Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast (And Why It’s An Amazing Place To Retire) Update – 2022

The Original “Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast Blog“

By Cynthia Ross Tustin – Republished November 2022

Originally published on May 5th, 2021, C. Ryan Edgar was one of my first interview guests. I’ve updated this post on Costa Rica’s incredible Pacific Coast and I’m letting Ryan share a few more thoughts now that he and Yannick are in their third year of the “Pura Vida” life.

In my early blog post about serial retirement, there was the story of Ryan and Yannick and their spontaneous retirement to Costa Rica. It outlined their sudden departure from Canada (or maybe just its winters) for a warmer climate. That post garnered a lot of questions. 

Everyone was super interested in going to visit them in the Nicoya Peninsula. But the big burning question was “What made them choose to go there, at this stage in their lives.”  What made them take on this big, gutsy adventure?  What was the aha moment that made them take the leap?

Here are Ryan’s Answers To Those Burning Questions

Ryan: Firstly, I would like to thank Cynthia for allowing me the opportunity to write this guest blog within her platform. While working with her to create her “Serial Retirement” blog, she mentioned that this might be a good opportunity for me to try out my first blog, as she believed there might be some who were looking for answers to their questions, post posting.
It might also allow her readers to seek new information, when considering, contemplating,  easing into their retirement or truly pulling a me, and going “cold turkey”.

Ryan: The one question that people ask me a lot, is the “how” question. How did you know it was the time to push button? Simply put, it was when the Pura Vida phrase/moment actually clicked with me.

Ryan: I remember the moment like yesterday. I can remember sitting at the intersection in Playa Guiones, Nosara, Costa Rica. Nosara is very much a no man’s land, off the beaten path, sitting on a section of the Nicoya Peninsula, south of Liberia and north of San Jose…connected only by dirt roads from the north, south, and east through the mountains.

Those who have found this gem are quite excited when they hit Nosara, as they are greeted with a newly constructed asphalt main thoroughfare. It’s truly like you’ve reached paradise, and then you say to yourself, what just happened?

While searching out the area that we wanted to invest in, and knowing only that it would be in the Playa Guiones area, we came to this T intersection. It’s an intersection from a side gravel roadway, connecting to the newly paved highway 160, which at that time was under construction. 

There were heavy dusts blowing everywhere, no traffic control staff, a long line of traffic heading south to our left… and we’re going to turn to the right – southbound. I see the opportunity for us to zipper our way into traffic. I look at our driver and signal him to take the opportunity. Our car doesn’t move.

I see the traffic begin to move southbound. Our opportunity is closing in and if we miss it, we may have to sit through another construction zone cycle. Cars behind us begin to creep forward. Our driver is not making his intentions known and it does not look like we are going to merge. I look at our driver and tell him to move forward, seize the opportunity, start merging.

He looks at me contently, and says – Pura Vida. I’m like, are you kidding me, we’ve been here for approximately 5-8 minutes, cycles are about every 10 minutes, traffic is moving south…let’s go. Just as I think he catches my drift, down goes his window, and he waves to the vehicles behind us to go around us.

They happily do so and 3 cars pass us, merge into traffic, and the line is now moving south. About 20 cars heading south pass our position, and me not saying anything, I give the driver “the look” that tells our driver to pull forward and begin to merge for what will now become the next traffic cycle.  And what happens? We stop. Another cycle…rrr.

He turns to me, looks me dead in the eye, and says Pura Vida again…but this time with the eyes that tell me that I am way too caught up in a lifestyle of stress, anger, frustration, or a do it, get it done now lifestyle. What he told me was that I had totally missed the opportunity to look at the rainforest around me, listen to the birds, smell the clean air and watch the wildlife.

Instead, I wanted to go  where I thought I needed to go, at that moment, at that second, after all it was my turn…it was ridiculous. But that’s what I had lived with in Ontario and knew best.

Ryan: When and if you have travelled to Costa Rica, you will be familiar with the saying “Pura Vida” (pronounced poo-rah vee-dah), meaning “pure life” or “simple life”. But in Costa Rica it’s more than just a saying – it’s a way of life.

Often used by locals to say hello or goodbye, it’s also used to say everything’s great, or everything is cool. But it’s not the words that reflect the true meaning of ¡Pura Vida!, it’s the way to live.

Costa Rica has been named one of the happiest countries in the world, mostly because its inhabitants don’t stress about things the way most of us foreigners do. See where I’m going with this?

Those that live here have a very relaxed, simple way of looking at life. Get rid of your worries, quit fussing, begin that stress free lifestyle. And Pura Vida, as I have been told by our staff, means to be thankful for what you have and to not dwell on negativity.

So at that moment, at that intersection, I learned it…but I didn’t fully accept it.

Back At YYZ from Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast

Ryan: We’d been there only weeks; but that – Pura Vida- laid back, disconnected, relaxed, life’s too short philosophy had crept into my system.  And  that  realization hit me  when we were landing at YYZ. 

The Captain came on the air advising that we would be in Toronto in approximately 10 minutes, to prepare for landing and because of a travel delay, we had about 10 passengers that would need to get off the plane first, as they had a connecting flight departing immediately upon arrival.

A simple request/plea was made for all others to remain seated while those passengers left the plane. He followed his message with the regular please do not use cell phones or electronic devices until we’re at the gate or a message has been made. What happened?

Everything but what he had asked. Within 200 feet of touching the runway, the sound of 100s of cell phones activating; 1000s of texts and emails being received; conversations beginning on cellphones for rides; estimated times to the parking lots and reasons for our delay, filled the air. The human information superhighway was reconnected faster than the wheels on the plane hitting the runway. 

Smoke from the tires was less dense, and far less toxic, than the burning need to reconnect with the technology of their pre-Pura Vida vacation.  What had happened? At that moment, I promised myself…I need, and want, to live the Pura Vida lifestyle.

Although many of your readers will invariably understand the phrase ‘Pura Vida’; it wasn’t until I began living here that I realized it’s not a catch phrase to the Costa Ricans.  It’s a cultural way of being.  It is intrinsic to the way they live and how they approach their entire day.

It’s an emotion, it’s an attitude, it’s happiness, and it’s a way of life.

Thanks,
C. Ryan Edgar
Owner
Casa Vitality

Fast Forward Update 2022

So now it’s November 2022, and Ryan and Yannick have been living the “Pura Vida” lifestyle for three years and have turned their five-star B&B into one of the hottest places to stay in Playa Guiones, Nosara. It’s so fabulous, I’ve been three times!

So I asked Ryan, what he and Yannick miss the most about Canada.

Ryan: The people! Above all else, we miss our Canadian family and friends. And we thought we would miss the cool, crisp fall air. But now that we’ve had the opportunity to visit the cloud forests here, we’re okay. That cool, crisp air exists up there at 1,330m above sea level.

When you’re at Casa Vitality, you get the feeling that they are totally in sync with their new Central American lifestyle. But I asked Ryan if they truly felt “in sync” and what “in sync” looks like for them.

Ryan: It took time to adjust and slow down. We came down here for the “work-life balance”…and started our business. Building it has kept us very busy. But now we can enjoy the fruits of our labours. Moving south was more than just escaping winter and our work routines. I feel like we have finally made the full transition to a Pura Vida lifestyle. Pura Vida = Pure Life.

The transition means that we now have an adventure every day! We explore dense rainforest trails, hike volcanoes, bathe in thermal waters, and visit cloud forests.

It also means back to the water. It could be surfing, swimming, or just walking along the beaches here. Our full acceptance of Pura Vida is no longer about how we want to live, but instead, it is exactly how we live every day. Now, as true residents of Costa Rica, we have a deep affinity for the country, its landscapes, and its epic biodiversity. We have become part of the ecosystem!

Cheers, I hope you’ve enjoyed catching up with Ryan and Yannick!

Cynthia

If you’re looking for other adventures to fit your Baby Boomer Lifestyle, check these past blog posts.

The Best 9 Outdoor Sedona Tours for Seniors

Wreck Diving In Micronesia: The Ultimate Guide

And ps, most of the photos are from Ryan and a few are from iStock.