A new year is the perfect time to plan your next trip…and think about how you travel in general. Costa Rica is a place that naturally encourages better habits, deeper connection, and a slower pace of life. For novice adventurers and experienced travelers alike, these New Year’s travel resolutions will help you experience Costa Rica the way locals do: present, curious, and full of pura vida.
Costa Rica New Year
There’s something grounding about beginning your day slowly, with a warm cup of high-quality Costa Rican coffee and a moment to breathe before the adventures begin.
Coffee culture runs deep in Costa Rica. Our beans are grown at high elevations and carefully produced by small farmers, making specialty coffee part of everyday life for many of us. For the truly authentic experience, pair your morning coffee with freshly squeezed orange juice. Many Costa Ricans buy their morning OJ from local street vendors. creating a simple but joyful daily ritual.
One of the easiest travel resolutions to keep is choosing to be more eco-friendly. Bringing a reusable water bottle is a great place to start.
Costa Rica is a global leader in sustainability, with national commitments to reducing plastic waste and protecting natural resources. In almost every part of the country, tap water is safe to drink, making it easy to refill your bottle and reduce single-use plastics throughout your trip. Learn more about Camino Travel’s dedication to sustainability.
Reusable Water Bottle
Make it a goal to wake up early at least a few mornings during your trip. You won’t regret it!
Sunrise in Costa Rica is remarkably consistent, usually between 5:30 and 6:00 am. The early hours are calm, cool, and filled with soft light, often even during the rainy season. Bright mornings are common year-round, and waking up early also means you can explore more before the day warms up or the crowds accumulate.
Here, meals are simple, balanced, and deeply connected to what’s grown nearby.
Typical Costa Rican dishes are built around fresh fruits, vegetables, rice, beans, and locally sourced ingredients. Open-air farmers markets, called ferias, are a cornerstone of Costa Rican culture. Visiting one offers a real glimpse into daily life, along with colors and flavors that are as fresh as they come.
Instead of rushing from one activity to the next, resolve to leave space for rest.
This is where pura vida truly comes to life. In Costa Rica, pura vida isn’t an empty phrase—it’s a way of approaching life with appreciation, optimism, and ease. Taking things slower between adventures helps you enjoy the journey itself, not just the highlights.
Take it slow between adventures
One of the best resolutions you can make is to be more present—and a little more intentional—with your phone.
Yes, take photos. Capture the wildlife, the landscapes, and yourself too—you’ll be glad you did. But also give yourself permission to put the phone away, take things in, and really notice what’s around you. In Costa Rica, it’s common to spot toucans in the trees, monkeys crossing roads, sloths overhead, curious coatis on jungle trails, and vibrant scarlet macaws flying across the sky.
Consider journaling about your days as well—what surprised you, what made you laugh, how a place made you feel. Years from now, you’ll appreciate having both kinds of memories: the ones you captured with your camera and the ones you captured by simply being present.
Make your trip more meaningful by leaving room in your suitcase for a small donation.
Camino Travel is proud to be a member of Pack for a Purpose, an initiative that allows travelers to make a lasting impact in the communities they visit. In Costa Rica, this supports our long-standing commitment to sustainable tourism.
One of the main projects we support is Hogar Brotes de Olivo, a temporary home for children from newborns to five years old who are in high-risk situations. By bringing simple supplies, travelers can help support the physical, emotional, educational, and health needs of these children.
Pack with purpose
A trip to Costa Rica is an opportunity to reset, reconnect, and return home with fresh perspective. If you’re ready to design a journey that balances adventure, culture, and meaningful experiences, contact Camino Travel. Our local expertise makes all the difference in creating a trip that truly feels pura vida.
