Small country. Big story.
No army, two oceans, nearly 5% of the world's biodiversity and some of the happiest people on Earth. Here's the Costa Rica behind the postcard.
Plan your trip WhatsApp usThe Costa Rica behind the postcard
Where it is
Central America, with Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Far out in the Pacific, Cocos Island gives Costa Rica a sea border with Ecuador.
Capital
San José, about 350,000 people in the city and nearly 2 million in the metro area.
Government
A presidential republic and one of Latin America's oldest, most stable democracies, with separate executive, legislative and judicial branches. Elections are held every four years.
No army since 1948
After a short civil war in 1948, Costa Rica abolished its army, and the 1949 constitution made it permanent. The money went into schools and health care instead.
Education
Public education is free and mandatory, and the constitution sets a target of 8% of GDP for education, well above the world average.
Independence
Independence came on September 15, 1821, when Guatemala declared Central America free from Spain. Nicoya chose to join Costa Rica by plebiscite on July 25, 1824, a date still celebrated across Guanacaste.
Economy
Once built on coffee and bananas, the economy now runs on tourism, finance, corporate services and medical devices and pharmaceuticals, with many international companies based in Free Trade Zones.
How Costa Rica ranks
- 4th happiest country in the world, the highest ever for a Latin American country (World Happiness Report 2026)
- Recognized by the UN Development Programme for very high human development and low inequality compared with similar-income countries
Indigenous peoples
About 104,000 people (2.1% of the population) belong to eight Indigenous peoples living in 24 territories:
- Bribri and Cabécar: Talamanca mountains and southern Caribbean
- Ngäbe: southern Pacific, near Panama
- Boruca (Brunca) and Bröran (Teribe): southern Pacific
- Maleku: northern Alajuela
- Chorotega: Guanacaste
- Huetar: Central Valley (Quitirrisí and Zapatón)
Two seasons, many climates
Costa Rica is tropical, with a dry season and a rainy season. Ticos call them verano (summer) and invierno (winter), even though temperatures barely change. What changes the weather most is where you are and how high you are.
Dry season (verano): December to April
- Clear, sunny days with little rain on the Pacific coast and in the Central Valley
- 24–35°C (75–95°F), depending on the region
- High season: the most sun and the most visitors, so book early
- Pacific coast: hottest and sunniest
- Central Valley: warm, less humid, and for many the most pleasant climate in the country
Rainy season (invierno): May to November
- Sunny mornings, with showers and sometimes thunderstorms in the afternoon
- Everything turns green: fewer crowds and full rivers
- Caribbean coast: rain all year, but often sunnier in September and October, when the Pacific is at its wettest
- Northern lowlands: a mix of sun and rain year-round
- Pacific coast: September and October bring the heaviest rain and some local flooding
Altitude is everything
- Coast: up to 35°C (95°F)
- Mid-elevations like Monteverde and the Central Valley: 15–24°C (59–75°F)
- Highest peaks of the Talamanca range, like Chirripó: down to 2°C (35°F) at night
Climb a few hundred meters and the weather can change completely, so pack layers and a rain jacket whatever the month.
Hurricanes and El Niño
- Costa Rica sits south of the main hurricane belt and rarely takes a direct hit, but nearby storms can bring days of heavy rain and wind.
- El Niño years tend to be drier; La Niña years bring more rain and cooler temperatures.
A country that grew its forests back
In the 1980s, cattle ranching and logging had cut Costa Rica's forest cover to roughly a fifth of the country. Today forest covers more than half of it again. Few countries in the world have pulled off a comeback like that.
What that means for your trip: the sloth in the tree, the turtles on the beach and the quetzal in the cloud forest are there because people decided to protect them. On our trips we use small local lodges, farms and community projects, pay park fees that fund rangers, and keep groups small so the wildlife stays wild.
Let's plan your Costa Rica
Tell us what you'd love to feel, and we'll take care of the rest. We reply within 24 hours.
Plan your trip WhatsApp +506 8371 3540 Email usContact us
Write or message us and we'll reply within 24 hours. 24/7 support while you're on tour.
San José 10109, Costa Rica