The Central Valley was the primary destination for European settlers in the 18th and 19th centuries. It was there that they started to grow coffee and build communities based on the wealth it generated. After independence, the prominent families in San José, Alajuela, Heredia and Cartago (the latter the capital city under colonial rule) began a power

There are two airports in the Central Valley: the country’s largest, Juan Santamaría International Airport, and a smaller, domestic airport which offers flights to remote parts of the country. Juan Santamaría provides daily flights to many North American cities, with other regular flights to parts of Central and South America. There are not yet any

The Central Valley is the gateway to Costa Rica. The country’s major international airport, Juan Santamaria, is located just outside the city of Alajuela, about a 20-minute drive from central San José and about 15 minutes from Santa Ana and Escazú (both estimated travel times can vary dramatically depending on traffic). All main highways branch

As mentioned above, the Central Valley is known for its almost “perfect” climate. Its relatively high elevation gives the region its temperate 24ºC average climate. The temperature depends on elevation, and you can feel variations from the late teens to as high as the 30s during the summer. In any case, you won’t be feeling

Your purpose in buying Costa Rican real estate – investment versus second home versus vacation home – will play a large role in the location you finally choose. Your capital, the amount of time you are prepared to wait to make a return on your investment, the amount of experience you have investing in real

How close to an urban center do you need to be? a) Very close to, or in a large city. b) In or a short drive to a town with all of the daily necessities and a couple of restaurants. c) One local store nearby or a short drive away is fine. d) In or

With such a variety of communities to choose from, deciding where to live in Costa Rica can be both exciting and intimidating. Many people who have vacationed in the country think they have an idea where they want to live, but it’s still a tough decision with many angles to consider. This chapter will help