Saying “YES” more often in Costa Rica

Saying “YES” more often in Costa Rica is like discovering a hidden superpower.

Skip's point of view

For Skip, the proud expat adventurer from the USA, that magical little word has become his new favorite toy. Back home, the wildest thing he said “YES” to was ordering dessert on a weekday.

But now he’s here in Costa Rica — where people say “YES” to last-minute beach trips, mystery foods, zip-lining through jungles, and dancing like nobody is watching (even though everyone most definitely is). Skip quickly learned that “YES” usually leads to either excitement or a hilarious story… often both.

One sunny morning, Skip said “YES” when a local invited him on a “short” hike. The word “short” turned out to be subjective — like, mountain-goats-need-ropes-and-Oxygen subjective. He climbed, slipped, climbed again, questioned his life choices… but when he reached the top and stared out at waterfalls that looked like they’d been Photoshopped by angels, Skip realized that “YES” was changing his life. Also, a guy with a machete offered him fresh coconut water — Skip said “YES,” and now considers machete guy family.

Skip has learned that “YES” to Costa Rican food comes with equal parts culinary joy and digestive suspense. One night, someone handed him a shot of chiliguaro, and before he could Google what it was, his mouth shouted “YES” for him. Then he said “YES” to dancing salsa — even though his hips were about as coordinated as two shopping carts crashing into each other. But hey, he survived, everyone laughed with him (not at him… mostly), and he made three lifelong friends who now call him “EsKeeep.”

Meanwhile, over in Santa Cruz, we meet Teresita — a proud Tica and Skip’s unofficial Costa Rica tour guide. She absolutely LOVES watching newcomers embrace “YES.” To her, Skip’s enthusiasm is like observing a baby iguana discovering how its legs work — unsteady, but ambitious. When she invites him to a big family pachanga and he nervously agrees, she knows he’s about to meet 47 aunts who will insist he try ALL the food. And if he politely says “no más,” they simply smile and serve him more anyway.

Teresita especially giggles when Skip says “YES” to surfing. She watches him wobble on the board like a tall flamingo wearing flip-flops, swallow half the Pacific, and return to shore proudly claiming, “I stood up for a full second!” She cheers loudest because in Costa Rica, style doesn’t matter — effort does. But let’s be honest, the wipeouts are pure entertainment.

In the end, Skip and Teresita both agree: saying “YES” opens the door to the best parts of Costa Rica — the friendships, the fiestas, the laughter, the sunsets that melt into the sea like butter on a hot tortilla. Skip’s world keeps expanding, his smile keeps growing, and his social calendar is now so full that Google Calendar can’t keep up.

And every time he says “YES,” Costa Rica whispers to him and Teresita both: “Welcome to the joy zone… sunscreen recommended.

Tere's point of view

Ay, Skip! Look at you now!

When you first arrived in Costa Rica, you were so careful, so reserved — like a little turtle peeking out of its shell, afraid to get too much sand on its nose. But now? NOW you're diving into the ocean like a Tico born and raised! And yes, that Pacific Sea really IS like butter on a hot tortilla — smooth, warm, and absolutely irresistible. See? We've been trying to tell you!

But here's what Skip doesn't mention in his parte: In Costa Rica, we don't just say "yes" to the beach or to the sunshine. We say YES to PEOPLE. We say yes to the neighbor who invites us for café. Yes to the friend who needs help moving furniture. Yes to the cousin's birthday party even though we just saw them last week. Yes to life, yes to connection, yes to being TOGETHER.

This is what happens when a gringo finally understands *Pura Vida* isn't just a cute phrase on a bumper sticker — it's a lifestyle! It's choosing joy over schedule. It's choosing people over productivity. It's understanding that the best moments in life don't come from your to-do list... they come from saying "¡Sí, vamos!" (Yes, let's go!)

Skip's Google Calendar is crying because in Tico culture, we don't really "schedule" friendship — we LIVE it. Someone calls? We answer. Someone stops by? We make coffee. Someone needs us? We show up. That's just how we roll down here.

And watching Skip transform from cautious turtle to full-on beach-loving, party-attending, socially-thriving Tico?

It makes my heart so happy I could cry into my gallo pinto!

So yes, Skip — keep saying YES. Keep letting Costa Rica wrap you in its warm embrace like butter melting into that tortilla. Keep expanding your world, your smile, your calendar.

Just don't forget the sunscreen, mae. Because sunburns are NOT very Pura Vida!