WHY JACO?

There are many nice places to visit on our planet, and many of them leave you with a “been there….done that” feeling.  But Jaco is different.  Visitors return again and again.  Many buy a vacation home here, and lots of people retire here.  So, what’s the attraction?  I’ve met numerous Ticos who have moved to the states….only to return to Costa Rica to live.  The human energy factor is spectacular here.  Their attitude is: “Why work feverously your whole life to be able to retire and relax, when you could enjoy your entire life that way in Jaco, Costa Rica.  There are a lot of business opportunities here for young families, and Jaco is a great place to raise kids.  You can’t taste the food in a written restaurant review,  so I can’t expect you to “feel” Jaco in my blog.  You’ll just have to check it out for yourself.  Make your travel plans, now!  I’d be delighted to discuss all this stuff with you…in person.  What are you waiting for?

YOUR MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

I’ve been answering a lot of questions in my blog about Jaco, Costa Rica, but haven’t yet answered the most frequently asked question of all….”what’s the real estate market like in Jaco?”.  First of all, we’ve been blessed by not having a lot of “over-mortgaged” properties and foreclosures here in the Jaco Beach area.  Secondly, as buyers have come to realize, the global economic meltdown has had a lesser effect here in Costa Rica than in lots of other places.  They are buying now rather than waiting for the prices to rise.  Some sellers have priced their properties rather high, and they will wait for an unknowledgeable buyer with an unscrupulous real estate agent to pay “above market” prices.  They will probably be on the current market for a long while.

People walk into our REMAX office every day and ask “where are the hot buys?”, or “what are your fire sale deals?  When sellers are serious, their property usually attracts serious buyers and we schedule a closing date.

Currently, there are some “great buys” in the Jaco area…from beachfront condos to rainforest retreats to small ranches to typical housing.  We even have a gorgeous estate-like home, that features the most panoramic ocean views I’ve ever seen, and contains just about every amenity necessary for the discriminating buyer.  Bring your toothbrush and your fire extinguisher…this property is “fire sale” priced at $550,000 and comes fully furnished.

I’m supposed to be retired, but I love talking to people about this place called Jaco (pronounced hock-O), so contact me if you have additional questions.

HEALTHCARE IN JACO

Healthcare in Costa Rica can be described in one word….world class!  OK, that’s two words, but you get the idea.  I’ve visited only two of Costa Rica’s many hospitals, Cima (pronounced see-ma) and Clinica Biblica in the center of the capital city of San Jose.  Not only are facilities and staff as professional as anything in the states, but the caring personality of the doctors, nurses and support people is in the pura vida (pure life) spirit that IS Costa Rica.  And procedures that would be thousands of dollars in the states…are hundreds here. 

In Jaco Beach, we have several doctors, a couple of clinics and a host of pharmacies.  We have 24-hour emergency response teams that are the equivalent of the best paramedic teams in the states.

But let’s back up for a minute:  before you need medical attention, the general lifestyle in Costa Rica is healthier than lots of other places.  Less stress, more fresh produce, less stress, cleaner air and less stress.  Did I say “less stress”?  My “high blood pressure” condition has become normal blood pressure here in Jaco.  I believe that I’ll live longer here.  We shall see……… 

Remember The Song "STANDING ON THE CORNER WATCHING ALL THE GIRLS GO BY"?

So,  you’re living in Jaco, or vacationing in Jaco, and you want to know about dating.  Guys, are you looking for your future wife, a long-term girlfriend or companionship for an evening?  It’s all here in Jaco.  Romance is in the air.  Beautiful women are abundant.  If “girl watching” is your sport, look no further than Jaco.  If you are vacationing, you’ll go home talking about your next trip to Jaco.  If you are thinking about living in Jaco or considering retirement in Jaco, you have chosen a vibrant town in which to hang your hat. 

Ages are not as bracketed as in the states, so it’s not unusual to see a 60 year old man with a 30 year old gal.  I have friends of all ages, and it’s the “pura vida” spirit that binds us…not our chronology.

There are a lot of happy couples living here in Jaco who were single when they arrived, met someone special…and…oh, you know the rest.  It seems like whatever your taste…it’s here.    The relationships in Costa Rica don’t seem to get old and stale, and I enjoy seeing couples walking on the beach holding hands or strolling along Main Street hugging each other.  I don’t mean to imply that Jaco Beach is one giant singles bar, for the many couples vacationing here or relocating to Jaco get bitten NOT by mosquitoes, but by the love bug.  A number of couples have shared with me that romance in their lives flares up when they’re here in Jaco.  Many of the day to day activities here seem like romantic scenes from a favorite movie.  As I said…romance….it’s in the air.  Come to Jaco Beach and take a deep breath.

I'm not a dating service, but for more info on dating in Jaco, contact Gary Aptaker

Activities. Anyone For Activities?

What do retired guys do all day, here?  Some sit around and drink beer.  On any given day, you can go to the Bahio Grill, right on the beach, and enjoy 11:00am happy hour and talk with ex-CIA agents, former CEO’s, multi-millionaires that were “robbed blind by their partners” and numerous other characters who openly share “what they used to be back home”.  I sometimes get a call from one of my pals…”hey Gary, there’s two guys here who wanna buy a condo, and I told them you were honest, reliable and generally a good guy.  Can you come over and meet them?”  So I get on my bicycle and pedal to the Bahio to meet my new clients and have an iced tea with them.  After making an appointment to show them property the next day, I realize it’s Tuesday and  head for Jaco Taco for the Tuesday Horseshoe Tournament.  I’m just two weeks into this thing, but it’s outdoors, the guys are cool, the games are fun and our host Steve serves up really great nachos.  Someone is always planning some activity, even if it’s going to find a certain bamboo for their patio or lining up a fishing charter for their son’s visit next week.  It seems like I have an assortment of outings from which to choose.  It’s not “cliquish”.  The easy-going attitude in Costa Rica is contagious, and the pura vida spirit permeates the entire culture.  A guy just seems to fit in. 

Next blog we’ll talk about dating in Jaco, Costa Rica.  For more details, contact Gary Aptaker.

What's The Big Deal...Living in Jaco?

So I’m asked, “Gary, what are the big differences between living in Jaco Beach and living ‘back home’?”.   Lots of things.  But summarized, I’d say one of the biggest contrasts is that Jaco living is a lot like the 60’s were in the states…a much simpler time.  Evening walks in town with an ice cream cone in one hand while waving to your neighbors with the other hand.  And not so many “no parking” signs, and “no left turns at certain hours” signs.  And going on my bicycle to the Mas x Menos (More for Less) supermarket which reminds me of the now defunct A&P Market I shopped in as a kid.  I realize here that I don’t need 91 mustard choices, 74 kinds of pickles or 118 different cereals from which to choose.  I can live very nicely without a “Mega-store”…thank you very much! 

The little office supply store works for me.  So does the bakery.  And the appliance store.  And the local hardware store.  And the family that runs Del Mar Licorera knows which gin I drink in my martini.  Try that in Von’s or Albertson’s. 

Remember the TV show “Cheers….a place where everyone knows your name”?  Well, it’s like that here in Jaco beach.  And if you have Costco withdrawal symptoms, a 45 minute drive will take you to Pricesmart (the originator of the warehouse store concept), where you can buy a ten-year supply of Q-tips, 40 rolls of toilet paper or four huge plastic-wrapped bottles of “Frank’s Hot Sauce”.

Tomorrow (Friday) is the farmer’s market day in Playa Jaco.  Fresh-picked, fresh-plucked, fresh-cut and fresh-dug bounty from nature.  The fruit, produce and poultry is without a doubt a reminder of the simpler  60’s…before the chemical industry took over the farming community.

For more information on foods and shopping in Costa Rica, stay tuned to this blog or contact Gary Aptaker.

How To Get Around

When talking about bus travel in Central America,  many people have a picture in their mind of an old, shabby, former school bus filled with plain-looking people and clucking chickens, meandering along a bumpy dirt road.  It may be like that in other countries, but NOT in Costa Rica.  The busses are made by Mercedes or Volvo, are beautiful, comfortable and efficient, have in-journey movies and snacks and go everywhere.  I can go from Jaco to nearly any place in the country, or travel to Nicaragua (Granada – round trip $44) or to Panama and back.  When I return, Jaco, Costa Rica really feels like home.  And the shorter trips by bus cost between 65cents and $1.50, and are pretty close to being “on-time”.  I’ll write about automobile ownership in a future blog, but many retirees can live comfortably without the cost of owning a car.

Here in Jaco, as in other Costa Rican towns, taxis are relatively cheap.  It’s nice to know that I can go out for a night on the town and take a taxi home…total cost $1.50 to $3.00.  And they come in all shapes, so if you need to haul surfboards or a huge amount of luggage, you’ll get a pickup taxi or a SUV taxi.  Same low fares.

For more information on traveling around Costa Rica, contact Gary Aptaker.