The Imminent Demise of Grecia’s Bucolic Way of Life

I remember when I made my first trip to Grecia over 40 years ago. In those days it was really a slice of paradise. Since Grecia has become a haven for many retirees, I always make it a point to include a visit there during the Central Valley portion of my monthly relocation/retirement tours . Grecia is mainly a farming town, mostly coffee and sugarcane, but also some produce and citrus. It is also known as the cleanest town in Costa Rica, but not for long. Recent events have led me to change my opinion about this area. In the no- too-distant future the town’s quality of life is bound to go down hill rapidly due to the following factors:

The main highway that leads to Grecia is littered with unsightly mom and pop used car lots on both sides of the road. There are between 50 and 60 of them according to my last count. I find them to be an eyesore when approaching the town.

Additionally, there are several mammoth housing developments being built just off the road with the goal of turning once-tranquil Grecia into a bedroom community for San José. One of these gated-communities is projected to become a small city with over a 1000 homes. Due to fact that there is only one two-lane highway that leads to and from the Grecia, once these projects are completed, traffic will be horrendous and affect the quality of life.

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Another potential problem is that Grecia sits on the slope of Poás Volcano. The country has many volcanos with some being more active than others. Lately, the nearby Poás Volcano has been closed to visitors due to the danger it poses. I am not a vulcanologist and cannot predict what will happen in the future. What I do know is that I do not relish the idea of living on the slope of any volcano. Just look at what’s happening in Hawaii as I write this article. Living close to any volcano can be a disaster waiting to happen with home owners dreams can go up in smoke.

If expats are interested in properties with a view, then they have to travel 15 or twenty minutes uphill from the center of town. I find it ludicrous that some of the realtors say that properties with a view are only ten minutes away. I have personally timed the trip from central Grecia to see properties at higher elevation and find it takes a lot longer than advertised. Potential residents should be aware that during the rainy season driving in Costa Rica’s hills or mountains is not for the faint of heart. I have actually been caught in a flash flood and a “white out” with “zero” visibility while driving through the country’s mountainous terrain.

Another issue is that many of the properties with are overpriced. Atenas, has expensive properties with panoramic views, but they are much more accesible than those in Grecia. The former is also not as crowded and closer to good private medical care, shopping and the beaches of the Central Pacific.

On my tours I have visited the homes of numerous expats living in Grecia who are trying to sell their homes. Most return to the States due to illness, lack of cultural adaptation, to be closer to their grandchildren or just plain boredom after the luster wears off.

Grecia is also very boring for single expats as I have been told repeatedly.

As I alluded to above, Grecia is a farming community that is surround by miles and miles of sugar cane fields or cañales . After the crop is harvested most of the fields are burned to prepare for the upcoming season. The smoke from the burning fields is widespread and can be unbearably suffocating at times. Those who suffer from allergies or reparatory problems may be adversely affected by these yearly “quemas,” as they are called here.

I try to be a straight shooter and write objectively. Many people who are in the business of promoting the country for business purposes tend to sugar coat reality. I feel it is my responsibility to paint a realistic picture of the country for those who aspire to relocate here.

If readers would like to learn more about Grecia and would like to explore the area, I suggest you take one of my tours (www.liveincostarica.com). If purchasing property is a priority I suggest contacting Go Dutch Realty to see a sample of homes in the area.