Pura Vida Happened

Working in the travel industry is not something I ever thought about, but here I am five years later, after I first stepped foot in Costa Rica, still leading travelers through this country. If someone would have told me I would have the honor to lead people traveling in Costa Rica I wouldn’t have believed them. My background is in psychology, sports, and arts. I always loved traveling though and the woman I am today is heavily influenced by all her travel experiences. Yet, working in the travel industry? That was never in the cards. It all started with just one summer job in 2022 that opened the door to this current version of myself. Two and a half months that turned into moving to Costa Rica, marrying a tico, being a program leader, and all that’s yet to come. How did this happen? Pura Vida happened.

I am often asked, why Costa Rica? The truth is, Costa Rica felt like home. I grew up in Puerto Rico and at 18 I moved to New York for school. I also had the chance to live in England. Thankfully by 2022 I had visited many countries like France, Germany, Norway, Spain, England, Wales, Jamaica, and Canada, but none felt like home. I believe that Costa Rica not only reminded me of Puerto Rico, but it also showed me the kind of life I want to have. It was home for the past, present, and future versions of me. Costa Rica’s Pura Vida opened my heart and soul to the lifestyle I desire and the values I want to lead my life with.

Costa Rica taught me so many life lessons that I always summarize with the phrase Pura Vida. Yes, I know we use the phrase for everything here, but to me Pura Vida is a way of living that reflects the kind of life I want to live. The smallest, most local and simple experiences in Costa Rica changed me throughout the years and my hope is to help other travelers experience Pura Vida beyond the greetings; that they get to experience the lifestyle. This is why I am so passionate about traveling off the beaten path. Let me be clear that Pura Vida is not always rainbows and butterflies, there is also pain and darkness. You can’t have one without the other, but to me personally the whole - light and darkness - aligns with what I want. Next I’ll share what Pura Vida means to me, how it has transformed me, and how I see it happening in the local life.

Pura Vida = Connection to Nature, connection to me. The biodiversity in Costa Rica is insane and the fertility of the land continues to blow my mind. What do you mean an avocado tree is growing in the park we go to exercise? What do you mean that my landlord grows plantains, yuca, beans, and so much more just in his backyard? Being in Costa Rica has taught me to care and appreciate the Nature we have. To feel gratitude for clean drinking water and clean energy. Costa Rica has taught me to not jump in fear and kill bugs that show up in my house because they matter to the ecosystem. It has taught me to embrace the rain because life continues so just grab an umbrella and keep going. It has taught me to sleep in peace with the howl of howler monkeys, the wake up call of the roosters, and the singing of the birds. It has taught me to embrace muddy and wet, because that’s Nature. It has taught me to embrace the changes in me as I embrace the changes in the weather. 

Pura Vida = Slowing Down. Ticos don’t rush. They show up on tico time. Birthday party at 5p.m., it means we actually start at 6p.m. Let’s grab lunch at 12p.m.? 12:15p.m. is more like it. In the words of a ziplining guide once, “We always find time to rest.” Coffee in the afternoon is basically mandatory. Let’s sit and be. Life moves slower here. I think simplicity slows you down. For example, most locals have a semi-automatic washing machine… it automatically slows you down to help the machine do the washing and drying process. Dishwasher? What’s that? Locals slow down to wash the dishes. Life is not rushing here and there is a beautiful stability with the sunrise and sunset times all year around. I believe, even things like traffic jams in the mountains with no choice but to sit through it or having to walk or bike to get somewhere are things that teach this slowness. It’s a call to be present in this moment. 

Pura Vida = Creativity. I believe there are two or more sides to all stories, but this is how I choose to see the ability of locals to use what they have and make it work for what they need… Creativity. No, in Costa Rica we don’t go to the store every single time to buy something new, you search at home first. They search for what they have at home to see what they can adapt to make the project happen or to repair what needs to be repaired. Need a new flower pot? Let’s cut open that plastic jug and make it happen. Although this can be attributed to many things, I choose to believe that this is an expression of creativity. How can I solve a problem with what I have? I think the world needs more of this. This has been a huge lesson for me; to live simpler, to be creative, to solve problems, and to be grateful. There isn’t always the need to go buy something new.

Pura Vida = Human Connection. I will never forget the sunsets on the Pacific Coast and how people stopped their day to go to the beach and watch the sunset. It was time to be in the presence of Nature and with each other. Time to converse, to check in, and to be. Grab a beer, soda, chips, or whatever at the store, and let’s sit to watch the sunset. To this day, one of my favorite things is the warmth of the ticos. You walk around with the “Buenos Dias,” and you always get the “Con Gusto.” It’s so easy to have a conversation with the uber driver, the cashier, or the tour guide. The person next to you matters.

To conclude, the next time you come to Costa Rica I hope you have the opportunity to experience Pura Vida. I personally believe that to travel is to grow. Any travel, any place, can teach you something if you allow it to. Costa Rica has so much to share and its experiences can transform all of us in one way or another, meeting us where we are at. This is a glimpse of my story of how Pura Vida transformed me and today I have the joy of being a Program Leader in this country. I have the honor to work with travelers and lead them in their journey connecting to Pura Vida in Costa Rica.

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