FAMILY & FRIENDS IN COSTA RICA

Costa Rica Cost Of Living Update: Yogurt—$1.25

I never knew how popular I was until I moved to Costa Rica. My friends and family were concerned about the move at first. Like most, they wondered if it was safe to live in Central America. But after a few years, they all eventually get the bug to visit. I suppose I sent too many pictures of spectacular wildlife and one too many pictures of me having fun in the surf. Who can blame them?  If I wasn’t living here, I would want to visit as well.

When catering to guests, it’s always good to know what they like to do. Are they adventurous or do they just like to lounge at the beach? Do they want to hike a volcano or snorkel in the Caribbean Sea? I sound much like a travel agent, planning excursions and orchestrating flights. However, I love to share this country with my friends the way the Ticos have shared it with me.

Although people may read Frommer’s Travel Guide and many websites about Costa Rica, nothing can prepare them for what they will see. An unspoiled beach with only crabs and iguanas as your neighbors usually sets the tone; this is not your average coastline. There are things here to be discovered, and the calming environment forces you to take a deep breath. Something many forget to do when they live a hectic lifestyle.

I’ve taken road trips with friends to Punta Uva on the Caribbean side of the country and snorkeled for hours along their impressive reefs. It’s here they drank from a coconut and danced to the Reggae music that streams out of every store or café. They picked up souvenirs from the vendors along the beach, small bracelets and art work that will remind them of this place long after they leave.

Once, I traveled to Osa Peninsula with friends and watched the wild Scarlet Macaws eat almonds out of the trees. They broke open the outer coating and dropped the shells onto unsuspecting sunbathers below. They jetted from tree to tree, streaking the sky with red and blue feathers. We then fished in the Gulfo Dulce and caught a Jack fish that was eaten over a bonfire on the beach. This trip left a lasting impression with our friends and they’ve been back every year since.

But one of my favorite visitors was my mother-in-law. A playful woman who loves the water and enjoys riding the waves. We took her to Playa Negra, a beach known for the best place to boogie-board. There I watched as she rode wave after wave into the shoreline, only stopping to catch her breath and watch the pelicans dive into the sea for their lunch. She went for hours, eventually wearing me out; my sunbaked body exhausted from the heat and longing for a cool shower.

I took my mother-in-law from beach to beach, vendor to vendor, where she bought anklets for her grandchildren and a shell necklace for a girlfriend. She said she wants to wear something to remember this trip, and is already making plans to return.

The most stressful part about having visitors is hoping they love this country the same way I do. Not looking down at the potholes but up at the monkeys instead. Sometimes when you visit a new place, you get stuck on what the differences are; always comparing it to the place you currently live. It’s never a good idea to do that, for you will always find something not to like. So I’ve been lucky that the people who visit me are anxious to return, and leave Costa Rica knowing it is one of the most unique places on earth.

I hope I played a hand in this. In the meantime, I’ll keep emailing pictures of sloths and monkeys, sunsets and surfers, to all my friends. It’s the best endorsement I have, and so far it’s been working.

Just look at my mother-in-law’s face. I’m pretty sure she’ll be back.

By | 2018-04-15T18:19:32-04:00 March 22nd, 2012|Categories: Tourism|Tags: , , |19 Comments

About the Author:

Nadine is the author of the best-selling series, Happier Than A Billionaire. Join her as she navigates living as an expat in the sometimes confusing, always beautiful, country of Costa Rica.

19 Comments

  1. Sandee August 9, 2012 at 7:43 am - Reply

    My husband and I just purchased our lot on the Pacific South side of Costa Rica!! Love your book! It’s “laugh out loud” funny!! We have 5 years until our last child goes off to college and we look forward to retiring to a Pura Vida lifestyle. In the meantime, we’ll rent our new home out and have a wonderful place to visit. Looking forward to many adventures and hope to meet up with you in Costa Rica!

    • admin August 21, 2012 at 8:48 am - Reply

      Love it Sandee! I bet you sit in bed and dream about that lot. It’s amazing all the rich experiences that unfolded for me after moving here. I can’t imagine where my life would be if I didn’t make this move, I’d possibly still be sitting by my broken fax machine getting aggravated!

  2. LS May 5, 2012 at 1:41 pm - Reply

    Thanks for the update… my husband just heard about his business partner’s scary vacation trip to Mexican Riviera, complete with AK47 toting guards and speeding vans going from the resort to the sightseeing… my husband said he should try Costa Rica next time since the atmosphere is so totally different! Pura Vida!

    • admin May 5, 2012 at 6:05 pm - Reply

      Now that everyone knows I’m alive and well, and sees all the pictures I post, it looks like I’m getting more and more visitors.

  3. Rich Polanco April 18, 2012 at 3:45 pm - Reply

    Ha! You think it’s rough convincing people to go to Costa Rica? Try getting them to come to Guatemala!

    Nice blog 🙂 I had the same “safety concern” hurdles to overcome with my family too. But now that they’ve seen the pics and that I’m having a blast, even their friends now want to join in!

    It helps having an open mind and keeping your wits about you, just like if you were back in your home country.

    Loving it here, can’t wait to make my way down and spend some time in Costa Rica.

    Up next… Belize!

    -Rich

    • admin April 20, 2012 at 8:13 pm - Reply

      Love it Rich! I would love to do some more traveling up in your area. Sounds like you are having a great time as well. I feel so lucky I got to travel and see other parts of the world. So many of my opinions have changed, and I feel like traveling is the best way to really understand how other people live.

      If you are going to Belize, make sure you send me a pic of the Blue Hole. Really want to see that!

  4. Casey April 15, 2012 at 12:33 pm - Reply

    Hi! I just stumbled across your page. I had no idea you had a blog. I’m currently reading your book! Have really been enjoying it. Bought book because my girlfriend and I will be traveling to Costa Rica this summer. I love traveling and reading travel books. Both travel guides like Frommers and personal accounts like your book. We will be staying at Bahai del Sol. No idea where that is in relation to where you live. But any travel advice or ideas of where to visit or what to do during our stay would be much appreciated. We chose Costa Rica for the warm weather, beaches & eco-tourism. Have no interest in laying on a beach all day. Would love to climb a volcano, trek through the rainforest, etc. Want to eat local foods. So excited to visit!

    • admin April 20, 2012 at 8:11 pm - Reply

      I would definitely do the Adventure Tour at Rincon de la Vieja National Park. It’s about 1 1/2 hours north of your hotel, but you spend the whole day there zip lining, rappelling, rafting, and other fun stuff. You will get to see lots of nature all while being at the base of a volcano.

      You can also go the three hours out to Arenal Volcano. I don’t think it is erupting much anymore, but the area is breathtaking. It feels like you are walking through Jurassic Park. I hope that helped, you are going to have such a great time!

      • Casey April 30, 2012 at 1:19 pm - Reply

        Thanks for the advice. We had read that Rincon de la vieja was temporarily closed, but glad to know it is open again. Did some research and looks like this might be our best bet. We really want to climb to the summit! They have several other fun tours though including waterfalls and such like. What fun! Thanks!

  5. nadine April 13, 2012 at 3:48 pm - Reply

    I’d be a favorite guest. I’m an optimist that likes to have fun!

    • admin April 20, 2012 at 8:07 pm - Reply

      I’m sure you would!

  6. Best places to go in Costa Rica April 4, 2012 at 2:27 am - Reply

    Keep on writing as i love to read your blogs. Interesting Blog.

    • admin April 20, 2012 at 7:53 pm - Reply

      Thanks! It’s a heck of a lot of fun to write as well!

  7. DeAnna March 24, 2012 at 8:04 am - Reply

    Aw! Is it possible to get vacation-sick instead of homesick? Your stories and pictures are good at that.
    You are such excellent hosts. We miss you, the pura vida, the beaches, snorkeling, and of course, the crocs. Are the fires past you yet? Jeff and I were laughing about how the trip would have been if we had come during the fires. 🙂 Have a beautiful, blessed day.

    • admin March 29, 2012 at 12:39 pm - Reply

      Thank God the fires have passed. Hope you guys come back soon, there is definitely another adventure waiting for you!

  8. brett March 23, 2012 at 11:25 pm - Reply

    So nice. I would love to have that lifestyle, maybe someday ☺

    • admin March 29, 2012 at 12:38 pm - Reply

      I hope so too!

  9. Linda March 23, 2012 at 9:27 pm - Reply

    Hi There!!! I’m soooo lucky to have found your blog & can’t wait to get your book from Amazon!!! My daughter is getting married in Playa Portrero…at Bahia Del Sol May 12,2012 & am sooo excited!!! It will be on the beach & very intimate with family & close friends that cold make the trip with a reception to follow in Sacramento Calif….she is using a wedding planner to help her since shes in the states but I have to tell you that as the mother of the bride & soo many good changes I’m making in my life I could easily see myself living there!! My future son-in-law has been there & has warned me that I will be wanting to live there!!! I recently rented my home waiting & knowing for the adventures to come my way!!! Thank you for all the info,honesty,love of the country that you share on your blog! Linda

    • admin March 29, 2012 at 12:38 pm - Reply

      Thanks for stopping by. I hope you keep coming back, there is always something funny to write about.

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