Where to Live in Costa Rica With a Family

For decades Costa Rica has been amidst the world's premier retirement destinations. Yous'll observe established and welcoming expat communities all across the country. It's easy to make friends to explore the jungle with, or to share an ice-cold, two-buck Pilsen beer while watching the sun fix from a beach. And, given the many English speakers here, you don't need fluent Spanish to fit in (though knowing some phrases helps). Information technology all adds upward to an easy, seamless integration into Costa Rican life.

Stick your toes in the sand and let the surf wash your worries away. Fill your days fishing, surfing, or scuba diving amid vividly colored tropical fish. Or settle in a mount boondocks where hummingbirds cease by your garden every day.

Stuff your shopping bags with a week'southward worth of delicious fruit, vegetables, staff of life, meat, and cheese from the local farmers' marketplace for $40. And modernistic highways mean that access to big-urban center conveniences, U.S.-brand stores, and world-course hospitals is straightforward.

With and so much choice, picking the correct Costa rica haven off your shortlist just depends on what yous want. In the video beneath,ILCosta rica Contributor Kathleen Evans takes us through the top five retirement spots in the country.

Transcript:

Hola, this is Kathleen Evans, International Living'southward Costa rica correspondent. Today, I'm going to take you on a journey effectually Costa rica and nosotros're going to talk virtually the six most pop regions in the state.

Now, International Living has been covering Costa Rica since the inception of the magazine in 1979… so information technology has been a pop place for decades. But what that ways to you is that if you come to Republic of costa rica, y'all're not going to exist a pioneer. Everybody has done this already for yous. Then, you're going to find things like North American fashion civilities, better infrastructure, more than paved roads, better schools (if you have kids), shopping at your fingertips. These are the sort of things yous might not find in some of the less expensive or rustic countries that you might be considering.

So, allow'due south start off with the number ane expat region.

one. The Key Valley

The Central Valley encompasses the capital letter metropolis of San Jose and pretty much runs from San Ramon to Cartago, which is most xc miles.

Now, the Central Valley is a bit of a misnomer because it's not actually a valley. It'southward an elevated plateau ranging from iii,000 to v,000 feet. And because of that summit, there's perfect weather in that location, and every expat will tell you that's 1 of the main reasons they chose to live at that place. Many of the homes don't even take heating or air conditioning, rarely getting above 80 F or below 60 F almost anywhere.

Now you lot can live big-metropolis living in the middle of San Jose. That'due south going to offer yous museums, fine art galleries, sports, entertainment, all kinds of shopping, large-box stores, and of course, the best medical in the state as well. Now, a lot of the expats who there choose to live in 1 of the suburbs, such as Santa Ana or Escazú, to proper name some of the most popular ones. This way, they can enjoy suburban living close to the city for anything, but likewise enjoy life a piffling bit exterior the city with its spectacular mountain views all around.

But also, part of the Cardinal Valley are other smaller towns like Atenas, Grecia, Cartago, or San Ramon, which is a little bit bigger than some of the aforementioned. Each of them has their own little personality, a very tight expat community, cute housing options, lovely developments, and that sort of thing.

They're nestled in the mountains and have gorgeous views. Y'all'll detect coffee plantations, carbohydrate cane, and that sort of thing, and so it's pretty much any your style is… if y'all don't want to alive on the beach etc., you can find it in the Central Valley.

Some of the other things I wanted to mention. The Key Valley is also where our primary international airport is. The airdrome code is SJO. Information technology'southward in suburban Alajuela, right next to the urban center, and what's nice about choosing to live there is that you lot are right in the middle of the land. And then, if you do like to travel around and explore new things, you're kind of right in the middle of the activeness. They're the reasons why about seventy percent of the population of the country cull to live in the Central Valley.

two. Arenal

So side by side upwards, nosotros're going to be talking near the Lake Arenal area. The lake is in the northwestern part of the country. It's the country's largest freshwater lake and it's nestled between the provinces of Alajuela and Guanacaste.

Now, why do people similar to live in the Lake Arenal area? Well, for one, y'all're not going to discover large scale evolution like you will in some of the other communities around the state. It sits on this beautiful xxx-3 square mile freshwater lake and many of the newer homes that they're building in the small towns that top the lake comes with a boat slip so you lot can actually enjoy water sports or fishing out on the lake equally well.

Now the most popular expat town on the lake is called Nuevo Arenal and it's small, rural country-living but like all of the other towns. But you will observe everything you demand for day-to-day living—gas stations, restaurants, shopping, pharmacies, banks, and that sort of thing. And then, a lot of people are choosing to live there.

There'southward also a lovely community in La Fortuna, which is on the far side, actually closer to the volcano. At that place's a modest aerodrome in that location and a not bad multitude of different restaurants. Some of them are very high-end actually because it's a big tourist destination. Expats and tourists have been coming for years to take advantage of the beauty of the area and to savour this cute volcano.

At that place are lots of outdoor activities. There's the national park where you can enjoy everything from zip-lining, horseback riding, hiking, and whitewater rafting. So, there's a lot of outdoor activities bachelor. There're besides these beautiful waters and so many of the hotels of hot springs. You lot can purchase a day laissez passer to go enjoy theirs or you can just become out in nature. The locals know where to notice these beautiful springs. You can actually sit back in the rapids and enjoy the geothermal waters that are very salubrious for the mind, body, and soul.

As I mentioned, in that location aren't big developments everywhere. This is country living. So a lot of people who like the large city activity might find it a little bit too quiet here. However, the expats who alive there, savour that area because they're completely one with nature. There're mountains surrounding you and it'south very quiet.

Now, as far as major medical, you're not going to notice it right here. There are some small clinics in the surface area, or there is a boondocks merely of the lake called Tilaran, where yous can detect some larger medical centers. Merely if there'southward anything major, you lot would have to go to Liberia or San Jose.

The lake surface area is virtually an equal altitude from both of the principal airports, which is squeamish to take that choice if you want to fly in one and out the other. And as far as the weather, it'due south absolutely beautiful. You'll have no demand for heat or air-conditioning.

So, all of these reasons make it a swell expat destination.

three. The Gold Declension

The pop beaches of the Gold Declension each have their own customs, their own personality, their ain color of sand and type of h2o, whether it'southward a dandy surfing beach or a quiet, calm cove.

We're looking at Playa Hermosa, Playas del Coco, Las Catalinas, Playa Potrero, Flamingo, Conchal, Tamarindo, on south to places like Nosara and Samara, and all the way down to the bottom to Santa Teresa and Malpais. We've got a lot of popular expat beaches all forth the Gold Coast. So why practice people choose to live there?

Well, for 1, in that location's the least amount of pelting in Guanacaste. Then, if y'all similar a lot of sunshine, this is the best place for yous to exist in Costa Rica. It's consistently warm to hot temperatures, rarely getting below 79 F at the coldest.

Once they opened Liberia International Airport, commerce really started exploding hither considering the folks that lived here didn't have to make that iv-60 minutes drive to San Jose anymore. So we've got an international airport, you accept private and public hospitals, y'all've got large box stores that have moved in, you accept an immigration role, and you have a drivers' license office. Fifty-fifty 10 years ago, yous weren't able to practice all those things you can do in Republic of liberia now then it's made this embankment expanse extremely popular. There are more championship golf courses in the Gilded Coast area than the balance of Costa rica. And there is excellent pacific diving off the declension of Las Catalinas' islands, which has gained a lot of popularity with defined.

Now, as I mentioned, every embankment has its own personality. So, if you like a touristy international boondocks with lots of restaurants and dissimilar food choices and things to do, you might desire to look at a place similar Playas del Coco or Tamarindo. But then there are also lots of trivial sweet, serenity communities, and the merely manner to observe information technology is to go in your car and drive the coast. So I do recommend doing that if y'all're interested in the beach areas of Republic of costa rica.

Now one other thing I wanted to mention about Nicoya, which is all role of this one peninsula, is that it'due south considered 1 of the world'southward but 5 "blue zones." Now, maybe you've never heard of that before, only this is something that National Geographic researchers have come beyond effectually the world. They noticed these five zones where there is an unusually large number of centenarians or people who are living over 100 years erstwhile. And the deeper that they dug into this, the more than they plant out that these blue zones share some really important things similar abundant sunshine for Vitamin D, less processed foods, active lifestyles, living off the land, close ties with friends and family, and a deep religion. And that's ane of the things you'll find in this region. Yous'll also discover a lot of yoga studios, healing retreats, etc. So, information technology makes this part of the land a quite cute and unique identify to alive.

4. Central Pacific Declension

The Central Pacific Coast stretches from Puntarenas to Manuel Antonio. The virtually popular expat places here would be Playa Herradura, where there is a large upscale development chosen Los Sueños, Playa Jaco, Esterillos, and down the coast to Quepos and Manuel Antonio.

The Central Pacific coast is the about established in the country. These are the beaches that are closest to the capital in San Jose. For people who want to exist within an hour, or an 60 minutes or 2 of the metropolis, they cull to live in this part of the country so they can become to San Jose hands. It is the centre of your all-time healthcare, shopping, and it's close to an international airport.

There are two large marinas at that place. One in Herradura at Los Sueños and one in Quepos, which has recently been expanded. And so, you're going to see a lot of great sport fishing and that sort of thing because of these two splendid marinas.

The Cardinal Declension is a little more topical and lusher. Information technology's not quite equally dry as Guanacaste so you'll see a bit more of a rainy flavour here, but the tradeoff is that everything is greener.

There are a couple of skilful surfing spots along the coast. I of those beingness Playa Hermosa, where we meet a lot of international surfing competitions. In that location are too many housing choices. And then, if you'd like something that is kind of like the "Vegas of Republic of costa rica" on the beach, you can find that in Jaco. There are casinos, there are all kinds of nightlife, shopping, and of course, beautiful beaches in that location besides. But and then at that place's overnice, quieter places similar Esterillos Este where you can bask some affordable housing in the area and a tranquility neighborhood.

The virtually visited national park is Manuel Antonio, which is admittedly stunning. Some of the prettiest beaches are there also. Information technology's also dwelling to the largest LGBTQ+ community. So if you lot're looking for an alternative lifestyle, it is very gay friendly there. It's a big arts community as well. You can find lovely housing all forth the coast and there is more than clear title property in this office of the country, where you can really ain the title to the state on the beach, compared to some of the other places in the country.

v. The Southern Zone

The Southern Zone encompasses this entire area on the Panamanian border. Nosotros're really looking at the Costa Ballena area, which is the Whale Coast, and the trio of cities—Playa Dominical, Playa Uvita, and Ojochal. You'll also find the Osa Peninsula and our main national park, Corcovado, which National Geographic researchers call one of the most biodiverse places on earth. And so, it'south pretty incredible.

At present, why would people desire to live in the Southern Zone? Well, everything is eternally green. They exercise see a little bit more than rain than the northern parts of the country. Simply information technology is absolutely stunning, unspoiled, and natural. It's much less adult. The road was paved downwards there, probably going on a decade ago now. Earlier that, things were kind of slow to develop considering it took such a long time to get down there. Merely I can't say plenty nearly the wildlife and biodiversity.

The real estate in that location tends to exist a trivial bit less expensive than some of the other larger beach communities to the north considering it is a little scrap less developed. Now, in Golfito, at that place is a duty-free shopping zone and you can purchase everything from tires to booze to furniture to linens, so much more. And this is a very popular identify for expats and ticos from all over the country to make a road trip to get major appliances and that sort of thing. Besides, in Golfito, they've put in a new mega marina. They are working on phase two currently simply this is the only marina on the Pacific side that can handle mega yachts. It has a giant refueling station and because of this new development, we're seeing this changing pace in Golfito, where we are seeing other new developments are coming and new infrastructure, better airport, and that sort of thing down on the southern side.

In that location's also a couple of islands off that role of the country, such as Isla del Caño and Isla del Coco, which are bully for diving. In fact, the best hammerhead schools in the entire world can be found there. And then, there are a lot of expert reasons for people to experience a footling bit more than off the grid when they live in the southern zone.

Bonus: The Caribbean Coast

When we talk nigh the Caribbean side of Costa Rica, we're talking nigh the costs from the Nicaragua edge to Panama. The top area of this declension is all protected land and besides Tortuguero National Park and then y'all won't find whatsoever development along hither. The same can be said for Puerto Limon. Although information technology is a big metropolis, it'due south a big port city and it's not really popular with expats. So, when you hear about expats talking most living in Limon, they are going to be occupying these tiny little beach communities along the coast, with the many city being Puerto Viejo.

The Caribbean side is often overlooked as a destination, partly considering it's a footling more difficult to get to, and there'southward no major airport there. You're flying into San Jose and it's a expert iv-60 minutes bulldoze down there over the Continental Carve up, which is a two-lane highway, and in the rainy seasons, it's subject to mudslides. Then, that area tends to be a trivial more isolated. They have consistently tropical weather and they don't really have a defined rainy flavor. In Costa Rica, our rainy flavour, or "greenish flavor" as we prevarication to call information technology, runs typically from May through November. Although many of those months you lot might non meet much rain until you get into September or Oct. Just on the Caribbean side, it'southward not unusual to encounter rain in February. Just once again, these are small tropical showers that happen and move away quite quickly.

At present, at that place is an Afro-Caribbean area vibe there which is very unique, and yous won't see information technology anywhere else in Costa rica. Yous will see great influences in the food, for example. They will cook with more chilies. They've got a little more heat in the nutrient, and they like to use coconut milk. It'due south also got the whole Caribbean vibe in the music. You'll hear steel drums and that sort of thing. In that location'southward likewise a Creole language that'due south spoken by many of the locals only you'll hear English language there as well. It'south definitely less developed. You're not going to meet any large evolution, whatever large-scale hotels, or major marquee names. Everything is kind of geared toward eco-tourists, it's small and rustic, which is kind of nice since you've got less stress and it'south easier to unplug there, and that's why a lot of people enjoy living there. It tends to be more gratuitous-spirited and youthful.

There are not any existent big major medical centers. At that place are some in Limon. But for anything that you might have like ongoing treatments, it's probably not the best part of the country because yous would have to travel all the style to San Jose for major treatments. But other things like shopping and that sort of stuff can be found in the port city of Limon.

The nature at that place is absolutely incredible as well, similar to what you would detect in the Southern Zone. Information technology's non unusual to accept a sloth climbing a tree next to y'all, but out in nature. So, a lot of folks really love to get off the grid at that place and if that sounds like something you'd be interested in, I'd highly suggest checking out the Caribbean side.

IL Republic of costa rica Correspondent | Kathleen Evans

Kathleen Evans, grew up in brutal Chicago winters, and lived briefly in England and South Africa before settling in Austin, Texas. In 2013, Kathleen and her husband, Steve, moved to the lively beach town of Tamarindo, Costa Rica. Now an official resident of Costa rica, she found her sunshine and enjoys sharing her experiences of how to brand your dreams a reality.

Click here to read more articles from Kathleen

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Source: https://internationalliving.com/best-places-to-live-in-costa-rica-five-top-expat-havens/

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