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Central Pacific

The Central Pacific is one of Costa Rica's jewels. The closest and most accessible beaches to San José are found in this area. The beaches are sunny all year round, the weather is hot and the ocean warm.

Here is one expats 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 off California. (but warmer) There has been a lot of American-style investment there. Prices, as you'd expect, are higher as you get toward the water. "

The Central Pacific's largest city, Puntarenas, sits on a long, narrow peninsula or spit in the Gulf of Nicoya, a short 62 miles from San José. It is the capital of the province with the same name. Costa Ricans affectionately refer to Puntarenas as"El Puerto" or "port." For many years it was the country's main beach before the northern and other Central Pacific beach areas became accessible. The beach is far from being the country's most beautiful with its black sand and murky waters. However, this does not stop ticos from flocking there on weekends. The Paseo de los Turistas is a seaside walkway which has a series of open-air bars and restaurants that dot the waterfront and add to this city's atmosphere. This tourist walkway is also the place where huge cruise ships anchor. Puntarenas is one of the best places to savor fresh seafood. We know a few Americans who call this port city their home.

In the Central Pacific Coast region to the south of Puntarenas are superb locations for living. This area has something for everyone: swimming and surfing beaches, excellent sport fishing, developed and undeveloped beaches and natural parks. This area is a magnet for beach lovers due to its proximity to San José. Its attraction will increase when the new Ciudad Colón-Orotina-Caldera Highway is finished. The new highway should reduce the driving time from San José to any of the Central Pacific beaches by about an hour.

Just North of Jacó, at Bahía Herradura, is the new, upscale Los Sueños Resort, considered to be the premier resort and marina in Central America. It is also the largest full-service marina between Mexico and Chile is found here. 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 golf course, a 212-room palatial Marriott Hotel, home sites and condominiums for sale and a number of nature walks. Condo prices start at around $350,000.

If you like a lot of action, good waves and partying, we recommend Jacó Beach. It 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 currently little less than two hours from San José and has excellent tourist infrastructure. An eclectic mixture of foreigners and locals gives Jacó sort of a cosmopolitan feeling.

Because of its fame, Jacó is usually packed on most summer weekends, holidays like Easter Week and special occasions such as surf tournaments. Boredom will not be a factor here. There are pizza parlors, international restaurants, handicraft shops, bars, discos, bars where you can party until the early hours of the morning. Water sports, especially surfing and sport fishing, attract scores of people to the area.

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. Because of good year-round waves, most people come to Hermosa to surf, 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 and near the town of Parrita.

The Quepos-Manuel Antonio area is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations and most beautiful beach resorts in the world. Few other places in Costa Rica offer so much in one spot. Some of the areas most prominent features are white sand, paradise - like beaches, beautiful hidden coves, abundant wildlife, world-class sport fishing, good nightlife, fine cuisine, unforgettable sunsets from many vantage points and even a chance to mingle with the Hollywood crowd at a 5-star hotel. The majority of 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 hectareas 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.

Charming downtown Quepos replete with bars, boutiques, eateries, a mini-bookstore, good nightlife and a whole lot more to keep local foreigners entertainrd. Quepos is also know for its sports fishing scene and is the site of several yeally tournaments. It comes as no surprise that the area's beauty, popularity and abundant activities have made real estate very expensive. Land prices start at about $75,000 an acre and rise sharply. On the downside the area between Quepos and Manuel Antonio Park has been over built. Hotels, business and even an old airplane converted into a restaurant line the highway.

The infrastructure is good here with a public hospital, a n airport for small planes and limited docking facilities.

San Isidro de El General, a half-hour inland from Dominical and located along the Pan-American Highway, offers a warm climate and inexpensive housing. It is considered to be the fastest growing city in Central America. Montegeneral is the city's new shopping mall. It has a supermarket, three movie screens, 9 restaurants in a food court and 57 stores. San Isidro is off the beaten path but some foreigners make this small city their permanent home. Real estate is reasonably priced in comparison with some of the areas in the Central Valley. There are many ocean-view properties in the mountains along the highway between San Isidro and Dominical.