... is full of of treasures. You won't find any gold (neither did Columbus, by the way) but you will find the most beautiful scenery and landscapes - splendid, sandy beaches on the Caribbean and Pacific coasts, active volcanoes that bubble and spit fire, mountain ranges rising up to 3800 metres with glimpses of the awesome Quetzal. You can wander through tropical rain forests and discover the unique plants and wildlife that proliferate in the misty dry-wood areas. Costa Rica is the home of over 3000 species of butterflies and there are 1100 varieties of orchids, as well as 800 different kinds of birds. Costa Rica has about 4,2 million inhabitants and covers an area roughly the size of Switzerland. A quarter of the land is under conservation, and this fact, together with the mild climate, has made the country one of the most popular destinations for enthusiastic nature-lovers. The natural beauty of Costa Rica is also matched by its cultural heritage. It has a long tradition of democracy and no standing army, which is probably why the people are so welcoming and friendly. There's a multicultural feel to the country, with the "Pura-Vida" mentality of the "white" population complemented by the "Reggae" lifestyle of the "black" inhabitants. The various regions of the two coasts and the central mountains each have their own individual musical, artistic and culinary specialities.