Geography

 

This country is divided into 7 provinces:

 

• San José

• Alajuela

• Heredia

• Cartago

• Limón

• Puntarenas

• Guanacaste

 

They are divided into 81 counties and then sub-divided into 463 districts. The heart of Costa Rica is the "Central Valley", it has a nearly perfect climate and excellent museums, volcanoes and fertile hillsides dotted with coffee, vegetables, tubercles, flowers, plants and organic products plantations. 

 

Our capital city is San Jose and it’s located in the center of the central Valley and the country, this area offers visitors a wide variety of day and night activities, you can enjoy our restaurants, shops, discos, casinos, bars, markets and amazing museums sprinkled throughout the city. 

 

The Juan Santamaria International Airport is located in Alajuela, about 17 km from the central part of our capital, we also have a secondary International Airport in Liberia, Guanacaste, is at the northwest area of the country.

 

Costa Rica is part of the Pacific Ring Fire Circle, a range of four mountains from NW to SE:  Guanacaste, Tilaran, Central Volcanic and Talamanca; there are many volcanoes in this range of mountains some of which are still active, and they are one of the strongest tourism attractions for Costa Rica.  The most popular and visited volcanoes by locals and tourist are:  Arenal, Poas, Irazu, Barva, Turrialba, Rincon de la Vieja, Miravalles and Orosi.

 

Geographical Location:
10°00'00" N
84°15'11" W

 

Boundaries:
Northwest: Nicaragua
Southeast: Panamá
West: Pacific Ocean
East: Caribbean Sea

 

Land Area:

51.000 km² / 19,730 square miles.

 

Maximum length:
Río Sapoa - Punta Burica (288 miles)

 

Maximum width:
Cabo Santa Elena - Boca del Río Colorado (161 miles)

 

Highest mountain:

Cerro Chirripo (3.820 m / 12,533 ft.)