Since 6 months I have been living on the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica, in Puertoviejo. I came to stay, live and check it out. Some “friends” invited me here, hoping I would give them my heritage to safe their investment project, which didn’t happen half way down the road.
That is exactly what happens here easily: Kind people treating you nicely, looking for their advantage and ripping you off. Sounds bad, but that has been the survival strategy and foreigners seem to adapt the style and values. That doesn’t mean, that people are all bad, not at all. You find most kind, warm-hearted, beautiful people and it is a sweet experience to get to know them. You just can’t trust anybody. Knowing that, go out and enjoy that lush pura vida lifestyle!
Life is sweet. Reggae, Rastas, Beach and Surf, lots of weed and any drug you can think of. Also all kinds of culinary treasures from local food-stands and “sodas” restaurants, to hip international restaurants ranging from medium to higher priced.
Puertoviejo is a real cool place, unspoiled still, almost unreal, a true little treasure spot. Backpackers, yogis and yoginis, surfers and investors who want to live the Caribbean Dream come here to enjoy the jungle, the ocean, the super laid-back lifestyle, healthy food, amazing wild-life, music, vibe and feel. Everybody moves on bicycles. The place feels unreal, like another world. Very Caribbean. And so are the people. A mix of Ticos (Costa Ricans) from the capital of San Jose or other cities are attracted to live the easy lifestyle. Rastas in many shades of brown. Lots of gringas and gringos and many most beautiful kids.
Not only since tourists have come here, it is most common for people to have -many- children all over the place with different partners. Tourism has brought another element to the local lifestyle: people think that foreigners are a good and fun investment in time in order to get money and /or have sex and at least get invited to drinks and food. Sounds harsh, but that is reality here. You see many white women with absolutely beautiful cafe-auf-lait color children. And few white men with local woman. Like in many touristic spots, young people come to have fun, go out, drink, dance, take popular drugs and have “casual” sex. And locals get used to that. But here, people come, do exactly that and stay. And locals are up to hunting. First, it is a Caribbean thing anyway, secondly, gringos and gringas have money. At least more than most locals. Even though Costa Rica has a good reputation compared to other Latin American countries, there is a lot of poverty, you wouldn’t expect. The mentality is based on surviving.
Some get used to the local mentality and character and adapt their own values to the local more survival-oriented values, others don’t and still stay, living hell in heaven.
Me too, I got trapped in an almost unreal story, ending up co-owning a surf-school, but that’s another story.
Going out by yourself, it is common that some super-cool surfer dude and/or cute rasta man comes to invite you for a drink in the self-invitation style: Can I get you a drink? Why don’t I get one for me and for you, give me the money, I go and get it… I am a 50+ well-maintained un-styled woman and men just don’t seem to have no restrictions when it comes to hunting. It’s kind of funny and also annoying.
So be prepared. If you are up for that, that’s your place. I am not, so I had to get used to being pretty directly unkind at times.
Knowing all that, you are prepared and can enjoy the super-relaxed vibe and beautiful and lovely people. People are generally friendly and open and it is really fun to be here. The climate, surf, all these wildlife animals in the jungle, waterfalls, local food, amazing shakes, lots of hand-crafts, cacao products made by the local Bribri Indigenous. Hang out on the beach, enjoy the smooth breeze and get served: massage, drinks, home-made ice-cream with local fruits, typical dishes (almost all including some mixture of rice and beans), home-made sweets and and and. Considering that Costa Rica is not cheap, food right on the beach is reasonable and e.g. in Cocles loads of vendors pass by. A daily fresh coconut is almost a must. Also try the Guanabana shake!
For digital Nomads, there is a Co-working space in the center of the village offering high-speed internet and the most delicious vegan dishes you ever ate.
If you are looking to relocate, find a new place to live, live off-grid or build your own dream house, you find all kinds of offers. Again, you have to be super careful not to be ripped off and find a trust-worthy lawyer to check the properties!
Altogether, it is certainly a very unique place to be and to be enjoyed. Words can’t describe the vibe, so if you are in Costa Rica, you might as well check it out. It is way less Americanized than the Pacific Coast and hopefully it will be maintained without Hotel chains and Franchise businesses that you find all over the world.
Pura Vida!