Land & People

Costa Rica's history differs fundamentally from that of its neighbors — and explains why this small country is so uniquely peaceful and stable.

Pre-Columbian Times (until 1502)

Unlike the Maya in the north or the Inca in the south, there were no great civilizations in Costa Rica. The region was on the border between the Mesoamerican and South American cultural areas — a transition zone where influences from both worlds mixed. Various indigenous peoples — Chorotegas, Huetares, Bribri, Cabécares, Malekus — lived in smaller communities based on hunting, fishing, and agriculture.

Their most significant legacies are the mysterious stone spheres (Esferas de Piedra) of the Diquís culture: perfectly round spheres made of gabbro granite, up to 2.5 meters in diameter and up to 15 tons heavy. How they were made remains a mystery — the prevailing theory suggests they were shaped by controlled heating and chipping with other stones, a process that took months or years. Since 2014, the stone spheres and the archaeological sites of the Diquís Delta have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They can be seen at the Museo Nacional in San José and in situ on the Osa Peninsula (Finca 6).

Before the arrival of the Spaniards, an estimated 400,000 people lived in what is now Costa Rica. Within a century of the conquest, there were fewer than 20,000 — due to introduced diseases, forced labor, and violence.

Colonial Times (1502–1821)

Christopher Columbus reached the Caribbean coast near present-day Limón on September 18, 1502 on his fourth and final voyage. He called the land "La Huerta" (The Garden) and was impressed by the golden ornaments of the indigenous inhabitants. Later settlers named it "Costa Rica" — rich coast — in the hope of gold.

The disappointment was great: There was no gold, no silver, no large labor reserves (most indigenous people had died or fled to inaccessible areas). Costa Rica became the poorhouse of the Spanish Empire. The few settlers in the Central Valley had to tend their fields themselves — a circumstance that formed a more egalitarian society than elsewhere in Latin America, where large landowners and slave labor were the norm.

This relative equality — poor, but without extreme hierarchies — shapes Costa Rica to this day. The Ticos are proud that their ancestors were "simple farmers," not conquistadors or large landowners.

Independence & Coffee Boom (1821–1948)

In 1821, Costa Rica peacefully gained independence — the country learned of it through a letter from Guatemala, a month after the actual declaration of independence. There were no battles, no revolution — the news simply arrived.

From the 1840s, the coffee boom transformed the country: the volcanic soil of the Central Valley was perfect for Arabica coffee. Coffee barons (the "Cafetaleros") financed roads, schools, the railway, and the Teatro Nacional. Costa Rica became the richest and most educated country in Central America — an advantage that persists to this day.

A dark chapter: In the 1850s, the American adventurer William Walker attempted to conquer all of Central America and introduce slavery. Costa Rica sent an army, and in the Battle of Rivas (1856), Walker was defeated. The national hero Juan Santamaría — a simple drummer — sacrificed his life to set Walker's fortress on fire. His monument stands in Alajuela, and April 11 is a national holiday.

1948/49 — The Revolution That Changed Everything

The short civil war of 1948 (44 days, approx. 2,000 dead) ended with the victory of José "Don Pepe" Figueres over the authoritarian government. What happened next was unprecedented in world history: On December 1, 1948, Figueres abolished the army — with the words that Costa Rica should spend its money better on teachers than on soldiers. The military budget was redirected to education, health, and infrastructure.

Figueres also introduced women's suffrage, nationalized the banks, and guaranteed all citizens access to healthcare. Since then, Costa Rica has been one of the most stable democracies in Latin America — without military coups, without civil wars, without the violence that plagued its neighbors.

Ecotourism Pioneer (1970s–Today)

In the 1970s, Costa Rica began to protect its forests — after having the highest deforestation rate in the world in the 1960s. The turnaround was radical: Today, over 25% of the land area is protected, and forest cover has increased from 21% (1987) to over 52% (2025). Costa Rica is the only tropical country in the world to have reversed deforestation.

In 1994, Costa Rica introduced the PSA program (Pago por Servicios Ambientales): landowners are paid to keep their forest standing instead of cutting it down. The money comes from a fuel tax. A revolutionary model that is being copied worldwide.

Since 2015, Costa Rica has produced over 98% of its electricity from renewable sources — hydropower, geothermal, wind, and solar. The country aims to be completely CO₂-neutral by 2050. Whether this will succeed is unclear — but the ambition knows no bounds.

Costa Rica Today

Costa Rica is a prosperous middle-income country with a GDP per capita of about 13,000 USD (2025) — more than twice that of Nicaragua or Guatemala. The challenges: growing social inequality, an overburdened healthcare system, infrastructure problems, and dependence on tourism. Youth unemployment is over 30%, and many young Ticos emigrate to Canada or Europe. Nevertheless, Costa Rica regularly ranks 1st in the Happy Planet Index — the happiest people in the world, measured by life satisfaction, life expectancy, and ecological footprint.

Pura Vida — More Than a Greeting

No word describes Costa Rica better than "Pura Vida". Literally "pure life," it is simultaneously a greeting, farewell, agreement, and life philosophy. "How are you?" — "Pura Vida!" "Thank you!" — "Pura Vida!" "All good?" — "Pura Vida!" It expresses an attitude: calmness, gratitude, joy of life. In a country without an army, with a stable climate, and surrounded by nature, this philosophy is not an empty word but a lived reality.

The Ticos

Costa Ricans call themselves Ticos (men) and Ticas (women) — derived from the habit of diminutives ending in "-tico" instead of "-tito." "Un momentico" instead of "un momentito." The Ticos are known for:

• Warm hospitality: "Mi casa es su casa" is taken seriously here
• Pride in education: Costa Rica has a literacy rate of 98% — higher than in the USA
• Environmental awareness: Waste separation, recycling, and conservation are part of daily life
• Family orientation: Family is the social center, Sundays belong to the Familia
• Conflict avoidance: Ticos avoid open confrontation — "Quedar bien" (to look good) is more important than being right

No Army — A Model for the World

Since 1949, Costa Rica has had no military. Instead, there is a civilian police force and a border protection unit. The saved money flows into education (8% of GDP), health (universal, free for all citizens), and environmental protection. The result: Costa Rica has the highest standard of living in Central America, one of the highest life expectancies in Latin America (80 years), and regularly ranks among the "happiest countries in the world" (Happy Planet Index).

Although Costa Rica is often perceived as a "white" Latin American country, eight indigenous peoples with a total of about 100,000 members (2% of the population) live here in 24 reserves. The most important ones:

Bribri & Cabécar (Talamanca)

The Bribri (approx. 35,000) and Cabécar (approx. 17,000) live in the mountains of the Cordillera de Talamanca in the southeast. Both peoples have preserved their language and many traditions. The Bribri society is matrilineal — clan affiliation and land rights are inherited through the mother. Only women are allowed to prepare the ritual cocoa for ceremonies.

Visits to Bribri communities are possible through community tourism projects (e.g., "Bribri Indigenous Reserve Tour" from Puerto Viejo, 60–80 USD, full day): cocoa processing, traditional medicine, rainforest hike with an indigenous guide. The proceeds go directly to the community.

Boruca (Puntarenas)

The Boruca (approx. 3,000) are famous for their hand-carved masks and the Fiesta de los Diablitos (see Art & Culture). They live in a remote reserve in the province of Puntarenas and have opened up to community tourism: visitors can watch mask carving and buy directly from the artists.

Maleku (Guatuso)

The Maleku (approx. 1,000) in northern Costa Rica are the smallest indigenous group in the country. They offer cultural tours in their three villages (Palenques): traditional clothing, language, hunting techniques, and a Museum of Maleku Culture. 15–25 USD. Accessible from La Fortuna (1h drive).

The Challenges

Despite legal protection, the reserves are under pressure: illegal land grabbing by cattle ranchers, mining, and lack of state protection lead to conflicts. Several Bribri and Cabécar activists have been murdered in recent years. As a responsible traveler, one should only visit indigenous communities through official community tourism channels and ensure that the proceeds go directly to the community.

6% of the World's Biodiversity

Costa Rica is tiny — only 0.03% of the Earth's surface. But on this area live 6% of all known animal and plant species. This makes Costa Rica the most biodiverse country in the world per square kilometer. The numbers are breathtaking:

• 900+ bird species — more than in all of Europe
• 250+ mammal species — including 6 cat species (Jaguar, Puma, Ocelot, Jaguarundi, Margay, Oncilla)
• 230+ reptile species
• 215+ amphibian species — including the iconic red-eyed tree frogs and poison dart frogs
• 1,500+ orchid species
• 12,000+ plant species
• 4 monkey species: Howler Monkey, Capuchin Monkey, Squirrel Monkey, Spider Monkey

28 National Parks

Costa Rica protects over 25% of its land area in 28 national parks, 58 wildlife refuges, and numerous private reserves. This is one of the highest rates worldwide. The most important ones:

The Stars of Wildlife

Certain animals can be seen in Costa Rica with almost guaranteed certainty:

• Sloths: Everywhere in the lowlands. Easiest to find in Manuel Antonio, Cahuita, and La Fortuna. They sleep 15–20 hours a day — no wonder they're hard to spot!
• Toucans: The Keel-billed Toucan (rainbow-billed toucan) with its colorful beak is the unofficial mascot. Common in Arenal and the Caribbean coast.
• Scarlet Macaws: The bright red macaws with blue and yellow wings are best seen in Carara National Park and on the Osa Peninsula.
• Sea Turtles: Tortuguero (Caribbean) and Ostional (Pacific) are the main nesting sites.
• Quetzal: The legendary bird of the Maya lives in the cloud forests of Monteverde and San Gerardo de Dota. Best chances: January–May (breeding season).

The 12 Ecozones

On its tiny area, Costa Rica hosts 12 different ecozones — from tropical dry forest to Páramo. The most important for travelers:

Conservation Successes & Challenges

Costa Rica is a global role model in conservation, but the reality is more complex than the PR message:

• Success: Forest cover increased from 21% (1987) to 52% (2025) — unique in the tropics
• Success: 28 national parks, 58 wildlife refuges, 25%+ of the land area protected
• Success: 98%+ electricity from renewable sources
• Challenge: Pineapple production (Costa Rica is the world's largest exporter) causes massive environmental problems: pesticides in groundwater, deforestation for plantations
• Challenge: Coral bleaching due to climate change threatens the Caribbean reefs
• Challenge: Illegal land grabbing in indigenous reserves and national parks
• Challenge: Plastic pollution on beaches, especially on the Pacific