Costa Rica is one of my favorite places on the planet. I lived there for 3 years about 15 years ago now, and I return almost every year to visit friends and “family” there. It’s a beautiful country with kind people, a friendly culture, and tons to see if you’re traveling on vacation. Here are a few of my favorite fun facts about this Central American nation.
1. The National Animal is the Sloth
The national animal of Costa Rica was once the white-tailed deer. In 2021, the country declared the two toe and three toe sloth their national symbol of wildlife, essentially replacing the white-tail deer as the national animal. Both types of sloth can be found in Costa Rica, especially in places like Manuel Antonio State Park. We’ve seen sloths all over the Pacific Coast in our time in Costa Rica, but sometimes it takes a local pointing them out. They’re often sleeping or still, high up in trees, and hard to spot with an untrained eye.
2. It is One of the Happiest Countries on the Planet
According to the World Happiness Report, Costa Rica is one of the happiest countries in the world. It currently comes in around 6th, and experts believe the strong social support, the tranquilo pace of life, and the commitment to sustainability all lead to this high level of satisfaction in the country. If you travel to Costa Rica, you’re sure to feel this. People are friendly, happy, and light-hearted, living the “Pura Vida” life with everything they do.
3. Over a Quarter of Land is Protected
It’s hard to find an exact stat, but somewhere from 26-30% of land in Costa Rica is protected land. When we were taking a tour through the Osa Peninsula (shoutout to Selva Connections), the guide actually was lamenting the fact that only this amount of land was protected! It’s a huge portion of land, but many ticos feel that even more should be protected. It speaks to the priorities of the people and government in the country. Nature and wildlife is valued immensely.
4. There’s No Military
Costa Rica abolished their military in 1949 after a civil war the year before. The abolishment of the military wasn’t necessarily due to ideals of pacifism, but it has shaped society a bit. Rather than spend money and tax dollars on an army, the government diverted those funds to social programs and created more a welfare state. As this benefited the citizens of the country, it stayed this way and continues to be military-free nearly 80 years later.
5. Over 900 Species of Birds Call Costa Rica Home
That’s right. This small country has over 900 species of bird. The United States has about 1150 species, but is SEVENTY FOUR times larger. That’s right. Imagine nearly all of the bird species in the giant country of the USA smushed into a country that is just 1/74th the size. This makes Costa Rica a top spot for bird watchers from around the world.
6. Costa Rica Runs on Renewable Energy
Not entirely, but nearly. Somewhere between 98 and 99% of energy used in Costa Rica comes from renewable sources. Renewable energy in Costa Rica comes largely from hydroelectric power, but they also utilize geothermal energy, solar power, and wind power. Again, this commitment to taking care of the world around them speaks volumes about the priorities of the people and government.
7. The Nicoya Peninsula is a Blue Zone
Blue Zones are areas of the world where people tend to live significantly longer and healthier lives than the average. There are five of them in the world, and one of them is the Nicoya Peninsula! This is partially due to a healthy, plant-based diet, lots of exercise and movement (like hitting up the amazing surf in Costa Rica), and having strong social connections. A visit to places in the Nicoya Peninsula will leave you feeling healthier with all the fresh food and sunshine!
8. Addresses and Directions Work Diffirently
This one was really strange to me at first, but you get used to it. With the exception of parts of the city, San Jose, most places in Costa Rica don’t have addresses like you’ll recognize. For example, my address was “Casa Alvarado, Blue Door, 100m south of Ox Statue.” Addresses in Costa Rica are generally instructions or directions, as most streets don’t actually have names. Although it may seem wild at first, it works. Packages get delivered, people know where to go, and everything runs smoothly.
9. This Small Country is Home to 12 Ecosystems
Finally, Costa Rica is not just lush tropical jungle. There are actually twelve different ecosystems packed into this Central American country. They include: Caribbean coastline, Pacific coastline, tropical dry forest, lowland tropical forest, cloud forest, highland mountain rainforest, semi-deciduous mid-elevation forest, mangrove forest, shallow sea, paramo, wetlands, and coral reef!
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