“Pura Vida,” is the motto of Costa Rica. It literally translates to “Pure Life,” but also conveys a feeling that “everything is good,” not unlike the Aloha spirit in Hawai’i. The past twelve months have really tested that life philosophy, so is Costa Rica still living la Pura Vida?
Our time in Costa Rica was brief, but our trip to the land of “Pura Vida” is emblematic of a new way that Bricole seek to travel and see the world. With more than five years of travel benefits under our belts, we have learned some lessons as we go. In the past, we perhaps took on more than we should have. Things in the past seemed more hurried. If we went to Croatia, how could we not also go to Montenegro. If going to Montenegro, how could you not cross into Albania. If heading to Albania, might as well also go to Bosnia, then Slovenia, Austria, and Germany. This was an actual trip we did in 2017. And while we both enjoyed it very much, I admit it was not as relaxed and enriching as it could have been. Seldom would we be at the same hotel for more than one night. We were always on the move, seeking to get to our next destination before being able to fully absorb the one we were just at. We were almost frenzied in our desire to get somewhere new as if this was it for the rest of our lives. And that’s where we went wrong.
Ironically, that feeling of never getting the chance to be back is a legitimate concern recently with travel bans still popping up all over the world. And yet, perhaps it is fitting that in a year that found the world standing still (except Florida), Bricole have also found a way to stay more rooted while away. Though it appears as a small country on a map, Costa Rica has activities for all types. For a country that is perhaps better known for beaches, surfing, fishing, and sunbathing, we went to an area known for its bountiful rain. Rather than try to cover as much ground as possible, we spent our entire trip in the Arenal volcano region.
To an outsider, this may seem like we missed out on a lot. And we did. And that’s ok. We will be back someday, or at least I hope we will. We are not on some venture to visit 100 countries and then just stop because we’ve “seen it all.” Which is not to say that I don’t get excited by adding new countries to my list. It’s now at 60, thanks for asking. But as small as the world sometimes seems to travelers like Bricole, we realize there is so much that we have not seen — even within countries we have previously visited. So rather than attempt to cover lots of ground and spend less time in each spot, we thought it better to root ourselves to the volcano and have a more meaningful experience there.
The Arenal area is in a wet region of Costa Rica. Although these months technically fall in the dry season, it is still a rainforest and we saw our share of rain. The volcano itself is not often completely visible, shrouded frequently by mist or clouds. We should consider ourselves lucky to have seen it unobstructed. One of the zipline guides told us there was only one day that the peak was visible so far in 2021 and it was while we were there.
As the name implies, the rainforest requires rain. I admit that I was a bit concerned when I looked at the weather forecast for our time in Costa Rica and it was all rain all the time. I feared that this would put a literal damper on things, but forecasts are not to be lived by. The weather can change very suddenly and while it is a good bet that it will rain during the day, it is not likely to rain the entire day. And in a region like this, the rain serves its purpose. As we learned, it may have actually not rained enough to catch a glimpse of the red-eyed tree frogs which are said to be more active when it is wet.
Costa Rica is the most visited country in Central America. Based on this knowledge, as well as the numerous tripadvisor reviews warning about large crowds, it is safe to say that we had a different experience than would be the norm.
We did not see many tourists — a fact that Nicole and I enjoy, but the economy of Costa Rica does not. At one point the government was allowing specific states in the United States to enter based on their latest Covid positivity rates. Then at some point in late fall, the entire idea was scrapped in hopes of enticing more tourists. Our hotel had maybe six to eight guests tops. Activities like the sky walk or zip lining that would normally have to be reserved days in advance were available at all hours of the day. We just had to pick a time.
I am somewhat conflicted about these touristless experiences. I very much enjoyed being away from the usual throngs of tourists, but this obviously comes at great cost to people’s jobs and livelihoods — not to mention my own flying schedule. With the vaccine being slowly implemented, hopefully things will start to improve. Perhaps next year, we will find ourselves at a beach in Costa Rica while dozens of annoying college students and a shipload of obese sunburnt cruisers talk loudly to one another while drinking Coronas. It is at that moment when I will wonder if those working in the tourism industry will reminisce fondly of those quiet months of yore or block those memories from their heads. Whatever their thoughts may be, I have been enjoying these quiet months of travel. It has provided an opportunity for a couple of introverts to truly relax in a place in a way that has not been possible for decades. It has been a difficult year for a multitude of reasons, but the quiet Covid-version of Costa Rica gave us a chance to take a break, recharge, and come back home more positive and prepared for the challenges ahead. Pura Vida indeed.
passports & pepto bismol 