Starting the initial Planning

We came down in 2010 and weighed the pros and cons of a guided tour and opted to go out on our own.  Best choice we ever made.  We came across many, many places that one would not see on a tour.  We had the same idea of you and our goal was to be near the beach with ocean view property.  We were up in the hills above Uvita when we got our little SUV 4x4 stuck.  No cell coverage and too far to walk out so my buddy and I worked for two hours to get unstuck (while my wife watched).  The heat and sweat was unbelievable and this was mid-November.  That changed our minds and we literally headed for the hills.  Came across a community just outside of Puriscal and loved it.  Have been here five years now and are immersed in the local community but still semi-isolated.  Never would have found "home" on a tour.
Best of luck Brian!

I would do both. I would take a tour first to get the lay of the land so to speak, to learn some things and see some places. And then I would go out on my own and look around the country at places you might like to live. I don't know about the tours now but ten years ago I took the tour with George Lundquist , and I found it very educational even though I had been to Costa Rica for months at a time before.

The only caveat is that I would never buy land from any of the tour guides or people they introduce you to during the tour. If you are interested in buying something you see, wait and check it out further and live near there for sometime while renting, and then if you still want to buy something, buy it.

Thanks for the insight  Terry and V.

samramon wrote:

I would do both. I would take a tour first to get the lay of the land so to speak, to learn some things and see some places. And then I would go out on my own and look around the country at places you might like to live. I don't know about the tours now but ten years ago I took the tour with George Lundquist , and I found it very educational even though I had been to Costa Rica for months at a time before.

The only caveat is that I would never buy land from any of the tour guides or people they introduce you to during the tour. If you are interested in buying something you see, wait and check it out further and live near there for sometime while renting, and then if you still want to buy something, buy it.

Samramon- Most definitely will not be buying any land anytime soon.  Will research George.

How smart and how fun!  Costa Rica has so much to offer!  While living in the States and travel nursing, I had the opportunity to experience it all from Alaska to Florida to New Mexico and in between. I settled as your neighbor in TN and enjoyed many trips through the Blue Ridge. That being said, I followed my love’s dream down to Guanacaste and this area is really nice. You get mountains and beach!  But, then again, there is lots of that here. 😊. We learned and discovered as we went. But the biggest mistake we made was buying something and trusting and believing in what was said instead of researching first.

I would definitely do a tour. Not a sales tour, they are biased but a Costa Rican tour. Also, when things go wrong here, it is easy to feel helpless.  Have professionals assist you or at the least, use these forums and others to help guide you!  Over the years they have helped me soooo much.

I have favorite places-Arenal, Jaco, Samara but Nosara is home. I hope and know you will find yours too! 

Have a blast!!

Thanks Justagirl!  The Nicoya Peninsula has caught my eye for sure.  Looking forward to these travel restrictions to be lifted to schedule a trip.

When you come down if you find yourself in nosara, stop by Olga’s on playa pelada at 3 for happy hour, there’s always a big group of friendly expats and ticos to get to know or Marlin Bills at 5 to sit at the bar and watch a game or catch sundown and meet the fishermen/women.   Hope your dreams go smooth and continue to come true!

Justagirl8870 wrote:

When you come down if you find yourself in nosara, stop by Olga’s on playa pelada at 3 for happy hour, there’s always a big group of friendly expats and ticos to get to know or Marlin Bills at 5 to sit at the bar and watch a game or catch sundown and meet the fishermen/women.   Hope your dreams go smooth and continue to come true!

We are planning a trip to Tamarindo 8-16 August and will probably plan a road trip to Nosara.

Brian_O wrote:

samramon wrote:

I would do both. I would take a tour first to get the lay of the land so to speak, to learn some things and see some places. And then I would go out on my own and look around the country at places you might like to live. I don't know about the tours now but ten years ago I took the tour with George Lundquist , and I found it very educational even though I had been to Costa Rica for months at a time before.

The only caveat is that I would never buy land from any of the tour guides or people they introduce you to during the tour. If you are interested in buying something you see, wait and check it out further and live near there for sometime while renting, and then if you still want to buy something, buy it.

Samramon- Most definitely will not be buying any land anytime soon.  Will research George.

justagirl said "not a sales tour because they are biased". I'm not sure if she means a sales tour, like for a particular "Development". If so, I agree with her. Better to stay away from those.

On the tour we took with George, he does show you some houses and land for sale during the tour but he shows various areas and it was not JUST about property; he also showed us the stores, hospital, various areas and landmarks, and so it's a good time, he explains a lot of things, and he shows you some places for sale along the way.

I would recommend asking him exactly where you'll go and what you'll do before signing up though... as this was years ago, that my wife and I went.

I would agree even a tour like George's (and I assume some others like that) are biased but as long as you are not too-easily influenced they do provide a lot of good information about various areas and tips and info about what it's like to live here. Of course they usually have some interest in "selling you" on Costa Rica, even if it's just that they want to sell their love of it, to you.

If one goes into it with the attitude, "I'm NOT going to buy anything at this point!" and one keeps an open mind about everything, then there is no real problem.

I have no connection to any of the tours other than the fact my wife and I took George's way back when.

He took my wife and me and another couple and one other single person to Puriscal (where George lives), Cartago, Grecia or Atenas (can't remember which) and San Ramon. Maybe a couple other places? I don't remember. But we had a great time and learned a lot. I believe he does get a small commission on any property anyone buys from his tour, but he does not push it and that aspect of the tour is only one small part of it. We took it in 2007.

George has retired.  He did get commissions on sales of property and only took you to property where he had this arrangement.  First hand experience here.  These tours are now being done by another person (if you want the name, private message me) but this person is also a builder (somewhat like George) so yes, you are shown properties but then told "we can do it for much less".  Would not recommend building at all in CR - buy something already up.

Well. I said I'm taking a trip, and I ended up in San Jose CR. I was online and chatted with this guy, and he was in Playa Cocles, Less than an hours drive from Limon. I loved it there. This place is laid back. You have beautiful beaches and 5 mins drive and you are in the mountains. I had 90 acres hill farm for $150K in my hand and lost it. Dame. Yet Land there is lots. Talk with the Owners. I was talking with one older lady, 10 BEAUTIFUL acres on the beach for $1.5M. I talked to the Agent selling it, and they were asking for $2M and the owner did not even know, she was being ripped off.  You can get land for $130/meter next to the beach and go back 500 meters and get a jungle block for $50/m. Back in the hills as cheap as $10/m.  I talked to a lot of agents, landowners. I was looking at setting up retirement villages of 10-20 units. I know there will be 1Ks to M's looking to relocate to CR. 500Mil to 1CAD.  5lb of organic tomatoes  1Kmils or $2. Cheap. There are many things and adventures to be had in the area. Very diverse people, from all over the world.Many Can's and USA, France, Italy, Australia, China... China is investing HUGE. New Seaport in Limon, New Airports, New highway. I heard the SUPERHIGHWAY is going in. Up from Panama to the USA. So CR will play a big role in food production. Yet the CR's have to watch for China will take CR ports, infrastructure back in they do not or can't pay back loans. They have done elsewhere.  I'm told that the West Coast in overdeveloped, and most higher costs of living. I was looking at writing a book Golden Years in Costa Rica and setting up bus tours, 14 to 21-day trips. Cover the entire area and maybe a trip to Pamana. (Also very beautiful)   Get to see the area, and get a good feel for what CR has to offer. Then introduce to the retirement villages. Get to stay in them and meet the community. Just go and enjoy. Don't make plans. Your body will tell you where you want to rest. Then Enjoy it.  As for Crime. It's everywhere. CR is no different, yet not a lot of killing, not like USA and Canada. TO is like every day now.