Embracing Local Life in Welcoming Sámara

Embracing Local Life in Welcoming Sámara

The fishing boats pulled up on the pebbles of Sámara Bay are about your only option if you want to head south from here. This Pacific beach town is at the end of the road, whether you’ve arrived from the north via Route 150, or from Nosara to the west. At Sámara, both routes grind to a happy halt on the palm-lined sands, and the feeling of being at journey’s end extends to the town’s relaxed atmosphere....

Swapping Hollywood for Happiness… And Rent of $400 a Month

Swapping Hollywood for Happiness… And Rent of $400 a Month

Back in 2011, Sally Rice’s life was much different from today. Then, she was 55 years old, single, and living a chaotic lifestyle in Los Angeles. She’d spent 23 years as a costume designer in the movie industry, which sounds glamorous, but as she says, “Working 17 to 20 hours is stressful, and leaves little time for anything else”.

Playa Avellanas—A Tranquil Off-the-Beaten-Path Beach Community

Playa Avellanas—A Tranquil Off-the-Beaten-Path Beach Community

Avellanas (which means hazelnut in Spanish) is a virtual paradise tucked away 30-minutes south of the bustle of Tamarindo, on the Nicoya Peninsula. Ask any surfer in the province of Guanacaste if they know of Playa Avellanas and you will get a resounding, “Por supuesto” (of course). But ask the multitude of tourists in the region and you might see mostly head scratches...