Where to go golfing near Atenas Costa Rica

Whether you are thinking to live in Atenas, Costa Rica, are visiting Atenas in one of the many vacation homes, or have already moved to Costa Rica, you can find many things to do. Within an hour’s drive of Atenas, you can enjoy a round of nine or 18 holes of golf in Costa Rica on five excellent courses.

The Central Valley Golf Association (CVGA) has more than 150 members, and is open to all residents and visitors. They hold regular tournaments and a big Year-End Texas Scramble and Fiesta in December.

Golf courses near Atenas, Costa Rica

Valle del Sol Golf Course, designed by famous golf architect Tracy May, is located in Santa Ana only a 30-minute drive from Atenas via Highway 27. Set in the exclusive residential community of Parque Valle del Sol, the 18-hole championship golf course is certified as a wildlife sanctuary by Audubon International. The par 72 course features spacious, undulating fairways surrounded by lakes and trees; the greens are smooth and fast. Valle del Sol possesses the largest Golf Academy in the country.

Cariari Country Club Golf Course is located on the way to San Jose, five kilometers from the Juan Santamaria International Airport off the Pan-American Highway (about 40 minutes from Atenas). Once a coffee plantation, the Cariari Golf Course was designed by golf architect George Fazio and built by his nephew, Tom Fazio. This beautiful par 71 course measures 6,577 yards from the championship tees, is heavily wooded, with narrow fairways and a few fairway bunkers; the Bermuda greens tend to be large with sand traps.

Los Reyes Country Club Golf Course is located in the pretty gated community of Hacienda Los Reyes by La Guacima, only a 20-minute drive on Highway 27 from Atenas. There are nine holes for a length of 2,917 yards on the par 70 course, designed by Robertson Ward & Associates. There also is a separate driving range and putting green.

Costa Rica Country Club in Escazú is also a nine-hole course. It was the first golf course built in Costa Rica; drive time from Atenas is about 40 minutes.

La Iguana Golf Course at Los Sueños Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort, in Playa Herradura on Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Coast, is a spectacular 18-hole championship course designed by Ted Robinson Sr. Dramatically tucked between rainforest and beach, the 6,700-yard par 72 course makes you think and play shots carefully. The front nine holes follow the rainforest along a narrow river valley before bringing you out by the beach and resort luxury condos. Look for monkeys, iguanas and brilliant Scarlet Macaws while you play. Drive time from Atenas is 50 minutes.

Retire in Atenas, Costa Rica

The small country town of Atenas has been named a top place to retire and is renowned for its great climate. No matter why you want to move to Atenas, Costa Rica, you’ll need a reliable realtor who specializes in Atenas homes for sale and residential development. Dennis Easters and Gerardo Gonzalez-Porras of Pure Life Development of Atenas are certified with the Costa Rica Chamber of Real Estate and have successfully helped new residents find homes in Atenas for 10 years.

Article by Shannon Farley

The famous Friday Farmers’ Market in Atenas Costa Rica

It is a Friday morning in my little mountain coffee town of Atenas, Costa Rica. The traditional Friday Farmers’ Market, called a “feria” in Spanish, is abuzz with shoppers and vendors.

Mounds of mangoes, melons, watermelon, pineapples and a myriad of other fruits juicily beckon buyers. Crisp lettuces, spinach, cilantro and other greens glisten with water droplets. Fat potatoes, onions, sweet potatoes, yucca and carrots stack in pyramids.

The flower man is doing brisk business cutting stems and wrapping up bright yellow sunflowers, lilies, Gerbera daisies, and a rainbow of other flowers. The herb man sits in his aromatic stall surrounded by cooking and medicinal herbs in packets, bunches and plants. 

The back corner of the market resembles a mini-nursery with the amount of potted flowers and starter trees on sale. Just beyond, gleaming glass cases proudly display fresh meats, cheeses and fish. And who can pass up the sweet frosted cinnamon buns, fresh breads, and tempting pies and cookies of “Buen Pan, Tomas!” bakery run by Atenas residents Tom and Jan Yatsko, from Pennsylvania.

A hallmark of Atenas culture and tradition, reflecting small town country life, the famous Atenas Friday Farmers’ Market is one of the things I love best about living in Atenas, Costa Rica. The market is so well-known, it has been written about in most travel guides to Costa Rica and blogged about regularly by new transplant residents.

The Farmers’ Market recently changed location and got an upgrade at the end of August. Once spread around the edge of a small park by the Central Elementary School in the center of town, the new Farmers’ Market has relocated to the radial road connecting Atenas to Highway 27 (the main highway from San Jose to the Central Pacific Coast). The new locale is quite capacious with open sides and a cavernous permanent roof – in the past vendors suffered under tents and tarps in the rain or blistering summer sun. The floor is smooth, clean concrete, and there are two little lunch counters and modern public restrooms. A free bus shuttles shoppers back and forth to the center of town (5 minutes) every hour.

Whether you are visiting Atenas in one of the many vacation homes, or have already moved to Costa Rica, the Atenas Friday Farmers’ Market is a fun way to spend an hour or two and soak up the local culture. The market is open from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Fridays.

Live in Atenas, Costa Rica

The small country town of Atenas has been named a top place to retire and is renowned for its great climate. Looking to buy real estate in Costa Rica? Reliable realtors Dennis Easters and Gerardo Gonzalez-Porras of Pure Life Development of Atenas specialize in Atenas homes for sale, home rentals, and Atenas real estate.

Article by Shannon Farley

What to do to bring your dog or cat to live in Costa Rica

You have bought your dream house in Costa Rica; or, you’ve secured the ideal rental while you check out the country as a place to live. You are checking your packing list for the big move to Costa Rica – what about Fido or Fluffy?

A lot of people who move to Costa Rica bring their pets. While it is not as easy as simply putting your dog or cat on an airline, it is straightforward to bring your pet to Costa Rica when you move.

Guidelines given here are for bringing dogs and cats from the United States to Costa Rica. Check this link for other animals from the USA, and with your embassy or governing organization for animals for other countries. Many people choose to use a pet moving service, which handles the work for you.

What to do in the USA to bring your pet to Costa Rica

Timing is crucial. Your pet’s health certificate is only valid for 10 days before departure, and many airlines only let you make reservations 13 days or less for your pet to fly. You should have two or three extra copies of all documents. The governing authority for animals leaving, or entering, the USA is the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

• Your dog or cat must have up-to-date vaccinations against rabies and leptospirosis to enter Costa Rica. You must have certificates of the vaccinations from the veterinarian.
• Your dog or cat must be examined by a USDA accredited veterinarian, who must fill out Federal APHIS Form 7001 declaring that your pet is healthy. The health certificate is only valid for 10 days. In many cases, the health certificate must be endorsed by the local USDA Veterinary Services office (check with the USDA for the office nearest to your home). Fees to the USDA for endorsement range from $38 to $121 per animal.
• If your pet is being transported as cargo, and not on the same flight as you, an import permit also is required.

Flying with your dog or cat

• U.S. airlines that transport pets to Costa Rica include Delta, United and American Airlines. Each airline has very specific requirements for transporting pets both inside the airline cabin, and as “checked baggage” or “cargo”; check with the airline for their regulations and fees.
• Animals may not be tranquilized or drugged, or muzzled, for their safety while flying.

Costa Rica requirements for importing pets

• In Costa Rica, if your pet travels as “checked baggage” or “cargo,” you must use an import company to clear customs.
• To make the customs process as easy as possible, the import company needs this information before you fly: copy of the passport (or legal ID) of the person sending the animal, copy of the passport (or legal ID) of the person receiving the animal in Costa Rica along with their contact phone numbers and address in Costa Rica, copy of the animal’s valid health certificate and vaccinations, copy of the animal’s flight reservation.
• Keep in mind that the airport customs office in Costa Rica only works Monday to Friday during normal business hours. If your pet arrives in Costa Rica on a Saturday or Sunday, you’ll be waiting until Monday to pick him up; or if your flight arrives late at night, you will have to wait until the next day. The process to clear customs takes several hours, so plan accordingly.

Move to Costa Rica

Looking to buy real estate in Costa Rica? The small coffee town of Atenas has been named a top place to retire by International Living, HelpAge International and AARP in part for its reputation for “The Best Climate in the World.” Reliable realtors Dennis Easters and Gerardo Gonzalez-Porras of Pure Life Development of Atenas offer the best Atenas homes for sale and Atenas real estate.

Article by Shannon Farley

Find out if the Atenas Costa Rica climate claim is true!

Saying that you have “The Best Climate in the World” is quite a claim. The little town of Atenas Costa Rica, nevertheless has stepped up and asserted that it has the best climate in the world. The motto is plastered across the backs of all buses in Atenas, on a few billboards, and even graces the name of a restaurant in town. Read anything about Atenas and you will find the “best climate” remark.

But is it true?

“For me, Atenas has a perfect climate because we have long sunny days where the temperature rarely goes above 86-87 degrees (F), allowing you to enjoy lounging pool side. The nights in the mountains are fresh with temperatures dipping into the mid 60's, a great sleeping temperature using only a light blanket,” commented Dennis Easters, of Pure Life Development of Atenas real estate.

“We have a very stable climate without extremes of heat or cold. It’s one of the healthiest climates in Costa Rica,” affirmed native Atenas resident Walter Carranza.

“This is the sun belt of the Central Valley,” added Atenas resident Judi Purdy from Colorado.

Atenas County is located on the western edge of Costa Rica’s Central Valley, where the mountains spill away to the Pacific Coast. Less than an hour away are the capital city of San Jose to the east, and some of the best Pacific Coast beaches to the west. Composed of mountains and valleys, Atenas ranges in elevation from 2,200 to 4,000 feet.

Atenas receives 2,500 hours of sun per year, according to data from the Costa Rica National Meteorological Institute. That works out to almost seven hours of sunshine on average per day, which is above the national average of six hours. San José, for example, averages only 5.2 hours of sun per day.

“Atenas town enjoys a moderate climate. So, we can conclude that the climate is very warm during the day but temperatures drop significantly at night,” writes Atenas historian Eladio Valerio on his website Atenasonline.com.

Average daily temperatures in Atenas range from 72 to 85 F during the day, and 60 to 68 F at night. Temperatures along Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast, on the other hand, sizzle in the 90s F during the day and mid to high 70s F at night.

Over all, it appears that while Atenas’ climate may or may not be top of the charts, for its 27,000 residents it certainly is ideal. The special climate helped give Atenas its ranking as a top place to retire by International Living, HelpAge International and AARP.

Looking for real estate in Costa Rica? Check out Atenas. Reliable realtors Dennis Easters and Gerardo Gonzalez-Porras of Pure Life Development of Atenas can help you with Atenas homes for sale and Atenas real estate.

Article by Shannon Farley

Find out why people love living in Atenas Costa Rica

There are as many reasons for moving to Costa Rica as there are foreign residents living here. Every year, millions of tourists come to Costa Rica on vacation. Some choose to stay longer and make the leap to move here permanently.

The small, country town of Atenas Costa Rica, is one of the leading places that have captured the hearts of foreign residents.

“I love living here,” said Atenas resident Anna Hunt, who is originally from Poland. “One of the main reasons we picked Atenas is because we wanted a cool fresh climate, and it is close to the beach, close to the airport, and close to the city.”

“Atenas is a wonderful location. We’re beautifully situated in the Central Valley but we’re not in San Jose. Atenas has a wonderful climate,” commented longtime Atenas resident and U.S. citizen Scott Schlieman.

“We picked Atenas because of location – being half-way between San Jose and the beach,” agreed Darlyce Brown of Canada. “We love Atenas for the climate, living in the country and being a small town. People are very friendly. It’s a quaint old-style village.”

Well-positioned less than an hour from the capital city of San Jose to the east and some of the best Pacific Coast beaches to the west, the charming town of Atenas, Costa Rica, offers its residents the best of all worlds: year-round warm tropical weather, stunning mountain landscapes, and panoramic valley, volcano and coastal views.

• Atenas’ warm sunny days and cool mountain nights are owed to its elevation range of 2,200 to 4,000 feet.
• Atenas has easy access to all three major highways of central Costa Rica.
• Quality medical care is close by.
• There are public and private bilingual schools.
• Atenas is a short 20 minute drive to the San Jose International airport.
• Atenas has all of your basics: banks, grocery stores, bakeries, pharmacies, medical facilities, shops, and one of the best farmers’ markets around.

Costa Rica is a hot retirement destination and is ranked by International Living, HelpAge International and AARP as a top place to retire. “We’ve been coming to Costa Rica for nine years on vacation, and my husband really wanted to move here,” said Pippa Baumgartner of England. “We like that Atenas is the real Costa Rica. It’s not just foreigners.”

Others, like Scott Schlieman and Anna Hunt, transported their working life to Atenas, now working on-line from home for their businesses. Still others have bought Atenas real estate as a second home and use it as a Costa Rica vacation rental.

No matter the reason you want to move to Atenas, Costa Rica, you’ll need a reliable realtor who specializes in Atenas homes for sale and residential development. Dennis Easters and Gerardo Gonzalez-Porras of Pure Life Development of Atenas are certified with the Costa Rica Chamber of Real Estate and have successfully helped new residents find homes in Atenas for 10 years.

Article by Shannon Farley

New development in Atenas, Costa Rica meets high real estate demand

To the west of the hustle and bustle of the capital city of San Jose, lies the small town of Atenas, Costa Rica. The rural town of farms and coffee plantations sits on the far edge of the country’s Central Valley, where the steep mountains spill down to the Central Pacific Coast.

Atenas is known for having one of the best climates in the world – more sunny days than rainy and moderate temperatures. The reputation has made Atenas a major international retirement destination. AARP, the largest association of retired people in the world, calls Atenas a top 10 place to retire abroad, putting Atenas Costa Rica real estate in high demand.

If you are looking for real estate in Costa Rica, a new option is the residential development of Las Brisas del Valle (Breezes of the Valley), under construction in the Atenas neighborhood of Estanquillos. Located 20 minutes from the town center of Atenas, Las Brisas del Valle is surrounded by beautiful coffee plantations at an elevation of 1,200 meters (3,900 feet). Days are warm and nights are fresh and cool.

Las Brisas del Valle is being developed by Pure Life Development of Atenas in two phases. Phase l features four homesites with panoramic views of San José and the Central Valley. Phase ll consists of four more homesites, with picturesque mountain vistas, naturally divided from Phase l by a beautiful, tree-lined creek that runs year-round and provides a natural wildlife corridor.

Custom-built homes at Las Brisas del Valle are designed in a “contemporary tropical” style with a Balinese flair. Each home has been painstakingly crafted to take advantage of the natural topography of the land, the stunning views, natural surroundings and tropical climate. The community rests on eight acres of land, with homes ranging in size from just under 3,000 square feet to nearly 4,000 square feet on lots of 0.5 acres to 1.25 acres.

Pure Life Development of Atenas specializes in real estate for sale and home rentals in Atenas, Costa Rica. Your Costa Rica real estate experts are Dennis J. Easters and Gerardo Gonzalez-Porras, both certified with the Costa Rica Chamber of Real Estate and successfully helping customers find new homes in Atenas, Costa Rica for 10 years.

Article by Shannon Farley