Costa Rica is a Central American country nestled in between Nicaragua (in the north) and Panama (in the southeast). The total land area of Costa Rica is 51,100 sq km, including some 440 sq km and the island Isla del Coco. The landscape is made up of low-lying coastal plains, served by fast flowing rivers, and an area of central highland and rugged mountains known as Cordillera de Talamanca. These highlands are home to a wealth of volcanic activity. The highest point in Costa Rica is Cerro Chirripo, which stands at a height of 3,810m. Costa Rica boasts a plethora of unique flora and fauna, which thrive in the country's tropical rainforests. Boasted wildlife include toucans, scarlet macaws, sloths, jaguars and tapirs. The beaches of Costa Rica are renowned for the good surfing that they offer. In total the coastline of Costa Rica measures 1,290 km. Costa Rica is a land of much volcanic activity and earthquakes are fairly common in these parts. On the Caribbean coast during the rainy season, Hurricanes destroy everything in their path.

Costa Rica remains a stable nation with a relatively high standard of living. Unlike many of its neighbours, it remains almost unscathed by civil war and political upheaval. The economy of Costa Rica is strong and has good representations in both the technology and tourist sectors. The capital city is San Jose. The official language of Costa Rica is Spanish and the national unit of currency is the Costa Rican Colon. The transport network is represented by 950km of narrow gauge railways and a total 37,273 km of highways.

A major contributor to the Costa Rican economy besides tourism and technology is the ranching of cattle. This industry has had quite a negative effect on the environment as the rainforest has had to be cleared in order to make way for cattle ranches. 58% of Costa Rica's workforce is service based, 22% of it industry and 20% agricultural. The agricultural products of Costa Rica are coffee, pineapples, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans and potatoes.

The climate of Costa Rica is subtropical. The average daily temperature in San Jose is 25°C. Costa Rica has two main seasons. The rainy season lasts from May to November and the dry from December to April. The Central Highlands experience a cooler temperate climate in accordance with their higher elevations.