You’re probably thinking, living in Costa Rica must be paradise. And you’re right—it is! But it’s also not what you might expect. Visiting Costa Rica and living here are two completely different experiences. Yes, we have stunning beaches, waterfalls, rivers, jungle hikes, and epic adventures whenever we want. But the day-to-day realities can be an adjustment for foreigners.

From acclimating to a heat I’ve never felt before, to learning a new language, a new currency, and a completely different way of living, the transition hasn’t been easy in the begining. There’s no built-in sense of “home” here unless you reprogram a new way of living. After spending 40 years in the United States, moving full-time to Costa Rica has been a journey in itself. The blessing? Growing and evolving as a human. I feel stronger and more capable than ever before.

Life here is simple but maybe a little too simple sometimes. There are no luxuries like Amazon or Target. In fact, Costa Rica we don’t even have street addresses! To find a location, you rely on dropped pins or, if Life here is simple but maybe a little too simple sometimes. There are no luxuries like Amazon or Target. In fact, Costa Rica we don’t even have street addresses! To find a location, you rely on dropped pins or, if you’re lucky, a photo of the destination to ensure you arrive at the right place. Communication happens primarily through texting via WhatsApp—even with your internet provider or insurance company—which, surprisingly, I love.

But what truly enriches life here is the culture. Costa Ricans (Ticos) prioritize community and service to one another, adding depth and connection to daily life.

Living the real Pura Vida lifestyle isn’t handed to you—you have to earn it. The jungle pushes you to grow, unimaginable beautiful synchronicities and personal evolution at an accelerated pace. However, the challenges can wear on you: frequent power and water outages, mudslides or fallen trees blocking destinations, and pothole-riddled dirt roads. Sometimes, the only road to the city is simply closed.

Costa Rica is a developing country, and its infrastructure reflects that. I often compare living here to what life in the U.S. might have been like in the early 1900s. Adjusting to this reality is essential for anyone thinking of making the move. But that simplicity is also what I’ve come to love. There’s freedom in not being overly policed and in the laid-back pace of life.

For example. When we first moved here, we lived in a remote mountain town called Santa Elena. Trash pickup happened every other week in a makeshift truck. You had to be outside by 5 a.m., waiting for them to weigh your trash on a hook scale and pay them directly. If you miss them, you’d have to wait two more weeks! That experience among many others taught me quickly that the mountains weren’t our home—the beach was. The beach was a little bit further evolved than the mountains which made life easier and convenient.

One of the biggest adjustments has been access to goods. If I need something specific, I must wait until I visit the U.S. to bring it back—like my beloved espresso machine! And good quality kitchen items. Shipping items here incurs 50-75% import taxes, so bringing essentials in my suitcase has become second nature. But this limitation has taught me to live simply, make do with less, and realize how little we truly need.

Tasks like border runs every six months to renew our stay, paying bills, or maintaining a car require effort and patience. There’s no app for utilities—you have to visit a local store or bank to pay in Colones (the only accepted method for foreigners). Dirt roads are hard on cars, so breakdowns and flat tires are inevitable. But there’s a shared understanding here: when things go wrong, the community rallies, and you learn to smile through the inconvenience.

Even with its challenges, raising my son in Costa Rica has been the greatest blessing. I would take this hard over any other hard right now in my life. It’s a straight forward kind of hard. Families who move here tend to have an adventurous, problem-solving, out of the box thinking type of mindset. We’re all drawn to this place for the same reason: to give our kids a wild and free experience rooted in nature with a deeper meaning way of living to prolong their childhood spirit.

The community of like-minded families creates an unspoken bond—a comforting “I see you.” These connections help us thrive, despite the occasional chaos of jungle life.

Costa Rica isn’t for everyone. In fact, I wouldn’t recommend it for most. But for my son and me, it’s exactly what we needed to grow and thrive in this next chapter of life.

I don’t know how long we’re meant to stay here, but I do know this: right now, we’re exactly where we need to be. And that feels like paradise.