Scouting Trips in Costa Rica
Find your perfect place before you commit.
Choosing where to live in Costa Rica is one of the most important decisions you’ll make – and it’s not something you want to get wrong. At Your Pura Vida, we design personalized scouting trips that help you experience daily life, connect with communities, and see if a location truly fits your lifestyle, budget, and goals. We teach you how to build a life, not just a trip.
124-point lifestyle assessment to match towns to your needs and goals
Personalized community and neighborhood guides
Recommendations for lodging, transport, and local experiences
Curated points of interest, including shopping, healthcare, dining, activities, and the special things that you're looking for.
Ongoing support before, during, and after your trip
Why Scouting Matters
Almost 40% of newcomers to Costa Rica leave within two years, often because they chose the wrong location or underestimated the realities of daily life. A scouting trip gives you the clarity to make informed, confident decisions before you move. But scouting from a tour bus, ballroom or group isn’t going to help you figure out if you can live here long term. That’s where Your Pura Vida comes in.
How We Help You Scout
Understand Your Needs
We start with our 124-point lifestyle assessment to uncover what matters most to you – and where your dreams and realities align.
Plan with Confidence
We guide you on where to stay, how to get around, and what to see – without locking you into rigid tours or “expat bubble” itineraries.
Explore Like a Local
From markets to medical clinics, we connect you to the everyday essentials that will define your new life.
Keep Us in Your Pocket
We’re available via email and WhatsApp throughout your trip, and we’d love to meet you for a cafecito if you’re in our area.
Before You Fall in Love, See the Full Picture
Your Pura Vida’s scouting trips are about more than showing you pretty views. In this video, we share the moments and questions that often surprise people the most — the realities you can only see when you go beyond the tourist trail. We talk about how we build itineraries that reveal not just where you could live, but how life might actually feel there, day to day. From the unexpected challenges to the moments that seal the deal, this is your inside look at scouting Costa Rica with a local team who tells it like it is.
Ready to make your dreams come true?
It all starts with a free 25-minute video call.
Discover Your Pura Vida
Responsible Relocation Starts Here
Scouting isn’t just about finding a beautiful place, it’s about finding a community you’ll contribute to. At Your Pura Vida, we help you explore with intention, so you can choose a location where you’ll integrate, support local businesses, and live in harmony with Costa Rican culture. We believe relocation should benefit everyone – both you and your new neighbors.
Why Choose Your Pura Vida?
We live here.
Real, on-the-ground experience in multiple regions of Costa Rica.
We’re honest.
No sugarcoating, no one-size-fits-all pitch.
We’re responsible.
Relocation that supports communities and the environment.
We’re immigrants, too.
We help you not make the same mistakes we (and so many others) did.
We empower you.
We give you the tools and confidence to navigate life here on your own.