Costa Rica was recently declared the world's happiest country, according to a new list published by a British independent study. The research group measured overall happiness, ecological footprints, life expectancy, education, and health care systems, and Costa Rica came out on top!

For anyone who's ever been to Costa Rica, it's quite clear that the people there are completely content, and they have every reason for it. Although most locals there don't have all the money and material possessions that many developed countries pride themselves with, Costa Ricans are very satisfied with living a simple life in a beautiful country.

Cruise down any road in CR and you're guaranteed to see entire families sitting on the front porch of a small house, watching the cars go by, laughing and smiling amongst each other, just enjoying the moment. Stop and wave and them, and you're sure to be greeted with a warm smile and a "pura vida!" This proverb translates to "pure life", and the locals live by it.

Costa Ricans have it figured out. They are all about living in the moment and enjoying the beauty that surrounds them. Stress is not a part of their vocabulary, and you'll notice very quickly that they`re never in a hurry to go anywhere. Coming from North America, it`s a little shocking at first. But spend a few weeks there and you will slip right into the pura vida lifestyle. Long, lazy days spent between a hammock, the ocean, and a cold afternoon cerveza at a beachfront bar.

Experience Beach Travellers Costa Rica adventure travel and Costa Rica surf camps and live the pura vida!

Read the complete CNN article about Costa Rica here

White water rafting in Costa Rica.... what could possibly go wrong? 2 weeks ago we hit the rapids with our first travel group, and the only mishap occurred when one girl slipped out of the raft for about 10 seconds. Average day on the river, no big deal. However, yesterday was a completely different story. 30 seconds after we jumped into our rafts, we hit our first rapids and the mayhem began. 3 rafts flipped, paddles floating downstream, people bobbing and swimming for their lives, and rescue ropes being thrown. We all got out of the water after the first rapids, to collect ourselves, gather equipment, and rescue a raft that was wedged under a massive rock.

Our rafting guides assessed the river downstream, and after about 30 minutes they made the call that we were going to continue running the river. Adrenaline pumping through our veins and our hearts racing, we reluctantly returned to our rafts and charged the next set of rapids. From then on, the excitement and carnage continued... laughs, screams and whistles were continuous, as well as priceless looks of pure fear on people's faces.

At the end of the river, when all our rafting guides got out of the water and hugged each other, we realized how extreme our adventure actually was. One guide mentioned that he had not thrown a rescue rope in the past year, and yesterday 4 ropes were thrown, not to mention a total of 7 flipped rafts. But everyone came out unscathed with huge smiles on our faces. Last night during dinner, we all agreed that our rafting trip was one of the most exciting moments of our lives. Another unforgettable Beach Travellers Costa Rica adventure tour.
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