Local Stories

Envision is not about the partying, it’s about the people.

I’ve been blessed to live in this beautiful country for the past six years, and around this time of year all people are talking about is Envision: are you going or are you not? As the hostess of a busy hostel, my answer had always been the same: “Nah, it’d be fun, but this is our high season and I can’t take a week off just to party.” That’s all I thought Envision was, one giant beach party where tourists…

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Why I’m not going to Envision Festival

If you live in Costa Rica, visited or plan to visit, you have probably heard about Envision, the super earthy, spiritual, yogi, peace loving festival. Many of my friends and people I meet are going. I am not. Being a diehard yogi, when I first heard about Envision I have to admit I was a little curious. However, after looking into it, I was not even close to being sold. Thanks, but no thanks (for that bridge to nowhere). My…

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The true reason why groceries are so expensive in Costa Rica

It’s a common complaint I hear from tourists and locals alike in Tamarindo. “The groceries are so expensive here I end up just eating out for all my meals. It’s the same price!” Is this some kind of conspiracy backed by Sharkys to keep grocery prices high so that we are forced to eat their delicious wings every night? The basic reason groceries are so expensive in Costa Rica comes down to one group: the government. Also, I want you…

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Yes, Costa Rica does have a military.

Ticos are an incredibly smart group of people. It’s a well known fact they always rank at or near the top in the “Happiest People” lists. Ticos are so smart in fact that they have one of the largest militaries in the world and don’t pay a dime for it. Costa Rica and the United States entered into an agreement back in 1999 to help combat the growing problem of drug trafficking on the Pacific and Caribbean coasts of Costa…

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is costa rica a third world country

Is Costa Rica a Third World Country

It is my opinion that the term ‘Third World’ is not relevant anymore.  It certainly does not have a definitive definition and is often times misused. Hear me out… Calling a place Third World really is archaic.  The idea that there is not one world, but three dates back to the Cold War where the nonaligned nations, the predominantly poor nations, were designated the Third World. Present day, people have adopted the term as a way to refer to very…

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Why Costa Rica is a third world country.

Everybody defines a third world country differently. For me, it’s a simple matter of plumbing. If you can flush toilet paper down most toilets in a country, you’re likely sitting on a throne in a first world country. But, if you can’t, you are in a 3rd world country. Before you scroll down to the comment section and hate on this article, hear me out. It’s a question tourists often ask when they visit Costa Rica. “Is Costa Rica a…

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10 times “Pura Vida” will make you go absolutely crazy

Pura Vida is much more than a saying in Costa Rica, it is a way of life. The literal translation is “pure life.” The saying carries a philosophy of no stress, no worries, look on the bright side, get up when you’re down, the glass is WAY more than half full blissfulness. It’s kind of like Hakuna Matata in the Lion King. The Pura Vida philosophy has quite an appeal with locals and with expats (most of the time). For some,…

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Costa Rica is the answer to all your New Year’s resolutions

It’s hard to believe that 2015 is nearly over. This time of year always brings people to reflection about the past year and what they want for 2016 – those goals or resolutions. If you look at the data on New Year’s resolutions, most people surprisingly or unsurprisingly fail. Only 8% succeed. My thought on the high failure rate is that people are not putting themselves in an optimal environment for success, which leads me to my point that Costa…

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5 Things We Can All Learn From Our Dogs

And if you don’t have a dog, what you can learn from mine… Dog person or not, there are a few lessons we could all learn from the four-legged, furry wonders that would make our world a much better place. Treat every time your loved ones leave the house or return home as if it were the last.   The kisses and sad puppy eyes I get from my dog every time I leave the house, and the enthusiastic welcome…

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5 types of people you meet at a hostel

Hola! My name is Fleur and you might know me from the front desk of Sunset Hostel above the Super Compro, you know the supermarket that sells that delicious Arizona carrot juice in the class bottles? Anyway, even though this is my first experience with working at a hostel, I have stayed in plenty all around the world and it feels like you always meet these five types of people The lads-on-tour lad So this is my favorite least favorite!…

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