The largest flat area is the Atlantic northeast comprising about 30% of Costa Rica's territory. It is sparsely inhabited and is low, swampy, hot, excessively rainy, and heavily forested. There is a second lowland area that surrounds Parque Nacional Palo Verde in the N.E., within Guanacaste province. read more
Like all Central American countries, Costa Rica is considered a biodiversity hotspot. According to the INBio, about 4.5% of the world's biodiversity can be found in Costa Rica. Costa Rica is home to about 12,119 species of plants, of which 950 are endemic. read more
Costa Rica Geography Most of Costa Rica's population, approximately two thirds, lives in the Meseta Central, or Central Valley. In the heart of the temperate Central Highlands, the Meseta Central is an expansive valley at an average elevation of 5,000 feet (1,524 m) above sea level. read more