Here we present the talented and dedicated faces of Redefine, bringing their local and international experiences creating a beautiful harmony of skills to the business. With years of experience in finance, hotel management, retreat curation, culinary services, sanitation expertise, and more – the team all contribute towards helping guest fulfill their dreams of a truly Pura Vida visit.
Natasha came to Costa Rica in January 2018, diving headfirst into the vibrant world of hospitality, guest services, and hotel management. With a background in finance and international development, she quickly immersed herself in every facet of operations—from coordinating guest experiences to managing local teams—gaining hands-on knowledge of what it takes to build something lasting in the Costa Rican landscape.
In 2021, Natasha launched Redefine Costa Rica with a vision to do things differently. Her mission is not just to manage properties—but to elevate the standard of what property management can be. By centering transparency, proactive communication, local community engagement, and sustainability, Natasha is actively redefining how guests, owners, and service providers experience hospitality in the Southern Zone.
Whether it’s the curated guest experience, the little touches that make a stay feel personal and intentional, or the commitment to supporting local artisans and eco-conscious operations, Natasha brings a mindful, human-centered approach to everything she does.
Redefine Costa Rica is more than a business—it’s a movement to reshape what it means to live, host, and thrive in this stunning region.
Born and raised in Platanillo, Yery is a proud local with deep roots in the Costa Ballena region. His career began in the culinary world, where he spent years as a dedicated vegan chef known for curating mouthwatering menus using fresh, organic, and locally sourced ingredients. His passion for high-quality service and his meticulous attention to detail made him a standout in every kitchen he worked in—and those same traits now guide his work as Redefine CR’s trusted operations lead.
Yery is known for his proactive approach, sharp eye for detail, and ability to coordinate service providers with ease and respect. He’s deeply loved by the team, admired for his calm problem-solving skills, and often the one who keeps everyone smiling with his sense of humor. Whether inspecting homes, resolving maintenance issues, or ensuring smooth guest experiences, Yery shows up with heart, clarity, and care.
Outside of work, Yery is a devoted animal lover and caretaker to two dogs and six cats. His warmth and ability to build lasting relationships—both with people and animals—make him an irreplaceable part of the Redefine CR family.
Angela is a political scientist from the University of Costa Rica with over a decade of experience in gender equity, community development, and sustainability. After completing a fellowship with the Gender Equality Law Center in New York through the U.S. State Department’s Community Solutions Program, she returned to Costa Rica to lead national projects addressing gender-based violence in partnership with over 30 local governments.
During her time working in the Southern Zone, Angela fell in love with the Costa Ballena region—its natural beauty, vibrant community, and untapped potential. But she also recognized a gap: the absence of a formal recycling program and the environmental toll of unmanaged waste. Inspired to take action, she founded AmbiciOsas, a circular economy initiative that empowers local women and transforms recycled materials into community resources.
As Redefine’s Social Impact Consultant, Angela has been instrumental in shaping and leading our Sustainability Commitment, building strategies that reduce waste, support local employment, and position Costa Ballena as a model for conscious tourism.
José Umaña Quirós was born in Llano Bonito de Leon, Cortes, Costa Rica. After building his experience over decades of hard work, he finally began his own business in 2019 with a vision of supporting his family and others in his community. His passion for helping people and promoting sustainable living practices shows in how he creates a cohesive living environment between guests and the jungle as Redefine’s Sanitation Expert.
Jose and his team are committed to maintaining Redefine’s sustainability commitment by ensuring only biodegradable local products are used and assisting us in managing our commitment to recycling. Without Jose and his team, Redefine could not meet the high standards we set out.
Jose is a loving husband and father to three beautiful children. His many joys in life include his family, his community, and providing a clean and welcoming home to our guests.
Jose was born in Perez Zeledon, Costa Rica, but has lived in Uvita for decades. With more than 30 years of experience in construction in this country, and 10 years experience working in the USA, Jose quickly became Redefine’s go-to for any and all kinds of maintenance requests.
Jose is well known around town as “Gato” and constructed what we consider a landmark here – Gato’s Plaza. While he doesn’t actually have any cats, he does have 6 dogs! He loves being a father to his three children, is passionate about his work, and is a man of few words, but always gets the job done.
Stephanie, or “Tefa”, as we all call her, is a local entrepreneur and all around warrior of a woman. She was born in San Jose and raised between Tibas and Sarapiquí and came to Uvita in 2015 with a desire to experience a different way of life by the beach.
She quickly fell in love with the area and in no time found herself working on her first big endeavor in building a unique and beautiful hostel in Bahia. Her grand opening was in February 2020 and two weeks later followed the total lockdown caused by COVID.
Despite the hurdles, the hostel is still running and in early 2024 she began her next venture and created TYA – a local handyman service providing expertise in AC installation and maintenance, landscaping, general construction and more – making her a valuable asset to Redefine’s team.
When Tefa isn’t running around town making other people’s lives easier, she’s taking care of her beautifully well trained 4 dogs, going to the gym, attending silks classes, or taking in the natural surroundings at the beaches and rivers.
Steven is an innovative entrepreneur, professional chef, and passionate advocate for Costa Rica’s southern tropics. As the founder of Trópico Digital, he’s on a mission to bridge the digital divide—empowering local communities through digital marketing, storytelling, and global connectivity. His work has helped scale numerous local businesses.
After falling in love with the richness of Costa Rica’s culinary and cultural landscape, Steven launched Roots—an immersive gastronomic experience where guests embark on curated culinary journeys to discover the traditions, flavors, and producers that define the region. Through these experiences, he shares not just food, but the deeper stories behind it.
Steven is also quickly becoming a local influencer, capturing hearts with his inspiring and authentic videos that celebrate Costa Rica’s natural beauty, people, and traditions. Whether behind the camera, in the kitchen, or leading strategy sessions, Steven brings creativity, purpose, and passion to everything he does.
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