Culture & Politics

• US State Dept Costa Rica page - http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2019.htm
• Nosara site http://www.nosara.com/nosara_overview.htm

Costa Rica has a culture and a politics that are distinctively different from anywhere else in the Americas, for sure, and that are probably unique in the world.
 
In some ways, tragedies and difficulties in Costa Rica’s past account for much of what makes the culture and politics of the country special. Because the indigenous people were so peaceful and welcoming to the Spanish invaders, there were almost all eliminated by disease or violence. 
 

Someone made this analogy about Costa Rica decades ago, and it’s still used from time to time. Although imperfect, and what analogy isn’t, to a large degree it still holds. It’s not a bad way to position the country in one’s mind.