Costa Rica -- an exotic tropical destination

Geographically, Costa Rica is incredibly diverse -- a microcosm of the entire American continents, with its own little continental divide in the middle. On the Caribbean coast, there are banana plantations and a very hot, tropical climate. In the middle, there is a high plateau. Most of the cities are located there. Days are always warm, not overly hot, and the nights are cool and refreshing. The west coast features resorts and tropical beaches. And in between range everything from near arid farmland (in the dry season) to hills spotted with coffee plants to tropical rainforests with some of the world's most incredible biodiversity.

All this in a country in which, on a clear day, you can stand on top of some of its higher mountains and see the coastline in either direction.

Costa Rica's approach to conservation is exemplary. Roughly 27% of the country is protected in one method or another, including over 11% of the land in the national parks system. Travellers will be interested to know that Costa Rica is the oldest democracy in Latin America. There is no army. The food is healthy, grown in some of the world's richest volcanic soil, and the water is potable.

This section of our website features some basic information on Costa Rica -- the land, the people, getting around, the "usual travel information."

Costa Rica table of contents

Back to the Rara Avis home page

                                                Created by    bxi inc