Costa Rica is one of those countries that tends to stick in the mind of pretty much every traveler. Even though this little place in Central America may not seem that significant on paper, it is big in the collective popular imagination. Most people imagine rainforests, beaches and wild creatures, and they do so because Costa Rica really is incredibly biodiverse; its official tourism website states that Costa Rica contains as much as 6 per cent of the world's species. It also protects a large portion of its land, keeping its forests, beaches and habitat looking lively, as well as alive.

Costa Rica certainly has a lot going on. On a single visit, you can move from a cloud forest to an extinct volcano, from a Pacific Ocean surf village to a peaceful Caribbean coastal town, and each region has its own feel. The mist-laden cloud forest of Monteverde attracts plant and wildlife, and coastal towns are home to visitors seeking the ocean for sun, fishing, or just soaking it up on lazy afternoons. Beyond tourism, the diverse terrain is an important part of Costa Rica's identity, which stresses the outdoors as something worthy of respect.

There are a lot of reasons for Costa Rica's special status in the Americas, but one is political. When civil war ended in 1948, Jos Figueres Ferrer disbanded Costa Rica's military; to this day, that remains a major marker in Costa Rica's history, and it is still often used as an illustration of the country's political direction. This was just the beginning for Costa Rica, as the country went on to become relatively peaceful and well-governed in comparison to the rest of the region. It is not perfect (no country is), but the long-running belief is that Costa Rica has devoted itself to education, civic order and the pursuit of progress and has used this focus to shape both the country's identity and its development.

Costa Rica is also well-known for its environmental history and policies. The World Bank states that Costa Rica was the first tropical country to stop deforestation, and the country has enjoyed an impressive recovery of its forest cover since the late 20th century. The reason is that Costa Rica has chosen to be environmentally sustainable in its policies and development, and many see Costa Rica as a way for conservation efforts and economic life to work together, particularly as ecotourism. Nature is a crucial part of Costa Rican life and the national economy.

Costa Rica is the type of country that has a certain vibe. Visitors commonly hear pura vida, the catchphrase for everything from hello and goodbye to a general statement that everything is wonderful and I really appreciate life. It might sound like a cheesy travel ad, but it captures an important part of Costa Rica's personality. Costa Rica is beautiful, but it has a certain way about it that also feels like a lifestyle. Costa Rica manages to mix natural riches with political choices with cultural attitude and create a national brand that feels important despite the fact it is only a tiny nation.