Interesting Facts About Costa Rica – Fun Facts About Costa Rica

Costa Rica, officially known as the ‘Republic of Costa Rica’ is situated in Central America and has for its neighbors the countries of Panama and Nicaragua. The country also has in its west, the Pacific Ocean and is flanked by the Caribbean Sea in the east. Spanish is the official language in Costa Rica, the country’s name even has a Spanish meaning. Bribri and Mekatelyu are languages that enjoy a lot of popularity in Costa Rica too, but the two languages survive under regional limitations. Costa Rica is noted for constitutionally abolishing its army. Costa Rica however, in the past came under the rule of the Spanish and the Mexicans too. The country managed to gain its independence from the Spanish in September 15, 1821. Costa Rica from then on has come a long way. Believe it or not, but going by the opinions of the New Economics Foundation, Costa Rica ranks first in the ‘Happy Planet Index’ . It is also considered to be the ‘greenest’ country in the world. Now, that’s a big claim to fame. Read on to know more about the picturesque country of Costa Rica.

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Interesting And Fun Facts About Costa Rica

The country of Costa Rica is slightly smaller than the American state of West Virginia.
Costa Rica experiences a tropical and a subtropical climate. Its dry season starts from December and ends in April, the rainy season begins in May and dries out in November. The highlands in Costa Rica are generally cooler than the rest of the country.
Did you know that the name ‘Costa Rica’ in Spanish literally translates to ‘Rich Coast’?
San Jose, Costa Rica’s capital city is one of the youngest capital cities in Latin America. San Jose enjoys this distinction because it was formed in the late 18^th century.
If you’re in Costa Rica at seven in the morning on any given day, make it a point to turn on the radio to listen to the country’s national anthem. The Costa Rican national anthem is played on every one of its radio stations at this time!
Almost 1/4^th of Costa Rica’s lands are part of a protected area system. This forms part of the country’s efforts to protect its environment.
Every town in Costa Rica has its own plaza/little park in front of its Catholic churches. This feature is a lot bigger and more in number in the bigger cities. Most towns also enjoy proximity to at least one soccer field.
Costa Rica ‘operates’ under a Presidential Republic and is presently headed by President Laura Chinchilla.
Costa Ricans are particularly fond of the Hollywood action movies of the 80s and 90s. Movies starring Hollywood action heroes like Jean-Claude Van Damme and Chuck Norris are frequently aired on local television channels.
On Costa Rica’s many patriotic days, schoolboys wear traditional hats, red scarves, shirts and even paint on moustaches. The girls on the other hand wear colored skirts and wear their hair in traditional braids.
Did you know that Costa Rica is considered to be one of the popular destinations for retired expats, who ‘retire’ in the country for the rest of their lives?
Costa Ricans, especially the people who live away from the cities, carry machetes all the time. Alarmed? Don’t be! The machete is not used for chopping peoples’ heads off, but for almost every other domestic purpose in rural areas.
Costa Ricans, locally or within the country are known as ‘Ticos’. Ticos is nothing but a local slang for Costa Ricans.
Costa Ricans are known to give a lot of coffee to their children and babies!
Traditionally, ice creams in Costa Rica come in very unusual flavors like peanut, green mango, sour cream, wild blackberry, and coconut.

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