Costa Rica, the secret of Pura Vida

There is an arcadian land in Central America, where time flows like a river that refuses to follow the frantic rhythm of the world. Here, among the peaks that rise majestically like silent guardians and the beaches that stretch like sheets of golden sand, a mantra resounds that knows no haste: Pura Vida. A sigh that rises from the coffee fields, a whisper that dances among the leaves of the rainforests. It is not just a phrase, but a breath that envelops everything, from the dawn that ignites the sky to the nights when the moon mirrors itself in the Pacific Ocean.

It was 1956 when a Mexican film brought these two simple yet powerful words to the forefront: Pura Vida. The protagonist, a man who faced adversity with a disarming smile, repeated those words like a talisman against life’s storms. The Costa Ricans borrowed that mantra and made it their own, transforming it into a refuge for the soul.

Today, when a Tico asks you how you are and you reply “Pura Vida,” you are not just saying that everything is fine. You are proclaiming that the sun is shining, even when it is hidden behind clouds, and that every day, every breath, is a precious gift.

In Costa Rica, simplicity and everyday poetry are omnipresent. There is a man sitting on a wooden veranda, his skin marked by the sun and laughter. In his hands, he holds a steaming cup of coffee, and his gaze gets lost on the horizon, where the sea kisses the sky. This is Pura Vida: a moment of absolute stillness when the world seems to pause, a sip of coffee that contains all the essence of volcanic soil.

Every corner of Costa Rica is a poem in free verse, a hymn to simplicity. From the colorful markets of San José to the wild beaches of the Caribbean, life is a mosaic of small daily joys, a succession of moments that flow like the rivers cutting through the rainforests. This country is not just a place, but a heart that beats in tune with nature. Here, green is not just a color but a promise from a country that has chosen to preserve 25% of its territory as a natural reserve, an act of faith for the future and a gesture of love for the present.

Walking through the fronds of the rainforest is like diving into an ancient breath, a call that echoes in the songs of toucans, in the rustle of leaves, in the rain drumming on tin roofs. Nature here is a sacred temple, and Pura Vida is the daily rite that celebrates life in all its forms.

There are secrets that cannot be revealed, only felt. Pura Vida is one of these.

It is the embrace of a mother to her child returning from the sea with pockets full of shells, the smile of an old man playing dominoes under a mango tree, the scent of rice and beans cooking slowly in a clay pot. The secret of Pura Vida is the art of living without expectations, of welcoming each day as a gift, and of knowing how to say thank you even for the smallest things. It is a secret that cannot be told, only lived.

A Philosophy to Carry in Your Heart

Pura Vida is not a souvenir to pack in a suitcase. It is a philosophy that nests in the heart, a reminder for those who have learned that true life is found in the folds of simple moments, in the silence of a sunset that slides over the sea, in the warmth of a handshake. It is an invitation to stop, to breathe, to let go of what is unnecessary and keep only what matters.

Because in the end, Pura Vida is the art of living lightly, with eyes open to the present and the heart open to wonder.

Author: Saluen Art

References:

1.      Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve Glamping Hotel in Costa Rica | Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

2.      Costa Rica Luxury Holidays & Tours | Black Tomato

3.      Embracing the Pura Vida Lifestyle in Costa Rica: Embracing the Pura Vida Lifestyle in Costa Rica | Explore Costa Rica

4.      The True Meaning of the Costa Rican “Pura Vida”: Pura Vida Costa Rica - What does it really mean for you?