Playa Hermosa in the province of Puntarenas in Costa Rica is a surfing haven, known the world over for having the finest and most consistent surge worldwide. It is located about five kilometers south of party beach town Jaco, or about 10 minutes away by ride, where there also are everyday conveniences such as restaurants, bars, stores, banks and the like. Also, it is a quick drive away from San Jose, the capital city of Costa Rica. Certainly, Playa Hermosa is one of the most sought after real estate markets in Puntarenas.

It attracts local and foreign wave riders, particularly professionals, all year round, making them a huge chunk of the tourist assemblage that regularly flocks to this enthralling beach town. It is said that the months from April to November are the grandest times to ride the waves in Playa Hermosa, with the tide high and getting even higher.

And because of the fierce currents of the waters in Playa Hermosa, only the best and expert surfers can brave the swells in these tough waters. As such, the town of Playa Hermosa annually hosts the International Quicksilver Surf Championships, held every August, where hundreds of the world's top wave riders contend against each other and against the hard-hitting waves of Playa Hermosa, which can go up to as high as 13 feet. One particular surf break that has come to be one of the most notorious is situated right in front of a huge tree which locals have labeled as ?El Almendro,? meaning the ?Almond Tree.? It is then no surprise that several surf shops dot the stretch of black sand of Playa Hermosa, which store surfing equipment and rent out surfboards.

Needless to say, the waters of Playa Hermosa are not ideal for swimming in. This does not mean that not much else can be done in this beach, however. Playa Hermosa tends to be quiescent most of the time, and you can take advantage of the tranquility to put your feet up and relax. You may also opt to drive a mere 45 minutes to nearby Manuel Antonio National Park, which is the most renowned national park in Costa Rica. Still another option would be to head over to the Playa Hermosa Wildlife Refuge, which is the nesting ground of the Olive Ridley sea turtles.

Quite fairly, it comes as little surprise that accommodations, and real estate in general, in Playa Hermosa is hardly economical. There are a lot of high-end hotels and bed-and-breakfast inns in this quaint little beach town, which tend to be quite costly. Most of the real estate in Playa Hermosa includes hotels, villas, and home sites, which are relatively pricey compared to that in nearby towns like Jaco. Nonetheless, a lot of people still buy realty in this place that many consider as a ?slice of heaven.? The spectacular view, the lush environment and the coastal location are well worth more than the price that you can put down for a piece of property here.

Also, Playa Hermosa remains as an attractive real estate venture for speculators because, being a beach town and considering its immense popularity as evidenced by the hundreds of surfers and other tourists that come here yearly, prices are still expected to grow steadily, or even mount, over the coming years.