Explore Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a beautiful Central American country that is bordered on the north by Nicaragua, on the east by the Caribbean Sea, on the south by Panama, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean. Known for its political stability and peaceful culture, this country is home to over 3 and half million citizens. Tourism is the biggest economy booster for Costa Rica- not surprisingly; only as small as the state of West Virginia, Costa Rica houses 95 percent of the world’s wildlife! Its unique location between the Americas, and close proximity to the equator make this area, one of the most exotic, and unique places on earth. This attracts many nature lovers every year, and it is said to be the No. 1 ecotourism destination in the world!
Because of the large mass of the country that is protected by National Parks, and the 13 different ecosystems, this area is able to house numerous endangered and rarely seen animals. Some of the animals you may get to spot while on your Costa Rica Vacation are Howler Monkeys, Capuchin monkeys, spider monkeys, squirrel monkeys, jaguars, pumas, sloths, anteaters, tapirs, frogs, snakes, iguanas, lizards, turtles, quetzals, Toucans, Hummingbirds, Parrots, Macaws, dolphins, manatees, sea turtles, butterflies, and many, many more.
Costa Rica Weather, like other tropical regions has a rainy season that generally is from mid-April to mid-December. The general Costa Rica weather depends what altitude you are at. It varies from below freezing at night at high altitudes, to the 90sF at sea level. In the cloud and rainforests, humidity often hovers around the 100% mark. The Central Valley (altitude 3,000-5,000 feet), which includes San Jose, Costa Rica, is noted for its eternal spring-like weather with average temperatures in the high 60s F. In general, the green, rainy season is mid-April to mid-December, although rain is always a possibility in the jungle and in the high mountains.
Costa Rica was named by Columbus when he landed here in 1503. It translates to “rich coast”, some say because he mistakenly thought it would have a lot of gold, but it undeniably is rich in beauty and culture. The first settlers were Spanish immigrants, and Spanish is still the National Language, although some people learn English as a second language. Costa Rica is divided into seven provinces: San Jose, Alajuela, Cartago, Puntarenas, Guanacaste, Heredia, and Limon. Government: Costa Rica is a republic governed under a constitution of 1949 and has no standing army since 1948, when the PLN came to power and abolished the army. The only security forces are the 4,500-member Civil Guard and the 3,200-member Rural Guard.
The Costa Rica culture is much slower than North America, or Europe, and makes a great place to relax. The area is known for its cowboy culture as farmland and horseback are commonplace. The friendly locals are passionate about soccer. All towns have soccer fields and weekly games. The roads are very rugged and difficult to travel by vehicle in some places, so other forms of transportation are often used such as on horseback, or boats.
The land is made up of many ecosystems and habitats. Costa Rica Vacations are popular for many reasons: the beautiful beaches, lush rainforest, volcanic mountains, interesting, culture-rich towns, and amazing wildlife. Our Costa Rica Vacations will create the perfect adventure for you to see everything this great country has to offer.
