Whether you’re planning to move to Costa Rica or are planning to visit, you may be wondering: where is Costa Rica located? What is its capital city? How big is it? What countries does Costa Rica border? What’s the population? Satisfy your curiosity to know more about Costa Rica and its people by reading the article below!
Costa Rica’s Location on a World Map
Costa Rica has been inhabited by humans since at least 10,000 BC. It was first colonized by Europeans during the 16th century but became independent from Spain in 1821. Costa Rica has been a popular Central American country tourist destination since the 1950s. It was one of the first countries in Central America to gain independence. It became a republic in 1850 and joined the United Nations in 1949.
Today, Costa Rica has been described by many as one of the world’s best places to live and is home to some of the world’s best surfing beaches, including Playa del Coco, Playa Hermosa, and Playa Tamarindo. It’s also one of the smallest countries in the Western Hemisphere.
Costa Rica is a country in Central America located in the Western Hemisphere and in the continent of North America. Costa Rica borders the Caribbean Sea to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The highest point in the country is Cerro Chirripó, at 3,819 meters (12,530 ft). The highest volcano in the country is the Irazú Volcano (3,431 m or 11,257 ft) and the largest lake is Lake Arenal. It’s surrounded by multiple countries which we will lay out in depth in our next section.
Costa Rica’s Border Countries
Costa Rica is a Central American country bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the south, Colombia to the west, and Ecuador to the east. Although the bordering countries of Colombia and Ecuador or separated by a body of water, these countries, along with the Dominican Republic are just a flight away. Costa Rica shares maritime boundaries with Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia, and the Atlantic Ocean. These countries have their own unique cultures and languages, but they all share one thing in common: They’re all Central American nations. Costa Rica is in the most central position to its surrounding countries in Latin America, giving leeway to take a quick flight to any country in South America or Latin America.
Located between the countries of Nicaragua and Panama, Costa Rica is bordered on the north by the Pacific Ocean; on the south by the Caribbean Sea; on the west by the Osa Peninsula; and on the east by the Nicoya Peninsula. These countries have their own unique characteristics, but they all share some commonalities with Costa Rica. They are all countries in Latin America. For example, all three of these countries have a similar climate, and they also share many of the same cultural influences. Costa Rica has a total area of 5,832 square miles (15,000 km). This tropical Central American country has a population of 4.8 million people.
Costa Rica’s Capital City
San José is the capital city of Costa Rica. It was founded by Spanish conquistadors in 1563 and has been the country’s capital since 1824. Its name means “new town” or “city of Jesus Christ.” Today, this beautiful city in Costa Rica has more than 1 million inhabitants. It has been named one of the safest cities in Latin America by the World Economic Forum. This makes it a popular destination for ex-pats looking to move to a region towards South America, but not too far from North America.
San José, Costa Rica’s capital city enjoys a temperate climate year-round with average temperatures ranging between 15°C and 30°C. For more information about the weather in Costa Rica, feel free to read our article entailing the entire weather, by month, in Costa Rica. San José is also home to the most utilized airport in Latin America, the Juan Santamaría International Airport. In fact, the Costa Rican government opted to expand Juan Santamaría’s terminal in order to support the demand of visitors to Costa Rica. Utilizing the Juan Santamaría airport, you can travel anywhere in Latin America or South America within a few hours.
San José is one of Costa Rica’s leading tourist destinations with beautiful mountains, rainforests, volcanoes, historical sites, museums, galleries, restaurants, nightlife, shopping centers, and more. It has been named by Lonely Planet as one of the top 10 cities in Latin America and Central America. Costa Rica has everything you could want – great daily life, beautiful nature, great weather, friendly people, and affordable living costs. If you’re looking for something more sedate, there are also plenty of things to keep you busy here too. There are some fantastic museums, including the Museo de Arte Costarricense, which showcases works by local artists. If you like shopping, head to the Mercado Modelo, where you can find anything from souvenirs to clothing and jewelry. For those who love sports, San José is home to the Estadio Nacional, which hosts international football matches and other sporting events throughout the year.
If you are looking for more things to do in San José, Costa Rica, then this additional list should be able to help you out with some ideas. There are many activities available in San José, Costa Rica such as hiking, horseback riding, zip-lining, mountain biking, fishing, golfing, tennis, volleyball, cycling, camping, and much more.
Costa Rica’s Most Popular Places
Costa Rica and the Costa Rican coastline offer visitors a variety of options for both beach and adventure tourism in Central America. From the bustling tourist hubs of Tamarindo and Jacó to the quieter fishing villages and remote coves of Manuel Antonio National Park, there are plenty of places to choose from to travel and experience the daily life of Costa Ricans.
Costa Rica’s Provinces
There are seven provinces in Costa Rica. Each province contains one or more cities. Costa Rica’s provinces are Alajuela, Cartago, Heredia, Limón, Puntarenas, San José, and Guanacaste.
Central Valley (San José Province & Alajuela Province)
The Central Valley which is located south of San José city is one of the most visited regions in Costa Rica. With its wide range of wildlife, beautiful beaches, great food, and friendly locals, there are many reasons why you’d want to move to or visit this part of the country.
Southern Zone (San José Province & Puntarenas Province)
In the Southern Zone, many people live in homes in the mountains and ridges overlooking the Pacific Ocean and surrounding jungles. There are several small cities within driveable distance to the capital city of San José, including Quepos, Osa, Palmar Sur, Puerto Jiménez, Golfito, Santa Teresa, Playas del Coco, Cahuita, Monteverde, and Sierpe. Most of these places are beautiful spots to visit and will make you happy that you chose to visit this country in Central America.
Central Pacific Coast (Puntarenas Province)
The Central Pacific coast is located just northeast of Costa Rica’s capital city, San José. The Central Pacific Coast is one of Costa Rica’s most beautiful regions. With stunning beaches, clear blue waters, and mountains reaching nearly 10,000 feet high, it’s no wonder why people are drawn to this area in Central America. And while many travelers come to Costa Rica to see the rainforests and waterfalls found throughout the rest of the country, those looking for beachfront paradise will find what they’re seeking here.
This area in Latin America includes the cities of Puntarenas, Quepos, Tamarindo, Montezuma, Siquirres, Palmar Sur, Nicoya, Golfito, Puerto Jiménez, Drake Bay, Nosara, Santa Teresa, Dominical, Guiones, Mal País, Carate, and Barra de Navidad. This region also offers some of the best beaches in Costa Rica, including those in Jacó, Tambor, Manzanillo, Pavones, Playa Herradura, Playa Flamingo, Playa Panamá, Playa Bonita, Playa Grande, Playa Blanca, Playa Chiquita, Playa del Coco, Playa Conchal, Playa Ocotal, Playa Negra, Playa Encantada and others.
Northern Pacific Coast (Guanacaste Province)
Costa Rica’s northwestern region is known by many different names, including the «Gold Coast» and simply «the north». This area is often referred to as the «dry zone» because it receives less rain than the rest of the country. In fact, some parts receive no rainfall whatsoever during certain months of the year. The region is very dry and hot, making it perfect for coffee production and growing bananas.
There are several small towns spread out along the coastline, like Tamarindo, where you’ll find surf shops, yoga studios, and lively nightlife. You’ll also find a few beaches, like Playa Flamingo and Playas de Coco, which are popular among tourists. In addition, there are plenty of hiking trails and national parks nearby, including Manuel Antonio National Park and Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve.
Places to Visit
Costa Rica is home to some of the most beautiful nature in the world. There are plenty of places you can visit to experience the beauty and Costa Rican’s daily life here. There are plenty of parks and forests where you can enjoy nature and relax.
Costa Rica is one of the most visited countries in Central America. The country boasts over 500 kilometers of coastline along the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. In addition to its natural beauty, there are many historical sites and museums throughout the country. Costa Rica’s cultural influences and history are very rich.
The capital city of San José is located about 70 kilometers north of the Panama Canal. This bustling metropolis is home to several attractions such as the University of Costa Rica, the oldest university in Central America and Latin America. There are also numerous shopping malls, restaurants, theaters, hotels, and nightlife venues you can visit.
Other popular destinations include the Poas Volcano National Park, Arenal Volcano National Park, Turrialba Volcano National Park, Guanacaste Province, Cartago Province, Alajuela Province, Heredia Province, Puntarenas Province, Montanita Beach, Jacó Beach, Playa Hermosa, Carate Beach, Mal País Lagoon, Nosara Beach, Tiscapa Beach, Dominical Beach, Barra Beach, Pavones Beach, Playa Panamá, Puerto Jimenez, Palmar Sur, Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí, Juan Dolio Beach, Curubandía Beach, Rio Frio, Golfito, Bahía Drake, Monkey River Falls, Montezuma Creek Wildlife Refuge, Hacienda Pinilla, Montezuma Waterfall, and Manuel Antonio National Park.
Key Facts about Costa Rica
Costa Rica is one of Central America’s smallest countries, but it packs quite a punch. This small nation boasts a population of just over five million people, making it the second most populous country in Central America and Latin America. With a total area of less than 50,000 square kilometers, Costa Rica is roughly the size of the American state of Connecticut.
The land mass is comprised mostly of mountains, forests, rivers, lakes, and beaches, making up more than 90% of the territory. In fact, there are over 200 volcanic formations. Costa Rica has a tropical climate. You don’t even have to worry about coming during a specific season to visit, whether it’s rainy season, dry season or busy season, this country in Latin America is perfect to visit at any time.
The capital city of San José is located near the center of the country in a region named the Central Valley, as we mentioned in a previous section of this article. The region is home to many volcanoes, including the Arenal Volcano, Poás Volcano, Cerro Chato, Turrialba Volcano, and Irazú Volcano. The highest peak in Costa Rica is Volcán Arenal, reaching 2,500 meters above sea level.
Costa Rica literally means «Rich Coast» when translated. The official language in Costa Rica is Spanish. However, most Costa Ricans know some degree of English and are encouraged to learn English in school. The currency of Costa Rica is the colón (COP), however, most areas and places in Costa Rica still accept USD or even major credit cards.
Another unknown fact about Costa Rica is that Costa Rica was built on coffee. El Grano de Oro, or the “golden grain,” as most Costa Ricans know it, fueled much of the country’s early development. Coffee production in Costa Rica goes back to the 1800s, prospective farmers even got free land if they planned to use it for coffee production. Most of the world’s coffee is produced in Costa Rica by Costa Ricans.
Many Costa Ricans don’t know about Costa Rica is that all of its energy comes from renewable sources. In 2019 alone, Costa Rica produced 99.62% of its electricity from renewable sources consistently for about 300 days. Some examples of renewable sources are hydroelectric, geothermal and wind-generated energy sources. Due to Costa Rica’s use of renewable sources, they were named the «greenest country» in the world in 2009.
Costa Rica doesn’t currently have a military. They do have police and border control, but no military. Considering Costa Rica has no military, they are the most politically stable country in Latin America. It’s a stark contrast to many other countries in Central or even Latin America.
People from Costa Rica, contrary to popular belief are not called Costa Ricans. The outside world usually calls people from Costa Rica, Costa Ricans, but it’s not the local’s way of doing things. Costa Ricans are actually known as “Ticos.” They call themselves that, and other Latin American countries call Costa Ricans that too.
The national flower of Costa Rica is the orchid. The national animal of Costa Rica is the white-tailed deer. There’s even a deer on the 1,000 colones bill. There are over 500,000 species of wildlife in Costa Rica. Of the 500,000 species, 900 of them are birds, so if you’re a serial birdwatcher, this may be the perfect country in Latin America to visit for you. A key saying in Costa Rica by Costa Ricans that you may hear during your travels is Pura Vida and it is more than just a phrase — it’s a lifestyle.
