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Let’s get this out of the way right now: Costa Rica is paradise — but it’s not a bug‑free paradise. If you’re terrified of insects, you might want to reconsider your tropical dream before you start packing your flip‑flops.
I’ve lived here long enough to tell you the truth that most relocation blogs won’t: bugs are part of the deal. They were here long before you, and they’re not going anywhere. Now I sell property in Escazu and Santa Ana, and some will have bugs when you move in.
Welcome to the Jungle (Literally)
Costa Rica is lush, green, and alive — which means everything else is alive too. You’ll find ants that march like armies and leave your garden bare of leaves, geckos that chirp louder than your phone notifications, and moths the size of small drones.
And yes, sometimes they’ll visit your home. Not because they hate you — but because you built your house in their neighborhood.
Our arrival
In 1980, we were moving to Costa Rica with the whole family; mom & dad, my two little sisters, my brother, and I. We arrived with a lot of suitcases because the container with our household would take about 3 months to arrive. My dad had rented this guesthouse located at the far end of a coffee farm in Salitral de Santa Ana, quite a bit away from the main house. The guesthouse was a cute semi-furnished A-frame built of cement board, surrounded by coffee fields with some clusters of banana trees thrown in here and there for shade. Of course, we didn’t know that the banana trees attracted these hairy monster spiders.
Like a horror movie
There were 6 of us and not enough beds. Therefore, there were some mattresses on the floors in the 2nd bedroom. Us kids were to spend the night on those. This was fine as we were used to camping in France and Spain.
In the middle of the night, one of my sisters wakes us up by screaming like in a horror movie. I switch on the light and there is this huge monster spider sitting on the wall. Right next to her. My brother grabs the first thing he sees. A mop that was still sitting there after we cleaned up a bit before going to sleep and takes a swing. We never figured out if the monster was dead or escaped.
What we did see was a monster hole in the wall. My God, that was a big hole…in the cement board wall.
The Good News: Most Bugs Don’t Care About You
The above story is a long time ago. The Central Valley is now much more city than it was then. Nonetheless, here’s the thing: most of these creatures are harmless. They’re not plotting against you. They’re just doing their thing — eating, flying, crawling, and occasionally photobombing your dinner.
- Geckos: Your unpaid pest control team. Keep them.
- Ants: They’ll find that one crumb you missed.
- Mosquitoes: Annoying, yes. Deadly, rarely.
- Scorpions: They look scary, but most stings are mild.
- Cockroaches: The universal survivors. Even paradise has them.
If you can handle that, you’ll be fine.
How Locals Deal With It
Ticos don’t panic. They grab a broom, spray a little insecticide, and move on with life. Ticos don’t post dramatic photos of a spider on Facebook with the caption “Costa Rica tried to kill me.”
They understand that living in the tropics means sharing space — respectfully — with nature.
How You Can Deal With It
If you’re moving here, here’s your survival guide, short and concise:
- Seal your home well. Gaps are invitations.
- Keep food sealed. Ants are detectives.
- Use screens. They’re only optional for locals.
- Hire fumigation services. It’s normal here.
- Relax. You’ll get used to it faster than you think.
And if you can’t? Maybe Costa Rica isn’t your match — and that’s okay. There are plenty of beautiful places with fewer legs per square meter.
Perspective: Paradise Has a Price
Every country has its quirks. In Canada, you shovel snow. In Arizona, you melt. While in Costa Rica, you coexist with bugs.
But here, you also wake up to birdsong, swim in warm water year‑round, and watch sunsets that make you forget everything else — even that ant trail on your counter.
Final Thought
If you’re scared of bugs, don’t move to Costa Rica. But if you can laugh about them, learn to live with them, and appreciate the wild beauty that comes with them — you’ll fit right in.
Because paradise isn’t perfect. It’s just real.
I am Ivo Henfling, the founder of GoDutch Realty, now with Coldwell Banker, widely regarded as the leading real estate authority in Costa Rica. Did you enjoy my topic today? Then feel free to leave your comments on this blog, share it on your social media, or contact me to purchase a property. Would you like a Zoom meeting with me?
