Costa Rica is a country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the east and south, the Pacific Ocean to the west and south and the Caribbean Sea to the east.Costa Rica, which means "Rich Coast", constitutionally abolished its army permanently in It is the only Latin American country included in the list of the world's 22 older democracie. Costa Rica has consistently been among the top Latin American countries in the Human Development Index, ranked 62nd in the world in 2010, and is cited by the UNDP as one of the countries that has attained much higher human development than other countries at the same income levels.The country is ranked 3rd in the world, and 1st among the Americas, in terms of the 2010 Environmental Performance Index.
In 2007 the Costa Rican government announced plans for Costa Rica to become the first carbon neutral country by 2021.According to the New Economics Foundation, Costa Rica ranks first in the Happy Planet Index and is the "greenest" country in the world. More information on www.visitcostarica.com
On his final voyage to the New World in 1502, Christopher Columbus came ashore on Costa Rica's Caribbean coastline (near Limon) and the indigenous Indians presented him with an offering of gold.The lure of riches in the Americas was a strong magnet for European adventures of-the-day, but those that ventured to Costa Rica were confronted by an inhospitable landscape of coastal swamps and hostile Indians tribes - and most did not survive.The Spanish persisted, and by the mid-16th century a few small settlements were successfully established; Cartago was declared the capital, and the colony was ruled by a governor appointed by the Spanish empire’s regional capital of Guatemala.Unlike neighboring colonies, Costa Rica was slow to grow, and remained a collection of subsistence farmers for the next two centuries. With very few exports of real value, it quietly remained off the radar screen of the Spanish Crown.After the overthrow of the Spanish King by Napoleon, Costa Rica and others declared their independence from Spain in 1821. Then, Costa Rica, as well as El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua formed the United Provinces of Central America, but that federation quickly dissolved, and Costa Rica became an independent state in 1838.
Juan Mora Fernandez (the first head of state) encouraged the cultivation of coffee, and over time the powerful coffee barons helped finance a political revolution that would change the country forever.Over the next century an assortment of presidents and ambitious military dictators came and went, but for the most part, Costa Rica avoided the chaos of bloody coups, rebellions and citizen revolts endemic to other Central American countries.In the mid-1900s, democracy was the order-of-the-day, but when the United Social Christian Party refused to leave power after losing the 1948 general election, civil war was in the wind.The opposition in that brief 40-day uprising was led by Jose Mar¡a (Don Pepe) Figueres Ferrerhe, and in the end he founded a new republic; banned the Communist Party; women could vote; blacks gained citizenship; and in a brilliant stroke of governing he abolished the armed forces and established a term limit for all future presidents. When Don Pepe died in 1990 (a justifiable national hero to this day) his innovative leadership had earned Costa Rica an enviable international reputation as a peaceful, stable democracy in a region of instability.Today, driven by agricultural products (especially coffee), and strong tourism and technology industries, Costa Rica enjoys a high standard of living, and remains the true success story of Central America.
Juan Mora Fernandez (the first head of state) encouraged the cultivation of coffee, and over time the powerful coffee barons helped finance a political revolution that would change the country forever.Over the next century an assortment of presidents and ambitious military dictators came and went, but for the most part, Costa Rica avoided the chaos of bloody coups, rebellions and citizen revolts endemic to other Central American countries.In the mid-1900s, democracy was the order-of-the-day, but when the United Social Christian Party refused to leave power after losing the 1948 general election, civil war was in the wind.The opposition in that brief 40-day uprising was led by Jose Mar¡a (Don Pepe) Figueres Ferrerhe, and in the end he founded a new republic; banned the Communist Party; women could vote; blacks gained citizenship; and in a brilliant stroke of governing he abolished the armed forces and established a term limit for all future presidents. When Don Pepe died in 1990 (a justifiable national hero to this day) his innovative leadership had earned Costa Rica an enviable international reputation as a peaceful, stable democracy in a region of instability.Today, driven by agricultural products (especially coffee), and strong tourism and technology industries, Costa Rica enjoys a high standard of living, and remains the true success story of Central America.
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Most of Costa Rica is dominated by the Sierra Madre mountains, literally fractured into individual ranges and valleys by violent volcanic eruptions over eons of time. And speaking of volcanoes, the country's most active one (cone-shaped Arenal), located in the Tilaran Mountains erupts in some measure almost everyday. To the southeast, the Poas, Barva, Irazu and many other volcanoes form the Central Mountain's most spectacular landforms, while the higher Talamanca Mountains front its southern border with Panama.
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The heavily-forested northern plains (to the south of Lake Nicaragua) stretch eastward along the San Juan River, then push southward through the rain forest edges of the Central Mountains, and on to the sandy beaches of the Caribbean coastline.Costa Rica's beach-covered Pacific coastline is quite narrow, and indented with many small bays, as well as the Gulf of Dulce and the Gulf of Nicaya, both protected by hook-shaped peninsulas. In the west, those beaches rise abruptly into the coastal hills of the mountains.Many dozens of rivers drain the land; the Chirripa, Frio, General, San Juan and Tempisque are indicated on the map above.Of all of the vacation destinations on the planet, Costa Rica is certainly one the most exotic, as it offers unparalleled natural beauty, fiery volcanoes, misty cloud forests, thick jungle rain forests, and a wide range of national parks and eco-tourism activities.
In addition, Costa Rica has over 1,000 miles of simply gorgeous white-and-black sand beaches, plenty of sunshine, and more than its share of world-class sport fishing, snorkeling and surfing venues.The most popular nature attractions include a litany of volcanoes, including Arenal Volcano, which almost daily produces a spectacular show of lava, rock and stream; the active (and viewable) crater in the Poas Volcano; summit tours of the stunning Irazus Volcano; Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve; Osa Peninsula and the Corcovado National Park, and the Caribbean flora and fauna of the Tortuguero National Park.
The single most-visited place in Costa Rica is the capital city of San Jose; it serves as the main entry point into the country, and its mixture of traditional Spanish architecture, museums and theaters are first rate. Limon, on the Caribbean coastline, hosts cruise ships from around the world and some fabulous markets and shops along its seawall.Of all of the countries in Central America, Costa Rica has historically been the friendliest and safest. Costa Rica's tropical climate is pleasant throughout the year, with prevailing trade winds helping to cool down much of the coastal areas.
March through May are the hottest months, while somewhat cooler temperatures are the norm, during December, January and February.As usual in mountainous countries, temperatures vary by elevation. In Costa Rica, the average high temperature in the elevated Central Valley (I.E. San Jose) is near 72° F; in the lows 80s along the Caribbean coastline, and approaching 90° F on the Pacific coast.The country receives copious amounts of rain, with an annual yearly average near 100 inches (250cm). The heaviest amounts fall along the Caribbean coastline in the form of afternoon showers.
