Information
Country: Costa RicaContinent: North America
Costa Rica, North America
Overview
Costa Rica, a small country tucked between two oceans in Central America, is famous for its lush rainforests, steady politics, and deep commitment to protecting nature.With Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south, it stretches between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, where you can find everything from misty cloud forests to sunlit beaches.Costa Rica’s geography is striking, with golden beaches along the coast, misty mountain ranges inland, and rugged volcanic peaks rising in between.In the central highlands, fertile valleys lie between rugged volcanic peaks, while the lowlands spread into thick rainforests and wide coastal plains.The climate’s tropical, with two distinct seasons: the dry “verano” from December to April, when the air feels warm and crisp, and the rainy “invierno” from May to November, when downpours drum steadily on tin roofs.Even with steady rains, this season keeps farms thriving and hillsides a brilliant green, feeding an economy built on coffee, bananas, and pineapples for export, eco‑tourism for rainforest treks and wildlife encounters, a rising tech sector with global firms, and the Costa Rican colón- all in a nation that shelters about 5% of the world’s species on just 0.03% of Earth’s land.It offers rich rainforests alive with countless plants and animals, dazzling coral reefs teeming with fish in both the Pacific and Caribbean, and iconic wildlife like sloths, howler monkeys, toucans, and even jaguars; more than a quarter of the land is safeguarded in national parks and reserves, while Spanish is the official language-though you’ll hear plenty of English in tourist spots-home to about 5 million people, most in cities such as bustling San José, and a cuisine that’s simple yet full of flavor, with staples like rice, beans, plantains, and just-caught seafood sizzling on the grill."Gallo pinto" (rice and beans) is a traditional breakfast dish."Pura Vida" Lifestyle: The phrase "Pura Vida," meaning "pure life," embodies the laid-back, optimistic, and friendly nature of the people.Government and PoliciesPolitical Stability: Known as one of the most stable democracies in Latin America.Military-Free: Costa Rica abolished its military in 1948, reallocating resources to education and healthcare.Environmental Policies: The country is a leader in renewable energy and sustainability.Gallo pinto-rice and beans sautéed with onions and peppers-is a beloved breakfast staple, while the phrase “Pura Vida,” or “pure life,” captures the easygoing warmth of the people; Costa Rica is celebrated for its stable democracy, has lived without a military since 1948 by channeling that budget into schools and healthcare, and leads the region in renewable energy and environmental stewardship.
