One of my favorite things about living in Costa Rica is that I've finally found that small town atmosphere that was missing from my life in the U.S. Perhaps you already have this way of life or you grew up in it. In my previous home in the urban and suburban sprawl of South Florida, I certainly hadn't experienced it in many years.
If you've ever visited Costa Rica you've probably noticed that costs associated with tourist activities, like national park tickets, admission to hot springs, or fees for zip lining, can be a bit pricey. With the economy so heavily dependent on tourism, it's no surprise really. And you'll find the same thing in many countries.
There we were, my wife, two kids, and I, walking the trail through the forest, up the mountain. We were the only ones out there. It was quiet…peaceful. A blue-crowned mot mot landed on a nearby branch and then took off again. The small holes in the dirt walls lining the trail were probably home to tarantulas, but we didn't see any. Thanks to the elevation, it was actually a bit cool…low 70s.
Market day is my favorite day of the week. Just about every town in Costa Rica has a weekly farmers' market called the feria, usually held on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. In some towns, it's a permanent open-air covered space. In others, vendors set up tents and tables in the town square or a closed-down street or two downtown.
I'm just back from the Ultimate Retire Overseas Conference in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. It was great to see all my colleagues from IL, gathered from around the world to showcase the top expat hotspots, from Mexico to Malaysia and everything in between. I had two presentations on Costa Rica. But what takes place on the stage is just part of the conference.
If you're thinking seriously about moving to Costa Rica (if you're reading this, you probably are), there's an event coming up that you should check out.
Prospective expats often ask me about the opportunity to do community work in Costa Rica as a way to give back to their adopted home.
Last month, I shared a bit about my new home in the hills above Grecia, in Costa Rica's Central Valley region.
I've lived in several places during my time in Costa Rica: Grecia, a Central Valley market town surrounded by sugar cane fields and coffee plantations; Tamarindo, a funky beach resort on the northern Pacific where I learned to surf and enjoyed sunset celebrations with friends every night; and Escazu, a suburb of the capital San Jose, with plenty of modern conveniences but also treasured cultural traditions.
We're at the peak of the dry season here in Costa Rica. It very rarely rains this time of year, the season lasts from about late November to early May. And that means beautiful, blue sky all day.