Costa Rica is located in Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama.

Costa Rica's climate is both tropical and subtropical. Costa Rica's dry season is from December to April it's rainy season is from May to November. Costa Rica is cooler in highlands.

Costa Rica's terrain consists of coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major volcanoes. Four volcanoes, two of them active, rise near the capital of San Jose in the center of the country.

Costa Rica's natural hazards consist of occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along the Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides and active volcanoes.

Costa Rica's basically stable economy depends on tourism, agriculture, and electronics exports. Poverty has been substantially reduced over the past 15 years, and a strong social safety net has been put into place. Foreign investors remain attracted by the country's political stability and high education levels, and tourism continues to bring in foreign exchange.