Since 1991, our family has been participating in the life, communities, and natural heritage of Costa Rica's pristine Osa Peninsula. What began as a simple investment in a remarkable place gradually evolved into a decades-long journey of participation, growth, stewardship, hospitality, and community engagement.

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Like many who first encounter the Osa, we were initially drawn by its extraordinary natural beauty. The rainforest, mangroves, rivers, beaches, and astonishing biodiversity create an environment unlike almost any other on Earth. Yet over time, we came to understand that the region's true richness extends beyond its landscapes. The Osa is also defined by its people, its communities, and the intricate relationship between human activity and the natural world.

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Over the years, we built a bilingual and bicultural family rooted in both local community life and a deep appreciation for the extraordinary relationship between people, biodiversity, and place that defines the Osa Peninsula. Through nearly four decades of living, raising a family, operating businesses, caring for land, welcoming visitors, and participating in the daily life of the region, our understanding of investment evolved into something far more meaningful: stewardship.

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Stewardship is not simply a matter of preserving land. It is an ongoing commitment to participation, responsibility, and reciprocity. The longer we lived in the Osa, the more we recognized that healthy communities and healthy ecosystems are inseparable. The region's future depends not only on conservation but on creating opportunities for people, nature, and economic activity to coexist and thrive together.

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These experiences eventually inspired the development of the Tropical Urban Park (TUP) category, a framework designed to recognize places where authentic tropical biodiversity exists alongside active communities, walkable environments, and sustainable economic activity. Rather than viewing urban life and biodiversity as competing forces, the Tropical Urban Park concept recognizes that, under the right conditions, they can reinforce and strengthen one another.

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At the center of this story is Chosa Manglar Nature Retreat, a family-created nature retreat that became the world's first recognized Tropical Urban Park. Over many years, Chosa Manglar evolved from a small family project into a living demonstration of the principles that would later define the TUP framework. Through participation, stewardship, hospitality, conservation, and community engagement, it demonstrated that people, nature, and community can thrive together within a shared environment.

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Along the way, we observed something else. Visitors who came to experience the Osa rarely left unchanged. Some arrived seeking adventure. Others came in search of nature, relaxation, learning, inspiration, or connection. Regardless of their reasons for visiting, many discovered something deeper: a renewed appreciation for the possibilities that emerge when daily life remains connected to the natural world.

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Today, we invite others to discover the Osa Peninsula through several complementary pathways. Some will begin by discovering our website. Others may first encounter the Tropical Urban Park concept and its vision for coexistence between people and biodiversity.

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Many will experience the region through Escape to the Tropics, which introduces domestic and international visitors to the Osa through shorter stays and authentic nature-based experiences. Those seeking deeper immersion may choose Osa Nova, a stewardship identity offering extended stays ranging from one week to one year, allowing individuals and families to engage more fully with the rhythms of community life and the surrounding natural environment.

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Others will arrive through Chosa Royale, where shared experiences led by educators, researchers, artists, retreat facilitators, and community builders provide meaningful opportunities to connect with both the Osa and its people. And, of course, many will simply find their own way here, arriving without introduction or invitation, guided only by curiosity, possibility, and a desire to explore.

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For some, the journey concludes with a deeper appreciation for one of the world's most extraordinary regions. For others, however, the experience sparks a desire for something more enduring: a lasting relationship with the Osa Peninsula and the unique opportunities it offers for living, learning, investing, and participating in a vibrant tropical community.

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TicoTown exists for those individuals.

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TicoTown is not simply a real estate platform. It is an invitation to participate in a broader story. It serves those who see the Osa Peninsula not merely as a destination but as a place where people, community, biodiversity, and opportunity can come together in meaningful and lasting ways.