[Country Expert john michael arthur]

Hola Renee!
How exciting that you’ll be visiting Costa Rica. We just love our life here.

Let me try to answer your question–but in doing so allow me to first make some observations that just always are true.
1) 2 days is hardly anytime at all–distances are short but travel times much longer than you think. If you really want to check some areas you’ll need a MINIMUM of one day in each location, but you’ll need travel time, too.

2) The whole purpose of the Fast Track Costa Rica conference is to acquaint you with all the different areas. And I can not tell you how often people come with one set of ideas in hand and those completely change after participating in the conference. The areas you ask about are so varied and only YOU can know if it is a fit.
Soooooo, I strongly suggest you wait to decide where to visit until after the conference.

3) That said, if I were to pick one town to suggest in each of the major Pacific beach areas, they would be:
In the North–Tamarindo
Central Pacific–Quepos
Southern Pacific–Dominical/Uvita
Each of these are as drastically different one from another as Santa Fe is from Atlanta is from Boston. In other words, they are all fantastic places to live FOR THE RIGHT PERSON–but not for every person.

4) I’m sure there are myriad other questions you’ll have (even more than you realize now) after you’ve started hearing the speakers at the Fast Track Costa Rica. Both Kathleen and I will be there the entire time, and either or both of us will be happy to talk in more detail about any of these questions or others.

Best of luck
I’ll look forward to meeting you in person in Costa Rica
JMA

[Country Expert john michael arthur]

Hola Lori

Good luck with your search. Boots-on-the-ground is the only real way to know an area.
Arenal is definitely more remote, so you may find the bus system more difficult there. While many expats do not have cars in many areas, most all of them do have their own cars in the Arenal area.

Costa Rica has 12 (some say 27) microclimates. While the lake region has no specific rainy season—expect rain at any time of the year—the wettest months are June through October. Generally the days begin sunny and the rains come in the late afternoon.
Yearly average temps run around 75 F. 

As you climb the slopes of the mountains the temperatures drop and the rainfall increases. As you can see the heaviest rainfall, approximately 150 inches annually, is close to the volcano and it lessens as it moves west down the lake to about 80 inches at the southeastern end.



Here are some very general observations I have made about the areas around the lake.

La Fortuna—The Tourist Mecca.
Located about 2 hours from the International Airport, La Fortuna is the gateway to Arenal but that’s not all travelers have waiting for them. The Catarata de La Fortuna is a waterfall pouring from a seventy-meter cliff.  The Tabacon Hot Springs are a relaxing intermission in the midst of the various spectacles. And there are plenty of resorts, lodges and inns for a blissful end to any day’s excursion.

Nuevo Arenal —The Expat Hotspot
Nuevo Arenal is a small community with a big personality. It’s home to one of the fastest growing ex-pat communities in Costa Rica and for good reason. There’s plenty to do and easy access to some of Costa Rica’s top attractions. The scenery is simply spectacular and it feels like eternal spring.

Tronadora— The Quiet Village On The Lake
Tronadora is a sleepy town on the southern side of Lake Arenal where farmers and villagers live in harmony with expats from around the world. And the other neighbors? Well they include horses—and cows and monkeys and toucans and sloths. The overall vibe of the town is quiet, relaxed, and friendly.

Tilarán—The Regional Center
Decades ago, Tilarán was farmlands which produced coffee, macadamia, and peanuts. Today, it is a growing retirement haven located by the stunning Lake Arenal. Ranching continues here as do windmill farms that provide power to the general area. It’s the largest town in the area, but don’t let that fool you. The population remains under 10,000.

It’s still quite rural, so if you’re looking for nightlife or big city excitement, it’s not for you. And you will have to have a car to get around comfortably. For very serious medical conditions, you may still need to go to San José.

There exists a strange dichotomy here. Not only is the area around Arenal a wonderland of grand adventure—it’s also known for its sleepy, placid, rural lifestyle.
Whether you approach from the west or from the east, the drive into the Arenal area is spectacular—but pay attention to your driving because you’ll have to watch for traffic jams caused by wildlife crossings. On either side of the road – up the green slope and down on the lakeside, there are lovely inns, hip coffeehouses, and all the relaxation you’ve been looking for. 

Hope that helps!
JMA

[Country Expert john michael arthur]

Hey there
I’ll give the Orosi Lodge a call and see if I can catch you.
JMA

[Country Expert john michael arthur]

Hola Kelly,
Lucky for you, I live in the Orosi Valley!
Kathleen is correct that there are few expats in this area, but there are about 100 of us.
There is no special hang-out where you’ll find us…we just connect with each other in our homes, etc., although we often get together or run into each other at the pizza place Il Giardino in Orosi. (It’s great by the way.)
Where will you be staying?
There are several trout fishing areas nearby, but none are really river fishing…they are almost all farm-raised, catch and eat places. One of the best and most famous is just about 1/2 mile from my house. It’s called Montaña Trucha in Cachí.
There are a couple of Spanish schools, one is just next door to the Orosi Lodge.
The drive to Puerto Viejo is easy as the roads are all very good. We made the trip last month in about 2 1/2 hours.
We are on the go all the time, and we have company arriving on the 3rd, but I’d be glad to meet you for coffee one day, if we can work out the logistics.

We will be in the hottest part of the year when you’re here, so you’ll know the worst heat we have in the area. (I’ve never measured anything higher than 84F here at our house.). We average 60 F overnight and mid 70’s during the day.
JMA

[Country Expert john michael arthur]

Hola Wendy
Sorry for the delay in answering. I and a whole host of other IL correspondents and editors were at the IL conference in Atlanta, and we were completely tied up for the entire time trying to answer the myriad questions from the 500 attendees that were there. Normally we endeavour to reply in 24 hours. The posting goes to the IL office and then it is parceled out to the appropriate correspondents.

Yes, you are right that Tamarindo area (and the whole of the Gold Coast) is full of areas for swimming and diving (and surfing.). That said, I personally like the area around Manuel Antonio better myself. As to the rains–I wouldn’t get too hung up about the rains. Even during the raining season, there are plenty of days without rain and even on the days that it does rain, the rains usually come in the afternoon–leaving you mornings/half-days full of sun. Actually, I prefer the rainy season. In the areas where the dry season is very dry (up to 5 months without a drop) it can just get too dry, brown, and monotonous for me.

[Country Expert john michael arthur]

Hi there Kelly,
Sorry for the delay in answering. I and a whole host of other IL correspondents and editors were at the IL conference in Atlanta, and we were completely tied up for the entire time trying to answer the myriad questions from the 500 attendees that were there. Normally we endeavour to reply with 24 hours. The forums aren’t a venue where we initiate conversation, but one where we answer questions that folks like you have once you’ve posted them. The posting goes to the IL office and then it is parceled out to the appropriate correspondents.

You’re right that there is less information about the Caribbean but not because it is any less beautiful. Just a bit more remote and a bit less developed. For some people, that’s just what they are looking for; for more folks, they are looking for something a bit more “americanized.” So, more “air-time” is given to the other areas.

That said, I just wrote an article about the Caribbean that was published in the Costa Rica Insider last week.
Check it out; I love the Caribbean side.
JMA

[Country Expert john michael arthur]

Hola Wendy,

I see that Kathleen as already given you a lot of excellent information. I agree completely that on the Caribbean side, Puerto Viejo would be the one place that fits your description of what you’re looking for.

While I live in the mountains I do love to visit the beaches. The Pacific offers many well documented areas. The Caribbean is still much more rural, but I love its vibe–especially the area around Puerto Viejo. You should definitely check it out. Housing tends to be less expensive there, too.

Look for my April Insider that will published next week–it’s all about the Caribbean side.
Best of Luck
John Michael Arthur–IL Correspondent

[Country Expert john michael arthur]

Hey there! Congrats on your touring.
Technically, Quepos and Manuel Antonio are not in the Southern Zone, but rather the Central Pacific. Unfortunately, the farther south you travel (especially past Dominical) any type of concierge services greatly diminishes. In fact, I don’t know of anything like that for the true Southern Zone. (There are some real estate developers that tour their areas with some additional information on the surroundings, but that isn’t what you’re asking about.)
I can give you an extra tip though–be sure and enjoy sunset in Domincal at Jolly Rogers. The wings and burgers are just the best you’ll find anywhere down there, the folks are friendly, and the sunset views are unforgettable.

[Country Expert john michael arthur]

Doug,
Jackie’s response is right on.
As an aside, Costa Rica now recognizes same-sex couples as dependents of each other for the purposes of the Caja as well as medical legal rights in the healthcare system in general. However, residency must still be obtained as individuals, not as a couple.

[Country Expert john michael arthur]

Just ask your vet if they are USDA certified for the necessary forms. He or she will know. Many are not. But they will know colleagues who are. Also, even if they are USDA certified, they MUST use their seal on the form or it will be rejected here at Customs.

[Country Expert john michael arthur]

Good luck with that Doug! We love it here.

[Country Expert john michael arthur]

Hi Bruce,

Since medicines vary widely it is best to contact a pharmacy (called a farmacia) directly. Here are a few of the pharmacies in Grecia (in the Central Valley)- http://www.farmascr.com/contactenos.html. Click on “Servicio al Cliente” to email customer service and give them your list to see if they carry everything or have equivalents. Most pharmacies in Grecia have at least one English speaking employee.

Hope this helps,
Greg

[Country Expert john michael arthur]

Hi Bill,

I have been unable to find out any information. I will keep looking and asking and will let you know if I find out anything.

[Country Expert john michael arthur]

Hi Joel,

I have also heard good things about Alamo. Also, see this blog post – http://mytanfeet.com/special-deals/get-real-discount-rent-car-costa-rica/ – I am friends with the guys who run this blog and have trusted their recommendations on many things and have never been disappointed.

My guess is taxes will be the same whether you pick the vehicle up at the airport or a satellite office.

Best of luck,
Greg

[Country Expert john michael arthur]

Hi Joel,

The water should be fine throughout the country. On the Caribbean coast the only iffy area would be the port town of Limón.

As far as a vehicle goes, it will most likely be difficult to rent a car once you get to the Caribbean. If you took a bus or inter-country travel there travel would need to be by taxi. Renting a vehicle, while expensive, provides you with the most options.

I’ll be honest, I do not know the Caribbean side very well. However, I can say that I have had many friends stay in Manzanillo and they were pleased with the beach, the food options, and accommodations.

Hope this helps,
Greg Seymour, IL Correspondent

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