COSTA RICA FACTS

Welcome to our page about Costa Rica facts.

Before you embark on that long awaited Costa Rica vacation, take a few moments to learn a little about this marvelous country.

Some of these are going to be helpful and some perhaps odd but we hope you find them interesting or amusing.

When you take your Costa Rica vacation, think how much you'll know!

About Africa and Butterflies

Actually, 592 Costa Ricas would fit within Africa's borders--with room to spare--but there are MORE KINDS OF BUTTERFLIES in tiny Costa Rica than in all of Africa, click for more!

The Butterfly that Roared

in all the world there's only one butterfly that makes a sound and it lives in Costa Rica.

For 30 years, scientists have been trying to decipher it's song.

We now know: "Pura Vida!" It's the Calico (some say Caligo) butterfly and you can find it at the Monteverde Butterfly Garden, click here!

Just How Big is Costa Rica?

European? A bit bigger than Switzerland.

Or, if you're thinking globally, think this:

1/10,000 of the earth's land surface. Yes, it is tiny but huge.

A contradiction in terms?

Nope. Consider these three Costa Rica facts:

(1) On just 1/10,000 of the world's land Costa Rica has

(2) nearly 5% of every plant and animal species on the face of the planet and

(3) off its coasts, 35% of every whale and porpoise species on the globe.

Another way of saying this: one of every 20 species of animals or plants in the whole world live in Costa Rica.

Not to mention "the most biologically intense" place on Earth, the magnificent Corcovado National Park, click here

Costa Rica is #1 in the World for Satisfaction of Life

Costa Rica Is #3 On The World's Environmental Index

And even more so when one considers that its people have an average income of only about 1/5 of the other countries in the top 10 of the Environmental Index.

Costa Rica Is The Only "BioGem" Country On Earth

First Country To Be Carbon Neutral

And, a 35 megawatt geothermal electrical plant, powered by the Rincon de la Vieja volcano is under construction near the popular tourist destination of Guanacaste that, upon completion, will power thousands of homes.

Just another of those Costa Rica facts that make the rest of the world envious.

Teaching the Kids Birds and Bees

Can we help? Just use some Costa Rica facts.

First, explain that bigger isn't always better (this is the part about The Birds).

Little Costa Rica has as many species of birds as are found in the Continental United States and just a few species less than are found on the entire European continent. Check out

Costa Rica animals and birds here

The next thing is a kind of show-and-tell (this is the part about The Bees).

Take the little rascals to the world's largest private Bug Collection.

It's in, yep---you guessed it, Costa Rica.

50,000 or more (but who's counting?) bugs (and lots of bees!).

Where is it? A little place called Selvatura, really close to the Monteverde Butterly Garden (remember? The place having the only "singing" butterfly in the world).

Don't you agree that telling your kids about the birds and bees is a whole lot easier when armed with (odd) Costa Rica facts?

Christopher Columbus Loved Costa Rica

Here are two questions:

1. Who discovered Costa Rica?

About 510 years ago (time really flies, doesn't it?) a fellow named Christopher Columbus discovered Costa Rica, landing a few miles south of Limon on the Caribbean coast.

2. Where'd Costa Rica get its name?

From Christopher Columbus who liked it so much he called it Costa Rica ("rich coast"), click for more

Speaking of England and Spain. . .

1. They explored to conquer to world.

2. When conquering most of the planet wasn't good enough, they'd fight each other from time-to-time (a great stress reliever) and

3. When they needed to relax, they'd come to Costa Rica.

First was Columbus. He came to conquer the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica.

Then, about 75 years later, an Englishman, Sir Francis Drake came to Costa Rica to conquer its Pacific Coast (Drake Bay is named after him).

The English and Spanish explorers and conquerors all relaxed in Costa Rica but. . .

when when their countries' testosterone levels peaked in 1588, they had a grudge-match and Sir Francis Drake's armada defeated Spain's armada. A bit more about Sir Francis Drake and wonderful Drake Bay here

Historical footnote: Later, Drake died of dysentary in Puerto Rica.

You'd have thought he'd have known better. Doesn't everybody know about "Montezuma's revenge?"

He wouldn't have that problem (and you won't either) in Costa Rica because the water is good here.

Sir Francis should have read these Costa Rica facts.

Make Love Not War

Nothing.

There is no Costa Rica army. Hasn't been since it was constitutionally abolished over 60 years ago.

Ticos prefer making love.

As Sergeant Joe Friday used to say: "Just the facts, lady. Just the Costa Rica facts."

A Little Note about Costa Rica Addresses

There are almost no street signs or addresses.

Well, there are a few but sometimes they're a bit confusing, like this sign to the right.

Imagine the poor, befuddled drunk looking for his group meeting.

My Spanish school is on a pretty little street filled with small businesses, apartments, condos, and houses, none of which have a number. For that matter, the street itself probably has a name but nobody at the school (or for that matter nobody in the country) knows it.

So, how to get there?

Easy. "Go to the famous tree (I forget its name but it is really famous) then head (sort-of) north 800 meters and east another 630 meters."

"Great! But how do I find the tree?"

"What tree?"

"The one in the directions you gave me."

"Oh, it was cut down 40 years ago--but just go there. . . and good luck!" (I'm not making this up).

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