Jane, a librarian has lost her job and is suicidal decides to take a final wonderful trip to Costa Rica before swallowing a bottle of pills, Once there, she meets a younger man Juan, a vibrant tour guide who takes her to all the beautiful places, and becomes intrigued by her aloof intellectualism. He works hard to draw her out, to get her to embrace the Costa Rican motto, "Pura Vida," which means "pure life," but in a broader sense encompasses the national exuberance for living. She inspires him to read the first book he has ever read, and he encourages her to have some fun, relax, and loosen up for the first time in too many years. An unusual but lovely romantic relationship evolves.