Costa Rica is one of Central America’s eco-tourist hot spots.
Although it is geographically a small country, Costa Rica is one of the most biologically diverse regions on the planet. Visitors encounter oceans, beaches, rivers, mountains, and an abundance of flora and fauna. Nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts from around the globe make Costa Rica their destination of choice again and again as it offers something for everyone.
Costa Rica's fantastic weather is just one of the factors that makes it such a stellar place to visit. Located between 8° and 11° north of the equator, it has a mild tropical climate defined by two seasons: wet (summer, verano) and dry (winter, invierno).
15 Things to Know about Costa Rica 
1) Costa Ricans refer to themselves as "Ticos" or "Ticas".
2) The national bird is the Clay Colored Robin . The national tree of Costa Rica is the Guanacaste and the national flower is the "Guaria Morada" , an orchid.
3) Costa Rica has a population of 4.1 million and a life expectancy of almost 77 years. That’s among the highest life expectancy in the world.
4) There are 1290 km of coastline in Costa Rica (801 miles).
5) There are seven provinces in Costa Rica: San José, Alajuela, Heredia, Cartago, Gauanacaste, Puntarenas and Limón.
6) There are more than 121 volcanic formations in Costa Rica; seven of them are active. Volcán Poás has the second widest crater in the world and Volcán Arenal is one of the most active volcanoes in the world.
7) Costa Rica has one of the highest literacy rates in all of Latin America.
8) A network of rivers and springs originating at the base of Arenal Volcano create
a system of thermal mineral springs. The waters have been closely studied and evaluated for their curative properties and people come from all over the world to soak in the warm pools that are open to the public.
9) Costa Rica hosts more than 5% of the world’s biodiversity even though its landmass only takes up .03% of the planets surface. There are more than:
• 130 species of freshwater fish
• 160 species of amphibians
• 208 species of mammals
• 220 species of reptiles
• 850 species of birds
• 1,000 species of butterflies
• 1,200 varieties of orchids
• 9,000 species of plants
• 34,000 species of insects
• AND still counting, new species are discovered everyday
10) More than 25% of Costa Rica’s land is protected with National Parks, Reserves and Refuges. There are over 100 different parks, reserves, refuges and protected areas to visit.
11) The national language is Spanish.
12) A “soda” is a small restaurant.
13) The "Children's Eternal Rain Forest" is an eco-reserve protecting over 110,00 acres of prisitne rain forest in the Northern Region. It is an international effort that was begun as a school project in Sweden among children interested in saving a piece of the rain forest, and blossomed into a fundraising effort among students from 44 countries.
14) The Tempisque River Bridge that now connects the mainland to the Nicoya Peninsula was a gift from Taiwan.
15) For most of Costa Rica, the dry season runs from the middle of November through mid-April. The rest of the year is considered the "green" or rainy season.
