Discover the Spirit of Costa Rica's culture. A guide to the Pura Vida experience
Costa Rica's cultural identity blends its Indigenous heritage with Spanish culture brought over during the colonial period. The influence of surrounding Caribbean cultures further enriches this social "melting pot." It's not a cliché; it's a reality that shapes them as people.
Costa Rica's cultural identity blends its Indigenous heritage with Spanish culture brought over during the colonial period. The influence of surrounding Caribbean cultures further enriches this social "melting pot." It's not a cliché; it's a reality that shapes them as people. It's cited as one of the happiest countries on the planet, and its culture has a lot to do with that. The people prioritize respecting tradition, such as the 'Pura Vida' lifestyle that revolves around nature and social values and the celebration of 'Día de la Raza' (Day of the Race), which honours the country's diverse heritage.
Their kind disposition is inspirational but can easily be missed sitting behind the walls of a resort. Travelling and experiencing Costa Rica's culture outside these walls helps you expand your horizons and gain an appreciation for Central America as a whole. That's why travelling with companies such as Collette is a great way to get the inside scoop: you’ll dive into the culture with destination experts on their guided tours. They tailor their packages so you live and breathe it with those who live here, returning home from a guided tour filled with rewarding memories. Here are some examples of what makes Costa Rica's culture one to experience.
Pura Vida
"Pura Vida" is a Costa Rican slogan at the core of their culture. You will see it everywhere, from t-shirts to coffee cups and souvenirs, but this differs from the Pura Vida experience. It translates to "pure life" and transcends the tourism brochure catchphrase. It's a maxim the people take to heart, embodying simplicity in their nature of living life to the fullest and slowing down. You can use Pura Vida to say hello, bid goodbye, or as a toast. But, importantly, it symbolizes a positive outlook and a carefree attitude. It represents their values, biodiversity, and connection to nature, identifying how they view themselves on the global landscape. You will hear it a lot, and it is infectious. Life is what you make of it, and that's Pura Vida.
Agriculture
On the other side of development and modern farming practices are smaller, family-owned Costa Rican farms that integrate traditional foods into their organic and sustainable practices. These are the farms to seek out, where they welcome you into the family and explain their connection to the land. These aren't farm-to-corporate grocery store experiences but authentic farm-to-table experiences where you sit down to a delicious meal and get a peek behind the curtain into their daily lives. Savour the exotic fruits harvested and foraged and engage in culinary encounters to literally get a taste of the local culture firsthand.
High quality cocoa is produced in Costa Rica. (Photo credit: Getty Images)
Art
Fused into Costa Rica's art is the country’s cultural melting pot. Getting to know the culture through an artistic sensibility is a must, from Indigenous-inspired to contemporary art and sculptures by renowned artists such as Francisco Zuniga. The colourful flora and fauna backdrop is captured everywhere, including the colour palette of modern San José street art. Vibrant murals decorate the city of 1.5 million people, but if you want to see Costa Rican art dating back to 500 AD, the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum in San José has 1600 pieces. Museo de Arte Costarricense contains 6,000 works of art, many of which are from Costa Rica's national artists. Travellers can experience Costa Rica's artistic sensibilities in the country's botanical gardens, where lush arrangements of its flora reflect the country's creative aesthetic.
Costa Rica's art is the country’s cultural melting pot. (Photo credit: Getty Images)
Music
A South Pacific flare accompanies the rhythmic drive of Costa Rican calypso, merengue, soca, and salsa. But the country's diverse landscape also gives rise to various sounds. Costa Rican folk music is one example, and it's a vital part of their cultural identity, accompanied by extravagant dances and costumes. The country created its Indigenous musical identity by mixing Spanish and African music with influences from Mexico, Columbia, and the Caribbean. The result is melodies composed from unconventional scales where maracas, marimbas, and a jawbone form a pulse. Three uncommon instruments make up the traditional Costa Rican sound. The flute-like ocarina is made with beeswax, and the chirimia resembles an oboe. The quijongo is a string instrument that resembles a bow and arrow with a gourd attached. It's struck with a stick to make a wide range of tones featuring a haunting twang.
Soccer
Soccer (or fútbol as it is called in Costa Rica) is the national pastime and part of Costa Rica's identity. It's believed that its popularity is due to the spirit of Pura Vida, where a community shares one ball. British settlers introduced soccer in the early 20th century, and it evolved into a complex system of tiered professional, semi-professional, and amateur local leagues.
Fútbol as it is called in Costa Rica) is the national pastime and part of Costa Rica's identity. (Photo credit: Getty Images)
On the world stage, Costa Rica is the only country of the seven Central American teams to win a World Cup match. The national team plays at San José's National Stadium, the first modern stadium built in Central America, housing over 35,000 fans. At game time, an electrified atmosphere of passionate fans in red, white, and blue face paint with clothes to match replaces the relaxed spirit of Pura Vida. And when they win, Pura Vida returns, where it's rocketed into the stratosphere.
