Slow Living in Guanacaste, Costa Rica

There has been quite a buzz around “slow living” lately, a movement that values a more balanced, mindful, decelerated lifestyle. Stemming from the “slow food” movement that began in Italy in the 80’s–which was the antidote to fast food and promoted taking your time to prepare and eat your food, enjoying conversation over your meal and not rushing through it – “slow living” has expanded that philosophy through all parts of life.

With technology constantly changing and making the way we do things much faster, many people’s patience and attention spans are down to mere seconds. There’s an app for everything from getting a ride to ordering your groceries and even finding a love connection. We’re now so used to instant gratification now that we’ve lost gratitude. It may feel like you are being more productive, but is fitting more in to your day really worth it if you aren’t able to take the time to appreciate any of it? That’s what many people are asking themselves when they start to consciously adopt a slower, more mindful approach to life.

If you’re familiar with the Costa Rican national motto “pura vida”, you’ll realize that it basically means the same thing. Savoring the moment, feeling gratitude for the simple things, cherishing your relationships and allowing plenty of time to chill. Ticos have mastered the art of “slow living” years before it was trendy, and have managed to hold on to those values pretty well in today’s world. Partially this is because not all of the technology and services that created this hurried pace are available in Costa Rica, but it also seems to be more firmly ingrained in the culture here.

In the Guanacaste province especially, slow living goes without saying. It may have to do with the warm weather, agricultural roots, or new wave of surf culture, but Guanacastecos are all about pura vida. It’s rare to see anyone hurrying anywhere, and stress is almost a foreign concept. Strong family values and an extensive network of amigos are more important to most than making money or gaining status.

So for someone who is feeling overwhelmed by the rapid pace in their homeland, Costa Rica maybe the ideal retreat. Whether you want to experience pura vida for a week, a year or the rest of your life, you will most definitely find yourself living slowly here– sometimes without much of a choice! You’ll end up driving slower, waiting in more lines, chit-chatting with more neighbors, and soaking up more sunsets. It can be a frustrating adjustment at first, but when you embrace the pace you’ll develop an ability to appreciate the small things and find tranquility in each moment. It could take months or it could take years, but if your goal is to slow down and live pura vida, the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica is one of the best places to do it.

Want to see what slow living in Guanacaste is really like? Check out our video where we have our morning coffee on the beach, and show you around our garden.

Check out our retreats if you’re interested in getting a tase of pure life! We host creative retreats, entrepreneur retreats, and expat exploration trips.