Finally an honest traveller. Thank you, this is much appreciated. I love traveling as much for the “flaws” as I do the “delights”. Travel videos, and books have become so sanitized, it’s a complete bore, and useless. This is honest, entertaining, and genuine
Good one! I agree with all of them and I'm tico 😄 Bro, you gotta be careful when driving with that camera, if a "trafico" sees you, he could give you a ticket that costs around 120.000 colones plus taxes. But all and all good content bro, I always appreciate the opinion of everyone that visits and lives in our country, it widens my perspective.
I love this video!! Yep, there are things in CR that are hella irritating, time consuming, and things that make me go WTF. But… the pura vida lifestyle trumps all of that. Thanks for the videos!!
I have been stuck in Groundhog Day Ground Zero since 2020 misery Covid times, I used to spend at least six months travelling, I seem to have got stuck in concrete Rat City with no escape, your videos inspire me to try and break through this cock block they have put up since 2020.
You're totally right about everything you say. Sadly, Costa Rica is so far from being perfect. But on the other hand, the whole world sucks in one way or the other
Been here 22yrs. Once you leave the metropolitan district of San Jose, you step back in time 30 years. So, live back in time. I too have problem with the potholes. We pay a lot for our marchamo and that money is supposed to go to maintenance. That's a joke.
I have a friend who has a house on the volcano above San Jose. I hope to go this upcoming year for the first time. Need to get my passport. I enjoy your vids💨✌
I lived in Guanacaste for 3 years, 98' 99' & 2000 and everything was an absolute hassle. There was no convenience at all where I lived. Sometimes I wouldn't see a vehicle for a couple months during the rainy season. Sometimes I wouldn't see a car for a couple weeks in the dry season. I never saw a single boat nor plane where I lived. I was so far away from a paved road.
So true. been to CR 7 times , love the vibe and the people . Hope you make it to La Fortunate soon ! Arenal volcano and hot springs are amazing . Was a little surprised at the price of ELECTRIC LETTUCE down there , but whatever . One last thing - a trip to La Paz Waterfall gardens is a must see . PURA VITA MANG 🤘🏻
Yeah the lettuce is expensive, they havnt figured out that we don't pay $60 for 3 grams anymore lol I'd def make it to la fortuna one day! Thanks so much!
I agree with all of that. Costa Rica, especially where we are in the Southern Zone. You have to be your own security, because you can’t count on the cops down here. I’m just above Cortes, we had guest up here in the village and I warned them about the petty theft. They went to Dominical, took their SUV on the playa. The husband stayed in the running car taking a phone call, the family went down to the water and someone literally tried to break in the car while the guy was sitting in the drivers seat. The local opened the back hatch and was startled by the husband freaking out when he did. Lol. Sad. Watch your shit. That’s all I can say. Crimes of opportunity are abundant.
Love Costa Rica. Been all over for about 20 trips. You ALWAYS have to do your research when high stakes are involved and dont have high expectations of what you THINK it could or should be. Just enjoy the PURA VIDA way
Nothing nor no country is perfect. So I understand your woes . One of my worst pet peeves about my CR is the potholes in the streets. I hate that the fact that the Department of transportation doesn’t take care of them quick. By the way, change is inevitable and needed 👍
Oh the driving I never get use to. I'm a resident and have a CR driver's license and still can't get use to the drivers especially the Motos , I literally get anxiety from them. We got taken advantage of when we first moved here at the Beach in Guanacaste but not by a local from a FORIENER that said he was a realtor. We learned by experience the hard way. All my friends are locals. I don't want to live in expat communities. We came here to live CR and the culture, history, food and People. We have a home in all locals neighborhood and love it. You definitely have to keep your guard up from being taken advantage of including foreigners. It helps totally to Emerse ourselves into the culture and People and have friends and neighbors that We trust totally!!! We are good people and we have good people as friends. Since moving to Barva we don't have ATM problems but definitely did in Beach towns. 😎 Take care , Pura Vida.
driving here is like nintendo paperboy. but you live out of the central valley and still dont have to worry about other stufff... like the bad, bad crime (death rape etc) there is sooooo much stuff i cant share. if your coming to costa rica to set up a buisness do your research.... know what social security is and is capable of doing to you....
I call driving on certain roads where I live now "the demolition derby" because of the driving behavior you describe. On top of that, at times it seems that the whole city has been turned into wildly dangerous high-speed raceway with Wild West shootouts going on in the background, just for kicks. But I agree, driving in C. America is different and can be dangerous and annoying in it's own unique ways. As for your river, unless someone has just built a hydroelectric dam upstream, I think you are right that nature ebbs and flows and your glorious little spot filled with prawns will hopefully be back before long. It is weird, since it's the rainy season now, but for sure weather patterns are changing everywhere, even in NJ. As you said, they put a lot of money and work into keeping things the same. I grew up right on the ocean in MA and was just back there too after a bunch of years. Things in my little coastal town are also mostly reassuringly the same but I could also see some weather related changes that were unsettling. I think the final take is that life is always in flux, even though it doesn't always seem like it, and also, wherever there are human beings, there is going to be some degree of fuckery to be dealt with. Only the forms it takes vary. Pura Vida. :)
Pura vida!! Yes my river will be back, but I was super surprised how fast it all filled in! but that's what happens.. Ill be on the look out for more spots up the river
My favorite is when they drive in the middle of the road on a one lane street on very curvy mountain roads.... then at a turn there is often not enough time to move away from the divider, and crashes happen... I always just stop if I see a crazy driver in the middle of my lane heading my way; at least I won't be moving so there won't be double impact speed if push come to shove..... and of course a dash cam is a must, otherwise you will never prove anything.
Traveled to Costa Rica for 2 months. One thing that was very disappointing to me was definitely the locals driving. The worse memory of that whole trip, saw a tour shuttle van hit a dog in front of me, and my friends in Arenal, and the van just kept driving. The poor thing cried so loudly, thankfully it only hit her back paw, and the locals helped her. But it traumatized me. Apparently wild animals get hit all the time there by the reckless driving,... The places that had the least road kills were the Caribbean side, and Osa, only because the roads were terrible. Honestly made me appreciate those pothole roads, they are obviously necessary for keeping the locals from driving like maniacs. Felt pretty backwards to have tour guides talk about how they rehab animals that got hit by cars, and then watch them drive like assholes.
In the 30 years of my life I have NEVER seen roadkill in Costa Rica. We love animals and protect them. The piece of shit that hit that dog and drove off is an exception and will pay in hell and I’m glad the doggie was okay and got help. But I have never seen roadkill. Now in the states there’s dead animals everywhere and people keep driving. Deer, geese, dogs, squirrels, raccoons, possums… don’t act like you’ve never seen that. y’all are the problem
That's why I like living in San Jose; it's much more hectic than where you are; but I love the convenience of having everything at my fingertips, Only have to fill my cars gas tank three to four times a year because the bus system is great and I can walk to most places, I don't need air conditioning just ceiling fans and I don't mind having bars around my house because I can sleep peacefully at night knowing there's no way anyone can break in and the people are warm wherever you live in Costa Rica and people are colorblind. I could not live anywhere else Pura Vida
Damn, that’s a shame New Jersey hasn’t changed. I guess it’s still the peoples Republic of New Jersey. You’re talking about a country that has a population of less than 5 million and you’re complaining about the traffic. How about that traffic in New Jersey? People run you down I’ll take an ATM in Costa Rica over one in New Jersey any day as the crime rate in Costa Rica is less than that of most cities in New Jersey Part of Pura Vida is taking the good with the bad and letting the beautiful environment, friendly people and amazing food wash away any small inconveniences that are magnified in most other places, especially the Philadelphia area and New Jersey and New York specifically I think admitted Atlantic region is my number one reason for considering leaving the US😊
yeah man this is so unequal between ticos and gringos - surprising how this country is considered friendly to foreigners while in reality gringos are so much taken advantage of.... when you come here just as a tourist, everyone seems so nice, but when you move in, it's so anti-foreigner. And even courts judge against gringos when the gringo is right.... a very bad attitude to foreigners, cheating is commonplace and considered "being smart"... shame to the culture.
SO Spot on Mae! I see it's getting on ya. I feel you. Even though I'm trying to make it here without being a rich airbnb bitch I''m hustling. Like you. I had to come to Uvita today. WHAT a fucking gringo gentrified shit show. Dats why I live waaaay up with da tico's. You know, driving here is scary and no joke. I travel 80% off road, backroads. Yes I'm a gringo but sad to see where this zone is going.
Maybe you need to know more good people to be safe so you can trust there is a business oportunity for you of you enter that world of real state maybe you can start acquiring little properties little by little so the ex pats can feem that us citizens is more trustable
Cada pais tiene lo suyo vivi en Alemania amo Alemania...regresare en algun momento hay cosas que no me gusta pero el respeto siempre primero al pais que te abre las puertas sino tienes el corazon abierto a los cambios byyyeeeee...definitivamente EEUU no esta en mi lista nah thanks...El problema de los gringos (people from USA) es que presumen su dinero su estilo de vida son llamativos en otras palabras..."se ponen" se exponen y bueno cuando la gente nota esa oportunidad por presuntuosos zaaaassss "les dan por la jupa". Debe ser cultural en USA ganarse la gente por el dinero y regalos en lugar de la sinceridad...con el corazon...
Finally an honest traveller. Thank you, this is much appreciated. I love traveling as much for the “flaws” as I do the “delights”. Travel videos, and books have become so sanitized, it’s a complete bore, and useless. This is honest, entertaining, and genuine
Thank you!!!
ATMs not working is the epitome of "pura vida" 😂
Thank you for your advice. You’re the only one we watch and trust. Have a blessed day!
Good one!
I agree with all of them and I'm tico 😄
Bro, you gotta be careful when driving with that camera, if a "trafico" sees you, he could give you a ticket that costs around 120.000 colones plus taxes.
But all and all good content bro, I always appreciate the opinion of everyone that visits and lives in our country, it widens my perspective.
Ehhh I have a keen eye for the boys in blue
Buen consejo respetar las leyes locales...
Sounds like he’s missing NJ
Thank you for this video, I am thinking about moving there. This video was very helpful
Thank you for watching!!
I love this video!! Yep, there are things in CR that are hella irritating, time consuming, and things that make me go WTF. But… the pura vida lifestyle trumps all of that. Thanks for the videos!!
Pura vida!!!!!
Lmao! If it makes sense then something is wrong!!
Your driving analogy is how i feel about life!
Dude I love your vids! That drone shot and 360 cam are cool! Keep it up brother
I love you!
I have been stuck in Groundhog Day Ground Zero since 2020 misery Covid times, I used to spend at least six months travelling, I seem to have got stuck in concrete Rat City with no escape, your videos inspire me to try and break through this cock block they have put up since 2020.
Did our due diligence. Got our land! Thanks for the content!
Yewwwww
thanks chenz!!! still can t wait to get down there !!!!!
You're totally right about everything you say. Sadly, Costa Rica is so far from being perfect. But on the other hand, the whole world sucks in one way or the other
The drone shots 👌
Been here 22yrs. Once you leave the metropolitan district of San Jose, you step back in time 30 years. So, live back in time. I too have problem with the potholes. We pay a lot for our marchamo and that money is supposed to go to maintenance. That's a joke.
Great video bro
Yewwww
do playa matapalo north of Dominical i live in the castle
I was just there camping… I was looking for your castle lol but I didnt see it?? Is it close to A Kachete!?
We only have one life so we have to take the chance while we still can. What a change in that river! Crazy! 😳
I have a friend who has a house on the volcano above San Jose. I hope to go this upcoming year for the first time. Need to get my passport. I enjoy your vids💨✌
House on the volcano is livin' on the edge for sure. Love it!!
@@reinadelmar11 Well its basically in the mountains that were created by a volcano.
Another great vid. Keep ‘em coming Chenz
I lived in Guanacaste for 3 years, 98' 99' & 2000 and everything was an absolute hassle. There was no convenience at all where I lived. Sometimes I wouldn't see a vehicle for a couple months during the rainy season. Sometimes I wouldn't see a car for a couple weeks in the dry season. I never saw a single boat nor plane where I lived. I was so far away from a paved road.
Yeah man, things have changed! You probably have a bus that goes down that same road now everyday lol I wish I saw CR then and now
1st world problems…
So true. been to CR 7 times , love the vibe and the people . Hope you make it to La Fortunate soon ! Arenal volcano and hot springs are amazing . Was a little surprised at the price of ELECTRIC LETTUCE down there , but whatever . One last thing - a trip to La Paz Waterfall gardens is a must see . PURA VITA MANG 🤘🏻
Yeah the lettuce is expensive, they havnt figured out that we don't pay $60 for 3 grams anymore lol I'd def make it to la fortuna one day! Thanks so much!
I see that hello kitty steering wheel cover 😁👍
Yes you do!!!
Respect his honestly shalom
That's true, i live in new jersey but i am from costa rica and that's is the sad part of costa rica
Ch Ch Ch Changes….. Time may change you…. But you can’t change time!
Love you lil bro ❤️
Costa Rica is 90% publicity, marketing, and 10% reality.
I wont argue that 😂
What camera did you use while driving? :0
Gopro max 360
@@Chenzaloon Gracias
Another great video! And the end really hit home for me lol . So true! Pura vida is worth it! Cheers sir!
Cheers brother!
life in costa rica is very difficult so poeple every time more tend think up different ways of scamming others...
Maybe they could put that energy towards talking to people with money about ideas and getting funded.
I agree with all of that. Costa Rica, especially where we are in the Southern Zone. You have to be your own security, because you can’t count on the cops down here. I’m just above Cortes, we had guest up here in the village and I warned them about the petty theft. They went to Dominical, took their SUV on the playa. The husband stayed in the running car taking a phone call, the family went down to the water and someone literally tried to break in the car while the guy was sitting in the drivers seat. The local opened the back hatch and was startled by the husband freaking out when he did. Lol. Sad. Watch your shit. That’s all I can say. Crimes of opportunity are abundant.
Unfortunately it happens a lot! Where is 'above cortez'? I'm always curious how to get up there when I drive by
@@Chenzaloon Road by the canopy tour and then up.
@@Chenzaloon one of the residents invited you up to play pool and puff. Lol
Love Costa Rica. Been all over for about 20 trips. You ALWAYS have to do your research when high stakes are involved and dont have high expectations of what you THINK it could or should be. Just enjoy the PURA VIDA way
But bro, answer me honestly. Is it more stressful driving there or in the states, because driving in the states can be stressful as fuck. Personally.
Way more stress in the states, unless your in san jose, the traffic isnt that bad, its just bad drivers
Nothing nor no country is perfect. So I understand your woes . One of my worst pet peeves about my CR is the potholes in the streets. I hate that the fact that the
Department of transportation doesn’t take care of them quick.
By the way, change is inevitable and needed 👍
i would only rent
Oh the driving I never get use to. I'm a resident and have a CR driver's license and still can't get use to the drivers especially the Motos , I literally get anxiety from them. We got taken advantage of when we first moved here at the Beach in Guanacaste but not by a local from a FORIENER that said he was a realtor. We learned by experience the hard way. All my friends are locals. I don't want to live in expat communities. We came here to live CR and the culture, history, food and People. We have a home in all locals neighborhood and love it. You definitely have to keep your guard up from being taken advantage of including foreigners. It helps totally to Emerse ourselves into the culture and People and have friends and neighbors that We trust totally!!! We are good people and we have good people as friends. Since moving to Barva we don't have ATM problems but definitely did in Beach towns. 😎 Take care , Pura Vida.
Hey Sandra i live in Barva ,, greetings 🖖
@@wjavier4041, Great place to live!!! Greetings
@@sandrabedard7848 i wish you the best ,,, blessings 🙏🏼🌟
You are right justice system is so corrupt and is more expensive than many states in us but is a relatively safe country
driving here is like nintendo paperboy. but you live out of the central valley and still dont have to worry about other stufff... like the bad, bad crime (death rape etc) there is sooooo much stuff i cant share. if your coming to costa rica to set up a buisness do your research.... know what social security is and is capable of doing to you....
i would add people driving while recording a video for UA-cam 🤣 careful bro
I call driving on certain roads where I live now "the demolition derby" because of the driving behavior you describe. On top of that, at times it seems that the whole city has been turned into wildly dangerous high-speed raceway with Wild West shootouts going on in the background, just for kicks. But I agree, driving in C. America is different and can be dangerous and annoying in it's own unique ways. As for your river, unless someone has just built a hydroelectric dam upstream, I think you are right that nature ebbs and flows and your glorious little spot filled with prawns will hopefully be back before long. It is weird, since it's the rainy season now, but for sure weather patterns are changing everywhere, even in NJ. As you said, they put a lot of money and work into keeping things the same. I grew up right on the ocean in MA and was just back there too after a bunch of years. Things in my little coastal town are also mostly reassuringly the same but I could also see some weather related changes that were unsettling. I think the final take is that life is always in flux, even though it doesn't always seem like it, and also, wherever there are human beings, there is going to be some degree of fuckery to be dealt with. Only the forms it takes vary. Pura Vida. :)
Pura vida!! Yes my river will be back, but I was super surprised how fast it all filled in! but that's what happens.. Ill be on the look out for more spots up the river
My favorite is when they drive in the middle of the road on a one lane street on very curvy mountain roads.... then at a turn there is often not enough time to move away from the divider, and crashes happen... I always just stop if I see a crazy driver in the middle of my lane heading my way; at least I won't be moving so there won't be double impact speed if push come to shove..... and of course a dash cam is a must, otherwise you will never prove anything.
Traveled to Costa Rica for 2 months.
One thing that was very disappointing to me was definitely the locals driving. The worse memory of that whole trip, saw a tour shuttle van hit a dog in front of me, and my friends in Arenal, and the van just kept driving. The poor thing cried so loudly, thankfully it only hit her back paw, and the locals helped her. But it traumatized me. Apparently wild animals get hit all the time there by the reckless driving,... The places that had the least road kills were the Caribbean side, and Osa, only because the roads were terrible. Honestly made me appreciate those pothole roads, they are obviously necessary for keeping the locals from driving like maniacs.
Felt pretty backwards to have tour guides talk about how they rehab animals that got hit by cars, and then watch them drive like assholes.
It's the wild west here
In the 30 years of my life I have NEVER seen roadkill in Costa Rica. We love animals and protect them. The piece of shit that hit that dog and drove off is an exception and will pay in hell and I’m glad the doggie was okay and got help. But I have never seen roadkill. Now in the states there’s dead animals everywhere and people keep driving. Deer, geese, dogs, squirrels, raccoons, possums… don’t act like you’ve never seen that. y’all are the problem
@@Chenzaloon it’s not 🤣 then leave
@@greenerytuin579 your an idiot
Let me know the next time you’re in Clearwater, I’ll gladly host you!
Will do!!!!
Kinda off topic but what breed is your dog?
Costa Rican lol everthing that crosses it's path
And youre washing your car in their river? 😢
That's why I like living in San Jose; it's much more hectic than where you are; but I love the convenience of having everything at my fingertips, Only have to fill my cars gas tank three to four times a year because the bus system is great and I can walk to most places, I don't need air conditioning just ceiling fans and I don't mind having bars around my house because I can sleep peacefully at night knowing there's no way anyone can break in and the people are warm wherever you live in Costa Rica and people are colorblind. I could not live anywhere else Pura Vida
Is your dog ok?
Hola chez,todo tuanis?✌🇨🇷☔
Damn, that’s a shame New Jersey hasn’t changed. I guess it’s still the peoples Republic of New Jersey. You’re talking about a country that has a population of less than 5 million and you’re complaining about the traffic. How about that traffic in New Jersey? People run you down I’ll take an ATM in Costa Rica over one in New Jersey any day as the crime rate in Costa Rica is less than that of most cities in New Jersey Part of Pura Vida is taking the good with the bad and letting the beautiful environment, friendly people and amazing food wash away any small inconveniences that are magnified in most other places, especially the Philadelphia area and New Jersey and New York specifically I think admitted Atlantic region is my number one reason for considering leaving the US😊
yeah man this is so unequal between ticos and gringos - surprising how this country is considered friendly to foreigners while in reality gringos are so much taken advantage of.... when you come here just as a tourist, everyone seems so nice, but when you move in, it's so anti-foreigner. And even courts judge against gringos when the gringo is right.... a very bad attitude to foreigners, cheating is commonplace and considered "being smart"... shame to the culture.
Relax !!!! Lol.
Good luck trying to find the 'perfect' country on Earth.
I think its pretty close here :)
SO Spot on Mae!
I see it's getting on ya. I feel you. Even though I'm trying to make it here without being a rich airbnb bitch I''m hustling. Like you. I had to come to Uvita today. WHAT a fucking gringo gentrified shit show. Dats why I live waaaay up with da tico's. You know, driving here is scary and no joke. I travel 80% off road, backroads. Yes I'm a gringo but sad to see where this zone is going.
Maybe you need to know more good people to be safe so you can trust there is a business oportunity for you of you enter that world of real state maybe you can start acquiring little properties little by little so the ex pats can feem that us citizens is more trustable
That's the plan my man!!
It doesn't matter where you go in the world, there are bad people everywhere. Therefore it´s a matter of perspective.
🇨🇷🤙
Yewww
The reason people stop in the middle of the road is because there are no shoulders.
Cada pais tiene lo suyo vivi en Alemania amo Alemania...regresare en algun momento hay cosas que no me gusta pero el respeto siempre primero al pais que te abre las puertas sino tienes el corazon abierto a los cambios byyyeeeee...definitivamente EEUU no esta en mi lista nah thanks...El problema de los gringos (people from USA) es que presumen su dinero su estilo de vida son llamativos en otras palabras..."se ponen" se exponen y bueno cuando la gente nota esa oportunidad por presuntuosos zaaaassss "les dan por la jupa".
Debe ser cultural en USA ganarse la gente por el dinero y regalos en lugar de la sinceridad...con el corazon...
¡No podría haberlo dicho mejor!
you sound disappointed chez
🇨🇷 IT'S BECAUSE COSTA RRECA IS OVERRATED...AT THE END IT'S JUST ANOTHER COUNTRY LIKE OTHERS, WITH GOOD THINGS AND BAD THINGS! 🙌
Nice Shirt~~~ I'm in Ponce de Leon but if I get some cash I'm heading your way my friend!!!