Real estate opportunities and developments abound in all of Costa’s Rica’s six regions, including the Northern Zone, or the Northern Plains.
One of the things this region has to offer is the world of Costa Rica away from the country’s two great oceans, the Pacific and Caribbean. It also offers lots of beauty, good weather, attractions and – this is something most real estate buyers are keenly interested in – lower prices than developments in the Central Pacific and Central Valley regions.
Life in the Northern Plains is largely rural and centered around stunning lakes and equally stunning volcanoes. Many new residents have been attracted to this area, and that has sparked increased real estate developments, especially for vacation homes and other residences.
There are cities in this area, namely San Carlos, or Ciudad Quesada, which is about two hours from the Costa Rican capital of San José. San Carlos is widely considered the capital of the Northern Plains.
San Carlos has a great mix of old-world Costa Rica culture and modern amenities. Plaza San Carlos is a new mall with 143 stores including a large grocery store, multiple movie theaters, an expansive food court, travel agencies and more.
The climate is usually quite mild in this area and good for cattle ranching and other types of farming. Many North Americans own ranches in this area and it is growing in popularity with Americans, Canadians and Europeans.
The climate in the area makes it great not only for ranching and farming but just about any type of growing, and that has led to a booming business in ornamental plant farms. Many of the plants grown in this area are exported to other countries or sent to the booming real estate markets in Northwest Guanacaste and the Central Pacific.
The Northern Plains are also home to Lake Arenal, a 48-square-mile, man-made reservoir that is the largest lake in Costa Rica and the second-biggest in Central America. An engineering feat for Costa Rica when it was built, it generates 70 per cent of the country’s electricity and water from the lake is also used for irrigation in the Pacific area of Guanacaste, the most arid part of the country.
The area surrounding the lake, which offers excellent fishing, hiking, windsurfing, mountain biking, bird-watching and other outdoor activities, has also become a hot market for real estate, with a number of developments popular with foreign residents.
There are a number of lots available on or near the lake. Prices vary per square meter depend on location and views.
For more information on Costa Rica, contact Lic Giovanna Barrantes at 1-800-979-4174 1- info@lawyerofcostarica.com, or go to Barrantes & Associates
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