Swiss woman builds mini house in Costa Rica mountains

Karin Risi (28) discovered her love of travel at the age of 16 while studying languages ​​in Australia. “I also traveled to Costa Rica in 2019 and fell in love with it,” Blick says. Risi praises wild hills, steppe-like pastures, rain and dry forests, and lush and diverse nature. From waterfalls and countless palm and sandy beaches in the Caribbean and Pacific Seas in the small Central American country of Costa Rica.

Make plans for immigration

Risi completed a Spanish course in Costa Rica and then toured the country with her then-boyfriend. She met a Swiss woman who immigrated here. “I couldn’t get her out of my mind,” says the skilled caregiver, who completed her training at a day care center in Ethiopia before working in a day care center and then traveling to Asia.

Immigration was not an option for her boyfriend, especially since he had just started his own company. But for Risi, the plan became more and more concrete. Especially when a fellow rider from Switzerland told him he was moving to Costa Rica with his family.

Soon after, Risi and her boyfriend decided to go their separate ways. Risi and her colleague, who also trained as an equestrian therapist, made immigration plans for herself and her horses. “It wasn’t that easy,” she explains. In Germany, the two women later found a company that took care of the transport and permits of the horses.

Search land on site

For Risi’s parents, their daughter’s immigration plan did not come as a surprise. “They knew how much I love to travel and they were happy for me. Although my mother didn’t expect me to execute my plan so quickly,” says Risi. Risi traveled to Costa Rica with her colleague at the beginning of September and has lived on the Pacific side in the state of Guanacaste ever since.

For the first time, he lived with his colleague’s family, with his horse arriving almost two months later due to the mandatory quarantine. “I wanted to look around first and then decide where to settle,” says Risi. He found what he was looking for, with a four-hectare property in the immediate vicinity with its own spring and waterfall, several fruit trees and sea views. “Ideal for my horse and me! I was enthusiastic from the start,” Risi says enthusiastically.

The Swiss woman bought the rugged property in the mountains of the Nicoya Peninsula for US$70,000. She has planned her little dream house and a horse stable here. She rents out her property in the village of Altos del Socorro, about 30 minutes away, until she’s ready to move in.

construction challenges

Construction of Risi’s mini-house started at the end of February 2022. The same contractor who already worked for Swiss family friends was responsible for the construction. Karin Risi, whom everyone calls Carina in her new home, met her a few weeks after her arrival. The Swiss soon announced that sparks broke out between the two. She is a horse lover like nature and animal lover Karin Risi. In addition to her own horse Lionel, her horse Lola has also found a place in the Swiss woman’s new stables and Risi takes care of them every day.

As the horses have already moved in, Karin Risi’s move to her new home in December has been delayed again. “The biggest challenge was the weather. The facility was previously a cow pasture. “There was no road and it wasn’t even possible to lift the excavator and work in the rainy season,” says Risi. He hopes to finally be able to move into his own home by the end of January. “Everything is going a little slower here and nothing really can be planned. If it rains in the morning, you won’t be working even if the sun shines again in the afternoon,” Risi explains with a laugh.

Outdoor mini house with garden for personal use

The two-story gallery house is fully open except for the bathroom. Large windows provide light and a great view. “It’s the smallest possible house in this type of construction here, but that alone is enough for me,” says the Swiss. The mini house will cost you around CHF 50,000.

On fertile soils, coffee and cocoa trees grow as well as oranges, bananas and avocados. The farmer’s daughter plans to set up a vegetable garden for her own use. “I already have some experience from our farm in Switzerland, but the climatic conditions here are different and I have to try what’s possible first.”

He drives about twice a week to go shopping on the rather adventurous roads leading to the village of Hojancha. It takes about an hour to reach Samara Beach. The Swiss woman likes to spend time here when she is not riding or working.

Work and free time in new home

The Swiss woman earns her living through online coaching and advice. Among other things, for those who, like Risi, want to fulfill their dreams of living in Costa Rica. Switzerland now knows the country and its people well and knows what to look for when buying land and real estate, and in which regions you can still find affordable land.

Karin Risi’s family from Switzerland is currently visiting for a few weeks. The daughter is accordingly happy and above all takes the time to show her parents her new home. The young woman does not intend to return to Switzerland. She carelessly says: “I’m living my dream right now in Costa Rica and I’m incredibly grateful for that. Who knows what the future will hold.”