On his fourth and final voyage, in 1502, Admiral Christopher Columbus dropped anchor at the Caribbean coast of what is today known as Costa Rica. Many years have passed between then and now, enough time to create a country that is both a champion of democracy and a land blessed by natural beauty.

One of the greatest advantages to visiting Costa Rica is the opportunity to enjoy its two coasts, where the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea bathe the country’s beautiful beaches in crystalline waters.

Here, a variety of plants, animals and cultural expressions paint the landscape.

Costa Rica’s natural beauty is indisputable. Although this is a small country, Costa Rica’s lands are home to 4.5% of all plant and animal species in the world. In fact, almost 26% of the nation’s entire landmass is protected under various conservation acts.

The country’s peaceful reputation and that fact that Costa Rica abolished its army in 1948 have contributed to its being known as a politically and socially stable country.