I moved to Costa Rica to live off-grid – here’s what ‘living the dream’ was really like 

Daja lived off-grid for three years (Picture: Daja Hansel-Coates)

When Daja Hansel-Coates first moved to Costa Rica in 2017, she had never imagined herself living off-grid.

But after spending years exploring the country and discovering its lush landscapes, she began to yearn for a simpler life.

Daja had also found herself inspired after watching videos on Instagram about two Black women from the US who ran Costa Rican retreats, where the focus was tech-free, mindful living.

Seeing these wellbeing workshops struck a chord with Daja, who was tired of modern living and was desperate for a detox from the digital world.

‘I remember thinking “wow, they’r...