Costa Rica is a small in size and has an area of roughly 51,000 square kilometers (31,682 square miles). Even so, it is internationally famous and recognized for the diversity and density of its natural resources and for the fabled kindness of its inhabitants. These facts set it apart as an especially attractive destination for foreign tourists who, not incidentally, make far more than a million visits a year.

Costa Rica really has two seasons: a “green” or rainy season that runs from May to November and a dry season that begins in December and ends in April.

The average temperature in the Central Valley is 72° F (22° C), while on the coast and at the beaches it ranges from 70° to 90° F (21° to 32°).

The national bus system provides comfortable, economic, and fast service to most parts of the country, especially to points of interest to tourists.

Costa Rica is one of the countries with the largest amount of protected land in the world; 25% of the national territory is dedicated to the national park system or biological, marine, and land reserves, as well as other natural wildlife areas.

Costa Rica has on the order of 850 bird species, 600 of which are non-migratory. The others migrate during the North American winter, stopping over in Costa Rica before continuing on to South America.