Known for Its Splendid Climate and Natural Beauty, Atenas Has Rapidly Become One of the Most Coveted Locations for Expats Outside of the Coastal Areas.
In Costa Rica, any mention of Atenas immediately evokes the town’s renowned slogan of “the world’s best climate”. As it’s usually the case with such contentious remarks from local counties, said statement might be more a case of branding than an objective fact, but it’s well justified given the area’s delightful environment.
Located on the western edge of the Central Valley, at the meeting point between the mountainside and the tropical jungle of the Pacific Coast, Atenas really boasts the best of both worlds in terms of its feel. Its elevation ranges from 2,200 to 4000 ft, securing fresh breezes and a mosquito-free environment, while its place on the way to the coast means it's one of the most luminous and sunny places in the Central Valley, with almost 7 hours of sunshine, well above San José’s 5.
Atenas’ conditions and the richness of its natural surroundings make it a really enchanting setting, one that basically asks for rest, and which avoids the hustle and bustle of urban life just by virtue of its restful aura and authentic “small-town feel”: It’s no surprise then that Atenas has grown to become one of the most established ex-pat communities in the Central Valley, a characteristic that has only grown since the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic.
In Atenas, residents can enjoy the magical environs in a myriad of fashions. One of the most popular things to do for a day visit is going on one of the coffee plantation tours. Costa Rica’s international reputation as having one of the top coffee qualities in the world is well established, and Atenas’ nutrient-abundant soil has made it one of the country’s best settings for its production. The whole process can be experienced hands-on through CoopeAtenas and El Toledo. For a different kind of nature lovers, the neighboring La Garita district hosts the country’s biggest orchid botanical garden, where walking trails guide through a colorful and really vibrant floral exhibition, while the iconic Zoo Ave is home to many endemic animal species from Costa Rica.
Half an hour from the Juan Santamaría International Airport, the cosmopolitan living of Escazú, and just an hour away from the enchanting beaches of the Pacific Coast, there’s no great secret behind Atenas’ growth in popularity. It simply is the sum of many different factors that really make it stand out as one of the best places to settle down and enjoy the pura vida lifestyle.
Properties in Atenas
Pristine land for a development opportunity