Interesting Facts About Costa Rica

In this article, I will lay out several interesting facts about Costa Rica. I must say that I love our country. Costa Rica is nestled in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, and Panama to the south. We have a population of over five million ticos and ticas. We have a stable and democratic state, and our Constitution is from 1948. Costa Rica’s capital is called San José, where the Juan Santa María International airport is located. Our country has seven provinces which are: San José, Guanacaste, Puntarenas, Alajuela, Heredia, Cartago and Limón.

Costa Rica, is also known as the “Central American Switzerland”. Costa Rica is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, rich biodiversity, and vibrant culture. We are a beacon of freedom and liberty for the world. Not only do we not have an army but we are also the oldest democracy in Latin America. Despite its small size, this country has a wealth of interesting aspects that make it stand out on the global stage. Here are several fun facts about Costa Rica that capture its essence:

No Standing Army: Thankfully, Costa Rica abolished its military in 1949, thanks to Jose Figueres Ferrer. Since then, Costa Rica has redirected its budget to education, health, and environmental protection. This is one of the most important and interesting facts about Costa Rica.

Pura Vida: This should be our national slogan. The phrase “Pura Vida” translates to “pure life”. It can be said to thank someone, to say say hi, and goodbye, and it reflects the Costa Rican lifestyle of living peacefully, simply, and joyfully.

Costa Rica Night Clubs: If you want to dance, be sure to look for “discoteques” or “discotectas” since nightclubs in Costa Rica, translate to Strip Clubs.

Escazú, a city of Witches: Escazú is located in San José, the nation´s capital. It has been historically known as “La Ciudad de las Brujas,” which translates to “The Witches City.” Legends have it that many witches lived there, but of course, this has not been historically proven.

The Irazu Volcano: is the highest volcano in Costa Rica. I personally recommend you visit this beautiful volcano, located in the province of Cartago, which is about about an hour and thirty minutes away from San José.

The Juan Santa María International Airport is named after a Costa Rican young man, who volunteered to burn down a Fort called “El Mesón”, in Rivas Nicaragua, during a war at the turn of the last century.

The Costa Rican Coffee Culture: is engrained in our DNA. Costa Rican coffee is famous worldwide, and coffee production has been a significant part of the country’s history and economy since the 1800s. I especially enjoy Tarrazú coffee, which is arguably the best of the world. Juan Valdes, does indeed, drink Costa Rican Coffee.

Drake Bay or “Bahía Drake” is named after the famous Sir Francis Drake. Drake Bay is located in Osa, Puntarenas, at the southern point tip of Costa Rica. If you are a scuba diver, you should definitely go there. The main diving attraction is an island called “Isla del Caño”, where you can dive with white-tip sharks and dolphins.

More interesting facts about Costa Rica:

The Osa Peninsula is located in Puntarenas, and is valued for its biology. The Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica, is a hotspot for wildlife, including jaguars, scarlet macaws, and dolphins.

Two Oceans to choose from: Costa Rica bordered by both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. The provinces of Puntarenas and Guanacaste, on the western side of the country, border with the Pacific Ocean. The province of Limón, on the eastern side, borders with the Caribbean.

Isla del Coco or “Cocos Island” is located on the Pacific Ocean and is home to hundreds of hammer sharks. It was also a spot for pirates to hide treasures, and many treasure hunters still go to Cocos Island in search of Spanish Doubloons.

Rainforest and Cloud Forests: abound in Costa Rica. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is one of the few cloud forests in the world, home to numerous unique species of plants and animals. A worthy location to check out on your next trip!

The Guanacaste is the Costa Rican national tree. It provides a huge shade, and you will find it in Guanacaste´s plains. It was because of this tree, that the Province of Guanacaste was named like that.

Ticos and ticas are “pura vida”: We are nice people! We Costa Ricans are known as “ticos” and “ticas”. We are all “pura vida”, meaning that we are hospitable and friendly.

San José, the capital of Costa Rica: is quite a town! The nightlife is good, and you have all types of restaurants where you can eat.

La Fortuna is a town in San Carlos, where the Arenal Volcano, is located. There are many hotels in this area, such as The Baldi Resort, with many natural hotsprings and waterfalls.

Gallo pinto for breakfast is something you should try! It´s more than rice and beans! It´s involves love. Gallo Pinto is one of Costa Rica´s culinary traditional dishes. You should also try “Rice and Beans” on the Carribbean side, which is made with coconut oil. This is a must have dish if you plan to go to Cahuita Town in the Limón province.

The Costa Rican Coffee Culture: is engrained in our DNA. Costa Rican coffee is famous worldwide, and coffee production has been a significant part of the country’s history and economy since the 1800s. I especially enjoy Tarrazú coffee, which is arguably the best of the world. Juan Valdes, does indeed, drink Costa Rican Coffee.

The Costa Rican Colón is the Costa Rican currency. Colón was Christopher Columbus´s last name, and so we used it for our national currency. Christopher Columbus reached Costa Rica, on his fourth voyage to the New World.

More fun facts about Costa Rica:

The Costa Rican “Guaro” can be said is Costa Rica´s national drink. Its a type of “aguardiente”, and you can buy it anywhere in the country. It´s like a type of vodka, which you can use to enhance your orange, or pineapple drink. Be sure to have a sip of Guaro, on your next trip to Costa Rica.

The Costa Rican “Casado”: is another traditional dish in Costa Rica. It´s a full lunch dish, with rice, beans, meat, and a “tortilla”. You should also order an “empanada” with coffee, next time you go to a traditional restaurant on your way to the beaches.

The Gold Museum in San José, houses a collection of native gold artifacts, from hundreds of years ago.

Beautiful Beaches and sunsets are extraordinary in Costa Rica. The Manuel Antonio Beach near Quepos, in Puntarenas is a white sanded beach that is absolutely stunning. Other beautiful beaches can be found in the Guanacaste and Limón provinces.

Other interesting facts about Costa Rica:

Costa Rican soccer is a matter of national pride. We ticos call soccer “futból”, and this is the most popular sport in Costa Rica. The Costa Rican national Selection, or “Sele” is the selection of the best soccer players, and they represent the country in the World Cups. Bars get packed when this happens, with ticos and ticas brimming with excitement. A lot of “guaro” is sold when this occurs.

Our national bird should be something else: Costa Rica´s national bird is the “yiguirro”, which is the clay-colored thrush. It´s a very simple bird, and I wish they had chosen the “BoBo”, of the “macaw”.

Costa Rica has a blue zone: in the Nicoya peninsula in Guanacaste. This is one of the interesting facts about Costa Rica! Nicoya is one of the world´s five blue zones, meaning people live longer lives than the global average. Nicoya is definitely a beautiful region in Costa Rica that you will wish to visit!

We have no winter! But we are far from an “endless summer”. Costa Rica does not have winter as you may know it; we just have two seasons. The rainy season and summer. Some provinces are drier than others, you will experience less rain in Guanacaste, which has the best beaches in the country. Guanacaste is a beautiful province for buying real estate in Costa Rica.

I hope you enjoyed this article about fun facts about Costa Rica. This is the country I was born in, and I love the freedom we exercise here. Costa Rica is a fascinating country with several unique attributes that set it apart on the world stage. It is one of the few nations without a standing military, having abolished it in 1948 to focus on peace and social development.

The country is also a global leader in environmental conservation, protecting a significant portion of its land and running on nearly 100% renewable energy. Additionally, Costa Rica boasts a rich biodiversity, with about 6% of the world’s species found within its borders, making it a top destination for eco-tourism. These remarkable facts highlight Costa Rica’s innovative and forward-thinking approach to both social and environmental issues.

Dr. Christopher Pirie Gil.

Costa Rica Law Firm.