in half. Rohrmoser
is bordered on the south by the Pavas Highway. Just about
any type of store you might need is found along this busy
thoroughfare as well as the U.S. Embassy to the west.
Home in Rohrmoser
The neighborhood is made up of homes, apartments,
condos, a few businesses and has some lovely neighborhood
parks. Rohrmoser has many upscale homes owned by wealthy
Costa Ricans and is considered very safe, since a large
number of well-guarded foreign embassies are found
here. Home prices start at about $80,000 on the low
end, from $80,000 to $250,000 for a mid-range home
and $250,000 plus for an upper-end home. Rent begins
at $500. When we lived there a few years ago we paid
$600 for a three-bedroom, three-bath penthouse apartment
with a panoramic view of the mountains.
Excellent supermarkets, boutiques, international restaurants, the Cemaco department
store, an English-language bookstore, pharmacies, bars, discos, doctor's offices,
health clubs, movie theaters and the modern Plaza Mayor shopping center are
located in and around this upscale neighborhood.
For you nighthawks there is even a 24-hour mini-market
at the Shell gas station. The only thing bad about
Rohrmoser is that bus service to downtown San José is
not good, but you can always take a taxi since they
are so affordable.
About five minutes east of downtown San José sits
the residential neighborhood of Los Yoses. Like all
areas east of downtown San José, Los Yoses features
a mixture of new and old homes and businesses. Many
foreigners live in this area because it is only a short
walk to downtown San José. The Centro Cultural
Costarricense-Norteamericano (Costa Rican-North
American Cultural Center) is located in this area so,
there are interesting activities to keep a person occupied
(there is also a smaller branch in Sabana Norte next
to the American Chamber of Commerce). Los Yoses boasts
a bowling alley, a supermarket complex, a bookstore
and many bars and restaurants. The gigantic San Pedro
Mall is found on the eastern edge of this neighborhood.
Barrio Escalante, slightly to the north of Los Yoses,
has many older homes and stately mansions. The area
provides a glimpse of how the upper crust used to live
in Costa Rica. Many foreigners prefer this area since
it is so close to downtown and some reasonably priced
housing is available. Prices range from about $80,000
on up. Rent starts at about $400 for a small apartment.
Just east of Los Yoses is San Pedro the home
of the University of Costa Rica. The campus and surrounding
area resemble many U.S. college towns with numerous
student hangouts, restaurants, bookstores, nightspots,
boutiques and two large shopping malls. You can spend
the day sitting at a table at one of the many sidewalk
cafés and check out the people as they pass
by. A distinctly bohemian ambience fills the air. Some
interesting event or cultural activity is always happening
in or around the university. During April, the annual
University Week celebration takes place. This spectacle
includes floats and a carnivallike atmosphere. Low-priced
student apartments are available within walking distance
of the university.
Another place you might consider living is Escazú
a popular suburb where many North Americans reside.
It is sometimes referred to as the Beverly Hills of Costa
Rica because of its upscale cosmopolitan atmosphere. In the
words of one American who lives there, Escazú is an
odd modern conglomeration of micro niches and little islands
of green, stitched together by pot-holed roads and pocked
with condo complexes, great mansions behind ominous gates
and little tin barrios where the wash bakes in the noonday
sun.
Escazú is
about five miles west of San José,
10 to 15 minutes driving time on the old two-lane road
or new autopista (highway). Since most of this suburb
is located on hilly terrain, it is especially appealing
to those people who like cooler temperatures. In fact,
Escazú is one of the more popular places for
English-speaking foreigners to live. Bus service is
excellent to and from San José. You can catch
either a mini-bus or regular bus in the park behind
the church in downtown Escazú.
Despite being quaint and country-like, Escazú has
all the amenities of any North American suburb: pharmacies,
mini-malls, supermarkets, excellent English-speaking private
schools, first-class restaurants, trendy shops, a bowling
alley, mall, doctors, dentists, a post office and much more.
The main entrance to Escazú has so many U.S. franchises,
you may find it hard to believe you're not in the States.
If you reside here you won't have to go to San José
for basic services unless you want to. There is even a beautiful
private country club and golf course. Housing is plentiful
but expensive, as Escazú is popular with wealthy
Costa Ricans and well-to-do foreigners. You
can find simple tico-style
single-family homes, condos, high-rise penthouses and even
country estates scattered around this area of San Jose.
Escazú is the Home of Many a High Rise Condo
Trejos Montealegre, is a neighborhood just off the highway,
boasts many homes, condos and apartments from which to choose.
Some upper-end homes in Escazú cost a couple of hundred
thousand to a million dollars. However, if you are living
on a budget or small pension, you can find more affordable
housing in San Antonio de Escazú. Many affordable tico-style
homes are scattered around this area. Because the area is
very exclusive, home prices start at around $100,000. Mid-range
homes and condos go for around $150,000 and upper-end prices
start at about $300,000. Rent ranges from $800 to $2,500 or
more monthly.
Escazú's upper-crust lifestyle isn't for everyone.
Here is one local's critical view of present-day Escazú which
appeared in the Escazú News. It summarizes what
some expatriates feel in a nutshell: There is no way
around it: Escazú has become the Costa Rican
Miami. Along the main highway to the west of Escazú,
PriceSmart, Office Depot, Payless Shoes and Liz Claiborne
can be seen to your left and the Marriott Courtyard
Hotel, Outback Steakhouse and Confort Suizo can be
seen on your right. The highway ends at the mall, or
better said, at the Dadeland of Costa Rica, the glamour
capital where people from all walks of life converge.
If you enter Escazú from the old road, it is
the same, with Tony Roma's and T.G.I.F. on the right
and Häagen-Daz, Bagelmen's, U.S. Laundry and Big
Dog,s on the left. As you continue on, just like a
tropical Flagler Boulevard, you will see on both sides
of the street, KFC, McDonald's, Hollywood Video, TCBY
and Hugo Boss.
It seems that the only thing missing in Escazú to
make it exactly like Miami is the ocean.
Continuing on, there exists another constellation
of luxury shopping centers within Escazú with
such chic names as Delights Gourmet, Mommy Basics,
Underwear Options and Dry Clean USA. There are sales
and clearances every week as well as coffee shops where
Perrier is the drink of choice.
It isn't any coincidence, though, that in Escazú you
will find the upper-crust North Americans, with the Ambassador's
residence leading the group, and where, just like in Miami,
there are Venezuelans, Colombians and even a Little Havana,
which is headed by such well known-local Cubans.
The schools have names such as Country Day, Blue Valley,
Saint Mary, Mount View. There is even a Spanish School.
The former forest of Guachipelín and yellow barks
has been turned into condominium complexes that offer a more
secure, yet more boring, lifestyle. Nowadays, you can't even
plant a garden in your backyard, much less have hens to lay
fresh eggs every day.
But what really stands out in the center of this big Floridian
landscape, erect and upright, the great pioneer of this colony,
is the Costa Rica Country Club.
Most of the girls are blonds; they go to the gym and
they wear tight, attention-getting clothes. They use
Louis Vuitton or Burberry purses, Chopard watches,
styled hair and sun visors. The guys drive only the
coolest cars, wear only the coolest sunglasses, aerodynamic
and galactic, and talk only about business, parties
and their trips outside the country.
And to finish off, the Escazu newspaper, as the Miami Herald,
has its name in English: Escazú News.
Santa
Ana, nestled in the Valley of the Sun, is more rural
than Escazú. This fast-growing village is about four
miles west of Escazú, and a good mix of Costa Ricans
and foreigners resides here. Santa Ana's warm climate makes
it an almost perfect place to live. At one time Santa Ana
was a popular weekend retreat and summer home for well-to-do
Costa Ricans. Many foreigners and ordinary Costa Ricans reside
in this town of 2,500 inhabitants now. You can get to Santa
Ana by taking the old scenic road from Escazú through
the hills or by the new highway.
We recommend checking out this town. Downtown Santa
Ana retains a small-town flavor. It is more rural and
less developed than Escazú but offers good supermarkets
and some shopping. You don't have to go to San José for
your essential products. Lately there has been a building
boom in the area. Homes here are more reasonably priced
than in Escazú. Luxury homes in a secure gated
community are a popular choice for middle-to-high-income
budgets. An upscale fourbedroom home in a gated community
will cost between $225,000 and $450,000.
Ciudad Colón, about 20 minutes beyond Santa
Ana, is the farthest western suburb of San José.
Some foreigners live here. A new highway from Ciudad
Colón to the town of Orotina is in the works
and is expected to reduce driving time to the beach
from the Central Valley in half.
Beyond Ciudad Colón is the mountain town of
Puriscal. The cooler mountain climate makes this town
appealing. This town is perfect for people seeking
affordable housing, more land for their money and rural
living. A few properties offer views of both the ocean
and Central Valley. Many people who live in Puriscal
commute daily to San José since bus service
is good.
A bout five miles northwest of San José is
the town of San
Antonio de Belén. It is a laid-back
town behind the airport, just a couple of miles off
the main highway west of Cariari, and another good
spot to live. This town has experienced a great deal
of growth since Intel's mammoth plant opened a few
years ago and Marriott built a five-star hotel in the
area. A couple of nice gated communities can be found
here. Home prices, rent and land cost less than in
Escazú, Santa Ana and Cariari. The Ojo de
Agua recreational complex is also in this area.
Ciudad
Cariari, about five miles west of San José and
about five minutes before the airport, is an upscale
development of mostly newer homes and condos. Housing
in this gated community ranges between $130,000 to
$750,000. This area is perfect for those interested
in country-club living. Within this area are the Cariari
Hotel and Costa Rica's oldest golf course, the Cariari
Country Club, the Los Arcos neighborhood and the American
International School one of the best English-language
schools in the country. A couple of golfer friends
of ours live in this area and really like living next
to the golf course. Right across the main highway from
Cariari sits the Real Cariari Mall.
If you wish to combine an urban life and warmer weather,
you can reside in San José's neighboring city
Alajuela, Costa Rica's second largest city located
almost next to the airport. This quiet city is about
30 minutes by bus from downtown San José and
has everything you want in a city without the city
feeling. The bus service is excellent during the day,
so it is easy to commute to San José if necessary.
Because of the warm climate, many Americans live in
Alajuela, so you can easily make new acquaintances.
The city's shady Central Park is a perfect place to
sit and relax or socialize with the many locals or
fellow expats who gather there in the afternoon. The
park is impressive with a lot of tall, ancient trees
that are a testament to the city's grandeur. There
are other nice parks, movies, restaurants, doctors,
supermarkets and more in this city.
The town's Central Market is only a couple of blocks west
of the Central Park. Meats, fish, vegetables, fresh fruits
and a variety of other odds and ends can be found under one
roof. On weekends the city holds a large outdoor farmer's
market where a lot of bargains can be found. If nothing else
the carnival-like atmosphere of this outdoor market place
provides an excellent opportunity to mingle with the locals.
Many Americans gather in the bar and restaurant area. Some
people say Alajuela is by far the best farmers market in all
of Costa Rica. Other local attractions are a bird zoo, a butterfly
farm, national parks, the spectacular Poás Volcano
and much more.
Housing in the Alajuela area is plentiful and very
reasonably priced compared to San José. Prices
range from about $50,000 to $300,000 and rent begins
at about $400.
La
Garita, a pleasant area west of the airport on
the road to the Central Pacific beach areas of Jacó,
Hermosa and Quepos, is said to have one of the best
climates in Costa Rica. An average year-round temperature
of 72 degrees makes it hard to beat. Many foreigners
live in this town. Some large homes come with large
parcels of land. We have a friend who rented a home
with a pool, a couple of acres of land and a security
guard for a very reasonable price. There is also a
small zoo and an excellent restaurant called La
Fiesta del Maíz.
Heredia,
the City of the Flowers, located halfway between
San José and Alajuela at the foot of Barva Volcano,
is very suitable for living. The surrounding countryside is
very beautiful, especially above the city. The hills overlooking
the city offer some of the most spectacular views of the Central
Valley. The climate is cooler here, especially as you go higher
up into the mountains.
This lovely city is only a short distance from San
José by car or bus. Three bus lines offer service
to San José every five minutes.
We know a lot of foreigners who live in Heredia and commute
daily to San José and other neighboring areas.
Heredia's Beautiful Central Park
Heredia
is a quaint university town and still retains its rich colonial
heritage. Many old Spanish-style buildings made of adobe with
tile roofs can still be found near the center of the city.
Heredia's beautiful Central Park is one of the finest in the
country. It has an imposing old church on one side and a large
water fountain. Concerts and music festivals are often held
in the park.
Plans call for the construction of a Paseo de la
Cultura, a cobblestone pedestrian street. This
eight-block promenade will run east-west from the
National University along the north side of the Central
Park and end at the Palacio de Deportes. It
will pass though the heart of the city's historical
district, where many old architectural gems are found.
The new San Vicente de Paul public hospital will be
finished by 2008. It will replace the old Heredia hospital
with the same name.
A group of expatriates hang out at a couple of restaurants
in the downtown area. They can be found sitting there every
morning. You will find it easy to strike up a conversation.
You can meet colorful local characters such as Mr. Goldman,
Search Engine Bill, Dr. Rick or Banana Bread Steve.
In recent years, the city's entertainment and nightlife
scene has improved. Bars catering to college students
and thrill-seeking tourists dot the area around the
National University. Numerous Internet cafés
coffee shops and bookstores contribute to the college
atmosphere.
Heredia also has unique restaurants offering international
fare. Pane e Vino is one of the best Italian restaurants
in the country. Paseo de las Flores is a new shopping
mall near the entrance of the city. On Saturday there
is a large open-air farmer's market in the south part
of the city where you can buy fresh fruits and vegetables
at bargain prices.
Many foreign retirees now live in live in Heredia
because of the low cost of housing. Here, you may find
a lot of affordable homes for less than $100,000. For
example, a 1200 square foot home in gated community
can be purchased for about $85,000. Our good friend
Terry Ortiz purchased a 1,500-square-foot house about
two blocks from the huge Hipermás supermarket
in San Francisco de Heredia for about $85,000. At present,
there is a construction boom in small gated communities
on the outskirts of the Heredia area. Heredia is now
one of the fastest growing areas in the country.
We know several foreigners who rent nice apartments
in downtown Heredia for only a few hundred dollars
per month. Carson Sims has a beautiful three-bedroom
apartment near the university with all of the amenities.
Five or six other Americans live in the same building.
Carson loves his apartment because off its great location.
He says, I can walk around the corner to the pharmacy. I have
three supermarkets within four blocks. There are several restaurants
and places where my friends gather, all within walking distance.
My brother lives in the States and makes more than $500,000
yearly. I would never trade my lifestyle here in Heredia for
his.
San Rafael de Heredia is in the hills above the city
of Heredia. The most notable feature of this area is
the climate, which is considerably cooler than that
in San José. Wealthy Costa Ricans and some foreigners
live there. The town's most salient feature is a huge
church that can be seen from many miles away. The Sunday feria or
outdoor market is a real plus here.
Our good friend Joe Brennen bought a nice home overlooking
San Rafael and the Central Valley for less than $100,000.
If you prefer living in a cooler alpine-like setting,
you can find nice homes and cabins all over the pine-covered
mountains surrounding the Central Valley. Los Angeles
de Heredia, to the north of San Rafael, is a favorite
with foreigners because of its pastoral setting. The
nearby areas around Monte de la Cruz and San José de
la Montaña are all similar but sparsely populated
and cooler because of their higher elevation. We know
several Americans who live near the mountain towns
of Barva and Birrí.
San Isidro de Heredia is an absolutely spectacular
area to the east of Heredia. Gently rolling, verdant
hills and meadows surround this Swiss-alpine like town.
This area remains green even during the dry season
due to its cool climate. Many Americans live in the
San Isidro area. Bruce form San Diego just purchased
a huge parcel of land with an unbelievable view of
the Irazú Volcano. He paid about $80,000 for
the land with a farmhouse. He is presently refurbishing
it and plans to build his dream home on another part
of the property. Our friend Ana Brown built a quaint
home in the Calle Chávez area of San
Isidro.
Another neighboring city, Cartago,
just over the hill from San José, was the former capital
of Costa Rica during the colonial period. The city lies 30
minutes to the east of San José, which became the capital
after an earthquake destroyed old Cartago. Perhaps the cooler
year-round temperatures explain why fewer North Americans
reside here. Many Costa Ricans live in Cartago who work in
San José, since bus service between the two cities
is excellent. The nicest thing about Cartago is its proximity
to the beautiful Orosi Valley, which lies about 60 minutes
east of San José. Viewed from above, this Shangrila-esque
valley is breathtaking. The spring-like temperatures on the
valley floor stay the same all year. On one end of the valley
is a large man-made lake, Cachí, and a park where one
can participate in many recreational activities, from picnicking
to water sports. The lake is fed by the famous Reventazón
white-water river that runs through the Orosi Valley The area's
other main attractions are waterfalls, nature reserves and
several hot springs. We consider the Orosí Valley one
of the most beautiful spots in the country and are surprised
that more foreigners don't choose to live here.
The Route of the Saints is an area near Cartago where
some foreigners reside. This part of Costa Rica is
one of the few places where you can find dairy farms,
coffee plantations, log cabins, country inns, pine
trees and fresh mountain air. Surrounded by mountains,
the towns in this area are all named after different
saints, which is how it became known as La Ruta
de los Santos. Some of the towns are perched precariously
on mountainsides while other s are found at the bottom
of valleys. Tarbarca, San Ignacio de Acosta, San Cristóbal
Sur, San Marcos de Tarrazú and Santa María
de Dota are the major towns along the scenic route.
Grecia, known as the cleanest town in Costa Rica,
is also a place worth investigating. The area around
the town is absolutely beautiful. Gently rolling, verdant
hills and sugarcane fields with a backdrop of spectacular
mountains in the distance dominate the surrounding
landscape. This tranquil agricultural town, about 30
miles from San José, has a beautiful Central
Park, a famous church made of metal panels and an ideal
climate. On Sunday evenings many residents stroll around
the park just like in the days of old. The hills surrounding
the town are full of nice spots to live. Grecia will
soon be the home of Plaza Grecia, which will house
more than 75 shops, a supermarket, food court, movie
theaters and be one of the first malls constructed
in the area.
Grecia is rapidly becoming a bedroom community for
people from San José. Many people choose to
live here because of the laid-back lifestyle, cheaper
housing prices and other factors. They make the hour-long
commute to and from San José by bus or car on
weekdays. In the last five years, more than 20 housing
projects have been built and close to 1,500 construction
permits have been issued in the area around Grecia.
There is no indication this trend will change.
Nearby is the town of Sarchí, famous for its
handicrafts and wood products. Other towns worth checking
out for living in the west are Naranjo, San
Ramón and Palmares. We know of a few Americans and Europeans
who live in and around these laid-back towns and are
very happy. Our friend Geno and his Costa Rican wife
live on the outskirts of Naranjo in a beautiful 3,000-square-foot
home they purchased for less than $100,000.
Some absolutely beautiful areas can be found above
the town of San Ramón. Helene from Austria has
a hotel and health resort in the Piedades Sur de San
Ramón. Located in the coastal mountains, it
has an absolutely incredible view of the Gulf of Nicoya.
The town of Palmares is known for its yearly carnival
held every January. The town fills up with Costa Ricans
and foreigners in search of a good time.
Nestled in the foothills at the Western edge of the
Central Valley at about 2,500 feet in altitude, the
picturesque rural town of Atenas offers panoramic views
of the Central Valley and nearby volcanoes. They town's
weather is it's claim to fame. According to National
Geographic, Atenas has one the world's best climate.
Atenas has a friendly, small-town, laid-back atmosphere
with about 5,000 residents. Another 15,000 people live
in the surrounding area. The town is clean with a beautiful
central park lined with palm trees. There are schools,
banks, several supermarkets, a health care center,
an Internet café and good restaurants. About
200 North Americans and Europeans have chosen to live
in here. Many Costa Ricans have their country homes
in the surrounding Hills. In general, Three-bedroom
homes range from $80,000 to $150,000.
Orotina, located over the hill and west of Atenas, is a nice-size
little tico town. Fruit and nuts is what they do best,
but there are plenty of horse farms and cattle ranches around.
This area is gradually developing; there is a lot of land
for sale. If you want a quiet Costa Rican town, Orotina could
be for you. Few North Americans live here, but there is a
bilingual school where some people send kids there from as
far away as Jacó Beach.
Downtown Atenas has Good Shopping
For those seeking a more relaxed lifestyle, many other
small towns and fincas (farms) are scattered
all over the Central Valley. These places are ideal
for people who can do without the excitement found
in and around large cities.
The Northern Zone - The
Northern Pacific Zone - The
Central Pacific - The South
Pacific - The Caribbean Zone
- One of a Kind Tours - Concierge
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