Our journey brings us to Costa Rica, a peaceful Central American paradise known for its incredible nature and “Pura Vida” (Pure Life) philosophy. There are around 5 million people living here, and the capital is San José, a city nestled in a fertile valley surrounded by majestic volcanoes. The official language is Spanish.

Costa Rica covers about 51,100 square kilometers, or 19,730 square miles. To imagine its size, the country is roughly the same size as the state of West Virginia in the U.S., or it is approximately the same size as Denmark. Despite being so small, it holds about 5% of the world’s total biodiversity!

The most popular sport is Football, and the national team is a source of immense pride across the country. Their national animal is the White-tailed Deer, though the Sloth was also officially named a national symbol recently because it represents the country’s commitment to protecting wildlife.

The flag features five horizontal stripes of blue, white, and red, where the blue represents the sky and opportunities, the white stands for peace and happiness, and the red represents the warmth and generosity of the people.

The food is fresh, colorful, and healthy. You must start your day with Gallo Pinto, a delicious mix of rice and beans seasoned with bell peppers and onions. For lunch, everyone loves a Casado, a “marriage” of various foods on one plate, usually including rice, beans, meat or fish, salad, and fried plantains.

Costa Rica is a world leader in conservation and is one of the few countries in the world without a standing army, choosing to spend that money on education and healthcare instead. It is home to the Monteverde Cloud Forest, where you can walk across hanging bridges high above the trees through actual clouds. The country also features the Arenal Volcano, a perfectly cone-shaped volcano that used to light up the night sky with lava. On the Pacific coast, you can visit Marino Ballena National Park, where two beaches meet to form a sandbar that looks exactly like a giant whale’s tail from above—which is amazing because it’s also one of the best places to go whale watching!

From the surfing waves of the coast to the misty rainforests, Costa Rica is a land of vibrant life and tranquility. ¡Gracias! That means “Thank you!”