Surviving Costa Rica's 7.6 Earthquake: Our Beach House Housesitting Adventure
This summer, we transitioned from housesitting in Mexico—where we dodged Hurricane Ernesto—to our next gig in Costa Rica, arriving just in time for the long-anticipated “Big One.” The 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck intensely, lasting about 60 seconds—an eternity as the ground shook beneath us. We'd settled into the beach house the day before and joined the homeowners in a barefoot dash across the gravel driveway.
For the next two months, we're minding a surfer family's home from the U.S. We feel completely secure, as the house withstood the quake flawlessly—not a single cup, plate, or picture shifted—unlike some local homes that were devastated and a supermarket resembling an apocalypse scene.
Life remains idyllic by the beach, but the vibe is worlds apart from Mexico's Caribbean glare. Here, Pacific waves crash distantly from our hilltop perch, 500m from the shore amid lush tropical jungle. Howler monkeys feast, play, and howl beside the infinity pool, greeting us at dawn and delighting us all day.
A new companion has joined us: an adorable mutt with a Napoleon complex who rules the roost. I bonded instantly, but Dani was still grieving our previous dog from Mexico—their two-month connection was our longest yet and deeply special.
We also cherished two months with new Kiwi friends, though a break benefits our beer habits! Our beach routine kicked off with sunrise dog walks, winding down with snorkeling or dinners with the Kiwis as our stay progressed.
Three weeks in, cabin fever hit; by eight weeks, we could've stayed longer.
One upgrade shines brightest: we're grid-connected! Lights and fans run freely, no solar battery worries or lugging generators. Internet bliss after 350MB daily limits—Pinterest (50MB in 20 minutes), Spotify, podcasts, and YouTube are back. Monkeys, infinity pool, and our pup make it perfect!
Questions about global housesitting? We're eager to share our expertise and tips.
