Tambor, Costa Rica

Tourism has largely supplanted fishing as the primary economic activity in Tambor, a small town on the Panica River in Costa Rica's Puntarenas province. Domestic flights connect this coastal community to the capital San José, but the bureaucracy of living here can be a persistent headache. While the nearby Bahia Ballena has attracted a number of resorts and gated communities, the natural beauty of the region is the main draw for visitors. Unless you have a high tolerance for red tape and a love of the tropics, Tambor may not be the ideal spot to set down roots.