Rugged highlands are found throughout most of the country. The country has a relatively long coastline in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, as well as a number of rivers and streams that attract specialist rafters from all over the world.

Costa Rica is a democratic and peaceful country, and it has not had an army since the year 1949.

Although the country is small and it covers only 0.03 percent of the surface of the globe, it proudly shelters a 6 percent of the existing biodiversity in the entire world. 25 percent of the country is composed of conservation and natural protected territory.

Costa Rica is also an attractive country for investment and it offers great potential for the establishment of important multinational companies, thanks to the outstanding academic level of its population, as well as the high standard of modern services and social and political stability.

The visitor can enjoy lovely tropical beaches, the grandest adventures, the wonders of nature, culture, all the necessary components of an ideal vacation.

Going to the beach is a must when travelling to Costa Rica and a nice suntan is always possible. It is not advisable however, to try to tan in just one day because it takes 24 to 48 hours for the skin to produce melanin, a dark pigment that reduces the aging process caused by sunburn. The healthiest thing for you to do is to use a UV sun blocking lotion.

Throughout our history, the indigenous population of pre Hispanic origins have been added movements of immigrants which settled in these lands, making it their home. Populations of European origin, mainly Spaniards, persons of African and Asian ascendance, as well as people from different places of the American continent have interacted among them, enriching the cultural backgrounds in the process.

Currently, besides the predominant half breed component, there are ethnical national groups and colonies of immigrants recovering their particular cultural heritage

Its easy to get around Costa Rica, and if you stick with public transportation, travelling within the country can be quite inexpensive. There are bus services to just about every town and city and high quality buses serving the main tourist destinations. Taxis are also plentiful and inexpensive, and in San Jose they are required to operate with meters for most trips.