Ciudad Cortés, Where Time Slows Down and Nature Takes Over.
As you drive down the Costanera Sur Highway, leaving behind the more developed areas of Uvita and Ojochal, the landscape begins to change. The roads feel quieter, the air fresher, and the towering palm trees sway gently in the warm coastal breeze. Then, almost unexpectedly, you arrive in Ciudad Cortés, a town where time seems to slow down, and life moves at a more peaceful rhythm.
Once an important hub during Costa Rica’s banana boom, Ciudad Cortés carries the echoes of its past while embracing the simplicity of modern rural life. Locals gather in the central park, exchanging friendly smiles and conversation under the shade of century-old trees. The hospital, one of the most important in the Southern Zone, stands as a quiet reassurance that while the town may be small, it has everything one might need.
A few minutes away, the mighty Terraba River winds its way toward the Pacific, carrying with it the stories of generations who have lived off its waters. Nearby, the Sierpe mangroves and Corcovado National Park offer some of the most pristine and biodiverse landscapes in the country, reminding visitors and residents alike that nature is always close in Ciudad Cortés.
For those looking to escape the rush of city life, this town offers something rare, a chance to breathe, to reconnect, and to truly live pura vida. Whether you’re drawn by the affordability of land, the sense of community, or the call of the wild, Ciudad Cortés isn’t just a place on the map, it’s a place to slow down and feel at home.
