Costa Rica: Geography and Environment

Costa Rica is located in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west, and the Caribbean Sea to the east. Despite its relatively small size, the country's terrain is remarkably varied, rising from coastal lowlands on both coasts to a mountainous interior dominated by the Cordillera Central and Cordillera de Talamanca, including Cerro Chirripo, the country's highest peak. Costa Rica also sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire and is home to several active volcanoes, including Arenal, Poas, and Irazu.

The country has a tropical climate that varies significantly by elevation and coast, with a wet season generally running from May to November and a drier season from December to April, though patterns differ between the Pacific and Caribbean sides. The Pacific coast tends to have a more pronounced dry season, while the Caribbean coast receives rainfall throughout much of the year. The Central Valley, home to the capital San Jose, benefits from a temperate highland climate that has shaped population settlement since colonial times.

Costa Rica is widely recognized for its commitment to environmental conservation, with roughly a quarter of its national territory protected within national parks, biological reserves, and wildlife refuges. The country generates the vast majority of its electricity from renewable sources, primarily hydropower, and has set ambitious targets for decarbonization. Costa Rica's rainforests and cloud forests, such as Monteverde, support extraordinary biodiversity, though these ecosystems face ongoing pressure from agricultural expansion, tourism development, and climate change.