The
Central pacific
The Central Pacific is one of
Costa Rica's jewels. The closest and most accessible beaches
to San José are found in this area. The beaches are sunny
all year round, the weather is hot and the ocean warm.
Here is one expats take on the
Central Pacific. "It was our experience that the west coast
was very much like where we came from - San Diego, California.
The ocean was similar to that off California. (but warmer)
There has been a lot of American-style investment there.
Prices, as you'd expect, are higher as you get toward the
water. "
The Central Pacific's largest
city, Puntarenas, sits on a long, narrow peninsula
or spit in the Gulf of Nicoya, a short 62 miles from San
José. It is the capital of the province with the same name.
Costa Ricans affectionately refer to Puntarenas as "El
Puerto" or "port." For many years it was the country's
main beach before the northern and other Central Pacific
beach areas became accessible. The beach is far from being
the country's most beautiful with its black sand and murky
waters. However, this does not stop ticos from flocking
there on weekends. The Paseo de los Turistas is a seaside
walkway which has a series of open-air bars and restaurants
that dot the waterfront and add to this city's atmosphere.
This tourist walkway is also the place where huge cruise
ships anchor. Puntarenas is one of the best places to savor
fresh seafood. We know a few Americans who call this port
city their home.
In the Central
Pacific Coast
region to the south of Puntarenas are superb locations for
living. This area has something for everyone: swimming and
surfing beaches, excellent sport fishing, developed and undeveloped
beaches and natural parks. This area is a magnet for beach
lovers due to its proximity to San José. Its attraction will
increase when the new Ciudad Colón-Orotina-Caldera Highway
is finished. The new highway should reduce the driving time
from San José to any of the Central Pacific beaches by about
an hour.
Just North of Jacó, at Bahía
Herradura, is the new, upscale Los
Sueños Resort,
considered to be the premier resort and marina in Central
America. It is also the largest full-service marina between
Mexico and Chile is found here. In addition to the boat facilities,
the marina offers restaurants, bars, a supermarket, gift
shop, marine supplies and concessions for jet skis, kayaks,
water skiing, scuba diving, snorkeling and other recreational
activities. There is also an 18-hole golf course, a 212-room
palatial Marriott Hotel, home sites and condominiums for
sale and a number of nature walks. Condo prices start at
around $350,000.
If you like a lot of action,
good waves and partying, we recommend Jaco Beach.
It is conveniently located just 72 miles from San José. This
Key-West like town is a very popular weekend retreat with
both ticos and foreigners since it is currently little
less than two hours from San José and has excellent tourist
infrastructure. An eclectic mixture of foreigners and locals
gives Jacó sort of a cosmopolitan feeling.
Because of its fame, Jacó is
usually packed on most summer weekends, holidays like Easter
Week and special occasions such as surf tournaments. Boredom
will not be a factor here. There are pizza parlors, international
restaurants, handicraft shops, bars, discos, bars where you
can party until the early hours of the morning. Water sports,
especially surfing and sport fishing, attract scores of people
to the area.
Just two miles down the coast
from Jacó, lies Playa Hermosa. Do not confuse this
idyllic surf community with the beach with the same name
in Guanacaste. Because of good year-round waves, most people
come to Hermosa to surf, however there is plenty to keep
non-surfers busy, especially at nearby bustling Jacó. There
has been a lot of building in this area, especially 10 miles
south in Esterillos Este and near the town of Parrita.
The Quepos-Manuel Antonio area
is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations
and most beautiful beach resorts in the world. Few other
places in Costa Rica offer so much in one spot. Some of the
areas most prominent features are white sand, paradise -
like beaches, beautiful hidden coves, abundant wildlife,
world-class sport fishing, good nightlife, fine cuisine,
unforgettable sunsets from many vantage points and even a
chance to mingle with the Hollywood crowd at a 5-star hotel.
The majority of foreigners live in and around the town of
Quepos and along the road leading to Manuel Antonio National
Park just a few kilometers south and over the hill. The
park is nestled on some 682 plus hectareas of land. The park
receives more visitors than any other park or reserve in
the country. If you are a nature lover you can always explore
the national park or go to one of its pristine white-sand
beaches that slope down from tropical forests into the clear
blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. The park teems with paradisiacal
flora and fauna.
Charming downtown Quepos replete
with bars, boutiques, eateries, a mini-bookstore, good nightlife
and a whole lot more to keep local foreigners entertainrd.
Quepos is also know for its sports fishing scene and is the
site of several yeally tournaments. It comes as no surprise
that the area's beauty, popularity and abundant activities
have made quepos
real estate very expensive. Land prices
start at about $75,000 an acre and rise sharply. On the downside
the area between Quepos and Manuel Antonio Park has been
over built. Hotels, business and even an old airplane converted
into a restaurant line the highway.
The infrastructure is good here
with a public hospital, an airport for small planes and
limited docking facilities.
San Isidro de El General, a
half-hour inland from Dominical and located along the Pan-American
Highway, offers a warm climate and inexpensive housing. It
is considered to be the fastest growing city in Central America. Montegeneral is
the city's new shopping mall. It has a supermarket, three
movie screens, 9 restaurants in a food court and 57 stores.
San Isidro is off the beaten path but some foreigners make
this small city their permanent home. Real estate is reasonably
priced in comparison with some of the areas in the Central
Valley. There are many ocean-view properties in the mountains
along the highway between San Isidro and Dominical.
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