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The northwest region has vast plains and is drier
than the Central Valley and central and southern coastal
regions. Nevertheless, some of the country's most beautiful
beaches, breathtaking views, history, culture and nightlife
can be found here. The city of Liberia and the new
Tempisque Bridge are the entry points to Guanacaste's
beaches.
The capital city of Liberia, located 125 miles north of San
José on the Pan-American Highway, is considered the
heart of Guanacaste, and a full-service city. Sometimes called
the white city because of its architecture, Liberia is considered
to be the most colonial of Costa Rica's cities. Due to the
area's growing popularity, Liberia is quickly becoming one
of the country's largest and most important cities, offering
restaurants, hotels, several museums, good shopping, a new
mall with movie theaters, a public hospital and the Daniel
Oduber International Airport. Liberia is a good place to visit
while on your way to Guanacaste's many beaches. Our good friend
Bud from Las Vegas owns a small farm and is one of the foreigners
who live in the Liberia area.
Good news! The Holiday Inn Express recently announced
plans to invest $10 million in the construction of
a new 120-room hotel and mall in Liberia. The new mall
will house approximately 40 stores with parking for
450 cars. Holiday Inn also plans to build a golf course
near the hotel.
Another exciting development is the new wild animal
park, Africa Mía, a 100 -acre open-air zoo with
free-roaming animals.
Approximately 40 weekly flights from the United States
to Liberia's Daniel Oduber International Airport and
better infrastructure than the beaches on the southern
Nicoya Peninsula have contributed to the development
of this area. See some development
land project in
this area.
A wide range of condos may be found on both isolated and
popular beaches. Prices range from $100,000 to $750,000 depending
on location. A couple of nice gated communities and golf resorts
are found in this section of the country. Undeveloped beach
and oceanview properties can still be found in some areas.
Guanacaste and Península
de Nicoya |
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More than 50 spectacular beaches of all sizes, shapes and
colors and clear blue water are found all along the Pacific
coast in the Guanacaste Province. This area is sometimes referred
to as Costa Rica's Gold Coast. However, a few of the adjacent
beach communities may have too much tranquility for some people
or have too much of a resort atmosphere for others.
The area around the peninsula has been the scene of
recent development. The spectacular, upscale Four Seasons
Resort on Playa Blanca is found in this area. The new
370-slip La Marina Papagayo is being built in Manzanillo
Bay in the Gulf of Papagayo. Recently, AOL co-founder
Steve Case spent $23 million to build a new 200-acre
upscale hotel at nearby Punta Cacique. Soon, the construction
of the new $15 million Marina Papagayo will begin.
It will have 370 slips and will cover about 100 acres.
Playa Hermosa has white sand and offers some of the
country's best diving. It lies in the center of a string
of four major beaches, all within 30 minutes of each
other: Hermosa, Playas del Coco, Playa Ocotal and Playa
Panamá. Ocean-view lots in the Hermosa area
range between $250,000 to $500,000.
Playas del Coco is one of the most developed beach
towns in the region but still retains much of its fishing-village
atmosphere. It is set in a deep cove with consistently
calm waters, making it a safe swimming beach. This
charming seaside town is surrounded by emerald-colored
hills, offers a variety of water sports and boasts
a small international community. The nightlife here
is good and includes restaurants, bars, a disco and
casinos catering to those looking to have fun. You
will also find basic services such as a bank, post
office and all kinds of shops. A new marina is planned
in this area.
Land in the Coco area ranges from $20 to $200 per
square meter. Ocean view lots can be found for under
$100,000. Grupo Mapache offers condos for between $50,000
to $75,000 depending on the size and amenities.
Flamingo is one of the finest resort areas in Costa Rica
and has the country's second-best full-service marinas, a
picture-perfect, mile-long, white-sand beach and turquoise
water. It is also Guanacaste's sport fishing capital and offers
some of the best sail and marlin fishing in the world. Excellent
skin diving and snorkeling are also offered in this area.
All of this plus good nightlife and several restaurants have
led some to call Flaming the Acapulco of Costa Rica.
There
is an abundance of real estate, including condominiums
dotting the surrounding hills. Land prices range from
about $150 to $350 per square meter. A 1000 meter square
lot can be found for about $500,000.
Golf lovers will be happy here, since there are three
golf courses located nearby.
Flamingo attracts retired foreigners as well people
with children because of all it has to offer. The Country
Day School, one of the country's most prestigious private
primary and secondary institutions, operates a school
the area.
Neighboring Portrero and Sugar beaches offer calm
waters, ocean views and breathtaking sunsets. Many
foreigners reside around these neighboring areas.
Brasilito and Conchal, south of Flamingo, are other
beaches worth checking out. Conchal is famous for its
powdery sand, made of small white seashells. It is
also the home of the all-inclusive 18-hole Playa Conchal
Golf Resort. There are a lot of high-priced condominiums
and townhouses for sale at the resort.
Tamarindo ,often referred to now as Tamargringo, is
a beach town overlooking a long stretch of beautiful beach
and a popular spot among surfers. It has the most developed
tourist infrastructure in Guanacaste. The foreign community
has given birth to many restaurants, hotels and a variety
of stores for all tastes that line the main road. The town
is very cosmopolitan, with residents from all over the world
adding a very exciting cultural diversity to the area.
Property and everything else has become rather expensive
in the Tamarindo area because of its popularity. Condos
and homes can cost from $200,000 to $700,000. Homes
about five minutes from town can be purchased for about
$150,000 plus.
Plaza Tamarindo is the town's new mall. It will eventually
be the largest mall built in a beach community, boasting
50 businesses and a couple of restaurants.
South of Tamarindo is Hacienda Pinilla Resort, which
has a championship golf course and offers every imaginable
water sport. Junquillal is another fast-developing
area and has a white-sand, Blue-Flag beach. Our good
Costa Rican friend, Ricardo Lara, is building a small
real estate development in Junquillal.
Nosara is an attractive area to live if you are a
nature lover. The whitesand beach stretches for almost
two miles. A flourishing expatriate community gives
the town a slightly California-like flavor. Small U.S.-style
restaurants and services exist for the growing foreign
community. A deluxe, world-class yoga retreat is found
just outside of town.
Sámara and Carrillo south of Nosara, are laid-back
beaches really worth exploring. Both beaches are located
on bays and good for swimming. Property is still affordable
since the area is not as developed as some of the beaches
to the north.
Sámara has a small fishing village-like atmosphere
with a few good restaurants, hotels and nightlife.
Carrillo, the southern most of the two beaches is an
exceptionally beautiful, palm-lined, white-sand beach
on a curved bay, yet it lacks the development of Sámara.
South of Carrillo there are several unspoiled beaches
such as Playa Coyote. However, access is very difficult
during the rainy season because of the rivers that
have to be forded.
Malpaís, immediately northwest of Cabo Blanco
near the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, is a
surfer's paradise. It has been featured in numerous
surfing documentaries and magazines and attracts surfers
from all over the world. Even Leonardo DiCaprio went
there to surf and relax before a recent Academy Awards
ceremony.
The word Malpaís means bad country in Spanish
and is a misnomer. Nothing could be further from the truth.
There are several beaches at which to swim, dive and snorkel,
though the areas main attraction are its unique conditions
for surfing. This isolated area is becoming very popular with
some foreigners because of its scenery and incredible sunsets.
Some foreigners have settled in this small town permanently
and opened small businesses catering to tourists.
To the north lies Playa Santa Teresa. Its seemingly endless
beach is one of the best places for surfing on the entire
Nicoya Peninsula. Nearby Playa Manzanillo is also becoming
popular with surfers and expatriates. We have a German friend
who has lived there for several years and really loves the
area.
Samara is One of Costa Rica's Most Beautiful Beaches
Montezuma, a remote little fishing village near the
southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, has almost perfect
beaches with clear-blue water just right for bodysurfing.
There are miles of beaches with tide pools and even
a tropical 50-foot waterfall nearby. Fortunately, Montezuma
and its surroundings have not been destroyed by developers.
The area is teeming with birds, monkeys and all sorts
of exotic wildlife.
This cozy town is a magnet for hip and Bohemian types
interested in alternative lifestyles. European backpackers,
yoga enthusiasts and people in search of something
new visit this area. In this town one can either hangout
at the beach or at a local restaurant. The Sano Banano
is a vegetarian restaurant where many locals and tourists
congregate. There is property available in the area.
Jimmy, a 45-year old retiree from Boston, told us he
moved there 10 years ago and bought a small home because
he found living in San José too expensive. He
gets by on about $800 or less monthly beer included.
Tambor is located on a deep circular bay and is good
for swimming and other outdoor activities. The all-inclusive
Hotel Barceló Playa Tambor is located here.
The nearby Delfines Golf Club also attracts many visitors.
We know a few Americans who reside in the Tambor area
and there are some excellent real estate buys. Most
live at the Tango Mar development three miles southwest
of Tambor or in and around the newly developed Tambor
Hills area.
Two of our good friends from California, have a beautiful
home in the Tango Mar development. They lived at the
beach for a few years but found it too laid back for
them. They now live in a beautiful condo in Escazú with
a panoramic of the Central Valley. They rent their
beach home and can pay most of their expenses with
the money it generates. |
