Country Guide

This small Central American country is situated between 8° and 11° N and has a border with Panama on the south and with Nicaragua on the north. It is about twice the size of Wales or the state of Massachusetts.

The general conditions of weather and climate in this region are described in detail for Panama. Like other countries of Central America, Costa Rica is mountainous with the highest peaks exceeding 3,700 m/12,000 ft. It has a coastline on both the Pacific and the Caribbean.

The table for the capital, San José, illustrates conditions in the tierra templada, where the nights are much cooler than at sea level and the days less hot and humid.

Conditions at sea level on the Pacific shore are similar to those shown in the table for Balboa Heights in Panama. The Caribbean shore to the east is equally hot and rather wetter.