Located Beyond Ciudad Colón is the mountain town of Santiago de Puriscal. The cool mountain climate with its clean air, magnificent views and relaxed rural character are the main appeal of this area. It is perfect for people seeking affordable housing, more land for their money and country living. Some properties offer spectacular views of

As Escazú has become more and more expensive and crowded, Tico and expatriate builders have looked further west, the towns of Santa Ana and Ciudad Colón. Property owners in these towns have seen the value of their land shoot up along with the construction of gated communities and new single-family homes in what used to

In the last decade or so, Escazú – located a few kilometers to the west of San José – has transformed from a large village into a into a small city. The fast pace of development has brought with it some problems. Because of the lack of a zoning plan, the density of development remained

Arenal and San Carlos stand out as places where you can still get bargain real estate. The views in Arenal in particular are spectacular, and plenty of land is still available. Living by Lake Arenal would be a lifestyle choice, and the place is ideal for those who prefer a quieter and cooler environment to

La Fortuna is a well-established tourist town that serves visitors who want to view the volcano. Apart from that and taking a dip in the nearby hot springs, however, there isn’t much else to stay for, and for most, a visit to Arenal is just one stop on a longer trip that includes a few

Crime in the Arenal, La Fortuna and San Carlos area is not as prevalent as in some of the beach locations profiled in other sections of this chapter. Organized crime hasn’t arrived up there, though you do come across petty thievery. Also, Scott Robinson, a real estate broker at Arenal Lake Realty says that ostentatious

1. Hotels and Tourism Enterprises. There is a large number of small and medium-sized hotels and cabins in and around La Fortuna. Despite this, it can be incredibly difficult to get a room during high season, which suggests that the demand can cope with additional supply if you were to open a hotel. The area