Enclavadas en las pintorescas costas del norte de Costa Rica, se encuentra una colección de idílicas comunidades costeras que cautivan con su belleza incomparable y abundantes oportunidades. Bienvenidos a Tamarindo, Playa Flamingo, Playa Potrero, Playas del Coco y Playa Hermosa, un tesoro de destinos encantadores que cautivan los sentidos y encarnan la esencia del estilo de vida Pura Vida. Dotadas de playas vírgenes, exuberantes selvas y una vibrante cultura local, estas comunidades ofrecen una atractiva oportunidad de inversión para quienes buscan un trocito de paraíso y un futuro prometedor. Desde días soleados en playas arenosas hasta emocionantes deportes acuáticos, encuentros con la diversa vida silvestre y una próspera industria turística, el norte de Costa Rica promete una experiencia inigualable y un prometedor retorno de la inversión que va mucho más allá de las ganancias financieras.
Presentando nuestras comunidades del Pacífico Norte
Tamarindo, Playa Flamingo, Playa Potreto, Playas del Coco y Playa Hermosa. Todas zonas muy diversas, ideales para satisfacer sus necesidades y expectativas.
Tamarindo
Tamarindo tuvo su gran oportunidad cuando sus olas, antes secretas, sus playas paradisíacas y su estilo de vida puro, protagonizaron la película de surf de 1994, Endless Summer II. Desde su estreno, la película ha sido famosa por atraer a una multitud de seguidores fieles, entre surfistas nómadas y amantes de la naturaleza, que buscan los rincones idílicos que habían sido explorados por los cineastas. En efecto, tan solo unos años después del estreno, Tamarindo comenzó a convertirse en un animado centro playero.
Con poco más de tres kilómetros de arena dorada, la playa se extiende de un extremo a otro, en la desembocadura del estuario de Tamarindo, donde un punto de roca volcánica separa Tamarindo de su vecina Playa Langosta. La playa, rodeada de palmeras, es digna de una postal, con sus aguas cristalinas de color azul turquesa. Atrae a bañistas, yoguis, jugadores de voleibol de playa, futbolistas y surfistas de todos los niveles; hay mucho que hacer para quienes buscan un estilo de vida activo.
Playa Flamingo
Una auténtica joya entre los pueblos del norte de Costa Rica, Playa Flamingo se encuentra enclavada en la Costa Dorada de Guanacaste y ofrece la fusión perfecta de opulenta calma y energía audaz. Playa Flamingo se ha convertido en un refugio para inversionistas exigentes que buscan un trocito de paraíso gracias a sus hermosas playas de arena blanca, océanos cristalinos y atardeceres impresionantes que tiñen el horizonte de brillantes tonos.
Esta comunidad costera ofrece una gran variedad de oportunidades para quienes deseen invertir en la floreciente industria turística de Costa Rica gracias a sus servicios de primera clase, lujosos resorts y un mercado inmobiliario floreciente. Ya sea practicando deportes acuáticos como pesca de altura, buceo o snorkel, o simplemente relajándose en el cálido clima tropical, Playa Flamingo promete una inversión que no solo promete impresionantes retornos financieros, sino también un estilo de vida que celebra el arte de la relajación y la aventura por igual.
Brasilito
Bienvenido a Brasilito , una joya escondida en la impresionante costa del Pacífico de Costa Rica, que representa una fantástica oportunidad para invertir en bienes raíces en este idílico entorno. Brasilito, ubicado al norte de Tamarindo y Playa Conchal, atrae a visitantes que buscan una escapada tranquila sin renunciar a las comodidades modernas gracias a su ambiente prístino y apacible. Para quienes disfrutan de la playa y el océano, las playas vírgenes de la zona, como Playa Brasilito y Playa Flamingo, son un paraíso, mientras que el entorno natural ofrece innumerables oportunidades para la exploración y la aventura al aire libre.
Los inversionistas inteligentes, deseosos de aprovechar el floreciente mercado inmobiliario de Costa Rica, son la opción ideal para el mercado objetivo de Brasilito. La zona ofrece grandes oportunidades de revalorización inmobiliaria e ingresos por alquiler gracias a la constante afluencia de turistas y expatriados atraídos por su belleza natural y su relajado estilo de vida. Brasilito ofrece diversas alternativas de inversión para todos los gustos y presupuestos, ya sea que le interese condominios frente al mar, lujosas villas con impresionantes vistas al mar o pintorescos bungalows rodeados de jardines tropicales. Déjese seducir por este sereno paraíso costero, donde sus sueños de inversión se hacen realidad en medio de la belleza de la costa pacífica de Costa Rica.
Tamarindo y Playa Flamingo
Tamarindo: un vibrante pueblo playero en la Zona Azul de Costa Rica
Más allá de las palmeras, que separan la playa del pueblo, la encantadora calle principal está llena de restaurantes frente al mar, bares, hoteles, estudios de yoga, tiendas de recuerdos, tiendas de surf, oficinas inmobiliarias y un par de spas de día, incluida una nueva y moderna tienda de pedicura con peces.
Aparte de las mundialmente famosas olas y la atmósfera paradisíaca, Tamarindo demostró no ser una maravilla de un solo éxito cuando ganó atención internacional una vez más en 2004 por estar ubicado dentro de una de las cinco “Zonas Azules” del mundo, áreas donde las personas regularmente llegan a los 100 años y con buena salud.
Con uno de los climas más cálidos y secos del país, Tamarindo y sus alrededores disfrutan de luz solar directa casi todos los días del año. Las temperaturas se mantienen constantes durante todo el año, fluctuando normalmente entre 27 °C y 35 °C. Incluso durante la temporada de lluvias, que dura aproximadamente de mayo a octubre, es raro encontrar un día sin sol.
Dicho esto, es fácil comprender cómo este pueblo se ha convertido en uno de los balnearios más populares de Costa Rica; popular entre los ticos (nativos costarricenses), pero también entre una gran comunidad de expatriados y turistas de todo el mundo. Con el crecimiento de su popularidad, se ha incrementado la infraestructura y los servicios.
Tamarindo: Un cómodo pueblo playero con una combinación perfecta de comodidades modernas y encanto tropical
Ubicado a poco más de una hora del Aeropuerto Internacional Daniel Oduber Quirós de Liberia, LIR es accesible por carretera asfaltada en todo el trayecto. Tamarindo es una de las ciudades playeras más convenientes que existen, permitiendo desconectarse de todo. Si necesita ir a San José, la capital del país, puede conducir por una carretera asfaltada y llegar en unas cinco horas. También hay un servicio de autobús diario regular desde y hacia San José y otras ciudades más grandes, que es confiable.
Encontrará tres bancos en la ciudad, incluyendo el Banco de Costa Rica y el Banco Nacional (las dos cadenas más grandes del país). Hay una ferretería local para artículos básicos y un par de tiendas que ofrecen servicios como impresión, fax, escaneo y fotocopias.
A place where both relaxed retirees or ambitious digital nomads can thrive. A place with just enough modern-day amenities to suit your everyday needs, but not so developed to hinder its slightly bohemian, off the beaten path charm. This place exists, in Tamarindo, and could be the perfect spot for someone ready to reinvent life as they know it with a daily dose of sun, sand, and a tropical ocean breeze.
Playa Flamingo: A Seaside Haven of Beauty, Luxury, and Beachfront Living
Playa Flamingo is one of Costa Rica’s most beautiful seaside communities, known for its white-sand beaches, luxury beachfront homes, and the state-of-the-art Flamingo Marina that just opened. Located in the middle of Costa Rica’s Gold Coast, Flamingo is a place of striking beauty, with two green, hilly peninsulas jutting into the Pacific Ocean. Known as the North-ridge and South-ridge, they are covered with multimillion-dollar homes and vacation rentals, virtually all with stunning ocean views. Flamingo has two beaches within a 5-minute walk of each other, Playa Potrero and Playa Flamingo. They are separated by the North Ridge, at the base of which is the compact, walkable downtown.
Playa Flamingo: Where Luxury Marina Living Meets Convenient Inland Charm
Right next to that is the new marina, which has 92 slips (out of 184 planned), a fueling dock, a desalination plant and a wastewater treatment plant. The central building at the marina has restaurants, shops, offices and a medical clinic on the ground floor, with 40 luxury condos for lease on the upper three floors. There’s also another side to Flamingo, on the main inland road that connects to Potrero and Brasilito. Here there are two banks, several restaurants, a great grocery store, hardware stores, legal offices and a medical clinic — plus some surprisingly affordable housing — all within three to five walkable blocks of the beach. Flamingo has served as home to such stars as Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and Linda (“Wonder Woman”) Carter. The homes of the North Ridge are built along cliffs with spectacular views, each with its unique architecture, swimming pool, lush landscaping and in places maids’ quarters. Some properties even have their own secluded beaches, with access through wooden stairs and small trails.
Brasilito, Playa Potreto & Playas del Coco
Brasilito: Embracing the Authentic Costa Rican Experience by the Beach
Brasilito stands out from neighboring beach communities because of its traditional Costa Rican feel. To the north and south, it’s easy to find a half dozen other beach communities where foreigners drastically out-number the locals and where you’ll hear English being spoken all around you; but not in Brasilito. The community is mostly inhabited by Costa Ricans, many of them working to support the tourism industry in other places, then coming home to their families and lives here. People of every age gather at the town’s soccer field and enjoy meals at the modest “sodas” (that’s a very casual Costa Rican restaurant). There are no big name stores or even national chain supermarkets in Brasilito; it has a noticeably local feel to it.
But don’t think this is just a sleepy beach town. The town comes alive as groups of visitors trickle through the area, coming to enjoy its mellow and quiet light gray-sand beach. A variety of restaurants line the beach, and sodas are positioned around the soccer field, which sits just steps away from the waves.
One of the best restaurants in town is the Papayo Restaurant in the Conchal Hotel. While not located on the beach, this amazing restaurant has its own beautiful atmosphere featuring the lush vegetation, pool, and charm of the small hotel. Owned and operated by an expat couple, this charming restaurant offers delectable seafood and cocktails that will leave you savoring the experience.
Brasilito: Where Authentic Costa Rican Charm Meets Upscale Beach Lifestyle
Brasilito’s position less than two miles from the ultra-luxurious Westin Resort in Playa Conchal means that it attracts a more upscale crowd from time to time. Several exquisite restaurants and the simple charm of the town attract nearby property owners and those staying in vacation rentals within the resort. The relationship between residents in both communities is mutually beneficial. For example, Brasilito residents may seek membership in Playa Conchal’s multiple clubs. An exclusive members-only tennis club and Roberts Trent Jones II-designed golf course ensure those who vacation and retire in Costa Rica will be able to keep their skills sharp.
A quick drive along the beach delivers Brasilito residents to a completely different beach experience. The beach at Playa Conchal is made up of tons of crushed up seashells, a natural wonder and a delight to see and experience for yourself. Vendors sell souvenirs and snacks, while massage therapists set up their tables just feet from the ocean.
Playa Potrero: A Laid-Back Paradise with Exquisite Dining and Beachside Relaxation
The overall vibe of this beach town is laid back and family friendly. Retirees are attracted to this area for its many amenities, including its proximity to excellent health care, beautiful beaches, terrific restaurants, golf, boating, and exploring all the wonders of Costa Rica. Playa Potrero has great lodging and restaurants. The most respected boutique hotel on this bay is the Bahía Del Sol, situated roughly in the middle of the bay. Bahía Del Sol is a favorite among tourists and locals alike, as many expats in the area come for lunch, for a drink, or to enjoy the pool during the day.
Directly south of the Bahia Del Sol is the Costa Rica Sailing Center, which offers beach goers great food, a full bar, pool, and access to sail boats, catamarans, paddle boards, and kayaks. The Sailing Center offers fresh grilled seafood and live music to their patrons. They also offer a yearly membership that gives their members discounts on boat and equipment rentals, and also food and drink discounts. You can also book your scuba diving from this location.
Playa Potrero: A Culinary Paradise and Authentic Costa Rican Village
Situated on the very North end of the bay is Las Brisas, which is a famous restaurant/bar in the area. Las Brisas bar has been in business for 50 years and is well known for their Wednesday night lady’s night, where ladies drink free of charge. During the day, this restaurant has fresh seafood served daily and is a great place to grab lunch or watch the sunset while eating dinner. The Beach House is also located on Playa Potrero. It has a great many featuring fresh fish and burgers. Definitely a Jimmy Buffett vibe going on at the beach House. Great Margaritas!
Although not directly on the beach, Las Perlas, El Castillo, Casa Celeste, Smoking Pig, Numu, and the Shack are some other great restaurants located in the Surfside Estates neighborhood of Playa Potrero. Excellent food, cold drinks, and a sense of camaraderie keep both the locals and the tourists coming back for more.
The true village center of Playa Potrero is located just inland on the North end of the bay. Like any typical Costa Rican town, Potrero has a soccer field in the center of it, and the soccer field is surrounded by homes, stores, restaurants (sodas), and a school.
Playas del Coco: Your Gateway to Paradise in Guanacaste, Costa Rica
There are numerous fun-filled day-trips from Playa Potrero, including a visit to Rincón de la Vieja, a geothermal hotspot and national park that offers fascinating geology and superb hiking. The park has wonderful examples of dry forests and humid forests, and is home to the lake-filled crater of Rincón de la Vieja volcano. Other fun days trips include white-water rafting and tubing, ATV tours, canopy tours, kayak fishing, natural mud-treatment and hot-spring spas, and horseback riding tours.
Playas del Coco is the closest beach town to Liberia Airport (LIR), which services the Guanacaste area. From here, you can also easily access the top private resorts, such as Four Seasons, Secrets, Planet Hollywood, Andez, and the Riu. Close by are the towns of Tamarindo (where you go to surf), Playas Flamingo, Hermosa, and many other great beach towns.
Playas del Coco has a main street where many shops and restaurants are located. You will see the expats hanging out at a few of these locations. Craft beer and great food are to be had.
Talking to some of the first expats, who arrived here 20 or so years ago, you’ll discover life was very different. On Friday, one bank came to town in a van by the old police station. There was one supermarket in town. Main street was the only road paved. Now, there are over nine supermarkets in Coco and six or more banks. Plus, with all the fruit stands on the side of the road, you will never want to shop close to food shopping. We even have a Price Smart within 20 minutes.
Coco has grown over the years and is a very popular home to expats—the bulk is from Canada and the U.S. Not all live here year-round, but many do.
Discover the Marine Wonders of Playa Potrero: Unforgettable Scuba Diving Adventures at the Catalina Islands
Playa Potrero has excellent scuba diving operators, with daily trips to the Catalinas Islands. The Catalina Islands exist 10 kilometers (about a 45-minute boat ride) offshore of Playa Potrero Bay, and are a great place to see giant manta rays and whale sharks. Devil rays, spotted-eagle rays, white-tipped reef sharks, and dozens of varieties of tropical fish also can be seen around the Catalina Islands.
There are 2-3 Catamaran operators that offer daily trips that include cocktails, food and snorkeling. The afternoon tours are popular because they offer the beautiful sunsets on the return to the bay. This is a “must do” if you are visiting Playa Potrero or Playa Flamingo.
Playas del Coco
Exploring Playas del Coco: Car-Free Living, Diverse Communities, and Real Estate Opportunities
You can get by without a car. Most places are walkable from anywhere in Coco. There are plenty of taxis available to take you to the grocery store if you are doing some heavy shopping. A lot of people just opt to have a golf cart for in-town excursions. If you do get a car, be careful coming through town. Dogs, pedestrians, monkeys, motorcycles, scooters, buses, bicycles, ATV’s, and golf carts are all competing for a place on the road.
There are so many communities within Coco to choose where you can live. Many condos are found in the Las Palmas area, but you can find some nice houses there also. Pacifico is a gated community with very upscale houses and condos. This area comes with a private beach club, but be prepared to pay for it. Playa Ocotal and Hermosa, just around the corner, all have expat housing/communities. Real estate is booming in Coco. Do not expect anything to stay on the market very long.
You do not need to buy to live here. You can rent long-term. If you rent, having electricity and water included is really a bonus, but usually not the case. It takes a bit to become a resident, but is very doable on a Pensionado ($1,000 per month to qualify) or Rentista visa, allowing foreigners to stay for up to two years with the ability to extend. The Rentista visa allows the self-employed, entrepreneurs, and digital nomads to work in Costa Rica.
Healthcare and Climate in Playas del Coco: Accessible Medical Options and Year-Round Tropical Living
Medical in Coco: If you are not a resident, you will not qualify for the CCSS or CAJA (for a small monthly fee you can receive free medical care), but there are good options such as BlueCross BlueShield Costa Rica. A policy for two over-60s, with no pre-existing conditions, is around $6,000 per year. You will need to go to a private hospital in Liberia to receive treatments such as physicals, mammograms, colonoscopies, etc. Liberia is about a 45-minute drive. There is a great medical clinic for emergencies in downtown Coco, you can even get an EKG there! Prices are minimal. There are also several dentists in Coco, you will pay about a third of the cost as in the U.S. or Canada. You do not need to apply for residency but you will have to renew your visa every 90 days. That means leaving the country via air, bus, or car. Nicaragua is the closest land border. There are even tour companies that sponsor a border run for expats.
You will never need a jacket here! High season (tourist season) is from November until May. It does not rain here and is quite hot, sometimes reaching 100 F. Humidity is lower in these months due to the lack of rainfall. From June until November it is cooler but the rains start and you get higher humidity. September and October are the wettest months, and you can experience monsoon rains in these months.
Embrace the Rhythms of Playas del Coco: Exploring Activities, Nightlife, and Community Spirit
Get out when the sun comes up (5 a.m.) when it’s cooler. Between the hours of 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., you might find yourself inside working on a project, meeting others for lunch, or taking a siesta. It gets dark in Coco around 6 p.m. all year round, and you will see many expats reappear after the sun goes down. Sitting on the beach for sunset dinner, drinking, and listening and dancing to live music are the main attractions. In 2019 Coco was host to Costa Rica Blues Festival and the famous Ironman triathlon.
A great Farmers market happens every Thursday night and Sunday morning at the Garden Bar (a popular expat hangout). This is a great place to buy local art, get fresh veggies and fruit, and see your friends. You will find the community a little older than the surf towns such as Tamarindo and Jaco due to the waters being too calm here to surf.
Active Living and Community Engagement in Playas del Coco
There are so many ways to get exercise in Coco. You will see many expats walking the beach or fishing in the morning, between the hours of 6am and 9am. Hiking the hills surrounding Coco, going to one of the four gyms in town, or taking part in pickleball, Zumba, water aerobics, kayaking, bicycling, and yoga at Costa Rica Wellness Retreat are all great ways to get your body moving. Yoga can also be experienced on the beach or even on a SUP!
Many classes and community groups are here also. Learn Spanish, learn how to make Kombucha, learn Reiki, meditate, and more.
There are so many animals for adoption here also. You can find healthy dogs and cats (usually nurtured and vaccinated) and, if you can’t adopt, there are organizations such as Four the Love of Paws and Homeless and Helpless that will gladly accept your donation.
Hermosa Beach
Hermosa: A Welcoming Community of Diversity, Conservation, and Convenience
Although this quaint and peaceful community itself is small, with the population fluctuating seasonally from high 100’s to the low 1000’s, it is well developed and boasts all the basic amenities you would need to live comfortably with high-quality boutique hotels, bars with live music, and international open-air restaurants dotting the oceanfront. The population consists of an equal mix of expats, mainly North Americans and Europeans, “ticos” (Costa Rican natives), and vacationers.
The residents here are generally tightly knit and are willing to donate money for various fundraising efforts to make the community a better place. In fact, Hermosa has a recycling program and residents routinely volunteer for beach clean ups. There is also a Salve Monos (Save the Monkeys) program in place, working in conjunction with the University of Costa Rica to preserve, document, save, and enhance the dwindling Howler Monkey population in Hermosa.
Hermosa town is situated in a valley with much of the real estate development in the surrounding hills. It is one of the few Costa Rican towns with a miniature golf course, and also has a pharmacy, a spa, a hair salon, an ATM, plus a grocery store in the center of town to satisfy shopping needs from fresh produce to imported wines. As Hermosa is fairly concentrated and on the bus line, you do not have to own a car here.
Hermosa: Gateway to Convenience and Natural Wonders in Costa Rica
Sin embargo, si tiene auto, podrá disfrutar de los restaurantes, bares y supermercados más grandes de Playas del Coco y de la capital provincial, Liberia. Muchos expatriados que viven en la costa prefieren vivir en esta zona por la cercanía a los servicios de Liberia, como el Hospital privado San Rafael Arcángel y el centro comercial, que incluye tiendas, bancos, abogados, una oficina de migración y toma de huellas dactilares para la residencia, una oficina de licencias de conducir del COSEVI, así como concesionarios de autos y grandes superficies como Pricemart, Walmart, Universal y Pequeño Mundo.
Muchos de los parques nacionales y atracciones turísticas de Costa Rica se encuentran a una hora en coche de Hermosa, incluyendo el Parque Nacional Rincón de la Vieja, el Parque Nacional Palo Verde y el Parque Nacional Santa Rosa. Estos parques ofrecen una excelente oportunidad para observar la vida silvestre y experimentar algunos de los diversos ecosistemas de Costa Rica, incluyendo un volcán activo. La Península de Papagayo también cuenta con varios resorts de lujo de 5 estrellas cerca de Hermosa, como Four Seasons, Andaz, Secrets, El Mangroove y Planet Hollywood.
