Living in Costa Rica and Creating the Arenal Botanical Gardens, Tiliran, Costa Rica

This short story is about Doug Ward’s life in Costa Rica.   Doug  came from Miami, Fla  on a vacation and instantly fell in love with Costa Rica.  He bought a farm, transformed it into a Tropical Botanical Garden, and opened it to tourist to learn and enjoy.

Written by Doug:  I first came here to Costa Rica’s  first international orchid show in 1986 on one of those 4 day/3 night adventures. It was in March.
I returned in July and spent six weeks cruising around the whole country.
It took five hours to get from Boyeros ( stop light in Liberia) to Flamingo and I had to un-stick the Land Rover twice with a winch to get there !
On my way back to SJ; I passed through Tilaran and spent the night in Cabinas Los Lagos.Rode dirt roads to view the lava that night.
I told myself “this is where I retire”.
20 years despues….I DID !  Pura Vida!

Yes. I consider this area of Tiliran to Be Costa Rica’s  Pura Vida without the need of living in a cage.
I have a greenhouse, several garden areas, uncountable varieties of fruit trees, rabbits, meat chickens, egg laying hens, meat chickens, a small pig pen. I moved here to live like a Tico.
I have zero interest in PriceMart or Multiplaza.

I’m bringing some hams and also a beef brisket to make some corned beef this morning.
Come on by.

As to the wood for my projects, two Cabins and my house… It was harvested in the farm below me.I paid a good price but made the old guy some nice outdoor furniture( Adirondack chairs) as part of the deal.

This is what Doug had to say about living in the countryside–outside of the Central Valley area of San Jose and Alajuela:

WOW. You need to get out of the Central Valley. I pay 4200 a kilo for lomito de res, my cleaning girl is 850 colones an hour. My mechanic charges 2500 an hour, works fast and is good. The Honda shop in Miami charges $60 an hour and they’re morons.
Put that water heater on a timer. I only run mine from 5 to 530 AM and can still take a fairly warm shower at 8pm..
I recently finished a cabin. It’s all tricked out with hand made cedar doors, windows and furniture, etched glass,custom plaster ceilings with exposed beams. Italian ceramic, REAL plumbing and electric, alarm.
$42 / sf- turn key with dishes, coffee maker, stove, fridge and a new 32 inch TV.

Sounds like a real “Pura Vida” Doug!