Geography of Costa Rica

Costa Rica’s geography is small, yet diverse. From lush rainforest to paradise on tropical beaches to active volcanoes, the country offers a variety of interesting destinations. Costa Rica is bordered to the north by Nicaragua, to the northeast by the Caribbean Sea, the southeast by Panama and the west and southwest by the Pacific Ocean.

The country is divided into the seven provinces of San José, Alajuela, Cartago, Heredia, Guanacaste, Puntarenas and Limón. Geographically, the country can be divided into four regions: the highlands, the Pacific coast, the Caribbean coast and the tropical rainforest. The highlands consists of a mountain chain that runs through the center of Costa Rica from Nicaragua to Panama. The west coast borders the Pacific Ocean, The east coast runs along the Caribbean Sea. The tropical rainforest is found in the lowlands on either side of the mountain chain.

Central Highlands

Over half of Costa Rica’s population lives in the highlands. The soil is very fertile due to past volcanic activity. San José, the capital, is the largest city in the region (and the country) with about one million people living in the metropolitan area. One of the most famous and most active volcanoes in the mountain chain is Mt. Arenal in northern Costa Rica.

Caribbean Coast

The warm waters of the Caribbean are home to mangroves, swamps and sandy beaches. Many rivers that flow down the mountains filter out to the Caribbean Sea and the openings to the Sea are full of marine life, including hungry crocodiles! The Caribbean coast of Costa Rica is 212km (131mi) long. Puerto Limon is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the region and there are some very well-know surf breaks.

Pacific Coast

The Pacific coast is much more rugged and rocky. Thanks to a number of gulfs and peninsulas, the coastline is also much longer at 1016km (630mi) long. The west coast of Costa Rica is dotted with world-famous surf spots and national parks. Some of the better known spots are Playa Tamarindo and Parque Nacional Santa Rosa in the north and Parque Nacional Corcovado in the south.

Tropical Forest

Costa Rica's tropical forests have over 1400 tree species and provide a variety of habitats for the country's fauna including numerous types of monkeys, sloth, armadillos, jaguars and tapirs. There are also a number of breathtaking butterflies. National parks cover almost 12% of the country. Combined with rainforest reserves and Indian reservations, about 27% of Costa Rica is protected land. The tropical forests of Costa Rica include rainforests and dry forests, each with its own unique flora and fauna.