On this retirement relocation tour, you will see the best of both worlds and gain the proper perspective since it combines our very popular South and Central Pacific Beach Tour with our Central Valley Tour. You are sure to find out if the beach or inland area is right for you.
All of our clients LOVE this activity-filled tour.
Central /South Pacific Portion
Saturday: Day 1 – Arrive in San Jose. Our staff will meet you at the airport and transport you to your Hotel.
Sunday: Day 2 – A buffet breakfast at the hotel. Then a 7:30 departure for Costa Rica’s gorgeous Dominical and Uvita in the South Pacific. On the way, you will receive a packet of materials and will be given an orientation/mini-seminar about the tour. Christopher will narrate and make comments about all of the points of interest along the way.
We will take Highway 27 to the Coastal Highway or Costanera. We will then pass by Jacó Beach, Hermosa Beach, Esterillos Beach, Esterillos Este, Parrita, and Quepos on our way to lunch in the Dominical-Uvita area.
We will then check into the Río Mar Resort after stopping to see a beach or two on the way.
A delicious dinner at our hotel will round out the day.
Monday: Day 3 – Breakfast and check out of the hotel. We will head north along with the new gem of a coastal highway. This new road cuts over an hour of the trip from the Central Valley to the southern beaches.
We will pass through the town of Matapalo on the way to Quepos. The Quepos and adjoining Manuel Antonio area is one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations and offers some of the most beautiful beach resorts in the world.
After we check into our hotel we will have lunch and then visit beautiful Manuel Antonio Beach and see the other sites in the area.
Around 5 pm, weather permitting, we will have a cocktail and view a spectacular sunset from a hotel high above the ocean.
A mouth-watering dinner will follow.
Tuesday: Day 4 – Breakfast at the hotel and check out.
From Quepos, we will gradually work our way up the coast to our hotel in Jaco beach.
We will have lunch overlooking the beautiful Los Sueños Marina at Herradura Bay.
Next, we will do a driving tour of Jacó Beach. Then we will check into the quaint South Beach Hotel where you will have some downtime to explore the beach, swim in the pool or check the town of Jacó. Dinner will be in downtown Jaco Beach or nearby Play Hermosa.
Wednesday: Day 5 – Return to San José. City tour of Jacó beach and a visit to a couple of condominiums. Next, we explore one of Costa Rica’s premier supermarkets that features many imported products from the U.S. Then, we will stop at the Tarcoles River bridge to view the crocodiles from afar. Then on to the San José area where we will tour a PriceSmart (Costco) and then have lunch at the Prices Marina, one of San José’s premier seafood restaurants.
From there we will stop for a delicious lunch at San José’s best seafood restaurant.
We then check into the hotel near Sabana Park. FREE EVENING for dining in the restaurant of your choice.
Thursday: Day 6 – Breakfast at the hotel and pre-seminar orientation at 7:30 in the lobby of the hotel. At 8:00 the first day of a highly-informative relocation, living, and retirement Seminar You will hear from some of the country’s foremost authorities in the fields of real estate, law, health care, moving, medical care, insurance, learning the language, and more – everything that a person wishing to relocate to Costa Rica will need to know. A few people who have moved to and retired in Costa Rica will share their experiences with you. You will make new friends and begin to make a network of valuable contacts. A delicious buffet lunch is included. Free evening. See program here
Friday: Day 7 – Second day of the seminar with lunch included. You will hear more from the rest of Costa Rica’s experts including your retirement tour guide, Christopher Howard.
Central Valley Portion
Saturday: Day 8 – Breakfast at the Hotel with a 7:30 departure. First, you will go on a city tour of San José to see where Americans reside, the University of Costa Rica, malls, hospitals, China Town, the famous National Theater, parks, a warehouse-style supermarket to show you what food products are available in Costa Rica and so much more. One of the highlights of the tour is a visit to an outdoor farmers market. You’ll see 100s of fruits and vegetables including some native varieties not available at home. A few of the areas we will tour are the neighborhoods of Los Yoses, Barrio Escalante, Sabana Norte, and Rohrmoser. You will also visit the towns of Escazú, Santa Ana, Belén, Ciudad Cariari, Heredia, and the area above Heredia with its alpine-like setting where you’ll think that you are in Switzerland. All of these places are perfect for retirement and living. You will even have the opportunity to view the inside of a couple of homes along the way to see how people live. You will also be treated to a mini-Spanish lesson at the country’s best language institute for foreigners. Lunch will be at Pollos del Monte in San Antonio de Belén where you will be treated to the best chicken in all of Costa Rica which is cooked over coffee branches to give it a unique flavor. All of our former clients love the place!.
Sunday: Day 9 – Breakfast at the Hotel with a 7:30 departure. Today you will see areas located in more of a rural setting. First, you will explore the beautiful mountain town of Atenas, considered by National Geographic as having the “best climate” in the world.” Then you will tour Grecia, known as “the cleanest city” in Costa Rica. The surrounding area is spectacular. You will meet some people who have moved here along the way. Finally, you will tour Alajuela which is Costa Rica’s second-largest city. Lunch will be at a typical Costa Rica restaurant so you can experience more of the local cuisine and culture. A visit to the country’s best gift shop which features beautifully hand-crafted souvenirs rounds out the day. A final question and answers session will be conducted as we drive back to the hotel.
Monday: Day 10 – Transportation to the airport is included. Airfare is not included.