Expat Community > Costa Rica

PacificLots
Joined 2008
Posts: 209

Why all the buzz about the southern Pacific region of Costa Rica

12 years ago

It was just a few years ago when there was no good road to reach the southern Pacific region of the country. The coastal highway ended in Quepos/Manuel Antonio and the only real route was a road called the Cerro de la Muerte (mountain of death). In the past two years the new toll road from San Jose to the west coast (Autopista del Sol) cut the drive time from San Jose to Jaco by about an hour. The other big factor was the Costanera extension, connecting Quepos to Dominical. This 44 kilometer stretch took nearly 3 hours prior to the new highway, now the same stretch takes about 25 minutes. What folks have found who are now venturing south of Quepos is that the southern Pacific region is clearly the most bio diverse region of the country. Nearly 50% of the total land mass of the southern region is national park, preserve or protected land. There had been a fair amount of tourism infrastructure development down there even while it was difficult to get to. Our little village of Ojochal for example boasts 11 hotels and over 40 bars and restaurants. The region has lots to do, visit Cano island, visit Drake Bay, Golfito, the Corcovado national park, the Playa Ballena Marine national park or La Amistad international park (shared by both Costa Rica and Panama). There are lots of tour companies offering whale watching, kayaking, zip lines, horse back riding, scuba and snorkle trips, white water rafting, bird watching, nature hiking and even things like para gliding, ultralight rides and more. Skip the crowds in the northern or central Pacific regions and head south to see what Costa Rica was like years ago. The newest hospital in the country is located right where we are, the Hospital de Osa. There's also a new international airport slated for the region with construction set to start this year. So if you want to see something new, check out the southern Pacific region. It has the lowest crime rate and much of the region has a 3 story zoning restriction, so the big hotel chains that now dot the landscape in Guanacaste, Jaco and now even in Manuel Antonio won't be able to build any high rise towers. The southern Pacific region is also home to the largest expat development in the country, www.PacificLots.com. I only mention it for those considering retiring or living in Costa Rica but not interested in living in or around San Jose. Come see the southern Pacific region....

William Russell

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William Russell

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William Russell

Get a quote for international health insurance from our partner, William Russell.
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William Russell

Get a quote for international health insurance from our partner, William Russell.
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Why all the buzz about the southern Pacific region of Costa Rica

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