Fascinating Facts About Costa Rica

There are countries that change your perception of what the world can be, and Costa Rica is exactly such a place. This small Central American nation conceals so many incredible facts within itself that even seasoned travellers discover something new with every encounter. From unique nature to progressive politics, this country constantly surprises and inspires. Fascinating facts about Costa Rica are scattered across every sphere of its life, from geography and ecology to culture and social structure. We invite you on a journey through facts you might not have known about one of the greenest and happiest countries on the planet.

• Costa Rica occupies only 0.03% of the Earth’s land surface, yet its territory is home to approximately 5% of all the planet’s biodiversity. More than 500,000 species of animals and plants live here, among which are hundreds of endemic species found nowhere else in the world. Such a concentration of life became possible thanks to the unique intersection of two oceans, mountain ranges and tropical forests.
• The country is situated between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, and both coastlines have entirely different characters. The Pacific coast is marked by a dry season and calm waves, while the Caribbean side is distinguished by constant rainfall and lush vegetation. Such a combination of climates within a comparatively small area represents a truly remarkable natural phenomenon.
• Costa Rica has had no permanent army since 1948. President José Figueres Ferrer signed a constitution that permanently abolished the armed forces, and since that moment the funds that might have gone toward a defence budget have been directed to education and healthcare. This provision is enshrined in the country’s constitution and is a source of national pride.
• More than 99% of electricity in Costa Rica is generated from renewable sources. The country makes use of hydroelectric, geothermal, wind and solar installations, effectively doing without fossil fuels in the sphere of power generation. On several consecutive occasions Costa Rica set records by operating on 100% renewable energy for several hundred days in a row.
• The territory of the country contains more than 200 volcanoes, of which approximately 60 are considered potentially active. The volcanoes Arenal, Poás and Turrialba are the most well known among them and serve as popular tourist destinations. Geothermal activity not only shapes the landscape but also serves as a source of electricity for the entire country.
• Costa Rica is one of the world leaders in ecotourism and was the first country to systematise this direction as a national development strategy. More than a quarter of its territory is covered by nature conservation zones, national parks and biological reserves. Every year the country receives more than three million tourists, the overwhelming majority of whom travel there specifically for the sake of its nature.
• The name of the country translates from Spanish as «Rich Coast». This name was given by the Spanish conquistador Christopher Columbus during his fourth expedition in 1502, as he hoped to find large deposits of gold there. Gold turned out to be scarce, yet the natural riches of the country proved to be far more valuable.
• Costa Rica belongs to the so-called «blue zones» of the planet, which are regions where people live significantly longer than the global average. The Nicoya Peninsula has been recognised as one of five official «blue zones» where an extraordinarily high concentration of long-lived people has been recorded. Local residents attribute this to an active lifestyle, a plant-based diet and strong social bonds.
• The inhabitants of Costa Rica call themselves «ticos» and «ticas», and this self-designation reflects their fondness for diminutive expressions in everyday speech. The saying «Pura Vida», which literally means «pure life», is a genuine national motto and a way of thinking. This expression is used in every situation, as a greeting, a form of thanks, an answer to a question and simply as an affirmation of the joy of living.
• The territory of the country is home to around 900 species of birds, which is more than the whole of North America put together. The quetzal, a bird with a bright green tail reaching up to one metre in length, is considered one of the most beautiful in the world and serves as a symbol of freedom in the culture of indigenous peoples. Bird-watchers from all over the world travel to Costa Rica precisely for the chance to encounter this rare species.
• The country contains more than 1,400 species of orchids, making it one of the richest places on the planet in terms of the number of representatives of this family. The Guaria Morada orchid is the national flower and symbol of the country. Every year in February Costa Rica hosts a large-scale orchid exhibition that brings together collectors and botanists from around the world.
• Costa Rica is one of the largest producers and exporters of coffee in the world. Coffee plantations cover the mountain slopes of the Central Valley, where the climate and soil create ideal conditions for growing the highest quality beans. Coffee from here makes its way to the most prestigious coffee shops in Europe, Japan and the United States.
• The country serves as home to four species of sea turtles that lay their eggs on its beaches. Tortuguero beach is considered one of the most important nesting sites for the green turtle in the entire Atlantic basin. The state strictly protects these territories, and the illegal collection of eggs is prosecuted under the law.
• Costa Rica is inhabited by more than 50,000 species of insects, among which there are approximately 1,250 species of butterflies. By way of comparison, fewer butterfly species have been recorded across the entire African continent than in this small country. Some of the local tropical forests represent an ideal environment for extraordinarily rare and colourful species.
• The healthcare system of Costa Rica has repeatedly been recognised as one of the best in Latin America. The state provides universal access to medical services through the social insurance system known as CCSS. Life expectancy here exceeds 80 years, which is one of the highest figures in the entire region.
• On the coast of Costa Rica, mysterious stone spheres were discovered whose age ranges from 600 to 1,500 years. These artefacts, known as «Las Bolas», were crafted by the indigenous peoples of the pre-Columbian era and to this day remain an enigma for scientists. The largest of them reach two metres in diameter and weigh several tonnes, although their precise purpose has still not been established.
• The country borders Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south, and has no overland connection with any other state in Central America besides these two. Thanks to this geographical position Costa Rica finds itself at the crossroads of animal migration routes between North and South America. It is for precisely this reason that representatives of the fauna of both continents can be encountered here in the same place.
• The literacy rate of the population exceeds 97%, which is one of the highest figures across all of Latin America. As far back as 1869 the country enshrined free and compulsory primary education in law, doing so significantly earlier than the majority of developed states. Education is traditionally regarded as the chief priority of society, and Costa Ricans take great pride in this achievement.
• Costa Rica is one of the few places in the world where all six species of wild cats of the Americas can be observed. The jaguar, puma, ocelot, margay, oncilla and jaguarundi all inhabit the local forests and are protected by law. Encountering them in the wild is no easy matter, but it is precisely this sense of mystery that draws naturalists from every corner of the world.
• The country is home to more than 34,000 species of beetles, which exceeds the total number of plant species in the majority of European countries. The local Hercules beetles are considered among the largest in the world, as some specimens reach 17 centimetres in length. Entomologists regularly discover new species directly within the tropical forests of the country.

Costa Rica is a country that proves by its own example that peace, nature and progress are capable of existing in harmony. The captivating facts gathered in this collection demonstrate that even a small state can play an enormous role in the preservation of the planet and the wellbeing of its citizens. The incredible facts about this country are by no means exhausted by those listed here, and it continues to astonish and inspire all those who discover it for the first time. If you have not yet added Costa Rica to your list of places worth visiting or at least exploring more deeply, now is precisely the right moment to do so.