| Costa Rica is one of the most popular tourist | | | | just have pristine waters for people that just like to |
| destinations in the Americas. This tropical paradise | | | | enjoy a nice calm swim on a beautiful beach. |
| boasts great beaches, rain forests, mountains, people | | | | Eco-Diversity: |
| and culture. It's no wonder this small Central American | | | | The rain forest is the most valuable and special part |
| country is one of the tourism powerhouses of the | | | | about this country. Being so narrow and located |
| Americas. | | | | between two oceans in the tropics means that the |
| The People: | | | | rain is abundant. There are many conservation |
| Costa Rica has the unique characteristic in that it | | | | efforts within the country by the local government |
| does not have any military. That is the ultimate sign | | | | and foreign investors. You may NOT cut down a |
| of a peaceful nation. Costa Rica's are known as | | | | tree in Costa Rica anymore and you may not even |
| "Ticos" and they're know throughout Latin America | | | | take fallen trees from within the habitat without |
| as being people who very positive, friendly and full of | | | | proper permission from the state. The Guanacaste |
| life. In Costa Rica, the national catch phrase of the | | | | region was deforested for farming and now they |
| people and the country is "pura vida," which | | | | suffer drought causing the forest to become dry. |
| translates to "pure life." | | | | Now about 25% of the country is protected land. |
| The Beaches: | | | | One of Costa Rica's benefits is that it's so mall and |
| Costa Rica has many famous beaches. Some | | | | has different kinds of environments in close |
| beaches attract surfers from all over the world while | | | | proximity. If you were willing to travel, you could be |
| others attract tourists and locals. Costa Rica has the | | | | at the sunny beach at 9am in Guanacaste |
| benefit of having both a Pacific and Atlantic coast | | | | (northwest), at 1pm in a tropical rainforest with hot |
| giving it plenty of beaches to pick from. The beaches | | | | springs in San Carlos (north), at 3pm in the capital San |
| of Costa Rica have something for everyone. Some | | | | Jose with a mild weather (March, center), and at 5pm |
| beaches have nice waves for surfers, while other like | | | | in cold mountain temperature (5 Celsius) in Cartago |
| Jacob beach have a party atmosphere, while others | | | | (east). |