Costa Rica

One of the more popular tourist attractions in Central America, Costa Rica is bordered by Panama to the east and south and Nicaragua to the north. One of the more developed countries in the world according to the Human Development Index (HDI), Costa Rica is also known for its pro-environment stance, notably its goal to be the world's first carbon neutral country by 2021.

Unlike many of its Central American counterparts, Costa Rica has managed to maintain a relatively peaceful history. In partnership with several other Central American provinces, Costa Rica claimed independence from Spain in 1821, after nearly three centuries under Spanish guidance or rule. After a brief period under Mexican rule, Costa Rica joined the Federal Republic of Central America, remaining a member until 1839. During that time, San Jose was named the capital.

After declaring itself sovereign in 1838, Costa Rica then began to further develop its economy, which was primarily agriculture-based. In 1889, Costa Rica embraced democracy, with few violent upbringings arising since then. A dictatorship from 1917-1919 and the month and a half long Costa Rican Civil War in 1948 were the only genuine threats to the country's peaceful democracy, which has continued to hold democratic presidential elections into the 21st century.

Today, Costa Rica thrives largely on tourism and technology. Tech-industry leaders including Microsoft, Motorola and Intel house operations in Costa Rica, while adventure tourism continues to rise.