She apparently sold her vehicle in a firesale for $12,000. That would have bought her what she needed to get to this hostel and live cheap for quite a while, along with plenty of other American surfers and yogis. Some stay forever once they pick up something like free accommodation and meals in exchange for tourist work.
But IMO, Costa Rica was a big mistake. Firstly, it's the wrong time of year to arrive, the hot and rainy slow season, she'd have stood out, unlike in midwinter. And it's not so remote, really, they'd have wifi and smartphones. Then also, Costa Rica cooperates fully with US authorities, unlike poorer countries that just don't have the police infrastructure: Nicaragua, Guatemala, etc. Also, Costa Rica will share banking info with the US. She'd be in a dilemma: carry lots of cash and she'd risk being robbed; use an ATM, and that could alert authorities to her location.
JMO