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