Updated May 29, 2026 at 12:27 p.m
Most travel slogans fall somewhere between cheesy marketing and catchy phrases. But in Costa Rica, Pure life It is much more than just a slogan. It embodies a complete worldview, and you hear it everywhere, woven into the fabric of everyday life: at the airport, in surf class, from a farmer reaching into a bag of sweet guanabana to make a batido before following the sound of howler monkeys into the cloud forest canopy.
Literally translated, it means “pure life.” But the average tiku or tikka might use it to say hello, goodbye, congratulations, or it’s okay. Oversimplifying, which is kind of the point, it conveys a universal message: life is good. Be grateful. Be here now.
Evidence that locals take this sentiment seriously? According to the World Happiness Report, Costa Rica is the fourth happiest country in the world. It is the only non-Scandinavian country in the top six and the only country from the Western Hemisphere in the top ten. It is certainly the only country among them that boasts two coastlines of tropical paradise that are home to 12 ecosystems of amazing biodiversity. Here, nearly six percent of the planet’s species thrive in tropical forests, mangroves, alpine mountains, volcanoes, and coral reefs—yet Costa Rica occupies only 0.03 percent of Earth’s land area. More than a quarter of the country is preserved through national parks, reserves, and wildlife refuges.
Health and wellness
It’s no wonder every Costa Rica vacation comes with a heavy dose of wellness. Easy access to raw nature and the Pura Vida lifestyle make it a unique place to rejuvenate. Whether you choose a peaceful yoga retreat or an action-packed adventure – or both – you’re sure to come away with a boost for body and soul.
You’ll see (and feel) this focus on holistic well-being across Costa Rican culture, not just on personalized retreats. But there are a lot of these things, and building a vacation around one of them is a great way to delve deeper into relaxation. You’ll find intense yoga, healing, meditation, premium spa experiences, and more at one of the many resorts spread across the country. Located atop a 50-acre “vibrating” quartz mountain said to generate healing energies, The Retreat offers offerings that promise to transform your relationship to everything from food to sleep. Or check Arenal Neyara Gardenswhich offers restorative cacao ceremonies and yoga in the treetops at the base of Arenal Volcano. Basically, cast a stone, and you can find people dedicated to reconnecting you with yourself and the Earth, and cultivating a positive, healthy glow that you’ll carry with you long after your visit.
If your idea of wellness comes with lots of quality coffee, Costa Rica has the answer. Coffee plantations dot the rolling hillsides that begin on the outskirts of San Jose, and you can tour small, sustainably managed coffee farms to see how beans go from cherry to cup. This experience is often combined with walks through shade-vegetated plots that double as wildlife corridors.
nature
Whatever you choose, you can bet that you will immerse yourself in nature. That might mean visiting the orchid-skin-covered blurry lines of iconic and famous places Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Or a trip to the lesser known Santa Elena Forest Reservewhich hosts its powerful population of monkeys, deer, ocelots and magnificent sloths. In either case, a guide from the visitor center will be indispensable for establishing and providing context. Untrained eyes miss 90 percent of the wildlife, while a local naturalist might spot a camouflaged frog the size of a thumbnail or a sleeping sloth 60 feet up. Bonus: Many of the targeted experiments, especially in the lowlands of the Caribbean and the remote Osa Peninsula, directly fund conservation and animal rehabilitation.
On the Caribbean side, Tortuguero National Park Roads are replaced by canals, and you navigate by boat through jungle paths where monkeys, caimans and birds outnumber people, and thousands of sea turtles come ashore to nest.
Adventure
Do you want to balance everything with a healthy dose of adrenaline? This is the country for you. The whole country. As a leader in adventure travel, Costa Rica is brimming with business opportunities: ziplines, kayaking, rafting, parasailing, surfing, tubing, and more. from Monteverde Cloud Forest to Corcovado National ParkYou’ll find countless ways to get excited. Just some examples:
Take nearby canopy tours Arenal Volcano National Parkwhere ziplines pass through primary forest with a sweeping view, followed by bathing in the nearby Nayara Hot Springs. Then take a trip around one of the world’s largest craters at Poas Volcano. Or float class III-IV whitewater on the Pacuare River, and cruise through ancient forest on one of the most scenic rafting trips in the world. The riverside eco-lodges, which are solar-powered and serve locally grown food, are dotted along the route. You can join a guide from the Indigenous Cabécar community for a private hike to the hidden Talamanca Mountains
Food and culture
Spend an extra day or two in San José, which offers bustling, manageable markets filled with produce, contemporary restaurants pushing Costa Rican cuisine forward, and easy access to museums and live music. Visit the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum or enjoy dinner at Restaurante Silvestre (reservations required).
Wherever you eat, don’t miss this universal truth: The foundation of health and a happy life begins with simple, local food rooted in what the Earth has to offer. Gallo pinto is ubiquitous – rice and beans cooked with onions, peppers and cilantro, and usually served with eggs, bananas and fresh cheese – it is always fresh and comes in regional variations. From the well-known mango, pineapple and papaya to rambutan, cassis and zapote, the fruit is everywhere and tastes like magic.
Nature, adventure, good food, community: all of this fuels the pure life that connects Costa Rica. The country recognizes this and has created a system that preserves and protects what makes Costa Rica special. This means investing over decades in sustainability that touches everything from renewable energy to reforestation to tourism. In fact, many lodges and outfitters hold state certifications Sustainable tourism programme (CST), meaning your yoga retreat, zip-line, surf lesson or jungle stay has been designed from the ground up to minimize impact and support local communities. Pura Vida indeed.
Costa Rica It is located in Central America, between Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south; It is bordered to the east by the Caribbean Sea and to the west by the Pacific Ocean. With an abundance of unique wildlife, landscapes and climates, this small country is proud to house nearly five percent of the world’s known biodiversity. In order to protect and conserve its wealth of natural resources, Costa Rica has become a world leader in sustainable practices with protected areas making up 26 percent of its land mass. With a peaceful ethos, an emphasis on education, and an economy based on tourism, technology, and exports, Costa Ricans and visitors alike enjoy the highest standards of living and organized tourism infrastructure in Latin America among a tropical paradise of lush rainforests, mysterious volcanoes, cloud forests, and beaches-meets-mountains filled with monkeys and parrots. Offering a wide area of activities and accommodations, visitors to Costa Rica will find an array of hotel options ranging from small beachfront B&Bs, to intimate, authentic mountain lodges, to major international brands of business hotels and everything in between; Costa Rica accommodations offer something enticing for everyone. The phrase “Pura Vida” can be heard echoed throughout Costa Rica from coast to coast. Used as a greeting or expression of happiness, this phrase literally translates to “pure life,” but its true meaning is “full of life,” which accurately describes the adventure and wonder that await visitors.
