What to expect from a Costa Rica Condo vacation
December 1st, 2009 by Elizabeth Merlin, under Travel and Leisure. No Comments
Costa Rica Condos
Have you ever dreamed of living in a tropical paradise where, as the song says, “the weather is fine and the life is easy?” For many people, Costa Rica appears to be that place and Costa Rica condos are their natural target. Perhaps, along with 1.5 million or more North American and European tourists a year, you have had the chance to enjoy the beaches, surfing, big game fishing, mountains, volcanoes, rivers, and tropical forests of this beautiful country. Situated between the sandy beaches on its Pacific and Caribbean coasts, Costa Rica also boasts numerous national parks and reserves throughout the country where protected bird, mammal, and reptile species live in Eden-like environments that bring tourists back again and again.
As a result, Costa Rica real estate is a popular item for investors, especially condos as rental properties and/or for personal use, with eventual re-sale or conversion to a full time retirement home. However, maybe you are ready to retire now and take advantage of Costa Rica’s low cost of living, temperate tropical weather, and possess a marvelous home for children, grandchildren, and old friends to visit.
If you come to Costa Rica, chances are that you will land at Juan Santamaria International Airport outside the capital city of San Jose on the central plateau and nearly equidistant from the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. Known for its surf, rain forests, and Tortuguero National Park, Puerto Limon is 120 km (75 mi) to the east on the Caribbean coast. The old coffee-shipping port of Puntarenas on Golfo di Nicoya and the Pacific coast lies 90 km (56 mi) to the west.
You can stop at Puntarenas or veer off to the Pan-American Highway and head northeast to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve for long walks on comfortable trails and incredible views, but a guided Canopy Tour of this rainforest is a must. Alternatively, you can head northwest to the national parks near Liberia, or the beaches of Tamarindo and Coco on the Gulfo di Papagayo noted for its year round deep-sea fishing.
If you head south, you can follow the oddly shaped province of Puntarenas (“Sands Point” in Spanish) stretching along the Pacific coast to the Panamanian border. Along the way are the beaches of Jaco and Manuel Antonio National Park, the smallest but among the most popular national parks in the country. In this park, visitors can travel paths leading from idyllic beaches to rainforest and mountain terrains.
Continuing south to Rincon and Puerto Juarez on Gulfo Dolce, you will find the dense, rich green jungle of Corcovado National Park standing as an unspoiled showcase of tropical nature. Believe it or not, these are only a fraction of Costa Rica’s attractions that full or part time residents can enjoy year round.
All these towns and surrounding areas boast Costa Rica condos for sale at prices that, compared with the Northeastern and Pacific coasts of the United States, can be a bargain. In fact, around San Jose and its relatively low cost-of-living, the housing costs in a typical middle-class suburban neighborhood are substantially less than similar housing in the U.S or Canada. Besides condos in Costa Rica, the country offers other real estate investments such as time-shares, single-family homes, and even working farms. However, if not always the least expensive approach, condos in Costa Rica are probably the best choice for foreign investment and retirement.
With the country so small, you can live in San Jose or its suburbs and enjoy the amenities and culture of a modern city and visit the attractions of the rest of the country. In the suburbs of San Jose, $90,000 or less can buy a very nice condo. However, if you opt for Costa Rica beachfront property or a mountain retreat, these properties are still available for much less than similar, choice properties in North America. Coastal properties can cost less than $250,000 and Costa Rica beachfront property will start at under $400,000.
The residency requirements have no onerous restrictions with proofs of income minimal and the status cards easily renewable every two years. Costa Rica does not tax foreign residents on income earned outside of the country and most importantly the Costa Ricans, or Ticos, are friendly and welcoming to foreigners.
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