In this episode of the Nosara Podcast, Charlotte, the founder of Donitas, shares her journey of building a unique business in Nosara, Costa Rica. Moving from Switzerland, she talks about how she unexpectedly fell in love with the area and decided to open a donut shop without prior experience. Her story is a testament to the power of community, resilience, and the willingness to learn through challenges… but Rich just cares about one thing: “What is your favorite donut”, so they go into that as well!
Go get some super fresh donuts right now at Donitas in North Guiones, opposite to Mini Super las Delicias del Mundo where the food trucks are. (Editors’ favorite are the salted honey latte & cinnamon sugar donut)
DONITAS INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/donitas.nosara?stkn=cGtnNDUxcTY0djdl
We discuss:
• The challenges and rewards of starting a business in Nosara
• How the local community acts as a support system
• Embracing the “Nosara” lifestyle despite extreme weather
• Turning failures into opportunities for growth
• The importance of gratitude in entrepreneurship
• Building meaningful connections with neighbors and customers
• Balancing professional goals with personal well-being
• Her favorite local ingredients and, of course, the best treats to order
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction: The Donut Dealer
00:52 Background: From Switzerland to Nosara
01:36 Hospitality school and early career paths
03:22 Falling in love with Nosara
04:33 Opening a business: From seafood to donuts
05:17 The importance of community support
06:33 Why Nosara is special
07:43 Dealing with business setbacks
08:36 Finding balance and accepting the process
11:21 Learning to “take a punch” in business
13:54 Gratitude for the community
15:10 Developing recipes and hero products
16:52 Handling feedback and improvements
18:35 Favorite donuts and local ingredients
19:37 Where to find Donitas
20:03 Final thoughts on surf etiquette