Infrastructure Improvements make one area of Costa Rica in high demand for expats
The southern Pacific region of Costa Rica is often regarded as the nicest part of the country but has also been the hardest part of the country to get to. Until now…
History: Over 20 years ago, a small enclave of expats formed a community just north of the Osa Peninsula in the towns of Ojochal and Tres Rios de Coronado. The development grew primarily by word of mouth attracting North Americans to this spectacular part of the country. But getting there was not an easy task. The inland route, the Cerro de la Muerte (translation is “passage of death”) traversed a mountain ridge high in the clouds, topping 11,000 feet in certain places. The coastal route required numerous river crossings as well as a trek over 20 miles of unpaved road. These challenges made the area largely unvisited. There was the option of taking a small commuter flight from San Jose but upon arrival to the region rental cars were hard to find and taxi service was not readily available.
Recent Changes: In January of 2009 two new highways were finally
completed,the Caldera highway stretching from San Jose to the Pacific coast and the Costanera connecting Quepos to Dominical. These two improvements made the drive from San Jose to the southern region an attractive three hour drive through some of the most scenic parts of the country. It also made the towns of Ojochal, Tres Rios de Coronado and Chontales much more accessible. This area is home to Pacific Lots, the largest and oldest residential development for expats in the region.
About the development: This particular development stands alone as a haven
for expats. Though mostly North Americans, there are also a large number of Europeans in the region. Now in its 22nd year, this project consists of 19 phases set in a mountain backdrop with expansive ocean views. Each phase features home sites with artesian spring water to each lot as well as extensive roads (gravel) and electricity throughout. Internet service, phone service and satellite TV is readily available. The area is blessed with abundant water, being sculpted into prior rain forest that had been cut away years ago as cattle farming was introduced to the area. Now many of these farms have been developed into residential properties and trees and landscaping are being reintroduced. The area is greener now than before as farmers have come to realize that cattle doesn’t do well in the terrain and weren’t very good for the environment.
Why Pacific Lots: The recent improvements in accessibility have increased 
demand for property in the developments that Pacific Lots represents. Costa Rica has had strong demand for real estate by expats for many years. The Pacific Lots developer offers fully improved home sites starting at $40,000 while ocean view sites start at $80,000. They offer custom home building services for their clients at $100 per square foot and they are one of the largest builders of custom homes in the country. They have no time limits to build and allow owners to hire any builder of their choice though most use the companies crew. Having a custom home built is easy and the developer will manage the entire process and send construction updates via email. Their construction team includes architects, engineers and nearly every tradesman, in fact they have over 500 people in their construction division. They make all their own windows, doors, cabinets, counters and even wrought iron work. They have a 10,000 square foot facility to support their construction needs. Over half of their 19 phases of development are sold out and they have well over 1000 owners. They are debt free and have never used bank money over the 21 year history of the company. Buying land in a foreign country is easy, getting the house of your dreams built on it is the tough part.
Opportunities: The growth of these developments have brought entrepreneurs
who have opened restaurants, grocery stores, banks, car rental agencies, furniture stores, construction companies, garden centers and hardware stores. In the village of Ojochal for example, there are a surprising number of great restaurants with truly international offerings. There’s a new Argentine steak house (El Fuego) and two French bakeries, an Italian restaurant (Mama y Papa), a German restaurant (Bavaria) an Indonesian restaurant (Ylang Ylang) and a restaurant offering Indian cuisine (Madras). In fact there are over 30 restaurants in the area. There is a weekly farmers market with choice offerings of organic produce as well as a gathering place for expats. There’s even a thriving Mennonite community offering organic dairy products as well as incredible baked goods like shoe fly pie, coconut macaroons, delicious cookies and fresh baked granola. Local markets also offer fresh meats, seafood and vegetables that bring back memories of what fresh food really tastes like.
What we are Not: We are not a big city, we are a village, our roads are gravel
and they are not smooth like you may be used to. Our town is growing but many of the restaurants are scattered in the hills and there is not yet a "downtown" that you may be imagining. Our lots are located quite a ways up the hill side in steep terrain and we are not ocean front. But our area is changing rapidly and someday our roads may get paved. Those of us who live there know where our neighbors are and have watched our town grow as new restaurants, stores and services are added. You can not own ocean front in Costa Rica, the beaches are all public and though we have access to many beautiful beaches, we can not walk to them. Most of our developments are up in the hills, with sweeping views but we are over a mile to the beach. Our area is growing quickly and change takes time. In the meantime we have a wonderful community and an opportunity to live in harmony with nature. Low taxes and affordable health care come with a price. You can't have low taxes and expect the same infrastructure that you had in the US.
The Meaning of Life: Life is less complicated here. The pace of life is more
enjoyable and there is a sense of community sorely missed in North America. There are weekly pot luck dinners, local events and entertainment. Life focuses more around people than things. There is a strong expat community that offers a variety of opportunities to be involved. There are many volunteer opportunities. There is a woman’s club initially named the Ojochal women’s club but demand to join was so strong that it has been renamed the Costa Bellena woman’s club and now has over 500 members. There are poker games, movie nights, barbecues, festivals and parties.
Live as you want: Though we are nestled in the jungle, the area is surprisingly
cosmopolitan. There are no big malls in the area but shopping and services are abundant and inexpensive. Banking is easy in Costa Rica with a number of large Costa Rican banks as well as Scotia Bank, Citibank and HSBC. There is a brand new hospital located in Chontales and clinics, dentists and doctors nearby. For those who feel the need to shop, there are big box stores near Pacific Lots in neighboring San Isidro as well as major malls throughout San Jose. Wal-mart, Price Smart, Office Max and the Costa Rican equivalent of Home Depot are available as well as high end stores like Hugo Boss, Armani, Cartier, Tiffany and Company, Hilfiger, Bennetton, Kenneth Cole and Lacoste. Though you may pay a bit more for American brands, there are plenty of inexpensive locally made offerings as well.
Why Costa Rica Property: Costa Rica abolished their military in 1948, spending 
instead on education, conservation and healthcare. Residents receive low cost national health care that is rated equal to the quality of care in the US at much lower cost. Costa Rica is a staunchly democratic nation and proud of the fact that it is one of the oldest democracies in the Americas. The country has a very high literacy rate and education is free throughout the country. They also have a strong environmental record with nearly 25% of the country designated as National Parks, preserves or protected land. Safety and security are less of a risk than many other parts of the world and the Costa Rican people are friendly. Costa Rica’s largest source of income is tourism and there is plenty to do as a result. Property ownership is deeded and fee simple (you own it)and foreigners have the same rights to property ownership as Costa Ricans. Costa Rica is also noted for longevity with life expectancy longer than many first world nations including the US.
Come see for Yourself: Pacific Lots is now offering readers a four day all inclusive tour of their properties including guest-house lodging and seven full meals during their stay. You give us $299 per person. We'll give you four all inclusive days to decide if our developments are right for you. If you do decide to purchase a lot in our developments, we'll apply $1,000 discount to offset the cost of traveling to visit. To learn more about these tours, see http://www.pacificlots.com/itinerary-4-day-discovery-tour
