Saturday, February 11, 2012
Wide lake views for only $75,000
Dear Reader,
A splash of oars breaks the silence. I turn to watch a pair of kayakers paddle out onto the lake. Soon, they're gliding along, a little flash of red on the blue waters of Lake Arenal.
On the other side of the lake, a majestic volcano climbs to a sharp peak. It's a dramatic sight. And it fuels the hot springs scattered around Arenal - one of the area's biggest tourist attractions.
The hot springs bring thousands of tourists to Arenal. Some of those visitors venture out on to the lake for a spot of fishing or kayaking or wind-surfing. More adventurous types climb the volcano.
For most travelers their Arenal journey ends at the little tourist town of La Fortuna. They don't explore the other side of the lake.
That's bad news for them: they don't know what they're missing out on. But it's good news for us, because it means that the lake's hidden shores are home to some of the best values in real estate in Costa Rica.
La Fortuna is just over two hours from San Jose, Costa Rica's capital city. Driving into the town, you can't help but notice the star attraction: The Volcano. From this side, the volcano is a rich green, covered in trees and shrubs. It's spawned a tourist business based on resorts and spa retreats, thanks to the springs heated by the volcano's active core.
La Fortuna is small but convenient. Pizzerias, restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, banks, Internet cafes and souvenir stores line the streets. A cluster of hotels and resorts on the edge of La Fortuna offer luxury pampering. You'll find swim-up bars and thermal pools that range from refreshingly cool to fiery-hot. You can try volcanic mud wraps and cleansing baths at the trendy spas.
The spas became even trendier with The Bachelor, the hit television show. In 2011, an episode was filmed in one of the town's resorts. That brought La Fortuna to the attention of mainstream audiences in the U.S.
Most of La Fortuna's tourists come for the hot springs and the volcano. Another chunk simply passes through on their way to a nearby cloud forest. Even though it's only a 45-minute drive, few venture to the other side of the lake. They think there's nothing worth seeing there. And they're partly right.
On this side of the lake, you won't see the fancy spas, the luxury hotels or the souvenir stores. You won't see tourist crowds. It's much more tranquil. The landscape around the lake becomes richer and lusher. And the temperature drops to a fresher mid-70s in the cool lake breeze.
This place is great for spending time outdoors. You can swim, kayak, water-ski, wind-surf or boat on the lake. You can fish for rainbow bass and tilapia. You can hike, bird watch or horse ride in the hills above the lake. You can trek the cloud forests and nature reserves nearby -or zip line or rappel, if that's more your style.
Because it's off the tourist trail, property prices on this side of the lake remain low.
Take this three-bed three-bath condo with 2000 square feet of living space. It's in a small complex of only six condos. It adjoins a country club with tennis courts, a swimming pool and a gym. It's walking distance to a small village. It boasts spectacular lake views.
And it's on the market for only $75,000.
If you'd like more details, click here for a full information package.
Margaret Summerfield
Posted Under:
costa rica, affordable, discounted property, lake
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