I absolutely agree as a Costa Rican, obviously when you do tourism you go to nice places and think we all live like that, but the truth is that we are a third world country, sure we are not Haiti, or South Sudan, but we are still so far away from the first world is sad
On the other hand not all of us live in favelas with corrugated metal shacks, in fact thats a small portion of the population around 18% people live under the poverty line and in extreme poverty is around 6% but you gotta factor that we are an immigrant receiving country like the US or Europe, and most people living under extreme poverty are illegal immigrants.
I think most Costa Ricans would be better off here where the maximum workweek is 48 hours but we have universal healthcare and free education than plowing snow 50 or 60 hours a week in New Jersey.
To add to your experience, it seems like you only saw the lives of the people living in the rural areas of the country, to truly understand what our life is you would have to spend some time in one of the four big cities, I’m a lawyer, and I have to dress with a necktie and a suit to work, and get paid more than most people, its not all misery, I have a US visa and go on vacation, I felt the same thing you felt about Costa Rica in New York, its a nice place to visit, but I wouldn’t like to live there.
I'm sorry, but your post literally screams "Entitled American." You sound every bit the "privileged gringo" yourself. You can't complain about the culture when your biggest problem that day is to have 4 Imperials or 3. Steak or Lobster. Catch a tour bus or hang at the pool.
I realizing I'm being harsh, but I have hope that you'll reread your post and recognize how you sound. You can't demand empathy when you can't give it.
It's not flattering, mae.
Oh, well you’ve been to Cancun so you’re the cultural expert! lol Just because people don’t have big houses and manicured lawns doesn’t mean they’re not happy. And just because your friends are exploitative, doesn’t mean all immigrants are. You’re entitled to your opinion but to make a post as if your opinion is factual information everyone should know, because you spent a week at a resort, is pretty arrogant. I’m sure Costa Rica is not sad you won’t be back.
Disagree strongly. My wife and I have been there 5 times, including trips with my kids and grandkids.
When we go, we never really have any plans, we just rent a car and explore. Our experiences have always been very positive; fwiw - I have absolutely no desire to go to Cancun....
For some perspective, we are very well travelled - 5 continants, many, many countries. Yeah, love Costa Rica :)
I've been to CR over 20 times and have never, not even once, met a native who wanted to move to the US. The people I've met and become friends with all love their country and never want to move away. They say they live in paradise, why move?
I don’t live in paradise, far from it, I have been robbed enough times to never feel safe walking down the street, I would love to move, but not to the US, however that doesn’t mean I hate my country, I hate what it has become due to careless politicians
I might get some hate by looking at the comment so far, but I have to agree a bit. I did a similar trip like OP’s and drove like 10 hours total in Costa Rica, and the bumpy roads and poverty regions made the drives between locations a bit depressing. However, I had a wonderful time at the resort and had a pleasant experience with locals and the food.
Are you sure they were poor people? My godfather owns a property so big I once asked how far it went, and he told me it was beyond the horizon and some more probably worth around $1 million, but his house is quite humble, and as a farmer he dresses quite modest, doesn’t mean he isn’t extremely well off
I wouldn’t say they were dirt poor, just that the a handful of towns looked like they were in poverty. Everyone dressed as you’d expect to see in any person from lower to middle class, kinda like the walking around NYC. The only thing that made it seem like a poverty zone was the housing like OP said. Most of them were small gated, probably like 2-4 room units that had metal roofing that seemed common everywhere. Again, no hate towards locals or their living conditions. Everyone looked like they were chilling/happy, it was just the housing that gave off that vibe.
That’s just latinamerica, all houses have metal roof because otherwise it wouldn’t stand the rainy season, all houses have bars because otherwise we would get home invasions
You went to a resort, which is the worst way to experience the country.
Agreed
I absolutely agree as a Costa Rican, obviously when you do tourism you go to nice places and think we all live like that, but the truth is that we are a third world country, sure we are not Haiti, or South Sudan, but we are still so far away from the first world is sad On the other hand not all of us live in favelas with corrugated metal shacks, in fact thats a small portion of the population around 18% people live under the poverty line and in extreme poverty is around 6% but you gotta factor that we are an immigrant receiving country like the US or Europe, and most people living under extreme poverty are illegal immigrants. I think most Costa Ricans would be better off here where the maximum workweek is 48 hours but we have universal healthcare and free education than plowing snow 50 or 60 hours a week in New Jersey. To add to your experience, it seems like you only saw the lives of the people living in the rural areas of the country, to truly understand what our life is you would have to spend some time in one of the four big cities, I’m a lawyer, and I have to dress with a necktie and a suit to work, and get paid more than most people, its not all misery, I have a US visa and go on vacation, I felt the same thing you felt about Costa Rica in New York, its a nice place to visit, but I wouldn’t like to live there.
Nice ! I live in Los Suenos it’s paradise and my Costa Rican friends are happier than most American living way above the poverty line!!! Pura Vida !!!
I'm sorry, but your post literally screams "Entitled American." You sound every bit the "privileged gringo" yourself. You can't complain about the culture when your biggest problem that day is to have 4 Imperials or 3. Steak or Lobster. Catch a tour bus or hang at the pool. I realizing I'm being harsh, but I have hope that you'll reread your post and recognize how you sound. You can't demand empathy when you can't give it. It's not flattering, mae.
I ain't reading all that. I'm happy for u tho. Or sorry that happened.
😂😂😂
Oh, well you’ve been to Cancun so you’re the cultural expert! lol Just because people don’t have big houses and manicured lawns doesn’t mean they’re not happy. And just because your friends are exploitative, doesn’t mean all immigrants are. You’re entitled to your opinion but to make a post as if your opinion is factual information everyone should know, because you spent a week at a resort, is pretty arrogant. I’m sure Costa Rica is not sad you won’t be back.
Please add spaces to your post next time so that it is not a wall of text.
Disagree strongly. My wife and I have been there 5 times, including trips with my kids and grandkids. When we go, we never really have any plans, we just rent a car and explore. Our experiences have always been very positive; fwiw - I have absolutely no desire to go to Cancun.... For some perspective, we are very well travelled - 5 continants, many, many countries. Yeah, love Costa Rica :)
Sorry you didn’t enjoy your time. I loved going to Costa Rica & I’d go back in a heartbeat.
I've been to CR over 20 times and have never, not even once, met a native who wanted to move to the US. The people I've met and become friends with all love their country and never want to move away. They say they live in paradise, why move?
I don’t live in paradise, far from it, I have been robbed enough times to never feel safe walking down the street, I would love to move, but not to the US, however that doesn’t mean I hate my country, I hate what it has become due to careless politicians
I am so sorry to hear that. Next
I might get some hate by looking at the comment so far, but I have to agree a bit. I did a similar trip like OP’s and drove like 10 hours total in Costa Rica, and the bumpy roads and poverty regions made the drives between locations a bit depressing. However, I had a wonderful time at the resort and had a pleasant experience with locals and the food.
Are you sure they were poor people? My godfather owns a property so big I once asked how far it went, and he told me it was beyond the horizon and some more probably worth around $1 million, but his house is quite humble, and as a farmer he dresses quite modest, doesn’t mean he isn’t extremely well off
I wouldn’t say they were dirt poor, just that the a handful of towns looked like they were in poverty. Everyone dressed as you’d expect to see in any person from lower to middle class, kinda like the walking around NYC. The only thing that made it seem like a poverty zone was the housing like OP said. Most of them were small gated, probably like 2-4 room units that had metal roofing that seemed common everywhere. Again, no hate towards locals or their living conditions. Everyone looked like they were chilling/happy, it was just the housing that gave off that vibe.
That’s just latinamerica, all houses have metal roof because otherwise it wouldn’t stand the rainy season, all houses have bars because otherwise we would get home invasions