19/10/2006, Joost

The People
In general, Costa Ricans or Ticos are a friendly, helpful and outgoing people. They believe in their country to be a classless society where anyone, through hard work and intelligence can succeed, therefore the 93 % literacy rate. Costa Ricans are proud of their peaceful history, political stability and relatively high level of development.

Political Stability
Costa Ricans are very proud of their democracy and are very apt to vote for the underdog. In fact, the party not in power has won in almost every election since 1949, and all of these party transitions have been peaceful. Costa Rica abolished their military army in 1948 through the constitution. Their democracy is the oldest in Central America – over 100 years. They are viewed as a natural country by all other countries in the world: Hence the nickname “ The Switzerland of Central America”

Natural Diversity
The country is comprised of only 0.01% of the earth landmass, yet is home to 5 % of the entire planet’s biodiversity. There are the most species of plants and animals per acre in this country than anywhere else in the world. The are more than 10,000 species of plants, 850 species of birds, 800 species of butterflies, and 500 species of mammals, reptiles and amphibians found here.
Costa Rica is also one of the two best places in the world for bird watching.
Along the coasts, primarily where river mouths meets the ocean, you will find extensive mangrove forests and swamps. These diverse, rich ecosystems are havens to all sorts of fish, crustaceans, caimans and numerous water birds. Costa Rica is world famous as an environmental tourism destination. Almost 30 % of it’s territory is legal set aside for national parks, biological reserves, forest reserves, buffer zones, wildlife refuges and Indian reserves.