Atenas, Costa Rica

Capital City

With a population of just 7,818, Atenas is a quiet agricultural town that has drawn its fair share of North American and European retirees looking to stretch their dollars. However, the town's remote location 25 kilometers from the nearest airport and provincial capital can be a persistent headache, with a major 2011 landslide only recently improving travel times to San Jose and the Pacific coast. The climate, which a 1960 National Geographic article once proclaimed as "the best in the world," is indeed stable year-round, with temperatures ranging from a cool 19°C at night to a toasty 34°C during the day. For those seeking a peaceful, pastoral retirement in a lush, mountainous setting, Atenas may be an appealing option - but its isolation and lack of urban amenities mean it's not for everyone.