Costa Rica is very diverse as far landscapes and climates go, so expats have a choice of environments when thinking about life in this beautiful country. One place that has been very popular over the years is Costa Rica’s Central Valley…a spot that cradles the country’s thriving capital of San José yet also offers rustic and rural pleasure in abundance, as well as a mild, spring-like climate year-round. The Arenal region, with its centrepiece 33-square-mile lake, is also increasingly popular. It is three hours northwest of San José...a region of farmland, pasture, virgin forest, and unspoiled lake views.