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Atenas and Grecia, what's so special?

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Peñarol
  1/22/2012 01:06 EST

Hello, I have been doing a ton of home location research in C.R. both to rent and buy.
I keep finding these two cities (or are they towns?) pop up regularly with more expensive prices.
Atenas self touts as best climate in the world and someone even claims that attribution came from National Geographic but I cannot find such assertion.
Someone else here posted that she could not stand Atenas as it was too hot.
Grécia is another very expensive town. Why is that?
Can someone give me a few names of bad places to stay away from in both Atenas and Grécia. I am sure every town has a bad section.
Any other advise regarding those two towns or offer another alternative to both (I need to have a coffee shop to go to every morning to sip on some capuccino or better yet, a café where to sip some wine at night)

BOBJCR
  1/22/2012 08:51 EST

I HAVE BEEN IN CR SINCE JULY '07, AND HAVE LIVED IN 12 PLACES IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY, ONE OF WHICH WAS ATENAS. I DON'T KNOW WHERE "THE BEST CLIMATE IN THE WORLD" CAME FROM, BUT, AS FAR I AM CONCERNED IT'S CRAPOLA. AFTER 2 MONTHS THERE, THE HEAT WAS TOO MUCH. DAMN NEAR AS HOT AS THE COAST. AND, UNLESS YOU HAVE A CAR IT IS ISOLATED. NOT MANY GOOD PLACES TO BUY A BROAD RANGE OF FOOD. AS FAR A GRECIA GOES, IT IS HIGHER UP SO IT IS MORE BEARABLE. BOTH OF THESE TOWNS HAVE ATTRACTED A LOT OF FOREIGNERS, SO THAT PROBABLY ACCOUNTS FOR THE ELEVATED HOUSING PRICES. I PREFER TO BE FARTHER EAST AND IN THE NORTHERN ENVIRONS OF HEREDIA OR ALAJUELA. BIGGER TOWNS AND A BETTER SELECTION OF COMMERICAL OPTIONS.

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CruzinCostarica
  1/22/2012 11:08 EST

Happy Sunday everyone !

Another Beautiful Summer Day in Costa Rica. :-)

On this subject, I agree with what BOBJCR says, and I would include the also often mentioned San Ramon in that group of popular/ higher priced areas.

Here is some more data as to the "why" of those locations previous popularity.

For over 20 years, the primary 2 roads that would take you from San Jose/Central Valley to the Pacific Coast went from San Jose Airport by Alajuela down the mountain, one going through Atenas then Orotina, one going past Grecia/Sarchi entrance and then San Ramon entrance and further down the mountain.

So Atenas and Grecia and San Ramon were the 1st towns after San Jose for people to settle in if they didn't want to be in San Jose and surrounding suburbs.

And no different then "bedroom communities" outside of major metro areas all over the world, the flow of the bulk of traffic is what made those communities and real estate prices grow.

Frankly, I always thought those areas, particularly Atenas, were too expensive for what they offered, but then I am not a Tourist, and I am more of an explorer, so I already knew of other options.

Also, I think you will.NOT see those 3 towns have the continued growth and popularity and price increases going forward, again, because of the flow of people and traffic has changed. Those 2 roads that pass those 3 town have gone from carrying 95% of the traffic to the coast, to less then 20%.

The new San Jose-Caldera highway that leaves San Jose from the opposite side by of the 2 old roads now has the 80% bulk of traffic flow to the coast, and it will make the towns and communities and real estate along THAT highway be the new bedroom communities and popular growth areas.

It's already happening with the "old" higher elevation areas of the western edges of Escazu, and then in Santa Ana, Cuidad Colon, and the other towns that are close along that highway. It's even shed some light on the pretty little town of Puriscal, which I recommend people look at, nicer weather (IMO) then Atenas, and more of a real Costa Rica community, with WAY lower prices.

By the way, I currently have NOTHING for sale in any of the towns I just mentioned :-) Just passing on information.

But keep in mind, the central valley is HUGE, and has dozens of places to live that are inexpensive and nice, city close but a feeling of living in the country.

The point is to get out and explore yourself, the "lets see where this road takes us" philosophy. Make a new friend in each new area, a local whose family has been there for years, and you will be AMAZED at the hidden gems that the English language websites never mention.

Any questions, email me.

Have a Great Day, and Pura Vida !

Raymond Cruz ~New Business Director
Skype: CostaRicaTeam
Phone 1-330-449-0007

[email protected]

www.SanctuaryinCostaRica.com

www.CostaRicaRealEstateTeam.com

www.Youtube.com/user/CostaRicaRetirement

www.Youtube.com/user/SanctuaryCostaRica

www.Facebook.com/CostaRicaRealEstateTeam

www.Facebook.com/CostaRica.EquestrianWorld

www.Facebook.com/Sanctuary.CostaRica

Peñarol
  1/22/2012 14:10 EST

That's the kind of logistical information I need Ray. I am not an explorer type, it seems such exploration takes years to master but it pays good dividends. I am more sedentary. Again, when looking for property options, nothing in Grecia appeared to be less than $200k. That's way above of what I want to pay for a retired 'stay-put' home. San Ramon had also come up in my search radar (now I know why). Although I am looking for a quiet/safe community, I am not interested in isolation.. My new home has to provide me with peace of mind from crime primarily and the ability to walk or bike to my local morning coffee place or wine and cheese place secondarily. I do not require to be around other expats (although that would be nice) as I am a very social person.
You have awesome imput Ray.
My ideal home is a tiny home (separate structure) in a big lot with the two attributes I list above.

crazyfamof7
  1/22/2012 22:39 EST

I agree with the posts about Atenas not quite living up to the "best climate" name. We arrived in August to what felt like a sauna...almost unbearable heat and humidity...and ceiling fans that felt like they were only for decoration! :o) But on cloudy days, the weather was quite nice and the evenings cool off quite a bit. I do know that where we were, at the same elevation as the Central School, it is warmer than in some of the other barrios.

Atenas does have a few coffee shops, but I'd bet that the type of cheese you want to enjoy with wine won't be found there...or at the very least for a VERY high premium. I recently bought a small bar of cheddar cheese (that SORT of tastes like cheddar) and it cost me almost $5. If you want more exotic types, you either won't find them or expect to pay at least $5 for 8 oz and up.

You can get by without a car in Atenas, just get used to the cheap bus system (very easy) to get to San Jose and Escazu for items not found locally...or make friends with someone who has a car. :o)

One thing about Atenas is that we felt SAFE, even at night, while we lived there. Now we're in San Pedro for my husband to get his English teaching certificate. I definitely wouldn't go out at night by myself.

Honestly, out family is going to be moving to another country in the spring to find somewhere more affordable. Chapala, Mexico and Antigua, Guatemala are tops on our list. Even though we won't be able to drink the water in those locations, the cost of feeding our family is driving us from the land my own mother is from.

Don't have any help in terms of Grecia. But I will say this: if you want to pay Tico prices for real estate, look at the places Ticos look: on sites that are in Spanish. Encuentra24.com and economicos.com (La Nacion's online classifieds) are the best, in my opinion. Forget Craigslist...that's where all the Americans are. :o)

Peñarol
  1/22/2012 23:13 EST

Wow, thanks for your experience in Atenas. Here is my experience in Chapala: the lake has evaporated and its waters receded to about 30%. Great food though. I think the town will disappear within 20 years as the lake's water continues to evaporate (no one knows why) and in Antigua, while I love ixil culture and language (Mayense) I saw quite a lot of graffiti for MS13 gangs and that was disturbing. MaraSalvatrucha has ruined most of Guate, El Salv. and a good chunk of Honduras. It is now present in Nicaragua. I wonder when will it hit C.R.?

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GoingLikeSixty
  1/23/2012 11:12 EST

Hi,
We live in Guacimo de Atenas at 2400 feet. The difference between Atenas proper and our house can be as much a ten degrees cooler and another 500 feet up a mountain will make it even cooler.

Atenas is a small town with a small town atmosphere. The OPs are right: the dining is limited and night life is very limited. But that's not what we came for. We enjoy seeing people we know on the streets almost every time we head to town.

You won't find a coffee shop / wine bar (yet) in Atenas.

Atenas has an exit off the Caldera Highway so it makes sense that it may still see some growth.

As with anyplace else (maybe more so because of the lack of MLS) one has to shop hard to find a good real estate deal. And of course that is always subject to various opinions.

As far as the slogan? It is pure hype. It cannot be verified.

godutchrealty
  1/23/2012 16:25 EST

great post Peñarol. You're right, it's not easy to find the right place. We have real estate agents in both Atenas and in Grecia - Naranjo. They both live in the town they work, so they know the area perfectly well and will hold your hand all the way through and past closing. Read a bit more about all these areas:

http://godutchrealty.com/Atenas-Real-Estate-for-Sale_Live-in-Atenas.html



http://godutchrealty.com/Grecia-Real-Estate-for-Sale_Live-in-Grecia.html



http://godutchrealty.com/Naranjo-Real-Estate-for-Sale_Live-in-Naranjo.html



http://godutchrealty.com/Sarchi-Real-Estate-for-Sale_Live-in-Sarchi.html

Peñarol
  1/23/2012 19:12 EST

Thank you GoingLike60 for your information. You mention you are now in San Pedro. Is that a barrio of Atenas or a town altogether somewhere else?
You know, as uncomfortable as hot weather is, it is a thousand times better than cold. So, if it gets cooler at night, I will be able to sleep at night. It stands to reason then that a scant 500 meters higher up the mountain, the weather is cooler during the day but it is also colder at night.

crazyfamof7
  1/23/2012 23:27 EST

Hi Peñarol...
I was the one who mentioned now being in San Pedro and, no, it is not a barrio of Atenas, but about 1 hour 15 minutes away on the East side of San Jose. Totally different climate here than in Atenas.
All in all, our family enjoyed being in Atenas once we got used to how small it is. We have only been gone for 2 weeks, but miss Don Lalo's fried chicken, the friendly Henry at Super El Invo, and our wonderful maid and neighbors. Except the man next door that would constantly stare at the grey water flowing out from our rental to see what was coming out. Some ticos are crazy over their gutters. :o)
But the heat can be intense. Remember, if you haven't been here before, if you see a high of 85 degrees, that doesn't seem all that hot, but without a/c, direct afternoon sun hitting the house and no fans, it is HOT. There were times it was only bearable after taking a cold shower.

crazyfamof7
  1/23/2012 23:32 EST

Hi Peñarol...
I was the one who mentioned now being in San Pedro and, no, it is not a barrio of Atenas, but about 1 hour 15 minutes away on the East side of San Jose. Totally different climate here than in Atenas.
All in all, our family enjoyed being in Atenas once we got used to how small it is. We have only been gone for 2 weeks, but miss Don Lalo's fried chicken, the friendly Henry at Super El Invo, and our wonderful maid and neighbors. Except the man next door that would constantly stare at the grey water flowing out from our rental to see what was coming out. Some ticos are crazy over their gutters. :o)
But the heat can be intense. Remember, if you haven't been here before, if you see a high of 85 degrees, that doesn't seem all that hot, but without a/c, direct afternoon sun hitting the house and no fans, it is HOT. There were times it was only bearable after taking a cold shower.

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Peñarol
  1/23/2012 23:36 EST

Wow, that is hot. Thank you Crazy for your comment. Maybe I should look at Grécia or higher instead of Atenas. Thing is, I love wine. Not as in I drink wine by myself but as in a social butterfly wine drinking.
I wonder if my idea of a wine bar would take off in a place like Grécia.
Any other personal stories about Grécia? such as what sections or barrios you recommend ?

crazyfamof7
  1/24/2012 00:15 EST

Sorry...never went to Grecia, but heard they have a better farmer's market from friends who had a car.

maxtmill
  1/24/2012 22:37 EST

Hello All! The topic of where to live in Costa Rica is certainly interesting, but concerning at the same time. You hear so many things - Atenas is too hot & too expensive, Grecia is too remote & run-down, Heredia is too too rainy, Puriscal is prone to mudslides, Arenal is too hot, the beach communities are hot, humid, expensive, & dangerous. Then there is San Jose, which is filthy & dangerous, Escazu that is expensive & prone to crime & home burgleries. Any town downstream from the Tarcoles River (spelling?) is polluted & full of human filth, plus the crocs at the mouth of the river are dangerous. Tilaran is sounding rather promising, as long as the medical facilities have been built as planned. Then there are the fer de lance snakes, who are aggressive ambush predators who will attack a human rather than slither away. Wow! truthfully, I would just love a simple clean little house with some property to garden, a little farmer's market, & some wildlife to admire & some neighbors to socialize with. A chance to volunteer within my neighborhood. No heat, no air conditioning, no car. Just a bicycle & perhaps a motor scooter. Gee Whiz! Perhaps my post is a bit tongue-in-cheek, but I have to say I am a bit concerned.

Peñarol
  1/24/2012 22:59 EST

Max, you describe exactly what I am looking for. It seems there is so much information that at times I wish I had no information. I don't know which one is worse.
Yes, not too hot, not too cold. No need for a car (I can bike anywhere if it is not hilly) some sense of community not having to travel hours to find a simple cafe but above all SAFE so I don't have to bring my two best friends Mr. Smith and Mr. Wesson (or Mr. Sig and Mr. Sauer/Mr. Heckler and Mr. Koch for those of you who fancy Eurpean hardware) and enjoy my last years on earth happy.

maxtmill
  1/24/2012 23:10 EST

Yes, Penarol, after years & years as a registered nurse, many of which were high stress nursing jobs, I long for a time when I can relax & enjoy. Not an easy task for a type-A personality, but I am really getting into the idea!! I am also a fanatic dog lover & plan to bring mine with me (could be as many as 6!)

Peñarol
  1/24/2012 23:37 EST

Truth be told, I am waiting on the passing of my dogs. I have 3 English bulldogs and they cannot fly. High altitude kills bulldogs and boxers due to repiratory problems (airlines won't allow those breeds) so unless I drive from the States or embark on a ship, I cannot bring them. Since they are all old, I will just do my research and maybe buy until at least two of them are gone to dog heaven. I couldn't deal with 3 at the same time on such a travel by sea.

majbjb
  1/25/2012 11:13 EST

Just got back from a real estate hunting trip and can comment on prices in the Central Valley. I had initially seen nothing but prices in the $150K - $200K range for houses in the "popular" towns of Atenas, Grecia, San Ramon and Sarchi. Also prices as a rule seemed higher based on higher elevation. Of course these were mostly expat houses in gated communities or the such. What I found upon hitting the ground though is that there are homes at much lower price points, but generally your not going to see them listed on the popular expat realty web sites. You will find them once you actually start working with a realtor who is knowledgable about an area and has good contacts. I really enjoyed working with the folks from godutch realty. Very knowledgable and low pressure, they posted a response on this thread.

Just focus less on the higher priced and glossily advertised gated communities and look for more traditional neighborhoods and the prices go down amazingly. And you don't have to give up safety or comfort either. But you really need to get "feet on the ground" and talk with locals and nose around on your own to really discover this.

Good luck!

ziller0604
  7/31/2013 23:32 EST

That is about the same kind of place we are looking for. Where did you wind up moving to?

Kohl
  8/1/2013 09:15 EST

Finding out the climate and whether or not it suits YOU, is why you need to rent in the area, before you buy any property.

Alenkaty
  6/23/2015 21:50 EST

Hi wonder where you've settled since like you I had similar wants

samramon
  6/30/2015 04:00 EST

I would like to say that Grecia and Atenas are nice if you like to be around a lot of gringos and in a generally more densely populated area.

San Ramon is better in my humble opinion because there are less gringos and there are more options of lower priced real estate at various elevations and climates.

The climate can range from downright brisk - to me, cold - at 5000 feet in some areas in the general San Ramon area, to as low as 2000 feet. We are at 2850 feet and that's pretty perfect for me. I don't like too-cool weather nor too hot weather.

San Ramon is WAY cheaper than Atenas and Grecia for real estate plus you can find less populated areas if that's your thing.

So that's my 2 cents. Yes I have some land for sale in San Ramon but that really doesn't influence my opinion. Rather I bought the land there BECAUSE of my opinion.

ILuvCR
  6/30/2015 07:21 EST

sam,

just wondering, do you have a problem with "gringos"?

"San Ramon is better in my humble opinion because there are less gringos "

ILuvCR/ Gringo!

Kohl
  6/30/2015 07:52 EST

Personally, I have found San Ramon to be way too foggy and damp.
Land be cheaper since with some nice views although in some areas you can only see them for 50% of the time...8-)

Could be good for orchids though...

Waltercito
  6/30/2015 10:39 EST

Your question seems odd...why would anyone want ro leave their home country, travel to a "foreign land," and hang out with people more or less just like the one's left behind? Perhaps you can explain...now that you're there, do you prefer to hang around other with gringos?

I live on a Colombian island of about 80,000, and there are two gringos here, me and Vince, and we go for months without seeing each other...neither of us came here to hang out with people that look just like us. But I hear that's different in Costa Rica...

Peñarol
  7/1/2015 00:18 EST

I finally bought on the coast, in the small town of Parrita. Between Jacó and Qupos.

samramon
  7/1/2015 05:42 EST

ILuvCR, yes I have a problem with moving to a foreign country and always hanging out with and around gringos.
Gringos tend to fight among each other a lot just like on this forum.
I know so many gringos in Costa Rica who are fighting/arguing with other gringos all the time! Again, just like this and every other gringo forum!

I do like having a few good gringo friends for sure but no I don't want to live in an area where it's thick with gringos.

As to San Ramon weather yes it can be damp and foggy depending on where you live. There are a lot of micro climates around San Ramon and many parts of Costa Rica as I'm sure you know.

My wife prefers foggy to too much sun so that's part of why we chose San Ramon. But hey, how many parts of Costa RIca are NOT rainy and foggy?

ILuvCR
  7/1/2015 08:49 EST

sam amigo, I hear what you're saying and I agree!

It's a point of interest to me the volume of inquiries here about "where are the "expats" " where can I live near the expats"?

I have friends back home that say " there are lot's of expats down there, you must have lots of friends, right?"

I don't know so much about fighting with each other, I haven't yet seen that but many are very so negative and down on the Tico's and some of the societal differences, right?

My favorite is what I consider to be an urban myth about "gringo" prices.

I came here for a different experience not more of the same.

We're on the same page!

Pura Vida!

Kohl
  7/1/2015 09:27 EST

We have had plenty of experiences of 'Gringo pricing', at the tire store, ropa americana and feria.

We have no 'gringo friends' in our immediate neighborhood and have never lived with many expats around us.

Waltercito
  7/1/2015 10:40 EST

Kohl, sounds like we'd get along jist fine.

samramon
  7/2/2015 05:26 EST

Gringo pricing does exist. So far I've only encountered it with taxis and with a restaurant or two and buying things like pipas or pejibayes in the street.

My friend who's lived down there for 5 years says, when it comes to the big things like construction, rentals, etc. it's the gringos who will cheat you and so far I have seen that to be true.

Lindajones
  3/2/2019 17:32 EST

Your post struck me as though I wrote it. We are traveling back to Costa Rica in June. We are looking for a short term rental house so we can check out the area in which you live. We are retired and would like a nice area where we can meet lots of others. Nightlife is definitely not a priority. Can you recommend someone you trust in the area to assist us in our search. Many thanks! Lynn

samramon
  3/2/2019 17:43 EST

Lindajones, to whom are you replying to and what area are you interested in looking at. It's unclear in your post who you are agreeing with/ talking to.

jim42
  3/9/2019 13:01 EST

I resided in CR for 3 1/2yrs (04-08) and have absolutely no desire to even visit that country. Kinda tired of checking 6 all the time. I resided in San Joaqin de Flores, Atenas and Alajuela. Other than some bad medical advice (seems I didn't have any medical problems) I never had any problems. I never trusted the locals however, I have visited Mexico 13 times, no problems, same price for all and I felt very comfortable there compared to CR. Now if you expats disagree with my comments TS. Have a great day.

beano102
  3/9/2019 14:21 EST

What is your point with the post? You are a little defensive and it is definitely OK that you didn't like the country... or that you liked another one more. We are all different... good luck and the best to you.

PEBBS
  3/9/2019 15:03 EST

MEXICO UGH ,,,
I used to Visit Meco regiularly when I lived inLos Angeles another UGH..You must have found the worst places to live in Cr I moves here 30 years ago fromUSA ..andd never looked back DEPENDS on whoch PART of CR you lived ..
in my opinion your choices were not so good

and the medical here is GREAT They fly in from around the world for private proceedures and Dental work Implants etc.
.For example last week I had a specialist in the Heredia Hospital operate on my eyes for Cataracts for FREE
(Costs $10,000 in USA check it online..AND I waited a whole moth so the griping about Caja from many ex pats MaYBE because they live far away fro the Central Valley so things and rents cost more..( more Gringos higher prices)
I have paid Caja $42 per month and never been raised ..and had serious Cancer operations and treatment here and operations which saved my life..who am I to complain ? '
I am getting older so now use many meds UGH for high blood pressure, Arrhythmia of the heart, Osteoporosis ..etc and all except my newest best anticoagulant Eliquis for which I pay private with a discount from Value drugs in Heredia.. Caja . all the other medicines are supplied free from Caja including Warfarin their blood thinner but I prefer Eliquis...any way back to your put down [post about CR I agree Nothing for me inGrecia I took guests their dozens of times and besides the metal church brought in from Belgium takes 10 minutes to see that ten we were off the tour not much to see ordo after having a mediocre lunch kitty corner from the church.. our plata del Dias in the local "soda" cost $5 for huge delicious lunch choice of meat,, chicken or delicious Fish with vegetables or beans and rice .. (most of us pass on that after a while. BUT noe iat my urging they make a delicious vegetarian rice YUM as well as their popular Cantonese rice ( I don't eat animals ),,, so its a winner for me and crunchy veggies unlike the usual mushy ones in most CR eateries.best one in San Isidro de Heredia a mile from my farm it's called Mil Delicious it is on the map now and very busy..AND DELIVERS ..here..
. )and salad and FRESH juice (not the Tang used in the gringo Gulches which they pass of as :'Juice".NONE of my gests were impressed even though I took them shopping in Sarchi there they had good buys souvenirs and furniture withsme free shipping so all was not lost but to live for me no thank you.,I prefer my quiet countryfied farm in Cocepcion de San Rafael just 8km from charming town of Heredia..
Now back yy=toyour Mexico as I a=have sid I used to visit it Regularly and not just Tijuana and Rosita Beach but also Alcapulco and many other Places 'including Mexico city..BUT once the major drug cartels moved in I have visited it ONCE more..that was enough...for life.
Mexico is now TREACHEROUS ..like L,A, with drug cartel tortures and killings..even tourists hung HEADLESS from freeway overpasses to warn Gringos to PAY their high Ransom "or else". Watch Episodes on 60 minutes about holiday nightmares in Mexic ...Why are there so many "Don't go" warnings from Embassies world wide ? BECAUSE MEXICO has become a BLOOD BATH,,,pity I once loved it... I got freaked when my Nephew decided to do an "all inclusive vacation 2 weeks in Mexico there not long ago..and being a bit if an adventurer he was disappointed that he could not go off touring because he WARNED by the hotel manager NOT to leave the well guraded compound of the Hotel..he hated it,,,
...YES I have witnessed it firsthand..so you can NOW keep Mexico ALL to yourself..maybe they have not discovered you yet..It is cheaper but my life is worth more Sorry you hate Costa Rica..but some of us LOVE it here after 30 years I must love it or I would flee as I did fromLos Angeles ..whats not to like " say many guests while swinging from a hammock on m farm..TRUE just what I feel...Sorry you missed the good thins and areas...

PEBBS
  3/9/2019 15:16 EST

Hi if you read my posts about why I moved to and love the mild sunny climate the Hills of Heredia YES we have a charming coffee cafe within walking distance from my lodge...PM me re places to stay inexpensive safe in UPSCALE areas ..Places to stay away from in Heredia ? YES of course there is a barrio ourside of Heredia called EL Carpio..forget THAT drug infested scruffy area and also a place not far from Pricemart (But you do not have to enter it just wizz past it in your car... you will not even SEE it,,, a mile from Heredia Center fortunately a ways away but BEHIND our elegant Mall..cant remember the name but it is close to a famous very big discount store called "el REY:" when I am tempted to go for an=mazing discounts I park my car where there is a guard and zip inside (They even have electric invalid chairs (which I sometimes make use of if my fractured spine acts up) . OK that ends my sermon of the day...while it sit on an one of the many outside patios 0n my "3 acres of Heaven" as Guests call my Lodge/farmette.

PEBBS
  3/9/2019 15:24 EST

at the risk of offending my pal Linda Luv I have to agree LOL TRY Heredia BUT in the hills PM me if you want more info or better email IF they do not still have my OLD email here I missed 31 PM's dating back MONTHS because I gave up trying to get online into ex pats here ..so MY mouth is running because amazingly I did get on the last couple of days so be warned if you PM Personal meessge me I may not get it nbetter to email which I cannot understand why it is not allowed to post >>> but I think Linda Luv has my correct email..
Cheers

PEBBS
  3/9/2019 15:39 EST

hi with full agreemant as to why years af=go those places were the only nearby" but not n SanJose areas ..BUT with all that wisdom I am aMAZED you never even Mentioned the charming town of HEREDIA and better still I moved and discovered this area over 30 yrs ago..but then I ama leader not a follower and probably one of the first ex pat to set up hme here AFTER trying all d more of those places mentioned .PLEASE do a run of Heredia THEN to the outskirts where the RAL beauty is starting with San Rag=fael de Heredia or up further near El Castillo Country club (|where temps are 70/80 year round and furher up passed our 4000 mak where it is like swizerland NOT quite a scold but lovely for thise who do not chill easily...as for THE pace as most Cr locals will agree for me is Concepcion de San Rafael with its close poximity to UGH san Jose on Freeway from LOVELY village of San Isidro de Heredia 1 mile from my farm... TRY it you may be one of the first, as I was to recognize the REAL beauty and climate in Costa Rica..NEVER ever mentioned here so I doubt I run the risk of it becoming a "Gringo Gulch" my favorite term for those who flock to those places for fear of not having a Gringo hand to hold ..we now have Whatsapp a FREE phone servive even long distance free download also to chat with the Gringo Gulch friends,,,and you can photo documents and send them on whatsapp Video conference see who you are taliking to and chat for hours aLL FREE OF CHARGE..just ask me if you do not know how BUT LINDA YOU MUST HAVE A CELL PHONE Honey LOL

beach1girl
  3/9/2019 15:41 EST

Penarol,
Since you are looking for another alternative to Atenas and Grecia, have you considered Oaxaca, Mexico? In the past few years, I have spent several months in Mexico and I think that it's a much better deal than CR right now. Mexico has better infrastructure in terms of roads, tourist accomodations and facilities, etc. It's fauna and flora are also rich and so is its culture. CR doesn't even come close in terms of culture and gastronomy. Fonatur does a great job in building nice landscaped parks and creating clean and beautiful environments for everyone to enjoy. There are plenty of coffee shops and terraces in Oaxaca for sipping wine. It's also less expensive then CR. and the locals are in general very friendly. Plus you can stay 6 months on a visa.

PEBBS
  3/9/2019 15:45 EST

MY 3 acres has all you need plus seperate dwellings ..PM fo r more info for thaty may think this is an ad ..not so my place is QUIET easliy accessable bybus at gate ,,waling distand=se from Cafes and unnch palses and markets..and yet very peaceful and safe ...PM if interested in photos ,,people just went home to Canada after a 2 yeradelightful break d=so have places available aprrox %]$500 fully furnished INCLUDES Utilities and great wifi..hoe they allow this post as others seem to be premoting their palaces here
I I am unable to get into the rental area here to post no idea why?
PM as I said for my email which I read daily not on hee much,,,

guestuser
  3/9/2019 15:49 EST

Sure--Mexico murders up 33% to 34,000 . And their little habit of kidnapping for ransoms. No thanks on Mexico

Gill Phelan
www.gvecr.com

jim42
  3/9/2019 15:51 EST

Beach1Girl....right on

jim42
  3/9/2019 15:55 EST

PEBBS......over 1 million North Americans reside in Mexico either full/par time...…..State Dept numbers, not mine. I also stated the areas I resided in....

ILuvCR
  3/9/2019 16:46 EST

Congratulations! we are commenting on a thread started over seven years ago!

Very timely and such a good use of our time, not!

Pura Vida!

Mentor
  3/9/2019 16:56 EST

why do you bother to write anything . I do not think any one care what you feel as you have nothing to contribute. Get a life. do some good.It is clear you do not have the ability or desire to be more than negative and unaware of the good . Its too bad . life is short and unfair but there is still a lot of great people and places to enjoy .

Mentor
  3/9/2019 16:56 EST

why do you bother to write anything . I do not think any one care what you feel as you have nothing to contribute. Get a life. do some good.It is clear you do not have the ability or desire to be more than negative and unaware of the good . Its too bad . life is short and unfair but there is still a lot of great people and places to enjoy .

lindyluvsCR
  3/9/2019 17:57 EST

Although I have never been to Mexico, my ex-neighbor had been all over the country and was originally planning to retire there. But when it was time, she went back, and said it has changed drastically.

She agreed with Pebbs as to the danger. She said it is absolutely barbaric. The thing about hanging heads over the highway, she said also..

Someone that was on this forum moved there and bought a house, and now trying to sell to escape Mexico. Said there area completely surrounded by drug cartel.

A guy came to visit Grecia and was going to return, but had back problems he said and wanted to get drugs there. When I didn't hear from him in about a month, I called his parents number which he given me. She was glad I did because she was worried also. The next day, she got a call from relatives of his landlord in new apartment. He had been found dead. Never will know if it was robbery, or his getting drugs, or an overdose.

jim42
  3/9/2019 18:54 EST

Hey Mentor......you have your opinions and I have mine. Just because I didn't/don't care about CR is my opinion so I don't care what you think. BTW I wouldn't visit Nica again and same goes for Honduras, Guatemala...….trust me I am a very positive person and enjoyed 4 countries in SA plus Israel and Portugal. You are happy in a 3rd world country good for you

PEBBS
  3/9/2019 20:31 EST

I agree I have heard first hand of kidnapping to kill Innocent tourists and
ex pats and FAMILIES with kids to HELL with Mexico I used to love it ...
NO more it is a Blood bath.

Drneuro100
  3/10/2019 00:02 EST

We love living in San Rafael / escazu. Coffee in 500 ft at a great amazing Italian resturant and wine in another 100 ft to half mile or less everywhere! We are in heaven and perfect whether like San Diego we are from and a amazing condo on the Costa Rica Golf course for only 210k and 300/mo for HOA- guarded community the best!!!

beach1girl
  3/10/2019 13:51 EST

Actually Gill, Costa Rica has a higher crime rate than Mexico, believe it or not. The crime rate index for 2019:
# 24 Costa Rica - Index: 56.05
#30 Mexico - Index: 52.30
Source: www.numbeo.com/crime/rankings_by_country.jps
Furthermore, most murders in Mexico are drug related and rarely are foreigners the victims. In Costa Rica, foreigners (tourists and residents) are sadly often the victims. I am sitting with an elderly couple from Canada who just spent 3 months in Mexico (Merida, Mexico city, Puerto Escondido and Huatulco) and asked them if they ever felt in danger during their trip and the answer was NEVER. They walk, even at night, and use public transportation. They found the people friendly, welcoming and not envious as too many Ticos are of the fact that foreigners have more money. Every country has bad neighbourhoods. The secret is to avoid them.

jim42
  3/11/2019 13:57 EST

Beach1girl.....again you are correct. As I stated earlier per State Dept there are over 1 million people from the States residing in Mexico either full time or part time. Costa Rica hides statistics because of tourism. To bad SOME expats in CR read to many news articles or watch to much T.V.. I have been to Cancun (2), Puerto Vallarta (2), Merida (8) and Queretaro (1) and never, ever had a problem or been ripped off. Merida is beautiful except for the weather which is brutal (hot).

jim42
  3/11/2019 14:07 EST

PEBBS, you are so full of crap. As I stated earlier there are more than 1 million expats, fulltime/partime, which are State Dept figures, residing in Mexico. Educate me please on blood bath of expats and kids, from the states, in Mexico.

beano102
  3/11/2019 14:56 EST

In support of Jim, I know several couples that split their time between Mexico and Costa Rica. There ARE advantages to both but the majority will firmly tell you that it is much cheaper to live in Mexico ( and yes, there are other advantages too. ) than Costa Rica... but each person or family has to make up their own minds. From what I have seen there are a helluva lot of positives about Costa Rica that far outweight many other items and reasons for relocation to other countries. make up your own mind people.

beano102
  3/11/2019 14:56 EST

In support of Jim, I know several couples that split their time between Mexico and Costa Rica. There ARE advantages to both but the majority will firmly tell you that it is much cheaper to live in Mexico ( and yes, there are other advantages too. ) than Costa Rica... but each person or family has to make up their own minds. From what I have seen there are a helluva lot of positives about Costa Rica that far outweight many other items and reasons for relocation to other countries. make up your own mind people.

Kohl
  3/11/2019 17:23 EST

Back to the original question. Many people may choose to first land in either Grecia or Atenas, but it doesn't mean that they have chosen to live there 'long term.'

beano102
  3/11/2019 17:42 EST

Nearly 18 years ago, shortly after 9/11 my wife and I moved to Grecia... almost purely by accident. We knew that we didn't want to be on the beaches and that we wanted a cooler climate but that's really all we knew. I contacted realtors via the internet and most of them just ignored me... and the one we did meet with... in Puriscal... showed us the worst and most overpriced home that we had ever seen. Finally, after driving through the Central Valley endlessly and becoming more depressed, our original tour guide asked if we wanted to see his home town of Grecia. "sure", we said... why not.
and we fell in love with it. Remember, this was almost 2o years ago... and it was a small, non crowded coffee town. We fell in love with it.
We had taken early retirement and sold the company we had owned for decades. But there was definitely not an endless supply of money so we knew we had to be careful. We purchased land with a stupdendous view, a river and privacy. almost all planted in coffee... and we built our first house. And three months later... after people told us NOT to do it. We built our first house with two acres, 1600 sf, two levels... for a total ( land and construction) of less than $75,000. And that alone got my wife and I featured in Newsweek magazine... two hicks from MN that didn't have a clue or a single connection in the country... and if we could do it, anyone could.
now I look at the prices in Grecia and the simple fact that almost no parking spaces are even available and it scares me. It is not the same town we moved to and neither are the prices. But what scares me even more is that people are not doing their homework before moving here... they have no idea if they can work here... if they can afford to live here... and many are shocked when they find out that it is almost as expensive as "back home."
But is it really? is Ecuador better? Or Mexico? Or Chile... or Thailand?
People... do you homework... ask questions. I admit that we were lucky... but I wouldn't change a thing, either. We have been back in the States for almost five years... and we miss the country and the people every single day despite encountering almost a disaster a day toward the end of our stay. We miss it... we miss the people... we miss the wildlife and we miss the walks we took and the travels that we made to a different location almost every single weekend. We are coming back, knowing that there is good, bad and ugly in Costa Rica. And if you know that bad and the ugly... the good becomes even better... especially with the dysfunction and the problems that our own country is having. We are lookkng forward to being back in the country and being with our grandkids and daughter again and all of the friends we left behind. If any of you want to hear more about the "good, the bad and the ugly" and our adventures, PM me... we are always happy to share. And we don't pull any punches either.
thanks for reading. Randy y Rhonda B.

beano102
  3/12/2019 07:48 EST

Almost everyone that posts here asks for others' opinions. Great to get opinions but they are all subjective and it is 50/5o that they are right or wrong. You need to see the areas and towns yourself. when I moved to Grecia 15 years ago, it was a sleepy coffee town that was NOT crowded. it is a disaster now. it is NOT the same. You likely are never going to find exactly what you want and you will likely get a lot of different responses. But part of the fun is the exploration and the differences between areas. Enjoy yourself until you really do find the right place for you.

Lindajones
  3/12/2019 08:51 EST

Beano , I appreciate your viewpoint and agree. And, with the influx of expats, I am unsure the sleepy little rural towns will be around much longer....they will grow and fewer new ones will start up. The U S town we live in has gone from 2500 to over 10,000 since 1995. Not the same and this morning the air quality shows “unhealthy.” Time to go.

beano102
  3/12/2019 08:59 EST

Those just coming into the country really don't know how great it was "back then". Now?
Not so sure I want to be in Grecia when we move back except to be with the kids and daughter. We saw plenty of other small town during our last stay and will be exploring those and other countries as well. There are pros and cons wherever we end up but it will be what we make it to be... no matter where we end up.

beano102
  3/12/2019 08:59 EST

Those just coming into the country really don't know how great it was "back then". Now?
Not so sure I want to be in Grecia when we move back except to be with the kids and daughter. We saw plenty of other small town during our last stay and will be exploring those and other countries as well. There are pros and cons wherever we end up but it will be what we make it to be... no matter where we end up.

lindyluvsCR
  3/12/2019 10:23 EST

Beano - My first trip for 6 months in San Jose area was 50 years ago. Of course things have changed with entrance of drugs etc just like all over the world.

And no doubt Grecia has changed a lot. But I love it, and certainly would not describe it as a disaster. But I keep my life very full and busy but simple. Love being without a car which keeps my expenses, complications, and weight down, and health up.

But no one wants to listen to conversations about how wonderful things were in the good old days.

Life in Grecia is wonderful to me. As good as it gets at least.

beano102
  3/12/2019 10:27 EST

good for you Lindy! Sometimes it is hard to remember that we are all different and that we all have different wants and needs. My only real concern is that... wherever people choose to live in CR, that they know the risks and the negatives as well because otherwise they may very well be headed for disaster. I knew a lot of the negatives when i came to CR initially but i sure didn't know them all. I sure could have saved myself a lot of heartache. But even in spite of it all, I wouldn;t change it.

beach1girl
  3/12/2019 16:20 EST

Well said, beano102. That was Francois Sylvain's intent when he wrote THE COSTA RICA NO ONE TALKS ABOUT. He wanted people visiting or considering retirement or investing in Costa Rica to know some of the risks in order to save them unnecessary heartache.

beano102
  3/12/2019 16:25 EST

Take a look at www.escape-to-costarica.com Forget the real estate listings... they are outdated already... but take a look at the books that are available at no charge. Read and you will get some surprises in them.
thanks and no, absolutely nothing for sale. My way of giving back.

Peñarol
  3/19/2019 00:23 EST

I started this thread back in 2012. A lot has happened since then from that initial question I posed.
I ended up buying a plot of land in a non-gated town on the coast of Puntarenas.
I built a small house and the cost was spectacularly less than buying an already built home.
I did a lot of traveling to find a community that I liked but I avoided the gated communities because I felt that I did not need the benefits of an HOA.
Not everyone can feel comfortable with a Tico living in an Tico neighborhood in a Tico style construction. I do, despite NOT being Tico,
Note that an HOA does not give you ownership of the land. They will tell you that you do but check out the contract and you will find that like in the U.S. an HOA DOES NOT make you a land owner and to me that ownership was super important.
I built my house with eco materials and in any fashion that I saw fit but again, that MIGHT NOT work for some. The bennies of an HOA type is that you avoid having to do your research on an honest contractor.
That in itself is not easy in C.R. but then again, it is not easy either in the States.
If you opt to build, my advise is this; be there during every last nail of it.
Do not give a chunk of money to some guy you think you like/trust and walk away for months far away until construction is done. You will find the hard way the true meaning of 'pura vida' if you do that.
If being around other compatriots is important to you, for whatever reason then a Gated Community is the way to go. I am only speaking of what works for me. If being close to compatriots was important to me then why move away from my compatriots? (the fact is, that you will never overcome that need)
I gave up on Atenas and Grecia about 2 years into searching for a home.
The homes were expensive and it looked like houses in the States (except they weren't) and in the end, the coastal beaches were far and so was the lively San José life style was. Very far and inconvenient to get to for one night and then an hour and 45 minutes drive back home to Atenas (worst to Grecia)... If you want small town charm, then I suggest Puriscal.
Google it.
I am happy in the Pacific coast, beach every day, a lot of weekend life.
I hope this information helps to people envisioning Costa Rica in the near future.
That was me in 2012 when I first posted the question that started this thread.
Note that I oscillate between C.R. and Puerto Escondido in the State of Oaxaca México.
Oaxaca is rife with political instability but being from South America and surviving the 70's tumultuous events, political problems are cyclical in this State. I will take that instability over narco problems in other states.
My personal opinion is that México is not salvageable because of the narco problem save for a few places; Puebla, Guanajuato to name two that I highly suggest and Oaxaca but then again with the caveat of political revolt every other month. (remember that most of outside big towns in México is 'ejidal' system. The land cannot be sold to outsiders (not just non-mexicans) because of land reforn during the revolution of 1910 which means YOU CANNOT own the land unless though a lease to foreigners of 99 years but in Mexico, 50 peasants with lit torches in front of your house demanding that you leave, will make wish that YOU BOUGHT in a big urban setting with 'escrituras' (a deed) and not a land-lease.
I could write a book with all the poo-poo I have witnessed.
My final point is this: if you can be taken for a chump in your own country because fraud experts are smarter than you, what makes you think that you can avoid fraud in a foreign country simply because you visit that country 10 days out of the year while on vacation?

Kohl
  3/19/2019 13:40 EST

Thanks. Your experience reflects exactly my previous statement: "Many people may choose to first land in either Grecia or Atenas, but it doesn't mean that they have chosen to live there, 'long term' ."

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