Renting is a great way to try out life in different parts of Costa Rica. Property management companies are a great way to go because they usually have a large and varied inventory of rentals and you can browse the listings online from home. Plus, in my experience they’ve been very responsive for repairs, etc. and often throw in services like maids and gardeners. Real estate agents / offices usually also have a large pool of rental properties so be sure to check those too in any region you’re interested in. One last place to check is Craigslist Costa Rica – a lot of individual owners have places for rent listed there. But as in the U.S. with Craigslist buyer beware.