San Ramón…ni cuerdo (sane)……ni loco (crazy)!!!!!!!!!!

During the 1980s I visited San Ramón for the first time and was not impressed with the place. A lot has changed since then making the town a more desirable and user-friendly place for expat retirees. However, I still consider it to be the ‘backwater” of the Central Valley.

In recent years expats have moved to San Ramón partly because of the hype of gringos who live there pushing real estate and other related serves. I admit that the cost of renting or buying property is less expensive than in some areas of Costa Rica. But in investing there’s a phenomenon called the “value trap”. When something is cheap, it’s cheap for a reason. You really get what you pay for. In Spanish we say, “Lo que algo vale algo cuesta.” However, for those on a small budget the place is probably ideal since it can be less expensive than other parts of the Central Valley. Unfortunately, many retired expats equate cost of living with quality of life. I have seen this phenomenon over and over again during the time I have lived here.

In my opinion the weather in San Ramón leaves a lot to be desired. The city is located in a windy cloud corridor, thus it always has a dark and gloomy atmosphere. The large cathedral contributes to this ambience since it looks like something right out of a horror movie. Popular areas like Magallanes can be very cold, windy and even foggy. Piedades Sur can really get cold. Higher elevations along the road to La Fortuna tend to be damp and cool like Cascajal above the city of Coronado northeast of San José. I have to laugh because on one San Ramón website it says, “The average temperature in San Ramon year round is between 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit (21-26 Celsius), so it is no surprise that it is considered to have one of the best climates in the world with no need for heating or air conditioning. ”¡Por favor, no jodás! (Please! Give me a break!). Personally, after living here for 40 years I prefer the nearby towns of Palmares, Navajo and Grecia.

Another site dares to say,” San Ramon is located on the Northern side of Costa Rica’s Central Valley making it relatively close in proximity to many different destinations.” Nadie en su sano juicio se lo traga.(Nobody in their right mind believes this). “A otro perro con ese hueso” (Go tel it to the marines!) San Ramón is at least 45 minutes from the main airport and about the same time to good shopping and entertainment. Furthermore, It is a long tortuous trip through the mountains to get to the town of La Fortuna and Lake Arenal. And at least an hour or more to reach the beaches of the Central Pacific. Some of my Costa Rican friends say, “San Ramón está en el culo del valle central.” (“San Ramón is in the armpit of the Central Valley.”).

The city does have some pluses: a strong expat presence including the philanthropic Community Alliance organization, a lower cost of living than “some” places in Costa Rica (notice I say some), and a laid-back small-town atmosphere, “Pueblo pequeño, infierno grande.” I have met a lot of really nice retired Americans who love living there for a variety of reasons. For anyone who wants occasional nightlife, the town is substandard in that there are not many entertainment venues. The restaurants are just OK.

A while back, I received a complaint from an American who lived in San Ramón during the early 2000s and now resides somewhere in Asia. It was in response to one of my previous blogs about San Ramón. He complained that I was too hard on the place. What can I say? “Al pan pan y al vino vino” (call a spade a spade).

I included some Spanish phrases because I deemed them appropriate.