Perfectly perched in the mountains of Costa Rica’s Central Valley region, the town of Atenas charms its visitors with an easy-to-get-to location. Just 30 to 40 minutes west of San Jose and just off the modern tollway; eternal spring weather and breathtaking mountain vistas await you in Atenas.
Since I wasn't a native Spanish speaker—and the only people I knew in Costa Rica were a couple of real estate agents from previous visits—I wasn't familiar with all the resources available to get reliable information.
Although the beaches are popular, an estimated 70% of the population in Costa Rica resides in the Central Valley, not on the coast. It is not really a "valley" per se, but more like a plateau across the middle of the country; in the higher elevations it reaches 3,000 to 5,000 feet.
I basically embody the American Dream. I come from a poor family amid a broken home—but I was the valedictorian of my class. I was the first person in the family to ever go to college, working two jobs to pay for my undergraduate education. Then came medical school. Then private practice. Then my own kids and the big house and the fancy cars. You know…success.
In 2013, when my husband Steve and I made the decision to make an international move, I was longing for a slower pace of life. My sales career in corporate America had beaten me up for two-and-a-half decades. I was longing to slow my life down with a leap from the roller coaster—for my sanity and my health. Costa Rica offered that chance to stop and smell the roses.
For millions of people around the globe who share genealogical or cultural ties with Ireland, March 17 is a special day. The St. Patrick's Day celebration has been part of the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church since the 15th century. Costa Rica is an overwhelmingly Catholic country, so March 17 is traditionally celebrated as a religious day, with a Mass service in honor of St. Patrick on the day he died.
Linda Lyon and her husband, Dinesh Badouraly, relocated from Dillon, Montana to Costa Rica’s Gold Coast on July 17, 2018, which Linda now refers to as “Landing Day.” Since making the move, she has established a business based on a lifelong passion: dog training and massage.
What is it that draws us to the seashore? What is this power that attracts us and increases real estate values? I have traveled much of the coast of my adopted home country, and quite a bit of the world. The beaches always entice. Whether to walk, meditate, do yoga, jog, surf, wade—you will find humanity drawn to the shores for a mental reset. To better understand, I asked an expert.
When you dream of a vacation (or living) in the tropics, often the first thing you imagine is the coastline. Long sandy stretches of palms swaying in the sea breezes. The waves gently lapping the shore
I no longer make resolutions specifically for the new year. After all, you can decide to do something better for yourself any time, not just on January 1. I have found, however, that making resolutions or reaching goals of any kind is easier in Costa Rica. Whether it's for the mind, body, or soul.