Costa Rica is charmingly small, fantastically fun, and infinitely interesting

Smaller than lake Michigan at just 19,560 square miles, Costa Rica is the 3rd smallest country in Central America, but looms large when it comes to its abundance of nature and eco-adventure offerings. An enchanting, sensory- delight, Costa Rica is a delicious explosion of colorful nature and culture.

As an eco-adventure destination, Costa Rica claims a host of exciting flora and fauna. In fact, it is home to nearly 4% of the world’s species, a whopping 500,000 different animals, insects and birds. Costa Rica wildlife makes its home in a variety of habitats that feature different terrains, varying climates, rivers, both the Pacific and the Caribbean oceans with their beaches of shells, white, black, brown and even pink sand, and lovely, lovely forests: dry forests, rainforests, and cloud forests too. Finally, Costa Rica has countless waterfalls; perhaps some that even we have not yet discovered! Nonetheless, we know the best waterfalls in the country, and some that are even “hidden” to most.

A peaceful country, local axioms such as “pura vida” (pure life) and “tranquilidad ante todo” (tranquility before everything) are representative of the culture as a whole. It is perhaps because of this general attitude of serene existence that Costa Rica often makes the top 15 on the “happiest countries on earth” World Happiness Index, and has some years even ranked #1.  In addition to the cultural penchant for peace, the country abolished its army in 1948, making it one of only 23 countries in the world that does not have a military presence.

Costa Rica is widely acknowledged for its advanced policies surrounding sustainability, and is, proudly, the only country to have achieved all five of the conditions named to meet the United Nations Global Development Network’s criteria for environmental sustainability. In addition to being a “low energy economy”, Costa Rica has also surpassed most other nations in renewable energy generation through its use of hydro, wind, and solar power, and also its abundant geothermal power. Costa Rica is working hard to become carbon-neutral by 2021, and many experts believe we will achieve this goal.