Serving Costa Rica

Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica, is a Central American nation located between Nicaragua and Panama, bordered by the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Its capital is San José, and the country covers about 51,100 square kilometers (19,729 square miles). Known for its mountains and volcanoes, Costa Rica is divided into seven provinces and has a population of about 4.5 million people.

Spanish is the official language, though Creole and several indigenous dialects are also spoken. The currency is the colón, named after Christopher Columbus. Costa Rica is a democratic republic that gained independence from Spain on September 15, 1821. The country has a tropical climate with dry and rainy seasons, a life expectancy of about 79 years, and a literacy rate of around 96%.