Costa Rica
America · Central America
Overview
Costa Rica lies in Central America, between Nicaragua and Panama, with coastlines on both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. The country covers an area of only about 51,000 square kilometers, yet it is estimated to hold around 5 to 6 percent of the world's terrestrial species, and this exceptional biodiversity is one of the main draws for visitors. Costa Rica abolished its army in 1948 and remains one of the few countries in the world without a standing military, redirecting the resources toward education and healthcare. The official language is Spanish, and the country is regarded as one of the most stable democracies in Central America.
Arenal Volcano, one of the country's best-known active volcanoes, with its cone-shaped silhouette and nearby hot springs, is the main attraction of the central region. Monteverde Cloud Forest, located where Pacific and Caribbean climate influences meet, can be explored via hanging bridges and is a well-known habitat for the resplendent quetzal, a brightly colored bird. Tortuguero National Park, on the Caribbean coast, serves as a nesting site for sea turtles, where green turtles lay their eggs in large numbers between July and October. San José, the capital, is home to the National Theatre, built in the late 19th century with revenue from coffee exports, and serves as the country's cultural center.
Costa Rica's national parks and protected areas cover about a quarter of the country's territory, one of the highest proportions in the world. Corcovado National Park, on the Osa Peninsula, once described by National Geographic as one of the most biologically intense places on Earth, is home to jaguars, tapirs, and scarlet macaws. Adventure activities organized in the country's rainforests and cloud forests, such as zip-lining above the canopy, are popular with visitors. Local cuisine is built around rice and black beans, with gallo pinto, rice and beans cooked together, as a signature dish, traditionally eaten for breakfast with egg and fried plantain.
Map
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Browse all UNESCO sites →Talamanca Range-La Amistad Reserves / La Amistad National Park
The location of this unique site in Central America, where Quaternary glaciers have left their mark, has allowed the fauna and flora of North and South America to interbreed. Tropical rainforests cover most of the area. Four different Indian tribes inhabit this property, which benefits from close co-operation between Costa Rica and Panama.
Cocos Island National Park
Cocos Island National Park, located 550 km off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, is the only island in the tropical eastern Pacific with a tropical rainforest. Its position as the first point of contact with the northern equatorial counter-current, and the myriad interactions between the island and the surrounding marine ecosystem, make the area an ideal laboratory for the study of biological processes. The underwater world of the national park has become famous due to the attraction it holds for divers, who rate it as one of the best places in the world to view large pelagic species such as sharks, rays, tuna and dolphins.
Area de Conservación Guanacaste
The Area de Conservación Guanacaste (inscribed in 1999), was extended with the addition of a 15,000 ha private property, St Elena. It contains important natural habitats for the conservation of biological diversity, including the best dry forest habitats from Central America to northern Mexico and key habitats for endangered or rare plant and animal species. The site demonstrates significant ecological processes in both its terrestrial and marine-coastal environments.
Precolumbian Chiefdom Settlements with Stone Spheres of the Diquís
The property includes four archaeological sites located in the Diquís Delta in southern Costa Rica, which are considered unique examples of the complex social, economic and political systems of the period AD 500–1500. They contain artificial mounds, paved areas, burial sites and, most significantly, a collection of stone spheres, between 0.7 m and 2.57 m in diameter, whose meaning, use and production remain largely a mystery. The spheres are distinctive for their perfection, number, size and density, and placement in original locations. Their preservation from the looting that befell the vast majority of archaeological sites in Costa Rica has been attributed to the thick layers of sediment that kept them buried for centuries.
Data: UNESCO WHC · CC BY-SA 4.0
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Costa Rica?
The capital of Costa Rica is San José.
What is the area of Costa Rica?
The area of Costa Rica is 51,100 km².
What is the population of Costa Rica?
The population of Costa Rica is 5,129,910.
What is the currency of Costa Rica?
The currency of Costa Rica is Costa Rican colón (CRC).
What is the official language of Costa Rica?
The official language of Costa Rica: Spanish.
What side of the road does Costa Rica drive on?
Costa Rica: Right-hand traffic.
Is Costa Rica a member of the United Nations?
Yes, Costa Rica is a member of the United Nations.