Travelling to Costa Rica; Experience "Pura Vida"

The idea of eco-tourism is growing in both the minds of travelers and those that live in popular destinations. Costa Rica, an emerging 'hot spot' in the last few years is currently leading the pack. After a recent acclamation trip designed for those in the travel industry, I have a new found love for all that Costa Rica has to offer. Especially its strive to keep its natural resources, way of life and people intact while welcoming international visitors and embracing their number one industry; tourism. Their national motto, if ever they chose one, would have to be 'pura vida.' It literally translates into 'pure life,' but brings about a much stronger message to the native people of Costa Rica. Pura vida can be a response to the question, 'How are you?' if you are doing well, it can be a greeting, a phrase indicating that all is right in life. Pura vida means much more to these users than just words, it means living life in purity, meaning more to westerners as 'one with nature.'

Costa Rica definitely has come to recognize that tourism is bringing vast wealth to beachfront property owners, shops and restaurants. In fact, it has grown to be their number one industry, and with all the peace the country has experienced in the last few decades, it is one of the most highly visited countries in Central America by Americans and Canadians. In the last few years, Costa Rica has seen many new hoteliers approach landowners to buid resorts or refurbish ones left aside. While Costa Rica greatly embraces toursits and its' people are extremely friendly to their out-of-town guests, they are not grappling at your feet, nor are you their number one concern. In a world where most beautiful beaches and spaces can be ruined by the over-population of massive hotels and destroying the natural eco-systems that helped to maintain the pristine, Costa Rica uses modern technology, past examples of high-traffice tourist areas, and their own priorities to approach the entire industry in a refreshing way.

While Costa Rica is nothing less than appreciative of the tourism industry, equally on par are their natural resources. Currently, Costa Rica's tourism industry is followed immediately by its production of sugar cane and coffee. Because of its loyalty to tradition, customs and culture, much of this production is still done as it has been for many years. In fact, Costa Rica greatly accepts immigration and gives jobs to those less fortunate from neighboring countries. To help maintain their natural resources, Costa Rica even disbanded its military to help fund projects they deemed to be more important. You will see open spans of farmland, jungles, wild fields and open beaches sans hotels. This is done on purpose, and has nothing to do with the fact that the want to open properties in these pristine places is not present. However, the balance between tourism and their natural resources is very present. The idea that 'what is good for the people,' is more important to these governing bodies than what brings in the most revenue alone.

It is unknown what will happen to such a small nation, almost the size if Illinois, when dealing with such a global marketplace that can pressure smaller countries to exploit its resources and landscapes for the good of others. But, I would like to think that Costa Rica has taken great pains to observe what has caused other countries to 'sell out' what they have for the enjoyment of others and not themselves, and has indeed learned how to avoid making the same mistakes. They continue to create regulations for resorts to meet sustainable requirements - the production of waste and energy, where and when buildings are allowed to undergo construction, what resorts are allowed where, and of course, the maintenance of the several national parks and various eco-systems found throughout the nation. Using their natural canopies for zip-lines draws quite the crowd, but hardly requires electricity or destruction of resources for the enjoyment of visitors, instead it combines nature with tourism.

It is surprisingly refreshing to see an emerging nation strive to become the first carbon-neutral country in 2021. Their goals and ambitions lie not in just creating revenue for the wealthy in their country, but allowing their country to grow in wealth and substance, creating opportunities for its people without forgetting who they are and what is important to them. It is their way of life, it is their 'pura vida.'