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The area extending from Dominical to the Osa Peninsula
all the way to the Panamanian border on the Pacific coast
is called the South
Pacific. The spectacular Corcovado National Park, Drake's
Bay and Isla del Caño are a few of this areas salient
features.
A new international airport intended to boost tourism
in this region of Costa Rica will be constructed in
the community of Sierpe at the entrance to the Osa
Peninsula or in Palmar Sur, the Coordinador General
de Aeropuertos announced recently. The government
expects the airport, whatever its exact location, to
invigorate the entire region. The government wants
to promote economic, commercial and mostly tourism
development. Once the airport is built here, more people
will come, just like what happened when Daniel Oduber
Airport was built in Liberia, Guanacaste.
Another exciting development designed to improve the area's
infrastructure is the construction of the new 28-mile stretch
of the coastal highway between Quepos and Dominical scheduled
to start in 2006. It will have three and four lanes in some
places and a bike path. Once this stretch is completed, more
people will come to the area and property values will increase, so now is a good time to invest.
Dominical, located 46 kilometers (30 miles) south
of Quepos, is a tiny laid-back resort town surrounded
by some of the most breathtaking coastal scenery Costa
Rica has to offer. The beautiful Barú River
winds its way down from the surrounding mountains and
empties into the sea at the north end of town.
This area is reminiscent of California's Big Sur because
of its spectacular coastline and towering mountains that meet
the sea. Dominical is also famous for its long beach, spectacular
shoreline, mountain backdrop, panoramic views and excellent
surfing. One of the area's claims to fame is that it was used
as a backdrop to shoot the 1996 Sport's Illustrated swim suite
issue.
Spectacular Playa Dominical
There are unlimited options for adventure and sight-seeing
in this pristine area of Costa Rica. Several spectacular jungle
waterfalls are found here. Pozo Azul is a 30-foot waterfall
close to the village of Dominicalito. The Barú River
Falls, also known as Santo Cristo or Nauyaca Falls, is located
in the mountains above Dominical. This series of waterfalls
is considered one of the most picturesque in Costa Rica, if
not all of Central America. It cascades down into a huge natural
pool that is 20 feet deep and perfect for swimming. The surrounding
area is verdant rainforest with abundant wildlife. The mountains
between Dominical and Ojochal are filled with dozens of smaller
waterfalls. Some properties in this area have their own private
waterfall.
The town of Dominical is less developed than the beaches
in the Central
Pacific area, but this is changing quickly. Dominical
itself is a small laid-back town with an unpaved main street,
which runs right down to the ocean. On either side of the
street are a few restaurants and bars, such as the San Clemente
Bar and Grill, some of which offer limited entertainment.
Much like Montezuma, this town attracts those seeking an alternative
lifestyle. It is not unusual to see people practicing the
Oriental art of tai chi or yoga on the beach. Dominical is
a charming little town with friendly people who say hello
and greet you with smiles.
Land prices are lower than the Quepos-Manuel
Antonio area but are rising fast. There are large homes
with incredible views that cost in the hundreds of thousands
of dollars dotting the steep hills above the beach. Many expatriates
have started businesses or are buying land in the area.
Dominicalito Beach has calm water for swimming. Spectacular
views of the coastline may be seen from nearby Punta Dominical.
Just nine miles to
the south
of Dominical is Uvita. A smaller and slower-paced
town than Dominical with a good swimming beach. At low tide
you can walk out to the point the shape of a whale's tail.
Many foreigners live in the hills above Punta Uvita, just
as they do in Dominical. The setting with mountains in the
background is very similar to Dominical. The highway was just
paved from Dominical all the way to Palmar Norte, making this
once virgin part of the coast very accessible. Prices are
still affordable and there are plenty of mountainside homes
and lots with spectacular views. We have a friend who just
purchased a beautiful mountaintop home overlooking the beach.
Some of the activities available in the Uvita area
are kayaking, snorkeling, horseback riding, waterfall
and jungle hikes, beachcombing and a lot more.
Just to the south of Uvita is the new South
Pacific Hospitality Center and South Pacific Real Estate Services
office. They are about 200 meters south of the new shopping
complex. The people there will answer any of your questions
about the area and give you a free orientation.
The Tortuga/Ojochal/Cinco Ventanas area is also suited
for living. Ojochal, about 20 miles south of Dominical,
is a quaint country village with a nice mixture of ticos,
French-Canadians and other foreigners. The town is
set offf the highway and easy to miss. The village
has a surprising number of excellent restaurants owned
by locals from all over the world. Exotica Restaurant,
virtually in the middle of the jungle, has some of
the best cuisine I have ever tasted in all of my travels.
The owners are French Canadian and really take pride
in the gourmet food they prepare. The Manglar Sur is
a restaurant on a houseboat in this area and serves
food that is just as good. The clients on my tours
have eaten at both of these restaurants and say the
food is as good as you'll find in any first-class restaurant
back home.
Although this area is somewhat off the beaten track, DirectTV
and other forms of entertainment are available. The members
of this community are tight-knit and share many joint activities
together. Annie Drake, a local tour expert and resident says,
There is something happening almost every night here. There
is a pot luck dinner, party or get-together'once or twice
a week.
Steep coastal mountains with tropical rainforest serve
as a backdrop for this beautiful part of the country.
The area's popularity is growing as word spreads about
all the natural wonders it has to offer. The beach
at Cinco Ventanas got it's name because of five
spectacular 50-foot, tunnel-like blow holes in the
rocks. This beach is truly a work of nature and has
to be seen to be believed. Playa Tortuga, Playa Hermosa
and Playa Ballena are other spectacular beaches in
the area.
Area activities include good fishing, snorkeling,
boat and river tours, bird watching, horseback riding,
kayaking and boat trips to Caño Island and nearby
Drake Bay. You can even watch whales and see turtles
lay their eggs on the beach.
Land prices in this area of Costa Rica start at about
$100,000 per acre depending on the proximity to the
beach.
San Isidro de El General, a half-hour inland from Dominical
and located along the Pan-American Highway, offers a warm
climate and inexpensive housing. It is considered the fastest-growing
city in Central America. Monte General is the city's new shopping
mall. It has a Megasuper supermarket, Universal department
store, three movie screens, nine restaurants in a food court,
a Scotia Bank, 60 stores and 220 parking spaces. The mall
is the anchor for the large Monte General residential community
adjacent to it.
Downtown San Isidro
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San Isidro is off the beaten path, but some foreigners make
this small city their permanent home. Real estate is reasonably
priced in comparison with some of the areas in the Central
Valley. There are many ocean-view properties
in the mountains along the highway between San Isidro and
Dominical.
Despite being small and laid back, Puerto Jiménez
is the largest town on the Osa Peninsula. It has a
population of about 6,000. During the gold rush, 1980s
Puerto Jiménez resembled a town out of the Wild
West. Nowadays thing have calmed down and the town
has become popular with the backpacking set, surfers,
lovers of adventure tourism and devotees of ecotourism.
Its location on the Golfo Dulce Puerto Jiménez
and its environs makes perfect for snorkeling, scuba
diving and kayaking. One of the nearby attractions
is Corcovado National Park. National Geographic claims
it is one of two places in the word with the most biological
diversity.
There are a few expats living in and around Puerto Jiménez.
With the exception of a few small hotels, bars, restaurants,
Internet services and public transportation, there is not
much infrastructure found here. The roads are in very bad
shape.
San Isidro is the Largest City in Southern Costa Rica
Some expatriates live around the port of Golfito on Golfo
Dulce Bay. The town is sort of drab and somewhat abandoned.
However, the surrounding scenery is beautiful. There are
several restaurants and gringo hangouts in town where you
can strike up a conversation with local expats. Sport fishing
and surfing attract many tourists to this area. As one local
foreign resident points out, The town does have basic services
like banks, a hospital, courthouse, a couple of supermarkets,
butchers and doctor's offices. Transportation is decent with
a small airfield ferry transportation to Puerto
Jiménez and Zancudo and plenty of taxis and buses.
Panama is not far away and a great place to find good shopping.
Golfito started out as a banana port but was abandoned
when the United Fruit Company closed down its operation.
Over the years, the government has made attempts to
help the local economy. In 1990 it opened the Depósito
Libre or Free Trade Zone. Many ticos make the
long journey to Golfito since appliances and other
items may be purchased for much less than in San José.
Foreign residents and tourists with a passport can
also purchase an ample variety of goods at the duty-free
warehouses.
Plans call for a world-class marina and condo complex that
will improve infrastructure and change the face of this area.
Local residents have a lot to be excited about. The Costa
Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) and the Commission for Marinas
approved the installation of two marinas in the southern
Pacific port of Golfito. The Banana Bay Marina will have
16 slips and the Bahía Escondida or Golfito Marina
will have 217 slips for boats up to 150 feet. This marina
will have a hotel, stores, two restaurants, a health club,
a yacht club, 84 condominiums with prices ranging from $300,000
to $800,000 and 280 residential units. The ICT approval is
long awaited and a big boost for the economy of the struggling
port town of Golfito.
Because of this some people expect the Golfito area
and the town of Puerto Jiménez to be the sites
of the next land boom in Costa Rica. The ICT also considers
the Puerto Jiménez area suitable for a future
marina project.
Playa Zancudo (mosquito beach in Spanish), a slow-paced beach
community about 20 kilometers south of Golfito, is home to
some foreigners. However, you'll need about two-hours to make
the drive over an unpaved road. During the rainy season you
will need a four-wheel-drive-vehicle. Some foreigners come
only for the winter months while others live in the area year-round.
Several bars and open-air restaurants serve as gathering places
for expats. Zancudo's uncrowded beach has gentle surf and
is very good for swimming. Medium-priced housing may be found
here.
Jim, our friend from Baltimore, makes this town his
winter home. He has built a small house and even has
DirectTV. When he leaves to go back to work in the
United States, he has a caretaker oversee his home.
Pavones,
40 kilometers south of Golfito, is a surfer's mecca, renowned
for having the longest left-breaking waves in the world. The
surrounding scenery is down-right spectacular. Surfers from
all over the world are attracted to this area. Everything
including the nightlife revolves around the surfing scene.
Numerous North Americans and foreigners own large fincas
(ranches or farms) in this area while others live in the
more isolated areas. Our Costa Rican dentist, a sometimes
surfer, has a vacation home in Pavones. Because of the excellent
surf some say Pavones has the potential to become another
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