Costa Rica: History and Heritage
History of Costa Rica
The history of Costa Rica is a long and fascinating story – a story of proud indigenous people, of bold explorers, and of conflict and peace.
For a long time, the story of Costa Rica was told only from September 18, 1502, onward, the date when the land was discovered by Christopher Columbus. However, for thousands of years before that, the land had been home to indigenous civilizations, signs of which can still be seen in the Guayabo National Monument, a mysterious ruined city east of San Jose. Archaeologists have estimated that the city was once home to nearly 10,000 people, ample traces of whom can be seen as you walk through the paved streets. Today most of the city remains undiscovered and buried – who knows what mysteries are waiting underneath the soil?
European colonization
With the coming of the Europeans, the colonies in Costa Rica took a long time to flourish, with the colonizers not finding the riches they had expected.
In the 1560s the city of Cartago was established, set up to be a permanent stronghold for the struggling colony. You can visit Cartago today, walking through its historic streets to experience the old world charm and understanding what the city, and indeed the country, would have been like all those years ago. Costa Rica gained independence from Spain in the 1820s.
With the perfect climate for growing coffee and fruits, exporting coffee and bananas shaped Costa Rica’s economy over the decades to come, especially after the opening of the Panama Canal.
Modern history of Costa Rica
In 1948, following a Civil war, the country was led by Jose Maria Figueres Ferrer who gave women the right to vote, abolished the military, and implemented many other progressive policies. To this day, he is regarded as one of the country’s greatest leaders. This commitment to peace remained and in 1987 president Sanchez received the Nobel peace prize for his role in ending the Nicaraguan Civil War.
Today the instability of the past is long gone, and Costa Rica is at peace. Modern Costa Rica is a land of beautiful expansive, protected green spaces, tropical climate and warm people, and is waiting for you to experience it all, tailored, with us.
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Popular Trips to Costa Rica
Costa Rica Travel Guide
ViewCulture
Experience “la Pura Vida” – (The pure life), in enchanting Costa Rica, from conversations with friendly locals to the vibrant and fascinating culture of its cities. This Latin American nation is frequently listed as one of the happiest countries in the world!
Cuisine
Traditional yet cutting edge, Costa Rican cuisine may be simple but it’s often surprising. The climate of Costa Rica means fresh fruit and vegetables are abundantly available as is some of the world’s finest coffee!
Best Time To Visit
Costa Rica has a wonderfully tropical climate throughout the year, thanks to its proximity to the equator. However, there are some differences in weather and climate depending on where you are. So a good rule of thumb is to keep in mind that the higher you go the cooler it is.