But how did Costa Rica come into being? The true 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....