?Pura Vida!
What literally translates to “pure life” defines the way of living for the people of Costa Rica, or “Ticos” as they like to call themselves. Every Tico embodies this phrase through their pride for their country, love for their people, dedication to their land, and kindness to every visitor they encounter.
Unsurprisingly, this culture is a defining aspect of many of the companies we met during our stay.
Sib? Chocolate‘s founders sought to revive the industry of chocolate and cacao plantations in Costa Rica, all the while supporting the local artisan community and seeking to spread joy to their customers. Their motivation? Pride in the history of Costa Rica and the cacao bean.
Caf? Britt was founded on the desire to deliver gourmet coffee to the people of Costa Rica, where previously the best coffee was exclusively reserved for exports. Their coffee is grown, picked, roasted, and harvested all within the borders of Costa Rica, and the company makes a constant effort to reduce its environmental impact. The company introduced the first-ever coffee tour as a way of introducing Costa Rica’s flavor to the world.
Toucan Rescue Ranch‘s founder saw a need for rehabilitating one of Costa Rica’s many colorful bird species and didn’t hesitate to step up to the challenge. When the national animal of Costa Rica (the sloth) arrived at their doorstep, TRR expanded to be a multi-species facility serving the country. Their passion now includes providing educational programs, research sites, and facilities across Costa Rica.
This list is only a glimpse of the many companies that began with a desire better the country they’re proud to live in. The road for each company wasn’t easy, partly due to all of the rules, regulations, and red tape set up by the Costa Rican government. In the US, it is not uncommon for college students to begin startups during their free time. Registering a business can happen anywhere from four days to three months, and paying customers can be found well within a year. For Ticos, they are considered extremely lucky to have a business fully registered in less than 6 months, and that’s before all of the mandatory taxes roll in. Nevertheless, these companies persevered and are proud to represent the beauty that is Tico Culture today.
I’m grateful for the opportunities I had to vastly improve my Spanish with my host family and better understand the value of working in harmony with our Earth. I will never forget the lush green rainforests and beautiful flora everywhere we went. Pura Vida, Costa Rica.
