Living the digital nomad life in Costa Rica, with a family

Our arrival in Costa Rica was bumpy. 

Day 1: We spent 8 hours in the car travelling only 233kms. That's 28kms per hour for a whole day.

Day 2: We checked into the Airbnb we booked for a whole month, and it was a big letdown, especially the foul smell in the kitchen. We went to buy supplies, and someone backed into our rental car.

Day 3: We discovered the foul smell was a gas leak, so we vacated the property and checked into a hotel. 

Day 4-14: Trying to arrange alternate accommodation within our budget at the last minute, chasing refunds, kids starting a new school and navigating crater-size potholes. Plus, my only employee resigned.

Day 15: We moved into the perfect condo in Samara (Guanacaste region), and things started looking up.

Coming from Canada and Australia has been an adjustment, but that's the experience we sought. 

This article is for you if you are considering an extended stay in Costa Rica with kids and an online business.

This blog will cover:

• What to expect
• Hiring a car
• What to bring
• Where to live
• Working in Costa Rica
• Helpful tips

What to expect in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is breathtakingly beautiful, safe (from my experience) and friendly.

It's a developing country, so outside of San Jose and major tourist areas like Tamarindo, you can expect infrequent power outages, potholes and unsealed roads. 

While you can find many supplies you would get back home, don't expect Amazon deliveries, Sephora, or an Apple store. This has been on my mind in case my Macbook Pro has an issue; I run this business entirely from this device, and I'm wholly screwed without it.  

The prices are high, especially if you want Western products and brands.

Toilet paper needs to go in a little bin next to the toilet and not in the bowl, which takes some adjustment, but it doesn't bother us. We make sure we empty the bins every day. 

We have come in the low season. Living in Darwin, we were not deterred by tropical rain or storms. We enjoy it, and we prefer that to droves of crowds and sky-high prices. It rained a lot the first few days, but that was due to the Hurricane that hit Texas. Since then, we've only had rain in the afternoon or evening but we enjoy beautiful sunny days and empty beaches. I highly recommend coming this time of year, especially if you stay longer. Sure, a full day of rain sucks when you've only got five days. 

There's fresh milk, eggs, fish, chicken, pork, beef, and so much delicious fresh fruit. You can find feta, Kimchi, black sesame and whatever else you want, but you will pay a premium.

Breakfast of champions (homemade)

Hiring a car in Costa Rica

We heard horror stories about the roads and dodgy car rental companies extorting Gringos. Car rental is stupidly expensive, so this was the most critical puzzle piece for us to put into place.

We did a lot of research and booked a car rental with ANSAR. They have been upfront, honest and frankly fantastic. Diego runs a tight ship, and I highly recommend booking with ANSAR for peace of mind. We picked up our car in San Jose, but you can collect cars from Liberia, Samara, and Tamarindo. We have a 7-seat Sante Fe, and it's perfect for our needs as a family with five suitcases and a surfboard. 

What to bring to Costa Rica

For home:

Some sources say you can drink the water; others say not to. I purchased a water jug and filters from Amazon, and I'm glad I did for peace of mind. 

• Medication
• Contact lenses
• Sunscreen
• Bug spray
• Skincare
• Shampoo and conditioner
• Swimmers
• Hats
• Clothing

You can buy clothing from the local tourist stalls in towns or very pricey boutiques in places like Tamarindo and Nosara. There's not much in between. I wear my Birkenstock everywhere; they are the best shoes for Costa Rica. 

There are also specialty stores with natural or premium skincare products, but if you can fit them in your suitcase, I would stock up before you arrive. I brought full bottles of specialty shampoo, conditioner, moisturiser, hair and body lotion.

You can buy sunscreen and bug spray, but they are more expensive, so I would bring one bottle of each to start. 

What to bring to Costa Rica for running an online business:

• Laptop
• Charger
• Ring light
• Microphones
• All the cables
• Keyboard
• Mouse 

Tech accessories are tough to find outside of San Jose. 

Here's a starter list on my Amazon storefront.

Where to live in Costa Rica with a family 

I have only seen a small part of the country so far, so I'm not an expert. 

We chose the Guanacaste region on the Pacific side because of the waves - we came to surf.

Sámara, Guanacaste

We spent the first month in Sámara. We chose this area because of its pristine beaches and gentle waves, which are ideal for children and beginner surfers. My favourite beach is Playa Carillo, and our Condo was only 300 meters from the beach.  

Playa Carillo is just up the road from Sámara. 

The town of Sámara is small and laid-back. It has three large supermarkets, a health food shop, a weekly farmer's market, and some excellent dining options. 

Some of our favourites are:

Gusto Beach

Samara Sushi

Roots Bakery

There is a coworking space if you need it.

Mandala yoga is fantastic in Sámara. Laura is a sensational teacher, and I found my people there. The classes are held in the rancho at the Intercultura Spanish Immersion School, and as you work through the asanas, you can hear the waves crashing. 10/10. 

Laura Waite, who runs Manada Yoga with me.

There are two basic gyms and no pilates (that I could find).

Finding accommodation in Sámara

You will get a much better price on a rental if you book with a local property management company or owner. I highly recommend Louis Kardash from Samara Ridge Property Management. We stayed in two of his glorious properties, and I've never met someone who cares more about their customers than Louis. 

Book with Maria is also a great option. We stayed at one of their properties for three weeks; they have been lovely to deal with. 

Nosara, Guanacaste 

One hour away from Sámara is Nosara. It's only 29 km away, but the drive is very bumpy. This is a very yuppy surf town. We came to Nosara to buy a surfboard. It's nowhere near as relaxed and convenient as Sámara; everything is relatively spread out in Nosara.

The Organico grocery store and bakery are trendy, but the prices will make your eyes water. After having a Poke bowl, we decided we no longer needed to linger.

Tamarindo, Guanacaste

This is a very built-up surf town with a party atmosphere. Tourists galore. Bring tons of cash. 

In Tamarindo, you can find everything you need and many things you don't. You can eat any cuisine your heart desires. The Felafel Bar came highly recommended and did not disappoint for Middle Eastern dishes like chicken shwarma and pita sandwiches.  

We stayed a night at the Bougie Cala Luna Boutique Hotel in Tamarindo, and it was worth the nightly rate, especially considering that a delicious organic breakfast was included. The omelettes were some of the best I've eaten, and the kids loved the fresh pancakes.  

Playa Flamingo, Guanacaste

As I write this, we have moved to the Playa Flamingo area and rented a house in Mar Vista, a sustainable community.

Mar Vista is gorgeous, safe, friendly and lush. We are very happy here. I have joined the gym, and my husband is going to CrossFit in Potrero, just up the road. 

Our rental in Mar Vista

A playground in Mar Vista with a basketball court and soccer goals.

The beach is not as nice as Sámara, but Flamingo is closer to more activities and other areas. It's only 30 minutes from Tamarindo, and we make weekly shops at the Auto Mercado. Our first shop was over AUD 700, so we are strongly considering a diet of rice and beans. By the way, it's pretty devastating paying $15 for a small jar of peanut butter and then not liking the taste.

We have put our kids into a few summer camps so I can get some work done and so we can have a break from parenting 24/7.

Plus, I'm relying on them to find friends here.

Working from Costa Rica as a Digital Nomad

Costa Rica offers a digital nomad visa. Australians can travel to Costa Rica without a visa for 180 days. 

Blackouts occur here fairly regularly when there is a storm, so if you run online training like me, this may pose a problem. 

Many Digital Nomads are here, so you will easily find a community.

If you have live calls, you will need a time zone converter; this one is my go-to. 

 My workspace in Sámara

Helpful tips for living and working in Costa Rica

Managing money and local currency in Costa Rica

USD are widely accepted in Costa Rica, but you can get a cheaper rate in Costa Rican Colónes (CRC). Money and currency were so easy for us with our Wise accounts and cards. They offer a much more favourable exchange rate and lower fees than banks. 

Local tips and tricks

Every community has several Facebook groups, which are a wealth of knowledge. 

If you want to follow my journey, here is my Instagram account.

Safe travels,

Mia