Where is Costa Rica located?

Costa Rica is a country located in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the southeast. It has coastlines along the Caribbean Sea to the northeast and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest. The country's narrowest point is approximately 75 miles (120 km) between the Pacific and the Caribbean. Its capital city, San José, is situated in the fertile Valle Central.

What is the capital city of Costa Rica?

The capital city of Costa Rica is San José . Situated in the fertile Valle Central , San José was settled in 1736 and became the national capital in 1823. It is the political, social, and economic heart of the country, experiencing significant growth in the 20th century. San José is a major transportation hub, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific coasts via the Inter-American Highway . The city is home to the University of Costa Rica and numerous other educational institutions, attracting foreign students. Culturally, San José boasts landmarks like the National Theatre and the National Museum, which houses pre-Columbian art.

What language do people speak in Costa Rica?

The official language of Costa Rica is Spanish . Costa Ricans speak Spanish with a unique accent and vocabulary, often replacing the diminutive ending -tito with -tico , which is how they earned their nickname. In the Limón province, descendants of Africans speak both Spanish and Limonese Creole, a dialect similar to Jamaican English. Indigenous languages from the Chibchan family, such as Bribrí, Cabécar, Maleku Jaíka, Boruca, and Térraba, are also spoken by a small portion of the population.

What type of climate does Costa Rica have?

Costa Rica's climate is largely tropical, with variations influenced by elevation and proximity to the Pacific Ocean or Caribbean Sea. The Pacific coast experiences a wet season from May to October in the north and April to December in the south, with onshore breezes bringing abundant rain. Conversely, the Caribbean coast receives ample precipitation year-round due to northeasterly trade winds. Higher mountain ranges feature warm temperate climates, while the Pacific slopes have distinct wet and dry seasons. San José, situated in the Valle Central at 3,800 feet, enjoys moderate temperatures and significant rainfall, with an average annual precipitation exceeding 70 inches.

Why is Costa Rica known for its biodiversity?

Costa Rica is renowned for its biodiversity due to its diverse life zones and abundant, varied wildlife. The country's landscape features dense evergreen forests, tropical plants like orchids, and a wide array of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. This rich variety of life is supported by its varied ecosystems, which attract biologists for study. Conservation efforts, such as the creation of forest corridors connecting protected areas like La Selva Biological Station and Braulio Carrillo National Park, further help to preserve this biodiversity.

What are some important cultural or natural landmarks in Costa Rica?

Costa Rica boasts a rich tapestry of cultural and natural landmarks. Culturally, the National Theatre in San José stands as an architectural gem, while the National Museum and Pre-Columbian Gold Museum house significant historical artifacts. Naturally, the country is renowned for its volcanic landscapes. The Cordillera Volcánica includes active volcanoes like Irazú and Poás, offering stunning crater views. The Cordillera de Talamanca , a UNESCO World Heritage site, showcases a different geological character with its granite formations and Costa Rica's highest peak, Mount Chirripó. Cocos Island National Park is another significant natural site, recognized for its biodiversity.

Costa Rica

References & Edit History Facts & Stats

Images, Videos & Interactives

Map of Costa Rica showing its international boundaries with Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the southeast, major cities including San Jose, Limon, Puntarenas, and Liberia, and both the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea coastlines. An inset locator map highlights Costa Rica's position in Central America.

Rolling green hills covered with grass and scattered trees stretch into the distance under a cloudy sky in Monteverde, Costa Rica.

Map highlighting Costa Rica in Central America, shaded in orange, with surrounding countries including Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the southeast. Major bodies of water such as the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea are labeled, and Costa Rica's capital, San Jose, is marked with a star.

Physical map of Costa Rica showing major mountain ranges, volcanoes, national parks, and bodies of water. Key features include the Cordillera de Guanacaste, Cordillera Central, Chirripo Grande peak, and the Nicoya and Osa Peninsulas. Neighboring countries Nicaragua and Panama are labeled, with the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean on either side. An inset locator map shows Costa Rica's position in Central America.

The northeastern slopes of Volcano Arenal in Costa Rica, with green forest and grasslands in the foreground and the volcanic peak rising under a partly cloudy sky.

A large volcanic crater at Irazu volcano in Costa Rica, with steep rocky walls and a bright green crater lake at the bottom, surrounded by sparse vegetation.

At a Glance

Costa Rica summary

Costa Rica

country, Central America

Also known as: República de Costa Rica, Republic of Costa Rica(Show More)

Written by

Thomas L. KarnesAll

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

Last updated

Nov. 3, 2026 •History

News •

Oshkosh Employee of the Year teacher deported to Costa Rica by ICE • Oct. 29, 2026, 7:06 AM ET (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

They were deported to Costa Rica, but that won’t stop them from trying to come back to the U.S. • Oct. 28, 2026, 1:23 PM ET (NBC)

Shackled, shaved and in uniform: first inmates arrive at Costa Rica mega-prison • Oct. 27, 2026, 3:41 PM ET (Straits Times)

Rebeca Grynspan could become first Jewish UN chief - what's her Israel stance? • Oct. 20, 2026, 3:33 AM ET (Jerusalem Post)

Costa Rica, country of Central America. Its capital is San José.

Of all the Central American countries, Costa Rica is generally regarded as having the most stable and most democratic government. Its constitution of 1949 provides for a unicameral legislature, a fair judicial system, and an independent electoral body. Moreover, the constitution abolished the country’s army, gave women the right to vote, and provided other social, economic, and educational guarantees for all of its citizens. Throughout the 1970s and ’80s Costa Rica managed to stay relatively peaceful compared with its war-torn neighbours. It has one of the highest literacy rates (more than nine-tenths) in the Western Hemisphere and a solid educational system from the primary grades through the university level. Several renowned universities and an active network of bookstores and publishing houses tend to make San José the nucleus of intellectual life in Central America. Because of the country’s peaceful reputation and its commitment to human rights, several nongovernmental organizations and pro-democracy foundations have their headquarters in San José. Costa Rica is also known for its strong commitment to the environment and for protecting its numerous national parks. These factors, along with an established ecotourism industry, have attracted foreign investment, which shifted the country’s once agriculture-based economy to one dominated by services and technology by the late 20th century.

Quick Facts

See article: flag of Costa Rica

Audio File: National anthem of Costa Rica

Head Of State And Government:: President: Laura Fernández Delgado

Capital:: San José

Population:: (2026 est.) 5,343,000

Form Of Government:: unitary multiparty republic with one legislative house (Legislative Assembly [57])

Official Language:: Spanish

Ticos, as the people of Costa Rica are called, use the phrase pura vida (“pure life”) in their everyday speech, as a greeting or to show appreciation for something. Ticos are generally proud of their political freedoms and their relatively stable economy.

Costa Rica’s well-populated heartland, formed in and around the upland basin known as the Valle Central or Meseta Central, is devoted to the cultivation of coffee, one of the country’s most important exports. In the region’s outlying reaches, bananas—the principal export—are grown. Pineapples have become a significant export, surpassing coffee as the number two export by the late 20th century.

By clicking “Sign Up”, you consent to the Britannica Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Land

Extending from northwest to southeast, Costa Rica is bounded by Nicaragua to the north, by the Caribbean Sea along the 185-mile (300-km) northeastern coastline, by Panama to the southeast, and by the Pacific Ocean along the 630-mile (1,015-km) southwestern coastline. At the country’s narrowest point, the distance between the Pacific and the Caribbean is only about 75 miles (120 km).

Flags of the world against blue sky. Countries, International. Globalization, global relations, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, Poland, Palestine, Japan. Homepage 2010, arts and entertainment, history and society

Britannica Quiz

Which Country Is Larger By Population? Quiz

Relief

Two mountain chains together run almost the entire length of Costa Rica. These are, in the north, the Cordillera Volcánica, noted for its volcanic activity, as the name implies, and, in the south, the Cordillera de Talamanca. The Cordillera Volcánica may be divided into three ranges, from northwest to southeast: the Cordillera de Guanacaste, the Cordillera de Tilarán, and the Cordillera Central. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983, the Cordillera de Talamanca is a massive granite batholith, quite different geologically from the volcanically active northern ranges. Costa Rica’s highest point, Mount Chirripó (12,530 feet [3,819 metres]), is in the Talamanca system. Two of the highest peaks in the Cordillera Volcánica, Irazú (11,260 feet [3,432 metres]) and Poás (8,871 feet [2,704 metres]), have paved roads reaching to the rims of their active craters. These volcanoes, overlooking the Valle Central, pose a serious natural hazard, as do earthquakes for most of the country. Arenal Volcano (5,358 feet [1,633 metres]), about 56 miles (90 km) northwest of San José, is the country’s youngest stratovolcano. Its last major eruption, in 1968, destroyed two villages, and the volcano continued to spew lava and breccia into the early 21st century.

The Valle Central is separated into two parts by the continental divide. The eastern part is drained by the Reventazón River to the Caribbean, and the western sector forms part of the basin of the Grande de Tárcoles River, which flows into the Pacific. Another large structural valley, the Valle del General, lies at the base of the Cordillera de Talamanca in the southern part of the country. To the north and east of the mountainous central spine lie the Caribbean lowlands, constituting about one-fifth of the country and reaching less than 400 feet (120 metres) in elevation. The Pacific lowlands, which contain several small valleys and plains, include only about one-tenth of Costa Rica’s territory.

Explore Britannica Premium!

The trusted destination for professionals, college students, and lifelong learners.

Climate

Thermal convection and onshore breezes bring abundant rains to the Pacific coast in the wet season, generally May to October in the north and April to December in the south. Northeasterly trade winds on the Caribbean provide ample year-round precipitation for the country’s east coast, with the heaviest amounts occurring in the Barra del Colorado region. The higher mountain ranges have warm temperate climates, and the Pacific slopes have alternating wet and dry seasons.

Situated in the Valle Central at an elevation of 3,800 feet (1,160 metres), San José enjoys moderate temperatures and ample rainfall. Average monthly rainfall there ranges from well under 1 inch (25 mm) in February to more than 12 inches (300 mm) in September, with a yearly average of more than 70 inches (1,800 mm). Temperatures vary with elevation. San José has a mean temperature of 69 °F (21 °C), while means of 59 °F (15 °C) and 80 °F (27 °C) have been reported at stations located at 7,665 feet (2,340 metres) and 682 feet (210 metres), respectively.

Plant and animal life

Dense broad-leaved evergreen forest, which includes mahogany and tropical cedar trees, covers about one-third of Costa Rica’s landscape. On the Talamanca range grow numerous evergreen oaks and, above the timberline, mountain scrub and grasses. The northwest, with the longest dry season, contains open deciduous forest. Palm trees are common on the Caribbean coastline, and mangroves grow on the shallow protected shores of the Nicoya and Dulce gulfs along the Pacific. Mosses, orchids, and other tropical plants are abundant. Many of the world’s tropical biologists have carried out studies at the various research stations of the Organization for Tropical Studies, which has its headquarters in San Pedro, a suburb of San José, as well as at the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Centre (Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza; CATIE) in Turrialba.

A bright blue poison dart frog with black spots sits on a damp, brown log in Costa Rica. — blue poison dart frog (*Dendrobates*)Blue poison dart frog (*Dendrobates*), Costa Rica.

How are jaguars studied in the wild?The jaguars of Costa Rica.
See all videos for this article

Costa Rica’s numerous and varied life zones make the country attractive to biologists. Mammalian life is both abundant and varied and has major ties to South and North American populations. The South American species include monkeys, anteaters, and sloths, and the North American species include deer, wildcats, weasels, otters, coyotes, and foxes. There is a wide variety of tropical birds in the lowlands, and reptiles, such as snakes and iguanas, and frogs are common.

Costa Rica

News •

Thank you for signing up!

Land

Relief

Climate

Plant and animal life