IL Postcard

Why I Love Costa Rica

Date: 07/10/2008

Friday, July 11, 2008

Read more about Costa Rica in International Living Postcards —your daily escape

Dear International Living Reader,

Volcanoes, nightlife, shopping, the beach, zip lines, rainforests, and waterfalls, not to mention the surfing. Costa Rica has so much to offer that sometimes I don’t know where to start. It’s amazing to be in a place where you can be at an active volcano at night and be in a hammock on the beach lapping a pineapple margarita the next day. Actually, you can be vacationing in any of Costa Rica’s six different regions in less than an hour. I’m telling you, it’s like six countries in one.

The people here are so nice. Everybody seems to be well educated and friendly. They really like Americans, and the weather is perfect. The San José Valley never gets oppressively hot. Where I live, in Heredia, it’s in the mid-70s almost all the time. My house has no air-conditioning or heating, and I don’t need it.

Don’t forget the shopping—big-box stores like Price Smart (think Costco), Hypermas (warehouse supermarket on steroids), Staples, and Wal-Mart are close by. Any little thing you need is available here—it’s amazing. When I am at home, I never feel as if I’m in an underdeveloped country.

Then there is the dining... Sometimes I eat at Tony Roma's or Hooters. For fine dinning, you should try Cerutti’s, a top-notch international restaurant where you can sit among Italian antiques. You’ll need reservations on Friday or Saturday night. I recommend the Corvina, and don’t forget to check out the massive wine list. Then there are the sidewalk cafés, where delicious and healthy Costa Rica-style home cooking—just like you would find on a local dinner table—can be had for $3.50 a plate.

Let’s not forget the great warm-water surf, beautiful rainforest packed with exotic animals, and the warm-water river rafting. I spent last night soaking in a hot river at the foot of the active Arenal volcano. I could see the cone glowing in the night sky while lounging in a pumice-bottom natural pool. Then I had an inexpensive massage before retiring for the night. What a life!

And the nightlife in Costa Rica is perfect for carousing and flirting. If you like to gamble, the legendary casino action won’t disappoint you. Upscale Escazu is a yuppie paradise where you can dance till dawn. It’s packed with trendy nightspots and restaurants. Wherever you go throughout Costa Rica you’ll meet other expats with time to talk and share their adventures.

The real estate market is depressed back home, but there is building going on everywhere here. It’s unbelievable. There are still undiscovered spots that can produce legacy purchases. I’ve met people who have retired on the money they have made from one purchase.

Oh, I forgot to mention that everybody from Bill Gates to Gwyneth Paltrow either owns in Costa Rica or is searching out investments here. Leonardo DiCaprio was seen surfing in Santa Teresa and Woody Harrelson owns property on the Osa Peninsula.

This place is like the Beverly Hills of Latin America, and its tiny size guarantees its property value. Thirty percent of the country is national park or preserved. If you take away the mountainous areas and the most remote spots, it leaves only 25% of the entire country ripe for property investment—that’s only 5,000 square miles, roughly the size of San Diego County.

My friends back home tell me that the Costa Rica buzz is everywhere. This place is happening. Costa Rica is a great value because you get so much from such a tiny country. Come see for yourself.

Phil Baker
For International Living

Editor’s note: If you like the sound of living full- or part-time in Costa Rica, we can show you where to find the best beachfront homes for a lot less than the stars pay, as well as what to do when you get there and where to find beautiful locations off the tourist trail. Find out more here.

Read related IL Postcards:

- Where to Find Undiscovered Costa Rica

- How One IL Reader Saved $14,910 on Surgery in Costa Rica

- Where to Find the Best-value Lots in Costa Rica