AE Members available Orotina:

• Go Dutch Realty, Isabelle Jones

• Go Dutch Realty, Ivo Henfling

AE Member available Atenas:

• Go Dutch Realty, Isabelle Jones

Orotina & Atenas: Excellent climate and small town atmosphere!

Orotina

Orotina is located in Alajuela province lying in the lush and green Central Valley of Costa Rica. Orotina is known as “the fruit town” and with good reason. It is renowned throughout the country for its unbelievable abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables. For the last 18 years Orotina has hosted the National Fruit Festival. The festivities usually begin the later part of March every year. Thousands of Ticos and tourists flock to Orotina for this fruit themed festival.

Farmers are carefully selected to participate due to the quality of their fruit and their eco- friendly farming techniques. There is music, concerts, food and drink for all to enjoy!

Orotina has a population of 8,550 and lies at an elevation of 229 meters above sea level in a relatively flat section on the west side of the costal mountain range. It is a mere 26 kilometers northeast of the Pacific Ocean and 66 kilometers from the national capital city of San Jose. With the new autopista (Careterra Caldera) almost completed the commute times will be greatly reduced and Orotina is the perfect location for those who enjoy rural living with proximity to the beaches and larger cities.

In the center of town, directly across from the church, is a beautiful park, lush with palms and other interesting mature trees. It is a popular and safe place for people to gather, relax, talk and possibly have a fiesta or concert in the pavilion. There is a small train station in town that is now open on week-ends. The train runs directly through Orotina going from San Jose to Caldera. The train ride is a huge attraction among the Costa Ricans and is a unique experience and fun experience that everyone should enjoy! Another great attraction that is very close (only 7 km away) is TURUBARI Tropical Park. It is an eco-adventure theme park that boasts bird watching, hiking, zip lines and more.

Real estate in Orotina is sure to be a good investment due to the now easy access to the beaches and San Jose along with the prediction that Orotina will become a major hub. The land here is very buildable due to the flatness of the terrain. It is lush and beautiful with views of the mountains.  There are amazing opportunities here for business, farming or simply creating your own private paradise.

Many Ticos have “Quintas” here which are properties where they can come for the week-end and relax. This area affords the opportunity to easily go to the beach during the day and come back to the lush privacy of your own property surrounded by nature.

There are many affordable hotels and restaurants in the area and a variety of shops in town. You will find everything you need here, so come and check out one of the best kept secrets in Costa Rica! >>Go up

Atenas

Atenas is known for its central location, excellent climate and small town atmosphere! It is only 20 km. (12 miles) from the International Airport, 35 km.(21 miles) from San Jose and 50 km.(30 miles) from the beautiful Central Pacific beaches. Therefore, you have the best of both worlds, far away from the congestion of San Jose, yet close enough that you can enjoy shopping malls, restaurants, nightclubs, movie theatres in Grecia, Alajuela or Escazú.  

Once the new highway is completed, driving time to the city and beaches will be cut in half making Atenas an even more desirable area to retire and live!

The population of Atenas is approximately 5,000 inhabitants in the center and 17,000 in the outlying suburban areas.  It has an altitude of 800 – 1100 meters or about 2,600 to 3,600 ft.  The daily average temperatures are from 77 to 86 degrees F or 25C to 30 degrees C with the evenings cooling down from 62 to 70 degrees F or 17C to 21 degrees C making  ideal year-round weather conditions. As National Geographic and all the local buses exclaim, “El Mejor Clima en El Mundo” or one of the best climates in the world!

Atenas is still primarily an agricultural region known for its animal husbandry, coffee, sugar production and fruit orchards.  Every Friday, the park bustles with the farmer’s market or “feria”, where  fresh produce, meat and even flowers can be purchased for a minimal price!  It has a festive atmosphere where both the locals and foreigners gather and socialize!  It truly is an amazing, fun experience!

The picturesque Central Park located across the street from the Church is another meeting point. In its tropical setting, it is a perfect spot to enjoy an ice cream or a coffee. Here, you often see birds such as the toucan or green parrots flying overhead.There are several restaurants surrounding the park serving not only local Costa Rican food but German, Italian and Chinese meals as well!

There are 5 international developments located within 10 minutes of the center of town. There are both gated and non-gated communities. There are houses built to North American standards with quality finishings and traditional, simpler Costa Rican style homes too. Many Ticos from San Jose have “quintas” or country estates here for their weekend retreats.  Atenas is still more affordable than many other areas in Costa Rica making this perfect for the retiree and/or family.

As Atenas continues to expand, you will see an increase in its amenities as well.  Currently, our quaint village has 4 grocery stores or mercados,  two private bilingual schools, public swimming pools, parks, pharmacies, a bilingual private ambulance service, health center,  two gyms, churches, restaurants,a tennis court, a dance studio, a gas station, Spanish schools, doctors, dentists, veterinarians, mechanics making this a fabulous place to relocate and live!.

Since so many baby boomers and early retirees are moving to Costa Rica, GoDutch Realty was one of the first Costa Rican real estate companies to market and promote Atenas as one of the best locations in the country for  retirement.  As of 5 years ago, there were no gated communities in Atenas.  Now, the retiree who wants to travel or have a vacation home has several options to ensure security while leaving his residence for extended periods of time. 

Controlled accessed communities like Roca Verde, Hacienda Atenas, Villa Pica Flor and others to come in the near future are the solution to those boomers who like to travel a lot. There are also investment opportunities for homes which are or can be used as either vacation or long-term rentals. We have experienced property managers who can handle the details for you while you’re away!

Rolling, green mountains and spectacular views surround Atenas!  It is still a town where everyone waves and greets each other in a warm welcoming manner! If you’re interested in nature, outdoor living and tranquility then this is the location for you.  As the Costa Ricans say, "Pura Vida" or the pure life is found here! >>Go up