ExPat Communities

[Christopher Gaj]

Good day folks, wife and I are looking to take a 10-day trip to Costa Rica in April 2026. We are going to spend a few days in San Jose then the next week by the beach. We would like to rent a house or an apartment for the beach scene. Can anyone refer some expat communities for us to look at to start our journey?

[Bekah Battone]

https://internationalliving.com/author/bekah-bottone/ – read the articles in the areas you are interested

Facebook groups are very helpful to find out about community and rentals… be specific about the area, and search for groups with the town’s name, such as Tamarindo Chit Chat or Tamarindo Garage Sale.

Here are some recommendations, places I have experienced on editorial trips and had positive stays/interactions.

Guanacaste

I love this woman’s group; it’s very helpful:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/3442610169117243

Areas in Guanacaste to check out:
Junquial
Negra/Avellanas
Tamarindo/Langosta – there is a weekly women’s dinner group on Tuesdays
Potrero/Surfside
Flamingo
More south– Samara / Montezuma

Southern Pacific

Uvita
Ojochal
https://livebetterabroad.internationalliving.com/p/swap-cold-winters-for-warm-beaches

Rental Airbnb in Ojochal – Aaron
l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fcasariotortuga.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExVEJSR3lZb3JzZll1aXhVZQEeJ-yVfNuBmY-gVKYkSb8QqdtfeKiUM2GqXc_nxEADReuOMxwE_JoS6WBjuRk_aem_Z_VwIuCM05bJtFWDhnq2Dw&h=AT1ftq2mZGcqYFtYePlKiweZYWt91jyudINeq5l6YPen3qH-YSJTgsv4C8fmikuQCbNOi5zK41tJAo_rMlmj9JjVaDqtgC18BWDHn2aY7yy6AxwKssZwWe1P7smfXwHDQUFNlT0guZfuKe8

Central Valley

Brooke Bishop – real estate and rentals in Atenas/Grecia area

Brooke Bishop

Nora Rentals Atenas Kraidman (rentals in Atenas) +1 (702) 403-2076

Atenas
A test drive of Atenas: https://internationalliving.com/a-retirement-test-drive-in-atenas-costa-rica/

This woman’s group has weekly meetups– ask on the page for details
https://www.facebook.com/groups/663758784658197?locale=he_IL

Hotel in Atenas – right downtown– walkable in the center – https://www.booking.com/hotel/cr/colinas-del-sol.en-gb.html?aid=311984&label=colinas-del-sol-JTQ9vYei8EfjP8e0zdMDrgS442509405813%3Apl%3Ata%3Ap1%3Ap2%3Aac%3Aap%3Aneg%3Afi%3Atikwd-24444033627%3Alp9196226%3Ali%3Adec%3Adm%3Appccp%3DUmFuZG9tSVYkc2RlIyh9YV19IumoQ3O51m4Ge68sOW8&sid=29c1313f9d7b846be828efd6be68e624&age=14&age=14&all_sr_blocks=135080603_86194120_3_1_0&checkin=2025-10-13&checkout=2025-10-15&dest_id=-1106095&dest_type=city&dist=0&group_adults=1&group_children=2&hapos=1&highlighted_blocks=135080603_86194120_3_1_0&hpos=1&matching_block_id=135080603_86194120_3_1_0&no_rooms=1&req_adults=1&req_age=14&req_age=14&req_children=2&room1=A%2C14%2C14&sb_price_type=total&sr_order=popularity&sr_pri_blocks=135080603_86194120_3_1_0__31110&srepoch=1757011899&srpvid=94d2849b3e920574&type=total&ucfs=1&

Grecia
Glamping in Grecia- https://www.tierranuevacostarica.com/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574689898866&rdid=ZUD5fBV785KxSDor&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F1B6pbpgsTY%2F#
Owner of this page – DON sets up weekly AMIGOS group meet-ups on Wednesdays at 12 pm at Los Jardines Vivero y Café

Check out Tres Ríos and Orosi Valley on the other side of San Jose
John Michael has a rental airbnb.ie/rooms/872388643455466471
Also check out his International Living cover story on Orosi– maybe in the May 2025 issue (around that month)

Arenal
Tronadora:
Cabinas to rent https://www.facebook.com/cabanaskoi/?locale=he_IL
Long-term rentals – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083158240797&locale=he_IL

Nuevo Arenal:
rentals
https://www.airbnb.ie/rooms/40036748
https://www.toucanlane.com/

Let me know if you have any specific questions and you can also message questions to my WhatsApp +506 8962 9593.

[Author]

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