Beach Travel Getaway: Costa Rica
Costa Rica literally means, "Rich Coast" and is officially known as the Republic of Costa Rica. It is a country located in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Ecuador to the south. Costa Rica is divided into the following seven provinces: San José, Alajuela, Heredia, Cartago, Puntarenas, Guanacaste, and Limon. Each province is subdivided into regions, which are then further subdivided into districts.
Capital: San José
Population: Around 4.5 million
Official language: Spanish
Official currency: Colon
Climate: Tropical year round
Known for: Costa Rica is known for its progressive environmental policies, and is the only country to meet all five criteria established to measure environmental sustainability.
Fun fact: Costa Rica is the only existing country that does not have an army.
Helpful tip: Late April through November is considered the off-season in Costa Rica due to the high levels of rain that occur at that time, and as a result, prices tend to be less expensive and the beaches less crowded.
Top things to see and do: Explore Tortuguero National Park, take in the La Paz Waterfall Gardens, discover one of six active volcanoes throughout Costa Rica, take a zip-line ride through the rainforest of Monteverde, visit a coffee plantation in Heredia, surf in Jaco, spot a macaw on a bird-watching adventure at the Carara Biological Reserve, listen to a live band in Puerto Viejo, learn to surf in Cahuita, hit a walking trail at the Hacienda Barú National Wildlife Refuge, go sports fishing in Playa Herradura, tour the Rainmaker Aerial Walkway
