Readers from North America are most likely already familiar with gated communities. For those of you new to the idea, a gated community is, by definition, a housing development enclosed by a fence or a wall, all of which is watched over by a guard service that functions 24 hours per day. Only residents of the community are free to enter and leave as they please. Visitors—friends or maids and handymen—are required to show identification and to register with the guard before being allowed to enter. The idea is to create a community that is crime free and that has first class roads and other public utilities. People who live in gated communities are subject to legally established bylaws and other regulations, although the nature of the bylaws can differ quite a bit from one community to another.

Gated communities also vary greatly in terms of the number of homes within the community, the building density, and the price of homes. Some come with pre-built homes; in others, you contract with the developer to build your home or you select your own builder. The better gated communities often impose building codes with guidelines for the kind of home you can build. These are put in place in an effort to prevent homeowners from selecting a hodgepodge of styles, and thus cheapening the appearance of the community. Many gated communities come with a communal swimming pool and a shared barbecue area, both of which give people a chance to get to know each other—a good or bad thing, depending how much you value your privacy.

Another advantage to living in a gated community is that quite a few of them, particularly those with a large number of homes, are linked up with a management company that offers yard and home maintenance (some also manage property rentals for those homeowners who want to rent their home out to tourists).

More than a few expatriates arrive to Costa Rica with preconceived criticisms of these kinds of communities. To them, the term gated community suggests a staid, suburban, and charmless existence. But among these critics, more than a few change their opinion once they’ve explored the country a bit. First, they soon learn that there are many kinds of gated communities. Second, they quickly come to realize the importance of a 24-hour guard service, and that’s doubly true if they plan to be absent from their home for long periods of time.

So, what kind of person is likely to choose living in a gated community as his or her first option? First and foremost, someone who plans to live in Costa Rica for only a part of the year (and who also wants more square footage and garden area than what a typical condominium provides). Second, people who are particularly concerned about theft and security issues. And finally, someone who would prefer to live within a community of fellow expatriates (many gated communities—but not all—target the expatriate home buyer). Some people in this category question their ability to master a foreign language or to adjust to a new culture; others, simply put, have little interest in even making the attempt. For these people, the idea of living in a transplanted outpost of their own culture is a comforting one. The success of this venture depends, of course, on how well they get along with their neighbors.

On the other hand, gated communities are probably not ideal for people who jealously guard their privacy; who want to avoid the constraints imposed by community bylaws; who aren’t enthusiastic about attending community meetings; and who are enthusiastic about attempting to integrate into Costa Rican society.

A description of three gated communities in Costa Rica:

Vistas de Manuel Antonio (Quepos/Manuel Antonio)

The only community of this type in the Central Pacific, this 210 acre gated-nature community is located in the foothills outside of Quepos and above Manuel Antonio. It is 20 minutes from many fine beaches, fishing, fine dining and shopping.

Magnificent panoramic ocean view home sites with charming cobblestone paved roads, street lights and deep concrete roadside gutters. Rustic high-quality log cabin homes will be featured to blend in the natural setting. High speed internet with VOIP will be available. See www.costaricaretirementvactionproperties.com for more information about this unique project.

Orchid Point Estates (Puriscal)

Orchid Point Estates is a gated community located near San Antonio de Puriscal in the hills west of San José. The views from all of the oversized estate lots are magnificent. All lots are over 5,000 square meters (approximately. 1¼ acres) and have municipal water and electricity. Some are on the ridge line with views of both Santiago de Puriscal and the Central Valley. Others have a panoramic view of the Central Valley and the mountains beyond.

The owners selected the beautiful hills overlooking Santiago de Puriscal for both convenience and ambiance. The property is within easy reach of the nearby Escazú/Santa Ana area which offers a state-of-the-art USA affiliated medical center, the largest mall in Costa Rica, U.S.-style supermarkets and shopping, lots of quality restaurants and other modern conveniences. The home sites allow owners to be within reach of these facilities and still enjoy the perfect climate, magnificent views and relaxed rural character of this area.

With the new road being built from Ciudad Colón to Caldera, the Pacific coast will be within a one hour drive. While the beaches are beautiful, most people feel that the perpetual spring climate of this area is more comfortable to live in than the increase heat and humidity at the beach. See www.orchid-point-estates.com for more information about this project.

Roca Verde, Atenas (Central Valley)

Rocas Verde is a large gated community near the town of Atenas, which is about a 45 minute drive to San Jose. Both Ticos and expatriates have purchased homes in this development, which features large lots, often with valley and/or mountain views. Many lots have a secluded feel to them, and only a few neighboring homes tend to be visible. Homes vary in terms of number of bedrooms, but many are quite spacious. Buyers are free to select the architectural style they want for their home; the most popular choices seem to be either modern colonial style or an updated version of the Tico home style in which rooms are larger than they are in older Tico homes. Some homes have a swimming pool or Jacuzzi.

This gated community—like many others in the Central Valley—doesn’t feature some of the amenities that characterize more high-end gated communities located on the coast. The guiding concept is to offer a sense of privacy to residents, with little focus on creating an active community among the people who live there.