Flag of Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a state of Central America, located between Nicaragua and Panama, and bordered by The Atlantic Ocean (Caribbean Sea) and the Pacific Ocean.

This Democratic Republic owes its name to the Gold wealth of the Indians during the Spanish conquest. First a province of Guatemala, it became part of Central America (1821), was established as a state (1824), then as an independent republic (1838). Today, Costa Rica is divided administratively into 7 provinces (provincias; singular : provincia) : Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San José. The capital of Costa Rica is San José. Other important cities are Cartago, Limon, Alajuela and Puntarenas. Total population : 4.25 million inhabitants with an area of 51,100 km2.