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A Pura Vida Road Trip: The Pigments of an Adventure Around the World
As Marco Battuta enjoyed the tropical Costa Rican sunrise, little did he suspect that before the sun finished its journey across the sky, his world would have changed forever.
An unexpected change to their flights places Marco and his girlfriend Nellie inside a colorful vehicle owned by an eccentric character. What should have been a smooth ride to the airport soon turns into a journey against time, as they get caught in the folklore of Onion Town’s annual carnival.
Road after road, the curious driver starts to uncover a collection of travel stories Marco and Nellie have collected across the continents. An adventure where the passengers’ unique personalities and perspectives on life start to clash as the driver digs into the heart of a romantic, coming-of-age tale.
A Pura Vida Road Trip takes you from the streets of a colorful Costa Rican town to a series of travel adventures across the planet. As Marco revisits the backpacker trips that shaped his early adulthood, he’s forced to question not just where he’s been, but where he’s going.
What is pura vida? A pure life? A Costa Rican lifestyle? A philosophical answer to the search for meaning? Marco looked for answers to life’s biggest questions across the globe. The time has come to confront them.
If you enjoy exploring new destinations, philosophizing, immersing yourself in emotional coming-of-age tales, or are just as curious as Marco, then buckle up, this ride’s for you!
An unexpected change to their flights places Marco and his girlfriend Nellie inside a colorful vehicle owned by an eccentric character. What should have been a smooth ride to the airport soon turns into a journey against time, as they get caught in the folklore of Onion Town’s annual carnival.
Road after road, the curious driver starts to uncover a collection of travel stories Marco and Nellie have collected across the continents. An adventure where the passengers’ unique personalities and perspectives on life start to clash as the driver digs into the heart of a romantic, coming-of-age tale.
A Pura Vida Road Trip takes you from the streets of a colorful Costa Rican town to a series of travel adventures across the planet. As Marco revisits the backpacker trips that shaped his early adulthood, he’s forced to question not just where he’s been, but where he’s going.
What is pura vida? A pure life? A Costa Rican lifestyle? A philosophical answer to the search for meaning? Marco looked for answers to life’s biggest questions across the globe. The time has come to confront them.
If you enjoy exploring new destinations, philosophizing, immersing yourself in emotional coming-of-age tales, or are just as curious as Marco, then buckle up, this ride’s for you!
413 pages, Paperback
Published November 27, 2025
1 person is currently reading
4 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 11, 2026
This was a deep conversation between three people about travel stories, and it was also so much more. Complex subjects were exposed in such a fresh novel way including subjects such as companionship, being alone but not lonely, fear of the unknown, risk taking and so many others.
On a more personal note, the similarities between Marco and myself as a Costarican raised by immigrants and then becoming an immigrant myself made me feel seen. There was a fun edit about Marco fearing a certain tropical animal even though he grew up in a tropical country. Well, I fear snakes and there’s no shame in that 🐍 😳
If Goodreads allowed it, I would have actually given it 4.5 stars. Some sentences were written in a way that made me stumble and loose the plot for a second, this I attribute to editing. Nevertheless, I would 100% recommend it to all my fellow book-readers.
On a more personal note, the similarities between Marco and myself as a Costarican raised by immigrants and then becoming an immigrant myself made me feel seen. There was a fun edit about Marco fearing a certain tropical animal even though he grew up in a tropical country. Well, I fear snakes and there’s no shame in that 🐍 😳
If Goodreads allowed it, I would have actually given it 4.5 stars. Some sentences were written in a way that made me stumble and loose the plot for a second, this I attribute to editing. Nevertheless, I would 100% recommend it to all my fellow book-readers.
February 14, 2026
What I liked most is that this is not just about one country. The author shares stories from different parts of the world and ties them together with reflections about relationships, personal growth, and meaning. The message of “pura vida” ends up feeling universal. Simple, calm, and very comforting.
November 25, 2025
I’ve now read this coming-of-age masterpiece twice — even before its official publication — and the second time, I didn’t just read it… I devoured it.
This book has something for absolutely everyone.
If you enjoy my brother’s breathtaking travel photos (seriously, check out his Instagram), then you will be even more captivated by the fictional—well, let’s just say loosely fictional—stories behind them. Through the eyes of Marco Batutta, the protagonist, the narration blends poetic depth with vibrant realism. Each chapter feels like a passport stamp — a new landscape, a new philosophy, a new layer of his soul. One moment you’re drenched in the humidity of the Amazon, the next you’re shivering on the windswept steppes of the Gobi Desert, and suddenly you're standing at sunrise on the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, breathing in skies you've never known.
And yet — this is not just a travel story. It’s a philosophical journey. Each chapter highlights a big question of life, offering contrasting perspectives presented through rich, heartfelt dialogue — surprisingly profound yet wonderfully accessible, without complicated jargon. After my first read, I even did a character analysis and realized how cleverly and deeply layered their conversations are.
When my brother told me he wrote this book simply to leave something for his little girls — a keepsake of his youthful adventures — I laughed and told him, as little brothers are born to do: “This book will be that — and so much more.”
And I meant it. It is so much more.
It’s a love letter to curiosity, to wonder, to human connection. It’s brave, tender, wise, funny — and deeply, beautifully human.
I cannot express how proud I am of my brother.
Go order his first novel.
I don’t just recommend it — I truly, wholeheartedly mean it.
You won’t regret it.
This book has something for absolutely everyone.
If you enjoy my brother’s breathtaking travel photos (seriously, check out his Instagram), then you will be even more captivated by the fictional—well, let’s just say loosely fictional—stories behind them. Through the eyes of Marco Batutta, the protagonist, the narration blends poetic depth with vibrant realism. Each chapter feels like a passport stamp — a new landscape, a new philosophy, a new layer of his soul. One moment you’re drenched in the humidity of the Amazon, the next you’re shivering on the windswept steppes of the Gobi Desert, and suddenly you're standing at sunrise on the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, breathing in skies you've never known.
And yet — this is not just a travel story. It’s a philosophical journey. Each chapter highlights a big question of life, offering contrasting perspectives presented through rich, heartfelt dialogue — surprisingly profound yet wonderfully accessible, without complicated jargon. After my first read, I even did a character analysis and realized how cleverly and deeply layered their conversations are.
When my brother told me he wrote this book simply to leave something for his little girls — a keepsake of his youthful adventures — I laughed and told him, as little brothers are born to do: “This book will be that — and so much more.”
And I meant it. It is so much more.
It’s a love letter to curiosity, to wonder, to human connection. It’s brave, tender, wise, funny — and deeply, beautifully human.
I cannot express how proud I am of my brother.
Go order his first novel.
I don’t just recommend it — I truly, wholeheartedly mean it.
You won’t regret it.
February 7, 2026
Wer auf der Suche nach einem fesselnden Buch ist, sollte „A Pura Vida Road Trip“ unbedingt lesen.
Der Hauptcharakter Marco Batutta nimmt dich mit auf seine Reisen in die verschiedensten Länder und Kulturen.
Verpackt sind die Reisegeschichten in eine sehr interessante und bedeutungsvolle Unterhaltung zwischen Marco und zwei weiteren Charakteren.
Die drei Personen haben teilweise sehr unterschiedliche Ansichten über das Reisen und allgemein über das Leben. Durch diese unterschiedliche Blickwinkel musste ich im Buch immer wieder inne halten und über die Unterhaltung nachdenken.
Auch die Reisegeschichten sind sehr außergewöhnlich und man erhält ganz nebenbei noch einige Ideen für den nächsten Urlaub, also genau das Richtige für alle mit Fernweh.
Der Hauptcharakter Marco Batutta nimmt dich mit auf seine Reisen in die verschiedensten Länder und Kulturen.
Verpackt sind die Reisegeschichten in eine sehr interessante und bedeutungsvolle Unterhaltung zwischen Marco und zwei weiteren Charakteren.
Die drei Personen haben teilweise sehr unterschiedliche Ansichten über das Reisen und allgemein über das Leben. Durch diese unterschiedliche Blickwinkel musste ich im Buch immer wieder inne halten und über die Unterhaltung nachdenken.
Auch die Reisegeschichten sind sehr außergewöhnlich und man erhält ganz nebenbei noch einige Ideen für den nächsten Urlaub, also genau das Richtige für alle mit Fernweh.
February 17, 2026
This book feels very personal and honest. It is full of travel stories from around the world, but what stayed with me most are the reflections that come out of those experiences. It touches on love, purpose, and how traveling can change your perspective on life. It feels like listening to a friend telling you what they learned along the way.
January 8, 2026
Splendid mix of travel adventures, philosophical life questions and a true love story - this and even more is „A Pura Vida Road Trip“
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews