Costa Rica: Pura vida mae

Pura vida, mae - at first, it might sound like a simple way to say hi to your friends. But it carries much more “weight” than that. It’s not just a greeting - it’s a reminder. A reminder to enjoy life, appreciate the moment, and live on your own terms, no matter what comes your way. We might take that for granted in our fast-paced world, but Costa Ricans live by it. You can feel it in the air, in the way people talk, smile, and go about their day. It's contagious, in the best way.

How Did My Costa Rican Adventure Even Start?

Honestly? Totally by accident.

I was with my friend in Colombia, and we were looking for a flight back to Mexico. But flying directly was expensive, so we looked for a workaround. That’s when the idea popped up! What if we went to Panama for three days, and made a quick two-night detour to Costa Rica? It sounded solid, spontaneous, and fun, so we booked it.

As we were planning the trip, we realized that the capital, San José, is about two hours from the nearest beach. Still, we booked a hotel there and figured we’d sort the beach part out later. No big deal.

On our first day in San José, we checked into our hotel and decided to go to a local football (soccer) match. It was a first-division Costa Rican game, and one of my friend’s friend was playing, so we wanted to see him and soak in the local vibe. Let me tell you - Latinos really play football with heart. You can feel the passion. One thing that left me speechless was the sunset during the game, just look at it!!

Sunset during the match in Costa rica

That night, the city was quiet, so we grabbed some big beers from a local shop to cool off. While there, we made friends with the workers and the shop owner, who gave us some tips for getting to the beach. It wasn’t the wildest night, but it was chill and memorable in its own way.

Example of how big the drinks were in the store

"Beach" Day

Banana express shipping

One travel rule I learned and try to live by is:  always carry cash. Especially in countries like this. (Fun fact: Costa Rica has the strongest economy in Latin America)

We headed to the bus station early in the morning. Our internet data had run out, so we found a coffee shop around the corner that sold SIM cards and recharged data. After sorting that out, we returned to the station and scraped together just enough cash to buy our tickets.

As we waited, people were loading palm tree leaves and fresh bananas still on the branches into the bus. I remember a British guy trying to get on - he didn’t have any money, but somehow, he still made it on board. I think he just rode the whole way without getting kicked out. Like they say: if there’s a will, there’s a way.

The ride itself was beautiful - lush scenery, smooth roads… until our tire went flat. We pulled over at what I’ll generously call a “service station.” Really, it was just a dusty rest stop with a small store, a food stall, and a random restaurant nearby. We knew we’d be there for a bit, so we grabbed some fruit, meat skewers, and—of course—more beers. We chatted with the bus drivers, snapped some photos with them, and still believed we’d make it to the beach and back before nightfall. The plan was to catch the same bus back to San José.

Well… we were completely wrong.

Meat skewers Scenic views

Scenic views The drivers and a flat tire

First, we accidentally fell asleep. And the driver, bless him, didn’t wake us when we reached our stop. Instead, he drove another hour past our destination—to a place called Quepos.

Supermarket in Quepos

By the time we woke up, the sun was already setting, and the beach plan was basically dead. And to top it off, I realized I’d left my backpack on the bus. Almost everything I had was in there. Luckily, I had my windtrekker and a charger, so I wasn’t totally screwed. We called the driver, and he told us he’d drop the backpack at the bus station, since he couldn’t meet up. Cool.

We figured we had time to catch the sunset before picking it up. Bad idea. When we got to the station, it had already closed - just a few minutes before we arrived.

Adventure after Adventure

Even though we had a hotel room back in San José, we needed a place to crash in Quepos. We found an Airbnb for 25 bucks, but there was one problem: we only had a hundred-dollar bill, and no one in the village could break it. No card payments, no change—nothing. Fortunately, the Airbnb hosts were super chill and managed to scrounge up some extra dollars. Crisis averted.

The Night

The Airbnb was basic—small room, no AC (of course)—but honestly, it felt like luxury given the situation. There we met a Canadian guy and a German girl, both about our age. The Canadian was doing a 3-week windsurfing trip with a friend, and the German girl was solo traveling. We hit it off right away, grabbed some drinks, and hung out on a bench by the sea.

That night was one of those unexpected travel highlights—laughs, good vibes, and random connections.

Hat with the artwork

At one point, a local guy came up to us carrying a big boulder and said he could paint it for us. I laughed and told him there’s no way I could fit that in my luggage. He smiled and offered to paint something on my hat instead. I said sure—why not?

While painting, he told us about his time working in Canada and how he learned English. It was a cool exchange. I tipped him for the hat art, and he hung out for a bit before heading off. The rest of the night we just chilled and soaked it all in.

The Morning After

We woke up early around 6 AM, determined to finally hit the beach.

We packed our stuff, called a taxi, and drove about 15–20 minutes to the closest beach we found on Google Maps. When we got there… it was like something out of a movie. Dark sand, massive boulders, swaying palm trees, and that magical Costa Rican vibe. Just wow. It felt surreal. Peaceful. Mesmerizing.

We wandered around, took some photos, and saw a sign that said “Beware of Crocodiles.” Thankfully, we didn’t see any—but we definitely stayed alert. :’)

Beware of crocodiles sign Costa Rican beach

Eventually, it was time to head back to Quepos, catch the bus to San José, grab our bags from the hotel, and fly out to Mexico.

The two-hour bus ride back went smoothly. We reached San José just in time to check out (a bit late), but when we showed the hotel staff a photo of the flat tire, the lady smiled and let it slide. No late fee. Just pura vida vibes.

Final Thoughts

Our Costa Rican trip was short with just about 48 hours, but packed with more adventure, mishaps, and laughs than most week-long vacations. From navigating buses and chasing beaches, to making new friends and winging our way through chaos, it was anything but boring. Costa Rica isn’t just a destination - it’s an experience. Pura vida, mae!

Pura vida vibes Guy wearing a hat with Pura vida written on it

About the author

Tomo is a passionate traveler and a dedicated student who has managed to combine both worlds seamlessly. Despite a busy academic schedule, he has become a seasoned explorer with countless miles behind him. Always on the lookout for new destinations, Tomo has mastered the art of budget travel, proving that adventure doesn’t have to come with a high price tag.

Want more places to explore? Check out Nature’s Playbook for even more outdoor destinations and adventure ideas!