¡Pura Vida! The saying you’ll hear everywhere in Costa Rica means a lot of things but literally translates to “pure life” or “simple life.” A bit like aloha, pura vida has a lot of connotations. It’s a greeting you’ll encounter throughout the country, and you may even find yourself saying it when you get home.Costa Rica is one of the most enchanting, magnificent places on the planet. From eating my body weight in casado (the country’s national dish of rice, beans, veggies, salad, protein, and often cooked plantains) to ziplining over forest canopies, it is a place that has cemented a spot in my heart.