With just over 51,000 square kilometers (20,000 square miles) Costa Rica (see map)is a relatively small country, only slightly larger than the State of New Jersey or Netherlands. Its population is pegged at just over 4 million, with over half living in and around the cities of San Jose, the country’s capital, Alajuela and Cartago.

These three cities are situated on the “Meseta Central,” a plateau at 1,200 meter altitude (4,000 feet) approximately centered within the country, boasting a mild climate year-round. It is on this plateau and along its spines that you’ll find the famous cloud forests and some of the world’s most spectacular volcanoes.

Historically, Costa Rica has been one of Latin America’s most stable democracies. The political system is a long-standing Constitutional democracy with a Legislature directly elected in free, multiparty elections every four years.

The most recent elections took place in February of this year and Oscar Arias (former President of Costa Rica from 1986 to 1990 and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize for his work for Central American peace) was reelected and took office on May 8, 2006.

The Golden Door to Retirement and Living in Costa Rica by Christopher Howard states: “This beautiful country is so appealing because it has the warmth and flavor of Mexico, without anti-Americanism and fear of government expropriations; the physical beauty of Guatemala without a large military presence; and the sophistication of Brazil without the abject poverty or serious violent crime.”

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