Costa Rica

Costa Rica is known for the Pura Vida lifestyle. Its people are welcoming and friendly. They are pioneers in ecotourism and environmental protection. Costa Rica is home to some of the most biodiverse swaths of land and sea on the planet, with lush rainforests, towering volcanoes and beautiful beaches on both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts. It is the first country to have a shark sanctuary in the Golfo Dulce, looking after the hammerhead shark reproductive cycle. Costa Rica has the largest primary forest in the American Pacific coastline, which covers over 25% of its territory in protected areas.

Costa Rica Info

Map

Costa Rica is located in Central America. It has a main continental landmass of 51,100 square kilometers (19,700 square miles) that borders Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Costa Rica is about the same size as West Virginia.

Quick Facts

Capital: San José
Population: 5,256,612 (The World Factbook 2023 est.)
Language/s: Spanish, Patuá - caribbean, Bribir, Cabécar and Malekú (indigenous communities)
Religions: Catholic
Independence: September 15, 1821
Government: Democratic
Current Head of State: Rodrigo Chaves
Currency: Colón
GDP by sector: Services 67%, Industry 21%, Agriculture 7%

History

Costa Rica was colonized by the Spanish in the 16th Century, and the region became part of the Captaincy General of Guatemala. In 1821, Costa Rica, along with several other Central American states, declared independence from Spain. The country experienced political instability through these years, but in the late 19th century, it adopted a more democratic and peaceful path, focusing on education and abolishing the military to prevent an armed uprising against the government. Throughout the 20th century, Costa Rica remained relatively peaceful, fostering a stable democracy and gaining a reputation as a progressive and environmentally-conscious nation.

Sample Itineraries

Programs

Costa Rica: Sea Turtle Conservation

Spend the day working with the local park rangers on conservation projects to protect the turtles nesting on Camaronal Beach. We will learn how important it's to support these areas. These might include working at the turtle hatchery, participating in beach clean-ups, and going on nightly turtle walks to mark and collect eggs.

Costa Rica: Chasing the National Park Treasure

Four national parks in a week, not bad! Traveling around the country, looking for clues while exploring the trails is part of the adventure. Costa Rica is proud of protecting nature, and after completing the treasure hunt and learning about the national parks we encourage you to continue traveling and exploring because the world hides beautiful things waiting to be discovered.