The unspoiled tropical forests, mountains, volcanoes, valleys, rivers, lakes, reefs, invite you to discover nature again. This is the magical beauty of Costa Rica. A unique corner of the world where the scenery and the people will make every experience unforgettable. Few countries in the world have taken such strong measures as Costa Rica to conserve the invaluable wealth of its natural resources. Throughout the country you will encounter a wide variety of rare bird species, tropical flowers, plants and trees. Costa Rica borders Panama to the south and Nicaragua to the north. The country encompasses 51,000 sq. km. or slightly smaller than the state of Virginia. Its climate is tropical, has a dry season ( November-May ) and a rainy season ( June-October ), though it does not rain everyday. Hurricanes are very rare in Costa Rica. The Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea are separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones of which 2 are active. A must visit spot is volcano Izaru near the capital city of San Jose. The tallest mountain, Cerro Chirripo is over 11,500 feet. Costa Rica is a Central American success story. Its political and economic stability is the most sound in all of Latin America. Costa Rica has been a democracy since 1889. Its government is structured like the United States with a President, Asemblea Legislativa (legislative assembly) and the Corte Supreme (Supreme Court). Over 4 million people live in Costa Rica with a life expectancy of 77 years. The currency of Costa Rica is the colon, but every business will take American or Canadian money and they will provide you with the appropriate exchange rate. Credit cards are accepted everywhere and ATMs are available throughout the country. Costa Rica’s stable economy depends on tourism, agriculture and electronic exports. Poverty has been substantially reduced over the last 15 years. Foreign investors remain attracted by the country’s political stability, high educational levels and its tourism industry. Unemployment is low at about 6%. Literacy rates are at 96%. There are a variety of modes of transportation available throughout the country. The main roads are well maintained albeit a bit narrow at times. The secondary roads may be paved but do have potholes from time to time or they may be dirt roads which can lead to slow going during the rainy season.