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    Atenas, Costa Rica

    Atenas, Costa Rica, is known for its history along the coffee trail between the two coasts, and national parks only a short drive away...

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        Atenas Church in Atenas Costa Rica
        Haakon S. Krohn, CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

        Atenas, Costa Rica: Everything You Need to Know

        Atenas, Costa Rica, is a great destination for people who love being surrounded by nature, national parks, coffee, and a local setting.

        While it may be close to more urban settings, Atenas itself is haven for everything Costa Rican.

        Therefore, if you are looking for a small town with a town square, a local church, and a park center, all while being surrounded by rolling hills, coffee plantations, and local wildlife, then Atenas, Costa Rica, is the place for you.

        So, here is everything you need to know about Atenas, Costa Rica.

        Kathleen

        Reviewed By Kathleen Peddicord

        Kathleen is the Live and Invest Overseas Founding Publisher. She has more than 30 years of hands-on experience traveling, living, and buying property around the world.

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          Table Of Contents

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            Cost Of Living In Atenas, Costa Rica

            While the cost of living in Costa Rica has been steadily increasing over the past decade or so. But it is still an affordable haven for any expat looking to move overseas.

            Moving to Atenas, Costa Rica, will give you a much nicer setting and lifestyle for a better price, on the same budget.

            Rent Budget

            You can expect for a single person living in Atenas to have a monthly budget of at least US$1,700. This is an average expected cost for bare bones living in a two-bedroom apartment.

            For a more comfortable lifestyle and depending on whether you are moving to Atenas, Costa Rica, as a family or not, you can expect to have a budget upwards of US$2,000 per month.

            It is possible that your budget may surpass US$2,500 per month. However, this would only be if you are eating out all the time, partaking in costly entertainments, and spending all your leisurely time outside of the house.

            A two-bedroom apartment in Atenas, Costa Rica, will run you about US$1,000 per month. This depends on the area you are living in, but generally the closer you get to the city center, the more expensive it will be.

            The price will also vary based on if you are looking for a furnished place or unfurnished (typically around a hundred dollars cheaper).

            There are places in the mountains that run as high as US$3,500 per month. These apartments are less affordable, but nicer and in a much more heavenly setting.

            You can also find places for as little as US$500 per month closer to the town and still very nice.

            Meanwhile, if you are looking to buy a small apartment in Atenas, it runs about US$200,000.

            A bigger space, with more luxurious amenities (pools, views, more acreage) will cost upwards of US$350,000.

            Utilities

            Your basic utilities (water, gas, electric, TV), including internet, will run you around US$150 per month.

            There are plenty of ways to lower your budget, although some amenities are so affordable it’s hard to wonder why you would put them aside. Household help will only run you US$3 to US$4 an hour.

            Entertainment

            A nice three course meal for two people is still cheaper than most places in the United States and will only set you back around US$40.

            Meanwhile, if you are looking for a local choice, you can easily find traditional meals starting at US$8 to US$10.

            All in all, it is still one of the cheaper destinations in Costa Rica, and the cost of living in Atenas is extremely affordable.

            The high range of the monthly budget in Atenas is comparable to the lower ranges of a monthly budget in the United States. So, it is easy to see why moving to Atenas is a great choice.

            In short, you get a much nicer lifestyle, in a much nicer environment, for a better price.

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              Things To Do In Atenas, Costa Rica

              Coffee cup and coffee beans from Costa Rica. atenas
              AdobeStock/ru242

              The first thing to do in Atenas, Costa Rica, is visit the Central Park. It is a big park and square in the center of the city, which makes it a great place for your daily walk, sitting with a book and reading, sipping on some locally sourced coffee, and just enjoying your time.

              You can easily spend hours admiring the surroundings, which include a local church not too far from the park…

              Local Sights

              Parroquia San Rafael Arcángel was built in 1846 in the classic colonial style.

              The large windows light up the inside for most of the day in a bright translucent light, which makes it a great place to visit during the day.

              Plus, after your day enjoying the local lifestyle and culture that Atenas has to offer, you can choose traditional restaurants that surround the park as your next destination.

              Local Flavors

              A main thing to do in Atenas is sample the local cuisine.

              Here you have international restaurants that offer comfort food at competitive prices. But, try a dish or two from the Costa Rican repertoire.

              Try Gallo Pinto, the national dish of Costa Rica, which translates to spotted rooster. Or try a more local delicacy such as Casados, which means marriage. You will find a wide variety of food and produce all married together on a singular plate.

              After visiting the local churches of Atenas and stopping at delicious restaurants, continue your tour of the city.

              After walking around town and seeing the oxcart monument dedicated to the coffee trail from this part of Costa Rica to its two coasts, the next stop must be a coffee tour.

              The Costa Rican Coffee Experience

              Check out the Costa Rican coffee farms and tours of those farms in the area. The most notable is the El Toledo coffee farm which is only a 15-minute drive from Atenas, Costa Rica.

              You can spend the day here learning about how coffee berries are grown, the different types of coffee plants that lead to different levels of acidity in your coffee, how the beans are harvested from the berries, dried, roasted, and then finally ground up to be served in a delicious drink.

              The El Toledo coffee tour goes into detail about organic farming, and biodiversity impacts.

              Atenas: A Genuine Taste Of Costa Rica

              While you are still outside of the city, check out the nearby hiking trails, wildlife, and all the waterfalls. You’ll find mesmerizing waterfalls nearby in the Alajuela region, some nestled in the national parks.

              Be sure to check out Cerro Atenas, Los Chorros, or even a little further away, Parque Nacional Juan Castro Blanco or Parque Nacional Volcan Poás.

              You will never run out of nature to see inside and outside of the city, including its wildlife. Be sure to stop by the Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center to see Scarlet Macaw parrots, white-faced monkeys, and some jungle cats.

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                Health Care In Costa Rica

                Costa Rica has one of the most advanced health care systems in Latin America. Offering universal health care to all citizens and permanent residents, expats can choose between public and private health care.

                The public health care system is managed by the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social, commonly referred to as the Caja.

                A total of 15 public hospitals run under the Caja, offering citizens and permanent residents excellent health care across the country.

                The private health care system in Costa Rica is constantly upgrading, with modern facilities and experts in every field. For instance, expats often opt for the private system as insurance is cheap.

                Costa Rica is becoming a popular medical tourism destination because of its high standards and comparatively low costs for care. Costa Rica also excels in private dental treatments.

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                  Moving To Atenas, Costa Rica

                  A passport with satmped Costa Rica visa stamp

                  Moving to Atenas, Costa Rica, is a simple process. The city, in the Alajuela district, is about 45 minutes from San José, the capital of Costa Rica, and only about a thirty-minute drive from San José International Airport.

                  Visiting Atenas becomes much easier once you know that all you need is a tourist visa to enter the country.

                  To stay in Costa Rica for up to 90 days you need a tourist visa and a return flight out of the country (which does not need to be back to the country you originally started from).

                  Atenas is surrounded by rolling green hills, coffee plantations, national parks, and local wildlife.

                  We recommend to rent a car to genuinely enjoy all that Atenas and its surrounding areas.

                  But, if you stay in the city use the available tours for your excursions out of the city, the taxi fare from the airport costs around US$30 to US$45.

                  A Permanent Stay

                  People who want to live in Atenas, Costa Rica, have to start the process on getting a temporary residency.

                  The process is simple, and only requires a list of documents (passports, birth certificates, a letter to the Costa Rican consulate or embassy).

                  The most painful part is getting all the documents in order and getting the apostille (an authentication of a public document).

                  You will get your temporary residency card (after getting the visa for marital reasons, studies, work related affairs, retirement) in Costa Rica upon arrival. This card can last up to 3 years and leads to permanent residency.

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                    Weather And Seasons

                    Weather in Atenas Costa Rica
                    Weather-and-climate.com

                    The weather in Atenas, Costa Rica, is tropical and the region has a wet and a dry season.

                    Like most other tropical settings, the wet season is from June to September, with the dry season starting around October and ending around May.

                    Dry Season In Atenas, Costa Rica

                    The warmest month is March, where highs can reach up to 90°F (32°C). Otherwise, during the rest of the year, due to its elevation of 698 meters and being surrounded by hills and mountains, the lows are consistently around 70°F (21°C).

                    The highs are known to go above 80°F (27°C) sometimes, but usually never exceed 90°F (32°C).

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                      Rainy Season In Atenas, Costa Rica

                      The humidity can reach up to 86%, and it gets quite muggy. However, during the dry season humidity plummets to around 27% and gets comfortable in the mountain breeze.

                      Cloud coverage increases dramatically, but it varies year to year and is unpredictable. It gets clearer during the dry season, and the sun comes out to play so that you may enjoy your leisurely down time.

                      The months where it rains the most are split to the beginning and the end of said season. It rains the most in June and especially September.

                      Most importantly, the best time of year to visit Atenas, Costa Rica, is during the dry season between December and March. This will be your best chance to enjoy warm weather activities.

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                        Kathleen

                        Reviewed By Kathleen Peddicord

                        Kathleen is the Live and Invest Overseas Founding Publisher. She has more than 30 years of hands-on experience traveling, living, and buying property around the world.

                        Start Your New Overseas Life Today

                        A world full of fun, adventure, and profit awaits! Sign up for our free daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter, and we’ll send you a FREE report on the 10 Best Places To Retire In Style Overseas Today 2024






                          We Value Your Privacy! We will not share your email address with anyone else, period.

                          Table Of Contents

                          Atenas, Costa Rica- FAQs

                          Yes, Atenas, Costa Rica, is worth visiting. It’s a place to rediscover your love for nature. Also, any person who enjoys a charming town but doesn’t wish to be too far from bigger cities and their amenities will love Atenas.

                          So, just spending your days enjoying Atenas itself and all the history there will be an unforgettable experience. Most importantly, there is just so much to enjoy about Atenas that you may never even get to the national parks, coffee plantations, or see the wildlife in the surrounding areas.

                          Atenas, Costa Rica, is known for its history along the coffee trail between the two coasts, all the national parks only a short drive away, and of course the coffee plantations themselves.

                          Visiting or moving to Atenas will be the greatest decision you’ve ever made and will leave you with plenty of memories about the history and nature of Costa Rica.

                          Retiring to Atenas, Costa Rica, is perfect idea, especially for someone looking for a slower pace of life: Spending your golden years sipping on delicious coffee, going on nature retreats and excursions, picking up new hobbies and putting them to practice while lounging in the Atenas Central Park, while always having a faster paced way of life less than an hour away, then Atenas is the place for you.

                          Americans should move to Atenas because of the growing expat community there. While it is a lesser known paradise in Costa Rica, it has been more and more sought after by people looking to move to Costa Rica and overseas.

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