For those who are unfamiliar with the term “Pura Vida”, I think a little explanation is in order. Technically, the phrase translates to “pure life”, but in Costa Rica, it means so very much more.
It is a universal term that can mean anything from “hi,” to “how are you,” to “I’m fine,” and everything in between. It can also mean “goodbye,” “see you later,” and “have a great day.”
It is something you say to greet people and to wish them well, but it is also the verbal expression of a lifestyle. It is a motto that reminds us to live a pure life, a life that is in harmony with nature, and with everyone around us.
The Pure Life
While it’s not always accurate to generalize, it’s safe to say that Costa Rican culture is quite strong, and has some very long-standing traditions. And a big part of this is that Costa Ricans, in general, are happy, generous, kind, and friendly people, who live a very simple life.
That life involves a strong sense of community, a very close connection to family, and staying in tune with the world around them. Long trips are often managed on motorcycles, scooters, or bicycles with electric motors, but in general, people cycle or walk most places when they can.
The fact that it's hot, and that walking, or bicycling takes much longer doesn’t matter. The pace of life is slower, calmer… and overall, healthier. Fresh air and exercise have a positive effect on people. Sunshine, the sound of birds, the smell of green, growing things can ground us as few other things do.
Add to that the fresh salt air and melodic sound of the ocean waves, and the rush of the wind, and it’s easy to see why people are healthier and live longer… and not just a little longer either. Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula is home to one of only five places in the world designated as a Blue Zone!
Blue Zones
A Blue Zone is an area in which historical studies consistently record a population that enjoys extreme longevity, and better than usual health.
The five designated blue zones are Sardinia, Italy; Okinawa, Japan; Ikaria, Greece; Loma Linda, California; and Nicoya, Costa Rica. These communities regularly maintain a high number of centenarians (people who live well into their 100s), whereas the average human lifespan is 70.
Researchers may not know exactly why these areas support such healthy, long-lived populations, but they have a pretty good idea and there are ongoing studies that, they hope, will prove their theories.
The main theories have to do with environment, diet, community, and lifestyle. As these areas are spread across the globe, they each have their own unique diet, cultural habits, and community structure. However, they also have certain traits in common. The studies hope to prove that it is the common traits, habits, and diet ingredients that help people live longer.
More on Nicoya
Nicoya is the name of the peninsula that encompasses the majority of Guanacaste province and parts of Puntarenas province, but it is also a small, relatively rural community located on the Northwest coast of Costa Rica. And it’s here, and in the surrounding areas, that have earned the distinction of a Blue Zone (as of 2004). Records show that Nicoya often has the highest number of male centenarians in the world with most of the residents living past 90 years of age!
(Before you ask, the scientists are focused on the male population and their habits because overall women live longer than men, which makes it even rarer to have this concentration of long-lived males.)
The high average age isn’t the only unique thing about the little town of Nicoya. In general, the overall population is very healthy and lives without disability, and without the use of medication.
For this reason, scientists are studying the Nicoyan lifestyle and their environment to see if they can narrow down the specific lifestyle habits that people around the world can learn from.
Here are some of the habits of the Nicoyans that may contribute to their longevity:
- Eating a healthy breakfast high in protein, antioxidants, and complex carbs, but low in additives, and preservatives
- Eating healthy snacks regularly throughout the day
- Eating lots of fruit, and very little meat
- Walking to work. Not only is it good exercise, but the fresh air and the time in nature is also good for mental health
- Strong community ties. This slower pace of life gives Nicoyans more time to talk to each other, to connect, and support each other
- Faith. The Pura Vida lifestyle is as much an outlook as anything else, and that outlook is positive and trusts that everything will work out.
- Purpose. Costa Ricans are hardworking and take pride in their work which promotes a workplace based on team spirit and community.
- Attitude. Nicoyans don’t try to live as long as possible, but they do strive to live the best life they can while they are here. The habit of living day-to-day and appreciating the small things adds to their positive outlook and attitude. This, in turn, creates a happy population with good mental health.
Forbes had a really interesting article about the study that you can read here.
You can also watch this nice video: Blue Zones Costa Rica
The Environmental Influence
It’s easy to understand how living in a tropical environment full of trees, rich in oxygen, and surrounded by fresh fruits and vegetables free of chemicals can make people naturally healthier. But that’s not the only way in which nature contributes to our health.
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A Holistic Approach to Health
Modern, ‘western’ medicine veered off quite a while ago from the style of natural, herb-based medicine that many indigenous tribes around the globe have used for millennia. The reliance on manufactured medicines gives people from backgrounds like mine a very different attitude and understanding of what is ‘healthy,’ and it’s one of those topics that many people feel really strongly about.
It’s worth noting that these herbal, traditional medicines are often considered the first line of defense, rather than a cure-all. In more serious conditions, herbal medicine is used in combination with other things in modern medication. Still, it’s worth noting that reaching for plants and spices, rather than a pill first, can have its benefits.
While many parts of the world use spices for flavor, others understand their medicinal uses and consume them regularly. These herbs and spices have been part of native diets for generations, so perhaps we have forgotten their broader benefits.
Often, people in the western world buy vitamins and supplements to stay healthy and to provide for their bodies’ needs. But here, a diet rich in fresh vegetables, delicious fruits, and foods cooked with helpful herbs and spices does the same thing using a concert of natural, plant- and- spice-based foods, you can do it in a more organic way.
The Power of Lifestyle
There is also a general understanding throughout Costa Rica about the importance of downtime, relaxation, and communion with nature. All of these things, as part of your daily routine, have a profound effect on your mental health and well-being. One of the big reasons why Costa Rica has become one of the top destinations on earth for Wellness Tourism!
All across the country, places are springing up, offering the chance to combine the beauty of nature with healthy habits like yoga, sound therapy, and meditation. There are retreats and spas, where you can immerse yourself in all that nature offers, release your stresses and find your zen.
There are groups and clubs for people interested in everything from hiking, to cycling, to surfing, and kayaking. The variety is endless but the main theme is promoting the benefits of healthy exercise and movement in a naturally restful environment.
So What Does Pura Vida Really Mean? We’ve Just Scratched the Surface
Still, if you put all of these pieces together, you come right back around to understanding one powerful aspect of the Pura Vida as a lifestyle — a sense of wellness from one year old to one hundred years old, and more!
When I first moved here, I had guests visiting me. Partway through their stay, they made a comment that caught me by surprise. It was, “Where are all the old people?”
Since the area in which I live, and Monteverde where I often go to explore and work, are both popular with retirees, I asked them what they meant. They pointed out something which I hadn’t noticed, none of the Ticos look “old”. Now that the idea is in my mind, I’ve been noticing it ever since.
It’s not that there aren’t people here much older than I, there are, but they are cycling along the highway with their grandchildren on the bar of the bike, or working in their fields, or selling fruit along the highway. And, they are doing it with a smile on their face. Without trying to sound like I’m generalizing (again), more often than not these ‘elderly’ Ticos still have dark hair and relatively unlined skin, so at first glance– no ‘old’ Ticos!
It’s made me more conscious of my inactivity, my sugar-filled diet, and my tendency to rush when I really don’t need to. It has inspired me to do better, and it's something I’m working on. After all, I live in paradise, quite close to a blue zone. I see no reason why I can’t live to a hundred too!
Pura Vida!
