Golfito, Costa Rica, in the rapidly growing Southern Zone, promises to be an area where undiscovered opportunities await both expats and investors. Golfito’s future and potential hold a promise far different from the days when it was a “company town” known as “Banana City”.

Golfito at Sunset

Costa Rica has become known for the many diverse lifestyle choices and living options available. From high-end luxury resorts to rustic rain forest lots, expats and investors have a vast selection to consider for the perfect location of their tropical paradise.

Often referred to as the “final frontier” in Costa Rica, life in Golfito is undergoing a transformation. With a new infusion of investment dollars and development, Golfito, Costa Rica is poised to be a major expat hub both for visiting and long-term investors.

The Colorful History of Golfito

The Southern Zone and the area in and around the Osa Peninsula and Drake Bay have played an often overlooked role in the country’s growth. Golfito is an essential part of this story. Golfito’s history is intertwined with that of Costa Rica.

Home to the indigenous Boruca people, it was here in 1519 that Spaniards entered from Panama to begin the conquest of the country. During the Colonial era, Golfito was a quiet fishing village and remained so until late in the 19^th century.

An American exporter, Minor Keith, formed United Fruit Company in 1899. Keith had a special relationship with Costa Rica having married the daughter of the former president, Jose Maria Castro.

United Fruit Company (later United Brands) had established a strong presence in Costa Rica and, in 1938, moved its headquarters and banana export operations to Golfito. The closeness to Panama’s banana plantations and the natural harbor made Golfito a logical and profitable choice.

Golfito

A Color-Coded Community

In order to house the thousands of workers who poured into Golfito, United Fruit constructed a classic “company town” similar to those found in the United States at the same time.

Stores, schools, even a hospital were built for the workers and run by United Fruit. Even municipal services, such as water, electricity and other utilities were provided for. The three sections of Golfito were actually identifiable by the color of the homes and structures.

The Zona Americana was known as the “white zone”. It was here that the professionals and senior executives lived in well appointed homes, built in the British Colonial style, with walls painted white. The best amenities in Golfito were found here.

Zona Amarilla, or Yellow Zone, was home to middle management, foremen and supervisors. The yellow walls and tropical designs, while not as luxurious as those in the white zone, were still comfortable and well made. Access to both white and yellow zones was strictly controlled by guardhouses and security.

Zona Gris, the Gray Zone, was home to the plantation laborers and dock workers. The gray coloring of the small, cramped structures seemed quite appropriate given the dramatic difference between these homes and those of the other two zones. The gray zone had far fewer amenities beyond the basic necessities needed for living and the crowded conditions frequently made for unrest between workers and management.

End of One Era, Beginning of Another

The years of prosperity in Golfito came to an abrupt end in 1985. Labor unrest and rising export taxes caused United Fruit to close its banana operation and leave Golfito.

The resulting upheaval left Golfito in a state of poverty and general collapse. After five years of decline and decay, the Costa Rican government decided to try and reinvigorate the area by establishing the Deposito Libre Comercial de Golfito (Duty Free Zone) to attract shoppers and visitors from other parts of the country.

The large collection of stores offers electronics, appliances, and house wares at much lower prices than elsewhere in Costa Rica. This marked the gradual start of Golfito’s rebirth as a vibrant community filled with untapped potential.

Golfito, Costa Rica – Moving Ahead in the 21^st Century

Golfito’s revival from the collapse of the banana import business is a great model for potential investors and expats seeking an exciting challenge. The start made by the Costa Rican government has opened the door for other projects and a different prospective on Golfito’s future growth. Building on this beginning, the region has the opportunity to flourish once more

Getting There by Land, Sea or Air

The completion of the Caldera Pacific Highway in 2010 has opened the Southern Pacific zone to a new group of expats and adventures seeking to follow the road less traveled. There are a variety of ways to access the Golfo Dulce region.

Regional airlines Sansa and Nature Air fly regularly scheduled flights to and from San Jose to Golfito Airport. Once there, bus service and rental cars make an easy access to Pavones, a popular surfing location. Bus service from San Jose and other parts of Costa Rica has become more accessible with the opening of the new highway.

Rental cars are also readily available; selecting a 4×4 wheel drive vehicle is highly recommended. For visitors to the Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula, a ferry from Puerto Jimenez runs twice daily to Golfito.

Cruise Lines Discover Golfito and Add Ocean Access

One of the major enhancements to Golfito is that cruise lines have now added this location as a stop for unique, one-of-a-kind experiences. Major lines such as Paul Gaugin, Windstar, and Azamara Club Cruises now make Golfito a port of call and add access by sea to the ways to visit this former banana exporting center.

Scarlet Macaw

Golfito As an Eco-Tourism Hub

As the largest town in the Golfo Dulce region, Golfito has become a jumping off point for individuals seeking to explore Costa Rica’s rich biodiversity in a more primal setting.

The Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula is a short ferry ride from Golfito’s docks. As the habitat conserving the largest primary forest on the Pacific coastline, Corcovado also has one of the remaining sizable stands of lowland tropical rainforest. National Geographic magazine refers to Corcovado as “ the most biologically intense place on Earth in terms of biodiversity”.

North of the town, the Piedras Blancas National Park has seen the establishment of a number of Eco-lodges. These rustic camps provide the ideal environment for those seeking to get up close and personal with the natural setting around them.

Surfing and Sport Fishing Continue to Thrive

The area in and around Golfito has long been known for its aquatic offerings. World-class sport fishing and surfing beckon followers of both sports to the Southern zone to try their hands against the elements.

Pavone and Zancudo are two of the most prominent surf breaks in Costa Rica and are only a short bus ride from the Golfito airport. Pavones has the second-longest left hand surf break in the world and is a must for any hardcore seeker of that “endless summer”.

With numerous fishing charters available, avid deep sea anglers visit the area in search of landing “the big one”.  Marlin (Blue and Black), Yellowfin Tuna, Sailfish and Dorado all can be found in around the Golfo Dulce and Drake Bay areas in season.

Location, Location, Location

Golfito’s proximity to Panama provides a potential market as tourism and development begin to grow in the region. Much like Golfito’s early days when the Spanish migrated from Panama and began to colonize the land of Pura Vida, a new wave of visitors and investors from the South may bring a new wave of economic growth to the region.

Golfito’s Marina Project – Progress and Growth a Decade in the Making

Since the early 1990s, plans for a new and vibrant marina at Golfito had been in the works. In 2010, an order from CIMAT, the regulatory body for all marinas in Costa Rica, to the Golfito Municipality withdrawing all permits appeared to doom the project.

The key concern was the environmental impact to this important ecological area. However, a new group, Hacienda El Dorado, presented a revamped proposal on November 21, 2013.

With a proven track record of successful developments in Costa Rica, approval was granted and, on June 28, 2014, ground was finally broken for the new marina and village. This ambitious project will, in many ways, resemble other high end properties such as Los Suenos Marina.

When completed, the Marina will have 130 slips, including those suitable for super yachts and a special section for private super yachts. Access for cruise ships is also planned.

The luxury accommodations will include bungalows, guest residences and villas. All properties will be furnished with the kind of amenities that one would expect from a world class resort community.

Importantly, this ambitious design also includes the infrastructure of Golfito itself. Plans call for a renovation of the main street that connects Golfito to the regional airport, a new central city plaza, artisans and craft boutiques, a museum and other tourist friendly services and businesses.

Some Things to Consider About Moving to Golfito, Costa Rica

Golfito is definitely an “adventure camp” type of town with lots of potential but very rustic in setting and infrastructure. Those seeking a more modernized setting probably would not find this the most desirable location in Costa Rica.

There is an abundance of “fixer-upper” type properties in what remains of the old company town. However the infrastructure issues could make any serious rehabbing work difficult and expensive.

Aside from the Duty Free Zone, there isn’t much in the way of shopping and entertainment options in terms of grocery stores, restaurants, etc. While this adds an element of primitive charm, not having ready access to the same variety of commercial establishments as more developed areas could make living here a challenge.

While the property values remain lower than other parts of Costa Rica, the anticipated growth from the Marina and other projects may soon cause a rise in prices. This is a great time for investors; expats with budget constraints should look carefully before committing their resources on a long term project.

In a real sense, the revitalization of Golfito’s life as a port city and destination will also bring a renewed sense of growth to the region. With this kind of economic commitment, Golfito can look forward to a bright and prosperous future.