Costa Rica, which translates to “rich coast”, is an utterly peaceful country, so diplomatic in its ways that they indelibly abolished their army in 1949. As one of the world’s leading ecotourism destinations, Costa Rica was ranked as the “greenest country in the world” by the NEF in 2009. That same year, the Happy Planet Index listed Costa Rica as the Happiest Country in the World. In 2012, the Forbes Magazine ranked Costa Rica as the “Happiest Country on Earth.”

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Costa Rica has stood out for its stability and has benefited from the most developed welfare system and universal healthcare system in the region. “Pura Vida,” Costa Rica’s national motto, means “pure living,” which is a great reflection of the good life on offer in this happy, easygoing country.