Back in the early 1980’s the government of Costa Rica decided that they wanted to create one area that could be the focal point of tourism and foreign investment. People could have easy access into the area, enjoy the amazing wonders of this country, and return with relative ease. They looked all over the country and picked this area, Golfo de Papagayo, or the Gulf of the Parrot. By "Golfo de Papagayo area" we are referring primarily to a span of beach towns from Papagayo southwards. These include Papagayo itself, Playas del Coco, Playa Hermosa, Playa Panama, Playa Ocotal, Matapalo and Sardinal, each with it's own flavor and personality.
With the exception of our two port cities, Limón and Puntarenas stacked high with container ships; ALL of Costa Rica is gorgeous, but that doesn’t make all locations a great place to live, retire or invest. You have to understand that the majority of this country is very inaccessible; the Caribbean and Southern Zones don’t even have roads to most of the area, as they are huge National Parks. The center is lined with a mountain range, and most of us don’t want to live at the base of active volcanoes. Over 70% of this country is a rain forest: Key word RAIN, where some areas receive up to 500 inches a year of rainfall. Wow! Beautiful, but not where the majority of us want to reside. The Capital city of San Jose is like most big cities; lots of traffic, noise and congestion; again not what most of our clients are looking for. The majority of people coming to invest or retire in Costa Rica want the beach and the sunshine.
The province of Guanacaste and, in particular, this area were chosen for a number of reasons.
It has the least amount of rainfall, and is the only area that actually experiences a dry season. From December to May, not one drop of rain falls in this area, like Southern California, making it a truly spectacular place to live, as there is very little humidity of any kind. June to December has very mild rain, similar to parts of Florida, where it might rain 3 or 4 times a week, for one or two hours in the afternoon. October is our one rainy month. The rest of Costa Rica does not experience a dry season, just a less rainy season, as it never stops raining 12 months a year.
The variety of beaches and water conditions are truly unique. The Golfo de Papagayo has huge horseshoe bays where the water is gentle and calm, making it very enjoyable for everyone. Many of the beaches in Costa Rica have monstrous surfing waves, which only a true professional surfer can enjoy. Most of us are not world class surfers, and we want to experience all the other activities and water sports that are available. We have the best scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing, and fishing in the country. There is stand up paddle boarding, catamaran sunset tours and more. The waves are very small, with almost no undertow, so everyone can swim without fear of being crushed: elderly people, little children and families can all enjoy a beautiful day at the beach. There is a gorgeous marina here, where obviously you cannot have one where the waves are 6 to 10 feet tall. If you are a surfer, the world famous Witch’s Rock is just a short boat ride away. Daily trips leave Playas del Coco every morning.
Most important: the Liberia International Airport is only 20 minutes away. After flying 3 to 8 hours to get here, the last thing you want to have to do is get into a shuttle, or rental car, and drive 1 to 3 more hours to get to your destination. Nothing is better than enjoying a cocktail at the beach, half an hour after the wheels of the plane touch down.
Since 2003 when the airport opened, Billions of dollars have been invested here. World class resorts such as the Four Seasons hotel, dot the outer edges of the region. These resorts are the reasons that this particular area has the best infrastructure in the entire country. You see, the resorts have the power to force the government to put in the infrastructure. We have the best roads, electricity, internet and cell phone coverage. There are state of the art hospitals, just a few minutes away, and police, fire and ambulance services very close by. Most of CR has none of these services; NONE, it is a jungle. Because we have these services, the majority of investors purchase here, instead of anywhere else. This has a huge effect on our quality of life as well. As more people come here, the amenities follow, making this the best place in Costa Rica to live and retire. We have dozens of quality restaurants, grocery stores, spas, gyms, coffee shops and more and a huge Ex Pat Community making it very easy to adjust. Everyone speaks English, and there are so many activities to keep you occupied. And with the airport just a few minutes away, it makes it very convenient for family to visit or for you to return home for holidays or special events.
The best part about this area is that it is very close to all the excursions so many people come to Costa Rica to experience. Within an hour or two, there is everything! Active volcanoes, mud baths and hot springs are very nearby, along with white water rafting, zip lining, horseback riding and more. There are jungle tours and remote beaches, coffee excursions and ranches, just a short drive away. The city of Liberia is less than 30 minutes, with all the services you would expect and need. So you truly have the best of worlds, living and investing in the Papagayo area. You have the first world services none of us want to give up, along with the Costa Rican experiences we are all moving here to enjoy.