Costa Rica’s three biggest retirement areas are the Central Valley, the Gold Coast (Guanacaste), and the central Pacific. The most developed coastal town in Costa Rica is Jaco Beach, and while Jaco attracts everyone from international business people, to vacationing families to backpackers and surfers, the fastest growing demographic is retirees and soon-to-be-retired babyboomers.
Called one of the most “bio-intense places on earth” by National Geographic, Costa Rica has won numerous and prestigious rewards such as TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice Awards, here are some of 2015’s awards:
The beaches and hotels in Costa Rica were named among the best in the world; No. 2 Top Hotel for Families in the World, No. 17 of the 25 Top Beaches in the World, No. 2 of the Top 10 Beaches in Central America, 13th best hotel for romance in the world, out of 25 top hotels in Central America, Costa Rica holds 16, No. 2 Top Hotel in the World for 2015 – Costa Rica known for its lush, wildlife-filled jungles lining deserted beaches, it truly a spectacular place to live, work and play and continues to top major global indices.
Costa Rica has become famous for the luxury lifestyle it offers. Resort living can be found in many towns on the beach where you can take a morning stroll on the beach, stop for an authentic traditionally brewed coffee at a cafe…browse through posh boutique, enjoy gourmet foods, golf on world class course or take a catamaran dinner tour to watch the sunset.
Jaco Beach, the most developed coastal town in Costa Rica, and while only sporting a population of about 10,000 residents, Jaco Beach is a very busy town being the closest major beach resort location to San Jose. Jaco delivers all the services, comforts, and conveniences one expects in a modern resort style, tropical beach town.
The beach in Jaco is 2.5 miles (4 km) long with condos, hotels, and resorts lined up one after the other and the main street which runs parallel to the beach one block inland also has numerous condo complexes, hotels, casinos and resorts.
Vacationers enjoy all the water activities you expect in a coastal town as well as all the major jungle adventure there is as well. With the most developed service industry in Central America, Jaco Beach has caught the eye of celebrities, international businessmen, vacationers, gappers and a growing expat community.
From little local soda shops to Five Star dining you will find a large selection of cuisines. Enjoy sushi to Italian to Peruvian to fresh from the ocean seafood restaurants, to beach bar bacon cheese burgers, Jaco beach is a cornucopia for the foodie in you. Of course there are also all the American standards like KFC, Subway, Pizza Hut, etc.
And that’s not all, in Jaco you will find all business services, electronic services, fitness services, spas, salons, pharmacies, and so much more. There are also a number of private medical and dental clinics in Jaco. Adapting and acclimating to living in Jaco Beach with its fully developed and well established service industry is really easy with every convenience right at you finger tips.
If you need to get away from the bustle of Jaco for a bit, you can escape to a number of quite beaches within 20 minute drive from Jaco, such as Playa Hermosa only five minutes south of Jaco. If you are looking for some adventure, there is everything from canopy tours to whitewater rafting to enjoy.
Jaco Beach Real Estate
According to Jeff Fisher, a 20 year veteran of living in Costa Rica, and owner of CRBeach, one of the longest operating offices in Jaco Beach, “Jaco Beach has come a long way in the past 10 year, it’s truly a resort lifestyle beach town now and I see this growth trend continuing for some time to come.”
While there are very affordable condos right on the beach in Jaco, there are of course many in land a few blocks in Jaco with incredible Pacific views from your terrace or balcony.
Doing a little research on Jaco Costa Rica real estate market you can find properties ranging from $60,000 up to almost $400,000 and with the highest inventory levels in the $175,000 to $240,000 USD. Of course there a number of luxury estates for much more but that is median range.
The Jaco area is one of the few locations left in Costa Rica where you can still buy Titled beach front property, as a majority of the beach front available in Costa Rica is Concession property, which is regulated by municipalities under the maritime law that restricts ownership of shore line land.
First generation condo complexes are generally only a couple stories with landscaped court yards and pool, while newer developments are more high rise building and modern architecture, and now Jaco Beach sports large resort complex such Croc’s Casino Resort with 152 luxury hotel rooms, 44 beachfront condos for sale, and a Las Vegas Style Casino, right on the beach.
Gated communities are a very popular option for retirees in Jaco beach. These near-beach communities offer 24/7 security, community pools, outdoor rancho areas for BBQ and gatherings, and often community a club house. For those part time retirees, property management services at many of these gated communities allow owners to generate excellent income renting their home as a vacation income property.
While Costa Rica in general saw a slow down after the US housing bubbler popped, and then the global economic downturn, Jaco because of its location, continued development and tourist drawn continues to see strong rebound growth. Jaco beach real estate specialists expect to see this trend continue through 2016.
