Platanillo is a small mountain town but it is growing quickly as more and more people move to the Southern Pacific Coast of Costa Rica and find out how beautiful it is. It is located 15 minutes inland from the coast and the town of Dominical and is at 1000 ft elevation. The town itself is on the paved road that connects the coast and the booming city of San Isidro, Perez Zeledon, which is one of the fastest growing cities in Costa Rica and 30 min inland from Platanillo. In Platanillo you will find several grocery stores, a health food store, several restaurants and bars, a medical clinic and a school. The surrounding mountains are a wonderful place to live. When you get out into the hills you feel like you are in the real Costa Rica. It is a mix of rainforest and pasture land where you will find tons of wildlife and rivers and waterfalls but you will also find ranchers and farmers living off of their land. Due to the elevation and open farmland it is a great area for growing food and living a self sustainable lifestyle. The climate is a bit cooler than down at the beach and for people looking to live a quieter life away from the tourists but still a short drive to the beach, Platanillo might be the perfect balance.
