Discover the Pura Vida: Top 16 Fun and Fascinating Facts About Costa Rica You'll Love

1. Carbon Emission Champion

In a world where most countries struggle to reduce their carbon footprint, Costa Rica strides ahead like a champion sloth in a tree race: This tropical nation is on track to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, thanks to its National Decarbonization Plan, which boasts a projected return of 110 percent on carbon-cutting investments.
Source => rand.org

2. Military-Free since 1949

Who needs an army when you've got love, peace, and a whole lot of coffee beans to keep you alert: Costa Rica took a daring leap in 1949 by becoming the first country in the world to abolish their military, setting a global example in unarmed democracy while redirecting those funds towards social growth, like health care and education.
Source => en.unesco.org

Did you know the stylish Panamanian golden frog isn't just a pretty face? Its vibrant yellow skin hides enough toxins to take out 1,200 mice! Discover more about one of the world's deadliest amphibians.

=> Fun Facts about Panama

3. Pura Vida Origin Story

If a Mexican film walked into a Costa Rican bar, it would greet the bartender with "Pura Vida!" before teaching the entire country about it: This popular catchphrase, which embodies the laid-back, joyful spirit of Costa Rica, actually originated from a Mexican movie premiered in 1956 and has since shaped the nation's cultural identity, even helping them rank among the happiest countries in the world.
Source => puravidabracelets.com

4. Healthiest Latin American Country

Get ready to swap that bottle of soda for a glass of longevity juice: Costa Rica not only prides itself on being one of the greenest countries in terms of renewable energy, but it also takes the numero uno spot as the healthiest country in Latin America with one of the highest average life expectancies at 80 years. Heck, even their lower-income citizens outlive their counterparts in the United States!
Source => borgenproject.org

5. Tuanis Talk and Bromance

If you fancy a little Spanish "bromance" and want to chillax while living the Mad Men dream, just hop on over to Costa Rica! First things first: Pura Vida is the essential phrase and it means "pure life" - an ode to Costa Rica's conservation and sustainability focus. When you're there, you might want to call your bros "mae" and declare everything "tuanis," which translates to "fine," "cool," or "nice," pretty much like your buzzworthy holiday there!
Source => maximonivel.com

6. Captain Planet's Eco-Cousin

If Costa Rica were a superhero, it would be Captain Planet's eco-friendly cousin: since 2014, the nation has generated a whopping 98% of its electricity from renewable sources like water, wind, geothermal, biomass, and solar, making it a beacon of hope for a greener future.
Source => ecologyprime.com

7. Jurassic Park's Real Home

Hold onto your velociraptors, folks: While Costa Rica was the inspiration for Jurassic Park's fictional Isla Nublar, the actual filming savvy took place in the tropical edens of Hawaii, specifically Kauai and Oahu islands. Some memorable scenes were brought to life at Kualoa Ranch, Jurassic Kahili Ranch, Manawaiopuna Falls, and Olokele Valley, with Kualoa Ranch even offering ambitious dino-fans a guided tour through the cinematic wilderness. So while Costa Rica never housed a T-Rex or two, its lush landscapes and exotic essence directly influenced the creation of everyone's favorite, not-at-all-dangerous theme park!
Source => usatoday.com

8. Zip Line Extravaganza

Feeling the need for speed and wanting to channel their inner Superman, thrill-seekers flock to Costa Rica, where flying high isn't just a bird's prerogative: The Monteverde Zip Line Tour boasts the country's longest zip line, spanning a whopping 5220 feet (1590 meters). Along with nine regular zip lines, two Superman ones, a hammock bridge, a rappel, and a mega Tarzan swing, it's an adrenaline-pumping adventure that isn't for the faint of heart, nor for children under ten, unsupervised minors, or those above 240 pounds. Rain checks are issued for heavy rain, electrical storms, or blustering winds stronger than a lion's roar!
Source => aventuracanopytour.com

9. Volcanic Sneezes of 2016

It's not every day you see a volcanic sneeze causing a nation to hold its breath! Quite a party pooper, ash showers can be: Turrialba Volcano in Costa Rica experienced its largest eruption since 2010 on May 21, 2016, covering even the capital, San Jose, in volcanic ash. This led to flight cancellations and over 500 people rushing to hospitals with breathing problems.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

10. Instagram-worthy Wildlife

Costa Rica: where "sloths are us" and trees can't grow fast enough! This Central American nation prides itself on its Instagram-worthy wildlife, boasting 5% of the world's biodiversity: Unfortunately, deforestation has led to a mere 3.5% of Costa Rica's terrain classed as primary rainforest, endangering its slow-moving, tree-hugging inhabitants – the sloths. Thankfully, recent conservation efforts show promise in protecting their fuzzy, grinning futures.
Source => slothconservation.org

11. Famous Costa Rican VIPs

If Costa Rica's famous exports could throw their own party, it'd be out of this world, filled with peace, love, Olympic-sized pool parties, and championship soccer games: This Central American gem boasts the likes of NASA astronaut Franklin Chang-Diaz, Nobel Peace Prize winner and former president Oscar Arias, Olympic gold medalist swimmer Claudia Poll, track and field sensation Nery Brenes, and Dutch football team Twente's striker, Bryan Ruiz.
Source => costarica.com

12. Shark-infested Cocos Island

Prepare yourself for the JAWS-dropping, FIN-tastic underwater extravaganza of Costa Rica's Cocos Island: This marine wonderland boasts 12 species of sharks, 4 types of rays, 4 species of sea turtles, 16 different marine mammals, and dazzles with a unique array of endemic plants and animals, making it an invaluable treasure trove of conservation.
Source => underseahunter.com

13. The Ancient Guayabo Aqueducts

Move over, ancient Rome, Costa Rica's got aqueducts too: Guayabo, a Pre-Columbian town in Turrialba, not only hosts impressive archaeological structures like staircases, mounds, and tombs, but also boasts a still-functional aqueduct system so good, it's been giving rainwater the VIP treatment for centuries!
Source => travelexcellence.com

14. Bird Twitter Takeover

In Costa Rica, you'll find more tweeting going on than on Twitter, and full conversations held entirely in chirps, squawks, and coos: this tropical nation is home to over 850 bird species, making up a whopping 10% of the world's total avian population, and boasts diverse ecosystems featuring 10,000 plant species, 200 mammals, 35,000 insects, 160 amphibians, 220 reptiles, and 1,010 freshwater and saltwater fish.
Source => vacationscostarica.com

15. Kardashian-Style Cocoa Loco

Ever had a fantasy of having a Kardashian lifestyle, but you're loco for cocoa? Say hello to La Iguana Chocolate: a family-owned farm in Mastatal, Costa Rica, where visitors learn about sustainable living, permaculture, natural building, and chocolate processing in a magical rainforest setting - complete with educational chocolate tours and treehouse accommodations. Delicioso!
Source => tripadvisor.com

16. Happy National Parks Day!

In the land where trees have more rights than tourists on one glorious day of the year: Every August 24, Costa Rica celebrates National Parks Day by granting free admission to the country's 28 national parks and 126 protected areas, ensuring both local school children and picturesque-loving visitors can embrace their inner tree-huggers while learning about the importance of safeguarding natural resources.
Source => cafemilagro.com