For decades Costa Rica has stood out for its stability and has benefited from the most developed welfare system in the region.It has no standing army, and its citizens enjoy one of the highest life expectancy levels in the Western hemisphere and better living standards than their war-torn neighbors. Traditionally dependent on coffee, banana and beef exports, Costa Rica has made progress in diversification.

The opening of a large computer chip plant in the late 1990s was a boon to the economy, but its fortunes have been subject to the fluctuating world demand for microchips. Tourism is Costa Rica”s main source of foreign exchange. Its tropical forests are home to a profusion of flora and fauna, including 1,000 species of orchid and 850 species of birds, such as macaws and toucans. This is a tropical country where there is no winter or summer. Most regions have a rainy (green) season from May to November and a dry season from December to April. Costa Rica is known for its civilized way of life. Costa Ricans, or “Ticos” as they call themselves, are wonderfully warm, friendly people who are extremely outgoing, fun-loving and helpful. The social impact of their democracy is that 93% of the adult population is literate and medical services, especially preventive medicine, has reached high levels of achievement in both rural and urban areas.