Tapping into the healing powers of Costa Rica

Living in a land teeming with sandy beaches, lush rainforest, and thermal springs, the Tico people of Costa Rica are amongst the happiest and healthiest in the world — but what’s their secret?

You will hear the phrase ‘pura vida’ a lot if you visit Costa Rica. It’s in every hello and every goodbye — but it is more than just a saying. When translated, it means ‘pure life’ or ‘simple life’, and Costa Ricans — also known as ‘Ticos’ — embody that to the full. This approach to life is one of the reasons that the Central American nation is home to one of the world’s very few ‘Blue Zones’, where locals enjoy longer, healthier, and happier lives.

I spend some time travelling the country and getting a taste of the ‘pura vida’ life for myself, connecting with the culture and experiencing wellness in a fresh light. I come to fully understand why Costa Rica is one of the happiest countries in the world.

As hard as it is to pry myself away from Nantipa and the friendly town of Santa Teresa, my next stop, at the volcanic region of Arenal (home to one of the largest craters in the world), proves to be just as mesmerising, in an entirely different way. Here, you can experience a multitude of activities, from hiking and zip-lining to swimming in cascading waterfalls so enchanting you will hardly believe they are real. Just beneath the majestic volcano sits the sleepy town of La Fortuna, home to an abundance of natural pools and hot springs. Though we had been blessed with nothing but blue skies up until this point — a rare occurrence for the start of the rainy season — it turns out a tropical storm is the most beautiful way to experience naturally flowing hot springs.

At dusk, I am serenaded into a trance-like state by the hum of birdsong, the gentle croaks of tiny frogs, and the ever-present trickle of water.

Previous

6 of the best US ranch hotels for a ‘Yellowstone’-inspired break

Next

A ceramicist’s guide to Copenhagen

Latest stories

This refashioned farmhouse hideaway embodies Tuscany’s timeless beauty

Overflowing with rustic charm and evergreen allure, guests of Lupaia inevitably fall head over heels for every cossetting corner of this Tuscan countryside escape. Pair homely comforts with five-star service, and an ever-changing bill of fare rooted in the region’s organic offerings, and you’re sure to keep coming back to

Where to stay in May: 8 boutique hotels to book now

Sitting perfectly on the cusp of summer, just before European beaches begin to fill to the brim, May is one of our favourite months to travel. City breaks are sunny but not unbearably hot, the countryside is in full bloom, and even further flung, tropical climes are balmy, breezy, and

The best sea view hotel rooms in Italy

Summer holidays in Italy are best spent as close to il mare as possible — preferably al fresco all day long. Waking up to shimmering sea views and being lulled to sleep by lapping waves sets a relaxed pace at these seafront boutique hotels, where the most difficult decision you’ll

Menorca on film: a guide to the wild Balearic isle

Discover Menorca, the wild Spanish isle that’s one of the best-kept secrets on the Mediterranean, where those in the know are casting off to embrace sun, sea, and art.