More Facts about Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a fascinating and popular place, and facts about Costa Rica tend to be more surprising than boring. Some of the best Costa Rica facts are behind the impressive popularity of Costa Rica as a prime tourist destination, and others are exciting and interesting even if you never get a chance to visit. Check out some of the following facts about Costa Rica and see how many are new to you. Costa Rica is a land of variety and constant surprises. That’s one the facts about Costa Rica everyone can agree on!

• Costa Rica is home to two coastal plains separated by rugged mountains of which 100 are volcanic cones.
• The main unit of Costa Rica currency is the Colon, but because Costa Rica is so popular with American tourists, most stores list prices in U.S. dollars and accept U.S. currency.
• Costa Rica is home to over 52 species of hummingbirds, making it the hummingbird capital of the world. Most of the hummingbird species in Costa Rica can be found in the tropical regions.
• Monkeys and bats are the most common mammals in Costa Rica. The most abundant monkey species are the Howler Monkey, the Spider Monkey, the White-Faced Capuchin Monkey, and the Squirrel Monkey.
• Costa Rica is home to 750,000 species of insects, 20,000 of which are Costa Rican spiders!
• The dry season in Costa Rica runs from December to April, while the rainy season starts in May and runs all the way through November.
• The highest elevation in Costa Rica is Cerro Chirripo, a volcanic mountain that rises to 3,810 meters at its apex.
• The lowest elevation in Costa Rica is sea level on the Pacific Coast.
• Costa Rica has is rich in biodiversity and home to so many unique species of plants and animals that 25% of the country is set aside for protected forests, national parks, and ecological habitats and reserves.
• Costa Rica’s National Park is one of the most popular destinations, and is the natural habitat of tapirs and big cats among many other unique native animals.
• Costa Rica’s Tortuguero National Park is home to the three-toed sloth, the giant leather back turtle, the loggerhead turtle, and three hundred and twenty species of birds.
• Costa Rica was home to 400,000 Indians when Christopher Columbus first visited it in 1502. Costa Rica was taken over by Spain in 1523 and belonged to Mexico for two years starting in 1821. It became its own republic in 1848.

Another one of the interesting facts about Costa Rica is that it is the second smallest country in Central America. For such a seemingly small place, Costa Rica is packed with some of most varied terrain, the most unusual animals, and the friendliest and most diverse group of people in the modern world. Costa Rica is an exciting and special destination. Visit this exotic land and see how many new facts about Costa Rica you can discover for yourself. One fact is certain: You won’t be bored!