There are a number of excellent sources teeming with interesting facts about Costa Rica. We’ll give you some highlights and then get to the point — why you should experience Costa Rica with Greentique Hotels.

Costa Rica is a Central American country the size of West Virginia with a population of about 4.6 million. Located just a few hours direct flight from several major US cities, it sits above Panama and is bordered by the Pacific Ocean on the west and the Caribbean Sea on the east. It’s not an island, but an isthmus at the cross roads of two great continents. It’s an extraordinary geographic and geologic paradise of intense bio-diversity and breath taking natural beauty. Its people are blessed with an almost universally shared good disposition. By someone’s survey “Happy Planet Index” it was named the happiest country on earth in 2009.

The Republic of Costa Rica is a model of modern democracy and is the only Latin American country found amongst the 22 oldest democracies in the world. It abolished its standing army in 1949 and has a University of Peace, created by one of its presidents who once owned Villa Blanca, now one of Greentique’s hotels. Costa Rica’s commitment to an egalitarian society is further evidenced by its free healthcare and universal public education, the latter being constitutionally guaranteed. It has a 97% literacy rate.

It also ranks as one of the “greenest” countries on earth. 25% of the country is designated as national parks and protected areas, the world’s highest percentage. With only .025% of the world’s landmass, it nonetheless has 5% of the world’s biodiversity, so there is much to be protected. One of the early adopters of eco-based tourism, protecting these lands is both a national priority and a way to enhance a principal contributor to the economy — tourism.

The infrastructure continues to modernize, with new highways, dams and bridges as well as the expansion of hydroelectric, providing over 80% of the country’s power, thermal, solar and wind. Costa Rica has embraced the ambitious goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2021.

So, why should you come to Costa Rica? Because it is one of those places everybody says they want to see, but so many don’t take the opportunity. Because what is here, albeit protected, is fragile, precious and needs to be experienced. Because you will see and do things that will give you a set of experiences and memories that you will remember for the rest of your life. And when you leave, your previously held perceptions of Central America will be changed forever.