🌎 My journey to finding home
I was born in Panama in 1974 and raised in Houston, Texas. For as long as I can remember, I knew I wanted to live abroad. I just had to discover where I truly belonged.
By the age of 19, my success in the roofing industry had given me the freedom and resources to travel. That journey took me through 22 countries, each offering a different way of life. Eventually, Costa Rica stood out as the place where I wanted to begin a new chapter.
In 2016, I started visiting regularly, exploring different parts of the country and asking myself one question: Could this be home?
🏖️ The dream I thought I wanted
For years, I pictured myself living by the ocean and running a beach bar. But after 14 years of sobriety, I understood that owning a bar wasn’t the right path for me.
Then, after six months in Jacó, I discovered that beach life wasn’t quite what I had imagined either. The ocean was still beautiful, but the novelty began to fade, and the heat could be uncomfortable.
So I moved to San José and rented an Airbnb in La Sabana: a high-rise penthouse with breathtaking mountain views and spectacular sunsets.
It was beautiful—but I felt lonely.
My routine looked much like the life I had left behind in the United States: get in the car, buy groceries, go to the gym, visit the mall, and occasionally drive to the beach. I was surrounded by an upscale local environment, yet I struggled to feel connected or find my place within it.
🏙️ An unexpected beginning in Barrio Amón
Then I discovered Barrio Amón, in downtown San José. Its mix of local Ticos and Americans offered the connection I had been missing.
I rented an apartment—the very location where these apartments are today. But my first impression was far from promising.
The furniture was outdated. The kitchen and appliances were small. There was no air conditioning, and the street activity at night made me uneasy. Coming from my penthouse, I wondered whether I could ever feel comfortable there.
It took me six weeks to finally spend a night in the apartment.
That first night brought a small surprise: without air conditioning, the room was pleasantly cool. Something I had considered essential suddenly seemed unnecessary.
It was the first of many lessons about what I actually needed to feel at home.
🚶 Discovering the city—and myself
For nearly a year, I stayed within a familiar four-block radius. Little by little, I ventured farther.
I discovered local restaurants, watched everyday life unfold around me, and began getting to know the people who made the neighborhood what it was. Another important discovery was Hospital Clínica Bíblica.
For me, access to affordable healthcare opened the door to things I had wanted to prioritize for years: dental care, physical therapy, blood work, psychological support, and appointments with specialists.
I began investing in self-care and personal growth. Those appointments gave me reasons to leave the apartment, walk through the city, try different restaurants, and learn how my new surroundings worked.
I learned where to buy groceries, found a gym that felt like home, and built friendships with Costa Ricans and fellow Americans.
What began as an unfamiliar neighborhood slowly became my community.
🏡 Choosing a different kind of life
After four years of renting here, I knew I wanted to stay permanently.
My idea of happiness had changed dramatically. The things I once thought I needed no longer mattered in the same way. I sold my beautiful four-bedroom home in the United States and purchased these apartments.
My vision was simple: bring some of the comforts I appreciated back home and combine them with the character and everyday life of Barrio Amón.
🤝 Becoming part of the neighborhood
My first priority was helping guests feel safe and welcome.
I installed lighting on my property and neighboring homes, painted the houses and businesses along my block, and added security cameras.
I also spent time talking with people on the streets at night, trying to understand their lives and circumstances. I treated them with respect and offered help when I could.
Over time, I began to see positive changes. What I hadn’t realized was that, through those everyday efforts, I was becoming part of the community.
Those improvements attracted the attention of local officials, and I was invited to speak at community meetings and neighborhood association gatherings.
A year later, the area felt safer and more welcoming. More businesses were moving in, while local government supported improvements to parks, sidewalks, street lighting, and police patrols.
💚 Finding more than a place to live
I came to Costa Rica looking for my place in the world. I never expected that the search would lead me to this apartment, this block, and this community.
Becoming involved in Barrio Amón wasn’t part of my original plan, but it has given me a deep sense of satisfaction and purpose.
Today, sharing these apartments means more to me than offering a comfortable stay. It is a chance to welcome you into the neighborhood that changed my life—and help you discover what makes it special.
Welcome to Barrio Amón. I look forward to welcoming you.
— Carlos