A striking construction development has burst with great force over the coastline of the Pacific Ocean. Which factors have caused this? Accompany us thru a real estate visit of the area. Very near the urban confusion, at only a 2 hour-trip from the Central Valley, these beaches have become a true magnet for real estate investor.  The traditional horde of tourists blends in with armies of workers who they raise enormous buildings, entertainment canters, hotels and beach houses. Although Puntarenas is the main coastal city, the development has been displaced towards the south, particularly to the now exclusive Playa Herradura, the cosmopolitan Jacó and the exuberant area of Quepos, and particularly towards the area of Manuel Antonio. The shock wave of the ongoing growth is slower in the area of Esterillos and Parrita beaches.

TOURISM PARADISE:
Traditionally, the Central Pacific region has occupied a privileged place in the taste of the tourist due to its proximity with the Central Valley. This industry has caused the rapid development of places such as Jacó, which in just a few years stopped being a fisherman’s town to become perhaps the city that offers the most services in the entire coast: from laundries to specialized medical services, famous international food-chains, lawyers, hardware stores and supermarkets, among other facilities. If enjoyment is what you are looking for, there is 24 hour guarantee! The nightlife is one of the main attractions. In addition, there are more than 60 restaurants, discos, nightclubs to brighten the gaze of residents and foreigners alike. But the Pacific Coast seduces visitors due to its natural charm. The area offers very private. Due to its great waves, some of these beaches have become a definite stop for expert surfers. The natural beauties of the place provide the perfect setting for sports fishing, kayak, and canopy or simply for horseback riding, a walk thru the mountain, bird-gazing or simply relaxing under the sun. A few kilometres away you can visit the Manuel Antonio National Park of the Carara Biotical Reserve. Another popular visit is a tour thru the Tarcoles River, in order to observe crocodiles.

THRU THE INVESTOR´S EYES
For all the reason stated above and due to its high value, the Central Pacific region is the ideal area in which to develop real estate projects.  Experts agree that perhaps the main attractive is it closeness to the Central Valley and particularly, to the Juan Santa María International Airport. In addition, access to the area is pretty simple, although the roads are not the best. Jaco Manuel Antonio and Herradura are the areas with the greater development. For example, Herradura Beach has attracted high-profile clients due to facilities such as the marina at Los Sueños and the Marriott Hotel. In the areas adjacent to it a series of specialized stores offering first-class products has flourished, for example, recently, an Automercado supermarket was inaugurated in the area. Another important factor is the climate since it is somewhat more stable than in other beaches of the country. In addition, it has enough annual rainfall for the plants to stay green all year long. The combination of all sorts of services, tourism attractions, ecological diversity and its closeness to the Central Valley has created a   “constructive explosion”,   specially of vertical condominiums, which  have recently begun to appear in the national scenery.

GOAL MARKET
Most of the investors consider that their target markets are foreigners, particularly those from the United States, as well as some Canadians and, in a lesser amount, Europeans. The so-called “baby boomers” are search of a second home with two main objectives. Some wish a summer home in with to spend their vacation time, while others wish to invest in a permanent residence in order to enjoy their retirement. For the North American market it is very simple and quick to fly to Costa Rica due to the large number of available daily flights. In addition, adapting is also easy since the time difference is not significant and adapting is also easy since the time difference is not significant and because in the local market they are able to acquire very similar products to those that they are used to consuming and at a better price. The project’s developers that were consulted also offer rental service of residential units when the owners are not making use of it, which in turn creates a greater profits.

Article by: Casa Galería Magazine Vol 15-2006