The Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) has launched Pura Vida Pledge – a promise to educate visitors as to the real meaning of responsible tourism and the actions that they, as travellers to the destination, can take to make a true difference to the local communities in the post Covid-19 world.

The phrase ‘pura vida’ itself is a mantra for Costa Ricans, meaning ‘pure life’ or, even more so, ‘full of life’, symbolising the Costa Rican mind-set of energy and positivity that awaits visitors. Costa Rica’s commitment to the environment is a way of life.

Being awarded Champions of the Earth by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 2019 and aiming to be carbon neutral by 2050, Costa Rica has no other choice than to protect the environment. For this reason, the country is encouraging visitors to take one of five Pura Vida Pledge actions to ensure their holiday to the country is as ‘pura vida’, sustainable and responsible as possible.

By acknowledging these five principles, visitors can be confident that they are making responsible choices while enjoying the country’s volcanoes, beaches and wild landscape, 28% of which remains stringently protected.

The country’s commitment to five pillars of sustainable and responsible travel include certification for sustainable tourism (CST); carbon offsetting; volunteering; respecting the environment; quality assurance.