Costa Rica has a lot to offer expats.with its tropical climate, eco-friendly culture, beautiful beaches, welcoming people, good healthcare system and relative safety. Many expats.warn newcomers about the high cost of housing and food. In this updated version of the best places to live in Costa Rica we cover many more locations such as Playa Flamingo, Nosara, Lake Arenal, Jaco Beach and Ojochal. This week, we highlight 7 cities & towns from our article, 17 Best Places to Live in Costa Rica:
Guanacaste Region
One member offered advice to a newcomer looking to settle on the beach in Guanacaste, "I recommend looking at Tamarindo, Playas del Coco, and Samara as moderate size beach towns (small compared to full size CR cities) with decent stores and restaurants conveniently available. You could also look at Playa Grande, Potrero, Playa Flamingo, Playa Hermosa, etc for smaller town options - basically, drive along the coastal towns west and south of Liberia to find the right 'vibe' for what you want. You just need to find a town that feels right." Here are 3 popular cities in Guanacaste:
Playa Flamingo, Brasilito & Potrero
Brasilito, Playa Flamingo and Potrero (pop. 1-2k seasonally). "Excellent Expat communities but integrated with the local culture. Also they have two excellent accredited schools if you bring the kids. I would definitely check out Flamingo/Potrero," advised one member. The schools mentioned are La Paz Community School and Costa Rica International Academy (CRIA). Brasilito is 15 minutes north of one of Guanacaste's most famous beaches, Playa Conchal. Playa Flamingo and Potrero are just a few minutes up the coast from Brasilito," said one member. If you're on a look-see trip, you can enjoy sunset at Coco Loco at Flamingo Beach.
Tamarindo
Tamarindo (pop. 6.8k) "My wife and I live in Tamarindo - it has a very nice beach with many restaurants close to the beach. The sand drops off very gradually into the ocean, so you can play in the waves in the shallow water, and perhaps body surf or rent a boogie board (if not a surfer). Just find a stretch where you will not be run over by the numerous surfers coming in from deeper water. There are many expats in Tamarindo, but there's no real "meeting places." Breakfast at Nogui's on the beach is sometimes popular with expats. Tamarindo has about 80 restaurants, so it is a good place to find a variety of choices for eating," wrote one member living in Tamarindo.
Lake Arenal
Lake Arenal (pop. 17k+) is not a coastal area, but a lake 2 hours inland from the Pacific Coast. Lake Arenal includes numerous towns such as Volcan Arenal, Lago Arenal, Nuevo Arenal, La Fortuna, Tronadora and Tilaran. "People in this region, if they are not native to Costa Rica, are generally retired or have formed their own businesses, which is legal in Costa Rica as long as you have your legal residency. [The area is made up of] A very diverse community consisting of the locals (Ticos), US, Canadian, Austrian, Dutch, German, Spanish, Australians, etc. Life at Lake Arenal is very social and active. We have many social gatherings, fundraisers, water sports, and tourist activities for visiting friends and family. Ladies of the Lake, a large, diverse group of women who meet monthly to share their experiences, challenges, great food, and involvement in local charitable and fun activities," wrote one member. Visiting Lake Arenal? Moya's Place in Nuevo Arenal for dinner and live music can't be missed.