Costa Rica's Geographic Location: Central America's Biodiversity Bridge

Costa Rica lies in Central America, the narrow isthmus connecting North and South America. It is one of seven countries in the region.

Coordinates

• Latitude: 8°–11° North
• Longitude: 82°–86° West

Borders & Coastlines

• North: Nicaragua (309 km / 192 mi)
• South: Panama (330 km / 205 mi)
• East: Caribbean Sea (shorter coast, ~212 km)
• West: Pacific Ocean (longer coast, ~1,016 km)

Landforms & Biodiversity

• Mountain Ranges: Cordillera de Talamanca, Cordillera Central, Cordillera Volcánica Central.
• Volcanoes: Arenal, Poás, Irazú, Turrialba (active); 200+ volcanic formations.
• Rainforests: Cover ~51% of land; Corcovado, Monteverde, Tortuguero.
• Beaches: Pacific (Guanacaste, Nicoya, Manuel Antonio); Caribbean (Puerto Viejo, Cahuita).

Area & Significance

51,100 km² (19,730 sq mi)—slightly smaller than West Virginia. Despite 0.03% of Earth's surface, it hosts ~5% of global biodiversity. A global conservation leader.