Costa Rica is Pura Vida!

To understand what Pura Vida truly means, you have to go to Costa Rica. It is the epitome of Pura Vida! The term literally translates to 'Pure Life' or 'Full of Life.'  It is used as a greeting and as a farewell.  But the Ticos of Costa Rica understand it in a much more profound way, because they get to live it everyday... They understand it as 'we are only here for a short time, so enjoy it, and then you are gone.'  An inspiring meaning to a catch phrase that truly represents such a beautiful country!

Costa Rica has to be one of the most untouched, pure, and full-of-life countries left in this world.  There is a reason for that.  The people of Costa Rica (or 'Ticos') understand the importance of nature and what their country offers this planet. They have many laws and unwritten laws that protect the colorful and fragile environment. The flora and fauna, as well as the animals that inhabit this Eden are loved and appreciated like a son or daughter. It is that important to them. They may be considered a third-world country, but technology and wealth are not nearly as coveted as being able to lose yourself in the beauty and purity of the spirit that has taken over this land. All you have to do is sit back, close your eyes, and breath it in.  You will feel it too! 

To visit Costa Rica, you must plan thoroughly. It is easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle of the city and in the many mountains and dilapidated roads that you will come across.  First, know what you want to see. If your visit is limited with time, don't try to do it all. It's too much.  Costa Rica, although appearing small on a map, is large when traveled.  The roads aren't as easy to drive upon and aren't as direct as what we're used to in the states, so it takes a long time to get around. If you have 2 or 3 weeks, then you just may be lucky enough to appreciate all facets of this country. 

There are two main areas to see in this country: the ocean (coast) and the rain forests (inland). The ocean is like the Graceland for surfers, boaters and fisherman. Costa Rica, being nudged between two different oceans offers even more than most countries can. The Pacific side has some of the best deep-sea fishing in the world. There are many vacation packages that are just for people who want to fish this area. Catch marlin, sailfish, wahoo, dolphin, roosterfish, tuna and dorado all day. On both the Pacific and Caribbean sides, you will find a surfer's mecca.  The larger waves bring professional surfers from all over the world, as well as annual surfing competitions.  I didn't get a chance to visit the ocean part of Costa Rica. I was more interested in active volcanoes.  :)

The rain forests of Costa Rica are so rich, so vast and so full of life. It seems at times that everything is moving..especially when you take a second to stop and really pay attention. We visited two different active volcanoes of Costa Rica - Arenal in La Fortuna and Poas in La Paz. Both are located in the middle of the rain forest. We rented a car and drove to our first stop, Arenal. It took about 3-4 hours, not because of the distance, but because of the windy, 30 MPH, dilapidated roads that hang off of cliffs of huge mountains. Some of the roads may have been featured on "Off-Road Truckers' Deadliest Roads." We were told that cars fall off the cliffs all the time. Fun!

Arenal Volcano

After you survive the drive, you arrive to see the largest 'mountain' in the town, Arenal Volcano. It is in the center of the town, very active and, when the weather is right, you can see the lava rocks spewing out of the cauldron with lava sliding down its sides. Super cool. A lot of the cheaper places to stay are called Eco-Resorts. There is no electricity in these resorts.  All power is gained via solar or geothermal energy. If you choose to 'rough' it in the rain forest, this can be your thing. Even resorts that are not 'eco', can be found at great prices. 

Tabacon Thermal Hot Springs

Tabacon Thermal Hot Springs

The nicest resort in Arenal is Tabacon. Tabacon has geothermal hot springs that are out-of-this-world gorgeous. You do not have to stay at the hotel to visit the springs. There is a fee to stay for a day and enjoy this amazing part of Arenal. The heat warms the springs that jut out of the ground and form rivers that flow down from the volcano. The further you are from the springs, the less hot the rivers become. For hotter temperatures walk towards the top of Tabacon's spa-like river system, and for cooler, more tolerable temperatures, walk down towards where the river ends into a perfectly-warmed pool w/ a bar sitting in the middle. So convenient! It happened to be my birthday the day we went to Tabacon, so we celebrated (just a little). ;)  Remember all of the resorts are at the base of this active volcano, and I wouldn't have it any other way. It's an experience of a life time! For reservations or more information about Tabacon Grand Spa & Thermal Resort click on the link.

Coffee Fields

Other things to do in La Fortuna is visit La Fortuna Waterfall. Bring hiking boots! It'll be the best decision you make. You have lots of hiking to do, whether you like it or not. Hiking boots are an absolute must to get through it without a scratch. The hike down and up to the Falls can be difficult for some, plus just about anything in Costa Rica must be hiked, so the boots will be worth it for sure.

Zip Lining in La Fortuna

Also, you can go horse-back riding to visit with the native Indians who have kept their Costa Rican villages and traditions alive, go zip lining for views of the waterfall and volcano that you can't get anywhere else, and eat as much as you can! The native food is delicious. Finally... if you like coffee, then you may know that Costa Rica grows some of the best in the world. Bring some back with you and have a little of Costa Rica in your home. There are also coffee tours that you can take to learn more about this Costa Rican tradition. P.S. - Starbucks grows their coffee here. ;) 

Our Room at Peace Lodge

From Arenal, we drove three hours to our next destination. La Paz Peace Lodge and Waterfalls Gardens near Poas Volcano. I found this resort randomly when researching for our trip. They do not advertise and rely solely upon word-of-mouth. The grounds are incredible. Even though we were lucky enough to stay here, like Tabacon, La Paz hosts tourists that do not need to stay at the resort in order to visit it. The resort has many things to see and do. You can spend days there without leaving and see a lot of Costa Rica. That's the reason why they have a 4 night limit!  Ever heard of that? They will not let you stay longer than 4 nights because they feel you miss out on other parts of Costa Rica. They want you to get out there! The resort is so amazing, I can see how no one would want to leave!  

The Butterfly Gardens of Peace Lodge

Our room included a fireplace, four post bed w/ mosquito screen, a volcano-style hot tub and hammock on our balcony, a waterfall shower and bathtub under a solarium that makes you feel like your bathing right in the rain forest and $20 one-hour, in-room couple's massages! It had it all! Just perfect for a relaxing few days after all the hiking and exploring we did in Arenal. 

Aviary of Peace Lodge

The Waterfalls Gardens (within the resort)  is a trail of catwalks. There are about 7 beautiful waterfalls to see on this trail. Unfortunately, a few months before we visited, the area suffered from a 9.1 earthquake that caused many mudslides, damage and some deaths. Because the area is so rural, the damage was not as bad as it could have been. Earthquakes are normal for this area due to the active volcanoes. The damage was not extensive at the resort, but portions of the catwalk had to be closed. However, we were able to enjoy at least 1/2 of them, which was worth it in itself. Also at the Peace Lodge is an aviary, butterfly gardens, monkey pass, big cat zoo, a night frog tour, trout lake for fishing, and so much more. The list can go on and on. I recommend anyone visiting Costa Rica to check this place out..even for just a day, if you don't choose to stay there. For reservations and to find out more about La Paz Peace Lodge and Waterfall Gardens click on the link.

Poor Man's Umbrella

The local volcano is Poas. It is also very active, but hasn't spewed lava since the 1960s. We visited and were lucky enough to have the clouds lift right on time to reveal the volcano's enormous caldera. The view looking down into the caldera was impressive to say the least. You can see heat and sulfur being released from several areas. It truly was something to see! 


As a bonus, the short walk to the volcano allowed us to appreciate some more of Costa Rica's vegetation. It looks a lot like Jurassic Park. Everything is just sooo big! The ferns, the flowers, the trees...all of it was just so extraordinary. One native plant that we came across is referred to as "Poor Man's Umbrella" because the leaves are so large, you can stand completely underneath them. So Jurassic! And so Pura Vida! 


It's hard to write everything that needs to be said about this incredible country. There is so much to see, do and learn about. I feel like I can go back several times and never get to experience everything that should be.  Having been there for only 5 days, I still feel like I got out of it what everyone should. Living with and taking in Costa Rica's Pura Vida... 


For more information on how to get here and to begin enlightening yourself on Pura Vida, go to: Visit Costa Rica.


Now, go explore!