TGR Staff
If the purpose of life is "to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experiences," (Eleanor Roosevelt), then choosing the Pura Vida in Costa Rica is the way to get there.
Pura Vida is a Costa Rican colloquial phrase that translates to "pure life," but means so much more. It's a lifestyle in which you choose to live to the fullest while nurturing the mind, body, and soul. The phrase "Pura Vida" can be heard echoing throughout Costa Rica — used as a greeting or expression of happiness, it accurately describes the tranquility, wonder, and adventure that await visitors. Costa Rica provides an idyllic sanctuary for an energizing getaway, where visitors can enjoy the latest practices in relaxation and personal care, participate in exciting activities set in a lush natural environment and delight on healthy and nourishing gastronomy. According to Expedia's 2016 Vacation Deprivation Study, Americans leave over 500 million vacation days unused each year. For the few who do take a vacation, many admit to obsessively checking emails, responding to requests and getting work down between parasailing and tasting local fare. For the over-worked and under-vacationed, Pura Vida can be the catalyst to finding long-term balance.
Centering your mind is easy in Costa Rica. Travelers in search of peace and tranquility can indulge in being pampered by the country's natural beauty, nature preserves, and spas. Visitors can find holistic wellness in yoga retreats set in rustic open-air studios—surrounded by organic community gardens. Guided meditations — to the sound of waterfalls, help participants practice mindfulness. Those interested in a relaxing massage can find the Native Costa Rican's, or Tico's, gift of happiness at any one of the numerous luxury resorts and boutique hotels in the country. As such, Costa Rica is the perfect escape from stressful deadlines and office clutter and a great introduction to the joys and benefits of Pura Vida.
Costa Rica makes it fun to move your body. For those looking to invigorate the body, Costa Rica's diverse natural landscapes and terrain set the stage for coast-to-coast, action-packed adventures. With a wide range of difficulty levels and destinations, visitors can create a perfect activity for everyone in their group. Costa Rica's volcanoes, rain forests, cloud forests, beaches, and rivers are primed for white-water rafting adventures, fishing, surfing, and diving. Surrounded by dense forest vegetation, the beaches offer visitors often unexpected views of exotic wildlife. Visitors looking to replace stress with adrenaline will be especially thrilled at the vast array of experiences, like: taking sky tram tours and hiking along hanging bridges; biking around archaeological sites and zip lining at speeds of up to 55 mph on some of the highest zip-lines in the hemisphere. Hailed as an adventure traveler's haven, Costa Rica is the ideal playground for millions of thrill-seekers who visit the country annually.
Costa Rican cuisine nourishes the soul. As firm believers of the farm-to-table movement, Costa Ricans are experts at creating delicious meals from fresh, local ingredients grown through sustainable farming methods. The National Plan for Healthy and Sustainable Gastronomy, Costa Rica's latest effort to promote its competitiveness as a culinary destination, encourages the revival of highly nutritious and tasty traditional dishes such as "gallo pinto." Nonetheless, Costa Rica's culinary scene offers more than its staple rice and bean dish. Tropical fruits and an abundance of fresh meat and seafood, from local pastures and the country's two coasts, provide a delicious variety of culinary offerings to feed the soul. Great inexpensive meals, as well as more upscale dining experiences, are easily found in the throughout the country. Visitors will be charmed by a new generation of chefs providing a modern take on classic dishes.
While there are many ways to enjoy Pura Vida, there is only one place where you can start: Costa Rica.
For more information on Costa Rica, visit www.visitcostarica.com
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