Costa Rica is a small country located in southern Central America, bordered on the north by Nicaragua, on the east by the Caribbean Sea, the southeast by Panama and the west by the Pacific Ocean. With over 500,000 plant and animal species, Costa Rica is one of the planets most biologically dense countries. According to Costa Rica’s National Biodiversity Institute (INBio), the biodiversity in Costa Rica represents close to 4% of the total species on Earth.

Weather and climate

The Continental Divide runs through the country’s interior and weather patterns from both the Pacific and Caribbean sweep across the divide’s verdant slopes. Costa Rica’s northernmost regions tend to be more flat and arid and have dry tropical forest, while increased humidity and precipitation creates lush jungles in the south. The country’s rainiest months, termed the “green season,” start in May and run until early December. The dry season typically lasts from December through April. Weather along the Pacific coast tends to follow these patterns. The Caribbean coast, however, is much less predictable and can receive rain throughout the year.
Much of Costa Rica’s biological diversity can be attributed to its location between two continents, as well as its numerous microclimates, which vary by elevation amid the country’s mountainous and volcanic landscapes.

Development and Society

Costa Rican society is rooted in family, education, health. Ticos and Ticas (male and female Costa Ricans, respectively) have a sustained commitment to healthy personal relationships and stewardship of the natural environment. This emphasis on creating symbiotic relationships with the environment and tourism, particularly in the last 40 years has set a profound example, and it has allowed a fascinating model of development to take root.

Costa Rica has been a peaceful democracy without a military for more than 60 years. Costa Rica is often referred to as the Switzerland of Central America that offers free education through the 11th grade as well as health care for all citizens. Costa Rica enjoys a high standard of living with the highest regional literacy rate (96%) and an average life expectancy of 78 years. Costa Rica’s long-term vision and investment in the health of its people has also paid off with many foreign businesses drawn to its qualified work force, stability, and proximity to the United States.

In addition to generous social policies, Costa Rica has enacted progressive conservation efforts that have drastically reversed the deforestation that ravaged its land for decades. The country’s system of national parks and reserves protects approximately 25% of the country, a percentage that sits among the highest in the world.
Costa Rica has largely resisted opportunities to exploit its vast natural resources for valued commodities, despite having a high density of precious metals in the South Pacific, oil along the Pacific Coast, and rare hardwoods in the rainforest. Instead, Costa Rica has opted for an ethic of sustainable development and a commitment to develop renewable energy. Already, Costa Rica is on track to become the first carbon-neutral country, with 99% of the country’s energy needs meet through a combination of geothermal, hydroelectric, and wind power.

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