When people see our adventures on Peligro Life, one of the biggest questions we get is:
“How do you afford to travel full-time?” or “What do you do for work?”
The truth is, we’re not on vacation—we’ve built a digital nomad lifestyle that allows us to live, work, and explore Costa Rica at the same time. It’s not always easy, but if you dream of working remotely in paradise, here’s how we make it happen!
What We Do for Work
Teletherapy: Speech-Language Pathology (Daphne’s Job)
I work as an online Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP), doing teletherapy sessions with clients. Since my work is 100% remote, I can meet with my students no matter where we are—whether we’re deep in the jungle or by the ocean (as long as the Wi-Fi is solid!).
- Work Schedule: I work for a school, so the hours are reasonable, allowing me to explore both before and after work.
- What I Need: A quiet space, strong internet, a notepad, my laptop loaded with therapy materials and a second travel monitor! Since traveling I no longer use hands on therapy materials and have converted to 100% digital.
- Biggest Perk: Flexibility! I can work from anywhere, as long as I have a good setup. My clients are my top priority, so a lot of work goes into the set up and making sure I have what I need to give successful therapy.
Challenges:
- Finding Airbnbs with stable Wi-Fi can be tricky. I always test the internet speed before booking! Reading the reviews helps, other digital nomads usually comment how the wifi is if they have stayed here before. It’s a huge plus if the host shows a photo of the wifi speed.
- Background noise—Costa Rica is full of nature sounds (howler monkeys, birds, rainstorms), which can sometimes interrupt sessions. I use a headset and a microphone to ensure good audio quality for me and my clients.
Taking a Risk: Building Peligro Life Full-Time
A lot of people ask, “How do you guys afford to travel and make videos all the time?”
The truth is—we took a huge leap of faith.
Adam had a solid career in parks and recreation and I had an amazing SLP job, but when we decided to go all in on our dream, we made a choice: Instead of working for someone else, Adam would focus 100% on building Peligro Life into a real business. I would take a more flexible SLP remote role that allows me to live this lifestyle.
That meant:
Filming and editing every single video, every single day
Managing the YouTube channel, website, and social media
Planning our travel and adventure content
Learning how to make income through ads, sponsorships, and affiliate marketing. Using these videos to launch Peligro Life into something more, such as travel consulting, writing travel guides, and guided adventures.
It hasn’t been easy—starting from zero as creators is a grind. There’s no guaranteed paycheck and plenty of late nights spent editing. But we believe in this, and we’re putting everything we have into making it work.
We’re not just making videos—we’re building a brand, a business, and a lifestyle.
We want Peligro Life to be more than just a YouTube channel. We want it to inspire people to chase adventure, explore the world, protect our wildlife, and take risks to build a life they love.
Challenges:
- YouTube and blogging take a LOT of time before they become profitable.
- Consistency is key—editing videos, writing posts, and keeping up with social media is a full-time job in itself!
Where We Work From (Digital Nomad Setup)
Airbnbs
We move around Costa Rica, staying in different Airbnbs. We always check for:
✅ Fast Wi-Fi (at least 50 Mbps for video calls).
✅ A quiet, comfortable workspace.
✅ A backup data plan (just in case Wi-Fi goes out!).
Cafés & Beach Bars
Sometimes, we work from cute cafés or beach bars when we are just working on busy work, such as progress reports for me, and video editing for Adam. Pro Tip: Some cafes have strong Wi-Fi but get noisy—headphones are a must! Also, make sure there aren’t too many people using the wifi, like at a hostel.
Backup Internet and Power Outages
We bought StarLink and set it up at each AirBnB. We don’t usually rely on it as our main Wi-Fi connection, but it is there if the Wi-Fi is too weak or turns off at our AirBnB. Honestly, Starlink is not the best option for Costa Rica! Starlink only works with a direct view of the northern sky. Here in Costa Rica, there is usually a jungle or clouds in the way, making it a risky option. Costa Rica has decent internet in most places now, something which has improved since remote workers started flocking here.
We also have a local SIM card with data, so if Wi-Fi crashes, we can still work using our phone’s hotspot.
We also purchased a backup battery pack (USP) which runs the wifi for up to 8 hours should the power go out. And if that isn’t good enough, we have a generator as well!
Our Advice for Becoming a Digital Nomad in Costa Rica
If you want to work remotely in Costa Rica, here are our top tips:
1️⃣ Find a flexible online job – Remote work is key to living this lifestyle! Starting your own business of course is ideal, but usually not realistic. Find a remote job that truly says “work from anywhere.” If you need help with this, start by searching for “Beach Commute,” a website that helps you transition to becoming a digital nomad and get your dream job.
2️⃣ Test your setup before moving – Make sure your work can be done from different locations. Make sure your job’s software will work abroad, and download a VPN if you need extra security or if your software only works in your company’s country.
3️⃣ Budget wisely – Costa Rica isn’t always cheap, so plan your income accordingly. Yes, you can find cheap rentals, but the day to day living costs can be just as expensive as the US.
4️⃣ Stay flexible – Internet, power, and weather can be unpredictable—always have a backup plan! Get these figured out asap when you land in the city.
5️⃣ Embrace the adventure! – The best part of working remotely is having the freedom to explore. Take advantage of it! 6️⃣ Be Pura Vida! While this is paradise, living here has its challenges. Things may take much longer than you are used to or don’t happen the way you would expect. Take this as an opportunity to learn a new way of life; sit back, relax, and say “Pura Vida.”
Final Thoughts
Living and working in Costa Rica isn’t just a dream—it’s our reality. It takes planning, patience, and a bit of creativity, but if you’re willing to put in the work, you can build a lifestyle that lets you enjoy the best of both worlds: earning an income while exploring paradise.
💬 Would you ever work remotely in Costa Rica? Let us know in the comments!
👉 Don’t forget to check out our latest YouTube videos on Peligro Life for more behind-the-scenes adventures! 🎥🌴
PELIGRO LIFE 