Erin Van Rheenen - Moon Living Abroad Costa Rica

ERIN VAN RHEENEN

You wake to the roar of howler monkeys and the smell of locally grown coffee. Mug in hand, you pad barefoot out onto your front porch, breathing in air supercharged with green. You gaze out overwaves breaking on the beach, or a steep-sided volcano across the valley, or scarlet macaws like flying rainbows winging toward the rainforest canopy.

There are dozens of Costa Ricas, and all are alive with more than their fair share of the worlds biodiversity. Most people who visit or settle here comeat least in partfor the flora, the fauna, and the land itself.

But the country is also justly famous for being one of the most stable, peaceful, and just downright enjoyable places in Latin America.

The so-called Switzerland of Central America has made the right choices, eliminating its army and creating a thriving nation with enviable national parks, high education levels, and excellent health care. It provides a model of green development for other countries and is high on the World Happiness Index, which ranks nations on quality of life rather than gross domestic product.

Yet this is still a wild place, especially outside the heavily populated Central Valley. Where else can the countrys own environment minister get lost in a famous national park (Corcovado)?

And despite facile comparisons to retirement havens like Florida, Costa Rica will never be a pink-hued place to nap away your golden years.

Theres a bit of an outlaw quality here. Totally straight people and outright criminals wont last here, a long-term expat tells me. And while he may be joking, I think hes hit on something. Costa Rica is not for the faint of heart or for those who insist on imposing an old order on a new experience.

front porch in Puerto Viejo.

great green macaw

sunset on the Nicoya Peninsula

But if youre ready to take this country on its own termsto trade your hazy dream for a riotously green realitythen it looks like youre overdue for a nice long visit.

Beyond all the rational reasons for relocating to Costa Rica, Ive spoken with a surprising number of expatriates who speak of being called here. These are often average North Americanswhich is to say they are logical, restless, and driven. Its just that theyve chosen to pay attention to the signals we all get but usually ignore: to slow down, open up, and find a place where life is relaxed enough to let them jump on board.

If a voice is telling you to go to Costa Rica, why not listen? However crazily you come to making the choice to go, it may be the sanest choice you ever make.

basilisk lizard

beach town abundance on the Caribbean Coast

What I Love About Costa Rica

Talking politics with taxi and Uber drivers.

Learning Costa Rican slang, like chunche, tuanis, and mae(thingy, cool, and dude).

Waiters and shop girls calling me mi amor(my love) or mi reina