Costa Rica is an amazingly diverse country located on the continental divide of North and South America between the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean. The isthmus that it is located on is a natural melting pot of wildlife, flora and fauna from both of these continents. Mix in the volcanic Ring of Fire and you have a magnificent recipe of rich biodiversity, towering mountains, live volcanoes and of course tropical beaches. The friendly people of Costa Rica are just as beautiful as the scenery. Ever warm and welcoming, they are the epitome of pura vida. Click on the links to read more about Costa Rica.
The history of Costa Rica is quite fascinating. It is estimated that indigenous people settled the region over 7,000 years ago and lived here without interaction with people of a different continent until Christopher Columbus discovered the country in 1502. Columbus is actually credited with naming Costa Rica, which translates to Rich Coast as the indigenous he met were clad with gold jewelry. Spanish conquistadors followed soon after and the European influence quickly took hold. Click here to read more about Costa Rica history.
Knowing when to travel to Costa Rica and where to go can be the difference in sunny skies or torrential down pours during the majority of your trip. The time of year you travel can also have a large impact on the total cost of your trip or the availability of certain tours. These factors were all taken into consideration when we wrote this article. Click on the link to learn more about when to travel to Costa Rica.
Costa Rica was recently ranked as the world’s happiest place according to a British private research group. This group was charged with developing a new hypothetical economy based on people and environment. To those that have been to Costa Rica, this came as little surprise.
Costa Rica is the most literate country in Central America with a 96 percent literacy rate. Grade schools are found in nearly every pueblo. Maria Castro, the first president of Costa Rica, was a former teacher who made education in Costa Rica a top priority. In the late 1860s, Costa Rica made education both free and obligatory, becoming one of the first countries in the world to do so. Click on the link to learn more about Costa Rica education.
Costa Rica has excellent public and private hospitals and a strong universal health insurance system. The country’s healthcare system is highly rated on international levels. Therefore Costa Ricans enjoy not only great health care but also long life expectancy. The magazine, National Geographic and several other groups are currently studying areas of Costa Rica which have populations with exceptionally high life expectancy.
Though Costa Rica was inhabited for thousands of years by indigenous tribes, the culture these days is more influenced by Spain. Christopher Columbus discovered the country in 1502 and named it Costa Rica which means Rich Coast. The Spanish Conquistadors quickly settled, bringing religion and their culture along with them. Click on the link to learn more about Costa Rica culture.
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