Pura Vida - An Analysis of How Nature Contributes to the Happiness of Costa Rican Inhabitants
Pura Vida. It’s impossible to think about Costa Rica without this iconic phrase coming to mind. A greeting amongst locals, a way of life, and a phrase plastered on everything you find in tourist shops in CR. But what does Pura Vida mean? Simply put, the phrase means “good life”, but it's not just a phrase, it's the Costa Rican way of life. Beyond the iconic phrase, Costa Rica is most well known for its pristine beaches, expansive nature reserves, kind inhabitants, and being home to over 6% of the world's biodiversity (Environment, Embajada de Costa Rica en DC).
While it existed before, the phrase Pura Vida was popularized by films and novels of the 20th century. Two pieces of media claim to be the origin of the phrase. The first was a 1956 Mexican film named Pura Vida (Triptipedia, 2019). The second one is the award-winning novel Pura Vida by Jose Maria Mendiluce. The novel was both set in and dedicated to Costa Rica (Anna Trester, 2003). This phrase has evolved into a way of life for Ticos, as the locals call themselves, but it has also been a phrase used by Costa Rica's thriving tourism economy. Walk into any tourist ship in Costa Rica and you'll find something that says Pura Vida.
When an entire culture prides itself on a phrase meaning “pure life” or “life is good'' one can't help but wonder if they are as content as they seem to be. If they truly have discovered the key to living a more blissful life, what's their secret? This paper aims to solve the mystery. What factors of Costa Rican culture contribute to the energy of Pura Vida in Costa Rica? The simple answer to this question is that access to green space in Costa Rica contributes to the joy and mental health of the locals and tourists alike, promoting the culture of Pura Vida.
Background
Environment
Located in Central America, Costa Rica accounts for just 0.03% of the earth's surface. Despite its small size Costa Rica accounts for 6% of the world's biodiversity. Making it a huge tourist attraction. It's famous for its natural beauty, environmental conservation efforts, and diverse range of ecosystems. In Costa Rica, you can find rainforests, cloud forests, mangroves, coral reefs, and more. While Costa Rica is small, it is mighty. Costa Rica is a global leader in environmental conservation and has made significant progress in the conservation of natural resources and promoting sustainable development. Over 25% of the land in Costa Rica is reserved for national parks, reserves, and wildlife refuges, all of this makes Costa Rica one of the most biodiverse countries in the world.
The commitment to sustainable development and sustainable tourism contributes to the success of Costa Rica as a nation. The tourism industry in Costa Rica is rapidly developing and now accounts for a large portion of the economy. Costa Rica makes an effort to manage the balance between economic growth and environmental conservation by implementing strategies to not allow tourism to hurt the environment in Costa Rica. The Costa Rican government has also implemented a series of policies to protect the environment and promote sustainability. In 1997, the National Biodiversity Institute was established to oversee all national conservation efforts. A carbon tax was also introduced to help reduce the country's carbon footprint and encourage the adoption of sustainable practices. Costa Rica's commitment to renewable energy is proven by the fact that in 2015, 98% of the electricity in Costa Rica was generated by renewable sources. In addition to all of this, Costa Rica also actively implements sustainable agriculture practices (Environment, Embajada de Costa Rica en DC). Costa Rica's goal is to net zero emissions by 2050 (Kate Zerrenner, 2021).
Ecotourism
Ecotourism is the process of traveling with the intent of being in nature, typically with an emphasis on sustainability and environmental awareness. Ecotourism has become a popular way for people to explore nature and promote sustainable practices. Costa Rica's biodiversity in conjunction with its breathtaking views makes it an incredibly popular destination for ecotourism. Costa Rica's commitment to the environment starting as early as the 1980’s has promoted the practice of ecotourism. The preservation of the environment went hand in hand with the development of the ecotourism industry in Costa Rica. Ecotourism becoming part of the economy allowed the country to continue to promote sustainable practices. Ecotourism activities such as hiking, birdwatching, and more all help to generate income for the conservation of these areas. This has also helped to raise awareness of the importance of protecting wildlife and has resulted in the preservation of many endangered species in Costa Rica. The impact of ecotourism on the national economy is substantial and it is the main source of foreign exchange earnings in the county. The industry alone generates over $2 Billion annually and employs 7% of the country's population. The success of the ecotourism industry has also stimulated growth in the agriculture, transportation, and handicraft industries. Overall, ecotourism has become an invaluable part of the Costa Rican economy (Buchsbaum, 2004).
Ecological Grief
In many ways, the COVID-19 pandemic altered the tourism industry because people began to crave more outdoor and experiential travel experiences. This also imparts due to the increasing awareness around ecological grief, or the psychological distress caused by environmental degradation and loss. Ecological grief is a relatively new concept but can manifest itself as anxiety and a sense of despair among people experiencing ecological grief. People are coping with these feelings of despair by seeking to spend more time in nature for all of the vast benefits of spending time outdoors. The growing demand for nature-based experiences has also benefited the tourism economy in Costa Rica. Ecological grief is a growing concern for many people as they witness the impacts of environmental degradation (Crossley, 2020).
Benefits
Being in nature is proven to have significant mental health benefits. These benefits range from reducing stress and anxiety to improving self-esteem and even having positive impacts on physical health (Crossley, 2020). In particular, living near nature has been shown to have significant health benefits. Research shows that people who have access to green spaces have lower levels of depression and stress. They also have a great sense of community and social support which can further enhance mental health. Nature also promotes a sense of awe and wonder which is shown to improve mental health and promote other positive emotions and overall well-being. The promotion of physical activity also helps with both physical and mental health. Living near nature is proven to have many health benefits both mental and physical (Cox et al., 2017).
Counter
Despite Costa Rica’s progress in environmental conservation, there are still abundant challenges. Deforestation and illegal wildlife trafficking run rampant in Costa Rica despite the government implementing several programs to try to counteract this (Environment, Embajada de Costa Rica en DC). Ecotourism in Costa Rica is also not without its challenges. It's no secret that there are vast benefits of the ecotourism industry. However, the rapid growth of the ecotourism industry has resulted in overcrowding, pollution, and habitat destruction. The increased popularity of many areas has led to a strain on resources and negative environmental impacts. Additionally, Costa Rica, while lush and biodiverse, is not exempt from experiencing ecological grief.
Analysis
Costa Rica, while there are challenges, may be the land of pura vida as it claims to be. There are vast benefits associated with access to green space and spending time in nature. One quote, in particular, felt very poignant in terms of Costa Ricans and their relationship with nature, “Will Costa Rica succeed? I expect they will. My confidence is supported by the observation that there is a widespread appreciation of nature among the citizens of Costa Rica. People talk about the birds and monkeys. They can identify trees and plants. They talk of the mountains and beaches with respect. Besides understanding the beauty of nature, many truly understand that a diminution of biodiversity would deal a devastating blow to their economic future” (Goehl, 1996, 582). This quote illuminates the fact that Costa Ricans prioritize nature. The author even goes on to say that “Costa Ricans are people who truly understand the important facets of life” (Goehl, 1996, pg 583). The critical facets of life that are being referenced here are the prioritization of nature. This presence in and preservation of nature contributes to the mental health and well-being of Costa Rica residents. All of this in turn contributes to the pura vida mentality in Costa Rica.
Conclusion
Can an entire culture really be so happy? Is it really all Pura Vida? The simple answer is yes. It is pura vida. This paper set out to answer the question of what factors of Costa Rican culture contribute to the energy of Pura Vida in Costa Rica. This paper proved that access to green space in Costa Rica contributes to the joy and mental health of the locals and tourists alike, promoting the culture of Pura Vida. So while pura vida may not mean that everything is perfect 100% of the time. It does mean that Costa Rica residents have a stronger connection to nature due to the rich biodiversity and thriving tourism economy that Costa Rica has to offer. This in turn contributes to the mental health and well-being of Ticos, resulting in the pura vida mentality and good vibes Costa Rica locals and tourists alike have grown to know and love.
References
Buchsbaum , B. D. (2004). Ecotourism and Sustainable Development in Costa Rica. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. https://doi.org/https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/bitstream/handle/10919/9912/EcotourismCostRica.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=yCox, D. T. C., Shanahan, D. F., Hudson, H. L., Plummer, K. E., Siriwardena, G. M., Fuller, R. A., Anderson, K., Hancock, S., & Gaston, K. J. (2017, January 13). Doses of neighborhood nature: The benefits for mental health of living with nature. OUP Academic. https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/67/2/147/2900179 Crossley, É. (2020). Ecological grief generates desire for environmental healing in tourism after covid-19. Tourism Geographies, 22(3), 536–546. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616688.2020.1759133 Environment: Embajada de Costa Rica en dc. Environment | Embajada de Costa Rica en DC. (n.d.). http://www.costarica-embassy.org/index.php?q=node%2F12 Goehl, T. J. (1996). Pura Vida. Environmental Health Perspectives, 104(6), 582–583. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.2307/3433075 Trester, A. (2003). Bienvenidos a Costa Rica, la tierra de la pura vida: A Study of the Expression “pura vida” in the Spanish of Costa Rica. https://www.lingref.com/cpp/wss/1/paper1008.pdf Triptipedia. (2019, August 18). The origins of "Pura vida" in Costa Rica. Triptipedia. https://www.triptipedia.com/tip/65sRAKn/the-origins-of-pura-vida-in-costa-rica#:~:text=What%20is%20%E2%80%9cPura%20vida%3F%E2%80%9D,a%20greeting%20and%20a%20goodbye.&text=The%20origin%20of%20the%20phrase,film%20by%20the%20same%20name Zerrenner, K. (2021, May 14). In Costa Rica, 'Pura Vida also means climate action. TriplePundit. Retrieved April 29, 2023, from https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2021/costa-rica-pura-vida-climate-action/722626 