Country book · Latin America

Costa Rica

No army, endless rainforest, pura vida

Costa Rica abolished its army in 1948 and redirected the country toward conservation, education and biodiversity — a quarter of its land is now protected, holding an outsized share of the planet's species.

Myths

What's true, what isn't

Actually true

It really has no standing army
Costa Rica abolished its military in 1948 and has redirected that budget toward education and healthcare ever since.
It holds staggering biodiversity
Covering just 0.03% of Earth's surface, it contains about 5% of the world's known species.
"Pura vida" is a genuine philosophy
The phrase means far more than 'pure life' — it's used as greeting, farewell and general life outlook, all at once.
Ecotourism is a real economic pillar
National parks and private reserves cover roughly a quarter of the country and are central to its economy.

Commonly believed, wrong

"It's a small, poor country like its neighbors"
Costa Rica has the highest GDP per capita in Central America and strong social services.
"It's all beach resorts"
Much of the country is cloud forest, volcanic highlands and mountain coffee farms far from any coast.
"Wildlife-watching means a zoo"
Sloths, toucans and monkeys are seen genuinely wild in rainforest canopies, not enclosures.
"It's dangerous like some neighboring countries"
Costa Rica has one of the lowest crime rates in Latin America and no history of civil war in recent decades.

Highlights

The best of Costa Rica

Monteverde Cloud Forest

Suspended walkways through mist-covered canopy alive with quetzals and hummingbirds.

Arenal Volcano

A near-perfect cone rising over hot springs and rainforest in the country's north.

Manuel Antonio's coast

Rainforest meeting white-sand beaches, with sloths and monkeys visible right from the trail.

Tortuguero's sea turtles

A remote canal-laced coast where green sea turtles nest by the thousands each year.

Culture

Cultural riches

Pura vida lifestyle

A relaxed, grateful outlook on life that shapes everything from greetings to business meetings.

Coffee culture

Chorreador drip coffee brewing has been a household ritual since the 19th century coffee boom.

Ox cart art

Painted carretas, once used to haul coffee, are now a UNESCO-recognized folk art form.

Environmental education

Conservation is taught from primary school onward, feeding one of the world's most sustainability-focused populations.

Food

What to eat

Gallo pinto

Rice and beans fried together with onion and cilantro, eaten at breakfast nationwide.

Casado

A balanced plate of rice, beans, plantain, salad and a protein — the everyday lunch.

Ceviche costarricense

Lime-cured fish with cilantro and onion, milder and less spicy than its Peruvian cousin.

Chifrijo

A bar snack layering rice, beans, fried pork and pico de gallo, invented in a San José bar in the 1990s.

Tres leches cake

A soaked sponge cake with three kinds of milk, a beloved dessert at every celebration.

History

Important people in history

José Figueres Ferrer

1906 — 1990

Led the 1948 civil war's winning side and then famously abolished the national army.

Óscar Arias

b. 1940

President and 1987 Nobel Peace Prize winner for brokering peace across Central America.

Juan Mora Fernández

1784 — 1854

The country's first head of state after independence, laid groundwork for its coffee economy and education system.

Cities