Costa Rica
The Republic of Costa Rica is ranked as one of the most visited international destinations and it is situated in Central America between Panama and Nicaragua.
It features incredible landscapes varying from rainforests, to beaches and mountains, volcanoes, rivers, filled with flora and wildlife that will have you dreaming.
Although it is a small country, it holds five percent of the world’s biodiversity. Costa Rica is well known for being a global green pioneer and proudly sustainable country. It has been granted the “Champions of the Earth Award” by the United Nations’ Environment Programme in 2019.
Costa Rica’s official language is Spanish, although a large portion of the population speaks English as a second language.
Costa Rica and Australia
Australia and Costa Rica established diplomatic relations in 1974. Australia has established an Honorary Consulate in San José, and Costa Rica has a Consulate in Sydney and opened an Embassy in Canberra in 2017.
Costa Rica is Australia’s second largest trading partner in Central America.
Their foreign relations includes membership and participation within the Cairns Group of Agricultural Exporting Countries, World Trade Organization (WTO), United Nations (UN) and UN organisations.
Did you know?
The people of Costa Rica are also called Ticos and Ticas
In 1948 Costa Rica abolished its army, during José Figueres Ferrer’s presidency.
More than ninety eight percent of Costa Rica’s energy is renewable
Just south of the Nicaraguan border, in Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica contains one of the world’s fewBlue Zones, places where a high proportion of people lead active lives past the age of 100. Nicoya is home to the highest number of centenarians in the world
Costa Rica’s main economic income comes from tourism
The country has one of the highest literacy rates in the Western Hemisphere and a solid educational system
Conservation and natural protected territory make up twenty six percent of the country
Bananas, pineapples and coffee constitute the country’s principal exports
“Pura Vida”
Pura Vida is not only Costa Rica’s slogan, it is a way of living and an expression one can hear many times when visiting the country. Pura Vida is used to greet someone, or as a response to the question: How are you?, and it can even be heard as an expression of joy in happy occasions. It means “pure life” or “simple life” and has a deep meaning as a lifestyle for ticos and ticas. It is a relaxed, stress free, simple way of life that characterizes the people of Costa Rica, one of the happiest countries in the world. It is a way of embracing and being thankful for the things they have rather than focusing on the negative aspects. It’s an attitude, an emotion and a philosophy. If you visit Costa Rica, you will definitely learn what Pura Vida feels like.
