Alajuela: Atenas, La Garita, Grecia, San Ramón
Atenas
A number of pretty country towns not far from Alajuela and the international airport have become very popular with expatriates. Located within 20 kilometers of Alajuela – the main city serving the area – the communities of Atenas, La Garita, and Grecia have seen substantial increases in land prices, reflecting the rising demand.
Atenas is located on the highway that currently serves as the Central Valley’s main connection to the Central Pacific. About a 25 minute drive from the international airport and close to a large city with all requisite services, Atenas also boasts a cool, breezy climate that is wooing beach lovers away from the relentless sun. It is a popular place for both retirees and the younger generation. Developers are building gated communities within a short distance of the town center, and there are wonderful views of the area’s mountains and valleys.
The other advantage Atenas has from an investor’s point of view is that it will be one of the communities easily reached from the new highway. This could be helping to bolster land prices in the area. The town itself doesn’t have much in the way of variety. It’s a traditional farming town with all the basic necessities plus a farmer’s market on Fridays. For imported goods, clothes and goods for the home, it’s a better bet to head for Alajuela, which has a large shopping mall, or go a little further to Escazú.
The expatriates living in Atenas are generally from the U.S. or Canada, though you do come across Europeans as well. Only a handful of gated communities have been established to date, but more are on the way, and it seems to be an increasingly popular choice for security reasons. Quite a few smaller, Tico-style homes are also on the market, and further outside town many farms are for sale that might be good for development.
The cost of living in this area is lower than Escazú, but mainly because life is simpler and there are fewer options. Good restaurants are hard to come by, and the ones you do encounter are mainly local – rather than international – cuisine.
While that’s good for the pocketbook, it’s charm may wear thin for those looking for a more fast-paced lifestyle. This is rural living, and you have to be ready for it.
La Garita
A five-minute drive from the city of Alajuela and on the road to Atenas is the small town of La Garita. La Garita has the same famously mild climate and is a popular place for Ticos to own second homes. The town has very little to offer in terms of services and restaurants; nevertheless, it is a good location for people who prefer to be a little closer to city action.
Grecia
Grecia is a coffee town about 18 km from Alajuela, on the road towards San Ramón and Naranjo. The town itself remains very much Costa Rican, with squat, single-story buildings, signs painted directly on walls, and the church and park dominating the center.
Similarly the community also remains very Tico rather than expatriate, though there are North Americans and other nationalities living in the area. Several gated communities are being developed, though most people in the area prefer to live in neighborhoods. There don’t seem to be a great deal of turn-key properties appropriate for foreigners, presenting an opportunity for either building and selling or building and living.
Grecia has some wonderful views of steep wooded valleys and is located close to the highway that leads to Puntarenas and Guanacaste. This is convenient for residents who want to take weekends in the hot, dry northern part of the country. But Guanacaste isn’t close enough to affect property values in Grecia. The Central Pacific beaches are much closer, a reason why the land around the new highway is generating so much interest.
Like Atenas, Grecia meets daily needs as a town but you would need to go to Alajuela or Escazú for major shopping trips and dining.
San Ramón
San Ramón (pop. ~70,000), is a great place to live given its terrific climate, friendly people, wide array of services, and proximity to both the Pacific coast and to San José. Home to ex-Presidents and leading literary figures, San Ramón (locals are affectionately called moncheňos) is known as the “City of Poets and Presidents.” Additionally, the area’s value-priced real estate makes it one of the best places to invest in Costa Rica.
San Ramón is directly off the Inter-American highway heading northwest from San José, and is only a 35-minute drive from the airport to town, and an additional 35 minutes to the nearest beach. It boasts a shopping mall, modern movie theatre, cultural center/museum, and many supermarkets and restaurants. There is a major hospital, many doctors’ offices, and the only branch of the University of Costa Rica outside of San José.
Surrounded by lush mountains and at 3400 feet above sea level, temperatures usually range from 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit every day of the year. Air conditioning and heating are not necessary. During the rainy season, from June through December, one can expect sunshine in the morning and rain showers in the mid to late afternoon. The skies tend to clear toward the early evening.
Until recently, there was a limited selection of high-quality homes in the San Ramón area but this is changing as communities catering to foreign retirees are sprouting up rapidly. However, because development is still relatively new, real estate remains under-priced compared to other towns in the Central Valley.
The Magallanes section of San Ramón, just five minutes west of town, has three developments for those interested in higher quality infrastructure and homes. Finished homes range from $220,000 to $350,000. Homes at these prices usually come with granite countertops, tiles roofs, and other luxurious features. Home sites are generally 1.25 acres of land (5,000 square meters) with ocean and mountain views. The price for a lot in an ocean-view community here is usually between $45,000 and $112,000. These neighborhoods provide electric, water, and telephone infrastructure. High-speed Internet service using the latest Wimax technology is available as well.
Solid home construction with quality finishing ranges from $75 and $95 per square foot. Some builders will bid much lower, but oftentimes will surprise the client by not including everything one would expect in the quoted price. Therefore, it is imperative to work with a reputable builder, prepare a detailed contract, and speak with several other clients who have used the builder.
CR Communities, based in San Ramón, is a real estate development company offering a variety of high-quality options. Two examples of their projects are:
Pacific Hills
With 17 lots averaging 1.25 acres with stunning views of the Nicoya Peninsula and the Pacific Ocean, it is five minutes from town. Work with an award-winning architect who offers several home ideas and designs. Remaining lots from $75,000. http://www.crcommunities.com/PacificHills.html
Pacific Views
This stunning new community of 13 home sites less than one mile from Pacific Hills and situated at nearly 4000 feet, offers pleasant daytime temperatures and crisp nights. Surrounding by fruit trees and coffee plants, it’s a community one would expect to find in Costa Rica. It also has expansive views of the Pacific Ocean and is less than five minutes from San Ramón. Remaining lots from $75,000. Andrew Mastrandonas and Preston Gitlin, the principals of CR Communities, prepared this section.
