Asher on Aspen: Pura Vida Postcards

What Costa Rica’s rise in crime means for tourists seeking ‘pura vida’

Costa Rica’s slogan “pura vida” invites tourists to experience “a pure life,” but with murder rates on the rise in the nation’s capital, authorities say visitors are on the decline. CNN’s Djenane Villanueva reports from San José.

Asher on Aspen: Pura Vida postcards

Dense jungle stretches out in every direction, wrapping the villas in natural privacy and tropical sounds.Tiki Villas/Courtesy photo It was 7 a.m. in Uvita, Costa Rica, and the jungle was already sweating. Our bags were packed with snorkels, flippers, and scuba gear, and we were jittery with anticipation — and too much coffee. We climbed into a small, worn-out boat that looked like it had some stories to tell. Big enough to feel official but sma…