Living the Pura Vida Life in Costa Rica

There is something so special about returning to a place that has had such an impact on your life. If you’ve been following along, you would know that Costa Rica was the first country that I ever visited outside of the states and ultimately the trip that instilled my love for travel, my passion to learn about different cultures, and my eagerness to explore as much of the world as possible.

When I arrived in Costa Rica after my sailing trip, I wasn’t sure how long I would be staying. I only knew I was going to be living with my cousin and her beautiful family for the foreseeable future. She has created a life of abundance in such a beautiful place and I was so excited to get a front row seat and experience it for myself. I ended up staying for six amazing weeks and whereas I didn’t visit the more popular areas throughout Costa Rica, I got to live like a local, spend time with family, and even work in another country again. Being located in a beach town, I spent a lot of time exploring the town, soaking up the sun on the beach and by the pool, and just reflecting on my life. I got a first hand look at what life is like as a local in Costa Rica and I enjoyed every second of it.

I spent the entirety of my time in the Guanacaste area, specifically the beach town of Playa del Coco. I was a fifteen minute walk to the beach and located right off of the main street that is filled with shops, restaurants of every cuisine, and local bars. You can easily visit the surrounding beach towns by car, motorbike, bus, or taxi. One thing you definitely cannot miss out on is catching the sunset at the beach every night. Sunsets here are unmatched, every night the sky was on fire and simply some of the best I have seen. Whereas I did not do any extravagant excursions, I took certified beach bum to a whole new level and it was everything I needed and more.

Life in Costa Rica is a peace I have never known before. The phrase Pura Vida translates to Pure Life and it is THE Costa Rican way. Other than the exact translation, Pura Vida is a daily reminder to find joy in the everyday moments, remain positive, and embrace the simple pleasures in life. Pura Vida is a way of life, and I think we can all learn from Costa Rica when it comes to embracing every day for exactly what it is and just simply existing and enjoying life day in and day out.

Three months, four countries, and a million memories to last a lifetime later, this may conclude my travels for now, but I can assure you that there are more adventures to come this year!