Central America

Atenas

Alajuela · Costa Rica

Sanctuary Score

82 / 100

#4 in the Americas

“Costa Rica's 'best climate in the world' Central Valley town where world-class hospitals sit an hour away and an active 2,500-strong expat community makes the soft landing almost embarrassingly easy.”

Parque Atenas, the central town square — Atenas, Costa Rica

Photo: Rodtico21 · CC BY-SA 4.0

The Catholic church facing the central square — Atenas, Costa Rica — Photo: Haakon S. Krohn · CC BY 4.0

Hillside view over Atenas and the green valley below — Costa Rica — Photo: Haakon S. Krohn · CC BY 4.0

The ten pillars

Each scored 1–10 by hand. Their sum is the Sanctuary Score.

Nature8 / 10

Walkability8 / 10

Food7 / 10

Healthcare9 / 10

Climate stability10 / 10

Air & water8 / 10

Safety8 / 10

Connectivity8 / 10

Community8 / 10

Beauty8 / 10

At a glance

Tracked separately from the score — these describe the place, they don't rank it.

Climate: Temperate
Sensory load: 3/10 · calm
Cost: $$; ~$600/mo · 1BR
Expat community: High

Sources

Scores are set by hand against cited public sources — the curation stays auditable.

Is Atenas your sanctuary?

The Index says life is good here. The assessment tells you whether it fits the way your nervous system actually works.

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