| Costa Rica is a country that is situated between | | | | people have a great sense of pride because they |
| Panama and Nicaragua. It is bordered not only by the | | | | have formed a unique nation to the entire world. Their |
| Pacific Ocean but the Caribbean Sea as well. This | | | | history has been built upon tolerance and prosperity |
| country is divided by mountains and volcanoes. About | | | | because they took to heart the positive lessons that |
| 19,000 square miles make up this country and over | | | | they brought over from the old world. |
| 800 miles of this country is coastline. It has some of | | | | For the years that followed World War II, Costa Rica |
| the most breathtaking landscapes and beaches that | | | | remain tranquil in the midst of a sea of civil warfare |
| you will ever see. | | | | that raged about them. In 1948, the people of Costa |
| One of the places you should be sure to visit on your | | | | Rica decided to abolish their army. They decided to |
| trip to Costa Rica is Jaco Beach. Breaking of the surf | | | | recruit platoons of forest rangers instead of |
| occurs year-round and there is a lively party scene | | | | infantrymen. The Costa Rican people have a deep |
| here. This beach is only about 2 hours southwest of | | | | sense of personal liberty, and it is very rare to find |
| San Jose. Because Jaco Beach is so accessible, this is | | | | violence in this country. Although Costa Rica is small in |
| one really easy reason to see why it is so popular with | | | | size, it features a greater biodiversity than either North |
| travelers and Ticos. | | | | America or Europe. This is due to a number of |
| Not only does Jaco Beach offer great surfing, but it | | | | reasons. |
| offers other sports such as horseback riding, sport | | | | Since Costa Rica is located between North and South |
| fishing and canopy tours. Jaco has experienced major | | | | America, this enables animals and plants from both |
| growth in the last ten years. Hotels, bars, galleries and | | | | continents and the Caribbean islands to become |
| restaurants now line the streets throughout Jaco. | | | | established there. The geographical makeup and |
| Those who thrive on the night life will not be | | | | tropical climate of Costa Rica includes a whole range |
| disappointed as the casinos and bars are full every | | | | of habitats all the way from the cloud forests to the |
| evening. After you have put in a long day of sport | | | | lowland rainforest's to the tropical rivers and lakes. |
| fishing or sunbathing, you can now enjoy some | | | | Costa Rica has an ecological policy in place which has |
| excellent cuisine at Jaco's variety of restaurants. | | | | protected a great percentage of its natural territory. |
| Ticos are what the Costa Ricans are familiarly called. | | | | Many naturalists from all over the world flock to Costa |
| This was usually added to the end of words to denote | | | | Rica as one of their favorite destinations. One of the |
| smallness. | | | | main attractions for these people is the bird population. |
| Many of the Costa Rican people are of European as | | | | There have been more than 850 species of birds that |
| well as mestizo decent. Most of the people of this | | | | have been identified. That is far greater than the |
| area were powerless against such diseases as | | | | number seen in Europe, North America or even |
| measles and the common cold which were carried by | | | | Australia. |
| the Spaniards to this small country. The Costa Rican | | | | |