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COSTA RICA RETIREMENT AND REAL ESTATE TOURS
 This tour covers major towns in the Central Valley where we feel that real estate values still exist, the quality of life is higher than that in other parts of the country, or where key services are numerous. The Central Valley is the hub of Costa Rica and where more than half of the country´s population resides. It has the most solid infrastructure and the widest variety of available services in the country. However, it still retains a wonderful tropical atmosphere, and you can make your home in either a city or country setting—whatever you desire—and still have all major facilities nearby. And most cities on the tour are less than two hour´s drive from the beach!
Please note that this itinerary may be customized or slightly changed, based on real estate or investment opportunities, weather or the availability of new properties.
If you plan to spend extra time in Costa Rica, we suggest that you do it after the tour if possible, so that you can go back and spend more time exploring the places you like best. For those who want to return to San Ramon and would like to stay at the B&B, Chris and Luisa will offer you a special rate.
http://www.casa-amanecer-cr.com/
Day 1
Breakfast at the B&B will be 7:15am and the van will leave promptly at 8:00am.
This morning we’ll spend time getting to know the city of Atenas, famed for its warm, moderate climate. In addition to seeing a variety of properties in this idyllic town, we will meet several professionals and/or business owners here who can assist you if you decide to invest or move to Costa Rica.
We will also visit La Garita, famous for its ¨viveros¨ (plant nurseries). You will be amazed by the variety of plants (everything seems to grow here!) and, above all, the reasonable prices.
Day 2
 Today we will concentrate on seeing properties in San Ramon and spend the full morning viewing properties in the area, amongst them another of our ¨BBB¨ (¨Boomers Best Buy¨) recommendations. At about 3,000 feet above sea level, many of these properties have spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and can still be had at reasonable prices. We’ll also be met by your second tour guide, who will spend the rest of the day with us.
We´ll take some time to tour this pleasant town, known locally as the city of presidents and poets because several of them were born or lived here. We will experience daily life here by walking through the main square, with its charming and peaceful park, Romanesque and Gothic cathedral and museum and cultural center. In addition, we will make introductions at one of the international banks to give you information on opening an account and obtaining a mortgage in Costa Rica. We will also meet a local, English-speaking attorney who will tell you everything you need to know about the legal process for buying property in Costa Rica, the fees involved, and how an attorney will protect your financial interests.
Day 3
The last day of the tour will include an excursion to the close-in suburbs of San Jose including the expat enclave of Escazu and the bustling, modern town of Santa Ana. The primary purpose of this day is to give you an overview of the services and shopping found in this area, as many products and services of interest to North Americans and Europeans are available in the numerous shopping malls and other areas in and around San Jose. In addition, the best private hospitals in the country are found here including CIMA Hospital (affiliated with Baylor University) and Hospital Clinica Biblica. Both hospitals boast the latest technologies, have many US- and European-trained doctors, and are internationally certified. San Jose is also quickly becoming Latin America’s hub for medical tourism. Escazu and Santa Ana in particular offer many international dining options in addition to local fare. If there is something you crave, you’ll likely find it here.
Culturally, the San Jose area has a wide variety of options from several national museums, theaters, sports complexes, and cinemas. In fact, Escazu now has the country’s first IMAX movie theater. We will spend the day seeing many of the things this area has to offer and sample some of the best international food in the country.
The tour will conclude between 3:00pm and 4:00pm and you will have two options for where to end your tour:
OPTION 1: Drop you off in in the San Jose area - for those of you who are visiting the Caribbean or Pacific coasts, have flights, or want to stay in the San Jose area, we can drop you at the airport or other selected locations in San Jose. Rental car companies are also close by or taxis are available to other destinations.
OPTION 2: Return to San Ramon - for those who want to stay and re-visit the area we’ll take you back to the B&B with us or alternatively if you would like to visit the Arenal area (La Fortuna) which is north of San Ramon.
Below you will find information about the Central Valley. The idea is give you information about living in this region, the cost to purchase property or build a home, and other details.
CENTRAL VALLEY TOUR
 Climate: The temperature usually fluctuates between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit depending on the time of the day. Temperature will also vary according to the altitude above sea level. We try to locate properties that are about 3,000 feet above sea level or higher, because in our experience, it results in the most comfortable climate. Humidity is also lower at this altitude. Air conditioning is almost never used.
Costs: If you choose to buy property and build a home, a property of approximately 1.25 acres (5000 square meters) or greater, with a home will run between $135,000 and $235,000, depending on how large or how luxurious the house is. Lot prices will vary from as low as $10 per square meter to $50 per square meter, with larger tracks of land costing less. Construction costs for a quality, North American-style home will be between $50 and $65 per square foot. Again, it is always possible to spend more if you so choose. It is also possible to find extremely cheap land or construction quotes, but we have found when the price seems too good to be true, it usually is. We have spent many hours screening various properties, weighing price and quality, in order to find well-priced properties, without sacrificing quality, location, clear title, etc.
The prices of resale homes will vary widely depending on the size of the house and lot, location, quality of finishes, and other factors. Keep in mind that many resale homes may have been originally built for Costa Ricans and may not have the features North Americans expect such as bath tubs, large bedrooms, or in some cases, modern showers. However, newer homes built specifically for foreigners are becoming more widely available.
Infrastructure: The Central Valley’s infrastructure is far superior to that of the beach. Most streets are paved with asphalt and are considerably wider. While beach areas sometimes suffer from droughts and power outages, these are usually not issues in the Central Valley. You will also have easier access to public transportation, taxi services, a wider variety of grocery stores and other shopping, and the main Inter-American Highway.
Location: Most areas of the Central Valley that we introduce you to are about 45 minutes to the nearest beach. Most towns are also about 45 minutes to San Jose’s international Airport. Things to do in the Central Valley include canopy tours, horseback riding, various nature trails, bungee jumping, fine dining (both international cuisine and typical Costa Rican food), and more. Most towns in the Central Valley are also between 1.5 to 2 hours to the famous Arenal Volcano where you’ll find a variety of tourist attractions such as hot springs, horseback riding, and hanging bridges.
Type of Client: We find the majority of Central Valley tour clients enjoy the ambiance and tranquility of this different life style along with quick and easy access to a wide variety of things to do. People from the Northeast especially find it to be an alleviating escape from the “rat race” back home while offering plenty of activities from cultural events, clubs, hobby groups, and much more! Foreigners living in the Central Valley are usually not “beach goers,” but instead have more interest in their natural surroundings, outdoor activities, and the proximity to shopping and services.
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Like to do things at your own pace? Our standard tour dates don´t coincide with your schedule? Want to focus on only a few select cities or areas outside the Central Valley? Want to bring the kids, parents, grandparents or friends along? Want to assess real estate investment opportunities including larger tracts of land for commerical uses? Interested in specific business opportunities? These are all great reasons to consider our private, custom tours.
With a custom tour, we´ll design a program with your unique objectives in mind. And, we'll do it when you want to do it and for as many days as you need us. You´ll have flexible options for hotels and meals, which makes pricing also flexible. In fact, depending on the package that we arrange for you and the number of people travelling, costs could be comparable to those of the scheduled, regular tour.
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Just email us with your interests and ideas and we´ll go from there.
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