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/ Costa Rica Doesn’t Have Tacos And 5 Other Reasons I Decided Not To Move There
“Maybe there´s no home, just road´s end.”
― Tony Cohan, On Mexican Time: A New Life In San Miguel
When I was thinking of moving to Costa Rica, I got messages from a lot of you that you would be watching me, as you were also thinking of moving there. So, what happened? Why didn’t I move there?
Well, it started out with the place I was volunteering not being what I had hoped it would be. It turned out that we would be staying in shared tents with cots that were a mile hike from the road on a slippery trail that crossed a stream in the jungle. A trail so sketchy that we couldn’t even get my suitcase down the trail. Now, I’m a girl who loves to hike. But, my idea of camping is staying at a Holiday Inn instead of the Four Seasons. So, having to worry about stepping on pit viper snakes in the middle of the night, as I run out in pouring rain to the outhouse is not my idea of a good time. It’s not even my idea of an OK time. On top of that, their website said I’d be volunteering for six hours, six days a week. However, when I arrived, I was told it would be nine hours a day, seven days a week. Since, I also work remotely, that just wasn’t going to work.
I thought about staying in Costa Rica longer to check it out, but I could already tell that it wasn’t for me. The mere fact that a burger, fries, and a coke at the airport was $20 sent me scrambling out of there. So here are some of the reasons why I decided Mexico is a better fit for me.
1. They Don’t Have Tacos In Costa Rica
“Never underestimate how much assistance, how much satisfaction, how much comfort, how much soul and transcendence there might be in a well-made taco and a cold bottle of beer.”
― Tom Robbins, Jitterbug Perfume
Ok, so Costa Rica does have something they call a taco. However, it’s nothing like a taco. It’s a sub par tortilla rolled around some meat and deep-fried, topped with cabbage, ketchup, and mayonnaise. And, served WITH A SIDE OF FRIES!! Oh, the travesty. How they can even get by calling them tacos is beyond me. If, I were Mexico, I’d be proclaiming war on this one. But, oh right, Costa Rica doesn’t have an army, so I guess they get to call that thing anything they want.
2. The Food Is Expensive
In Costa Rica, a cheap meal costs $8 (I’m used to spending about $3 in Mexico). And, most of the meals I had, were $12-15. Even the groceries at the grocery store were very expensive. Handmade tortillas were $4 a package! (there went my taco habit). The produce at the farmer’s market was really cheap, but that was about the only thing. But, if I can’t live somewhere where I can at least afford to make my own tacos, I’m pretty much out of there. It always goes back to the tacos.
3. Pit Vipers
Yes, Costa Rica has pit vipers. After living in Hawaii where there were no snakes, I really didn’t want to move somewhere where there were some of the most poisonous snakes also lived. Especially, since I kept seeing posts on the Costa Rica Facebook I joined where people kept posting the snakes they had found in their house. That was enough to convince me that it wasn’t the place for me.
4. A US Citizen Can Only Stay 90 Days If They Don’t Have Residency
I know from living in Thailand, it can be a royal pain to constantly do visa runs. I appreciate the very generous six months that Mexico lets me stay on a tourist visa. And, getting temporary residency in Costa Rica, doesn’t sound very easy either. So, that also factored into the decision for me.
5. Unreliability Of Utilities And Wi-Fi
Another thing I’ve constantly read on the Facebook group from residents is that it’s a good day if you have electricity, water, and Wi-Fi all day. For me, working online, it is a must that I always have a good internet connection. I’ve also only had the electricity and water go out for a total of one day the entire two years I’ve lived in Mexico.
6. Mexico Just Feels Like Home
“If I smile here, people smile wider. If I say “Buenos dias,’ they say it back stronger. In Mexico, you put out a little you get back a lot. In human terms at least, you could say it’s a functional economy.”-On Mexican Time: A New Life In San Miguel, Tony Cohan
Mexico already feels like home to me. I’ve spent a total of almost two years here, and I really missed the friends that I had already made. I also know the town of San Miguel de Allende so well. I like knowing which market I can get fish sauce at, which place has the best tortillas, where the best tacos are.
While Costa Rica is a beautiful country with kind people,I realized I didn’t want to start all over again somewhere new. So, I decided to come back. I came back to a place with a beautiful community of people, people who have touched my heart, and it’s really those people who have made this place feel like home.
I just returned from San Miguel de Allende and was astonished by how much foreigners were paying for homes (TWICE AS MUCH OR MORE THAN USA). This city was just named the best in the world, so you have lots of tourists from Mexico City, the USA and Canada. As a result many long term apartment rentals are now AirBNB, where the owner can get s much for a weekend as a month. I stayed with a couple who are renting a 2 bedroom apartment and rent one room for $35/night. I was discourage by the challenge to find a long-term rental and did not find many ex-pats younger than 65. The ex-pats I did meet seemed to frequent many of the same bars/restaurants. I could see myself getting bored in San Miquel de Allende. I also lived in Panama but have not been to Costa Rica…it seems both countries have been discovered- more so Costa Rica…as wealth comes prices rise and locals can’t afford to live in their home towns. While the beaches are beautiful, they are not as beautiful on hot sweltering days. I will go to Medellin Colombia next.
Keep me posted on how it is! I agree with you about SMA, which is why I left.
From my expirience if one expects moving to Costa Rica and expects some of the luxaries like in Ameria. Example good roads, nice accomodation and not takimg into accaunt about the rain forest ( meaning not to expect animals getting close to you) so on is deffenetly not a place for one. And of course if you cant afford 1,500 a month for better accomodation. For me i love it, and i get easy adjusted to a diifernt lufe style, because i came from a Country that is worst than Costa Rica. And love walking throug jungles. This is my say if i get attacked by an animal it was my choice to be in their territory, of course i dont wishh that. So if one cant adjust , then yes Costa Rica is not for you. Staying in America one has more places for jugging. When eating outside if $4 is to much, the ibviously your budget does not allow you to live there. Me personaly say Costa Rica is one if the most lovely places to live. And will recomend it to does who can afford 1,500 or more. For me living in the US is stressful, health insurance 600 a month, rent 895, car insurance, gas, maitanence to live comfortable here one needs to make over 3,000 a month and not a very safe place to live, the montly shootings in shool, and most having guns, now in Costa Rica that does not excist , they dont have an army, just that gives me piece of mind. There is a reason why they say PURA VIDA pure life.