But how did Costa Rica come into being?
The correct spelling of this beautiful Central American country is Costa Rica.
The name was given to it by Christopher Columbus, who discovered it in 1502, during his fourth and last exploration. He called it the "Rich Coast" because of its luxurious vegetation and his encounters with natives adorned in gold.
However, Costa Rica proved a disappointment to the Spaniards, who regarded it as a province of lesser importance.
This is why there are no major colonial cities in Costa Rica. The former capital Cartago, one of the cities with colonial architecture, was repeatedly damaged by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions from the Irazu and Turrialba volcanoes.
Should we say Costa Rican or Costa Rican?
According to the Larousse dictionary, you can say both. So there's no mistake in saying one or the other. In Costa Rica, however, Costa Ricans are called Tico (or Tica in the feminine).What is Costa Rica?
Above all, Costa Rica is the land of peace, the country that abolished its army and promoted education for its young people.
But Costa Rica is best known today for as the land of green tourism.
It has long been called the Switzerland of Central America. In recent years, however, the contrast with other Central American countries has become much less stark. The government has rested on its laurels, and the other Central American countries have considerably narrowed the gap gained during Costa Rica's golden age.
