A Brief History Of Costa Rica's Most Prominent Symbols

While there are a lot of different things that represent Costa Rica, such as certain types of foods and drinks, music, clothing, landscapes, animals, and activities, there are a few symbols that have a significant historic background and a permanent place in Costa Rican culture. These are those important symbols and what they mean to the Costa Rican people and their way of life.

The National Flag

The national flag of Costa Rica is blue, white, and red and adorned with the national coat of arms. The flag was designed in 1848 by First Lady Pacífica Fernández Oreamuno. The flag was modeled after the national flag of France and the ideals of the French Revolution, which include freedom, equality, and brotherhood. The blue is meant to literally represent the sky and metaphorically represent obtainable opportunities, perseverance, intellect, and religious and spiritual ideals. The white stands for happiness, wisdom, unobstructed thinking, ambition, power, and peace. The red is meant to symbolize the blood that was shed for freedom, zest for life, the warmth of the Costa Rican people, and generosity.

The National Shield

The National Labor Symbol

The oxcart is the symbol of national labor in Costa Rica. The oxcart and boyeros (oxcart drivers) hold a special place in Costa Rican history and culture. The oxcart was one of the main modes of transport between 1850 and 1935. Oxen and oxcarts were essential for transporting goods, such as coffee, around the country. The oxcart also became an artistic symbol in Costa Rica. Boyeros started painting their oxcarts, especially the wheels, each trying to outshine the other. While the use of oxcarts has greatly declined in the last century, oxcart art is still a prominent tradition in Costa Rican culture. The oxcart is meant to represent the Costa Rican work ethic and drive, as well as progress and endurance.

The “National Motto”

While there technically isn’t an official national motto in Costa Rica, the phrase pura vida truly embodies the Tico way of life. Pura vida literally translate to “pure life” and is not only a phrase the reflects the traditional way of life in Costa Rica but it is also used as a greeting and salutation. Living a pura vida lifestyle involves living simply and kindly, spending time in nature and with your family, and embracing your surroundings and the present moment. If there is one phrase to sum up everything Costa Rica, this is it.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.