Searching for some fascinating Costa Rica information? Then you definitely’ve come to the suitable place, as we share some superior information about Costa Rica.
Costa Rica is an incredible nation with so many fascinating issues to know. Learn on to study one thing new in regards to the Central American nation!
Fascinating Info about Costa Rica
1. Costa Rica was a Spanish Colony
It is a fairly easy, however fascinating information about Costa Rica, nevertheless it’s additionally a fairly essential one. Christopher Columbus sailed over to what turned Costa Rica in 1502. It gained independence in 1821, over 300 years later (however wasn’t absolutely sovereign till 1838).
2. However it by no means fought Spain for independence
Nope. Like different Central American states, Costa Rica didn’t truly need to immediately struggle towards Spain to say independence. Independence of a sort got here after the Mexican Conflict of Independence defeated Spain.
3. Costa Rica doesn’t have a navy
One of the fascinating Costa Rica information. Following the bloody, 44-day-long Costa Rican Civil Conflict by which 2,000 folks died, the nation determined to eliminate its military in 1948. Completely. They do have police and border management, however no precise navy. That is fairly loopy when you think about that they’re bordered by Panama and Nicaragua.
4. Costa Rica means “Wealthy Coast”
When outdated Chris Columbus first rocked up there, on his final voyage would possibly we add, he informed everybody that there was a ton of bijou and gold draped on the necks and shoulders of the natives. Spanish conquistador Gil Gonzalez de Avila corroborated his tales. Subsequently, everybody began calling it La Costa Rica – “the wealthy coast.”
5. However Costa Rica truly wasn’t that wealthy to start with
There wasn’t a load of silver and gold there, so Spain left it alone (comparatively talking). There additionally wasn’t a considerable indigenous inhabitants to enslave. This meant that the Spanish and European settlers who arrived there didn’t have folks to do their soiled work for them, in order that they needed to work for themselves. Because of this, Costa Rica has grow to be the idiosyncratic democracy everybody is aware of and loves in the present day.
6. Most of Costa Rica’s power comes from renewable sources (One in all my favourite Costa Rica information!)
I completely love this and it’s top-of-the-line enjoyable information about Costa Rica. Yep, this Central American nation is tremendous environmentally pleasant. Virtually ALL of its power comes from renewable sources – a large 98.1% by 2016. They have been thought to be the greenest nation on the earth in 2009, and need to be carbon impartial by 2021. Superior.
7. Costa Ricans are loopy for espresso
One of the fascinating Costa Rica information is that folks love espresso! Their prime trade within the twentieth century was espresso and led finally to the aptly named “espresso barons” – type of like oil barons, however with espresso as a substitute. This principally led to the financial progress of the nation. Should you’re visiting attempt to hit up a espresso farm, it’s top-of-the-line issues to do in Costa Rica.
8. Costa Rica is probably the most politically steady nation within the area
It could have had a navy dictator within the early twentieth century, and it did have a civil conflict, however since then, Costa Rica has had 16 successive – and peaceable – presidential elections. It’s a stark distinction to many different nations in Central and even Latin America.
9. There’s quite a lot of seismic exercise in Costa Rica
A type of enjoyable Costa Rica information is that it’s got 14 volcanoes, however 6 of them are fairly lively. The tallest one is Irazu, at 11,260 ft above sea degree; it final erupted in 1994. The place there are lively volcanoes, there are earthquakes, and Costa Rica will get quite a lot of them.
10. Chinese language folks within the nineteenth century thought Costa Rica was referred to as Puntarenas
Nicely, some did. That’s due to a so-called “Chinese language colony” that was settled in Puntarenas round 1873. The settlement turned increasingly well-known, and many individuals simply assumed that their neighbors and friends-of-friends have been making the transfer to this superior place referred to as Puntarenas, not Costa Rica.
11. Extra of Costa Rica is made up of nationwide parks than every other nation
One in all my favourite Costa Rica information is {that a} large 25% of its total territory includes nationwide parks and nature reserves. The typical for the developed world is 13%; the world common is simply 8%.
Costa Rica is certainly up there as top-of-the-line for preserving nature. In Corcovado Nationwide Park, there are large cats, monkeys, tapirs, and a lot extra – and that’s only one park.
12. Costa Rica boasts an nearly 0% price of deforestation
Wow. Now, that is a type of enjoyable Costa Rica information which might be actually superb. What’s much more unimaginable about this Costa Rica information is that the nation truly used to have a number of the worst charges of deforestation going (1973-’79 was notably dangerous). By 2012, it was nearly ZERO. These inexperienced credentials.
13. Soda doesn’t imply what you suppose it means in Costa Rica
In most locations on the earth soda is, effectively, SODA – a carbonated mushy drink. However in Costa Rica, soda is one thing else solely. Sodas are small roadside eating places and mom-and-pop locations in cities the place you may get good meals for affordable costs.
You’ll be able to replenish on rice, beans, and rooster for as little as $3. See extra Costa Rica journey ideas right here. You can too get implausible vegan and vegetarian meals in Costa Rica too!
14. Individuals from Costa Rica aren’t referred to as Costa Ricans
Nicely, you may undoubtedly name them Costa Ricans, nevertheless it’s not the native method of doing issues. Costa Ricans are literally generally known as “Ticos.” They name themselves that, and different Latin American nations name ‘em that too. Why? They add “tico” to the ends of phrases for no obvious purpose. This is without doubt one of the most fascinating information about Costa Rica!
15. They usually’re fairly pleased
Actually, in 2017 Nationwide Geographic Journal voted Costa Rica because the world’s happiest nation. “Costa Ricans benefit from the pleasure of dwelling each day life to the fullest in a spot that mitigates stress and maximizes pleasure.” We wish in on that!
16. One of the frequent phrases in Costa Rica is pura vida
It actually means “pure life,” nevertheless it sounds much less like a Japanese power drink if you hear it in context. “How are you?” – “Pura vida, man!” It’s like saying, all good, however with connotations of “life is sweet, how can it not be?”
17. Costa Rican delicacies is tremendous different
From conventional Spanish gastronomy and African influences to Mesoamerican flavors and traditions, even Chinese language – every ethnic group that calls Costa Rica residence has contributed enormously to how the nation tastes in the present day. And it tastes good.
18. Britons are the second-largest group of Europeans in Costa Rica
You’d suppose it could be Italians, or possibly Germans, however as of 2012, there have been round 5,200 Britons (folks of British origin) dwelling in Costa Rica. That’s fairly a number of. That’s as a result of within the late nineteenth century, Britain – who have been everywhere in the Caribbean on the time – have been the primary to note the espresso plantations of the nation. The pure thought was, in fact, “I need a slice of that.”
19. Costa Rica has one of many highest charges of literacy in Latin America
This nation actually believes that schooling is the important thing – and so they aren’t fallacious. Schooling is free, and fundamental schooling is necessary. It’s a must to study to learn and write right here, which is why they find yourself with a 97% price of literacy.
20. When the military was abolished, they changed it with a military of academics
Every soldier has a wage, every officer, piece of kit, and mechanical element of the military got here with its worth. In 1948, when Costa Rica determined to dispose of its navy, it used the cash it saved on schooling. Therefore the excessive ranges of literacy, we think about.
21. Costa Rica is in a Blue Zone
Nope, this doesn’t imply there’s quite a lot of sea (though there’s). It truly signifies that Costa Rica is certainly one of a number of nations on the earth the place folks reside to over 100. So this Central American nation is up there with Okinawa in Japan, Sardinia in Italy, and Ikaria in Greece. A type of cool enjoyable Costa Rica information.
22. Church buildings in Costa Rica face west
A type of fairly unusual information about Costa Rica is that the church buildings face west. That’s not the case for each single church. The jury’s out on precisely why the church buildings face that method, however the normal consensus appears to be that the congregation contained in the church can pray in the direction of Jerusalem, within the east.
23. Costa Rica has some significantly cool cash
We problem you to seek out cooler banknotes than Costa Rican ones. Let’s run by ‘em, we could? On the 5 mil colones, there’s a capuchin monkey and a crab chilling in mangroves with bananas.
On the ten mil word, there’s a sloth hanging out in a jungle, full with flowers. On the 50, which is purple, there’s a good looking blue morpho butterfly, a palm tree, and a few mushrooms. The cash displays the biodiversity of the nation.
24. There’s a cool seashore formed like a whale’s tail in Costa Rica
It’s truly referred to as Bahia Ballena. Funnily sufficient, it’s a primary whale-watching spot. Like quite a lot of pure locations within the nation, it’s protected – because the Marino Ballena Nationwide Park.
25. You’ll be able to watch a Caribbean dawn and a Pacific sundown on the identical day
Due to Costa Rica amazingly boasting a shoreline within the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, it will get one of the best of each worlds. However higher than simply that fascinating reality about Costa Rica is that, due to its dimension, you may simply see a dawn on one facet, and a sundown on the opposite facet, all in the identical day!
26. The island in Jurassic Park (could also be) primarily based on Cocos Island in Costa Rica
Some say it’s the inspiration for Treasure Island; others say that it might need influenced Daniel Defoe to put in writing Robinson Crusoe. However no. Many individuals declare that it’s the one and the identical Isla Nubar from Michael Crichton’s novel Jurassic Park. Cocos Island is fairly protected, so who is aware of what’s happening there.
27. Costa Rica is known for stone spheres
They’re tremendous cool, we’re simply going to say that now. They’re about 2,000 years outdated; they’re stones which have been sculpted (presumably) into nearly excellent spheres.
They vary from 4 inches to eight ft in diameter. Nobody is aware of what they’re for, however they’re discovered close to gravesites and are organized in strains and curves.
28. There are over 800 chook species in Costa Rica
Nicely, it’s truly extra like 850. That accounts for round 10% of all chook species on Earth. Naturally, you’re going to seek out some tremendous uncommon birds right here, like rainbow-colored hummingbirds and all types of different craziness. The nationwide chook of Costa Rica, nonetheless, is the very modest, clay-colored thrush. Go determine.
29. There’s an Okayama Park in San Jose
It’s a fairly, Japanese-style park full with a torii gate proper out of a Shinto shrine. That’s as a result of San Jose and the town of Okayama, Japan, are sister cities. The backyard was opened in 2002 to commemorate 30 years of sister city-hood.
30. San Jose solely began placing in road indicators in 2012
That is a type of superb and fascinating Costa Rica information: its capital by no means had road indicators. Addresses?! Who wants addresses when you may merely give instructions primarily based on native landmarks? The postal service, apparently.
The nation was shedding an estimated $270 million, and it was all right down to misplaced or returned mail. San Jose Mayor Johnny Araya on the time was pleased: he used to reside at “200 meters north of the Pizza Hut then 400 meters west,” however was trying ahead to a quantity and road identify.
31. Tourism is tremendous essential to Costa Rica
As soon as the nation relied on its espresso, bananas, and to a lesser extent, its pineapples. It nonetheless does, however in the present day, tourism has outstripped the riches earned from agri-business and put Costa Rica on the map. Actually, it’s probably the most visited nation in Central America.
32. Costa Rica is a pioneer of ecotourism
With all these protected areas (1 / 4 of the nation, don’t overlook), it’s little doubt that Costa Rica has rather a lot to indicate the world in the case of nature. The Moral Traveler group voted it certainly one of their prime 10 nations in 2017 for ecotourism, for instance.
33. Ox carts are a nationwide image of Costa Rica
Ox carts could look like a bizarre one however stick with us. They have been introduced over by colonizers, have been initially pulled by folks, not oxen, and have been instrumental in delivering that all-important money crop to market – espresso.
Within the twentieth century, folks stopped utilizing them a lot and started portray their loopy colours. They turned extra of an emblem of social standing. Right this moment, the common-or-garden ox cart is a nationwide icon. UNESCO even deemed it worthy of happening their intangible cultural property record.
What to Pack for Costa Rica
Questioning what to put on in Costa Rica? We have been, too, earlier than we landed in San Jose in the midst of the night time. Costa Rica could seem like a small nation, nevertheless it’s a land of various climates, terrains, and temperatures.
With this Costa Rica packing record, you’ll be capable of pack the suitable issues in your suitcase, so that you don’t find yourself with pointless gadgets or, worse, discover you forgot one thing essential.
Costa Rica Journey Planning Assets
Packing Information — Try our Costa Rica packing record to assist pack your luggage and make sure you don’t go away something at residence.Lease a Automobile — We advise most guests contemplate renting a automobile for one of the best journey doable. Strive Uncover Automobile Rent to match quotes from totally different rental businesses. Examine Worth Right here!Defend Your Journey — Don’t overlook to buy journey insurance coverage! We at all times carry journey insurance coverage to guard us from harm, theft, or a canceled journey. Strive HeyMondo for aggressive short-term plans.Excursions in Costa Rica — Try our record of one of the best excursions you may get pleasure from in Costa Rica!Journey Adapter – Be sure to discover a good adapter to maintain your private electronics charged. In any other case, chances are you’ll be paying for an inexpensive one when you land. Buy one right here.
All Round Costa Rica