Archaeologists believe that Costa Rica has been inhabited for some 10,000 years, though the country has little to show of their ancient history, except for a handful or ruins and artifacts found in various locations throughout the country.

 

Costa Rica’s modern history begins in 1502, when Christopher Columbus visited the country and received a bounty of riches from the local tribes he encountered on his trip. He quickly returned home and bragged to his fellow Spaniards as to the beauty of the land and the riches to be found there. Thus, Spain decided they would claim the country as their own and force the natives into servitude. After much fighting with the native Indian tribes, who were easily overpowered by the Europeans, Costa Rica became a Spanish colony, though few natives were left to till the fields.

 

Because of the lack of servants, few settlers traveled here and the ones who did headed to the cooler highlands and planted crops and established cities there, including Cartago, the first capital of Costa Rica. Coffee became an important crop by the end of the 18th century and those who grew it found they could make a great deal of money exporting coffee beans to Europe.

 

Costa Rica won it’s independence from the mother country in 1821 and joined the Central American Federation. However, it left the union in 1838 to become its own country. Though the next century brought much turmoil, including invasions by foreign powers and civil war, the country remains the oldest and most peaceful democracy in Central America. In 1949, Costa Rica abolished its standing army and officially declared itself “perpetually neutral” in 1983. That’s why thousands of foreign visitors can travel to this breathtaking country each year in safety, without fear of political unrest.