Why are families in San José's La Carpio neighborhood planning to relocate?

Families are planning to relocate due to inhumane living conditions and the constant threat of climate change, including floods and landslides from the Río Torres.

What has the government done about the dangerous conditions in La Carpio?

An official risk assessment in October 2025 confirmed the area's vulnerability and recommended relocation, but residents report no governmental support for relocation has been provided since then.

What are the plans for relocating families from La Carpio?

A community initiative, supported by the Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation, aims to raise funds to buy land and build safer shipping-container homes for at least 10 vulnerable families in a neighboring province.

Home / Environment / Costa Rican Families Flee Homes Amid Climate Threats

Costa Rican Families Flee Homes Amid Climate Threats

3 Feb

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Summary

Families in La Carpio face floods and landslides from a river.
Government inaction leaves residents in uninhabitable conditions.
A foundation plans to relocate families to safer shipping-container homes.

Costa Rican Families Flee Homes Amid Climate Threats

Families in San José's La Carpio neighborhood are making plans to relocate due to "inhumane" conditions and ongoing climate threats. These residents, many with Nicaraguan roots, live precariously between the unstable banks of the Río Torres and a steep hillside.

Heavy rains and winds have intensified these risks, with recent storms damaging homes and prompting temporary evacuations. Despite official reports from October 2025 confirming the area's vulnerability and recommending relocation, governmental support has been absent since the assessment's release.

Community members, like Emilio Peña Delgado, are leading efforts to raise funds for purchasing land outside La Carpio. The Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation is supporting this initiative, planning to build affordable shipping-container homes for at least 10 families.