The land of Pura Vida is far more than the sum of all its exquisite wonders. Somehow, everyone who visits Costa Rica is touched by the gentleness of the people, a thread of joy, kindness and total peace that defies the fact that this is a tiny country with over 121 volcanic formations, of which seven are active and one makes the top ten most active on earth.
Vitamin Sea
Costa Rica’s Pacific marine area reaches 388,000 m2 (625,000 km2), approximately 10 times larger than its land area and it has 801 miles of coastline.
Locals meandering down to the beach and taking a little time to spend quiet moments on a beach (a cup of coffee optional) is something you will see every morning in some surf towns around Costa Rica. Of course, everyone doesn’t have an ocean at the end of a five-minute stroll from their back door but making space for rituals that allow us to step away from our busyness might just change the day.
Don’t think of Blue Ducks
In Costa Rica, they do not use the common Spanish ‘de nada’ in reply to a thank you. Instead, they will say ‘con mucho gusto’. So, instead of something being ‘nothing’ it becomes ‘with much pleasure’. The connection between our neural pathways and our language is interesting. Chances are, your head was immediately filled with blue ducks when you read the heading of this paragraph. Considering how we speak to ourselves and others, especially through the words we use often, can affect how we feel.
Tico Time
The people of Costa Rica are Ticos and Ticas. And in Costa Rica, all the Ticos and Tacos run on Tico time. Don’t even think about getting all stressed out about things you do not have control over. Practice getting there when you get there: and if anyone complains tell them you are running on Tico time.
Reset your Rhythm
It plays host to more than 5% of the world’s biodiversity within an area that takes up 0.3% of the earth’s surface. Monkeys (Howler, Spider, White-Faced, and Squirrel) are the most common mammals in Costa Rica – next to bats. There are also about 52 species of hummingbirds in Costa Rica, as well as 750,000 species of insects including about 20,000 different types of spiders and 10% of the world’s butterflies. This makes Costa Rica the perfect destination for getting touch with nature.
Back home you can carry on finding the natural markers in your day from your surroundings. You might not have a howler monkey telling you its morning but becoming more aware of how your neighborhood wakes and the rhythm of the natural day that surrounds you can be grounding. Make time for a little rest in the afternoon (even if it is five minutes) and acknowledge the sunset.
How do we know Costa Ricans are on to something good?
Life expectancy in Costa Rica is one of the highest in the world. And we all know the only thing better than living a long life is living a happy one.
Check.
And check.
New Hand Luggage Rules for travel from Costa Rica to the USA
When traveling from Costa Rica to the United States passengers are prohibited from transporting more than 12 oz. (340 grams) of powdered substances in the cabin, including make-up, as well as flour, coffee, sugar, talc, milk powder, and condiments. These have to be put identified luggage that will be carried in the belly of the plane and not as a carry-on article.
Additionally, if a traveler buys a powder product inside the Juan Santamaría International Airport, it must be placed in special bags with a security seal, which would have to be provided at the store where the product is bought.
Some products allowed in the cabin are baby formulas and powders necessary for medical reasons (with a verifiable prescription extended by a doctor). This measure adds, to the restrictions that currently exist to transport liquids, sprays, and gels, which cannot exceed 100 milliliters and must go into a plastic bag with closure (a ziplock plastic bag, for instance).
Imagery © Trevor Cole – unsplash.com; ©William Warby– unsplash.com; ©Javier Mazzeo– unsplash.com; ©Zdeněk Macháček– unsplash.com; ©Miguel Bruna– unsplash.com ©Zdeněk Macháček– unsplash.com
