Why I Prefer My Costa Rican Mountain Town to Beachside Living
Shannon has lived in the mountain town of Atenas for nine years and doesn't think she would live anywhere else. Here's why it has checked off everything on her list...
Shannon Farley
There’s Always Something to Do in Atenas, Costa Rica.
Expats who have taken International Living’s advice and moved to Costa Rica say they love the slow pace of tropical life. They like having time to relax...
Your Own Home in the Costa Rican Countryside for $63,000
The land of Pura Vida offers a great climate year-round (no snow, ever), friendly locals, a straight-forward residence programs, and an economy dedicated to tourism...
Only One Place Checked All Our Retire Abroad Criteria
When Linda Ledbetter and Bruce Brasington chose to leave the U.S. for an international life in Costa Rica—the former cruising couple had five key criteria that were non-negotiable for their new home.
A Friendly Mountain Town With a Close-Knit Expat Community
The country mountain town of Atenas in Spanish-speaking Costa Rica seems an unlikely place to find a free library of not just hundreds but thousands of books in English, French, German, and Italian. It gives you a little glimpse into the international mix of the thriving expat community here.
A Small-Town Expat Haven with “The Best Climate in the World”
Walking into my Tai Chi/Qigong class this morning at the Atenas Yoga Center, I was greeted by several new smiling faces. There were new expats in town, renting a house for a few months to check out whether Atenas, Costa Rica, could be their new home.
“We Built Our Dream Retirement Home in Costa Rica”
When John and Gay Boggs of Virginia decided to retire to Atenas, Costa Rica, in 2013, they chose to build their dream home. They'd already looked at existing homes in their price range but weren't completely satisfied with the quality and features.
Peaceful Living and a Bargain Home in Costa Rica’s Central Valley
What I love best about living in Atenas, Costa Rica, is how peaceful it is. The capital city of San José is only an hour's drive to the east. But whenever I have to go there, like just the other day, I always breathe out a big sigh of contented happiness when I turn off the highway and onto the main road into Atenas where we live.
Escaping a Rapid-Fire Lifestyle in Atenas, Costa Rica
My favorite day of the week is Friday in my country town of Atenas—although since moving here, every day is pretty good. On Fridays, I pile all five of my dogs into the car and head early in the morning for the farmers’ market, followed by a lively off-leash hike on a forested mountain trail near town.