Take a look at a map of the world. See the skinny strip of land connecting the continents of North America and South America? If you look closer, you'll notice the country of Costa Rica. It's about the size of the U.S. state of New Hampshire. To get to Costa Rica from North America, first head south. Go through Mexico until you come to Central America. Costa Rica is nestled in the middle of this earthy overpass.
Costa Rica spans two bodies of water. The Caribbean Sea laps the northeastern coast, while the waves of the Pacific Ocean crash on the western and southwestern shores. Costa Rica has only two neighbors Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the southeast. At its narrowest point, Costa Rica is only 75 miles across. That means you could have breakfast on the Caribbean shore, travel across the country, and be on time for dinner on the Pacific coast!
Fast Facts about Costa Rica
Name: Rep�blica de Costa Rica (Republic of Costa Rica)
Area: 19,730 square miles
Main Landforms: Cordillera Guanacaste, Cordillera de Talamanca, Meseta Central, Arenal Volcano, Gulf of Nicoya, San Juan River, Iraz� Volcano
Highest Point: Chirrip� Grande (12,530 feet)
Lowest Point: Sea level
Animals: Capuchin monkey, quetzal, green tree frog, bat
Capital City: San Jose
Other Major Cities: Alajuela, Puerto Limon, Puntarenas
Official Language: Spanish
Money Unit: Colon
General Information 
