Pura vida: five ways to reconnect with nature and yourself in Costa Rica

Words: Lucy Thackray

In Costa Rica, you’ll hear the words pura vida everywhere: from fond greetings on the street to describing a person’s positive energy. Translated as ‘pure life’, but representing so much more (a sunny outlook, gratitude and appreciating simplicity and nature), it’s a mood that many visitors are keen to tap into. But how? Here are five restorative ways to channel this country’s life-enhancing mantra, from immersion in nature to eating yourself happy. 

1. Feel the rhythm of the rainforest

Costa Rica has several swathes of protected rainforest, from Corcovado National Park to the waterways of Tortuguero, often called a mini Amazon. But many start with Monteverde’s magical cloud forest, where the cooler altitude manifests in a canopy of mist and dewy treetops. Realign your internal clock by taking a serene night walk here, swapping digital distractions for the languid movement of a sloth, the rainbow bill of a toucan and the soft purr of a hummingbird. By day, breathe in the landscape to the soothing chirrup of a resplendent quetzal, an emerald and scarlet bird that lives in the trees here, or the exhilarating rush of El Tigre waterfalls.

2. Get above the treetops

Treetop walkways, ziplines and mountainside hikes are all ways to get a bird’s-eye view of Costa Rica. Selvatura Park, also in Monteverde, has a canopy tour where you’ll traverse some 15 zip-line cables and 18 platforms to see the dense, dewy forest from above. In La Fortuna, Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges take you through branches inhabited by colourful birdlife and howler monkeys, with stretches putting you well above the treetops. There’s nothing more invigorating than seeing the landscape from this rare angle: pura vida in visual form.

3. Soak in the Earth’s natural warmth

When you start to feel the adventure in your soles, a Costa Rican hot spring is the place to unwind. Head to Arenal Volcano in the north of the country for dozens of spots to soak in. Most famous is Tabacón, with its pristine rainforest looks and soothing cascades, but each hot spring offers naturally mineral-rich water warmed by the earth’s crust. In northwestern Rincón de la Vieja, you’ll scoop up handfuls of volcanic mud for a natural face and body mask, packed with skin-softening sulphur, magnesium and zinc. Then bathe in rock pools of varying temperature, up to 40°Celsius – a natural hot tub powered by Mother Earth.

4. Taste the local produce

The Costa Rican diet is a thing of wonder, with an abundance of coffee and cocoa farms, farmers’ markets in small towns and fresh, straw-ready coconuts sold by the beach. No wonder the country’s Nicoya Peninsula is a recorded Blue Zone. These areas, where a large concentration of locals live to 100, are said to hold the key to longevity – and Nicoya locals credit their robust health to a diet rich in corn, squash and beans. For the best local produce, head to Costa Rica’s verdant Central Valley, where coffee and chocolate tours show you the process from plant to cup or bar, and roadside stalls sell fresh strawberries and fruit smoothies.

5. Live harmoniously with the land

In Costa Rica, it’s less about venturing out to see nature and more about living unobtrusively within it. Here, hundreds of eco-lodges sit nestled into dazzling landscapes from cloud forest to wave-lashed coast, often designed to blend seamlessly into their setting. The philosophy of this hotel scene is one of quiet integration, with most retreats prioritising a low-impact footprint through clever architecture, solar energy and thoughtful water use. These spaces put nature first, allowing you to experience the environment intimately, with expert-led hikes and local insights that bring the surrounding flora and fauna to life.

Experience pura vida in Costa Rica