Rich K. Says:
I’m looking to retire to Costa Rica and need to get off square one.
I love the mountains and nature, and would like to live in a semi remote region but close enough to medical care and shopping. Do you have any advice?
IL Costa Rica Correspondent Bekah Bottone Says:
Hi Rich,
There are many great places to check out in Costa Rica.
The Lake Arenal region is quiet, rural, and peaceful. It’s about three hours northwest of Costa Rica’s capital, San Jose, and about two hours East of Liberia, the capital of the Guanacaste Province, home of the country’s second international airport. The 33-square-mile lake and the 5,000-foot perfect cone volcano on the far eastern shore of this lake are the focal point in this area.
On the northern shore, Nuevo Arenal is an epicenter of expat life in the Lake Arenal region. It has a pharmacy, gas station, medical clinic, grocery stores, hardware stores, and even a veterinarian. Many expats live in and around town or on either side of the lakeshore and go into Nuevo Arenal to get supplies. Nuevo Arenal also has many favorite restaurants of expats where people hang out for happy hour or dinners.
On the opposite shore, you have the villages of Tronadora and San Luis. And like Nuevo Arenal, it’s all about small-town life. You greet strangers in the street, neighbors help neighbors, and it’s a quiet, peaceful existence. About 20 minutes from the lakeshore is the town of Tilarán. It’s a bit larger than the places directly on the lakeshore. You’ll find larger shops, more services, and a larger medical clinic with emergency care.
Lake Arenal has a beautiful temperate climate year-round, but an interesting thing about the lake is it has several microclimates. So, you could be on one spot on the lake, drive 15 miles north or 15 miles south, and the climate could be significantly different. Some places are rainier, some points are windier, and some locations have more sunny days.
As far as medical care, Lake Arenal is okay for minor care. They have medical clinics, doctor’s offices, and dentists, but there’s no great emergency or specialist medical care on the lakeshore.
You have to travel to Tilarán, which has a more extensive medical clinic, or even beyond 45 minutes from the lake to Cañas, to visit a hospital with specialists and a fully stocked emergency room. You also have a large hospital in Liberia, about two hours from the lake. Many expats head to Liberia to see specialist doctors and to have procedures done.
Another option is life in the Central Valley. At the start of April, I am headed to Atenas and Grecia for an editorial trip and will report my findings at the Fast Track Costa Rica Conference in July this year.
Everyone I am talking to loves this area and says that it has the perfect mild climate. Being in the Central Valley means being close to medical care, the airport, and shopping so it is a place you should consider.
I live on the beach in Tamarindo, in Guanacaste. It is a hot, tropical climate and the driest part of the country. We have great doctors in the area, but hospitals are over an hour away and there aren’t many specialists in the area.
Take the time to explore Costa Rica and see what feels good to you. Everyone I talk with says they just feel like the place is home when they find it. I know that was what happened to me too!
Good luck and feel free to reach out to learn more in April.
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