Travel

5 Things About Costa Rica You May Not Know

Feb 4, 2014 — by Griffin Thall

Pura Vida is more than a brand. It inspires change. Just the other day, I was talking to a designer I met in LA, and I told her I was writing for Pura Vida. I asked her if she had heard of the brand and she responded in a very surprising way. "Yes, of course I have heard of the brand. I love their whole M.O. They have a great presence and I love what they stand for. I just bought two of their bracelets last night actually.” To be known for your dedication to surrounding communities is a feat within itself. As a growing brand, the fact that so much of what is made is given back to the communities in which the bracelets are crafted, makes wearing each one something special. Because we are so appreciative of our roots in Costa Rica, we thought we’d give you a brief background on the country. And this isn’t your run-of-the-mill history lesson… it is just a simple list of fun facts regarding the country and the people who live there. You should always appreciate where you come from. Without firm roots, you cannot grow. This is why, at Pura Vida, we consistently cherish those who have helped us get where we are today. 5 Things About Costa Rica You May or May Not Already Know

“Pura vida” is the national saying, which means “pure life,” a sunny, feel good expression used as a greeting, goodbye or if someone asks how you are doing.
Costa Ricans call themselves Ticos and Ticas. The average Tico makes $6,000 a year and the average wage labor is $10 per day, the highest in Central America.
There are more than 130 species of fish, 220 of reptiles, 1,000 butterflies (10% of the world’s butterflies are in Costa Rica), 9,000 plants, 20,000 species of spiders and 34,000 species of insects! It only takes up .03% of planet’s surface but holds 5% of its biodiversity.
Costa Rica has no standing army. It was constitutionally abolished in 1949. It is also the longest-standing democracy in Central America.
And in honor of Valentines Day coming up, when someone is your significant other, your other half, they are your “media naranja,” or the other half of your orange.

All facts sourced from Norm Schriever. He is the Amazon.com best-selling author of South of Normal, a book about his time as an expat in Costa Rica. His blog is found here.

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