Meet Carrie...

Name? Carrie Enfield

Nickname if any?  CareBear

Tell us about your Family? We live in three different countries and I have 100 kids!

Where are you from?  New York.

Where do you live?  Heaven on Earth.

Why did you move to Costa Rica and how long have you lived here?
Grief brought me here on a solo three-month backpack trip and the love of our incredible nature and the people of Costa Rica kept me here. I have lived here for almost 14 years, in Liberia, Playa Hermosa and Playa Panama. I always say that Costa Rica chose me, I didn’t choose Costa Rica.

Do you have a job or own a business? Tell us about it?
My job is to be a leader and an advocate, serving the children and families of Playa Hermosa. For the past nine years, I helped build an elementary school and establish educational programs in Playa Hermosa. I also teach English, and I have a scholarship program, where I send qualified graduates to a prominent language school in Liberia to learn English. I work for no monetary value, yet I have never been wealthier.

Do you volunteer?
Besides for my own projects, I volunteer throughout Guanacaste. I have volunteered at Universidad Nacional, INA, (Instituto Nacional de Aprendizaje) and various elementary schools. I’ve participated in numerous beach cleanups, the reforesting of Playa Hermosa, protection of our Howlers, creating beautiful mosaics for the beach and various other projects that other Community Leaders head up. During the Pandemic, I helped create a program with some other incredible local humanitarians, to bring fresh, healthy food to the tables of the residents of Playa Hermosa during tough times.

Do you have any animals?  Yes, a one-eyed cat that I kidnapped from a friend.

What are your hobbies? I have several, but Photography is a passion. I published a book called “My Costa Rica”. It’s a photo journal with 120
photographs of my travels throughout Costa Rica. All profits go to the children of Costa Rica.  (See below for more information on Carrie's book)

What are your favorite restaurants?  Hacienda Blu is my go-to beach spot. It feels like home. Masala, new to Coco, has great Indian food, Villa del Sueño for dining and dancing, Peninsula Steak and Seafood for a drop-dead view and elegant dining and Ginger’s for great martinis and bocas.

What is your favorite watering hole & drink?  My favorite watering hole is on a quiet beach somewhere in the Papagayo or sailing on a boat to nowhere.

Favorite drink?  An icy cold corona on a hot day, a margarita on the rocks with good tequila or a good dry cosmopolitan, (if I can find one.!)

 

What is your favorite beach and why?  I have many. I keep my favorites a secret. Sorry.

What are your favorite places to visit in Costa Rica? Too many to name. I have traveled this country extensively. It’s an amazing country. Get out of Coco and your comfort zone. Go explore on your own. Half the fun is getting lost on the journey. Don’t wait for a directory or instructions. Just go!

Tell us a fun story about your adventures in Costa Rica?
My adventures are numerous and have been a little crazy over the years. I have seen this country, Tico style, so adventure doesn’t begin to describe it. Use the bus system to travel if you don’t have a car, that’s where many adventures begin. Costa Rica is built for Travelers. “A Traveler doesn’t know where they are going, and a Vacationer doesn’t know where they’ve been”.

Tell us something that most people don’t know about you?
I’m a very private person, so most people know little about me. Just ask me anything over a few drinks and we can exchange stories. I’m better one on one than in a group. One Carrie fact... I was never a teacher, until I moved here.