Situated on the Central American isthmus, Costa Rica is a small country with a big reputation.

Bordered by the North Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east, its name derives from the Spanish for "rich coast" and it is indeed one of the richest biodiversity hotspots in the world. Around 200 species of mammals, 350 reptiles and amphibians, 850 birds, 10,000 plants and 40,000 species of insect inhabit its varied landscape of tropical rainforests, cloud forests, pristine beaches, mangroves, volcanoes and hot springs.

Roughly one quarter of Costa Rica's land area is protected, a greater percentage than any other country in the world, and its dedicated approach to environmental performance has earned it a reputation as the birthplace of ecotourism.

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