Costa Rica, is situated in the heart of Central America between Nicaragua on the North and Panama on the South, bounded by the Caribbean on the east side and the Pacific on the west. It is approximately the size of West Virginia. You can drive across it in a day, and from border to border in a little more than a day. It is primarily mountainous in the interior with many volcanos, being mostly flat near the coastal areas. Costa Rica is 2 1/2 hours by air from Florida or Texas. There is a dry or summer season which runs from December to May which is the major tourist season, and a rainy or winter season from May to November. Costa Rica has been a democratic country for over 60 years, with the primary economic engine being tourism.

Costa Rica is still primarily an ecological country with many bird species, cloud forests, volcanos, and many tourist type resorts in the interior and coastal areas. The Caribbean side of Costa Rica has an island influence because of the migration of people from the islands of the Caribbean many years ago. The primary religion is Catholic, however there are also Christian churches due to the immigration of people from the United States, Canada, and Europe. Costa Rica is known world wide for its rich fishing grounds primarily off the Pacific coast where sport and commercial fishing abound. Earthquakes occur frequently in Costa Rica, however they are seldom felt with most being well out in the Pacific off the southern end of Costa Rica and the northern tip of Panama. Costa Rica is attempting to control the widespread development that has occurred primarily along the Pacific coastal areas, however with many from around the world desiring a place in the sun for their vacation or their retirement near the beach, it has been difficult.