By 2019, we were no longer the wide-eyed newcomers who had stumbled off a plane with dreams and uncertainty. We'd become something else entirely - "locals" who still maintained our sense of wonder, business owners who never forgot we were living someone else's vacation dream, and seasoned Costa Rica Expats who were just getting started with real exploration.

This was our second season in paradise, and it looked nothing like the first.

The Fishing Continues

"Good morning, been a couple weeks since I've done a video here," I announced that morning at Carrillo, camera in hand as we prepared for another fishing adventure. By now, we knew the drill - or at least we thought we did. Behdad and Michelle were in town staying with us, Dennis would inevitably get a little seasick, and Jayden was skipping school again because, honestly, some educations can't happen in a classroom.

The boat was smaller this time, which meant no bathroom and some creative problem-solving when nature called. "Jayden has to pee in a bucket," I explained matter-of-factly to the camera, because this was just life now. We'd moved far beyond worrying about maintaining dignity when adventure was calling.

We caught some fish close to shore - nothing huge, but enough to feel accomplished. Then we headed back out to try Behdad's jigs for bigger catches. The bouncing around was intense, but by evening we were back on shore with quite a bit of fish, including some black tuna none of us had ever tried before. "We got some jacks" I noted, already planning the week's meals around our fresh catch.

This wasn't just fishing anymore - it was how we lived.

ATV Adventures and New Beaches

The next adventure came in the form of quad bikes and unexplored coastline. Behdad and Michelle were still visiting for Michelle's birthday, so we thought we'd show them parts of Costa Rica they'd never seen. "We're going to stop at the little beach that's after Playa Barrigona, get some lunch and see what else we can find as far as crazy roads," I explained as we suited up at Samara Hot Rentals.

Ronnie had become our go-to guy for quad rentals, always giving our guests better prices because, well, that's how business worked when you actually lived somewhere instead of just visiting. His Hondas were new, fully automatic with semi-automatic options for those who wanted more control over their adventure.

The beach north of Barrigona turned out to be a fishing paradise - lots of rocks and reef where red snappers would hide, pelicans hanging out like they owned the place. "I think we're going to maybe try and come here while Behdad and Michelle are here," I mused, already mentally planning the next expedition.

But the real discovery was the drive itself. Forty minutes of winding dirt roads through countryside that shifted from dry to green as we climbed, past cattle farms and coffee plantations.

Guiones and Nosara

The town of Guiones had become a regular stop, a place to check out shops and grab lunch at La Luna in Playa Pelada, where Mediterranean-style food met beachfront views. "We've been here a few times," I noted as we settled in for lunch, "it's right on the beach so you get a good view of the ocean here at Playa Pelada."

This was what our second year looked like - places that had been discoveries were now regular stops, unknown roads had become familiar routes, and nervous tourist adventures had evolved into confident local knowledge.

The drive to Nosara along the coastal highway had also become routine, though no less spectacular. We'd stop for drinks, wave at locals who now recognized us, and appreciate how this bumpy, challenging road had become just another part of our normal life.

The Coastal Road to Playa Coyote

Some adventures never got old, like the journey down the Nicoya Coastal Highway to Playa Coyote. "Good morning, gonna go another little adventure," I announced one morning, loading up with Behdad and Michelle for what had become one of our favorite day trips.

The routine was familiar now - stop early to fix any car issues (this time a leaking tire), stock up on drinks in Islita, and brace ourselves for the bumpy coastal road that most tourists avoided. But we'd learned that the best beaches in Costa Rica weren't the ones with easy access.

Playa Coyote rewarded the effort every time. "Maybe there's two other people on the beach other than us," I marveled, setting up our spot on what felt like our own private piece of paradise. The sand was so hot it burned your toes, but the isolation was complete. "It's just not like a super touristy beach so you get your own little piece of the beach here."

Playa Garza and Mountain Views

Our exploration had expanded to include Playa Garza, where we'd meet up with friends and then head to their rental house up in the mountains. The beach itself was beautiful - a nice shaped bay with manageable waves and rocks on both ends that promised good fishing. But the real treasure was the house our friends Chris and Katia were renting up above Garza.

"This is a cool house they rent, it's up above Garza," I explained as we toured the open-air design that breathed with the mountain air. The whole front opened up, creating seamless indoor-outdoor living with views that stretched from Garza to Guiones. It was exactly the kind of place that made you understand why people changed their entire lives to live in Costa Rica.

Date Night at Samara Pacific Lodge

By now, we'd also established relationships with other local businesses. Samara Pacific Lodge, just around the corner from Sea Casa, had become our go-to for date nights. "They allow us to have our guests use their pool for 1,500 colones or three dollars," I explained, "and they do also have a restaurant so they've invited us over to enjoy a meal."

The changing menu concept fascinated us - something different every few nights, always fresh, always evolving. It represented everything we loved about Costa Rica: the willingness to adapt, the focus on freshness over convenience, the way local businesses supported each other.

Sitting on their little lounge deck by the pool, watching the lights reflect in the water, we realized how far we'd come from those first nervous months of wondering if we'd made the right decision.

San Juanillo: The Discovery That Never Gets Old

The road to Playa San Juanillo remained brutal - rough enough that we'd blown our right front strut making the journey - but the destinationwas worth it. After navigating multiple river crossings, some with bridges and some without, we'd arrive at what might be Costa Rica's most spectacular beach.

"We drove so far we actually made it to Rio de Janeiro," Blaine joked, reading the bus destination sign, "that's on the bus in Costa Rica." The journey felt epic, but the reward was worth it.

The Buddha Hotel restaurant provided the perfect lunch spot before we headed to the beach itself, which curved out like a dolphin tail with water on both sides. "It's busier than I thought," I noted on our visit, "cars everywhere, people everywhere, a lot of Costa Ricans hanging out enjoying the sun on this Sunday."

But busy for Costa Rica still meant having most of a spectacular beach almost to ourselves. The boys would always find a cave to explore, and we'd climb the little mountain at the end for viewpoints that made the challenging drive seem insignificant.

Mountain Towns and Coffee Culture

Our exploration had also expanded inland to places like Hojancha, a mountain town with a really nice park that we'd decided to visit for a belated birthday celebration. "Yesterday was my birthday, the boys were in school so we didn't get to do anything with them," I explained as we loaded up for the drive.

The coffee plantation just outside town offered tastings that educated us about the local industry. "This one's Peaberry," the guide explained, watching Jaden tentatively try coffee for the first time. The whole experience - from watching the process to sampling different varieties - deepened our appreciation for how Costa Rica's agricultural heritage shaped daily life.

The town itself, with its neat central park and organized streets, provided a glimpse into Costa Rica beyond the beaches. These inland communities operated on different rhythms, centered around agriculture and local commerce rather than tourism.

Waterfalls and Natural Wonders

Belén Waterfall had become one of our go-to recommendations for guests, close enough to Sea Casa for a half-day adventure but spectacular enough to feel like a real discovery. "It's just on the road to Nicoya, 25 minutes from Samara, easy drive, it's on the highway," I'd explain to visitors.

The trail had improved since our first visit - they'd carved a new zigzag path that made the descent much easier than the original straight-down route. Local people had built benches and shade areas, creating a more comfortable experience for everyone.

"The waterfall's definitely flowing a lot better this time than it was last time," I noted during rainy season. "Last time we came I think it's January or February and it was just trickling." The seasonal changes had taught us to time our recommendations based on what guests wanted to experience.

Embassy Adventures

Not every adventure was recreational. Our damaged passport situation had forced a quick trip to San José, turning bureaucratic necessity into travel content. "We're on a quad adventure one day and the rain soaked them," I explained as we prepared for the embassy visit, "so now we get to go to San José and get that sorted out."

The process was expensive - $190 per adult for five-year passports, $100 for Jaden's, plus a $50 fee for calling our guarantors - but it was also educational. We filmed the whole experience, from finding the photo studio to filling out endless paperwork, creating a resource for other expats who might face similar situations.

The trip also gave us a chance to explore downtown San José, including the Central Market that reminded us of Granville Island back home. These practical necessities had become opportunities to share more of Costa Rica with our audience.

Wildlife Conservation and Ocean Adventures

Our second year had also deepened our connection to Costa Rica's conservation efforts. The Macaw Recovery Network (formerly the Ara Project) provided an afternoon of education about bird rehabilitation that went far beyond simple tourism. "They're planting trees too, which is cool," I noted, "native trees that the birds like, so they got a nursery where they're starting to grow those and then plant them into the wild as well."

The ocean adventures with Octopus Tours had become regular events, especially during humpback whale season. "End of August, September, and I don't know if they do the tours in October because it does get rainy, you're more guaranteed to see the humpback whales coming through," I explained to guests planning their visits.

These weren't just tour activities anymore - they were part of our community involvement, our way of supporting local conservation efforts while sharing Costa Rica's natural wonders with visitors.

Camaronal: The Natural Beach

Playa Camaronal represented a different side of Costa Rica's coastline - more natural, less developed, but also more challenging. "The waves are very strong here so it's not a swimming friendly beach," I warned viewers, "it's more just kind of come out here and hang out."

The turtle conservation area added educational value, though we learned it was also a no-fly zone for drones due to the nearby airport. "There's an airport or old airport in Playa Carrillo and it runs kind of parallel to the beach where the no-fly zone is," I explained after being unable to get aerial footage.

The beach itself, covered with turtle nests and eggshells, provided tangible evidence of Costa Rica's role as a crucial wildlife corridor. It was rawer and less Instagram-perfect than our other beach destinations, but that authenticity had its own appeal.

Border Runs and Regional Exploration

By 2019, our visa runs had evolved from anxious necessities into opportunities for regional exploration. The trip to Granada, Nicaragua, had become a well-planned adventure rather than a bureaucratic obligation. "Good morning, today we're going to Granada," I announced with confidence that would have been impossible during our first nervous border crossing.

The colonial city offered incredible value - $50 US for a three-bedroom Airbnb that would have cost triple that in Costa Rica - and food prices that reminded us how expensive Costa Rica had become. "Filet mignon is $16.50," I marveled at El Zaguan restaurant, "so it's still reasonable here."

The boat tour around Lake Nicaragua's islands provided education about the region's volcanic history while offering opportunities to see property for sale at prices that seemed almost fictional. "This island here's for sale," our guide mentioned casually, "five hundred thousand US if anybody's looking."

The active Masaya Volcano delivered exactly the kind of adventure that made bureaucratic trips worthwhile. Standing on the edge of an active volcanic crater, watching lava bubble like water, provided perspective that no amount of paperwork could match.

Celebrating in Paradise

By New Year's Eve 2019, our celebrations had taken on a distinctly Costa Rican flavor. Instead of crowded bars or expensive parties, we were sitting on Samara beach with chairs and friends, watching fireworks burst over the Pacific while kids played in the sand around us.

"We got a special guest, Manny, our new friend," I introduced one of the locals who'd become part of our extended Samara family. "He's been coming to Samara longer than us, he's been watching our videos, he says we're inspirational."

This was what integration looked like - not just living in a place, but becoming part of its community, celebrating its rhythms, and having local friends who saw us as more than temporary residents.

The Evolution Continues

Looking back through these adventures, what strikes me most is how different our third year looked from our first. We were no longer discovering Costa Rica - we were living it. Our videos had evolved from "look what we found" to "here's what we recommend" and "let us show you how to do this right."

The nervous energy of early expatriate life had settled into comfortable confidence. We knew which restaurants to recommend, which roads required four-wheel drive, which seasons offered the best wildlife viewing, and which tours provided genuine value versus tourist traps.

But we'd managed this transition without losing our sense of wonder. Every beach still felt like a discovery, every sunset still deserved documentation, and every adventure still carried the possibility of surprise.

Season Two had taught us that successful expatriate life isn't about recreating home in a new place - it's about allowing that new place to recreate you. We were still the same family, but we'd become the Costa Rican version of ourselves, shaped by Pacific sunsets, mountain roads, volcanic adventures, and the kind of community connections that only develop when you commit to truly living somewhere rather than just visiting it.

The cameras kept rolling because the story kept evolving, and we were beginning to understand that some adventures don't have endpoints - they just have deeper chapters.

These adventures and more are documented in our complete 2019 Costa Rica Adventures playlist on YouTube, where you can experience each discovery as it happened - from dawn fishing expeditions to volcanic crater encounters to quiet beach moments that remind you why some people completely change their lives for paradise.