Costa Rica has the most spectacular landscapes I’ve ever seen. From the dense, vibrant jungle teeming with life to the expansive mountain views, the beaches that feel otherworldly, and the fruit—OMG, the fruit! Living in Costa Rica feels like a dream, with breathtaking views at every turn. But this country isn’t for the faint of heart. Moving to Costa Rica required a strong why. For families that moved for the picturesque lifestyle without a strong “why”, it rarely lasted more than a few months.
In those tough first months, I clung to my why—the reason I made the leap. In a foreign country, your why becomes your lifeline, the thing that keeps you going. And let me tell you, Costa Rica is hard. People often ask, If it’s so hard, why don’t you move back? My answer is simple: because of my why. And my why has transformed our life in ways I could only dream of.
When my son was nine, I saw a trajectory I couldn’t accept. Heading into his pre-teens, his attitude and disrespect were becoming unmanageable. I couldn’t even imagine what the teenage years would bring. As a single mom, I didn’t feel equipped to guide him down a healthier path. I knew I had to act—and quickly.
It wasn’t just about moving out of our home in Georgia; it had to be a drastic change, something that would take us entirely out of the environment shaping him. Therapy was my first step. I spent months and thousands of dollars trying to get tools to help him, but we weren’t making progress. Time was running out.
In 2022, we took a vacation to Costa Rica to visit my cousin Jesse, who had lived there for over a decade. From the moment we arrived, my son transformed. The “cool guy” façade melted away, replaced by a curious, adventurous, and joyful child living fully from his heart. He thrived in the jungle, and for the first time in a long while, being his mom felt easy.
But at the time, I didn’t see Costa Rica as our future home. I was too caught up in soaking up the magic of our trip. We bonded in ways we hadn’t in years—whether it was surviving an ATV ride through a lightning storm, waking to monkeys trying to break into our room, hiking through jungles to find waterfalls, or catching hermit crabs on the beach. My son was back. That version of him—the real him—was who I knew I needed to raise.
In 2023, desperate for answers and a life change that would “save my son” and restore my sanity, Costa Rica called me back. The answer became clear, and I refused to let fear or doubt stand in my way. My why became unstoppable.
By August 2023, we were no longer visitors—we were residents. The moment the plane touched down, my son’s spark reignited. His wonder and joy returned, along with a thirst for adventure. It was as though Costa Rica had unlocked his truest self.
Now, my son wakes up excited to go to school. He’s found a tribe of friends who share his passion for life. The pressures of fitting into a societal mold have disappeared overnight. As a natural leader, he’s thriving in ways I could never have imagined, and guiding him is so much easier here in the jungle than it ever was back home.
When I think of his teenage years now, my heart overflows with joy. The glimpses I see are of a thoughtful, kind, and self-assured young man. Living in Costa Rica for the past 17 months has saved my son, transformed our relationship, and filled our lives with happiness.
Parenting my son in this vibrant, wild country has been the greatest joy of my life. Costa Rica didn’t just change us—it saved us.
