Faces of Costa Rica

Tourism in Costa Rica: It's Pura Vida

Pura Vida. You can find these two words on posters and other advertisements inviting visitors to head to Costa Rica, enticing the viewer with waterfalls, beautiful beaches, volcanos, rainforests and much more. Numerous business include the words pura vida in their names.

For Costa Rica, the words "pura vida" are a national expression, one they now share with the rest of the world. The words have a variety of meanings, but the literal translation is "pure life!" When you ask a Costa Rican how she is, often she will answer with "pura vida."

Tourists who visit Costa Rica each year, learn first hand the meaning of the expression, and the "pura vida" of Costa Rica. In 2002, 1.1 million tourists visited Costa Rica and spent $1.1 billion. In 1992, just 611,000 visitors visited the country, spending $431 million.

• Photo Gallery: Tourism in Costa Rica