Costa Rica
A country that chose peace, forests, and pura vida over an army.
In 1948, following a brief civil war, Costa Rica abolished its military altogether under the leadership of José Figueres Ferrer, head of the founding Junta. It remains one of the few countries in the world without a standing army.
The phrase "Pura Vida" ("Pure Life"), heard everywhere from greetings to goodbyes, has become Costa Rica's unofficial national motto. Two words that capture a choice many countries across this hemisphere have made in their own way, to spend less on war and more on life.
Get to Know Costa Rica
Capital: San José. Official language: Spanish. Currency: Costa Rican colón. In 1948, Costa Rica abolished its military entirely, redirecting the national budget toward education and healthcare instead.
Fun Facts
- Costa Rica has no standing army, one of only a few countries in the world without one.
- Costa Rica holds about 5 percent of the world's biodiversity despite covering only about 0.03 percent of the planet's surface.
- Costa Rica generates nearly all of its electricity from renewable sources, mostly hydropower.
Why Visit
Costa Rica packs rainforests, volcanoes, cloud forests, and two coastlines into a country smaller than West Virginia. Visitors can zipline through the treetops of Monteverde's cloud forest, watch lava glow from Arenal Volcano, spot sloths and scarlet macaws in Manuel Antonio, or surf both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts within the same week. Add a national culture built around pura vida, and Costa Rica offers one of the most relaxed introductions to Central America.
Made in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is known for its coffee, bananas, pineapples, and a thriving ecotourism industry. This space is reserved for a future Local Marketplace Spotlight, featuring Trust Standard certified Costa Rican businesses once that pillar of the Americas Ecosystem exists. Soon.