VISITING COSTA RICA

First time exploring Costa Rica and unsure of what to expect? Check out some pictures below, and keep scrolling to read a little about Costa Rica and to see a great video produced by Essential Costa Rica, our country brand.

A LITTLE ABOUT COSTA RICA

Nestled between Nicaragua and Panama and bordered by the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, Costa Rica is a small and peaceful Central American country. Since 1948, Costa Rica has had a stable republic democracy and no military. The official language of the country is Spanish, although English is spoken widely and is a compulsory part of the education system. The population of Costa Rica is just over 5 million, of which nearly 80% live in the Central Valley region surrounding the capital, San José.

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Costa Rica is well-known for its mild, year-round subtropical climate. Temperatures in the Central Valley vary according to elevation, but are typically in the mid- to high-70s all year. Costa Rica experiences a rainy season typically from May through November, but rain in the Central Valley tends to involve just late afternoon showers and relatively clear mornings and nights. The dry season lasts from December through April.

Highly regarded for its biodiversity and commitment to environmental protection and sustainability, Costa Rica has protected over 25% of its land and over 50% of the country is covered by forest. Although by size Costa Rica occupies just 0.03% of the world, it contains 5% of the world’s biodiversity, making it the country with the highest density of biodiversity in the world. A champion of sustainability efforts, Costa Rica currently produces 98% of its energy from renewable sources such as hydroelectric, geothermal, solar, and wind powers. In 2019, Costa Rica was awarded the “Champions of the Earth” award by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).