Prior to the improbable encounter I’m about to describe, the only time my family and I had seen a sloth was long-distance through a telescope at The Sloth Watching Trail in La Fortuna. It took 13+ years of living in Costa Rica full-time for us to see a sloth up close and personal, and we couldn’t believe our eyes. This amazing creature appeared to be hitchhiking while ambling slow and low up Highway 1. The sloth was out of its element and dangerously close to wandering into the traffic that consistently barrels down the “autopista”. We parked at the gas station across the highway from the sloth’s location and ran over to keep it from getting into any serious trouble.

The poor buddy was wide-eyed and clearly stressed out. Several truckers stopped on the shoulder of the highway to check out the scene and offer advice as to how to handle the situation. Some folks took a few quick photos and left, while others stuck around and were actively involved in keeping the sloth safe and finding a solution. A trucker suggested that we call 911, so we did. After explaining to the dispatcher that we were calling for a sloth and that an ambulance wouldn’t be necessary to transport it wherever it needed to go (LOL, besides the fact that it’s a sloth, the poor thing didn’t appear to be hurt…just disoriented and possibly weak from hunger), the understanding was that local firemen would be coming to take care of it when they became available.

We waited a long while and the magical furball kept meandering back towards the highway, so one of the truckers who hung around grabbed some gloves from his truck and attempted to pick the sloth up to move him farther away from the road. Sloths are deceptively fast when they feel threatened, and our Tico friend almost got bitten. This is the same guy who suggested that we could probably just put the sloth in the trunk of our Honda, quite easily mind you, and relocate him or her ourselves in the jungles at the bottom of Calle Magallanes. Mmmhmmm. Lol. A nice lady walked over from a soda (small restaurant) that was a few steps away, and she informed us that she had called the authorities about this sloth a couple of hours ago and that no one had come yet… This compassionate Tica also turned out to be the widow of our former landlord, from when we lived on a coffee plantation at the bottom of Calle Leon, back when we were pregnant with our daughter almost 13 years ago. Small world!

Our makeshift roadside rescue group then collectively came to the realization that MINAE (Ministry of Environment & Energy) was who we needed to contact about this. Two representatives from MINAE made it to the scene in less than 30 minutes, and after some barbed-wire limbo and dancing in the tall grass, our sloth friend was safely in a crate, on its way for a medical checkup and proper relocation. What a remarkable way for us to return to PuraVidaVille, having the opportunity to help rescue a sloth the day after we got back from our trip to New York. This beautiful country is full of surprises, and there’s always an adventure around the corner. You just have to let the journey unfold.

Just thinking about a classic Costa Rican breakfast can make your mouth water. “Gallo pinto” translates to “spotted rooster”, but it’s actually a hearty & flavorful blend of rice and beans. The gallo pinto, Costa Rica’s national dish, is traditionally served with “huevos fritos o revueltos” (fried or scrambled eggs), “tierno” (fried cheese), “plátanos maduros” (mature plantains), “tortillas de maíz” (corn tortillas, usually homemade), and a side of “natilla” (a sort of sour cream). Some of us love to add ripe slices of “aguacate” (avocado) and juicy discs of “salchichon” (pork sausage), but these “tipico” (typical) Costa Rican breakfasts pack the same type of punch when they are 100% vegetarian or vegan. These loaded power plates are delicious, well-balanced, and will carry you throughout the day. Pair this delectable morning meal with fresh fruit on the side or a “batido” (blended drink) with fruit and milk or water and you’ll be checking off a plethora of critical nutritional boxes, while having an orgasmic eating experience. If you’re a coffee fan, Costa Rica boasts some of the best java in the world, so a cup or two of our rich, locally-sourced cafe goes perfectly with a high-powered Tico breakfast. Chow down and then head out into The Great Outdoors to walk it off and enjoy all the wonders of nature. This is a pretty spectacular way to start your day- take my word for it.

It’s 5:15am and the warm sun rises gently over Bahia Ballena. The horseshoe shaped bay glistens with spectacular opportunity as the inhabitants of Tambor Beach are nudged to the starting line of what promises to be another amazing day in paradise. Scarlet macaw alarm clocks mingle with howler monkey snooze reminders. Fishermen, dreamers, vegetable vendors, cleaners, children, retirees, and entrepreneurs of all types stretch towards the sun and yawn breath into eager hearts and minds, firing up the engine for adventure which lies ahead. Grateful to have woken up “on the right side of the dirt” as my dear friend Tom often told me. Bursting with gratitude even moreso to have the good fortune to have washed up on this magical beach.

P U R A  V I D A, M A E  🙂

Quick easy access to the sea allows you to roll out the door for kayaking, and some of the safest swimming in Costa Rica. Island hopping, snorkeling, sport fishing, scuba diving – all at your fingertips. Fresh fish daily whether you endeavor to catch them yourself or not. A huge organic market on Saturday mornings is within walking distance at the pier, where Tambor gets the freshest selections (we’re the first stop on the delivery route!). Walks along the beach, yoga classes, local bars and restaurants, and a solid convenience store are all nearby. Iguanas and hummingbirds chill in nearby trees while reading a good book over a cup of coffee as the waves crash in the backdrop.

Had Columbus known better at the time, he would have named this country Cafe’ Rica rather than Costa Rica. The coffee here is rich, flavorful, top-notch. It really puts lead in your pencil. The beer and liquor aren’t bad, either. Pilsen is my favorite, weighing in at 5.1% alcohol content in each can or bottle. Food. Traditional “casado” plates loaded up with “gallo pinto” (delicious rice & bean concoctions), huevos (eggs), queso frito (fried cheese), “platanos maduros” (mature plantains, fried), “natilla” (sour cream/ dipping cheese), “aguacate” (avocado), “ensalada verde” (green salad), and your choice of meat (pork chops with sauteed onions is my personal favorite) fill your belly and carry you through the day so as not to slow the pace of your adventure. Fresh fruit smoothies with either milk or water make a great accompaniment for your casado. If you still want something sweet afterwards, indulge in a “Churchill” or “copo” for a dose of local ice cream and sugar. Always back to the coffee, and eventually the refreshing, ice cold beer.

A nearby country club/ condo community boasts an attractive 9-hole golf course, basketball and tennis courts, and it’s own private stretch of pristine beachfront. Tambor airport (TMU) is directly next to the golf course and runs puddle-jumper flights all over the country, 30 minutes to SJO and LIR, our two International airports. The ferry in Paquera that takes you to the mainland at Puntarenas is a quick 35-minute drive from Tambor. Montezuma, Cabuya, Santa Teresa, and Malpais are all excellent places to visit and they’re all approximately 30 minutes away by car, moto, or quad. If you want to explore these intriguing beach towns to surf, expand your nightlife experience, try new restaurants, etc. they are all within easy striking distance and then you can leave the chaos and come home to the tranquility of Tambor. Your comfortable hammock will still be swinging in the breeze waiting patiently for you here. Neighborhood kids (and a handful of ageless adults) play soccer and beach volleyball whenever there’s an opportunity, while others build sandcastles and gaze out at the sea, birds of prey circling overhead and diving down to catch their dinner. Saucy Ticos dance the night away to classic Latin music, sweating out all the Guaro that has snuck in through the front door. Tambor is my kind of town. Visit and find out for yourself.  Tomorrow is never guaranteed. Pura Vida ~Frank

My wife and I have lived in Costa Rica full-time now for almost 12 years. Throughout our budding romance with this amazing country, we’ve been equally drawn to the beach and mountain regions. In fact, our proportion of living in PuraVidaVille has almost been split 50/50 between the warm beaches and the misty mountains. 

We lived in the Playa Guiones/ Nosara area for a little less than a year, have thrived in the San Ramon region while enjoying the fresh mountain air and close proximity to San Jose and the surrounding amenities for about 7 years, and have bathed in the Blue Zone sunshine of Tambor for 4 glorious years. 

At this point, we are truly torn between the sand and waves on The Peninsula and the cool breezes and conveniences of the Central Valley. Our lives as a family are equally enjoyable in both locations. So, the best approach for us is to bounce back and forth.

Why be limited to just one amazing equatorial microclimate when you can position yourself to have all that you’ve been dreaming about simultaneously? Having the best of both worlds is a very real possibility, if you focus your energies on making it happen. 

The mountains of San Ramon offer some of the most desirable year-round climates in all of the world, and a sense of civilization amidst the day-to-day challenges of living in a largely undeveloped Central American country. Amenities and modern conveniences are a little bit closer at hand, and top-notch private hospitals are approximately an hour away by car. You’re still living on the edge a bit, but there’s a safety net to catch you if rough and tumble tropical living gets to be a little overwhelming at times. 

San Ramon is the City of Presidents and Poets, and is populated by rural self-respecting folks who are tough and lovable. Stoic farmers who work the land with their hands by day, strumming a guitar and singing by night. Ramoneses will give you the shirts off their backs with a smile and offer assistance to those in need in a Costa Rican heartbeat. Many prized properties in the San Ramon mountains offer spectacular sunset views of the Gulf of Nicoya, the Pacific Ocean, various volcanic ranges, and the rolling green peaks and valleys that are peppered with coffee plantations. 

Our mountain home, for example, offers a direct and awe-inspiring view of the Gulf of Nicoya and the surrounding hills. The sky lights up in bright yellows, burnt oranges, and deep purples every evening as the sun sinks into orgasmic sleep for our part of the world at dusk. During this spellbinding transition, the lights in Puntarenas flicker on, and the stretch of land angling to the dock resembles a Christmas Tree laying on its side for a siesta. The views never get old, even after all of these years. 

On the other hand, Playa Tambor spoils us with the glory of the sunrise over Bahia Ballena every morning. When walking the beach during that time, one feels the sand heat up underneath their feet. The tides talk to you, lapping up to lick your feet with wet promises for the new day. Scarlet macaws streak overhead, screaming out sweet nothings (or obscenities?, lol) to whoever will listen, while Jurassic-looking lizards scramble along the ground like baby dinosaurs. The howler monkeys observe all of this from the treetops, eliciting guttural challenges to creatures and people who they deem to be infringing on their territory. 

Meanwhile, the local fisherman bob in their boats, working to haul in today’s catch. Salty, grizzled seamen who live by a combination of skill, persistence, and luck. Tambor is a tranquil fishing village, and there is a uniquely raw quality to it. The Law of the Jungle is in full force here, which somewhat surprisingly has the ability to both calm and exhilarate a person in the same breath. Don’t expect the buses to be on time with any regularity, or for the stores to have your favorite munchies available on demand. Do expect to be whisked away by hook or by crook to another version of Peter Pan’s Neverland. Tambor even has a crocodile shaped landmass front and center in the bay. Tick tock tick tock…

Most of the folks living in Tambor have checked their urgency at the door and choose to roll with the same natural flow that the tides embody. Perhaps this particularly laid-back approach to life is one of the reasons that the area has been identified as one of the five Blue Zones of the world. By the numbers, people live longer on the Nicoya Peninsula.

Both Playa Tambor and San Ramon de Alajuela have tremendous upside. My family and I are plotting a course to enjoy each location as desire and circumstance dictate. Wish us luck, and know that we are available to assist anyone who is like minded and looking for some insider help in making a similar transition. 

Like the song says, “Time’s A’ Wastin’”. 

Joaquin and Reese – Time’s A Wastin

Costa Rica snatched the final World Cup spot by defeating New Zealand on June 14, and will be competing in Qatar. The tournament begins later than usual, due to the extreme heat during the traditional summer months in the Middle East. The 2022 FIFA World Cup kicks off on November 21 and concludes on with the final on December 18. Costa Rica plays in Group E along with Spain, Germany, and Japan. Ticos everywhere are excited to watch their beloved La Sele represent the nation! Read more here: