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The Central Pacific is one of Costa Rica's jewels.
It extends from Puntarenas in the north to the Barú
River in the south. The closest and most accessible beaches
to San José are found in this area. The beaches are
sunny year-round, the weather is hot and the ocean warm. Whether
you want to retire or just live in a tropical paradise, the
Central Pacific Coast has something for you. Some of the outdoor
activities the area offers are: golfing, sport fishing, yachting,
canopy tours, river rafting, parasailing, hang gliding, mountain
biking, snorkeling, diving, kayaking, bird watching and a
lot more. There are even places to study Spanish and practice
yoga in this area.
Here is one expat's 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 of California (but warmer).
There has been a lot of American-style investment here.
Prices, as you'd expect, are higher as you get closer
to the water.
The Central Pacific's largest city, Puntarenas (meaning sandy
point), sits on a long, narrow peninsula or spit in the Gulf
of Nicoya, a short 62 miles from San José. The town
itself is about three miles long but just a few blocks wide.
It is also the capital of the province of the same name. Costa
Ricans affectionately refer to Puntarenas as El Puerto
or the port. Due to its closeness Puntarenas has been the
main beach destination for Costa Ricans from the Central
Valley for more than a century. Ticos still flock
here to spend the day or weekend. The seven-mile brown-sand,
Blue Flag beach runs along the narrow spit of land. The beach
is cleaned and raked every day. The Paseo de los Turistas
is a seaside walkway with a series of souvenir kiosks, openair
bars and restaurants that dot the waterfront and add to the
city's atmosphere. This tourist promenade is also the place
where dozens of huge cruise ships anchor yearly. It buzzes
with activity day and night. Puntarenas also boasts year-round
spectacular sunsets.
Puntarenas is also home to the country's only aquarium,
and is one of the best places to savor fresh seafood,
including chuchecas (ink-black clams). In fact,
the people who live in Puntarenas are affectionately
called chuchequeros. Some of the best marisquerías or
seafood restaurants in the country are found all along
the Paseo de los Turistas. Puntarenas is also
the home of another local delight called the Churchill,
a beverage similar to a snow cone over which layers
of syrup and ice cream are poured.
We know a few Americans who call this port city their
home. Bill, is a colorful local character who used
to live in the San
Jose area and manage a huge penthouse right in the heart of the city. When he started
to receive his monthly Social Security checks he moved
to Puntarenas and seems to be very content there.
The
Central Pacific Coast region to the south of Puntarenas offers
superb locations for living. This area has something for
everyone: swimming and surfing beaches, excellent sport fishing,
developed and undeveloped beaches and natural parks. The area
is a magnet for beach lovers because of its proximity to San
José. Its attraction will increase when the new Ciudad
Colón-Orotina-Caldera Highway is finished.
Construction of this 18-mile highway is scheduled
to begin soon. The new highway should reduce the driving
time from San José to the Central Pacific beaches
by about an hour.
Four miles north of Jacó, at Bahía Herradura,
is the upscale Los
Sueños Marriott Ocean and Golf Resort,
considered the premier resort and marina in the area. Los
Sueños is set on a 1,100-acre property surrounded by
protected rainforest. The largest full-service marina between
Mexico and Chile is found here. This 200-slip marina can accommodate
vessels from 20 to 200 feet with all of the amenities international
boaters expect. For more information about the marina, call
1-866-865-9759 toll-free or see http://www.lsrm.com.
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, par-72 championship
golf course, a 201-room palatial Marriott Hotel, home
sites and deluxe condominiums for sale and a number
of nature walks. All of the condos and hotel feature
are done in elegant Spanish colonial-style architecture.
Condo prices start at about $500,000 and are rising.
Some affluent visitors have been known to visit Los
Sueños and like it so much they never left.
If you like a lot of action, good waves and partying, we
recommend Jaco Beach. Lately, it has be come known
as Jacopulco due to the many high-rise condominiums
under construction.
Jacó 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 only about two hours from San
José. With a floating population of about 40,000,
it is by far the most developed beach town in the Central
Pacific region and has excellent tourist infrastructure.
An eclectic mixture of foreigners and locals gives
Jacó a sort of cosmopolitan feeling.
Because of its fame, Jacó is usually packed
on most summer weekends, holidays such as Easter Week
and special occasions such as surf tournaments. Lodging
ranges from four-star hotels to small, inexpensive
cabins for locals on a tight budget. Boredom will not
be a factor here.
There are pizza parlors, international restaurants,
handicraft shops, bars, discos and late-night spot
where you can party until the wee hours of the morning.
Water sports, especially surfing and sport fishing,
attract scores of people to the area. You can also
explore the natural wonders of nearby forests on foot,
horseback or a canopy ride through the treetops.
The Jacó community's new Plaza Coral Mall features
60 stores, a three-screen international movie theater,
a food court and two formal restaurants. The new mall
will cater to both tourists and local residents. A
new condo
in Jaco Beach area generally costs around
$200,000 to $400,000. See some of the best Central
pacific and Jaco Beach area Real Estate
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. Hermosa (Beautiful),
as it s name indicates, is protected as a national wild life
refuge. Because of good year-round waves, most people come
to Hermosa to surf. Many international surfing tournaments
are held here every year. 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. This area has long, uncrowded
beaches surrounded by African palm trees, estuaries and mangroves.
Del Pacifico is a huge project in the
Esterillos Este vicinity.
Other nice beaches between Esterillos Este and Quepos are Bejuco, La Palma, Banderas and Palo
Seco. The town of Parrita, where you can find almost any service
you may need, is also found to the south of Esterillos Este.
Parrita boasts a long seven-mile beach. There are a few new
housing developments being touted in this area.
The Quepos and adjoining Manuel Antonio area is one
of the country's most popular tourist destinations,
and offers some of the most beautiful beach resorts
in the world. Few other places in Costa Rica offer
so much in one spot. You will find endless activities
to keep you busy in this quaint beach town. Some of
the areas most prominent features are white sand, paradise
- like beaches, beautiful hidden coves, abundant wildlife,
good nightlife, fine cuisine, unforgettable sunsets
from many vantage points and even a chance to mingle
with the Hollywood crowd at a five-star hotel. The
area offers other activities such as rafting on either
the Naranjo or Savegre rivers, horseback riding, four-wheeling,
hiking and canopy tours in the incredible mountains
that serve as a backdrop to the area.
Most 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 hectares 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.
Downtown Quepos is a charming beach community surrounded
by forested hills facing the Pacific Ocean. It is replete
with bars, boutiques, eateries, a mini-bookstore, good
nightlife and a whole lot more to keep local foreigners
entertained. Quepos is also known for its sport fishing
scene and is the site of several yearly tournaments.
Hotels, businesses and even an old airplane converted
into a restaurant are scattered around the hills and
line the highway between Quepos and Manuel Antonio.
Many of the hotels are situated on large properties
that extend into the forest. It comes as no surprise
that the area's beauty, popularity and abundant activities
have made real estate very expensive. Land prices are
high due to the popularity of the area.
The infrastructure is good here with a public hospital,
an airport for small planes and limited docking facilities.
Construction of a new 200- slip $11 million marina
began in 2006. On the downside, the area between Quepos
and Manuel Antonio National Park has been over built
and there is little land available near the coast.
Consequently, more and more people are purchasing land
in the spectacular foothills and mountains to the east.
One of the best opportunities we have seen are the
spectacular
ocean view lots in Manuel Antonio Heights.
For more information call toll-free 1-888-581-1786
or e-mail
robert@costaricaretirementvacationproperties.com.
Matapalo located about 15 miles south of Quepos, between
Quepos and Dominical, is a little town with a laid-back beach
community and a virtually unspoiled beach. The long beach
is perfect for walking, horseback riding or just soaking up
the rays. A lot of beachfront property can still be this area.
There are also many
beautiful homes and lots with ocean views in the foothills
behind Matapalo.The town has a few hotels, restaurants
and places to buy basic groceries.
We know quite a few foreigners who live here. Our
good friend Robert Klenz has built a large equestrian
development called the Hills of Portalón in
this mountains high above this area.
All of the property between Quepos and Dominical will
increase dramatically in value when the last unpaved
stretch of the costal highway is finally paved with
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