What Is the Meaning of Pura Vida? More Than a Phrase — A Way of Life in Costa Rica
Why Solo Traveling Could Be the Most Empowering Choice of Your Life
September 3, 2025What Is the Meaning of Pura Vida? More Than a Phrase — A Way of Life in Costa Rica
Pura Vida: The Phrase You Hear Everywhere (and Why It Matters)
Ask someone in Costa Rica how they’re doing and you might hear a smile: pura vida. It translates as “pure life,” but locals use it for hello, goodbye, “thank you,” “you’re welcome,” “all good”—and a shared understanding that life is better when you slow down, breathe, and connect. In other words, it’s not just a phrase; it’s a practice you can feel in your body and your heart—especially during a week of surf, yoga, and sisterhood in the world´s largest Blue Zone region, the Nicoya Peninsula.
The origins of Pura Vida: from cinema to culture
Pura vida didn’t begin as a tourism slogan. A well-known explanation traces the idiom to a 1956 Mexican film, ¡Pura vida!, whose ever-optimistic main character repeats the expression as a philosophy. After the film was shown in Costa Rica in the late 1950s, the phrase took root and, over the 1960s–70s, grew into a national ethos—short, friendly, and unmistakably Tico.
Today, pura vida is both lingo and lens: a way people talk and a way they choose to live—finding joy in ordinary moments, welcoming strangers, and trusting the rhythm of nature.
Why Pura Vida defines the Costa Rican lifestyle
Costa Rica’s version of “the good life” is grounded, outdoorsy, and communal. Picture a beach walk before emails, a neighbor bringing fruit to your gate, lingering over a simple dinner with friends. On the Nicoya Peninsula—home to the world’s largest Blue Zone region—lifestyle patterns like purpose, social connection, plant-forward meals, light dinners, and natural movement have been documented and celebrated for years.
Scholars continue to study Nicoya’s longevity patterns (and debate how they change over time), but whether you’re chasing centenarian stats or simply well-being, the takeaway is beautifully practical: move naturally, eat simply, love your people, and greet life with pura vida.
Here are the Top 6 Reasons to Visit Santa Teresa, Costa Rica
How You Can Experience the Pura Vida Lifestyle with Us?
Morning by the ocean
Start at the shore. The Pacific is warmer than you expect; the light is soft; pelicans skim the line-up. A beginner-friendly surf lesson wakes every muscle without forcing anything. Your coach teaches ocean safety, how to read the sets, and how to stand with steadiness—no bravado required.
Yoga that meets you where you are
Afternoons are for the open-air shala: breathwork, mobility, and flows that unwind the saltwater muscles. Our teachers offer props and modifications so everybody feels at home—midlife knees, desk shoulders, and new-to-yoga.
Meals that nourish (and linger)
Shared tables, colorful bowls, fresh produce—food that tastes like the jungle and the sea had a little meeting. You’ll watch energies rise, conversations deepen, and friendships form. That’s pura vida, too.
Rituals that anchor the week
- Sunrise intention (3 breaths, one word).
- Gratitude circle at dinner (one moment that surprised you).
- Digital pause (one hour phone-free daily).
- Sundown stroll—sand between toes, ocean rinsing the day.
Why surf + yoga is the perfect combo
Surf nudges you into presence; yoga gives you language for it. One is salt and laughter; the other is breath and integration. Together, they make pura vida embodied, not theoretical.
Explore our Surf & Yoga Retreats
Why Pura Vida Adventures is the ultimate place to live it
Women-only, women-led, beginner-friendly
Most of our guests arrive solo; all leave with sisters. We keep groups intimate, match roommates thoughtfully, and meet every woman con cariño (love)—from first paddle-out jitters to the joy of your first pop-up.
Santa Teresa: jungle-meets-ocean
Tropico Latino Hotel, our beachfront base in Santa Teresa puts the Pacific and the palms in your daily routine: walkable surf spots, pink sunsets, and nights that sound like the jungle itself. It’s luxury where it matters—beautiful lodging, nourishing meals, expert coaching—without losing the wildness you came for.
A lifelong community
Guests often describe the week as a turning point—because surf + yoga is only the structure. The sisterhood is the medicine. (We even have a name for it: the Pura Vida Difference—a community that keeps cheering long after the week ends.)
Safety, support, simplicity
We guide flights and transfers, accommodate dietary needs, and make logistics easy. You bring your heart (and maybe a journal). We bring everything else.
Read about our Safety First Policies
Guest voices: pura vida in their own words
“So much positive energy—I feel like I got a shot of pure joy.” — Monica M., Minnesotta
“Life changing. I learned to surf, be tranquil, and enjoy life.” — Arlene B., New York
“They have a magic formula—location, people, surf/yoga in a life-changing way.” — Megan N., New York
Check out more guest testimonials
Don’t just learn about Pura Vida. Live it.
You can look up translations. Or you can stand on a warm board at sunrise, hear your coach say “you’ve got this,” feel your body rise, and ride toward a shoreline of women cheering your name. That’s pura vida. It’s an invitation to joy, to presence, to belonging.
Say yes to yourself. Reserve your women’s surf & yoga retreat in Costa Rica today.
30% refundable deposit • 24-hour hold (we’ll help with flights)
Upcoming Retreats
- November 15 – 21, 2025
- November 24 – 30, 2025 (Surfsgiving)
- December 11 – 17, 2025
- December 28 – January 4, 2025/2026 (New Year’s)
Whether it’s your first trip alone or your fiftieth, let it be one that changes everything.
and let go of everything that no longer serves you.
Explore more guest stories, retreat dates, and what to expect at puravidaadventures.com
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What does pura vida really mean?
Directly translated, it means “Pure Life” — but in Costa Rica, it’s so much more. It’s a way to greet, to give thanks, and to choose presence and joy every day.
Where did the phrase come from?
A 1956 Mexican film popularized it; Costa Ricans embraced the saying by the 1960s–70s. ticotimes.net+1
How do I experience pura vida on retreat?
During your retreat, the world slows down. You start living in the present moment — surfing warm waves, practicing yoga by the sea, and lingering over fresh, colorful meals shared with new friends.
Is Santa Teresa a good base?
Yes—jungle-meets-ocean setting, warm water, walkable surf, gorgeous sunsets. Pura Vida Adventures
What’s the Blue Zone connection?
Nicoya’s lifestyle emphasizes purpose, connection, and simple, plant-forward foods; researchers continue to study how longevity patterns evolve.
